|
|
TRAILER
|
|
TRAILER
Dads’ Resource Center shares results of a poll conducted on shared parenting
STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania – (August 30, 2022)
– Is it fair that most dads end up with scattered visits
after divorcing or be made to feel that the courts automatically default in
judgment for the mother? These are some of the shared parenting questions
people have, and some groups are on a mission to gather the facts and make
positive changes. In conjunction with the National Parents Organization, the
Dads' Resource Center recently commissioned an independent poll of the
attitudes of those in Pennsylvania concerning shared parenting when parents
live apart.
"There is an extreme disconnect between how our citizens
think our family courts should operate and how they do operate," said
Dads' Resource Center Executive Director Jeffrey Steiner. "What we have
now enables or encourages conflict between separated parents and is a serious
disservice to children in separated families."
Researchscape International conducted the poll. The results
show that the public overwhelmingly believes children in separated families
need and should have the active involvement of both parents while growing up.
Significant findings from the poll include:
The polling
results were consistent with what was reported in polls that the National
Parents Organization has done in other states. To see the Dads’ Resource Center
Poll on Shared Parenting in Pennsylvania, click here. To see the National Parents Organization
National Shared Parenting Polling, click here.
"Creating a presumption of shared parenting, something
overwhelmingly supported by Pennsylvanians across the political spectrum, would
lower the conflict of divorce by assuring children and their parents that their
most precious relationship will not be destroyed by divorce," said Don
Hubin, chair of National Parents Organization. "Parental separation should
not result in parental deprivation."
Dads' Resource Center was
started by Dr. Joel N. Myers, a father of eight and the founder and CEO of
AccuWeather. The mission is to help combat the issues associated with children
growing up without their fathers in the home. At its heart, the center is a
child advocacy organization that aims to ensure that each child has the
appropriate involvement and contributions from both parents.
“Mothers
and fathers are supposed to be seen as equals under the laws of most states,”
said Dr. Myers. “Yet in reality there are many situations where dads
desperately want to be more involved in the lives of their sons and daughters,
but when opposed by their children’s mothers, the courts and governmental
agencies they face insurmountable obstacles because of established biases.”
About Dads’ Resource Center
The Dads' Resource Center is
committed to providing education, resources, and advocacy for dads who are
separated or divorced and are determined to uphold their sacred responsibility
as fathers. The Dads' Resource Center was founded by Dr. Joel N. Myers, the
founder and CEO of AccuWeather. His own experience as a single father led him
to start the group. To get more information, visit the site at: https://dadsrc.org.
# # #
In the blink of an eye, the school summer holidays are almost at an end, and with September rapidly looming, back to school preparations are fully underway. For parents, getting the kids ready for the start of term can prove a stressful and costly experience at the best of times.
However,
in the midst of a cost of living crisis, the financial implications will only
be adding to the pressure many families across the country are feeling. That
being said, there are ways to cut the costs of gearing up for a new school
year.
Nick Drewe, founder of discounts platform, WeThrift has
compiled a list of useful tips for how families can help to reduce their costs
and save money on the back to school essentials this September.
A
large financial burden concerning many families is the cost of new school
uniforms, particularly for families with multiple children, meaning multiple
uniforms across different schools with different requirements.
It
can be tempting to feel that you have to buy everything brand new when it
comes to a new school year; however, it’s always worthwhile doing an
inventory and quality checks on your children’s existing uniform before hitting
the shops. If some items are still good quality, and are still fitting well for
the time-being, save on money and continue wearing them until they need
replacing.
Another
great way to cut down on the amount you’re spending on school uniforms is to
shop for preloved items, particularly on the more expensive items such as
blazers and clothing with your child’s school logo on.
Look
out for local second-hand uniform retailers who offer uniforms with the
school’s branding, and be sure to add yourself to local school Facebook pages
or parents' Whatsapp groups, as many others may be looking to hand down their
child’s outgrown items rather than seeing good quality pieces going to waste.
Not only does this save on money, but is also better from a sustainability
perspective too.
One
of the most expensive elements of the school uniform shop is new school shoes.
Not only do parents have to contend with wear and tear, but also the fact that
children’s feet are constantly growing, meaning that the costs can start to
really pile up throughout the school year.
That
being said, there are a wide range of discount codes available online for many
of the high street shoe retailers. Yes, go into the shop in person to try on
the fit of the shoes, but then it’s recommended searching online for
discount codes and purchasing through the retailers website.
Also,
be on the lookout for retailers that offer a warranty guarantee, with some
offering refunds or replacements if the product is of poor quality or if your
child grows out of them within a certain time period. Remember to always check
terms and conditions.
If
you are planning on shopping for uniforms and back to school essentials at your
local supermarket, why not use your loyalty points if you have them, saving you
money on the more expensive items.
Reward
and cash back sites are also a great way to help to cut the cost of back to
school shopping.
School
uniform grants are available from local councils across
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, offering money towards the costs of
school uniforms and PE kits. It is always worth checking your local council to
see if such grants are available and if you meet the terms and conditions to
qualify to receive it.
If
such a grant is unavailable from your local council, check with your child’s
school to see if any other incentives or grants are available to help you save
on the cost of uniforms.
When
it comes to new stationery shopping for the new term, it can be tempting to
splurge on an excessive amount of different coloured pens, notepads,
calculators and more. We always recommend doing as you would with school
uniforms and doing an inventory check to look at the quality of existing
stationery, looking at what’s missing and what may need replacing.
It
is also worthwhile to check in with your children’s school and find out if any
equipment will be provided in school and what exactly you need to purchase
yourself. This saves you doubling up on unnecessary items.
For
the kids who are a little older and are at secondary school, they may be
required to purchase certain books for their studies. The cost of purchasing
books across multiple subjects can add up.
Therefore,
looking out for retailers that provide the option to purchase preloved books at
a reduced cost is always worthwhile. Again, not only is this saving on cash,
but offers a more sustainable way of shopping for school supplies.
When
it comes to reducing the costs of your child’s lunches, planning is key!
Pre-plan what lunches you’re going to make for them throughout the week before
you do your food shops so that you can work out a weekly budget and know
exactly what you need to buy. Bulk buying ingredients and cupboard staples you
use regularly is also a handy way to reduce the cost of your grocery
bills.
Keep
an eye out for items that are on sale and stock up when they are reduced.
However,
it’s important to pay extra attention to expiration dates on food so that you
can plan and minimise food wastage.
COVID-19 disrupted many healthcare routines, especially for children who have fallen behind on receiving recommended vaccines. In fact, a polio case was recently identified in the U.S and poses an ongoing risk to those who are unvaccinated.
With school quickly approaching, and in honor of National Immunization Awareness Month (August), MedStar Health surveyed caregivers of children (ages 5 to 18) in the U.S, to highlight the importance of vaccination for kids. The survey found that the majority of children are up to date on all immunizations.
Please find an overview of the results below:
What is your child’s immunization status?
As the flu virus changes often, the
vaccine should be given each year for the best protection.
How often does your child get the flu shot?
Vaccines help protect children as
they head back to school, where potential for vaccine-preventable disease
transmission is higher.
When do you usually get the flu shot for your child?
MedStar Health recommends getting the flu shot sometime after September 1st. It takes about 4-6 weeks to respond fully to the vaccine, so if people are vaccinated in Sep/Oct they should be protected by Nov/Dec which is usually when flu starts.
MedStar Health has providers available to address parents’ health concerns for their children as they go back to school, and how they can help them live healthier lives.
My Daughter's First Day Of PreK |
“Back-to-school” is here and to commemorate this time of year, many parents will be posting pictures on social media of their child holding a chalkboard or sign with details about their exciting first day back, including:
- The child’s name
- The name of the child’s teacher
- The name of the school the child attends
- The child’s height
- The child’s interests, favorite food, colors, etc.
While it’s wonderful to be able to share updates with friends and family, it is
also a good idea to be aware of just how much information you share on social
media, and with whom, in order to keep the information you post private &
secure. Lookout
offers tips to protect your (and your children’s) personal information online
this back-to-school season.
Consider limiting the information you share online
In recent years, online scams and data breaches have surged, and bad actors
often use the personal information they collect about someone to try and access
their online accounts or trick a person into falling for a phishing attack.
When posting or sending information online, you may want to consider how much
information you feel comfortable sharing. In the case of the LinkedIn and
Facebook breaches in 2021, the combined leaked information from online profiles
included phone numbers, physical and email addresses as well as personal and
professional details.
Check your account and application permission settings
It’s also a good idea to check your account security settings and customize
your controls for all your online accounts and devices.
In the case of social media accounts, almost 1 in 4 people (25%)* have their
Facebook profile settings open to the “Public” – meaning anyone can view and
collect personal details from the account. Attackers can easily scrape this
information from social media posts and attempt to use this information to log
accounts or attempt identity theft.
You can also look for any other third-party applications that you may have
granted authorization to your social media profiles in the past. In the event
any of these other applications are breached, it is possible they could expose
information from your social media account.
Avoid creating passwords with personal identifiable information
It’s a good idea to always use strong and unique passwords and avoid using
personal information that could be guessed. The same recommendation stands for
security questions to your online accounts – try and select questions
that do not coincide with information that may be available online (for
example, the name of your best friend, or the name of your child’s school).
* Lookout commissioned a survey to 2,000 consumers in November
2021.
ABOUT LOOKOUT
Lookout is a cybersecurity company offering a range of security solutions
for both Consumer & Businesses customers. Our mission is to secure and empower
our digital future in a privacy-focused world where sharing sensitive
information is essential for work and play. We enable consumers and employees
to protect their data, and to securely stay connected without violating their
privacy and trust. Lookout is trusted by millions of consumers, the largest
enterprises and government agencies, and partners such as AT&T, Verizon,
Vodafone, Microsoft, Google, and Apple. Headquartered in San Francisco, Lookout
has offices in Amsterdam, Boston, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and
Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit www.lookout.com
and follow Lookout on its blog, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
https://www.lookout.com
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Goes Mainstream
Are you curious about the lion’s mane mushroom’s growing popularity? Like how it can help with your focus and energy or even your mood?
Fungies™ is a whole new way to try out lion’s mane mushroom without weird powders, bitter flavors, or questionable dosing!
Each chewy, fruity gummy is packed with the good stuff to help you handle your day whether that’s chasing after little ones, logging serious hours in front of the computer screen, or hitting the gym.
Fungies™ Highlights:
If you’ve wanted to give lion’s mane a try, Fungies™ are the perfectly edible introduction you’ve been waiting for!
Plus, you’ll be helping women and children get access to proper nutrition through their 1-for-1 donation to Vitamin Angels for every purchase.
THE 411:
I have yet to forget having 2 since getting them August 5th. They are like a treat after my morning coffee every morning.
They taste amazing, a berry flavor (blueberry/strawberry) and hey I think they do help with my memory, focus and mood.
It has been a stressful few weeks at work and I have managed to stay focused in the moment, not allow my emotions to get the best of me and my memory seems to be getting better. The summer has been jam packed yet, I have been remembering everything I need to manage, work on, finish or get started on. Is it the Fungies or is it mind over matter? I have no idea, but I know I use to enter a room and forget why I was there just a month ago. Old age is setting in and I feel it most days. Brain Health has become more important than ever to me so I will try everything to make sure I am of sound mine and body until the day I belly up!
$19.95/60
count - Learn more at www.eatfungies.com
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for a review. No monetary compensation was offered.
There is no doubt that it can be highly easy to get stuck in a rut – with the same old routines being practiced regularly. However, there is certainly a lot to be said for trying new things, as well as plenty of advantages that it can bring to both your personal and professional lives. Here are just some of the top reasons to try new things.
Learn More About Yourself
People still have the capacity to surprise themselves, but it is a lot less likely if you are doing the same things day in, day out. This is simply down to the fact that you are not exploring your boundaries and putting yourself in situations in which you feel uncomfortable. Ultimately, the more situations that you find yourself in, the more likely it is that you are going to learn more about yourself and perhaps find new hobbies or avenues of life you would like to explore.
Find Something New to Enjoy
It may well be the case that you do not have any hobbies at all – or else you are simply doing the same ones. There is no doubt that this can all start to get a little stale over time. By trying out new things, you may well find your next favouriteactivity that you would like to take part in regularly. Alternatively, you could well simply find a new recipe, drink, or vape juice from Mist Electronic that brings you some joy.
Meet New People
There is also the sense that trying new things is going to allow you to meet new people. This could be done in a couple of main ways. To begin with, it may well be that you can join up with a new class of people who are all learning something at the same time. Alternatively, you may well join in with an online community of people who have a certain interest that they would like to explore in one way or another.
Boost Your Life Satisfaction Levels
Sometimes, it is simply the case that you are ready to add some extra enjoyment to your life, and there is no doubt that expanding your horizons is one of the means that you have at your disposal. They certainly say that variety is the spice of life, and there is a lot to be said for simply bringing in a new hobby or other areas of enjoyment to what you are doing.
Become a More Interesting Person
Finally, the simple fact that you have more to talk about with other people can go a long way towards making you a more interesting person in general. You are always likely to have something to talk about at dinner parties and you will always have an anecdote or two that you can impart to others.
All of these are among the major reasons to try new things all the time. Get out there and see what things capture your imagination.
Pig Little Lies is a groundbreaking TV series that is exposing the lie of “teacup” pigs. There is no such thing. But, because of greed and misinformation, the public is mostly unaware that this is a scam. Now, thousands of pigs are being abandoned when they grow too big. Shelters and non-profit rescue organizations are being overrun. All because scammers are selling baby piglets disguised as full-grown “teacup” pigs.
PIG LITTLE LIES:
https://watch.unchainedtv.com/apps/3909/167038/189608/192819
UnchainedTV created the world’s first reality TV series starring pigs to educate the public about this racket. The show’s goal is not to preach but merely to give viewers the tools to make an informed decision.
Dante and Beatrice are a bonded pair of potbellied pigs who were dumped at a high-kill shelter in Southern California. After being rescued by animal-loving country singer Simone Reyes, the pigs end up on the property of Cindy Brady, an LA-based wildlife rehabber. When it turns out that Beatrice is pregnant and gives birth to a baker’s dozen of piglets, it brings home the point: when you get a pig, be ready for anything.
How does it all turn out? You can binge watch all 5 episodes on UnchainedTV, a global, non-profit, free, streaming TV network. Says UnchainedTV President Jane Velez-Mitchell, a New York Times best-selling author and award-winning journalist, “We used a fun approach to send a serious message. This scam is happening all over America. We rescued one pig family but saw other abandoned pigs coming into shelters as we were filming. It was heartbreaking. We can’t rescue them all. But, we can urge the public not to fall for it.”
Pig Little Lies features Teri Crutchfield, founder of Saving Animals and Healing Hearts, who also appeared with one of her rescued potbellied pigs on the Netflix series Pet Stars. Crutchfield says, “We get easily get 5-10 calls a week from people who have so-called miniature pigs and are trying to dump them because they’re too big. And, these pigs are pouring into shelters. It’s a tragedy that could be avoided if we just stopped breeding them for profit.” Some of these pigs can grow to more than 200 pounds. Even the smallest breed on record, a rare breed, features pigs that are 60 pounds. All are way too big for a teacup.
UnchainedTV is available to download for free via App stores on iPhone and Android phones. It can be watched on television via Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV device, Roku device or via Samsung and LG Smart TVs. The network can also be watched online via UnchainedTV.com.
There are a huge number of reasons why your kid might be learning at home, whether it’s for schoolwork or extra-curricular activities. Thanks to the impact of the global pandemic, many kids in recent years have faced having to take their books home with them and learn from behind a screen. Others, like those who are home-schooled, are more accustomed to this, and flourish in a home-based learning environment. Whatever the reason, all kids deserve the best possible experience for success and development, so in this guide we’ll be bringing you our top tips for supporting your kid’s learning at home, to help you give them the right support.
Develop a Routine
The first thing to do when supporting your kid’s learning from home is to develop a structured routine that is easy for both of you to stick to. If you’re home-schooling your kid and taking responsibility for all of their learning, then this routine will need to cover a wider range of materials and activities than if you are simply supporting them through an online-learning period of their education. Regardless, the right routine is vital to allow your kid to grow and develop.
There are some easy steps that you can take to establish a reliable routine for your kid:
Having input from your kid about their day can make a world of difference when it comes to planning their routine. Rather than dictate exactly where they should be and what they should be doing at any time, speaking to them to understand what they enjoy or might need some additional help with is a great way to make sure that you’re meeting their developmental needs.
A good way to create a routine that is easy to stick to is toprioritize variation in the tasks and activities that are included. Kids need lots of different stimuli and activities to keep them engaged, so by varying their routine you can set them up for success. Things that you can plan include regular exercise and extra-curricular activities, which we’ll talk a little more about later in this article.
Once you’ve created a routine, having a structured timetable that is accessible for the whole family and easy for your kid to follow gives you the best chance of success. You can then set clear expectations around any rules, and how you’d like to see the routine implemented.
Encourage Extra-Curricular Activities
While home-schooling presents many positive benefits for kids across the United States, there are some areas in which kids can suffer when not given the correct support. In a 2011 survey, Cardus found that home-schooled individuals were more likely to report feeling helpless, and had less clarity around their goals and direction. However, this is not the case for all kids who learn at home, and there are plenty of ways that you can improve your kid’s outlook towards the future – one of the best ways to do this is to increase their socialization and prioritize extra-curricular activities.
By taking some time to encourage your kid to take part in activities outside of their home learning, you can help them to make new friends and experience a greater sense of belonging. Speaking to others of a similar age will also encourage your kid to discuss some different paths that they can take as they get older, which could include college admission or employment opportunities that they might not have considered before.
Research the Curriculum
Depending on what state you live in, there are different requirements surrounding the testing of home-schooled kids, and those who attend a school but are currently learning from home will still have to sit standardized examinations and tests that determine their future educational progression. Because of this, it’s important that as a parent you work hard to develop an understanding of the curriculum for your kid’s age, and the types of testing that they will face. This means that you’ll be able to provide high-quality, accurate information for your kids and prepare them for their tests in the very best way possible.
Utilize Free Resources
Once you have an understanding of the curriculum and know how it will be used to test your kid, you can then make the most out of free resources that you can find online to support their learning. For example, there are plenty of resources available for elementary school kids that can help bring them up to speed to a 4th grade writing level. In the 4th grade, writing is a key skill that they will need to master in order to take certain tests or meet their development objectives, so optimizing the free resources available to you is a great way to support them with this.
Stay Healthy
It goes without saying that kids who are happy and healthy perform better at school, so implementing good habits is crucial to your kid’s development. When planning your kid’s routine, make sure that their meal plans are healthy, and that they are able to get enough daily exercise. Eating nutritious food and staying active brings a whole host of benefits for kids, including better sleep and an improved ability to focus.
There are some great meal plan templates available online that you can use to plan their weekly food intake, and you can find some fantastic inspiration around the sports and activities available to kids by reaching out to parenting groups within the local community. Enrolling your kid into a sports club outside of school or their learning environment is also a great way to foster their development by offering greater opportunities to socialize.
If you don’t have the money to support your kid to join a club within the community, then don’t be disheartened, as there are plenty of ways that you can encourage them to exercise at home. If you have a backyard, then you can set up outdoor activities like an obstacle course or mini soccer pitch andencourage them to invite friends over to share the experience. If not, you can find some brilliant videos online for dances or exercise routines that can be done indoors with minimal or no equipment. Exercise not only comes with physical benefits, but mental ones too, so whichever form of activity you choose for your kid, you can be certain that it will boost their development and improve their outlook on life.
Make Time to Listen
Our last tip is probably the most important when it comes to supporting your kid through home learning, and it’s to make the time to listen. Giving your kid the opportunity to discuss how they feel that their learning is going is a brilliant way to understand more about what they enjoy, what they don’t like so much and any areas that they feel could do with some improvement. It’s also a chance for them to raise any concerns around their extra-curricular activities or socialization, and to let you know if there is anything they might be going through that they need some extra support with. Not only will this boost their learning capabilities, but it will also bring you closer to them and let them know that they are respected and listened to.
Parenting is hard, and if you’re taking on the extra responsibilities that come with home-schooling or supporting your kid through a period of learning at home, then things can feel tough. However, by applying the tactics we’ve laid out in this guide, you can see an immediate change in the receptiveness of your kid to learning new things and feel closer than ever to them. Your kid will have a great learning experience, and you can make sure that they feel ready to achieve whatever they put their mind to!