children Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Finding High Quality Children’s Clothes at an Affordable Price

July 4, 2017 by Mandy

Mothers are instantly propelled into becoming retail buyers the minute their children are born. They start looking for where to go to shop at prices that have excellent price points. Some even become so savvy that they think about the ability to resell their children’s clothes once they outgrow them, calculating how much profit they could make. Some mothers, and particularly those lucky few who don’t have to think about what they spend, will purchase the very latest in designer clothes. But most mothers, however, would be far better served finding designer kids clothes for sale online, which is both affordable and of high quality.

Shopping for Quality without the Money

The reality is that if you only want your child to wear brand names, you will have to have a substantial shopping budget. Luckily, however, there are things you can do to have those types of labels, without that type of price. Here are a few tips:

Shop towards the end of the season, when things are on sale, even if that means buying next year’s clothes.
Consider buying high quality items and selling them once your child has outgrown them. You can then use that money to buy new clothes.
Be selective with what you buy. Does your child really need 10 individual outfits? You can make far more combinations if you purchase one pair of trousers, one skirt, and five different tops, for instance.
Always shop online. Online stores are always cheaper because they do not have the overhead costs that other stores have to deal with.
Sign up for newsletters with online stores. Doing so means that you will be sent special offers and discount codes before anybody else.
Consider shopping together with a friend, particularly if you receive a discount or free postage if you spend over a certain amount.
If you must shop in physical stores, make sure that you only go to outlet malls.

Clearly, shopping online is the way forward, as is being a savvy shopper. However, there are a few dangers associated with shopping online as well. The first is that you have to be weary of some online stores. Make sure that you can find an address for them, and that they can be contacted in ways other than online. It is all too easy to accidentally buy counterfeit goods from a website that is actually located in China, for instance.

The second thing is that you should only purchase from stores with an excellent returns policy. Because your child cannot first try the clothes on, there is a chance that they don’t fit or even simply don’t suit them. You have to be sure that you can return the items easily if and when that happens. Do also make sure that you understand the rules of returns, such as how the label has to be presented on return, and where the items have to be sent to.

4 Ways for Adopted Kids to Find Their Roots as Adults

June 6, 2017 by Mandy

Were you adopted as a child? Some kids who grow up in adoptive families have no trouble accepting their adoptive parents as their “real” parents and don’t wonder much about their birth parents. Others feel they can’t rest until they track down the parents who conceived them and learn more about their birth family, heritage, and situation. It’s perfectly normal to hover between the two extremes, and even to have different feelings on different days. If not knowing much about your genetic family makes you feel ungrounded, here are some ideas to help you feel more rooted.

Order a DNA Test

Image via Flickr by Victoria Nevland

If you don’t even know what box to check when asked your ethnicity, this is a good place to begin. Services like AncestryDNA and 23andMe have made it very easy to learn more about your heritage. For about $100, you’ll get a report that breaks down your DNA and tells you where your biological ancestors came from. 23andMe also offers an upgrade with a genetic health report, which might be lifesaving if you don’t know anything about your family’s heath history.

Seek Out Your Birth Parents

If knowing your heritage doesn’t satisfy you, it may be time to seek out your birth family, but first, make sure you have reasonable expectations and are emotionally prepared. There are services that can help you find your birth mother, or you can register and file court petitions yourself. Childwelfare.gov offers a publication that can help you find local support groups and navigate the legal system if you decide to do the search on your own.

See a Therapist

If your thoughts race in circles and you can’t decide whether you want to try to contact your birth mother, schedule a few therapy sessions. There are lots of issues to consider, including your own emotions, whether your adoptive parents are supportive or feel threatened, and your birth parents’ feelings. Most people could use a little help working through all that. A therapist can also help you explore the expectations that you’re bringing, and will offer an unbiased ear to help you process the meeting if and when it might occur. If you’re not comfortable talking with a therapist, try keeping a journal to help you untangle any complicated emotions that arise.

Pay it Forward

Everyone has down days. There may be times when you feel a bit lost, or disappointed, or struggle with other issues that you carry around your adoption. One of the best ways to stay focused on the positive is to put your energy into helping others. Working with orphans or taking in foster children will help you appreciate the sacrifice your birth parents made, and the hard work and love your adoptive parents have showered upon you.

Growing up as an adopted child can be very complicated for some people. As an adult, you can practice self-care that will help you feel grounded, whether you decide to seek out your birth parents or not.

7 Reasons to Get Your Kids a Dog

June 2, 2017 by Mandy

For the most part, dogs are friendly and affectionate animals that can have a positive impact on a child’s development. Dogs aren’t just the family pet; they can become a firm best friend, a protector, and even a teacher for little ones. So, it’s no surprise that many children dream of having their very own dog as a pet.

However, from a parent’s point of view, the decision to get a dog isn’t a small one. A dog will not only take up a chunk of the family budget in food, accessories and vet bills, they also require a lot of attention, with daily walks and perhaps training if you choose to get a puppy. If you can’t decide whether it’s worth it, here are seven reasons to convince you.

Reason #1. Dogs are a Great Best Friend:

With their own pet dog, you can be sure that your little one is never going to be lonely or bored. Even if their friends can’t come over to play, siblings are busy with homework or the weather outside isn’t great, a dog provides the perfect, eager playmate who’ll always be there for them. Dogs are well known for their companionship and loyalty, and they’ll be right there through the good times and the bad to celebrate with your child or cheer them up if needed. Check out these top dog tips to help your child get started looking after their new friend.

Reason #2. Dogs Encourage Physical Activity:

Today, more and more kids are spending their spare time playing on games consoles or staring at an iPad screen. But, while technology certainly has a part to play in education and development in the modern world, it’s important to get the balance right. Many parents worry that their children aren’t playing outside and getting as much physical activity as they should be at such a young age. Dogs need to be regularly walked and exercised, plus they love to play, run and chase – helping to keep the whole family active. In turn, this will lead to a stronger, healthier immune system – in fact, studies show that children who grow up with dogs tend to take less time off school due to sickness. Another study even found that dog owners in general recover from illness more quickly – in some cases, even a heart attack.

Reason #3. Dogs Teach Skills and Responsibility:

Children like to spend a lot of time with their pets, and looking after a dog is one of the best ways to teach them responsibility and accountability from a young age. Even young children can understand that a dog must be cared for every day, giving them food and water and taking them for a walk. As your child grows up, they will learn how it feels to be in charge and how to uphold their commitments to others. Also, having a dog can help with a range of other skills. For example, your child can practice reading by reading stories to their pet, who’ll be more than willing to listen without interrupting. On the other hand, having a dog can be one of the best ways to help your child improve their social skills, and when you’re out walking your dog, you can meet and interact with other pet owners.

Reason #4. Dogs Offer Protection and Security:

When trained correctly and cared for, dogs are very loyal pets who will do anything to protect their beloved owners. A dog can offer protection for your child when they need it most; they will be there to fend off any bullies when you aren’t around, and can even detect if something is wrong, for example, if your child falls ill but isn’t yet showing any symptoms. Since dogs have excellent noses, they can also be hugely useful for children with certain allergies, as you can train them to detect various allergens around the home. In addition, dogs can also offer your child a sense of emotional security; knowing that your pet loves you is one of the best feelings in the world.

Reason #5. Dogs Can Reduce Stress and Anxiety:

Children of today can often be under tremendous pressure, with school exams starting at younger ages than ever before, and mounting peer pressure becoming the norm. So, it’s no surprise that many children are no stranger to stress and anxiety; whether it’s about fitting in with peers at school or doing well on an entrance exam. Thankfully, dogs are here to help them through the stressful times. Cuddling with your favorite pet releases a hormone known as oxytocin, which acts by relaxing the body and mind and soothing away anxiety.

Reason #6. Dogs Can Help Manage Behavioral Problems:

A pet dog can also help to manage any behavioral problems that kids may display. Many children grow out of their childhood behavioral issues, and a dog can help to speed this process up. For example, children who are overly hyperactive and even aggressive can find a healthy outlet for their energy by playing with a dog. On the other hand, even children who tend to be bad-tempered, or even spiteful, can be softened and taught discipline when looking after and interacting with a faithful, patient dog. In addition, children with special needs and learning difficulties often respond well to having a dog around.

Reason #7. Dogs Can Boost Self-Esteem:

Every caring parent wants their child to grow up with good self-esteem and a strong sense of self-worth, but sadly, this doesn’t always happen. There are many factors, both inside and outside of the home, that could have a lasting effect on the way your child views and thinks about themselves. However, having a pet dog has been shown to have a positive effect on children’s self-esteem. This is for a number of reasons; along with reducing anxiety and stress, the loyalty of a dog to your child serves as a constant reminder of how important they are to their pet.

Getting a dog may be a big commitment, but it can certainly be worth it regarding benefits for your little ones.

How to Help Your Children Pursue an Online Degree

May 30, 2017 by Mandy

We have talked about online degrees and various subjects around today’s online courses before on this blog. Despite the increasing popularity of online programs, there are still questions and doubts surrounding these online degrees. For parents, it is not always easy to understand the latest online courses, especially since they are rather unconventional.

That said, children nowadays are leaning towards online degrees more and more. They see the benefits of pursuing their next degree online as greater than the challenges, which is why online degrees are so popular in the first place. If your children have decided to take an online course, here are some of the things you can do to help them succeed in their pursuit.

Choosing the Right Program

Online courses are very similar to their brick-and-mortar counterparts in that not all of them are created equal. If your children decide to take an online degree, make sure they pick a course that is good and accredited. Fortunately, online degrees are easy to learn about and compare thanks to the wealth of resources now available.

Accreditation is one of the easiest ways to determine if an online degree is worth pursuing. An accredited online EMHA degree, for instance, will follow the same strict standards set by the university for their offline programs. Since these programs are now run by top names such as the University of Southern California, you can easily spot the best EMHA degree online – or any degree your child decides to pursue.

Costs and Preparations

Online degrees are significantly more affordable than the equivalent offline courses. You can expect the program tuition to be up to 40% cheaper, so there is a lot of money to save by opting for an online program. On top of that, there are no relocation and living costs to worry about, reducing the total costs of getting the degree even further.

Similar to offline programs, you can persuade your children to find a scholarship program to help find their online pursuit. There are even scholarships designed specifically for online students and they are just as easy to find. Other financing options, including student loans and grants, are just as widely available.

Understanding the Challenges

A lot of children make the mistake of choosing an online course thinking that it will be easier than going to an offline program. This is entirely not true. Online courses can be even more challenging, mainly because students are required to study in their own time and be more proactive in researching and finding additional course materials.

Before allowing your children to enroll in the online programs of their choice, make sure they understand these challenges. Help them set study schedules and make sure they allocate at least one or two hours every day for studying and working on course assignments.

In the meantime, take the time to learn more about online courses. We have plenty of articles here on SerendipityMommy.com, including a detailed guide on how to choose the best online course to take. You will find today’s top online courses to be just as good – if not better – than their offline counterparts, so you have nothing to fear.

3 Ways to Get Kids Excited About Moving

May 17, 2017 by Mandy

Moving is always hard on kids, maybe even harder than it is on mom and dad because they have no life experiences to gauge a move by. The unknown is always a frightening prospect and even teenagers can rebel to leaving family and friends behind. Unfortunately, who can blame them? If you are trying to get your kids at least accepting of the move, if not excited by it, here are a few things you can do to make it a bit easier on all involved.

1) Promise Them Video Chats Frequently

At the moment, you are reading this online. This means you obviously have access to the internet and whether you are here via smartphone or computer, you can still open up some kind of video chat so that your kids can stay in touch with friends back home. In fact, your older kids probably have their own smartphones and laptops or tablets, so remind them that their friends are only one Facetime away. If they are like the average teen in America, they spend upwards of 9 hours a day on social media!

2) Postcards from Your New Neighborhood

Grade school kids are still thrilled about sending and receiving mail via the United States Post Office. Maybe because it’s something tangible that they can hold in their hands, or maybe it’s because they are already burnt out on social media (yes even in third or fourth grade!), but for whatever reason, kids really do like mail! Take your cell phone around the neighborhood to get some pictures of your new area. Turn them into postcards your kids can send to friends back home. They can even be designed on a web server and printed at home on your local printer. To get an idea of the various free templates available, click here.

3) Offer Them One Adventure a Week

While everyone is so busy getting set up in your new location, sometimes it’s easy to forget that your kids are not mobile like you are. They go to school, come home and play with any new friends they might have met at school. If not, television and Facebook become their BFFs and that’s not a good thing at all! What you can do is offer to take them on one adventure a week. Together, look at travel sites because this is where you will find the best listing of “What to Do” and “What to See” in literally any city on earth. From there, you can pick and choose kid-friendly places to explore and that should pique their interest throughout the coming week.

No, moving isn’t easy on the kids but with a little creativity and a lot of compassion, you can get them to accept the move a little more readily. They may not be happy about it but with some extra care and a bit of time on your part, you might even get them excited about moving somewhere they’ve never been. Just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. It may take time, but eventually they’ll meet new friends and settle in. It’s just a matter of time.