Keep expenses down when your baby is born

A new baby is a source of joy—and bills. You may feel overwhelmed once you get home from the hospital, but you can keep a steady hand on your finances as you balance feedings, diaper changes, and sleep. A recent article on the U.S. News & World Report website explains what to do:

• Audit your bill. Request an itemized bill from your hospital and check it for errors. You may find duplications, charges for procedures and medications you didn’t receive, and so forth. If so, contact the hospital’s billing department to request a reduction.

• Understand your insurance. Get out your insurance company’s explanation of benefits and refer to it as you check your bill, paying attention to anything your policy didn’t cover. You may find mistakes, which you should bring to the attention of both the insurance company and the hospital billing department as soon as possible.

• Research financial aid. You may qualify for financial assistance based on your income and family status. Your hospital’s website should have information on both its own benefits and also charitable organizations that may be in a position to help you.

Find the right balance in your hectic life

The typical family today puts in a lot more hours a year at work than ever before—frequently by working at two or more jobs. So finding a balance between work and life can be complicated. But balance is essential to our well-being. Here are some ways to get on the right track:

• Simplify. Need help with housecleaning? Consider hiring a cleaning person once a month. Feel like you don’t have enough time? Say “no” to things you don’t want to do or don’t have time to do. Don’t make commitments unless they’re important to you.

• Be grateful. Even in the midst of the most hectic and stressful times of life, there are things for which we can be thankful. Reflecting on the good things in our lives helps keep an all-important balance in our outlook.

• Play with your kids. Get down in the dirt and help the kids make mud pies, watch a movie with them, have a long chat over coffee with your teen, and so forth. Give your family more one-on-one time.

• Pay attention to your health. Maintain a sensible diet and a consistent exercise schedule. If you don’t stay healthy, you’ll be less able to handle the stress of work and home.

• Stop procrastinating. You’ll frequently spend more energy fretting over not doing a project than actually doing it. So eliminate the worry and just get started. Find the right balance in your hectic life

Trick or treat! Plan for a safe Halloween

Halloween is a holiday that children and their parents enjoy together. But keeping your costumed trick-or-treaters safe while they go door to door is paramount.

Follow these tips for ensuring that your kids will have a Halloween they remember for all the right reasons:

• Choose costumes in light or bright colors. Whether you buy a costume or make one, be sure it will be visible after dark. Put some reflective tape on goodie bags to help them show up on the street.

• Eat before going out. Serve dinner or a good healthy snack before your kids hit the neighborhood. They’ll be less likely to gorge on the candy they collect if they’re already full.

• Be careful with props. Make sure masks don’t limit children’s vision or obstruct their breathing. If they’re carrying canes, toy swords, or any other sort of accessory, check that they’re not too difficult to carry while

walking or crossing the street.

• Plan your route. Determine a clear and safe path through your neighborhood ahead of time. You should

accompany small children, of course, and discuss safety with older kids going out as a group. Always carry a

flashlight and cell phone.

• Inspect candy before eating. Check through treat bags when children return home, and separate out any candy that looks suspicious. Don’t let kids consume too much at one time—ration it out so they don’t make

themselves sick. 

Keeping your family healthy

Medical visits are almost a certainty for all family members, especially children. However the chances of illness can be reduced by following some easy steps.

One good tip is to make sure that your family goes to the doctor for check-ups on a regular basis. These check-ups can help to prevent certain conditions and diseases and make sure that you are doing all that you can to maintain your health, while for children, also assessing that they are where they should be for their age both physically and developmentally. Height and weight are checked, as are language and motor skills.

Another good tip is to take good care of your teeth. A dental visit should be scheduled not long after a baby gets its first tooth or once it has passed its first birthday. After that everyone should see a dentist once every six months regardless of their age. These visits identify problems such as tooth decay and can also help to learn correct brushing techniques as well as other tips on how to keep a child’s smile healthy.

Help your kids stay healthy! 

Play these games to spur your child’s imagination

Children start out full of creativity and imagination, and parents can help nurture it as they develop and grow. Play these games with your children to keep their minds active and alert:

• Costume play. Encourage games of dress-up. Keep old clothes, hats, and scarves around so your kids can put on a play or pretend to be grown-ups. This lets them try out different roles and express their ideas freely.

• Art gallery. Dedicate a section of your home (not just the refrigerator door) to your kids’ art. Display their pictures and sculptures, rotating them from time to time. You can even hold a “gallery opening” for your relatives or your kids’ friends, serving cheese and juice, to reinforce children’s pride in their talents.

• Story building. Collect some random objects around your house and ask your child to make up a story around them. Or gather a group of children, give them one item each, and have each one add a sentence to the story about the object he or she is holding. Switch items often to keep the game going.

• Forts. It’s a time-honored game, but one that stimulates the senses: Have your kids build a fort using blankets, sheets, and pillows. They’ll learn to solve problems like keeping a roof up and designing doors for easy entrance and exit.

Teaching Kids About Finances

It can be both easy and fun to teach children about finances. Learning about money helps children to also learn how to be generous, responsible and aware of their spending decisions. It is never too early to start teaching your kids about finances in your family. Children who understand what is required to be able to run a household are able to learn the value of money at a very young age.

One way to introduce children to the concept of money and balancing a budget is to give them chores for which they are paid an allowance. It is also a good idea to teach them to save around ten percent of that allowance in a savings account. You should not allow them to borrow against future allowances for a larger purchase, but to save for any items outside of their current budget, thus setting a healthy precedent and attitude to money for their adult life.

Giving children an allowance that they can spend largely as they wish establishes a foundation for dealing with money and being mindful about things that they really want to buy and things that need to be saved up for in order to acquire. Working for chores also teaches them the importance of the concept of work for pay. 

How To Encourage Your Kids to Apply Themselves

Parents often grow frustrated trying to convince their youngsters that applying themselves to chores, schoolwork, and other necessary tasks is important. You don’t have to resort to threats or bribery, though. Try some of these tips:

• Focus on progress, not perfection. Kids will shy away from chores if they feel they can never do a good enough job. Set reasonable standards, but don’t obsess about their getting everything perfect. Reward progress, not just results.

• Give them a choice. If kids feel they have a choice about what to do, or how to do it, they’ll try harder. Provide them with options, and be honest about what how they can do a good job.

• Give them lots of praise. Make them feel good about what they’re doing. They’ll want to do more if they feel good about their work. Point out their strengths, and make sure you’re sincere, honest, and specific in your praise.

• Talk about your own work. When you share your own achievements in your job or hobbies, kids may be motivated to work harder so they have their own successes to share with you.