Education Archives - 3 Kids and Us

How to help your parents grow old with dignity

May 20, 2021 by admin

No one likes the harsh realization that our parents are aging and need a helping hand to grow old comfortably.

The older they get older, the less independent they seem to become, and the more likely they are to reject assistance.

Below are some quick tips to help you!

Treat Them With Respect

First and foremost we must treat our parents at this stage of their lives with the utmost respect.

Talk with them and discuss your ideas or ask for permission with any big decisions needing to be made.

If they decide that they do want your help a good place to start is by going along to their appointments with their regular doctor.

As your parents age, it is challenging, and the last thing they want is to be a burden on their children.

If they’re physically able to take care of themselves there’s no need to suddenly start discussing mobility aids.

Do not be disrespectful towards your parents or interfere in their business without their consent.

Safety Always Takes Priority

If you parents are finding it tough to get around the house however, it might be a good idea to start looking at some possibilities.

Companies such as Age UK Mobility provide home visit services where they come and evaluate your parents home for possible upgrades.

These can be anything from handrails to walk in showers or baths. These simple yet effective changes to your parents home really help with keeping their independence.

If stairs are in the home you can look at getting an assistance device such as a stair lift, which allows them to use the stairs.

What about maintaining the garden? Is that something they can do or should you look at other options. Just because they’re old doesn’t mean you can let the gardens go.

If getting groceries is difficult for them perhaps it’s time you look into home delivery or one of the many options available today.

Be Supportive In Any Way Possible

You should be as supportive as possible towards your parents both physically and mentally.

Being unable to drive or to remember things can have a serious impact on a seniors self-esteem.

Consider encouraging your parents to develop new hobbies or meet new friends. Always ensure that they have reliable transportation to get around when possible.

Learn To Communicate With Their Specialists Or Doctors

Eventually the time will come where you will have to take care of their health or manage medications.

The importance of having a good relationship with their healthcare professionals is paramount. Nobody knows when an unexpected situation might occur, so you must be prepared.

Take notes when talking to their doctors and have them saved in your phone for reference.

Make sure your parents understand what the Doctor is explaining and that any instructions are clear to both you and them.

Be sure to keep track of their legal documents and medical information, and remember to follow up with your doctor’s instructions as older parents often forget their dosage and medications.

How to Stop Bad Lifestyle Habits Before they Start

April 22, 2021 by admin

If you’ve ever tried to kick a bad habit, then you know just how difficult and stressful it can be to do so. Certain bad habits –– like smoking or eating junk food, for instance –– can be very addictive in addition to being very detrimental to your well-being. As such, it’s preferable to avoid these activities altogether. Stopping a bad habit before it becomes a part of your lifestyle can save you a ton of stress, frustration, and (often) money. To that end, today we’ll help you identify poor choices that can lead to dangerous behaviors so that you can prevent them from affecting your life. Check it out here:

Speak to a Doctor

Generally speaking, there are few things better for your health than scheduling regular trips to the doctor’s office. Doctors can help you identify potential problems before they affect your well-being. And they can help you get in touch with specialists to address specific issues. For example, if you suffer from bunion pain, your doctor may direct you to make an appointment with a clinic like Northwest Surgery Center for further assistance. Always keep in mind that in the fight for good health, your doctor is your best ally.

Develop a Routine

Many bad habits start during downtime. Idleness and boredom can lead even the healthiest of individuals to begin bad habits without even realizing it! If you’ve ever absent-mindedly ate an entire bag of chips while at work, then you know just how easy it can be to engage in unhealthy activities. That’s why it’s important to fill your day with a detailed and energizing routine. Give yourself something to do every hour. It’s much better to knock out a round of household chores than to spend 90 minutes scrolling through your social media feeds for no reason!

Partner Up

Like it or not, the people around you can have an impact on your own wellness. So it’s vital to surround yourself with individuals who encourage you to make healthy choices. After all, if your friends want to go to a bar, you’ll probably end up drinking. But if they want to go to the gym, you’ll be more likely to join them and squeeze in a quality workout. Plus, signing up for fitness classes or partnering up with a physical trainer will help you hold yourself accountable and spot poor lifestyle choices ASAP.

Conclusion

No matter what, most people have at least one bad habit they’d like to be rid of. Don’t beat yourself up if you suffer a wellness setback! Rather, maintain positive thoughts and do your best to become a healthier person day by day.

4 Methods From Talkspace to Discover Whether Online Learning Works for Your Child

November 10, 2020 by admin

Throughout the world, many students are experiencing school in a completely new way. Instead of students learning in a classroom, most educational facilities have begun online or distance learning. Other students are experiencing hybrid plans, combining both in-person and distance education.

Many students are dealing with new ways to learn. However, it’s also important to think about what these children’s parents are going through.

Determining Whether Distance Learning Works for Your Child

If you want to learn how your child is doing with distance learning, you can follow a few tips. Here are four great ways to learn more about how online learning works for your child.

Take a Closer Look at Their Problems

During this time, many children feel that online learning is like entering a new world. Because of this feeling, it’s understandable for children to feel like they’re struggling in certain areas. If you want to help your child, take a closer look at the exact issues they’re experiencing.

Work to Establish Educational Goals

Another important step to take is to understand your child’s goals. These types of goals can vary, depending on your child’s age and where they’re at in lesson plans. It’s also a good idea to ask your child’s school or teacher if they can provide you with copies of current lesson plans.

Focus on Your Child’s Mental Health

As people continue focusing on physical health issues, it’s sometimes easy to forget about your family’s mental health. When you’re used to attending school in person, remote learning sometimes causes mental health issues to develop.

Another way to help your child includes online therapy. Popular online therapy services like Talkspace enable children to speak with therapists. Plus, Talkspace has many therapists on hand who specialize in helping younger patients. Best of all, services like Talkspace are often more cost-effective than working with a local therapist.

Take Time to Speak With Educators

There’s another important group to focus on during this time, and that’s those teaching your children. Educators also have to make many adjustments to work from home. With that in mind, they know a lot about what you and your child might be going through. If your child is dealing with distance learning issues, it’s a good idea to schedule a time to speak with their teacher.

This type of meeting is helpful because it allows teachers to take a closer look at what issues your child might be dealing with. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes hard for teachers to spot what’s happening with one student in a remote setting. It might also allow your child to schedule one-on-time time with a teacher.

Parents Know Best

If things are going well with your child’s distance learning, that’s great. However, as a parent, you probably know the signs of a struggling child. It’s difficult to find children and parents who aren’t struggling with this new way of learning. Fortunately, the stress of this event is something we will all eventually put behind us.

How Talkspace Is Making Access to Therapists Easier to Swarthmore College Students

September 29, 2020 by admin

The COVID-19 has disrupted our everyday lives, including access to mental health services, including those designed for students. To maintain the social distancing rules, the fall program for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) that offers counseling services to the Swarthmore College community will include Talkspace, a mobile and online therapy company for users in various locations. Although virtual sessions differ from the intimate one-on-one sessions, the college deemed the move necessary to ensure the students and staff receive the mental health services they need. The switch to an online platform may be a massive adjustment to students who have never been to therapy before.

Benefits of Using this Strategy

Some people criticize CAPS claiming that it cannot adequately support students’ therapeutic demands and does not provide enough resources required by students with marginalized identities. However, its partnership with Talkspace opens a door for access to different therapists equipped to handle various students’ needs.

Users can find therapists that best suit their requirements, putting them in a better position to get the assistance they need. Although several students are apprehensive about using the platform, some are optimistic and looking forward to getting a therapist that specializes in a particular mental issue or matches the student’s identity. Once the initial session conducted via the app or website is complete, students get a chance to choose a therapist from a recommended group based on personal matches.

Despite connection issues one out-of-state student encountered during a couple of video-chat sessions on the platform with her therapist, she appreciates the service because she managed to find a professional that deals with Latinx and first-generation people. The therapist was also qualified to handle some of the mental problems she is dealing with and wonders why it took CAPS a long time to partner with the platform.

Regardless of their location, students can access the platform for real-time therapy sessions weekly and asynchronous chat-voice-video communication with their counselor. CAPS decided to work with the company to ensure its students continue getting the help they need from any location.

The Safety of the Students Using the Platform

CAPS consulted William College that has used the platform for a year with no concerns raised by students before partnering with the company.

What to Expect When Using the Platform

It is an easy to use platform with a simple sign-up procedure, and you can comfortably access it from your phone on the app or website. A human being will match you with the most appropriate therapist. The professionals in this platform have fast response times. You will also get access to live sessions, a one-week free trial, and swift customer service.

You will also receive regular opportunities to give feedback on your experience on the platform. Since you do not have to use your real name, you can protect your identity and confidentiality. Besides the SSL encryption, the platform lets you develop a unique password to provide additional security.

The company offers various mental health services, including depression, anger, anxiety, educational assessments, self-esteem, and LGBTQ. Besides its services, affordability and accessibility make it ideal for many people.

How to Win a Scholarship

September 14, 2020 by admin

Scholarships are essentially financial aid toward schools and courses which are gifted, rather than loans or need-based grants that accrue interest from the moment it is taken out. With a scholarship, part or all the funding will be covered, so that talented students have the option to further their career debt-free while being treated as an investment.

While scholarships are a gift, they also come with strings attached, which are usually rules and clauses which must be kept intact to receive the scholarship money. That being said, where does a student even begin to look for winning a scholarship?

This piece will serve as a guide on what to do and where to look.

Write a Standout Resume for a Scholarship

Those who are looking to win a scholarship need to be able to stand out from the rest, which is where an exceptional resume comes in.

A resume should cover anything from extracurricular activities, awards that have been achieved, accomplishments, and interests. A resume can also help support an application and allow teachers to write letters of recommendation that coincide with the content.

For those that love sport, browse through asmscholarships.com.

Apply to as Many Scholarships as Possible

Like most things, scholarships is a numbers game, and the more you apply for, the more it should statistically increase the chances of obtaining one. A student can have all the skills, goals, and achievements necessary for a scholarship, but luck is also an extremely important factor too.

That said, it is important that scholarships are applied for only if the student matches all the criteria. The same applications or essays can be used for each scholarship to save time, but make sure they are personalized to the specific scholarship, and be sure to proofread everything!

Do Not Miss Scholarship Deadlines

Half of the deadlines for scholarships are during the fall, and the other half is during spring, so it is important to be prepared. Start searching for scholarships from the moment grades have been confirmed and pay attention to what the scholarship requires of the student. There are scholarships for different levels of education, but the terms and conditions can vary, such as already having a college, or another progressive position confirmed.

Always Complete the Optional Scholarship Application Work

If any scholarship applications that are being applied for have any “optional work” attached to it, make sure you do it. This not only shows that the student is both serious and keen about the scholarship, but it also shows initiative and the willingness to go the extra mile.

This is another one of those tips that will help student applications stand out from the ones who opted out of their extras.

Do Not Wait to Apply to a Scholarship Last Minute

There is nothing worse than having minutes to spare, only for the internet to crash, the laptop to die, or the essay that has been so carefully constructed to disappear into the computer abyss with no trace. Leaving applications until the last minute means there is no room for error, even if the error is no one’s fault. So, make sure to leave plenty of time to get the application in.