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Ways to Get Kids Excited About STEM Learning By KinderCare (Family Features) Many of the growing problems around the world, from famines and food insecurity to climate change and profound poverty, need the contributions of brilliant scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technologists. Encouraging children to explore skills and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) can help build a better future. Whether a child pursues a formal career in STEM or just gains the background in related skills, that experience and perspective can be important in stimulating change. Unlock the potential in your child with these tips from the learning experts at KinderCare: •
Recognize people who advance STEM. When reading a book or watching a show featuring characters in STEM careers, such as doctors, mechanics or computer engineers, talk with your child about the characteristics those characters have in common, like a sense of curiosity or a willingness to try an idea that may or may not work. Taking time to point out any family members or friends with similar jobs or hobbies can help your child picture himself or herself in STEM-related roles.
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Identify outside-the-box places STEM lives. Technology, for example, can be used to conduct research, draw or create music – things that don’t always occur in laboratories, research centers or tech companies. Using technology to pursue other interests can open new possibilities for children to channel their interests into STEM careers. To build on any specific interests, such as robotics, the ocean or the universe, find activities in your area you can do with your child. For example, encourage your child to ask the zookeepers about certain animals he or she is interested in or research the lifecycle of a tree before taking a family camping trip.
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Ways to Get Kids Excited About STEM Learning (continued) By KinderCare •
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Focus on the process to instill confidence. Kids should understand failure is OK, so they’re more open to try something new and step outside their comfort zones. Encourage your child to explore his or her passions and interests more in-depth. Try to compliment desired behaviors, such as hard work, perseverance, grit and learning from mistakes, to teach your child success doesn’t come from always being right.
Emphasize STEM-related skills. Curiosity, observation, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication are crucial in nearly all STEM-focused careers. By asking questions like “why?,” “how?” and “what if?,” and giving children the opportunity to explain the world around them instead of simply providing the answers, you can help spark curiosity and set the foundation for the development of more advanced skills.
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Easy On-Demand Dinners (Family Features) Nearly everyone wishes for an extra hour or two in the day. When juggling evenings filled with homework, practices, games and last-minute art projects, even just 60 extra minutes could make the difference in finding time to whip up a dinner you can be proud of. While there’s no changing the fact that there are 24 hours each day, there are some time-saving options for creating family dinners that feel like they’ve come together “on-demand.” Cube, spiralize or pound. No matter what shape you choose, decreasing the thickness of your ingredients is key to helping them cook through quickly. Think chicken breast cut into hunks for kabobs, thinly sliced Korean-style beef or zucchini turned into “zoodles.” With increased surface area and high heat, you may be surprised at just how quick you can have food on your plate. Homemade tasting, on-demand sides. Rounding out your menu with easy-tomake sides can be a huge time-saver, and you sacrifice nothing if you rely on choices that deliver the same taste as if you had prepared them from scratch. For example, Idahoan Mashed Potatoes are real potatoes, real easy, delivering homemade taste on-demand. Made from 100 percent real Idaho potatoes, they can be served in just minutes and offer high-quality taste and texture, just like homemade. The variety of flavors are perfectly blended with real cheese and authentic seasonings, and options include Buttery Homestyle, Roasted Garlic, Cheddar & Sour Cream, Loaded Baked and more, so you can find a match for just about any meal.
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Easy On-Demand Dinners Continued‌ Marinate meat before freezing. A rich marinade can add delightful flavor to a wide range of proteins, but marinating a dish takes time. Speed up the clock by marinating meat ahead of time before freezing it. Then, on a busy weeknight, all you have to do is thaw and cook for a well-seasoned meal in minutes. Pre-cut veggies cut down prep. Prepping vegetables is sometimes half the battle. From washing produce to peeling and chopping, precious time sometimes passes before ingredients even begin cooking. Washed and pre-chopped veggies are ready to go right in the pan so you can enjoy fresh flavors almost instantly. Rethink leftovers. The remains from a delicious dinner shouldn’t go to waste, and they don’t have to if you repurpose them into another meal. For example, you could reimagine grilled or roasted chicken into soft tacos or a protein-rich salad. Or you can add protein and seasonings to leftover pasta for a whole new meal. If you find the fridge full of odds and ends, make it a reheat-and-eat, quick smorgasbord meal. After all, what often matters most is that everyone eats a nourishing meal together, whether the same exact foods are on their plate or not. It can be even better when this nourishing meal comes together in the blink of an eye. Find more tips and ideas for creating delectable family dinners at Idahoan.com.
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IDEAS for MOM and Dad!!! 1. Plan a Picnic Whether you’re heading to a park or even just your backyard or fire escape, put down a blanket, get a spread of yummy snacks, a bottle of wine, and you’ve got yourself a lovely, low-cost date. 2. Go Birdwatching Sometimes the most romantic activities involve being outdoors together. Check if your favorite local park offers birdwatching tours, or just hang out in your backyard with binoculars. 3. Take a Brewery Tour Learn something and get beer in the process? This is pretty much a foolproof date. To find a tours, start by calling a microbrewery near you and go from there. 4. Take a Workout Class Take a spin class, a rowing class, or one of the myriad of trendy boutique workout classes that have popped up just about everywhere in recent years. Couples that sweat together, stay together. 5. Troll for Photobooths Spend an evening looking for photobooths, and taking fun photos together. The souvenirs from the evening are just a bonus. 6. Take a Boxing Class Together Not your typical date, get the endorphins flowing taking a boxing class together. 7. Visit a Museum and See Something Unexpected Going to a museum is a great date idea. Go see a controversial show, and the conversation will flow easily from there. 8. Head on a (Mini) Road Trip Pick a destination about an hour from where you live—it could be anything from a flea market to a restaurant off the beaten path—and 9 just drive.
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Choosing the Right Doctor for You and Your Family (Family Features) What matters to you when finding a doctor to treat you or your family members? A recent survey commissioned by the American Board of Medical Specialties found that four out of five people ranked Board Certification as an important factor when selecting a doctor, second only to whether the doctor is covered by their insurance. Choosing a new doctor is an important decision that nearly everyone experiences at one time or another, whether it’s finding a new family physician or pediatrician after a move or searching for a specialist after being diagnosed with a condition such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. When selecting a physician, you want to know the doctor you choose is qualified and that you and your family will receive the best care. Board Certified doctors hold themselves to a higher standard and have demonstrated their knowledge and expertise in their specialty. This higher standard has been found to be important to patients. “Choosing a doctor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your health,” said Richard E. Hawkins, MD, president and chief executive officer, American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the leading not-for-profit organization overseeing physician certification in the United States. “Today’s patients have a greater expectation for quality. Board Certified physicians offer people confidence that their doctor has the specialized knowledge, skills and clinical judgment to provide the high-quality care they expect and deserve.” What is Board Certification? Board Certification is recognized as the premier standard and assessment system for specialty and subspecialty expertise in medical, surgical and hospital disciplines. •
Board Certified doctors are experts in their specialties. Doctors who choose to be Board Certified are required to demonstrate their specialized knowledge in their area of practice.
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Board Certified doctors have met a higher standard. To be Board Certified, doctors successfully complete extensive training and assessment beyond that of their non-Board Certified peers.
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Not all doctors are Board Certified. Board Certification is voluntary, and more than 880,000 doctors in the United States are ABMS Board Certified in 40 specialties and 87 subspecialties. 11
Choosing the Right Doctor for You and Your Family continued‌ •
Find out if a doctor is Board Certified. This simple search tool allows you to check if your doctor, or one you are considering, is Board Certified. CertificationMatters.org, a website of ABMS, also features information about how doctors earn Board Certification, its importance to quality care and why the credential matters. Additional resources include links to prominent health care and consumer advocacy organizations.
To find a Board Certified doctor near you, visit CertificationMatters.org.
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
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3 Ways to Make Your Heart Healthier (Family Features) Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? One in four people die from it each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and millions more have it or are at risk of developing the disease. Smoking, being overweight or having diabetes, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease all increase your chances of getting the disease. The good news is that you can do something about it. “It’s never too late – or too early – to lower your risk for heart disease,” said Josephine Boyington, Ph.D., a nurse, licensed nutritionist and program director in the Division of Cardiovascular Health at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health. “Heart disease is a general term for a variety of conditions, such as clogged arteries, that make it difficult for your heart to pump blood properly,” she said. “Adopting small changes, like moving more and following a heart-healthy eating plan, can make a big difference. Research has shown that making healthy lifestyle changes that last can be a lot easier when you have friends or family doing it with you.” To mark American Heart Month, the NHLBI – the nation’s leader in research on the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders – is encouraging that kind of group support. It is celebrating “Our Hearts,” a national effort to motivate Americans to join each other in adopting heart-healthy behaviors throughout the year and beyond. Ready to start? Here are three tried-and-true ways you and your friends and family can help each other give your hearts a boost. 1. Adopt a healthy eating plan. Try NHLBI’s Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan. It’s free and, when compared to a typical American diet, has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure and improve blood cholesterol levels. The DASH eating plan features fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, beans, nuts and lean meats, and it limits foods that are high in saturated fats, sugars and sodium. Have fun with menus by inviting friends to join you for a heart-healthy dinner party or start a lunch club at work and trade creative recipe ideas with your colleagues. 2. Move more and #MoveWithHeart. One of the major risk factors for heart disease is inactivity. Getting up and moving helps lower that risk – and you don’t need to put in hours at a time to see results. Breaking up your daily activity into small chunks, such as 10-minute increments three times a day for five days a week, can begin to make a difference. To stay motivated, find a walking buddy or make a standing date to walk with a friend or neighbor, dance at home with your kids or play a pickup soccer or basketball game with colleagues. The 14 bottom line: just move.
3 Ways to Make Your Heart Healthier continued‌ 3. Quit smoking. It can be hard to stop, but the benefits to your lungs and heart are huge. For inspiration and to keep you motivated, consider a support group. You can find resources and connect with a trained counselor by calling 1-800QUIT-NOW or visiting smokefree.gov. For more information about heart health, and to discover what activities are going on in your community, visit nhlbi.nih.gov/ourhearts. Use #OurHearts on social media to share how you and your friends and family are keeping your hearts healthy.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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3 Tips to Create Your Dream Closet (Family Features) If you’ve ever opened your closet doors and been depressed by what you see, it may be time to rethink your closet. In fact, according to a One Poll survey on behalf of ClosetMaid, 57 percent of women admitted having an organized closet would make finding what they’re looking for faster and easier while 3 out of 10 said an organized closet would make mornings less stressful. However, treating yourself to your dream closet and introducing a new level of organization can help alleviate those worries and provide a fresh perspective. To get started on your closet makeover, consider these tips: Assess Your Needs Before diving headfirst into a full-blown closet makeover, start by assessing any budgetary constraints as well as the physical aspects and size of your space. Determine your ceiling height and available wall space to give yourself a feel for what your area can accommodate; you may even want to consider converting an adjacent room into your dream closet. Remember to account for any sloped walls and whether you prefer a simple reach-in closet or a more elaborate walk-in. Once you’ve determined your preferences and completed your measurements, turn to your wardrobe to assess whether you need more hanging space, shelving, shoe storage, accessory drawers or something else entirely. Make Your Dream a Reality Whether you’re a motivated DIYer intent on completing the project yourself or would prefer to work with a team of designers and professional installers, there are plenty of options available to bring your dream closet to fruition. One closet system to consider if you’re seeking a completely customized, designer-inspired space is ClosetMaid’s MasterSuite 27th Avenue collection. The professionally installed line can be cut to nearly any configuration and offers a range of matte and premium wood finishes, three drawer styles, elegant hardware options and high-end accessories, allowing you the design freedom to ensure the features and aesthetic match your vision for the space. Customize Your Space No closet is complete without some personal touches. Make your closet work efficiently with some luxurious organization accessories such as jewelry trays, shoe shelving, wire baskets and drawers, sliding mirrors, valet rods, scarf racks and more. Once you have the necessary accessories and hangers, set up a systematic flow by using the zone principle. Keep frequently used items in prime real estate, accessories within reach and tuck away those rarely used items. With your dream closet complete, the only thing left to worry about is keeping it in tip-top shape. For more closet makeover tips and solutions, visit ClosetMaid.com. 17
Hug More, Stress Less (Family Features) Whether circumstances are good or bad, exciting or stressful, there are several simple ways to improve emotional and mental fitness. Getty Photo Credit As one example, sharing a hug with a loved one has been found to boost immune system responses, help fight disease and increase overall health, according to an article published by “The Guardian.” Hugs increase serotonin, which is the body’s natural antidepressant, can be a natural sleep aid and help reduce stress and anxiety.
However, according to the article, hugs are on the decline. Among the reasons for this decline in hugging are busy schedules and the prevalence of technology extending the workday into time spent at home. It can be hard to focus on personal connections when work follows you home in your pocket. At times, it seems there are stronger connections to mobile devices than family members sitting in the same room. There is a simple solution, though. In honor of National Hug Day, you can get back to showing love through the simple act of hugging. With the help of its mascot, Seymore Good, Tree Top encourages everyone to “squeeze the day” and acknowledge goodness in others by sharing a meaningful, honest hug. The grower-owned fruit cooperative that uses simple ingredients and real fruit also introduced innovative clear apple sauce pouches that let parents “See the Good” in what their kids are eating before they eat it. In the spirit of reducing stress and giving meaningful, memorable hugs, consider these tips: Keep it real. Avoid superficial hugs or giving a hug just out of habit. Instead, try focusing on the hug and giving it with purpose, as an expression of friendship. Squeeze hard, but not too hard. Take a breath. Once you are in the hug, pause for a moment and breathe. Just one breath. This is where you have the chance to squeeze a little longer. Go ahead and be a little vulnerable. In the moment, remember who you are hugging and why you are hugging him or her. This is a moment when the healing power of the hug can shine through, and a hug or squeeze is a sign of affection and trust. Let it go. Be sensitive to the movements of the person you are hugging and be willing to be the first to let go. Leave the embrace with a smile on your face, even in the hardest moments of life. Always let the person you are letting go of know you are happy. Visit treetop.com for more information.
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Home Remedies To The Rescue By homeremedies.com
Have you noticed how even pediatricians now advice you about natural remedies? They only prescribe medications when absolutely necessary! This is a trend I have been watching for several years now. And 2019 is no exception.
Google Photo Credit If you are looking for online information Top 10 Home Remedies provides natural home remedies and health tips. Visit top10homeremedies.com. 21
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