“Stepping into the role of parent for your grandchildren comes with many challenges. The tragic or unexpected circumstances that led to this transition can create emotional upheaval for the children and logistical, financial, and health issues for you. Traveling together is an experience that can strengthen your grandfamily bond and bring much-needed joy and healing to all your lives.

Benefits of Travel

Travel affords the average person many benefits, but for grandparents who are raising their grandkids, it can be a lifeline. Research shows that just planning a trip increases happiness. The anticipation alone can help children and grandparents cope with difficult days. A change of scenery and a break from household responsibilities are an opportunity to recharge, gain perspective, and feel better prepared to handle daily stressors.

Choosing a Destination

Give your grandchildren a sense of control by involving them in planning. Ask for their input in choosing a location. Consider budget, ages, health, and mobility when deciding where to go.

Children are fairly easy to please when it comes to vacation so keep it simple and opt for a weekend trip to a family-friendly destination. Research smaller cities that are accessible, affordable, and offer plenty of entertainment options.

Exploring St. Louis

You can pack a lot of fun into a weekend in St. Louis, MO. There is amusement for all ages such as the St. Louis Science Center and the City Museum, which boasts a rooftop Ferris wheel and school bus.

You can purchase an Adventure Pass for unlimited use of public transportation to a variety of attractions, including:

• Louis Zoo
• Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape
• Gateway Arch
• World’s Fair Pavilion

Exploring Philadelphia

History and fun abound in the City of Brotherly Love. Enjoy the beauty of nature by venturing down one of the many paths of the Schuylkill River Trail. Brush up on historical facts with a visit to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Sports fans can take in a baseball game. Where to find Yankees tickets? Find them tickets online and filter search results by date, price range, and seat rating. Check online ticket sellers for interactive seating charts to get a 360-degree virtual in-seat view before you purchase.

Money-Savers

Traveling with kids doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are tips for how to snag the best deals:

1. Save on flights, hotels, and rental cars with credit card rewards.
2. Travel during off-peak times.
3. Book your flight in advance — 54 days before your trip is the magic number for the best airfare prices. 
4. Choose a destination that is pedestrian-friendly or use public transportation.
5. Search coupon sites for discounts to attractions or check out a city’s free activities and entertainment.

Save on expenses during your trip by bringing snacks and refillable water bottles. Avoid tourist traps and set limits on souvenir purchases. Your grandchildren will remember the memories they made, not the items they bought.

What to Pack

For a smooth, worry-free trip, make sure you pack the following items:

• Weather and activity-appropriate clothing
• Toiletries, including medication
• First-aid supplies
• Security blanket or lovey (for younger children)
• Legal documents that authorize you to travel with and make decisions for your grandchildren

Whether this is a new arrangement for you or you’ve been raising your grandchildren for some time, you must find ways to protect your physical and mental health and prevent caregiver burnout. Making travel a regular part of your lives can better equip you to manage complex emotions and situational stress and provide your grandkids with the stable and loving home environment they deserve."

Article written by Jenna Sherman. Jenna is a mom of three (two girls and a boy). She hopes to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders by providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources. She created parent-leaders.com as an avenue for parents who want to make sure their children grow up to be strong, independent, successful adults.   

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"Starting a small business in your community is a great way to connect with your local leaders, neighbors and other business owners. If you have a passion or a strong interest in a specific field, you can use that fire to ignite a new project, your own local small business. Here are the steps you need to take if you want to open your own business in your area.

Learn the Benefits of Local Small Businesses

Local small businesses are beneficial to communities. Today, retail and other industries are dominated by large corporate companies. The traditional local small business has been phased out of many main-street communities. Opening a new small business, such as a restaurant, retail store or a service center, can help rebuild community bonds and jumpstart the local economy.

Get a Primer on Business Skills

If you’ve never owned and operated a business and have little experience in your chosen field, you’ll need to do some research about what business ownership entails. To advance your dreams, consider going back to school and enrolling in a graduate degree such as an MBA program. This can allow you to develop your knowledge of business, strategy and management, along with learning about leadership, self-awareness and self-assessment.

Earning a degree online is often the recommended option when you have a full-time job or family obligations. Look for an accredited online school that has competitive tuition.

Write a Business Plan

After learning the basics about business, write a business plan for your idea. This is a necessary part of opening up a new venture. Your business plan should include details about your company’s operations, management, financial structure, products or services and hiring strategy.

Get Funding

A successful business also needs funding to get started. There are several different ways to get financing for a new business if you don’t have enough personal capital. You can go out and seek investors by connecting to the local business community, or you can talk to various local banks to get a small business loan.

Identify Your Structure

Next, you’ll have to identify the structure of your business. You can opt to be a sole proprietorship, corporation, or a limited liability company. An LLC offers benefits such as flexibility, tax advantages, limited liability and easier paperwork. You can avoid pricey legal fees by filing yourself or by using a formation service. States' regulations for creating an LLC vary, so look up the rules in your state before taking action.

Reach Out to the Community

Your local area may also have resources to help you get a successful start. Reach out to your chamber of commerce to see what assistance is available. Network with local leaders and community representatives to make a name for yourself.

Recruit a Team

At some point in the process, you’ll likely need to hire people to join your team. You may also need to recruit additional managers to help you run your company. You can hold a local job fair to help build your team. Look for people who share your passion and demonstrate reliability and responsibility.

Realize your dream of owning a local small business by committing to these steps. If you want to be an entrepreneur in your community, you can make it happen.

CASA trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children so they can find a safe and supportive environment to live. Join us today to make a life-changing difference."                                                                     

Article written by Derek Goodman.

“For the new parents in our lives, novelty gifts like mustache pacifiers or punny baby blankets can bring laughter. However, if you want to lighten the load for any mom or dad, you might consider something more practical. For instance, you might give comfortable sleepwear to a first-time mother or gift a new dad some help around the house.

Comfort

New parents need to be comfortable. They’ve got long nights ahead, and sometimes they forget to take care of themselves. Let’s help them a bit with their creature comforts.

• Practical clothing. Newborns need to be fed by their mothers 8-12 times a day. And some of these times happen in the middle of the night. Nursing nightgowns are important to new moms because they need the practical ease it gives them to nurse their newborns. These nightgowns deliver quick access for nursing, a comfortable fit, and a stylish contour to new moms.
  
  
• Better sleep. New parents don’t get to sleep so much, but we can still help with their rest. Weighted blankets can’t let you sleep longer, but it has been known to let you sleep better. Since these blankets are heavier, the feeling that one feels when using them is akin to being snuggled or hugged when one sleeps. There are different weights to these blankets, and the suggested is 10% of your body weight.
  
  
• Streaming. New parents are usually awake most hours of the day (and night) to take care of their newborns. Let them enjoy watching shows when they can’t sleep by giving them some Netflix gift cards. If they already have an account, gift cards will add to their account balance. If they don’t have an account, they can use the cards to open new accounts.
  
  
• Delivery. We got to eat, but new parents may be too busy to prepare their meal and start contemplating what their baby’s food tastes like. Give the new mom and dad some delivery service gift cards to stave off hunger. They’ll be able to order something they like and allow themselves a few more moments of rest.
  
  
• Almost Meals. When new parents long for home cooking but worry about the time it will take them to prepare it, meal kits may be the answer. Giving the new parents meal kits gift cards will allow them to receive scheduled deliveries during the week. Meal kits are prepared with fresh ingredients and recipes that are easy to follow. There are different providers so the new parents can try new dishes from comfort to gourmet.
  
  

Convenience

New parents don’t seem to have enough time on their hands to get everything done. Or they do get everything done, but they end up being pretty tired from their day. Let’s help them save some time with these convenient little fixes.

• Dust sweeper. Having dusty floors is no good when you have a newborn in the house. New parents have to keep their surroundings clean, and this means sweeping the floors daily. Good thing there are robot vacuums that can do the job for them. These little machines pack a mean vacuum and have sensors to navigate your floors.
  
  
• Multi-cooker. These cookers can perform different functions, such as sterilizing bottles and pacifiers, warming food, steaming, sautéing, cooking rice, slow cooking, and pressure cooking. Using these multi-cookers, you can also make baby food for the newborn, and yogurt for mommy and daddy.

More

We really want you to be able to choose the best gift you think new parents will appreciate. We’ve compiled some more resources for you to draw inspiration from.

• Moms like technology. Technology may bring the new mother more convenience or peace of mind. Here is a resource of other ideas for the tech-savvy new mom.
  
  
• Dads like cool stuff. Dads love cool stuff that is either relaxing or fun. Here’s a guide to things new dads might like.

We’re hoping that this resource can help you in finding the perfect gift for the new parents in your life. When it comes to making new parents’ lives easier, there are plenty of useful, practical options. With a little research, you can make your new parents’ exciting time more comfortable and convenient."

Article written by Jenna Sherman. Jenna is a mom of three (two girls and a boy). She hopes to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders by providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources. She created parent-leaders.com as an avenue for parents who want to make sure their children grow up to be strong, independent, successful adults.   

Image via Unsplash

"Spending your whole day stuck indoors isn’t just boring; it’s also really bad for you. Doctors have coined the term nature-deficit disorder to explain a host of health problems that have sprung from kids spending too little time outside. Streaming television, social media, and video games are just a few of the things keeping kids inside. However, getting kids outdoors is a vital tool for improving their health. Here’s your guide to nature-deficit disorder and how your family can fight it.

Ways to Have Fun in Your Own Backyard

All you need is to take a step outside to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.

How to Create a Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course for Kids

9 Great Outdoor Learning Activities for Springtime

23 Fun Outdoor Crafts for Kids

Tips for Beginner Astronomy

Getting Your Kids to Explore the Neighborhood

Venture out a bit farther and look for ways to enjoy your community.

Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

How to Make Long Family Walks Fun

At What Age Can Kids Go Out By Themselves?

Active Adventures for Your Family

Teach your kids to appreciate and respect nature with these adventures.

Camping with Kids

Safety Tips for Fishing with Kids

10 Fun Boating Day Trip Ideas for Kids

Hiking with Kids

Don’t let your kids get addicted to their screens. By spending time outside as a family, you ensure that your kids get the necessary benefits sunlight, fresh air, and lots of activity provide. You’ll all be healthier, together!

Court Appointed Special Advocates is dedicated to protecting abused and neglected children. Learn how you can support our work as a volunteer."

Article written by Jenna Sherman. Jenna is a mom of three (two girls and a boy). She hopes to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders by providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources. She created parent-leaders.com as an avenue for parents who want to make sure their children grow up to be strong, independent, successful adults.

Photo Credit: Unsplash