Games to Enhance your Baby’s Development

With your baby’s mind growing so fast during their early formative years, it is natural to want even their playtime to be educational. Here are some fun games to play with your baby that will aid them in their development.

Music

It doesn’t matter what age you are, everyone loves music. Let your little one experiment with different sounds by playing kid-friendly musical instruments. You most likely already have a rattle, so why not purchase a mini-drum or keyboard? And try not to worry too much about the loud noise.

Copy Cat

Place your baby in front of a mirror. Let them crawl up to it and touch it. Play copy-cat with them, getting them to do certain movements and letting them watch as their reflection does the same.

Sing

Unless your baby is a child prodigy, it is highly unlikely they will be able to sing themselves. Sing to your baby and let them make noises along with you. Provide something visual as well. This can be dancing, clapping, or just letting them wiggle on the floor.

Name Game

Play a game of naming the parts of the body. Say the names as you touch their feet, belly, arms, fingers, and so on. Repetition is key, and it is a very close bonding time. Make sure to use the proper names even if they can’t say them yet.

Peekaboo

You would be surprised how beneficial a game of peekaboo can be. Eye contact can help with facial recognition, displaying and understanding emotions, and helps to create a strong bond. This game also lets them begin to understand cause and effect, along with permanent and temporary states. They might not fully grasp the concepts yet, but their minds are taking it all in and working on it.

Patty-cake

This game helps your baby develop their hand-eye co-ordination. They can start to distinguish patterns and experiment with how they move their arms and body. Pair this game with a fun and educational rhyme!

Clean-up

Yes, even getting your baby to help you clean will enhance their development. This doesn’t mean sending them into the bathroom to scrub the toilet, but working with them to put their toys back in a proper place can teach responsibility and how items can be sorted into categories.

Pets

Growing-up with a pet is not only a lot of fun, but your child can forge new skills as they forge their friendship. Be with them as they play age-appropriate games like fetch. Teach them about how to manoeuvre their bodies so they can ‘friendly-pat’ their pet. Find out how to include them in caring for the pet at www.catlittlersource.com.

All children mature and grow at different rates, so don’t worry if they are more receptive to one game than another. Provide positive reinforcement for their attempts, praising them for trying but still correcting them.

Jen Brenner  (C)

Have You Been Considering a Home Renovation?

Have you been considering a home renovation project, but are unsure where to turn to find a trustworthy local contractor? There is now a site that can help you locate the perfect contractor at a price you can afford.

Roofing and Foundation

Two of the most important features of your home are the roof and foundation. One protects the inside from the elements and the other provides stability for the entire structure. Problems with either can prove extremely costly if they are let go for a long period of time after needing repairs.

Masonry Experts

Brick homes, office buildings, apartments, driveways and walls all need to be well-maintained and repaired every now and again. Hiring a masonry expert will help preserve your brick structures and give it extended life. Loose, broken or collapsed bricks can be fixed with the right equipment and knowledge. You can seek out a masonry contractor that is local, experienced and affordable.

Plumbing and Electrical

The internal workings of a home sometimes need to have a complete overhaul. Plumbing and electrical problems can cause secondary damage due to flooding or fire hazards. You can have a local plumbing or electrical contractor come out and give you a free estimate on repairs.

Landscaping

Does your yard need a complete remodel? Is there more dirt than grass? Are the weeds taking over? A true landscaping contractor can stop by and offer suggestions on getting your landscape healthy again. You might need fresh sod, the addition of healthy plants or maybe add a small koi pond. You are only limited by your imagination.

Paving and Patios

Concrete and asphalt driveways need serious repairs from time to time. Find a local paving contractor that can offer you the most affordable options to replace or fix any damaged pavement you have. You can also look into having new sidewalks installed, patios, or concrete paver walkways set in place for gardens.

Find a Trusted Local Contractor

You can narrow your search to find the closest contractors to your area. You can set an appointment to get an estimate of what repairs or renovations need done and the estimated costs. You are sure to find a trusted local contractor that can perform the needed work within your budget.

Contact renovation specialists like Renovation Experts and check out the latest in home renovation contractors right now!

Keeping Your Messy Eater of a Baby Out of Trouble

Is your baby the messiest little one in the world? Having a dirty kid can be a chore indeed. Some children are very well-behaved in most situations. Woe betides the unsuspecting adult who tries to feed them at meals, though. Messy eaters are the worst to deal with because of the cleanup than afterward takes so much time and effort. According to clean-smarter.net, there are ways in which you can prevent the mess from ever reaching your clean kitchen floors.

Invest in a Bib and Use it

Bibs are remarkable inventions for parents around the world. Having a little cloth bib for your baby is perfect for keeping them clean and looking cute. You don’t have to just use it as a blast shield, either. You can use it as a towel to wipe up stray food when it gets everywhere! Babies can’t spit like adults can – your child is going to be dribbling food all over themselves without spraying it everywhere. Of course, as your kid grows up and learns to use a spoon alone, you’ll need more than a cloth bib. Plastic bibs are more heavy-duty and can catch the worst of the spills with ease.

Get Food That Isn’t Messy

The food industry has heard the prayers of beleaguered parents everywhere. There are particular brands of baby food out there that have specially thickened sauces. This food sticks to the spoon and doesn’t spill or spray all over the place. Other than this, you can get creative when figuring out what to feed your baby every day. Some food is less messy than other types. For example, you can mix cereal with bananas squished into a paste, making it a perfect source of good, non-messy nutrition.

Start Cleaning While Feeding

It's a very easy way to avoid walking into your kitchen after feeding time and wanting to drown yourself in the kitchen sink. Clean it up right then, if you notice a little spill while you’re feeding your child. Freshly dropped food is easier to clean.After feeding's over, take the ten seconds to wipe up after each mouthful, and you will see less of the nuclear fallout! Dab at the bib too if you want to. The cleaner it is, the less likely food is to roll off the bib and onto the floor.

Eat Outside More Often

It's a simple way around messy post-baby kitchens. Take them out to the deck every day in the summer and eat there instead! You get to expose your kid to the beauty of natural living. They get to make as big a mess as they want without destroying your floors. It’s a win-win situation that works for everyone!

Using these simple tips and tricks can easily solve your problem of a messy child. There are plenty of other ways in which you can use your creative mind to address this issue. Learn to deal with your child’s messes as soon as they happen – this is the best way to manage them.

Jen Brenner (c)

The Risks of Buying Homes by the Water

There are many benefits of buying and owning property by a river, lake, or the sea. However, there are also many risks to consider. Before you go ahead and get yourself an awesome new waterfront property, you should take the time to evaluate the risk vs. reward and figure out if the purchase is a genuinely wise decision for you. Oceanfronthhi.com recommends that you check out the common risks listed below and determine if this is the right fit.

Your Taxes Might be Higher

When you buy a home or property located near a body of water, you’re investing in a place with gorgeous views. It is a place for you to escape to from busy life in the city. Who doesn’t want to be able to wake up on a summer morning and go for a swim right outside their door? The problem here is that most tax analysts and assessment specialists keep raising the value of waterfront homes. After a few years of ownership, there is a chance that your next evaluation will be so high you just sell your home to get rid of the drain on your resources.

This rise in the assessment can be even higher if the general neighborhood is also becoming more popular, or if you have built more structures on the property like a boathouse or pool. With possible increases in assessment values of about 50% a year, you stand to lose a lot of money in the long run unless you fight the assessment. While many people say that this is just one of the costs of living in a gorgeous home like this, it is something to think long and hard about.

The Danger of Water Damage

Most waterfront properties are located near lakes and rivers. Depending on the terrain and the climate, there is a another threat presenting itself to you. There is a high chance that you will face severe flooding at least once during your ownership period. Since flood damage isn't a clause in most home insurance policies today, you may have to pay out of your own pocket to repair the damages caused by the flooding. If you live in an area with a history of floods, it is best to get this damage covered by your insurance when you buy the home, just in case.

Some people buy waterfront properties in areas where there have never been floods in the past. This doesn’t mean that water damage won’t be a problem. Water from the nearby lake can seep through the ground and to your foundations over time. In the course of a few years, there could be significant damage caused to the foundations and structures of your home. Before you buy a property, make sure you have a damage expert analyze the foundations to determine their integrity.

While it is true that homes by the water are exquisite properties with a lot of potential for a family home, they aren't without their own set of risks. Be sure that you are okay with all of these and more before purchasing your home.

Jen Brenner (c)