How to Choose Glasses for Your Child

 

 

Shopping for glasses for your child or teenager can be a little confusing, especially when they have ideas of their own over what styles they might like to see when they look in the mirror. Should you listen to their desires to own red glasses or blue glasses or yellow glasses? Should you go for as plain a look as possible? It’s going to take a little thought to help decide which glasses are going to tick all the boxes in terms of keeping your child happy and which glasses are going to fall in line with your own expectations.

 

 

Consider the lens thickness

 

Different prescriptions can help you to decide over the style of frames. For example, where your child’s glasses prescription is for thick lenses, a thinner frame can help to balance things out, whereas a thick frame in this scenario may have the effect of making the lenses look even bigger. There is also the potential for thicker frames to distort the edges of your child’s field of vision when paired with thicker lenses, which is another reason to steer towards a thinner frame when dealing with a thick lens prescription. 

 

 

Consider face shape

 

It’s up to you as to whether you want to discuss your child’s face shape with them, but due to the fact that very few face shape sounds particularly appealing, the labels may create concerns over self-image, so tread lightly (for example, descriptions such as ‘triangle face’ or ‘rectangle face’ or ‘diamond jaw line’ may lead to sensitive children looking at their reflection and contemplating their image!). However, this is nevertheless something that you should consider. You will find much online discourse about glasses and face shape, but as a general rule of thumb, remember the rule of opposites: rounder faces work well with a more noticeable geometric frame shape with perhaps a thicker browline frame, and more angular faces are softened with rounded lenses and thinner frames. 

 

 

What about lightweight plastic frames?

 

Eyeglasses frames come in a range of materials. When we think of glasses frames, most of us tend to imagine the cold touch of metal against the bridge of our nose and hooking over our ears. However, that may be more of a mature supposition over the materials used in glasses construction than we should perhaps lean towards when it comes to the materials that may be more suited to frames for active children.

 

Lightweight plastic frames are stronger than you think, and present you with an option that can withstand the very physical trials and tribulations of being an everyday item that is owned and handled by a child. While metal frames may appear more robust at first, bent frames can be expensive to replace, whereas plastic is more likely to bounce off hard surfaces unharmed. Where the plastic does become damaged, the cost of replacing the frames is likely to be cheaper than paying for replacement designer metal frames. Look into your options and speak to your optician if you are unsure about plastic frames. 

 

 

 

 

 

Practicing Self Care While Home Schooling Your Kids

 

 

As the world is going through severe Pandemic and is in a state of constant lockdown, the most affected people other than the COVID-19 patients are those mothers who suddenly find themselves a homeschooler. While teachers are performing their duties by taking online classes, on the other end mothers who are already juggling with many positions of a cook, cleaner, wife, (the list may go on) and homeschooling being the hardest of all adds enormous burden on them by sitting around their kids throughout the class keeping an eye on every single task assigned to them. However, managing all kinds of stuff at a time is quite a big challenge for all mothers out there and may ruin their health, sanity, or patience. 

Notably, all the things do not stop one from keep trying however; there are some tips to be followed to stay cool throughout this homeschooling process.

 

Sleep is vitally important

Plenty of research suggests that sleep in vitally important for your health and it must be prioritized. Generally sleep is the first thing most people sacrifice when the rubber meets the road and this isn’t wise because losing sleep leads to losing productivity. Homeschooling is challenging, but it requires great energy, attention, and patience and that can only be achieved when you had a good sleep. Taking care of yourself will ultimately lead you to better parent and teacher of your kid. Do not sacrifice your health and happiness for homeschooling and hustling, it won’t work in the long run.

 

Self Care Routine  

Reconsidering your self- care routine is another vital aspect that keeps you sane during homeschooling. Self-care does not necessarily mean self-indulgence. Self-care means self-preparation. You need to think about what helps you to be at the best for the multiple jobs that you have in your life. There are a lot of people depending on you. So you need to work out mentally, physically, and spiritually for yourself that will benefit you throughout your busy schedule day. Going for a run, going for a walk is often good for all of the three aspects. Do the things that motivate you to feel like you are at your best. This is important not only to perform your multiple jobs well but it also sets a great example for your children who are watching you. 

 

 Get a Dream Team

It’s a fact anyone who has risen to the top of their work hasn’t done it alone, they must have some mentors, coaches, trainers. Whenever there are some weaknesses, you need to seek out resources. That does not necessarily mean you have to pay for it and need yet some extra time to go for it, rather go for the support and training you need to be the best at your work. This can be done by joining some groups on any social media platform or watching videos available on the internet. 

 

Routine for kids

Try not to track off your kids from a scheduled routine with that of schooling days. Waking up and going to bed early, dressed up nicely, a proper breakfast before the start of the class, and having small breaks in between the classes to refresh their mind that will help them in focusing and participating with great energy. 

 

Put all gadgets away

Although it doesn’t look like a formal class, however, all your gadgets must be put away and you must disconnect to the world for a while not to distract yourself as well as not to divert your children’s attention. The incoming calls, messages, and notifications on your gadgets not only result in losing attention but also leads to a waste of time. 

 

Plan your meals in advance 

It’s better to plan your meals. For instance, if you want to give all your time to your kids during their school time and you have to cook side by side. So the better option is to shop for all the required things on weekends and try to cook the meal that may last more than a night. Ask your kids to help you with cooking with you. This may help them in learning new things other than their school tasks. And will also lead in giving all your time to your kids during their schooling.

 

Outside time

It’s hard to go out and having a picnic in rush parks and other public places when the world is facing a severe Pandemic and all of us are confined to our homes. As a result of this quarantine everyone and specifically, kids are in great anxiety. To provide them with a change, you must get children outside of their homes as much as possible following all the restrictions and all SOPs. Be it a walk to a nearby park or a bicycle ride in-ground or maybe a drive on a long route. This will help in retaining the mental health of your child as well as your self. 

 

Indoor activities

Prioritize indoor games and activities other than 9-3 pm schooling. The indoor games such as board games, puzzles, card games help in increasing the intellectual learning of a child. Along with games, other activities such as arts, crafting, may give an exposure to the creative skills of your kids. Get them adapt to the habit of reading interesting books. This will greatly help in their academic career as well.

 

Bottom line 

To wrap up, coping up with the new “remote with kids” situation is quite challenging. And it’s even more challenging not to lose your temper and patience while dealing with homeschooling. All you need to do is have a strong faith in yourself, take a deep breath and follow a patterned schedule to manage your countless roles as a teacher, mother, cleaner, cook, wife and the list goes on……

Taking care of yourself must be a priority and you will finish it without feeling over-worked, burned out, and stressed.

For more parenting tips and information related to motherhood and pregnancy, check out ThePerfectMotherhood.com

The Importance of Ergonomics for Children

 

 

You've probably heard how important ergonomics can be, especially when it comes to certain occupations such as office or warehouse workers.  It may surprise you to know that ergonomics in children is just as important.  When it comes to developing good posture and preventing long term pain and injuries in children, there are a variety of ways you can implement good ergonomic practices for your child.

 

Backpacks

 

For school aged kids and teens, a backpack is a necessary item to help carry around their much needed books and school supplies.  One concern with backpacks is that they can become heavy and may potentially put strain on your child's back over the course of each school year.  A heavy backpack can also affect a child's posture, which can also lead to chronic pain.

One way you can help practice good children's ergonomics with their backpack is by making sure your child's backpack is not becoming too heavy.  For instance, it is recommended for a 60 pound child that a backpack not weigh over 5 pounds.  For a teenager weighing 125 pounds, their backpack should not weigh over 15 pounds.  It is also important to ensure that the backpack straps are properly tightened to provide comfort but also to reduce strain.

Desks and Chairs

 

During this time of a pandemic, many children are learning remotely from home.  With this comes the need for a quality desk and chair set that can work ergonomically for the child to withstand each day of learning.  A kids desk chair set that is ergonomically correct will include height adjustments, age specifications, a stable frame, and proper storage space.

A proper child's desk chair set will also prevent slouching so that posture is taken into consideration.  The desk surface area should also tilt to accommodate proper ergonomics.  If you are looking for a good set to invest in, consider these options before making your decision.

Taking ergonomics into consideration with your children can be a new concept for many parents.  Being mindful of this can help promote good posture and decrease long term pain associated with strain.  Just remember ergonomics is for all ages and is great practice for long term wellness!