Trampolines - To Buy Or Not To Buy

With the increase of screen time, finding motivation for children to go outdoors is a challenge for parents. One purchase that encourages hours of outdoor time is a trampoline. Trampolines have many accessories that encourage play and usage of the trampoline. Some trampolines come lighted. Others have full enclosures that convert the trampoline into a bouncy house or tent. You can find creative accessories like this online at major retailers.

There are pros and cons to buying a trampoline for your children. Here are a few that have been documented by parents on child development websites:




Pros

• Encourages More Time Outdoors
• Helps With Athletic Development
• Excellent Source Of Exercise That Reduces The Risk Of Obesity
• Newer Trampolines Come With Night Lighting and Games that Encourage Usage

Cons

• Risk Of Insurance Increase or Cancellation
• Risk Of Injury\
• Children In The Neighborhood May Use The Trampoline Without Supervision

Purchasing a trampoline is a positive experience if parents provide the proper supervision and rules for use. Choose wisely and talk to your children prior to use, and your trampoline experience can be a positive one.

Sitting At The Table During Meals Is More Important Than You Think

Sitting at the dinner table is one of the most important parts of your day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are meant to be social times for families to talk about their day. From the morning check in to the end of the day wrap up, the dinner table serves many purposes.

If you are a dad that eats around the TV for convenience, it is time to rethink how you serve your meals. Having time with your kids preparing the meal can be great for conversations starters. Eating a meal together provides for endless conversations lost to TV or Video Games.

Meal time at the table can help your children strengthen their vocabulary. The interaction among siblings and adults increases a child's vocabulary. Conversations also lead to social development. Topics such as bullying, moral character and emotional bonding can be tied into dinner time conversations.

Afraid a new habit is hard to start. Here are 4 tips for conversations at the table to help get your started:

Discuss the child’s day. Express an interest in your child’s daily life.

Discuss current events. Bring up news that's appropriate for your child’s age.

Let all family members talk. Be an active listener and be sure your child learns to listen as well.

Encourage your child to participate. Do not underestimate your child’s ability to hold a conversation.

You will notice in a few weeks a huge difference in your children's dining habits and be one proud dad for making the effort to make meal times family time. If you would like additional tips for meal prep, we also have a cooking blog to help fathers plan meals. The link will be provided as a resource under Fatherhood Resources.

Dads and LEGOS - Time Well Spent

How many times as a father, have I stepped on a LEGO and felt the pain on the bottom of my feet? Too many to count. My house is covered with LEGOS at times. Models and constructive sets decorate the entire house. Common themed stories along with robotics has been a big part of my kid's development. If you have not considered the benefits of LEGOS, here are some thoughts for dads to ponder.

LEGOS are an imaginative world that children benefit from. It opens up there minds to imagination and allows your child to explore their world in many innovative ways. LEGOS also teach your kids to use logic. Each brick has to "fit" into a pattern or scheme that they create in their mind. It may seem like construction to adults, which in a sense it is, however Legos open pathways to development for kids far beyond what we see. There is a reason that MIT and NASA use LEGOS as models to find solutions and clues to endless puzzles. Believe it or not, your child is doing the same thing. If you want to connect early childhood development in a meaningful way, check out the link on our blog for LEGOS, and how children develop at different ages and stages.