3 Kids and Us

5 Family Friendly Dog Breeds

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Picking a dog for your family can be challenging as there are so many different types of breeds. When looking for the right dog, you have to keep in mind your living space and the needs of your new furry family member. If you have children, you must be careful to pick a dog with a disposition that is suitable for kids. Here are five different dog breeds that are suitable for families with children.

Golden Retrievers

One of the most popular choices for family pets is Golden Retrievers. The reason why is they are loyal, loving, and patient with children. They have gentle personalities and love to play with children. They are high energy and do better in larger homes. The one downside is their long hair that sheds which make them bad for anyone with allergies.

Labradors

Officially known as Labrador Retrievers, these friendly and loveable dogs make great pets for families. Like Golden Retrievers, they are kind, loving, and playful with children while being calm and patient with them. They have lots of energy so they require lots of playtime and running or walking. Labs come in three different colors; chocolate, black, and yellow.

French Bulldogs

If you have children but live in a smaller space such as an apartment or condo the French Bulldog is perfect for you. They have a loyal and loving personality and do well in small spaces. They are not prone to bark, they have low energy levels, but are still willing to play, making them perfect for living in smaller spaces with children. They are also short haired making them less allergenic than longer-haired breeds.

Poodles

Poodles are intelligent, caring, and mild-tempered dogs making them good for playing with children. They also do not shed making them perfect for families who need a hypoallergenic pet. Poodles come in two different sizes, standard and miniature. The Standard is one of the most intelligent dogs and is loyal to its family. The Miniature is also loyal but tends to be so with one person rather than its family. Both are good with children.

Bulldog

Finally, the bulldog is a kind, patient, and loveable dog who does well with children. They do not have a lot of energy but are affectionate with children. They are comfortable living in small or large spaces. Thus, the bulldog is also perfect for living in an apartment or condo with children.

Welcoming a dog into your home is a big decision, therefore, it is important to consider the personality, size, and energy needs of a dog before welcoming them home. With this list of five different breeds, there is something for each type of family.

Parental Advice on Teaching Your Kid How to Drive

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It’s no secret that teaching your kid how to drive requires tons of patience. Of course sending your child off to a driving school would make matters a lot easier, especially on you, but the overall memories and quality time spent together will be priceless. Who doesn’t remember who taught them how to drive? For most of us, it was an unforgettable experience, whether it was positive or not.

Get yourself acquainted with our list of to-do’s and you will be able to ride shotgun with much more ease.

Keep your cool

It’s going to be extremely easy to lose your cool. This entire process will be a test of your patience in its truest form, so keeping your voice down and approaching each lesson with a calm attitude are musts and should be practiced as frequently as possible.

Make sure you’re in a calm state of mind

If you’re not in the right state of mind, there is no telling what mood the lesson will take you. It will help to remind yourself that you too once learned how to drive and probably tested the patience of a parent or an older sibling. Check your worries and negative thoughts at the passenger side door.

Brush up on the rules of the road

As your child’s driving guru, you should be up-to-date on the rules of the road, so hit the books and refresh your mind. Being able to properly inform your kid on safety and regulations will not only be important for the driving test, but for the written test as well.

Be exemplary

Practice what you’re preaching. Teaching your kid the right way to perform on the road shouldn’t be restricted to when they’re behind the wheel, rather you should be setting a good example. Think twice before you decide not to use your blinker when changing lanes on the expressway or expressing your road rage to someone that cuts you off.

Drive on roads you’re familiar with

Take your kid to a road or street that you frequent. Know the speed limit, the signage, and the traffic levels at specific times of the day. Having this knowledge is only beneficial to knowing what to expect and the level of preparedness your child will need to be.

Put them in real-life situations

You’re essentially putting your child through a driving bootcamp, so try to be as realistic with your lessons as possible. Once you think they are ready, have them turn the radio on and off. Bring their siblings or your spouse along for the ride and carry on a conversation. This will assist in them not feeling overwhelmed when the time does come for them to turn the radio on or go on a road trip with passengers.

Make them find their own way around

Make them find their way around town by providing them with minimal to no hints. Being a passenger is a different perspective than that of a driver, and it will therefore be crucial for them to gain a sense of direction. Their patience may run up with this pointer, but we promise that it will only benefit them as a driver.

Provide honest and positive feedback

The process of learning how to drive is not easy and not to be taken lightly. Be honest with your child and don’t sugarcoat things. Constructive criticism may not always be easy for them to accept, but it is extremely necessary. Follow your constructive criticism up with a positive remark and be sure to provide them with enough positive feedback.

Being a teacher isn’t for everyone, but teaching your kid to drive can be! Keep your patience, give honest and positive feedback and test your kid with real-life situations and they will surely be fit for their driving and written test!

5 Ways to Get Your Kids to Help With Chores

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As many parents know it can be a nightmare trying to get your kids to help around the house. I cannot count the times I have heard ‘I am busy’, ‘I am tired’ or ‘I’ll do it later’. I know many parents who have experienced similar problems with getting their kids involved with chores so I have made a list of methods and ideas that could be helpful.

Start Early

If you start getting your kids involved with chores from an early age, they are less likely to resist with helping out as they get older. You could start when your child is at an age when they are able to understand basic words. Simple jobs like putting their toys away or putting their coats and shoes in the correct place can be a great place to start getting your child involved with chores.

Make It Fun

Making chores fun is essential if you want your kids involved with the chores. This can be achieved quite easily. Music can be a useful tool in adding fun to chores, dancing and singing whilst sweeping and hovering can make these chores fun. If you have younger children who enjoy using water guns, use a spray bottle filled with soapy water to clean windows. These are cheap as well as effective ideas.

Reward Charts

Reward charts can be an awesome tool no matter your kids’ age. For younger kids use a chart where they get a sticker for every completed chore, and when their chores are complete they get a reward. For older kids you can use reward charts to allow them to gain extra time for activities or later bedtimes at the weekend.

Reward charts can be a way for kids to earn pocket money. You decide how much each chore is worth and at the end of the week your kid is paid for their work. This is a great way to teach kids about responsibility and earning their own money.

Get Kids Cooking

Kids love being involved in whatever you are doing in the kitchen, especially if you’re baking or making their favourite food. By getting your kids involved with preparing meals you are not only allowing them to be creative and help with chores, you are also giving them invaluable life skills they can use throughout their lives.

Talk With Your Kids

If after trying different methods you are still having no luck try talking to your kids. Kids are intelligent and if you explain to them why you want their help you will normally find they are more willing to help. A good tip to remember is to never use chores as punishments as you will undo all the work you have accomplished. Always praise your kids when they have completed their chores. Your kids will respect you for acknowledging their hard work.

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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!