I’ve been thinking a lot about how my family would’ve spoken about the murders of Tyre Nichols, Anthony Lowe Jr., and Guillermo Medina, two of whom were severely disabled and all of whom were fathers. It would’ve been around my grandfather’s kitchen table, laminated with thick plastic and speckled with age.
I’ve been imagining how my aunt would’ve described precisely how to tangle a powerful person in red tape and my uncle would’ve told us the make and model of his gun. I’ve been thinking of how my grandfather and my father would’ve traded anecdotes about bigotry in their own lives, hoping for a fresh balm, a remedy that hadn’t been tested when they were first hurt.
I can hear my mother telling me not to act out of fear clearly and perhaps that’s because she gave me that same advice a few days ago and a few days before that.
But as much as I wish for their collective wisdom, as much as recalling ghosts and ancestors fills me with nostalgia, I know my family members were at the same loss for solutions during their lives as I am now. When each of us has confronted the problem of being Black in America, we have come to identical results.
In many other countries, daily brutality against citizens would be an overt act of war. But here, in the United States, a country whose most long-lasting legacy is bolstering spinelessness with privilege, killing powerless people is good policy.
But it’s not indestructible policy. And, so far, we have been an indestructible people.
So, perhaps it won’t be you or me, just like it wasn’t our grandparents or ancestors, who wholly dismantles this system of oppression but every time we resist together—in violence or in joy, in work or in rest—a tiny bit of injustice is scraped away.
Parents usually want their children to get the best education possible and believe in building a strong foundation for their child’s future. A good education gives a child many opportunities, from better job prospects to improved life skills and knowledge. Education also allows children to develop critical thinking skills which are essential for success in any field.
With this in mind, it’s no wonder why parents invest so much effort into ensuring that their children have a quality education. A good education can open the door to many opportunities and allow a child to become successful in any field they choose. Parents understand that quality education is essential and will do whatever they can to give their children the best possible chance of success.
Getting an education can be extremely difficult, especially in college when you are juggling multiple classes and assignments. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the workload and don’t know where to turn, get an essay for college from a writing service.
These services offer professionally written essays for college that can reduce the amount of stress and help students get their assignments done on time. Plus, their rates are usually very affordable so you can get the help you need without breaking the bank.
The Benefits of a High-Quality Education for Children
Foster Critical Thinking for Building a Strong Foundation
High-quality education encourages children to think critically and develop their problem-solving skills. With a focus on inquiry-based learning, students are encouraged to ask questions and explore creative solutions to complex problems. This helps them build the confidence and determination needed for future success in life.
Provide Opportunities for Leadership Development
When children receive a quality education, they have the opportunity to develop leadership skills. And this will be invaluable for future careers. Through student councils, peer mentoring programs, and other activities, kids can learn how to lead effectively by understanding different perspectives and communicating clearly with others.
Prepare For Future Careers for Building a Strong Foundation
Quality education provides children with marketable skills that will help them succeed later in life. With a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, students can gain the knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen career fields.
Develop Creativity
Quality education offers children opportunities to explore creative outlets. This helps them tap into their imagination and express themselves. And this is essential for personal growth and development.
Connect with Peers
Quality education gives children the opportunity to build relationships with other kids in their grade level and beyond. Through meaningful activities, they learn how to work with others in different settings.
How to Help Your Child in Building a Strong Foundation for their Future
When it comes to your child’s future, the best thing you can do is help them build a strong foundation. This doesn’t mean that you have to provide them with every opportunity and resource available. Rather, it means that you should give them the tools they need to succeed in life. Here are some tips for helping your child develop their skills and prepare for adulthood.
Teach Them How To Make Good Decisions
Show your children how to:
weigh their options
think of the consequences of their actions
make decisions based on logic and reason.
Helping your children learn to make smart decisions will help them make better choices throughout life.
Encourage Learning For Building a Strong Foundation
Make learning an exciting experience for your children by introducing them to different subjects and activities. Encourage their exploration of the world around them so they can develop new skills and knowledge.
Foster Creativity
Help your children tap into their creative side by providing them with opportunities to express themselves. Letting your kids explore art, music, literature, or any other form of creativity will help them discover hidden talents and grow in confidence.
Set Goals For Them To Reach For Building a Strong Foundation
Setting achievable goals for your children will give them a sense of purpose and empowerment as they strive to reach those targets. Make sure to provide plenty of support along the way!
Teach Them Life Skills
Give your children useful life skills that will stay with them forever such as budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and basic home repair. Knowing these basics will help them become more independent and capable adults.
The Impact of a Good Education on Future Success and Happiness
Having a good education can set the foundation for success and happiness in life. It provides us with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to have better opportunities for future success. Education can equip us with the tools we need to make sound decisions that lead to positive outcomes.
A good education also allows us to become more independent thinkers who are capable of making informed choices. This independence can be invaluable when it comes to making important life decisions such as choosing a career path or furthering our studies. With an educated mind, we can explore ideas from different perspectives and effectively evaluate solutions.
Education also plays an important role in developing our individual personalities and identities. Through learning about different cultures and beliefs, we can discover new ways of thinking which help us to better understand ourselves and the world around us.
Summary on Building a Strong Foundation for Your Child’s Future!
In summary, having a good education can open up a world of possibilities that lead to greater success and happiness in life. It provides us with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to make informed decisions that have positive outcomes.
It also allows us to think independently and discover new ways of thinking which help shape our individual personalities. With this in mind, it is easy to see why education is important for achieving future success and happiness.
Are you a retiree looking for a change of scenery? Or maybe you and your family have just moved to Greenville and have parents eager to follow you to the area? In this article, our Real Estate Partner Dan Hamilton shares some of the best retirement and age-restricted communities in the Upstate, comparing amenities and explaining buying and leasing options.
Dan Hamilton and his team of real estate professionals at Hamilton & Company offer unparalleled customer service to their real estate clients and free advice on living in Greenville to their community.
Interested in buying or selling real estate in the Upstate? Contact Dan today to learn more. New to Greenville and want to learn more about the area? Check out Dan’s YouTube channel where he shares weekly real estate advice and Greenville news.
What is a 55+ Community?
55+ Communities, Age-Restricted Communities, and Retirement Communities are all unique in that they legally discriminate on the basis of age, only allowing residents of a certain age to live in their community.
These communities, typically catering to individuals 55 years and older, often specialize in low-maintenance, single story homes and all-inclusive condos. Many have full and engaging social calendars and top-of-the-line fitness centers, offering their residents a wide range of activities throughout the week.
If you are interested in joining one of Greenville’s prestigious senior communities or are researching for a loved one, this guide will help you break down your options and decide what is the best fit for you!
Interested in learning more about the differences between Greenville’s senior and age-restricted communities? Reach out to our team for a full breakdown and a personalized home search.
Communities You Can Purchase a Home In
Many Greenville retirement communities are privately owned and maintained, meaning you have to contact the facility directly to inquire about leasing a home. A select handful, however, have homes available for resale.
Homes in these popular communities sell quickly! If you or a loved one is interested in purchasing a home in one of these communities, contact our team right away. We’ll help you set up a personalized Home Search that will instantly notify you when any homes in these communities come on the market.
Blaize Ridge
Blaize Ridge is an age-restricted community in Greer, South Carolina. The luxurious, maintenance-free neighborhood was built by Epcon Communities and features single story, all-brick patio homes with five different floor plan options.
In addition to its beautiful homes, this community includes a clubhouse with a heated pool and fitness center as well as walking trails. Just minutes from Blaize you’ll find popular dining and entertainment, and the neighborhood is only 5 minutes from Downtown Greer and 20 minutes away from Downtown Greenville.
Rolling Green Village
Rolling Green Village is one of Greenville’s most established retirement communities. The all-inclusive community’s mission hasn’t changed in its 30 years of operation: “To serve older adults by providing an environment that enriches quality of life and fosters independence in a setting nurtured by and established on Christian ideals.”
Rolling Green has a variety of patio home and apartment options in their independent living communities. These homes are available for purchase and the community’s monthly fee covers complete home maintenance, a meal plan, and a wellness program designed to enhance your independent living experience.
In addition to a full calendar of monthly events and activities, Rolling Green residents have access to transportation to and from Greenville shopping, dining and entertainment.
As a Continuing Care Community, Rolling Green offers a Life Plan that can be completely customized to your needs over time, offering services beyond independent living such as assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and more.
The Ravines at Creekside
The Ravines at Creekside is an age-restricted, active lifestyle community neighborhood in Simpsonville, South Carolina. The community features 108 single-story, low-maintenance homes. Homes are typically two to three bedrooms with open floorplans and spacious master suites. The Ravines HOA handles lawn care, exterior home maintenance, street light and walkway maintenance, and amenities access.
The Ravines Clubhouse includes a fitness center, heated pool, community gathering areas with card tables, a patio, and more. Residents have clubhouse access and can partake in a full calendar of activities. Notable activities include card games, book club, monthly luncheons, and neighborhood parties.
Conveniently situated 20 minutes from Downtown Greenville and 10 minutes from Downtown Simpsonville, Ravines residents have easy access to the Upstate’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Swansgate
This active lifestyle, gated community is less than 10 minutes from Downtown Greenville and the Greenville Country Club. The neighborhood features 165 single family homes and 24 attached condo homes (with elevator access to upper floors). Swansgate’s affordable HOA fee includes access to common facilities like a pool and fitness center, a full event calendar, gated security, landscaping and exterior home maintenance, and more.
Common community activities include billiards, cards, dances, Friday social hours, and holiday parties. Golf lovers don’t have to travel far for some of the most well-maintained courses in the Upstate, and Downtown Greenville shopping and dining is a short drive away.
Communities You Can Lease a Home In
While some senior communities in Greenville have homes available for sale, many require reaching out to the community directly to inquire about availability.
While we cannot represent you as your real estate agent within these communities, we still encourage you to reach out to our team before inquiring. We work hard to develop relationships with local communities and may have a contact at one you are interested in!
TerraBella Greenville
TerraBella Greenville makes life feel like vacation with their all-inclusive independent living. Choose from one of their one or two bedroom apartments or cozy suites depending on your needs. TerraBella is located on Augusta Road less than 10 minutes from Downtown Greenville.
Cook for yourself or take advantage of TerraBella’s extensive chef-prepared meals. Transportation is available to major Greenville shopping, dining, and entertainment and daily on-campus activities and an engaging social calendar will keep you busy with friends!
TerraBella is a pet-friendly facility offering outdoor walking paths, a private courtyard and community garden, and scenic patios. A stocked library, media room, game room, and live entertainment round out TerraBella’s indoor entertainment. TerraBella even has a professional beauty salon and barber shop onsite! TerraBella will help you assemble an amenities package that best suits your needs should you choose to live there.
The Foothills Retirement Community
Less than 10 minutes from downtown Easley, Foothills Retirement Community provides premiere senior care with small town charm. Foothills offers a variety of care based on your needs from independent living and outpatient therapy to assisted living, memorial support, and short term rehabilitation.
Independent living residents can choose from a wide selection of patio homes or apartments and benefit from housekeeping, complete interior and exterior maintenance, wellness programming, a full event schedule, and so much more. All three meals (plus snacks!) are provided for Foothills’ assisted living residents, plus scheduled transportation to and from primary care physician appointments.
Foothills Community takes amenities seriously. The community boasts a full-service dining room in addition to private dining options, multi-purpose areas, a chapel, library, salon, pool and hot tub, extensive walking paths and expansive gardens, and so much more. Off-campus, residents enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment options in nearby Easley. And with Greenville a short 20 minute drive away, entertainment is endless!
Clemson Downs
Tiger fans will be pleased to learn luxurious living exists a mere five minutes away from Clemson University. Clemson Downs offers four primary living options in their continuum-of-care model, ranging from independent living to skilled nursing and memory care.
Activities abound at Clemson Downs. You can view sample event calendars on their website, managed by the 6 full-time event coordinators on staff.
Residents can choose from a variety of patio home and apartment options depending on their living package. Full-time event coordinators host a wide range of events and activities. Transportation is available to and from doctor’s appointments as well as local shopping, dining and entertainment. Clemson Down’s Genesis Rehab services provide physical and speech therapy and rehabilitation for all residents.
The Cascades at Verdae
The Cascades at Verdae is a gated retirement community minutes from Downtown Greenville offering unparalleled service. A never-ending social calendar, award-winning wellness programs, and industry-leading healthcare services are just a few of the top-of-the-line amenities Cascades maintains.
The Cascades offer a variety of living options from active adult and independent living to skilled nursing and in-home care services.
The Cascades believe anyone – regardless of age or condition – can improve their quality of life through a young outlook on life. And a young outlook is not just for the young! The community furthers this mindsight by providing on-site spas, wellness centers, exceptional dining options, and an engaging social calendar. Cascade residents share that the biggest surprise in their transition to the community is how quickly they made friends and their biggest regret was not making the move sooner.
Greenville, South Carolina is an amazing place to call home and the same can be said for the city’s retirement communities. If you or a loved one are interested in exploring retirement community options, reach out to our team! We’d love to provide an in-depth review of local communities and help you start the process of inquiring.
About Hamilton & Company
Hamilton & Company is the Upstate’s top-rated real estate team. Dan Hamilton and his team of professional experts offer unparalleled customer service, helping you through each step of the home buying and selling process. Give our team a call today (864.527.7685) to learn more about how we can help you realize your real estate goals!
Interested in investing in Greenville? My team at Hamilton & Co. is the top-rated real estate team in the Upstate, and would love to help you buy a home here. I’d love to help make your real estate dreams come true! — Dan
Skateboarding has been on my mind for decades. Though I started skateboarding when I was 9 years old (and loved it then), I stopped after a couple of years because none of my friends could skate. For many, many years, I didn’t know how to get back into it, and I regretted all that lost time. I didn’t know I had ADHD until I was in my late 20s (I’m in my 40s now), but, in retrospect, I see how my ADHD brain was stuck on figuring out where to begin and how to just “do the thing.”
I found my way back to skateboarding in 2020. In the middle of the pandemic, my husband decided he wanted to learn to skateboard. Then our daughter got into it. Then our son. So our family hit the skateparks.
That’s how I found Telma and Rich and the Later Skaters Gang, an adult skate movement that started in Toronto (where I live) and is now global. Oorbee Roy, who has become a TikTok sensation as “Aunty Skates,” is another Later Skater friend of mine. At 47, she drops into huge bowls and shreds her backyard mini ramp, sometimes while wearing a sari.
At 43, I’m ecstatic to be skating again. Not just because it’s a fun way to exercise, but because it’s incredibly therapeutic.
9 Ways Skateboarding Steadies My ADHD Brain
1. Steady dopamine hits keep me motivated. Skating forces me to choose one small goal to achieve and celebrate at a time. The dopamine rush I get when I land a trick keeps me motivated and focused on the next step.
2. There are serotonin hits, too. Skating outdoors in the fresh air and sunlight gives me a boost of serotonin and uplifts my mood.
3. I relish the endorphin release. The physical act of riding around on my skateboard releases feel-good hormones that reduce stress and even provide pain relief for my joints.
4. I work out my cerebellum. I’m not pulling off kickflips or carving giant bowls yet. But I am improving my balance and control over the board, which works out my cerebellum. A stronger cerebellum can result in improved attention, focus, and emotional control.
5. I’m creating friendships and strengthening connections. I try to join as many Later Skater meetups as I can. I get a release of oxytocin as I bond with this positive community of skaters. They remind me that we all battle negative self-talk and mental blocks. And they cheer me on and offer feedback to help me progress. It’s way easier to stay motivated and consistent when I’m having a blast on my board with friends.
6. I get to experience a healthy adrenaline rush. Like many people with ADHD, I’m drawn to risk and excitement. And skateboarding brings the right level of thrill-seeking. I will fall as I keep skateboarding. But learning how to fall safely gives me the courage to keep progressing to the next level.
7. I can be creative. When I’m on my skateboard, I’m making creative decisions and carving my own path. It’s exhilarating to juggle so many possibilities.
8. I can hyperfocus. We’ve gone as far as to have a mini ramp built in our basement so we can skateboard at home. I was worried we wouldn’t use it enough, but we do, and we’ve invited a few Later Skater friends over for sessions. (Thanks, Pete, for helping me with rock to fakies and tail stalls!)
9. I get stuck — and unstuck. Skateboarding has helped me physically, mentally, and socially. But even with all the good, and after making so many new skate friends, I sometimes still feel stuck — in my head or in the past. I’ll be fully padded and skating around the park a bit, only to stop and watch everyone else shred. When this happens, I give myself a jolt. What is the Later Skaters Gang about? “No matter the age or skill level, it’s all about little wins, a love of skateboarding and having fun.”
It’s Never Too Late — for Skateboarding or Anything Else
Despite my hiatus from skateboarding, the sport never truly ended up in my graveyard of abandoned interests. It will not be buried alongside bowling, stamp collecting, and Mid-century modern furniture restoration.
I never imagined I’d be spending my 40s connecting with people from all over the world who share a love for skateboarding. But here I am. I even got to appear in an epic video by Later Skaters Gang called These Are the Moments, featuring 120 skaters and their skate clips from 2022. There I am for a couple of seconds, attempting a 50-50 on a little ramp at the skatepark. Might not look like much, but it was a personal win for me. And a reminder to enjoy all the little moments, to just keep pushing.
Believe me, it’s never too late to skate — or to find what helps you thrive. As my Aunty Skates T-shirt reminds me: “It’s never too late to live your best life!”
Skateboarding, Wellbeing, and ADHD: Next Steps
Myra is a wife, mother, and teacher from Toronto who loves to write about #theBIGinSmallThings. When she’s not trying to find her keys or wallet,Myra loves drinking bubble tea andskateboarding with her family.
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Melatonin is a popular supplement, but it may be dangerous for kids. Discover how melatonin affects children and explore possible harmful side effects of melatonin in kids.
Melatonin is a hormone often used as a sleep aid in adults, but researchers increasingly suggest that it may be unsafe for children. While some parents swear by this supplement to help kids get better rest, the potential side effects of melatonin in kids need to be carefully weighed.
Discover the potential effects of melatonin in children as we look into its side effects. Learn more to better understand the risks of using this supplement for kids.
Research the Recommended Doses for Children
Before giving your child any form of melatonin supplement, make sure to research what manufacturers and experts recommend specific to children. The dosage requirements will vary depending on the child’s age, size, and needs. It’s important to always follow what’s recommended and never give a dosage more than what’s suggested. Too much melatonin can lead to unpleasant side effects like headaches, dizziness, nausea, as well as extra excitation or restlessness.
Understand How Melatonin May Affect Children Differently Than Adults
It’s important to understand that children may react differently to melatonin than adults do. The effects of melatonin on their bodies could be different since they’re still developing and growing.
Additionally, because children are more sensitive to potential side effects, it’s highly recommended to speak with a doctor before giving any type of medication or supplement to your child, especially if they have an existing health condition. Keeping these factors in mind can help you determine if melatonin will indeed benefit your child or not.
Beware of Possible Long-Term Side Effects on Cognitive Development in Young Kids
It’s important to note that melatonin is not FDA approved for use in young children and could even hinder the healthy development of a child’s cognitive, social, and motor skills.
Research conducted on adolescents found that taking very high doses of melatonin can increase levels of two hormones known to suppress cognitive performance — prolactin and cortisol. That being said, it’s essential to discuss any potential risks with a doctor before giving your child melatonin supplements, and strictly follow the dosage they prescribe.
Check for Potential Drug Interactions with Melatonin
If your child is taking medications or other supplements, you should speak with a medical professional to determine if melatonin interacts in any way with the drugs they are taking.
According to research, there is potentially a risk of drug interactions with certain antibiotics, cancer treatments, anticoagulants, and central nervous system depressants when taken together with melatonin. Additionally, melatonin has the potential to interact negatively with asthma medication and herbal remedies like St. John’s Wort.
Understand the Risks of Using Melatonin as a Sleep Aid in Children with Autism and ADHD
Studies have found a success rate of approximately 70 percent in children with autism when using melatonin as a sleep aid. However, it’s important to understand certain risks associated with using melatonin as an aid for these particular conditions.
Melatonin may increase daytime fatigue and disrupt natural hormone production, which can be especially damaging to a child’s growth and development over the long term. Additionally, due to its sedative effect, some studies suggest that taking melatonin may worsen hyperactivity and aggression in children with ADHD.
Potential Side Effects Of Melatonin In Kids
Some of the potential side effects of Melatonin In kids are as follows:
Frequently Asked Questions For Side-effects Of Melatonin in Kids
What are the negative effects of melatonin for kids?
Generally, melatonin seems to cause relatively few side effects in kids, most of them minor, such as headaches, increased bedwetting, nightmares, dizziness, mood changes, and morning grogginess, which disappear when discontinued.
Is it okay to give your child melatonin every night?
AAP and NIH agree that children shouldn’t take melatonin long-term, but neither organization defines what long-term means.
Does melatonin have long-term side effects on kids?
Although it is generally considered safe for short-term use, long-term use might delay children’s sexual maturation, possibly by disrupting the decline in nocturnal melatonin levels when puberty begins.
What can I give my child instead of melatonin?
Should I stop giving my child melatonin?
Melatonin is not recommended for chronic insomnia in adults or children, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which will publish a health advisory shortly stating that children should not be given it without medical supervision. Source
How long can kids safely take melatonin?
For healthy kids, melatonin is probably safe and effective in small doses, under the supervision of a physician, for two to four weeks. Source
How long does melatonin last in a child?
It has a half-life of 40 to 60 minutes. Half-lives refer to the amount of time it takes for the body to eliminate half of a drug. For a drug to be fully eliminated, it usually takes four to five half-lives.
Can melatonin mess with kids hormones?
Melatonin is a hormone, so taking supplements could theoretically affect hormonal development. Source
What is the problem with melatonin?
Some less common melatonin side effects include short-term depression, mild tremors, mild anxiety, abdominal cramps, irritability, reduced alertness, confusion, or disorientation. Source
What naturally makes kids sleepy?
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Milk, for instance, has tryptophan, and green tea has theanine, both of which may help sleep.
What drinks make kids sleepy?
The most important drinks to help toddlers get proper sleep is Milk.
What vitamin helps with sleeping?
Omega-3, Vitamin D
How can kids fall asleep super fast?
5 Secret strategies to make kids fall asleep super fast are as follows:
Proper bedtime routine.
No devices in the sleeping room
Create a cozy and comfortable environment before sleep.
Looking for a nutritious and tasty breakfast option for your baby?
Check out our Red Poha Ragi Porridge recipe! This dish is perfect for babies aged 8 months and is packed with nutrients and vitamins that will help to strengthen their development. Not to mention, it’s also delicious and easy to make – so you can enjoy a delicious breakfast without any fuss.
If you’re looking for a nutritious and tasty breakfast option for your baby, give our Red Poha Ragi Porridge recipe a try!
Red Poha Ragi Porridge is the perfect recipe that will make sure that everyone stays healthy, without having to slave for hours in the kitchen.
It is an ideal food which is suitable for babies over 8 months.
Let’s see how to make this healthy porridge at home!
Health benefits of Red Poha Ragi Porridge
Ragi porridge is high in protein and fiber, making it a great way to start the day.
Red poha ragi porridge is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium and vitamins such as vitamin B12, D, and E.
It is also an excellent source of zinc, which helps support immune function and healthy brain function.
In addition to being nutritious, red poha ragi porridge has been shown to promote health in babies by reducing inflammation and helping to regulate the gut microbiome.
Red Poha Ragi Porridge Recipe
Ingredients
1/2 cup – MLM Ragi powder
3 tbsp – Dates powder and Dry fruit powder [For 8-month babies]
In a pan boil 2 cup of water and pour red poha into it, cook it until it’s soft.
Add the ragi powder and jaggery in it, stir well so that it does not form lumps.
Cook on a medium heat still it starts thickening.
Switch off the flame when it’s creamy enough for you.
Red poha ragi porridge is ready to serve.
You can mash this porridge and can feed it to your baby!
This is a fantastic and easy recipe for red poha ragi porridge for babies. It is perfect for feeding babies on chilly days or as part of a breakfast or lunch meal. The porridge is creamy and smooth, and the addition of ragi (split mung beans) makes it a hearty and nutritious meal.
Thank you for reading the recipe and letting us know how you liked it. We would love to know your thoughts in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the health benefits of red poha ragi porridge?
Ragi porridge is high in protein and fiber, making it a great way to start the day. Red poha ragi porridge is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium and vitamins such as vitamin B12, D, and E. It is also an excellent source of zinc, which helps support immune function and healthy brain function. In addition to being nutritious, red poha ragi porridge has been shown to promote health in babies by reducing inflammation and helping to regulate the gut microbiome.
How to make red poha ragi porridge?
In a pan boil 2 cup of water and pour red poha into it, cook it until it’s soft. Add the ragi powder and jaggery in it, stir well so that it does not form lumps. Cook on a medium heat still it starts thickening. Switch off the flame when it’s creamy enough for you.
What are the benefits of ragi porridge to babies?
Ragi porridge is high in protein and fiber, making it a great way to start the day. Red poha ragi porridge is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium and vitamins such as vitamin B12, D, and E.
Can I give my baby ragi?
This dish is perfect for babies aged 8 months and is packed with nutrients and vitamins that will help to strengthen their development.
Can babies eat porridge?
Porridge is perfect for babies aged 8 months and is packed with nutrients and vitamins that will help to strengthen their development.
Red Poha Ragi Porridge
Check out our Red Poha Ragi Porridge recipe! This dish is perfect for babies aged 8 months and is packed with nutrients and vitamins that will help to strengthen their development. Not to mention, it's also delicious and easy to make – so you can enjoy a delicious breakfast without any fuss.
Graduation gifts are some of the most challenging gifts to pick out, especially when you’re buying for your teen’s friends who have become almost as dear to us as our sons and daughters. We asked our seasoned parents what they love to give their kids’ friends, and here are some of their answers.
Some of these gifts can be bought in bulk, making giving to a large number more affordable.
Note: We are a reader-supported site and receive compensation from purchases made through some of the links in this post. Thank you!
The big blue bags (available to order on Amazon) are the most amazing bags we have ever used for packing and moving. College-bound grads will have loads of stuff to take to school, and giving them one of these lightweight and durable bags will be a huge help.
This is THE bag that every Grown and Flown parent has gotten for their teen — their friends (and parents) will love this when they move in.
All grads need a way to thank the many people who have helped them reach this milestone. We have used Minted for our holiday cards and personalized stationery and think their one-of-a-kind designs are gorgeous.
We have fallen in love with Lokai and cannot believe all the gorgeous and well-priced bracelets they offer, especially this collegiate line. This is a charming idea for a gift for your teen’s friend group. While you are on the Lokai site, check out the collections for Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, professional sports teams, and much more.
Shop Fanatics for the largest selections of official NCAA merchandise for over 500 colleges and pro teams, too. College students LOVE wearing hats, t-shirts — anything — from their new schools.
Every student needs a laundry bag at college, so pick out one of these for each friend and get a starter pack of detergent to make doing their first load of laundry away from home a breeze.
Dorm beds are typically elevated and have no built-in storage for things like glasses, a phone, or book students might have been using at bedtime. This felt pouch attaches to the bed.
Teens are expected to leave home with a foundation in financial literacy, but few already have answers to all the money questions they will face once they live on their own.
See why the one reviewer at the New York Times calls Napkin Finance “one of the best financial aid primers I have read in years.”
Teens need new socks to go off to college, and our favorite sock brand is Notes to Self. College students can start their day with positivity when they reach for a pair of these incredibly comfortable and durable socks from you.
This lightweight and practical collegiate drawstring bag are perfect for a gym bag. If you can’t find one with a college logo, look for colors that match the school.
Choosing one of these tumblers from the Tervis Tumbler Collegiate Collection for your teen’s friends is a thoughtful way to celebrate where each is heading off in the fall. They can be personalized, come with a lifetime guarantee, and are affordable.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked the mole.
“Kind,” said the boy.
Send your teen (and their friends) off with a slender book of love and life lessons with The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse. Written and illustrated by beloved British artist Charlie Mackesy, this is a 2019 bestselling (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more) fable with gorgeous illustrations throughout.
Your daughter and her friends will never forget a unique piece of jewelry from Kendra Scott, especially if the stones are personalized with the colors of the college each girl is attending. There are dozens of stones to pick from to create unique necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
This is one of the most popular and memorable gifts for your teen’s friends, and adding a monogram means they are much more likely to keep up with it at college and beyond.
A new water bottle is a convenient graduation gift, and these Hydro Flask come in many different colors, sizes, and price points. They are one of the most popular brands on campus and will help keep your teen from needing to buy water in expensive and wasteful plastic bottles
Personalized gifts are some of the nicest to give grads. We love all the choices you will find at Leatherology. These slim card cases are available in 17 different options and would be a memorable gift for any soon-to-be college guy or young woman.
Making copies of a favorite friend group and placing them in frames is a sentimental and inexpensive gift. An acrylic photo frame like this one would be a good choice, and these are available in packs of multiple frames.
This YETI Rambler Stainless Steel Rambler is virtually indestructible, and it will keep your teen’s drink cold (or hot) for hours. They are available in a wide range of sizes and styles; personalize with college logos or monograms.
It’s a disaster and safety risk to run out of battery life on a cell phone, so keep college students covered with this small, light, high-speed phone charger by Anker. Compatible with iPhone 14/13/12 Series, S10, Pixel 4, and more.
This super soft and warm robe is a gift your teen and friends will use every day on trips to and from the communal bathroom in the dorm. Available in four colors, add a monogram or name and choose from many pretty yarn colors to make this a very thoughtful gift.
There are never enough places to sit in a dorm room, and these excellent folding chairs with college logos are the ultimate guest chair. Also, your college student can take it outside if they want to find somewhere to study or hang out outside.
College kids will be so glad they packed along with an umbrella the first morning they have to walk to class in a downpour. They can all use a Travel Umbrella that folds into a backpack. This one by Repel gets the highest ratings from the New York Times, but they also make many different umbrellas in pretty colors.
Admiral William H. McRaven (Ret) wrote one of the most memorable college graduation speeches of all time, and this bestselling book is the written version. His words are direct and inspirational, in equal parts, making this a perfect send-off for any teen.
We are long-time fans of Smathers & Branson and have purchased many of their fantastic needlepoint gifts through the years. We think the collegiate key fobs would be a big hit with any grads you are shopping for.
Get your teen’s friends a travel case for toiletries from the iconic Carhartt brand. The interior is lined with water resistant coating and the exterior is water repellent. Add a few travel sized toiletries and they will be set for their first trip back home from college.
This mini travel jewelry case is perfect for when your teen is traveling. Its compact size makes it easy to use in a dorm room when storing jewelry out of sight in a drawer. Available in seven pretty colors.
29. Cash
Teens appreciate and need money, and there are many clever ways to “dress it up.”
Fill a mason jar with dollars and add decorative touches in the colors of each college.
If you are genuinely creative, consider making a dollar wreath like the one below.
And if you are not particularly crafty, write a check made out for $20.23 and place it in a card or a favorite grad book.
“My EMBARK work will look at the experiences of racialized children and youth with disabilities in Canada during and post pandemic,” says De-Lawrence, who has a PhD in Rehabilitation Science and has done post-doctoral work at Holland Bloorview, Mount Saint Vincent University, and York University. “I will look at experiences like food insecurity, health, access to community services and support, and coping and adapting strategies.”
EMBARK addresses barriers Black scholars often face in advancing their childhood disability research beyond the post-doctoral level. As an EMBARK scientist, De-Lawrence will have access to start-up research funds, principal investigator status on studies, and advisor and career support. EMBARK is a partnership between the hospital’s Bloorview Research Institute and the Black Research Network at the University of Toronto.
“We champion diverse voices in research because it leads to better science and treatment outcomes for our clients and their families,” says Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, director of the Bloorview Research Institute.
De-Lawrence has right-sided weakness related to cerebral palsy and grew up in Ghana.
“The barriers I have faced are complex and can be emotionally tough for me to describe,” De-Lawrence says. “It’s not been easy as a Black researcher combined with having a disability, but I have learned to be emotionally strong, focus on the positives and see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
De-Lawrence is currently completing a post-doctoral fellowship in the Critical Disability Program at York University’s School of Health Policy & Management. He and his team have been studying food insecurity among children and youth in Canada before COVID-19.
“Our preliminary results on household food insecurity across Canada before COVID-19 show that racialized children and youth with disabilities were more vulnerable compared to non-racialized children and youth without disabilities,” he says.
De-Lawrence plans to establish the Race, Ethnicity and Disability (READ) research lab to mobilize researchers, students and community partners to advance important research needed to inform policy and practice across Canada and internationally.
We interviewed De-Lawrence about how he got into the field in this candid 2019 piece.
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Are you looking for family-friendly breweries near Greenville and Upstate, SC? As the Upstate’s craft beer scene continues to grow, Kidding Around has tried and tested some of these breweries and found them quite family-friendly. We decided it’s high time to give parents a guide to places where they can kick back and enjoy their brews as their littles run around in the lawn. Here’s a list of breweries and taprooms that do just that. We’ve included their Instagram account handles so you can keep up with their latest events.
(Though these places welcome families, please use parental care when inside their premises. We don’t expect all of their bathrooms to have diaper-changing tables but a special shoutout to Brewery 85 that has changing tables in both restrooms!)
307 East McBee Ave Suite C, Greenville | @yeehawbrewing Right smack in the heart of downtown Greenville, is this micro-brewery that has thought of everything you ever wanted in a brewery. It recently converted its parking lot into a green space with an impressive wall of tv’s to catch your favorite team. A convention of lawn chairs lines the grass, for your outdoor viewing pleasure. We’ve seen locals troop here even in the middle of winter, huddled under their heated covered patio. They have a kid’s menu and signature items such as burgers and wings to keep you properly fed. On the weekends, they have live music and lawn toys to keep everyone entertained.
6 Whitlee Court, Greenville | @brewery85 A warm and laid-back environment, this craft microbrewery is family-friendly with diaper changing stations in both of their restrooms. They have a nice patio where there are some games for kids to play with. They don’t serve food, but they do sell snacks and food trucks come to visit. You may bring your own food if you like and your own growlers for filling. On Saturdays, from December to March, catch the Toasty Farmer’s Market from 11 am to 2 pm.
1320 Hampton Avenue Extension, Greenville | @bfsbeer We’ve always enjoyed this urban farmhouse-style brewery located in Hampton Station, a former cotton warehouse in the Water Tower District. We often bike over when we are on the Swamp Rabbit Trail to enjoy some brews and grab lunch from their neighbor, White Duck Taco. Their biergarten is very popular for lunch with its beautiful shady trees. Do check out their website for pop-up markets and community events on the weekends. Don’t forget to visit the other interesting tenants such as Hollowed Earth Pottery Studio, Art Up Studios and Craft Axe Throwing. Not into beer? Due South Coffee is the designated caffeine purveyor.
819 Laurens Rd. (Holland Park), Greenville | @doublestampbrewery A 90’s themed inspired brewery located in Holland Park, which is another coup for developers in making family-friendly mixed-use spaces. Double Stamp Brewery has tons of outdoor space and a rooftop patio. We’ve included them in this list since they are right beside Flying Rabbit Adventures, Greektown Express(opening soon), and Home Team BBQ. We recommend you gather all your brews and fixings and head on to the picnic tables under the oak trees. Also coming soon is access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail via the planned SRT extension.
25 Delano Drive, Unit D, Greenville | @Southernside_Brewery Southernside Brewing Co. gets high marks for its expansive indoor and outdoor space (formerly the site of El Thrifty). It’s right beside the Swamp Rabbit Trail and also has ample car parking. It has a spacious covered patio and an outdoor green space bedecked with numerous picnic tables with umbrellas for shade creating a neighborhood type of atmosphere. They have lots of yard games to keep your younguns busy. We like that their menu goes beyond bar chow and also features a kid’s menu. Definitely a great spot for chilling out on the weekends with kids or fur babies in tow.
556 Perry Ave. (Poe West), Greenville | @carolinabauernhausgvl Carolina Bauernhaus in Greenville, is the second location of its mothership in Anderson SC. It features locally sourced yeast, hops, fruits, and grains in its farmhouse brewery. They don’t have a full dine-in menu but they do have an array of grazing options: a charcuterie board, chips and salsa, pretzels, and something a little more hearty, the Haus Bratwurst on a hoagie bun. As a tenant of Poe West, Carolina Bauernhaus’s storefront plays host to numerous community events. Carolina Bauernhaus lends its space to its neighbors including the Village Launch Third Saturday Market, which features women and minority-owned vendors (restarts in May). Lots of kid-friendly activities here, picnic tables, hammocks, yard games and live music on the weekends.
250 Mill Street, Suite PW3101 (Taylors Mill), Taylors | @13stripesbrewery We’ve got the best inside scoop about 13 Stripes Brewery thanks to writer, Melanie, “13 Stripes Brewery in Taylors Mill actually has pack ‘n plays inside their taproom. You can hang out, have a beer, and your kid can take a nap. Or enjoy any of the games they have available (my kids loved Connect 4). They also have all kinds of events during the year that feature kids’ activities, which is really no surprise since there are over 20 kids between the brewery owners.” Read on further to learn more about Taylors Mill.
26 South Main Street, Travelers Rest | @swamprabbitbrewery A family-run business, Swamp Rabbit Brewery is well known in the craft beer industry having won past awards for their beer. Though they don’t serve food, they do have a rotating food truck schedule such as Daddy’s Cookout Food Truck and Local Pie Pizza Co. It’s a skip and a hop from the Swamp Rabbit Trail and a great pit stop for a family weekend bike ride. The backyard has picnic tables: a perfect place to have lunch and unwind. Patrons are allowed to bring food from other restaurants.
155 N. Buncombe Road, Greer | @thesoutherngrowl A brewery with a full on menu is a rare thing. A combination of good beer and good food, with a fantastic lawn and outdoor space, makes this a great location for families. We have lots more on what makes Southern Growl a great spot in Greer, SC.
It’s not exactly the Upstate of South Carolina, but Asheville, NC is definitely an easy day trip away. They are home to Sierra Nevada Brewery which offers a lot of family-friendly features. Gorgeous gardens, a full menu, games and music are just a couple of things you can expect to find at Sierra Nevada in Asheville, NC.
Sierra Nevada in Asheville, NC
More Places to Enjoy Something to Eat or Drink Near Greenville, SC
Breakups cut deep in the ADHD heart. Our rejection sensitivity intensifies the hurt of being dumped nearly to the point of physical pain. We’re also prone to obsessive thinking. A breakup takes over our lives, interrupting our ability to concentrate on anything else. A sad song replays in our heads, heartbreaking and inescapable. There are constant reminders of our ex everywhere we look — because in the ADHD brain, everything is connected to everything else.
We overshare our heartbreak with friends, incessantly rehashing the details of the breakup until no one wants to hear about it anymore. We may be unable to stop crying about the breakup at work, even though we know how unprofessional it makes us look.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that ADHD worsens and prolongs the pain of a breakup, even leading to depression and low self-esteem. Getting over a breakup is way more difficult for us than it is for most neurotypical people.
If you’re going through heartbreak, here are a few things you can do to ease the pain and move on:
How to Get Over a Breakup When You Have ADHD
1. Make a feel-good/cathartic playlist. Include happy songs that get you into a better frame of mind; independence manifestos about not needing your ex (think: “I Will Survive”); or sad songs that allow you to cry it all out. Singing releases dopamine (a chemical in short supply in the ADHD brain), which will make you feel good, too.
2. Journal obsessive thoughts. This is an extremely effective way to get hurts or worries out of your head and break up the loop of painful thoughts you may be stuck in.
3. Have a funeral for your breakup. Having a moment to eulogize the relationship and say goodbye is one way to kickstart the healing process. After that, gather up mementos and put them out of sight. (If you can get them out of the house, even better.) Other ways to get closure:
Write an unsent goodbye letter.
List all the ways the relationship was not right for you.
List what you’ve learned and hope to bring into your next relationship.
List the qualities you will seek in a future partner.
If it makes sense and both parties can handle it, meet with your ex for a goodbye coffee.
4. Hold off on destroying mementos right away. It may be tempting to burn photos, letters, and other items that remind you of your relationship, but wait awhile if you can, as you may regret impulsively destroying them.
5. Spend lots of time with friends.If you don’t have any close friends, you now have the free time to make some. Join an activity or a group for like-minded people. Try new things or learn a new skill. Or, look to the existing pool of people you know — the friendly person from yoga may be a great new friend.
6. Make time for things you enjoy. You’ll feel better about yourself knowing that you’re taking control of your life and doing things that make you feel joy, rather than only grieving the end of a relationship. To that end, adopt a new self-care practice, be it a relaxing skin care routine; journaling; hot baths with candles; or meditation and mindfulness. Self-love is so important for those of us with ADHD, as we receive more negative messaging about ourselves than do neurotypical people, which often causes our self-worth to tank.
7. Cry. Cry as much as you want. Cry for days, weeks, or months if necessary. Give some structure to your crying sessions if you need it, like five or ten minutes of scheduled crying per day. We have big feelings, so grieve the relationship for as long as you need to in order to move through the pain.
8. Avoid dating right way. It might be tempting to jump into a relationship with the next person who comes along, but if you do not take the time to heal, you will bring your pain into your new relationship. You want to show up as the best possible version of yourself when you’re in a new relationship, so take the time to grieve so you can properly move on.
9. Remind yourself of your strength and resilience. I bought myself a sunstone necklace after one of my relationship breakdowns to remind me that I make my own sunshine. I also have the word “brave” tattooed on me, which I got after another breakup, to remind me that I would go on, even if my relationship did not.
Breakups are among the most painful experiences we endure as human beings. The loss of a person we loved, and the future we imagined with them, crush the soul. The best way through a breakup is to allow yourself to feel your feelings, and to treat yourself with compassion.
Do your best to remember that love is not a finite resource. There’s plenty to go around, and you will find it again.
How to Get Over a Breakup with ADHD: Next Steps
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Been searching for “where to see dinosaurs near me”? Do you want to take your family somewhere to see dinosaurs? We have a list of all the places to see dinosaurs near Greenville, SC. Our list includes some fabulous places to learn about dinosaurs in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. All of them make a great dinosaur day trip from Upstate, SC.
I don’t know if it was the Jurassic Park movies or what that kicked off my fascination with dinosaurs but I definitely enjoy learning about them (and watching all the Jurassic Park films). Did I mention my kids love them, too? They do! Luckily for all of us, and you if your family also enjoys the giant animals, there are plenty of Greenville, SC dinosaur exhibits to see these life-size creatures in person.
RMSC has an actual dinosaur trail that visitors can stroll through and see dinosaurs on either side of them. There are plaques that talk about each one so it’s easy to turn it into an educational and fun adventure. They added two more dinosaurs in 2022. If you want to see and learn about dinos in Greenville, this is the place to be!
Hours: Public hours are 1:30-4:30 pm Tuesday – Friday for Afternoon Explorations through May 12, 2023 Admission: $5/person, ages 2 and under are free and it is free for members Address: 402 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville
Sometimes Greenville Dino Spots
These spots in Greenville don’t currently have dinos, but they will! We’ll let you know when more dinos are ready for your visit!
The Upcountry History Museum will occasionally host a dinosaur exhibit in Greenville, SC. Their most recent exhibit, The Land of Fire and Ice, was very popular among dinosaur fans. There is not a currently running dino exhibit at UHM, but stay tuned. We’ll let you know when another is on the way!
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday from 1-5 pm. Admission: $10/adults and $8/ages 4-12. Kids ages 3 and under are free Address: 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville
This small museum on the campus of Clemson University has dinosaur fossils and bones for visitors to check out. It’s a great little add-on for a day trip in the area. Unfortunately, the very cold weather early in the winter December 2022 caused damage to the building and they are not currently open. We will let you know when they open back up.
Hours: Monday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm. They are closed on the official Clemson holidays. (Note: Currently closed due to cold weather damage) Admission: Free Address: 140 Discovery Lane, Clemson
History buffs will love seeing 70 million-year-old dinosaur bones plus enjoy enormous dinosaur replicas throughout the natural history part of the museum.
This huge museum has an extensive dinosaur exhibit that is a lot of fun to walk through. Kids of all ages will love it. Plus, there is a planetarium, outdoor farm and Catawba Village, and a huge array of other exhibits.
Hours: Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm, Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 1 – 5 pm Admission: $7/adults, $6/ages 4-18, under 3 is free; free if you have a Roper Mountain Science Center membership Distance from Greenville: 1 hour and 25 minutes Address: 1500 East Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia, NC
Hands On Children’s Museum in Hendersonville, NC is a great place to bring the young kiddos. In addition to exhbits where kids can explore a grocery store, fire truck, ice cream shop, hospital and even the Hendersonville mountains, there is also a dinosaur exhibit perfect for the younger crowd. It features a large triceratops, a microscope with slides for examing, and an archeological dig box where kids can practice some archeology fossil finding skills!
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Admission:$10 per person Address:Hands On! Children’s Museum 318 N. Main Street, Hendersonville, NC, 828.697.8333
The Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County
Also in Hendersonville, NC you’ll find the Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County. This place is totally free. It has a very small footprint but it is totally worth a visit to see the fossils, minerals, rocks, and more! What dinosaur enthusiasts will be most excited to see is a T-Rex head fossil. There is also a fossil of a dinosaur nest with eggs inside that you are allowed to touch!
But, there is a ton of other cool things to see, including minerals that glow in the dark! If you’re in Hendersonville, don’t miss this place!
Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm Admission: Free Address: 400 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Hendersonville, NC has a ton of free things to do. So, if you’re headed up there to check out Hands On and the fossils at the Mineral and Lapidary Museum, don’t miss these other really fun and totally free things to do in Hendersonville, NC.
Go play at the Kiwanisaurus Treehouse Adventure that has four treehouses and four crows nests. Life-size dinosaur replicas are throughout the area for guests to get up close to. Then, immerse yourselves in the prehistoric world at the Prehistoric Passages: Realm of Dragons exhibit which utilizes technology to let you feel like you’re standing beside real dinosaurs. Learn about fossils, the Jurassic stage, see life-size replicas, skeletons, and lots more.
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission: $19.50/ages 14-64, $17.50/ages 3-13; free for members (Note that Greensboro Science Center is a member of both the AZA and ASTC which means if you have local memberships to the Greenville Zoo OR The Roper Mountain Science Center you may receive a discount or free admission depending on your membership and current membership reciprocity policies in place.) Address: 4301 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro, NC
Dinosaurs! is on display at the Catawba Science Center in Hickory, NC through August 2023. This exhibit is revamped with NINE new dinosaurs!
Hours: Wednesday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday 1 pm – 4 pm. Admission: $10/adults and $8/ages 3 and up. If you have a Roper Mountain Science Center membership, admission is free. Address: 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory, NC
Enjoy full-scale animatronic dinos, fossils, and interactive games to learn about dinosaurs.
Hours: Wed-Thurs 11 am-7 pm (last ticket at 6 pm), Fri-Sat 11 am-8 pm (last ticket at 7 pm), Sunday 12 pm-7 pm (last ticket at 6 pm) Purchase timed tickets! Admission: Tickets start at $15 Address: North Point Mall on the upper level, 1000 North Point Circle, Alpharetta, GA 30022
This is a totally free park (they do accept donations) that currently has more than 60 prehistoric creatures on the property that you can walk around and see. They also have a fossil pit, a small gift shop, and accept school groups. They also offer birthday parties.
Hours: Daily from 9 am – 9 pm Admission: Free but donations accepted Address: 1065 Walnut Grove Road, Bluff City, TN
This is a traveling exhibit that usually comes to the Upstate and other places in our region like Atlanta or Charlotte at least once a year. Check out their website or Facebook page for an updated schedule.
Admission: Depends on the venue but expect to pay at least $26/ticket
This year, why not send a homemade Valentine’s Day craft to a long-distance family member or friend? Everyone could use a little pick-me-up, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to tell someone you love them.
Here are 8 easy Valentine’s crafts for kids of all ages.
Thumbprint crafts. Break out a few stamp pads and turn your child’s thumbprint into hearts (just stick two of them together in a heart shape). Don’t forget a whimsical message: THUMB-body loves you!
Paper flowers. Fashion simple paper cupcake liners into pretty flowers by flattening them, having your child cut around the liner in a pretty scalloped or zigzag fashion, and then thread them onto pipe cleaners.
Paper plate wreath. Large or small paper plates will work. Cut the centre out so you have a doughtnut shape and paint, colour, or glue on hearts and other decorations.
Handprint card. Fold a piece of paper in half and trace your child’s hand from the fold upward (so your child’s wrist is aligned with the fold). Trace their handprint and cut it out.
Send a hug. Have your child lie down on top of a long roll of paper with his/her arms outstretched. Trace their arm span and cut out. Write a sweet message on it, tuck it into an envelope, and send someone a hug.
Make cupid’s arrows. All you need is a few wooden skewers, feathers, washi tape, or anything else you can think of to make LOVEly arrows Cupid would adore.
Beaded suncatchers. String beans onto a pipe cleaner and bend into a heart-shape. Attached a thin ribbon so it can be hung in the window.
Make love bugs. Little white, pink and red pompoms make for perfect fuzzy love bugs. Add googly eyes and little flat feet to prop them up.
A full-time work-from-home mom, Jennifer Cox (our “Supermom in Training”) loves dabbling in healthy cooking, craft projects, family outings, and more, sharing with readers everything she knows about being an (almost) superhero mommy.
Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a common skin condition among infants, and almost 60% of children can develop it during the first year of their life. Unfortunately, in most cases, new parents have no idea about the triggering factors or how to soothe an eczema-prone baby.
Yes, as soon as you detect allergic reactions on your infant’s skin, call the doctor to set off the eczema outbreak. Parallelly, you can soothe your baby’s skin irritation by choosing allergy-friendly clothes for your infant.
We know you have a pool of questions right now. So here’s what you need to know when choosing clothes to care for your baby’s allergy-prone skin.
Breathable Material Above All
Your sensitive-skinned infant needs soft and breathable material to lessen irritation, and that should be your first call to action. Any material touching their skin should be soft and breathable.
The idea is to ensure they are comfortable, even during flare-ups. Additionally, breathable materials are your best bet for preventing flare-ups. Remember, when your baby is settled, you are settled.
1. Natural and Organic, But No Wool Please
Dress your baby in natural fabrics, and avoid wool to provoke flare-ups. You want to select practical and long-lasting clothes and gentle materials for your baby’s skin. Explore organic baby clothes brands that use cotton, hemp, and linen fabrics when choosing allergy-friendly clothes for your infant. The texture and feel of the fabric should be pliable and smooth on your baby’s skin. However, wool is also a “natural fiber” but can heavily trigger allergies in babies, especially eczema. You may need to keep your baby warm with wool-based clothes during winter, but their texture can set off an outbreak.
2) No Synthetic Fabrics
Rule number two is to avoid synthetic fabrics because they are not breathable or have great sweat absorbents. Any fabric chemically produced, acrylic, polyester, rayon, spandex, nylon, and such, may feel nice and soft on your baby’s skin.
But here’s what you need to know, they often trigger flare-ups in allergy-prone babies. This is because chemicals used in synthetic fabrics pass through the protective skin barrier, causing skin irritation.
3) Avoid Tight Clothing For Eczema Baby
Avoid dressing your baby in tight clothing, especially turtlenecks, to prevent allergies and flare-ups. Infants’ body produces more heat than adults; hence it’s important to remember that they need airy clothes to keep them cool.
You should also know that your baby’s body heat tends to move upwards, towards their head, so when heat is trapped due to tight clothing or turtlenecks, it can lead to an allergy outbreak.
4) Layers
During winter, avoiding wool can be tricky. Choosing layered clothes carefully is the solution you are looking for to keep your baby warm and comfortable.
Layering has many benefits. The primary one is that it allows heat to flow away while keeping your infant warm enough. And then there’s the obvious advantage; you can lose a layer when your baby seems uncomfortable or too hot.
5) Hypoallergenic Laundry Soap For Eczema Baby
Moving on to “how to care” for your baby’s allergy-friendly clothes. Let’s talk about cleaning tips that will ensure you are preventing your infant’s skin irritation. The word is “hypoallergenic laundry soap.”
Make sure you are exploring your option, which may require trial and error. The first laundry soap you pick could suit your baby’s skin easily, while it could be the opposite for some. It depends on how your baby’s skin responds to certain hypoallergenic laundry soaps.
6) Washing and Rinsing
The last tip is to wash and rinse your baby’s clothes properly. Laundry-based issues cause many times, a baby’s skin irritation. Washing machines are often the culprit here unless you can select multiple rinses during one single cycle.
We recommend you rinse it twice. Yes, washing with a reliable hypoallergenic laundry soap is all you need to do. But in case of severe flare-ups, you’ll be sorry later. A longer washing time seems like a fair price to ease your baby, doesn’t it?
Conclusion On Allergy-Friendly Tips for Clothing an Eczema Baby
The rule of thumb is to always choose breathable and soft garments for your newborn’s sensitive skin. When we detect skin irritants, we only consider lotions, fragrances, soaps, etc, and somehow skip the main triggering factor-clothes and fabrics.
Clothing is a prime skin protector, but the wrong garment can backfire, making you and your baby suffer unnecessarily. Certain fabrics and chemicals used to make baby clothes can cause severe flare-ups in infants.
Therefore, always stick with breathable, soft, cool, and lightweight clothing until they’ve completed the first year of their life. Happy shopping 🙂
It’s hard to separate out physical and emotional pain. That’s because “pain is always physical and emotional, and happens in the body and brain,” says Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom, a clinical psychologist doing post-doctoral research at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. Brittany gave a fascinating Paediatric Project ECHO talk recently about using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with children and teens with chronic pain. We spoke about how ACT can help this population.
BLOOM: What is a simple way of understanding ACT?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: At its core, ACT is about behaviour change and making moves—[that’s why] ACT is pronounced as ‘act’ not A-C-T. It’s behaviour therapy guided by values, and basically we use what’s important to the individual to help guide their behaviour. We evaluate who and what matters to them, so they can move towards who and what matters.
Part of that is accepting what is out of your personal control, and committing to taking action with what is in your control. The key goal is to build a really rich, full, meaningful life.
We use different tools and strategies to help us get there. There’s a lot of mindfulness, to learn how to deal with pain, thoughts, feelings and memories, so they have less of an impact on an individual. What matters to the patient is what inspires the change.
BLOOM: How did you get interested in studying ACT?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: Through my training I’ve had snippets of experiences with ACT, but it was when I was doing a practicum at Toronto General Hospital in their transitional pain service that I found it to be so incredibly effective. I was under the supervision of Dr. Aliza Weinrib, who developed an ACT-based program for treating adults with chronic, post-surgical pain. Every patient I worked with was so willing to participate in this type of therapy, and it was a very palatable way of creating behaviour change.
BLOOM: Does this kind of post-surgical pain go away after a certain amount of time?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: Some folks I worked with at Toronto General Hospital didn’t develop chronic pain, but a subset, depending on the type of surgery and how they recovered, did.
I also trained in the chronic pain clinics at SickKids and at London Health Sciences Centre. For children and youth, which is my main area of expertise, about 20 per cent of kids undergoing major surgery will develop chronic pain.
BLOOM: In your workshop, you noted that pain has physical and emotional components. Can you explain?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: By definition the International Association for the Study of Pain, which is our gold standard, defines pain as always physical and emotional. They say it’s an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.
Pain is the way we process sensory information and the context in which it happens, and it’s often linked with depression and anxiety, so we need to treat both pain and mental health.
BLOOM: What comes first? Is it possible that an emotional loss leads to physical pain?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: It’s a very complicated process to disentangle what comes first. We have so much literature to show how involved the brain is in processing pain, and one of the key things I’m interested in is it always involves the limbic system—that’s our ‘fear central.’ When we’re feeling pain, this fires around various areas of the brain, and we plan what we’re going to do about the pain.
I heard an interesting case study of a worker on a construction site who was using a nail gun and it accidentally shot through his boot where his toes were. He was having a body and mind experience of being in great pain, and he was taken to hospital for help. They x-rayed his foot and found the nail had gone right between his toes, and hadn’t touched any tissue. So there was no physical damage, but he experienced it as hurting a lot.
There is a body of literature looking at people who have adverse or traumatic childhood experiences. Did those experiences happen first, and then the chronic pain happens? Or did the chronic pain happen first, and traumatic events caused it to be maintained? There was a systematic review published a year ago looking at the interconnection between what we would consider really scary or awful, and how it impacts the development of chronic pain.
BLOOM: In your workshop you mentioned that the emotional and physical parts of pain result in ‘stuck loops.’ What are those?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: A stuck loop is when you’re feeling something unpleasant—physical pain, emotions or memories—and you’re making moves away from what hurts. Everything you do is to try to get away from what’s hurting.
Let’s say a child has chronic pain in a lower limb. They might rest or stay in bed. But when you’re immobile for long periods of time, that might increase the pain. Also, lying down and resting may lead to feelings of isolation. So maybe to escape the pain and feelings of isolation, they take another away move by watching more television. That may lead to sadness as they recognize they’re missing out on hanging out with friends or going to the mall or playing a board game with their parents.
The more you try to avoid the pain, the worse it gets.
BLOOM: Why can ACT be useful for young people with chronic pain?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: I always go to the literature, and we have evidence that it’s effective in person and virtually. There are three systematic reviews that analyzed clinical trials and found it effective for treating chronic pain. This is a meta-analysis of one of them.
I also find on a personal level that ACT is really engaging for adolescents because there are a lot of hands-on exercises to try to find out what works for a patient. I’ve noticed that kids light up when we’re doing this work together. The values-based work is the motivation to inspire change.
BLOOM: In your workshop you talked about six processes of ACT.
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: The goal is to create a psychologically flexible mind, and there are six ways to build it.
The first is to have contact with the present moment. The opposite of that would be a child who’s stuck in the past or future. Let’s say they got an ankle injury from sports and can’t play and they’re telling themselves ‘I’ll never be sporty again’ and aren’t able to pay attention to the here and now.
The next process is acceptance and being open to the emotions going on inside you. We all have so many different emotions every day. Let’s say you’re feeling dread about doing an assignment. Acceptance would be ‘I’m afraid to start that task, and I’ll look at my values and if it’s important to me, I’ll put the time and effort into it.’ The opposite would be trying to avoid the dread by pushing it down and maybe you don’t end up doing the task at all.
Then there’s defusion. It’s watching your thinking and trying to take a step back from your thoughts. It might be saying ‘I notice I’m having the thought that this task is huge and I’m never going to finish it.’ Noticing that thought can help us feel like it’s controlling our behaviour less. The opposite would be when you’re holding on really tightly to thoughts as complete facts that dictate what you do. You might be fused to the thought ‘This is impossible.’
The fourth process is ‘self as context.’ It’s how we describe or identify ourselves, and how tightly we hold on to stories about ourselves. Let’s say you have an adolescent who is fiercely independent. That can be great, because they can do things for themselves. But when you have chronic pain, you need to be able to ask for help. For example, you might need to ask for a note to be able to take breaks in class, so you can stand up and walk around or do stretches. But an adolescent who is really attached to being independent won’t ask for the note. They’ll say ‘I’m going to have pain.’
Values is the fifth process. This is knowing what matters in your life. The opposite of that would be having a vague idea of what’s important to you but nothing tangible, and nothing written down. Maybe a student will say ‘Getting good grades is important,’ but we need to go a step further to look at what it is about grades that’s important. Maybe they’ll say ‘I want to keep learning in my life so I can go to college or university.’ Or ‘I’m really interested in how things work and I’d like to go into engineering.’ That would take you to the value of wanting to be a learner.
The last process is committed action. It means doing what it takes to move towards what matters. If you’re not doing anything, that is unworkable action.
BLOOM: What ACT exercises do youth tell you they like the most, or find most helpful?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: It totally depends on the patient. If we really need to work on avoidance, mindfulness is the place to go.
BLOOM: I think you talked about putting your thoughts on leaves and imagining them flowing down a stream.
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: With leaves on a stream, a mindfulness exercise, you’re seeing the ebbs and flows of thoughts. You might put a thought on a leaf and it might get stuck on a rock floating down a stream. So maybe you just watch the water move around it. Eventually maybe it floats away. You play with thoughts in a way that makes them less scary and controlling.
If a youth has sticky thoughts, perhaps they’re fused to the idea ‘This pain will never go away.’ We might write the thought out, or put it in bubble letters, or do colourful things to make it less scary.
One of the exercises adolescents love doing is value cards sort. You sort values into very important, mostly important, a little important and not important, and you work with the ones that are very and mostly important. You use them as a guide to make decisions and change behaviour.
Adolescents like thinking about what’s important to them as it helps them understand who they are. For example, if an adolescent feels deeply about the environment and wants to be a vegetarian, it helps motivate their behaviour. When we have three to four core values, they can try them on for size. Let’s say they’re really into the environment, but chronic pain means they can’t go to a protest because they can’t stand for a long period of time. What are other ways they can commit to this value? Can they read a blog post by an environmentalist?
BLOOM: What changes do you see in patients using ACT?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: When it comes to chronic pain, I see children, teens and adults doing more of what matters to them. The pain intensity may not change in our work together, but they’re living a fuller and richer life.
Maybe you have a child or teen who doesn’t want to go to school or spend time with family and they’re watching five hours of television in the evening. Maybe the change is that they spend four hours watching television and spend one hour eating dinner at the table with family. We fully applaud and high-five them for small changes. When you’re dealing with chronic pain it’s hard to make big sweeping changes, but making little changes over the course of the day can be really helpful.
Maybe a youth isn’t going to school but they go for a half-day. We can build them up to do more and more over time so that they can see that they can do it. And they’re motivated to do it, as they have tools and strategies for coping with pain, thoughts, feelings and memories.
With pain management it’s always a three-pronged approach that involves psychology, physical therapy, to get the kids moving in a safe way, and medication, which is prescribed by a physician.
BLOOM: As a clinician, what emotions come when working with children and teens with chronic pain?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: It depends on who I’m working with. First off, I feel an immense amount of empathy for kids, because by the time they’re seeing me, they have usually struggled for quite some time. When they’re telling me their story I feel so much empathy for them.
All healthcare providers are trained in coping with transference, and I, too, have had that training. So, for example, if a child or adolescent is severely depressed and really feeling alone, I need to take a deep breath after I’ve had a therapy session with them and give myself a chance to decompress. I may be worried about a youth. I use a lot of the skills I teach my kids in ACT with myself. So I might do some mindfulness between sessions. I schedule my sessions for 50 minutes so I have 10 minutes to write the notes and to use ACT on myself.
Of course the work can be very rewarding when you see a patient who is further along in their progress and they’re doing really cool things.
At SickKids we have an amazing team that assists in the treatment of chronic pain and I may run into the physiotherapist and describe an exercise I’m trying with a patient and they will say ‘That’s amazing, we’re doing a physical exercise that will help bring the kid on board.’
We have team consultations if we’re feeling stuck with something, and hearing someone else’s perspective is really useful. Working with the team is really uplifting.
BLOOM: Do you do anything else to manage stress?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: I exercise almost every day. I’m a runner, though I’m very slow. I do an assortment of things. I do a group workout three times a week, and then twice a week I run and I also do yoga.
BLOOM: Do you think ACT could benefit young people with chronic conditions or disabilities?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: The short answer is yes because ACT is trans-diagnostic. It’s designed for the human experience vs. a specific diagnosis.
I have used ACT with adolescents with cerebral palsy and chronic pain concerns and I found it quite effective. I think this is definitely an area where we can do research. Everyone has things that inspire them and are important to them, and those are huge for making small changes. It’s all about finding what works for the person. Moving towards what’s important might be something you do one minute of the day or an hour of the day.
BLOOM: I think ACT could be really helpful for children with disabilities and their parents because it isn’t focused on cure.
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: If you’re really hoping something is going to change, and realistically it’s not going to change, you’re in this tug of war with something. What I tell patients is to drop the rope and accept what is not going to change, and work with what can change. Accept the new normal.
BLOOM: You mentioned in your workshop that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used to treat chronic pain. When do you use CBT and when do you use ACT?
Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom: There’s a lot of evidence to support using CBT for chronic pain. I use it especially for kids under the age of 12. When I make the decision it’s in part based on age and developmental progress. You might find a 10-year-old who is clear on their values, but many 10-year-olds haven’t thought about it. Patients in the adolescent range are often interested in values. It depends where they are developmentally. If a child comes to the chronic pain clinic at SickKids after having done a lot of CBT and they’re feeling very stuck, that’s the time to shake it up and try something like ACT.
In Brittany’s workshop, she recommended these books for clinicians: ACT Made Simple; The ACT Matrix; and ACT for Adolescents. Books about using ACT for the layperson include The Joy of Parenting and Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life. Like this interview? Sign up for our monthly BLOOM e-letter. You’ll get family stories and expert advice on raising children with disabilities; interviews with activists, clinicians and researchers; and disability news.
It’s spring of senior year and your daughter has just received the best news of her life. “Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that…” She breaks into a huge smile, followed by tears of joy as she learns she has just been admitted to the school of her dreams. As you look at the next page of her letter you feel like crying too, but for completely different reasons. The financial aid award isn’t close to making her dream school affordable.
So what should you do? The only remedy available to you at this late date is the Letter of Appeal that you’ll need to send well in advance of National Decision Day on May 1, the last day you can leave a deposit at the school your child will attend.
What should you write in a persuasive Letter of Appeal?
What steps should families take when they need to appeal a financial aid award? (Twenty20 @JulieK)
How to appeal a financial aid award
1. First, compare the financial aid offers from all her colleges.
It is crucial that you understand what your net price will be at the schools your child most wants to attend. The net cost is the total annual sticker price at the school minus any grants and scholarships listed in the financial aid award.
Do not subtract loans or student employment, since these aren’t gift aid. Be sure you understand what the total cost of attendance (COA) is at each school — tuition, fees, room, board, books, personal expenses, and transportation to and from campus. Then do the simple arithmetic to learn how much each school will actually cost:
COA-Grants/Scholarships=Net Price
2. Call the financial aid office
Next, if you decide that you want to go ahead with an appeal at one or more schools, call the financial aid offices and ask what their process is. Some will simply send you a form to complete, others will ask you to send them a detailed request in writing. If they allow a letter, I recommend you send it as a pdf attachment to an email addressed to the financial aid office of each college.
Strongest reasons to appeal a financial aid award
Simply wanting more money, even needing more money, is not going to win your appeal. So what are the most convincing circumstances that could lead to a favorable adjustment to the award?
1. Loss of job/income.
The most powerful reason to appeal is that there has been a loss of job or other source of income since the FAFSA and CSS Profile were submitted. If this loss of income was due to a circumstance beyond the family’s control, it will carry considerable weight in the appeal process. What will be expected from you is the date of job loss, the reason for the job loss, the amount your earnings have been reduced, an explanation of when employment will be resumed if known, and what the new expectation of earnings will be. It is best to attach additional documentation corroborating these circumstances or to state that such documentation can be provided if necessary.
2. Increase in non-discretionary expenses.
Family spending can skyrocket as a result of serious injury or illness, or an elderly family member needing to move in to your home, or natural disasters like fires, floods, or earthquakes where there is significant damage to home or property. If any of these events have occurred, they should be documented in the letter of appeal, using actual dollar amounts.
3. Better offer from another school.
If another institution has offered a more generous aid package that could impact the decision of where your child will enroll, you should bring this to the attention of the financial aid administrator. Best if the the competing institution is similar to the one at which you are sending your appeal (e.g., NYU and Boston University, Creighton and Loyola Maryland, Wesleyan and Vassar). Be prepared to share a copy of the competition’s award letter.
Once your child has been admitted, she has more leverage than you might think. The institution wants her to enroll because its yield — the percentage of admitted students who actually enroll — is considered to be an important indicator of an institution’s power in the marketplace.
Writing a financial aid appeal letter
Here are some important guidelines to follow as you write your letter:
• It is perfectly acceptable for parents, rather than the student, to communicate directly with the financial aid administrator. Not the case with college applications and essays, but definitely the case with financial aid negotiations. • Clearly identify the applicant by name, date of birth, high school, whether a first-year applicant or transfer, and the application round (e.g. early decision, early action, regular decision). Clearly identify yourself as well. • Show appreciation for your child’s admission into the institution and the financial aid they have offered to this point. • Title your letter as “Letter of Appeal.” Make it clear in the first brief paragraph that you would like them to review the offer of financial aid in light of the information you are about to document in this letter. • Your arguments should be concise. The more your case can be explained by numbers, dates, and events beyond your control, the more persuasive it will be. More facts, less poetry. • Be clear about what you can afford to pay. If $6,500 more in institutional grants will make your child’s first choice affordable, and if that is the difference in net price between the two competing institutions, state this clearly. If they know how much more they need to sweeten the pot to ensure your child’s enrollment, tell them. • In your closing paragraph, be sure to thank them for the time they are putting in on your behalf. Explain that because of family finances the cost of college is a significant factor in the final decision of where she can attend. Express clearly that their institution is your child’s first choice (if this is true), and that you hope they can make it possible for her to enroll.
Some final tips
It is always easier to say no to someone in writing than over the phone, and easier over the phone than in person. If you can visit the financial aid office, be sure to mention in your cover email that you would like to arrange a meeting as soon as possible. Otherwise, let them know you will be following up in a few days by phone.
Remember, admitted applicants have leverage, and your persuasive arguments have a good chance of initiating a recalculation of your need and can result in your child’s financial aid award being increased. Know going into the negotiation what you will require to make your child’s enrollment possible. Be prepared to say no if they don’t meet it, and yes if they do!
Interested in finding reliable information and advice from some of the most experienced and trusted experts in college admission advising?
Jeff Levy, author of this piece, is one of our college admissions experts and answers questions about how to find schools that are generous with merit aid and how to pay for college.
As a new student, you will face time pressures and new responsibilities. Research is likely to take up more time at university than you could have imagined.
You may resent this unless you realize just how important it is. If you’re studying health and science, your research skills can help you to succeed. Here are some of the reasons why it is so important.
Why Research Matters
Part of the mission of universities is learning and discovery because the advancement of knowledge is essential to civilization. It strengthens the economy, drives innovation, and helps to address challenges. Research is a process of careful inquiry that can lead to the discovery of new information. It can solve significant challenges for humans and the planet.
When studying science and health, research is an extensive part of what you do at university. It can be mentally draining for you as a student, but it is worthwhile because it helps with your development and growth.
Research Paper Help
As a student, it takes time to put in the research you need to do for all your assignments. When it comes to writing a paper, you may find you have run out of time. You can reach out to professional writers and ask them to “write my research paper for me and deliver it within the timeframe I set’’.
Essay writing service EduBirdie has professional writers who will help you write the best quality paper. Online help can provide a great example of how to write an essay.
Enhance Your Knowledge
Student research helps to expand your knowledge. Even experts in a field continue to uncover new information. The process can inspire you and start you thinking in more depth about a topic.
You will analyze what other researchers have to say and whether you agree with them or not. Finding gaps in what other researchers have studied can give you inspiration for your own direction of study.
Develop Healthy Curiosity
Research can help to enhance your problem-solving abilities and memory. It prepares your mind for a better understanding of different theories and concepts. Your cognitive abilities expand to absorb new knowledge.
The more you stretch your mind, the more your learning capacity will increase. There are always new discoveries to explore. Healthy curiosity fuels your brain and makes you want to find out more. When you are familiar with the process, you will develop the habit of lifelong learning.
When you can give evidence to support your theories, people will take you more seriously. Quoting facts and figures makes any argument you make more substantial.
When you can talk with confidence about a certain topic, it can open up many new doors for you. People want to listen to what you have to say. You may be invited to give lectures on your subject and be able to build a reputation that garners respect.
Develop Reading and Writing Skills
Reading and writing are integral parts of the research. They are also key skills that you need in business today. Reading keeps you informed and up to date. You will never lag behind or have to sit with outdated knowledge about a topic.
You will constantly read the latest information. The writing skills you develop allow you to express your ideas in a logical and clear way.
Increase Employment Prospects
Research plays a part in many successful businesses today. If you master the skill at university, you will be ready for any R&D you may have to do in your future career. A health science degree can lead you to a meaningful career with an influence on the quality of the lives of others. You can enjoy job satisfaction and a lucrative salary.
The diverse electives you study when doing a Bachelor of Health Sciences can equip you for a career in a wide range of scientific and allied professions. When you combine study and health, there is likely to be a great demand for your skills after you qualify.
Conclusion On How Students Use Research to Level Up
A love for research can last a lifetime. It can open up new possibilities and help you to develop analytical and problem-solving skills. Curiosity will fuel your brain and make you want to learn more rather than finding it a burden. In areas like health and science, it can prepare you for the real world and the challenges you may have to face. You can develop an informed point of view backed by real evidence. This can go a long way in helping you to develop and enjoy good career prospects.
Author’s Bio
Cory Shilling has made a name for himself as an influencer in the writing world. He writes everything so emphatically that every topic he works on – racism, education, science, violence, career, corporate sector or global warming – gets him recognition. His work is available as digital books, and for writing assignments on order, he is always available.
Have you visited the quaint Stone Soup Cafe in Landrum, SC? The restaurant has beautiful comfortable seating indoors and out. We love the pretty garden-like setting outdoors, as well as the cozy and comfortable indoor seating. And, we loved the relaxed ambiance and friendly service. Here’s why you should add this spot to your list of great restaurants for a date night, or a relaxing meal out with friends and family.
Outdoor Seating at Stone Soup
Stone Soup Setting
From the minute you pull into the stone parking lot, after your drive down Main Street Landrum, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a little mini-vacation spot in the mountains. Surrounded by mature trees and pretty hanging lights you can choose to either dine indoors or out. Either way, you can enjoy a leisurely meal in a beautiful setting.
This place is the total opposite of busy city, downtown dining in loud buzzing restaurants. My husband and I have visited a couple of times for a date night, and each time is just as good, if not better, than the last.
Outdoors, and tables are set under shade awnings and a pavilion. There are both fans and heaters so the space can be enjoyed in a variety of weather. Indoors, cozy and comfortable tables are spread throughout a couple of smaller rooms of dining space with great big windows, allowing for easy conversation and a relaxed ambiance.
It is rather unusual for my husband and me, especially leaving the kids at home, to enjoy a drink, then an appetizer, a meal, and also stick around for coffee and dessert. But at Stone Soup we do because it was just that beautiful and relaxing. We probably spend an average of 2 hours on our date night meals Stone Soup. The service was wonderful and we never once felt rushed. In fact, our waitress suggested at the end of our meal that we just keep sipping our coffee and take our time.
Stone Soup Menu
All that and we haven’t yet discussed the food. The menu at Stone Soup includes a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, unique appetizers, and entrees, plus cocktails, and a small selection of the day’s desserts.
We ordered (and highly recommend) the Tuna Bites for an appetizer. It was gorgeous and delicious. The tuna bites are black sesame-crusted Rare Ahi Tuna, pickled ginger, wasabi cream, chopped red peppers, and green onions, on top of the lightest, crispiest wontons you’ve ever seen or tasted.
We ordered the tuna bites again on a second visit, and they were just as delicious!
For our meals, we’ve enjoyed sandwiches like their salmon BLT and a woodfired calzone. The bacon on that BLT was some of the thickest and tastiest I’ve had while the salmon was cooked perfectly. The calzone was massive and could have easily fed two people, which it didn’t because my husband loves calzones and ate the whole thing. It was just that good.
Dessert isn’t printed on the menu, but just ask your server for what they are offering that day. We intended to get one dessert and share it, but, on the day we went, they had both peanut butter pie and a chocolate flourless cake that may as well have been fudge. So, we got them both and we had no regrets.
Stone Soup Market
Stone Soup also carries a selection of housemade baked goods, deli salads, and specialty items that can be purchased in their market. They also have housemade frozen casseroles to pick up and bring home.
Stone Soup 1522 E. Rutherford Street Landrum, SC 864.457.5255
Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 am to 8 pm Friday 11:30 am to 9 pm Saturday 11:30 am to 8:30 pm
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Stone Soup Market & Cafe in Landrum, SC
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Planning a birthday party for a baby and searching through the first birthday party venues in Greenville, SC? What are the perfect spots in Greenville for a baby’s birthday party? Babies are a little tricky. They need a lot of supervision and a safe space. Many times, they need an indoor playground or indoor play area. That’s why we came up with this list full of first birthday party venues, parks, and other creative spots that would be perfect for babies and toddlers in Greenville, SC.
Birthdays are supposed to be fun. But let’s be honest – sometimes they’re not. I am usually so stressed out on the day of my kid’s party, I find myself counting down the minutes until it’s over.
It doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve compiled a list of (what I feel are) the best party ideas for your baby (for babies and toddlers) that won’t break your budget. These ideas include easy DIY birthday ideas for home and birthday party venues specializing in parties for babies.
Local Parks that Are Perfect for Baby Birthday Parties
Herdklotz Park
Assuming you live in the Greenville area, you’ve probably been to Herdklotz Park. Or at least heard of it. Located off Rutherford Road, it’s the perfect party destination. I would gear this one more towards your toddler child. There are two ways to do it: 1) Call Greenville Rec and reserve the large shelter at the top of the hill or the smaller shelter at the toddler playground. Or 2) pick a time that is less crowded and set up under the shelter in the little play area. Personally, I am in favor of the latter. When my son turned three we packed up picnic table covers, sidewalk chalk, balls and cars. He had a blast! The best part? It doesn’t cost a dime!
For more great parks, visit our Ultimate Guide to Parks in Greenville. You’ll find parks by location and amenities like basketball courts, swings and more.
The Greenville Zoo
The Greenville Zoo is perfect for ANY age, and you can even rent one of the picnic shelters. But, if you ask me (and you did, right?), for a baby’s birthday, I would stroll through the zoo with my friends and finish up with cake and ice cream under the picnic shelters in Cleveland Park. Then, let the kids have some free play on the playground. Children 2 and under can visit the Greenville Zoo for free and several of the membership packages come with extra tickets for friends and family.
Falls Park
Falls Park is the perfect idea for an infant party. I say infant, because if you carry a group of toddlers, the likelihood of your blood pressure sky-rocketing into the danger zone is high. And that would defeat the purpose of this list. I’m not signing up to chase two year olds around in an attempt to keep them out of the creek. No thank you. But count me in for a picnic lunch and playing on a blanket with other mommies and their babies. Stop by the Dollar Store, grab a few bottles of bubbles and head downtown. Don’t forget the cupcakes! Also, remember to pack paper products, juice boxes and lots of wet wipes. The only downside is you’ll need a back-up plan if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Get Together at Greenville Main Library
This may sound a little unconventional. You wouldn’t want to invite twenty friends, but if you are willing to keep it small (up to 3 friends & their babies), the library could be a really cool place for a party! There are computers and an entire room for your babies and toddlers. Be sure to check the Play-And-Learn (PAL) schedule to be sure it’s open during your party time. If the weather is nice, pack your blanket and serve up cupcakes (or cookies) on the front lawn.
First Birthday Party Venues in Greenville, SC
The Little Gym
The Little Gym in Greenville, SC offers birthday party packages for babies and toddlers. There are a couple of different packages you can choose from, as well as some add-ons. But what a great way to let your tiny human play with friends while getting some major energy out!
The Tumblebus
Have you heard of the Tumblebus yet? It’s a mobile gym for babies 18 months old through kids 6 years old. And guess what? They have birthday party packages! The party packages include an hour on the Tumblebus, a trained and first aid/CPR certified instructor, theme of your choice (no decorating for you to do!), a t-shirt for the birthday child, and little prizes for all attendees. Host your child’s party on the Tumbleus for an unforgettable birthday party.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
If you haven’t visited the Children’s Museum of the Upstate yet, be sure to add it to your calendar. The Spartanburg location is GREAT for kids under 6 years old! And you guessed it—you can host your child’s birthday party at either location! The TCMU staff will setup, decorate, and clean up. There are a couple of birthday party packages to choose from to make sure your needs are met. But if you’re looking for a birthday party venue for your baby or toddler, definitely consider hosing it at TCMU.
First Birthday Party Venues in Spartanburg, SC
Inflatable Fun in Your Backyard
There are several companies near Spartanburg that rent inflatables, such as bounce houses. Children, even babies, love playing in bounce houses! Adding an inflatable to the backyard birthday party is a perfect choice for a first birthday. Just make sure the inflatable is properly secured before allowing any children to play.
Picnic at the Park
If you would rather head outside of your house, consider celebrating at one of Spartanburg’s Parks. Many of the local parks, such as Anchor Park at Lake Bowen, have covered picnic areas that you can rent and reserve. Other parks offer picnic tables on a first-come basis. Choose your child’s favorite playground, invite their friends, and serve goldfish, cupcakes, and juice boxes.
Stroll Through Hatcher Garden
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve is beautiful all year long, and children love the chance to explore nature up close. With several different seating areas and picnic tables, you can find the ideal spot to sing “Happy Birthday” to your baby.
Stay Energized at YMCA Kindergym
The Middle Tyger YMCA offers Kindergym parties that are a blast for little ones! There is music, a teacher for the “class,” and tons of time running, jumping, and tumbling. Plus, they have a separate room where you can enjoy cake and open presents. They are currently only allowing party reservations for YMCA of Greater Spartanburg Members at this time.
Get Wet in the Summer at Shipwreck Cove
If your baby has a summer birthday, consider celebrating at Shipwreck Cove. They offer a Pirates Party for up to 12 kids and 2 adults ($220) and up to 20 kids and 2 adults ($350). Children will get to splash around and enjoy the birthday festivities.
Let Everyone Scream for Ice Cream at Hub City Scoops
If your little one loves ice cream, Hub City Scoops has a designated party space and party packages. This is a great option for families looking for a party that does not include lunch or dinner.
Bounce at Pump It Up
Pump It Up is a popular birthday party venue in town that works well for little ones (once they can climb on the inflatables). When you book a party at Pump It Up, your party has the inflatable area to themselves and then will move into a separate room for food and presents.
DIY Home Birthday Party for Babies
Bring Your Own Book
This party takes place in the comfort of your own home. Invite your guests to wrap their favorite children’s book. Have a special guest or “storyteller” read a handful of the books to your tiny audience. If you’re feeling really energetic and creative, have a few friends lined up to perform a puppet show. Your baby will have a fresh new library at the end of this party!
Kidz Bop Dance Party
Obviously, this one is more suitable for kids who are walking or toddling around. Who doesn’t love music?! Kidz Bop is awesome because it allows you to enjoy all the current tunes without being exposed to inappropriate lyrics. Toddlers LOVE to move! Music and dancing is always a crowd-pleaser.
Water Table Fun
Splish! Splash! You might suggest that your friends pack a towel and an extra pair of clothes. Put out a large tarp in the middle of your living room floor. Fill the table with lukewarm water. Add a drop of baby soap for bubbles or bath colors for a more exciting look. On the invitations, you can ask that each friend bring a bath toy as their gift. Your child will have fun opening their new toys before playtime. *This can also be done outdoors on a deck or patio.
Paint & Play-Doh Party
Let’s get creative! This is sure to be a hit with your two (maybe 3) year olds. Crayola makes paint that is completely safe for little hands. Spread a LARGE white piece of paint paper on the kitchen floor or table. (I would tape it down if I were you). Squirt a few different colors onto the paper and watch them (closely) as they go to town! After about 30 minutes, clean them up and transition to the table for Play-Doh fun. Like with the other parties, you can ask your guests to bring their own Play-Doh and/or Play-Doh accessories and leave them for the birthday girl or boy.
At the very least, I hope this list will alleviate some of your birthday party anxieties. All that really matters is that our children feel loved and celebrated on their special day.
Where has your child’s favorite birthday party been held?
Looking for some other things to do with your babies and toddlers? Be sure to read our entire Baby/Toddler Guide in Greenville with things to do, places to eat, and more.
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