Monthly Archives: November 2022

A Parents’ Guide to Making Great Memories When Traveling With Young Children

Family vacations create the perfect opportunity for bonding. The ways to make memories that will last a lifetime are limited only to your imagination – and, of course, your budget. So next time, use these helpful tips from NieCat Life Coaching to reduce expenses and enjoy a blissful and carefree time together.

Stick to a Travel Budget

As un-fun as it may sound, adhering to a set budget can add to your enjoyment by eliminating surprises and keeping your vacation affordable. HowStuffWorks notes to factor in all travel-related costs, including transportation, accommodations, food and beverage, entertainment, and souvenirs.

Take Advantage of Rewards Programs

Many airlines, rental car companies, and hotels have rewards programs that offer discounts, perks, and credits toward future travel. In addition, you can apply for a travel rewards credit card. Earn points on purchases and redeem them to cover trip expenses.

Travel During Off-Peak Times

With little ones, your available travel times are not limited to school breaks. Choose off-peak dates for lower prices and fewer crowds.

Choose a Kid-Friendly Destination

Your ideal destination will depend on your budget, travel distance, and your children’s ages and interests. If your kids are out of the baby stage, you’ll want a location that’s easy to get around and features attractions that captivate a child’s attention. Two of the best cities for family travel are San Diego and Orlando.

Besides incredible beaches, San Diego boasts the impressive San Diego Zoo, the fun-filled New Children’s Museum, and the timeless Balboa Park Carousel. Stroll over to Little Italy for delicious pizza and gelato.

Orlando may be best known for a certain mouse-themed park, so consider hitting up Disney World, a fun idea everyone can enjoy. This doesn’t have to break the budget, either, thanks to sites like MouseLifeToday.com, which offers deals and discounts, tourist news, and a rewards program. There are also plenty of other kid-friendly sites to explore in Orlando. For instance, outer space enthusiasts will feel out of this world at the Kennedy Space Center.

Spend Less on Meals

TrueMoneySaver.com points out that the average family of four spends approximately $300 per day on meals during vacation. Cut this amount by packing breakfast and lunch items. For dinner, choose restaurants that offer free or discounted children’s meals.

Read Your Kids’ Cues and Stay Flexible

While it’s helpful to know the day’s agenda, be prepared to change at a moment’s notice. If your kid displays crankiness, head back to the hotel instead of trying to squeeze in one more sightseeing excursion. Also, kids seem to be biologically wired to need snacks at regular intervals. Avert meltdowns by having quick and easy snack options readily available.

Opt for a Staycation

Staycations are highly underrated. Save tons of money by treating your home as a resort. You can be sure your accommodations will be clean and comfortable. You can also experience your local area from the lens of a tourist. Visit popular attractions and dine out at favorite restaurants.

Keep Your Kids Safe

Closely monitor your children, particularly when in an unfamiliar city. Ease anxiety about safety and security by preparing for hypothetical emergency scenarios. Give your child an ID bracelet or device containing your contact information. Have a plan in place for what to do should you become separated.

While traveling with kids may sometimes be a tiring and expensive, you can minimize stress and costs by planning, prioritizing, and pivoting when necessary. Any trip fatigue will fade, but the memories made will last forever.

NieCat Life Coaching uncovers your true potential as a parent and empowers you to lead a life that is worth celebrating with your children. Contact Coach Arthur today for more information, 305 761 5135. Visit our website: http://www.niecatlifecoaching.com

Amanda Hendersonamanda@safechildren.info

Safe Children

You Are Your Child’s First and Best Role Model

You are your child First and BEST Roll Model

Children learn from their parents how to make good life choices. Children may not always have the capacity for self-reflection and the ability to think about long-term consequences, which often makes it difficult for them to make wise decisions on their own. Parents should be available during this process and provide them with a platform where they can ask questions and get answers when they need them most. Read on for some tips and suggestions from NieCat Life Coaching.

Diet and Exercise  

Nemours KidsHealth notes that the dinner table is where children learn the dietary habits that can last a lifetime. Making healthy food choices for yourself and for them while they are young instills not only a sense of what a proper diet is, but they’ll learn to enjoy those foods if they’re introduced to them at an early age. Make certain both you and they have access to fruits and vegetables for snacking and avoid keeping sodas and chips in the house. You can reserve those for special occasions like parties but keep the healthy stuff on the table then too, to provide a good balance. 

Exercising with your children can be fun for you both. Family bicycling is something everyone can look forward to. Wearing helmets is a must for everyone as well as reflective clothing if you’ll be cycling past sundown. Walking and hiking are other fun activities everyone can do together, especially if it’s punctuated with a picnic

At Home

Keeping your home clean and clutter-free works for you and them. The Pragmatic Parent points out that teaching your children to put things away when they’re done with them means your home, including their rooms, can stay neat and tidy. A home filled with clutter causes stress and bad energy in the home, which means a lot of whining and complaining. Giving kids chores teaches them responsibility and accountability and if they get paid for some of those duties, it’s an opportunity for them to learn about savings, spending wisely, and delayed gratification. 

Scheduling homework time, playtime, and chores is a chance for them to learn time management, too. Kids can get stressed and overwhelmed if they’re not guided throughout their day since it takes time and maturity to learn how to best manage their activities. A printed schedule that is color coded in a place they visit often, like the refrigerator, can be helpful as well as a clock or an alarm clock that they can read. 

Education, Including Getting an Online Degree

It’s never too early to talk with your children about what they want to achieve in the future. Having a goal, even if it’s one they’ll change often, instills in them the idea of putting the work in now~education~means having the dream job they long for later on. 

Family trips to the library help them learn to appreciate books and all the other services a library offers. Encourage them to check out books about famous people who have done or are doing the job they hope to one day make their career. 

If you’ve been putting off getting a degree, pursuing an online degree gives you the flexibility to pursue your dream while fulfilling other responsibilities. For example, a BSED opens the door for opportunities to work with preschoolers and elementary-aged children. With the ability to learn at your own pace, online coursework allows you to work toward your goals while still taking care of your work and life responsibilities. Best of all, by seeking higher education, your children will benefit from the example you set. 

We hope you’ll adopt a few if not all of the above tips to be the best role model for your kids including living a healthy lifestyle, having a productive and stress-free home, and furthering your education, whether that’s through traditional channels or the online route. Children need guidance, but they also need to be left with a lot of freedom to find out what works best for them. This can only happen when we let them make their own choices while guiding them at the same time. If you need additional guidance and one-on-one support, reach out to parent coach Coach Arthur of NieCat Life Coaching today!

Written by:

Amanda Hendersonamanda@safechildren.info

Safe Children