3 Kids and Us

Gifts to Get Your Child that Aren’t Electronic

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Our children are the light of our lives, whether they were brought into this world naturally, with the help of tuboplasty, or if you adopted your bundle of joy because you knew they were meant to come home with you. It’s for this reason that we as parents can sometimes go a little overboard in getting them presents, whether that’s for their birthdays, Christmas, or just for a celebration. And in the modern age, many of those gifts end up being electronics.

But there are so many other great gifts that your children can get use or joy out of other than those that require an electrical outlet or batteries. Here are some great presents to get them that aren’t electronic.

Books

Getting a book might not be at the top of your child’s wishlist, but instilling a passion for reading early on could benefit them in the future, and they might even find they actually enjoy reading—who would have guessed!

That being said, your nine-year-old likely won’t find much enjoyment in reading Pride and Prejudice, so you should get them a book or genre that you think they would enjoy. This might include a popular read like Harry Potter or something that they’ve never even heard of before.

Instruments

While it takes dedication and hard work to learn, getting your child an instrument can do wonders for them. Not only will it provide them with a new hobby, but it can also turn into a passion that they can continue to pursue for the rest of their lives if they are interested enough.

They might take interest in the drums, guitar, violin, piano, or just about any other instrument. Getting them their very own instrument could open the doorway for a whole lifetime of enjoyment!

Games for the Family

Contrary to popular belief, according to kids, there are actually lots of fun games that don’t include video games. Board games are a great way for the entire family to get together or for them to have fun with their friends, along with tabletop games like ping pong, air hockey, foosball, and more.

Something for Outside

The opposite of an electronic gift for your kids is pretty much one that requires them to go outside, and as bad as that might sound to them in the modern world, there are lots of fun things they can do outside.

You could get them a bike, a scooter, roller skates, or even a trampoline. If they are into sports, they might enjoy a basketball hoop or a new football with their favorite team on it. Even something as simple as sidewalk chalk or as elaborate as a swingset can be a great gift.!

Aww, You Shouldn’t Have!

No matter what you decide to get your child for the next special occasion, they’re guaranteed to have a blast with it! And if you decide to get them an electronic, even if they already have plenty, there’s no doubt they’ll love it.

5 Things You Absolutely Have to do With Your Kids at Universal Studios

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If your kids are fans of amusement parks, they’ve likely heard of Universal Studios, and if by chance they haven’t, they’re in for a real treat. Taking your kids to Universal is sure to put a smile on their faces, but there are a few things that you absolutely have to do with them while the whole group is there.

Character Encounters

Young kids will have an absolute blast interacting with and meeting their favorite characters in person. Some of the characters they might see include Spongebob Squarepants, Spiderman, the minions, Transformers, Shrek, The Simpsons, The Cat in the Hat, Popeye, Captain America, and more. There’s nothing quite like meeting your heroes!

Ride in the Front

While you won’t be able to wait in every single line for the front of rides, you need to do so on at least one with your kids. Maybe that means snagging the front seat of Transformers: the Ride, or sitting in the front of The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman. There’s nothing wrong with other seats, but there’s something special about getting to sit in front that your kids will appreciate.

Explore Harry Potter World

What kid didn’t dream of going to Hogwarts? Well, at Universal, they can. You could practically spend an entire day exploring both of the Wizarding parks, including Diagon Ally and Hogsmead. They’ll be in awe as you ride alongside Harry and the gang on several rides, drink butterbeer from the movies, and explore shops that are filled with cool treats and merchandise. Plus, they can even visit Olivander’s Wand Shop to get their very own wand and become a wizard themselves!

Get a Frozen Treat

Walking around Orlando can be hot, so you’ll need to get your child a frozen treat at some point. Universal just so happens to have a wide variety of ice cream shops to dine on, like The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, Cold Stone Creamery, Chill Ice Cream, Cathay’s Ice Cream, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, Haagen Dazs, Hop on Pop Ice Cream Shop, Menchies Frozen Yogurt, and more!

Capture the Moment

Going home without taking a picture of your kids’ first time at Universal Studio would be criminal, so make sure to take lots of photos throughout the park. Get ones with characters, in front of interesting shops or rides, and maybe even purchase the photos that are taken while the whole family is on a ride. And if you want to get artistic, have your kids get caricatures drawn. Once it’s in a frame on your wall back home, it will make for the perfect conversation starter.

The Time of Their Lives

Whether you’ve just had a successful bunion surgery recovery, are overdue for a vacation, or want to celebrate being a family, any excuse you have to visit Universal Studios is a good one, and your kids—as well as yourself—will be all the happier because of it.

Feeding a Family of Four? Here’s How You Can Reduce Your Grocery Bill

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It takes a lot to feed a family of four—or more—each and every week, and with the way kids grow, you’ll be running back and forth just to keep food on the table. But all that grocery shopping can begin to add up in the money department, even if you have a good-paying job at a place like ThriveMD or a law firm.

Luckily, there are a few easy ways you can reduce your grocery bill without going above and beyond.

Drop Name Brands

There’s nothing wrong with name-brand items, and many of them are actually pretty decent, but not all of them are worth spending the extra money on. Instead, try going for the generic equivalent of whatever item you need. In many cases, you and your kids won’t even be able to tell a difference, and in the event that the name brand is considerably superior to the cheaper version, you can always shell out a few extra bucks for that specific item.

By settling for the off-brand items, you’ll start to rack up the savings in no time.

Budget for the Necessities

If you’ve ever gone shopping with your kids, you’ll know how easy it can be to wind up with a mountain of unnecessary items in your cart, and they’re not the only guilty ones—we’ve been there, too.

While there isn’t anything bad about getting the occasional treat or junk food, getting too many of these kinds of items can put you over your budget and really isn’t that good for you anyway. Instead, create a shopping list and only budget for the items that are absolutely required, such as milk eggs, bread, whatever you plan to eat for dinner, etc. No chips, cookies, or cases of soda, but we won’t tell if you want to get one little treat.

Take Advantage of Deals and Rewards

Many stores offer reward cards that you can get if you are a loyal customer, and all it takes is in most cases is giving them your email address. While this can be frustrating and seem like a waste of time when they ask you and all you really want to do is get your stuff and get out, taking those two minutes to fill out your information can save you a good chunk of change in the long run. These reward cards can grant you deals on items, earn you exclusive rewards, and build points every time you shop which can then be used for more groceries.

Spend a Little, Save a Lot

By sticking to these tips, you’ll find that saving money on your routine trips to the grocery store can actually be remarkably simple. You’ll be able to keep the fridge stocked, bellies full, and your wallet a little thicker.

Kids and Technology: How to Handle it

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Technology can be extremely useful and convenient, and as time goes on, it seems like it is getting more and more innovative. We’ve gotten inventions like electric cars, instant customer services such as the kind at Votacall, smartwatches, and much more. Our kids are no strangers to these technological advancements, but the line between restricting their access and allowing full control can be blurry in these regards.

Here are some popular pieces of technology with today’s children and teens and how you might want to go about handling them.

Phones

Because most kids these days can’t go a minute without being by their phones, it’s natural that parents would be concerned about their screen time. Depending on their age and level of maturity, you may even want to wait until getting them a phone in the first place. This will depend on your personal opinion, but most experts agree that waiting to get a smartphone for your child until they reach the ages of eleven and thirteen is appropriate.

Then you have to remain aware of just how often they use it and what they’re using it for. You may want to set restrictions such as no phones at the table, past a certain evening hour, or using parental restrictions on certain apps for younger kids. As long as you’re paying the phone bill, it’s all up to you, but conveying a certain amount of trust in them while also being aware that they are still a child will go a long way.

Video Games

Kids love video games. It’s a way for them to unwind after a long day at school, play online with their friends, and engage in an interactive hobby like no other. However, gaming, just like anything else, can turn into an addiction like being on your phone, eating junk food, or watching TV. It is completely fine to let them play games with their friends or alone, but limiting the amount they play within a single day or week—within reason—might be required if you find them shut up in their room for hours at a time each day.

For younger kids, you also need to be aware of the type of game their playing. Some games may be inappropriate for their age group, as is indicated on the front cover’s rating. Other games may be filled with spammy microtransactions that take advantage of players and get them to pay ludicrous amounts of money for digital goods. If they want a new game, take the time to do a quick search and see if it’s something you’re comfortable with them playing.

Television

Even if your child doesn’t have a phone yet or isn’t really into video games, they’ll likely be watching television at some point. There’s nothing wrong with letting your child watch cartoons and movies, but if that’s all they’re doing, you might have a problem. It can be easy for kids to want to wake up on Saturdays and just watch TV all day, or for teenagers after school to retreat to their rooms each night and binge Netflix or Hulu for hours on end.

Making sure they are actually engaging in something other than television is the main concern, not so much that they are actually watching TV. As long as they are spending some time outside, hanging out with their friends and the family, doing their homework, and taking on additional hobbies, letting them watch the occasional show isn’t a big deal.

Mutual Understandings

At the end of the day, how you raise your kids in regards to technology is completely up to you, and reaching a reasonable, mutual understanding with your child is important. You may want to play it a little stricter, a little looser, or somewhere in the middle, but as long as your kids are growing up into good people and you are happy with it, that’s all that matters.

Easy School Lunch Ideas Your Child Will Actually Eat

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Packing your child’s lunch shouldn’t be stressful, but for many busy moms, it is just one more task that needs to be done on a busy morning. While adults can easily prepare lunch for the week using a meal prep service like Lean Kitchen, little ones are usually pickier and require smaller, fresh options for each day of the week. Whether you’re packing a lunch for school, daycare, camp, or anywhere else your child might be headed for the day, it is important to pack enough food that will keep them full, while also preventing food waste by only packing what they will eat. If you’re looking for some new ideas for school lunches that your child will actually eat, keep reading!

1. Sandwiches

You are likely already packing some kind of sandwich for your child’s lunch since they are a relatively quick and inexpensive meal option. The great thing about sandwiches is that they are often kid-friendly, with ingredients that even the pickiest eaters like or can easily modify. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a classic, but if your child is tired of eating them, you could also try:

  • Hummus and veggies
  • Cream Cheese (add salmon for protein if your child likes it)
  • Cold cuts – ham, roasted chicken, and turkey sandwiches are all high in protein and will keep your child full for the rest of the school day!

2. Filling Sides

In addition to a sandwich or other “entree,” be sure to give your child a filling side dish. This could include some kind of rice or pasta dish depending on the entree, or a cheese and meat spread. You could also try:

  • Chips and salsa
  • Salad
  • Veggies (broccoli, miniature corn cobs, carrots, and cauliflower are all filling options that most children like, and can be eaten cold)

3. Snacks

Once your child has been given a filling and healthy entree and side dish, it is time to pack snacks that they will enjoy. Popular and filling snacks include:

  • Pretzels – try a soft pretzel cut into bite-sized pieces for a fun take on this classic snack
  • Apples and peanut butter (or chocolate/hazelnut spread)
  • Fruit Slices
  • Crackers

4. Dessert

Reward your child for eating a healthy lunch and give them a fun snack to look forward to with dessert. This could include:

  • Cookies
  • A slice of cake or pie
  • Fruit salad
  • Mini chocolate bars

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!