Mommy Practicality: Kids

Saturday, November 27, 2021

McDonald's Kiddie Crew Online Workshop 2021

As kids attend school from home, it is important that they are able to continue learning and explore their creativity, even outside the virtual classroom. By exposing them to everything that sparks their interest, we can encourage them to bring their curiosity to life and keep them active.

In a first for McDonald’s Philippines, kids can look forward to having fun-filled afternoons with the return of the Kiddie Crew Workshop – now serving smiles and learnings online!

A well-beloved event of McDonald’s spanning over 29 years, kids and parents alike have looked forward to the McDonald’s Kiddie Crew every year, providing them with not only fun activities that impart values such as discipline and teamwork, but also precious bonding time together.

In helping address kids’ needs as they continue to grow and explore the world around them, McDonald’s Philippines is once again bringing back the workshop in an exciting digital set-up.

Spanning the weekends of November 20 to December 29, each McDonald’s Kiddie Crew online Workshop will be a 2-day session, each lasting 90 minutes in the afternoon.

Housed through a website, children will be guided as they go through a virtual McDonald’s store. Various points in the digital area will let children hop from one activity to another – from dancing, to singing, to playing fun games where they can learn more about the different Kiddie Crew values of discipline, hard work, teamwork, sharing & responsibility, and active play! Even better, attendees will also be accompanied by Ronald and the Gang throughout, making their online workshop experience even more exciting!

For a registration fee of only P499, customers will not only get access to the 2-day online workshop, but also a 1-day Workshop Meal (Happy Meal 1-pc. Chicken McDo with drink) and their very own Workshop Kit (Chef's Hat, Apron, Bag, and Cap) with a FREE Kiddie Crew T-Shirt and Lanyard!

Damien was able to attend the online workshop and he had so much fun joining the activities. He learned about the value of teamwork and how important following instructions are. The online workshop was timed just right especially when kids are asked to prepare materials needed and do their art activity.

“Since its launch in 1991, McDonald’s Kiddie Crew has become a well-loved and iconic summer workshop for kids all over the Philippines. With its virtual comeback, we’re happy to share this new— and first of its kind— experience where McDonald’s helps kids stay active, learn values, and build skills despite the online setup,” said Oliver Rabatan, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Channels.

Exciting games and lesson-filled activities await; experience fun and play with McDonald’s through the first-ever online Kiddie Crew Workshop!

Registration for the McDonald’s Kiddie Crew Workshop is now ongoing online. Visit www.mcdokiddiecrew.com to sign up your kid/s for a slot, view more information on the workshop, and even to purchase more goodies for you and your kids through the Kiddie Crew Shop.

Tuesday, November 02, 2021

Schooling Tips to Conquer the 2nd School Year in Lockdown

The transition from face-to-face classes to a fully remote learning setup has been challenging, especially for the parents. From keeping their kids away from boredom to ensuring that they are focused in school, parents have never been as busy when it comes to ensuring their kids remain engaged despite the restrictions of distance learning.

Photo credit: Kara Crisostomo’s personal photo

As we are well into our second school year in lockdown, licensed psychologist, professional teacher, and mom of two Kara Crisostomo shared that among the biggest challenges in distance learning is keeping students engaged due to pandemic fatigue. Similarly, parents reporting back to their offices means they also need to have the energy to keep up with their child’s schoolwork.

To help parents and their kids everywhere conquer another school year at home, Kara together with Nestlé Wellness Campus (NWC) and KOKO KRUNCH share four crucial tips to help make distance learning easier than ever:

Start the day right with a delicious, healthy and affordable breakfast. Good nutrition, health, and wellness are essential for a healthy body and mind. Starting the day with a delicious and nutritious breakfast is vital now more than ever for kids so they have the energy they need for a great day of learning.

“A healthy breakfast will help keep kids active and engaged during online learning, especially when they’re sitting in front of a laptop without any physical interaction. Since our mornings are usually short and rushed, breakfast consists of quick and easy to prepare meals like cereals, sandwiches, and milk which our kids would love,” shared Kara.

One example of a delicious, healthy and affordable breakfast combo is a whole grain cereal bowl paired with milk and fruits. KOKO KRUNCH makes a good choice as it provides the great chocolatey taste that kids love AND the energy from wholegrain cereals. This, while providing B-vitamins & Iron to help make this energy available for the body. Milk is high in protein and calcium while fruits have fiber and Vitamin C.

Provide a more conducive learning environment at home. It can be as simple as setting up a table, computer, and chair for them in one part of the house or even making one room into a designated study or work place. Their books, art materials, and any other relevant school materials can be organized here. The children can also place their own decors that will keep them inspired when they work.

Kara explained, “Having a proper set-up prompts them to know when and where to do their school work. This can also help them alleviate distractions and be more focused when needed in completing their assignments.”

Serving delicious, healthy and affordable snacks during breaks, like a bowl of KOKO KRUNCH, may also help kids think better and concentrate on their lessons. Parents don’t have to worry with the nutrients their kids are getting because one serving of KOKO KRUNCH already provides 38% of iron1 and about 60%2 of Vitamins B3 and B6 needed for the day3.

Keep connected with the children’s school and teachers. Whether it’s messaging through the school’s learning platform or staying active in a parent’s group chat, establish lines of communication to stay up to date with requirements and gather support for school work.

Kara shared that in her son’s school, parents can communicate with teachers through their learning management system and can also email school admins for other concerns. They also have a chat group for parents which has been very active since the pandemic started. “Having this communication line with co-parents can also help when guiding our children with their school work,” Kara said.

Find time to be proactive in a child’s learning development. Despite having a long day at work, it’s crucial for a parent to be on top of their child’s learning. This can be done by being familiar with their children’s lessons, helping with assignments daily, or simply checking on them.

Kara shared parents cannot expect the same things from their children as they did before the pandemic. “We cannot press our children to make sure that they get everything right in school. Let us give them the space they need especially when they want to relax.”

This can be supported by having a family movie night at home, ordering food from a place the kids usually enjoy, or even as simple as dancing to Nestlé Wellness Campus’ Dancercise program. Find anything that can help the children unwind and recharge. Doing so can help maintain their motivation and engagement in school.

Nestlé, as the Kasambuhay sa Kalusugan, acknowledge that nutrition, health, and wellness are all key in getting through the new school year. This also highlights the value of delicious, healthy, and affordable breakfast meals like KOKO KRUNCH as it is essential to keep children nourished for the day ahead.

These are only some of the many resources that parents can access through NWC. Join the Nestlé Wellness Homeroom Facebook Group to learn more about how you can make the new normal schooling experience more fun and engaging for you and your children.

Friday, October 29, 2021

Get up to 67% Off on Disney Products on Disney's Funtastic Bazaar on Shopee!

I don't know if there's anyone in my generation and their children as well, who didn't grow up with Disney. Because I and my kids surely did! From the beloved Mickey Mouse to all the Disney Princesses up to today's generation of Elsa and Ana, we all love Disney!

My kids surely plays Disney movies on repeat ever since they were toddlers, from my now 18 year old to my youngest who's 5year old. That's why you could just imagine how giddy excited they were when they got all the Disney products available on Shopee!

DISNEY FUNTASTIC BAZAAR Get up to 67% off on your favorite Disney products at Disney's Funtastic Bazaar this October 28! If you'd check the other items on Disney, there will be additional sale by the end of the month as well! If your kids love Mickey Mouse, Star Wars, Frozen, and even their art materials, Art Attack, then this is something you wouldn't want to miss!

Here are what's in my cart mama!

Disney Mickey Mouse Kids' Backpack

This one's for all the Mickey Mouse fans out there! Get the Mickey Mouse Backpack at Disney's Funtastic Bazaar! Available in Denim Blue or Red! I love how spacious it is for our kindergartners. My dearest Damien is now going gaga over Mickey Mouse (since then til now!). He carries his Mickey Mouse backpack just about everywhere here in the house. He carries his school stuff, some toys, and hygiene kit as well.

Get it on Shopee here: https://shopee.ph/Disney-Mickey-Mouse-Kids%27-Backpack-i.189426557.13111037147?sp_atk=f43bceb0-03d7-4bc3-b728-335418a99da7

Disney Art Attack Artistic Pouch Case

Looking for the all-in coloring art materials? I highly recommend The Disney Art Attact Artistic Pouch Case. This comes with 12 coloring pencils, which is great for your little one's tiny grip. I love how the pencils smoothly glide on coloring pages. It's definitely perfect for your kids' art projects in school or at home. Both my boys are art enthusiasts and they use colored pencils a lot for their drawings. This is their go to colored pencils! I'm so excited to know that they were on sale!

Get it on Shopee here: https://shopee.ph/Disney-Art-Attack-Artistic-Pouch-Case-i.277719334.4940858153?sp_atk=ea697798-749a-4007-9d35-e2391f01702c

Disney Art Attack 6x9 Spiral Sketch Pad 25 Sheets

Of course, my kids has got to have their sketch pads with them everywhere they go. Whenever they're drawing at home or during staycation, they never fail to bring art materials and sketch pads with them. This is a great way to hone their artistic skills and also encourage them to use their imaginations! It's definitely better than keeping them busy with gadgets. I'm so happy that with the Disney Art Attack 6x9 Spiral Sketch Pad, your kids can get creative as they want as it comes with 25 sheets! This Sketch Pad is a perfect pair with the Artistic Pouch Case so check these out now!

Get this on Shopee here: https://shopee.ph/Disney-Art-Attack-6x9-Spiral-Sketch-Pad-25-Sheets-i.277719334.6545169183?sp_atk=1539edc9-9776-4698-8250-f51f31e39bcf

There are so many more Disney products available on sale for up to 67% on the Disney Funtastic Bazaar on Shopee! I'm sure you're kids will feel loved too if you gifted them with these items from Disney! These are also great reward ideas for your kids especially if they've been helping around the house or doing well in school!

Don't forget to add to cart loves! Enjoy Shopee-ing!

Friday, October 22, 2021

8 Tips for Helping Your Child Establish Healthy TV Watching Habits

Modern appliances such as televisions, along with more recent gadgets such as mobile phones, tablets, and personal computers, have contributed positively to childhood development by way of more accessible learning and educational content. However, too much exposure to these media devices have also been observed to have detrimental effects on children.

Primarily, looking at screens place a lot of strain on the eyes and affect healthy eyesight. Too much time spent watching also affects children’s study patterns and attention spans, which can affect how well they do in school. Experts have also found a link between excessive media consumption and health concerns such as insomnia and childhood obesity, as well as mental and emotional conditions such as depression and anxiety.

This is why it is important that you help your child establish healthy viewing or media consumption habits when it comes to using televisions, handheld gadgets, and computers.

Here are some tips on how to achieve this.

Know How Much Screen Time Your Child Should Have

Know the recommended allowable screen time according to your child’s age. Experts say that it’s a no-no for babies up to 18 months of age, except for some incidental exposure such as when in a family video call or some similar situation. As your toddler reaches 2 years old, he may then be allowed to directly participate in such instances. As they reach preschool age, they may be allowed up to an hour of screen time especially if it is related to schooling or education. Generally, from five years old and up, you can decide on TV and computer use upon your discretion. A good rule of thumb is to never allow screen time to interfere with proper sleep schedule and an active physical lifestyle.

Provide Other Recreational and Learning Resources

To help curb the tendency to watch TV or use gadgets, don’t place them in your child’s room where they are readily accessible. Place them in a designated viewing area that is a common space within the household. Moreover, in this area, fill the surroundings with books, magazines, and other types of educational toys and hobbies such as board games so that your child may have opportunities to be weaned off from watching TV constantly.

Instill Discipline in Terms of When They Can Have Access to TV and Gadgets

Establish strict rules to turn off the TV, mobile phones, and other gadgets during specific times, such as at the dinner table, while lying in bed waiting to fall asleep, or while doing school work. Be sure to enforce them and to not allow any excuses, otherwise your child will not develop the discipline to keep away from these distractions.

Set Up a Reward System

It would be good to establish TV viewing and gadget use as a privilege or reward for doing their tasks right—like finishing their homework and cleaning their room—instead of caving in to their demands or to make them feel that it is their right to use these devices. This sets up positive reinforcement for prioritizing things other than watching TV, playing computer games, or browsing the Internet.

Walk the Talk

It is important to serve as a good example to your child by limiting your screen time yourself. You need to walk the talk in order to encourage your child not to spend too much time watching TV or using gadgets. Otherwise, they will not see the value of what they are doing or they might even reason out against your rules.

Turn It into a Family Affair

Do make TV viewing time a more enjoyable and positive experience by making it communal. Check out the available TV programs and develop a family-friendly repertoire that you and your child can look forward to on a regular basis. This also ensures that the content your child consumes is contributing positively to their mental development.

Set Up Boundaries to Protect Your Child from Inappropriate Material

Make use of technology such as apps or programs that can help filter what your child browses and watches on the computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Keep track of the content that your child is browsing to help them to steer clear of material and information that are inappropriate. You can also adjust the settings of your gadgets to limit their access to the Internet to certain sites and times of the day only.

Learn from Others

It would be good to keep abreast of techniques and tips that educators and other parents are employing in terms of keeping TV viewing and gadget use healthy and productive for kids. Engage in conversations with your loved ones and friends, and compare notes with how they are dealing with TV viewing in their own household. You might learn a thing or two that may be effective to implement with your own child.

It pays to establish good habits when it comes to TV viewing and using gadgets at home. As with other things in life, moderation is always key. Watching TV and using gadgets are not at all wrong, but it’s excessiveness that is detrimental to the physical and mental well-being of your child. Always strike a good balance between having fun and enjoying other aspects of life so that your child grows up to be a well-rounded and productive individual.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

New safe and secure social networking advocacy app for children now available in the Philippines

Everything is now is accessible with the tip of our fingers. Online shopping, online groceries, food deliveries, booking of deliveries, paying bills, and so much more. In fact, even the way people work and kids go to school have changed a lot since the start of the pandemic. This worries me as a mom because this also means, my kids spend more time online than before. Being online, out there in the vast world wide web may result to unforeseen and unexpected situations which may pose dangers to them.

While the internet is a wonderful place for information, entertainment, and social networking for kids and adults alike, it may also be a source of fake news, explicit content, and cyber bullying, making it a not a very safe space, even for adults.

The web is an even more dangerous place for children in low-income countries like the Philippines where access to low-cost internet and mobile devices is widespread and parental control and adult supervision is lax due to various socio-economic factors.

In fact, the country is considered one of the world’s top hot spots for online child sexual exploitation among 10-14 year-olds.

This is the situation that has prompted Terre de Hommes-Netherlands, an international non-governmental organization advocating and working for the prevention of child exploitation in 17 countries including the Philippines, to develop a revolutionary new digital app that’s totally safe and secure for young users including children.

Called Voice for Change, the app was co-created with victims of child sexual exploitation and those vulnerable to abuse together with children advocates. Research and development took over one year, from March 2020 to June 2021, to ensure that the platform is truly responsive to the needs of children for support and assistance as well as to carry out the advocacy against sexual exploitation.

Voice for Change has features that are similar to those in popular social networking apps. Users can post status updates, connect to other users and engage in discussions, and get access to online resources for information.

The main difference is in the app’s strict security and privacy provisions. Sign up requires approval by the Voice for Change administration and goes through a screening process.

Logging in requires a mobile number and a one-time password sent via SMS. To provide further protection, no personally identifiable information including photos is shared among users.

In VFC, users can find relevant and verified information about different issues relevant to children advocacies. They can also genuinely voice opinions and engage in healthy discussions without fear of toxic perspectives and language.

It is a truly safe space that comes with a directory of organizations and agencies that users can contact to report concerns and even actual cases of child exploitation and abuse.

Here’s a closer look at the Voice for Change features.

Share your thoughts

Got a high grade in school or achieved a personal goal? Freely share your thoughts in a private and secure way.

Engage in discussions

Start a conversation with like-minded people about concerns relevant to protection of children and similar issues. Or chime in on other topics that interest you.

Get Help

Feeling down, need guidance or just want to talk to someone? Reach out to individuals and organizations that can offer professional help.

Verified information

No one wants to read or share fake news. Get only verified information on relevant topics.

Report an Incident

Have you or someone you know experienced child abuse and similar issues? Report the incident safely.

Secure and Private

Sign up requests go through a screening process. Log in with a mobile number and a one-time password will be sent to you by SMS. No personally identifiable information is shared

The Voice for Change app may be downloaded in the Google Play store HERE while iPhone and Google Chrome users can use the web-based app instead, click HERE.

More information about Voice for Change can be viewed at www.wearevoiceforchange.org.

Thursday, September 09, 2021

Cocomelon-Themed Birthday Party

Time flies by so fast and my youngest is now 5! I can't believe just how smarter, talkative, more creative, and more observant he has become! It still feels as if I just gave birth to him last month. Wow! It's been 5 years since this boy made a huge impact in our family life. I call him my game-changer.

He made me breastfeed him exclusively until 4 years of age. He made me resign from my almost 20 year corporate life. He made me a teacher momma when we opted to indie homeschool him last year. Oh my heart! He's our family's bundle of joy indeed!

On his fifth birthday, Damien requested a simple Cocomelon themed birthday party. It's his second quarantine birthday and being in a pandemic (still) is no excuse to party and celebrate his life at home!

Here's how we decorated the house and achieved the theme!

Our happy family of five celebrated his life with a simple salo-salo at home. I didn't want to tire myself too much as I have been valuing my physical and mental health, so we had food delivered instead!

I bought these party foil curtains and foil letter balloons and numbers on Facebook Marketplace. It's so convenient to just check the available items on the most used app and voila, you get what you need or want. This was delivered same day COD.

I also bought Cocomelon themed foil balloons such as the JJ giant balloon and round watermelon and character foil balloons.

A nicely decorated and custom cake always sets the tone of any party. His cake was became the focal point of our party table! I've been ordering custom cakes from my dear friend Shae of Delishaes Cakes for years! You may contact her on her Facebook Page to see her works and for inquiries: https://www.facebook.com/Delishaescake

And boy, the cupcakes were awesome it had Cocomelon characters as their toppers! My youngest wanted to eat almost all the characters! Who wouldn't be joyful seeing these? These custom cupcakes were also created by Shae of Delishaes Cakes!

No good party ends without gifts! Of course, still Cocomelon toys for our cutie! I bought the Cocomelon coloring and activity books from National Book Store. JJ plushie that has a face bigger than my son was bought from Facebook Marketplace. The original Cocomelon School Bus toy was also bought online. All these were delivered same day COD. How awesome is that right?

His birthday celebration ended with full tummies and happy hearts! Life is worth celebrating even if present circumstances aren't ideal. Let's always be grateful for each day and the blessing of being with our loved ones.

Happy 5th birthday our dearest Damien! Thank you for making our family a little crazier and happier each day!

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

5 Online Games I Play When I Take A Break from Motherhood or Work

I am a full time mom who is also a self-employed professional. Every day I face my demanding "clients" - my kids or my my laptop. This is a life that I chose and don't get me wrong, I am happy about it. At least I get to stay at home while being able to take care of my kids.

Working from home can be quite challenging too. It may be ideal for moms like me, but it can also get really stressful especially when you have to meet deadlines. But I have to do them anyway.

Stress can either be good or bad. Good stress pushes me to do better and work more efficiently. I believe that any stress can be managed. When I feel pressured at work, all I have to do is just take a break.

One of my favorite break past times is playing games online! What I love about playing games online are:

It gets my mind off work.
It becomes an effective outlet for stress.
It helps me think better.
It regains my focus.
It's fun.
It makes me feel better.

I recently discovered plays.org a gaming website that has hundreds of games for kids and adults alike. All games are FREE and you can choose from a number of different game categories depending on your preference. If you're a numbers, letters, patterns, or logic kind of gamer, you'll find something here. If you're looking for adventure, cooking, or races, you'll find something interesting here too!

There are a some games I found pretty interesting because they are easy to play yet challenging at the same time.

Sharing the games I play every time I take a good Mommy break from work (and from being a mommy). I hope you get to try them too!

Candy Fiesta

I liked this game because it's almost a no-brainer relaxing game working with patterns and shapes. This is best to play when you're really stressing out on something and want to take your mind off from that task. If you're familiar with and love Candy Crush, then you're going to love this game too! It's easy, it's entertaining, and it's relaxing!

How To Play: This is a candy merging 3 in a row game where players get 65 total moves. As players score points they level up, causing the playing field to add rows or columns.

Move a piece with an adjacent piece to create a streak of 3 or more in a row vertically or horizontally.

Create multiple streaks at the same time or streaks longer than 3 to create power ups which can be used subsequently. Score as many points as you can before you run out of moves.

Play here: https://plays.org/candy-fiesta/

Frozen Rush

If you love Elsa, Ana, Olaf, and Kristoff then you'll definitely love to play this game too! My kids and I were hung over "Let It Go" song for years and who isn't? Frozen has been one of the top movies or characters my kids and I love. So definitely this game was an instant hit for me! By its name, Frozen Rush, you'll be taken to a snow-covered up-hills and downhills by foot or on ski. Each character needs to "rush" and avoid some elements, get some gems, and accomplish identified tasks per level. the game needs a strategic player to be able to get through the levels and complete each task. This isn't for the faint-heart.

How to Play

Use the arrow keys to run and jump across the frozen landscape. Collect crystals and advance through the 12 levels. Complete the tasks given every start of the level and earn points.

Play here: https://plays.org/frozen-rush/

Parking Toy Story: Car Parking Simulator Game

Are you a good driver in real life? Do you like challenges when it comes to cars, parking, or maneuvering wheels? Then you'll enjoy this game too as much as I do! I personally love testing my driving skills or parking skills virtually by playing this type of games. Whenever I accomplish the tasks per level, I feel so accomplished! For me, feeling accomplished boosts my confidence or self-esteem and it's what I need when I get back to what I've been working on (prior to playing games).

How To Play: This fun and challenging toy car simulator game with colorful and quirky graphics designed for kids. Players must maneuver the car to collect stars and drive around obstacles safely. Collect 3 stars each level and avoid bumping into all sorts of objects and toys scattered around the floor. Head to the specified parking space to complete a level. Enjoy playing as many levels as you can.

Play here: https://plays.org/parking-toy-story/

Waffle Word Finder Game

It's a no-brainer why I like this game. I am a blogger by profession and I words are my lifeblood so to speak.. So this word game is one of my favorites of all time. It's so easy to play, just list all the words you could see at a given time. Kids and adults will surely like this too.

How to Play:

Click on a letter tile and drag your mouse or finger along to adjacent tiles which help complete the spelling for unique words.

Play here: https://plays.org/waffle/

Pac Rat Game (inspired by Pac-Man)

This game is inspired by Pac-Man, the difference is the one eating the cheese is a rat, hence its game name, Pac-Rat! It's almost the same as the original game it is inspired from. The rat's direction is easy to control using the arrow keys on the keyboard. All you have to do is just avoid the incoming cats, eat the cheese, and get the power cheese so you'll be able to chase the cats and devour them too. To do this, you have to be strategic on the direction where you are going. Kids and adults will surely enjoy playing this game too for sure!

How to Play

Eat all the cheese while avoiding the cats.

Play here: https://plays.org/pac-rat/

What I like about plays.org is that there's a search button at the bottom and game categories are listed too.

All the games are FREE and can be played on your laptop, your tablet, and your mobile phone. Plus, I appreciate that there are NO ADS, it simply just wants you to take a break and just play! I'm sure with the hundreds of games and categories available you'll find games that you'll also love! Go to plays.org now and try some games that will help relieve stress from your daily chores at home or tasks at work, even if you work from home. PLAY! You deserve this break too!

Sunday, July 11, 2021

4 Recreational Activities You Need to Try

Banff is a beautiful place surrounded by rugged mountains. The streets are filled with fun and excitement, amazing restaurants and bars, shops, art galleries, and museums. The locals are family-friendly and welcoming to all! If you have decided to make the move to the Canadian Rockies, Banff needs to be on your list. Banff homes for sale are on the rise and have been for quite some time, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find your dream home. Stay flexible, be willing to compromise, and you’ll be sure to find your perfect home.

If you find yourself in Canada, either permanently or on vacation, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. It has been proven over and over again, spending time outdoors can improve your overall health. Below are examples of recreational activities you need to try.

Water sports

Water sports are a great way to cool off on long, hot summer days. Surfing is one of the most popular water sports around. Head to the ocean at sunrise to start your day, or end it with the afternoon waves. Kayaking is an easy, low-impact water sport that’s great for everyone. You may even consider taking a kayak tour to learn about the environment around you. Another fun water sport is jet skiing, bringing the kids along for an unforgettable family day and ride tandem.

Amusement parks

Did you know amusement parks have health benefits? Not only do amusement parks provide adventure, laughs, and memories that will last a lifetime - but a day at a park can be therapeutic. For starters, you will end up walking miles by the end of the day, and you will burn tons of calories riding all the rides. Want to relieve stress? You will be screaming out your anxieties going down the hill of a roller coaster, and you will improve your mood by the adrenaline rush after riding a roller coaster.

Yoga

Yoga is healthy and great for your body, it can also help you cope with any of life’s curveballs. Through yoga practice, you learn to strengthen your mind, and when your mind is healthy, you can handle whatever comes at you. Some folks find a treadmill or lifting weights to not be for them. On the other hand, a yoga session can be different each time you practice.

Hiking

Hiking is a fun activity you can enjoy alone or with family and friends. One of the best things about hiking is, you can do it anywhere - from a city park to a mountain trail. Hiking also gives you that dose of nature you need to stay happy.

With these recreational activities we could all do outdoors, we'll be living a healthier and more active lives!

Tuesday, March 02, 2021

Breathe Clean, Breathe Free With Aqua Maris

As moms, we all prioritize our children's over-all welfare. When we talk about welfare, we first think about their health and happiness. We're happy when they are happy, and we're worried sick when they're feeling under the weather.

When my kids would start to sneeze, then have runny nose or have difficulty in breathing , I would panic because based on our experience it usually progresses to cough, then fever or worse flu. When kids have flu, I couldn't sleep because I feel their pain and discomfort too.

I'd do everything I can to make our kids healthy and comfortable. One of the things I do as a preventive measure (from getting infected by bacteria and viruses) and making sure impurities from the air they breathe is eliminated, is to use an all-natural spray such as Aqua Maris®.

WHAT IS AQUA MARIS®?

Aqua Maris® is an all natural nasal spray made from seawater from the Adriatic Sea which is rich in salts and oligo elements that help normalize mucous production. Normal breathing depends a lot on the state of our nasal cavities. Accumulation of dust particles, allergens, bacteria and viruses on the nasal mucosa prevents its natural functioning. Colds, allergies, the flu and a number of other conditions cause enhanced secretion, which makes breathing more difficult.

Aqua Maris® nasal spray eliminates the inhaled dust particles, allergens, viruses, bacteria and impurities, making the clearing of accumulated nasal discharge easier, simultaneously moisturizing and regenerating the nasal mucosa.

I used to give over-the-counter medicines immediately at the onset of excessive secretion. But I learned that nasal sprays especially as natural as Aqua Maris is a better solution.

WHO CAN USE AQUA MARIS®?

Because this is all-natural, it can be safely used by babies, children, adults, babies, pregnant women, breastfeeding mommas, and even the elderly. For individuals who can't compromise their health nor their babies, specifically pregnant and breastfeeding women, taking medicines for colds may pose some harm. Natural is still the best decongestant - Aqua Maris is way better than over the counter medicines to be on the safe side.

This is why, Aqua Maris comes in three 3 variants: Babies, Classic, and Strong. Aqua Maris Babies help babies sleep and feed easy and breathe naturally. Classic is safe to be used daily to help us breathe clean and free. Lastly, Strong is used as a natural decongestant for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

EXPERIENCE HOW TO BREATHE CLEAN
Have you every experienced using a nasal spray? Do you believe in the power of sea salt? For both of these questions, I do! If you haven't let me share our experience and what I like about it.

It's safe to use.

As mentioned above, you may use Aqua Maris nasal spray even if you don't have a stuffy or runny nose. You may use it daily especially if you go out and get exposed to dust, smoke, and other impurities that may cause difficulty in breathing freely. It's even safe to use by babies, pregnant, lactating women, and the elderly. So I trust my kids with Aqua Maris nasal spray.

It's convenient.

It's so easy to use. It's also a quick and no hassle solution when you look for an instant relief from congested nose due to colds or cough. No need for water nor something to take orally which usually become hard to do when you're sick right? Just spray and voila!

It's effective.

Aqua Maris builds on the recognized medicinal benefits of seawater for respiratory health. It providing relief for breathing difficulties, supporting the body’s defences against colds and flu and assisting in managing sinus problems, allergies and rhinitis. As Aqua Maris products are taken into the human body – including babies and young children – purity and gentleness are of prime importance.

My kids are comfortable using this nasal spray. No uncomfortable feeling and they are not afraid of it. They don't need to hide behind the door when I call them to "clean" their noses so they could breathe freely. We avoid chemicals when decongesting their during bouts of colds, cough or flu.

Switch to using Aqua Maris nasal spray for a more comfortable and safer solution to clogged noses due to dust, viruses, bacteria, and other impurities that may cause difficulty in breathing freely. Aqua Maris is available in Mercury Drug, Med Express, and Watsons. To know more, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Nourishing Teenagers' Well-Being in the New Normal of Learning

Mapúa University conducted a free webinar entitled “Nourishing Your Teenager's Well-Being in the New Normal of Learning,” to help mommy attendees learn how to nourish teenager's well-being in the new normal of learning. My eldest is an incoming senior high school and since he was little, I've been an intentional mom to him. If you still have your young children and toddlers with you whom you wish would grow up soon, I tell you, having a teenager is a different ball game.

In my experience of being a teenager mom, I can say that their phase is more complicated compared to younger ones. I know you know that so well because you were once a teenager right? They have different beliefs and you can't easily sway their decisions of influence them because they listen more to peers at this stage.

One thing I learned is to build a strong and open communication with them while they are young. This way, they can't help open up issues or emotions with you even when they are teenagers. That's the kind of relationship I have with my teenager son. Praise God.

But even if I think I know my son so well, Mapua University's webinar was still an eye-opener to me especially in the area of studying or learning. What makes it even timely and valuable is that our teenagers are also coping with the new normal of learning because of the pandemic. I want to share with you some important key takeaways from the talk.

The webinar discussed topics ranging from assessing Filipino students’ readiness for online learning, mental and emotional challenges during online learning, nourishing the students’ well-being to adapt to the new normal of learning, as well as Mapúa’s Center for Guidance and Counseling (CGC) programs in enhancing the well-being of students.

Self-Regulation/Self-Regulated Learning

This depends on the student's behavior and performances in online education. According to Dr. Edward Jay M. Quinto, an associate professor at the Mapúa’s School of Social Sciences and Education, self-regulated learning is multi-component and that these components include goal setting, environmental structuring, time management, task strategies, help seeking, and self-evaluation. We need to know our children really well in order to know what learning styles fit them. What are your teenager's talents, special skills, or how is he or she unique? As parents we should also know if they are introverted? extroverted? This also includes even their time management skills, do they prepare ahead of time or are better when cramming? How about learning environment, do they study better in their room, on the bed or traditional desk and chair? Also on goal setting when our kids don't do well especially in compliance, we should be able to explain how things are done and why they should be done that way. Are they are help-seeking or self-reliant? Their personalities dictate what kind of learner are they and knowing this help us as parents to efficiently boost their confidence in learning in this new normal.

Things can ask our teenagers:
- What are their learning style or what method of learning helps them better?
- Do they work better when tasks are given daily or for projects do they want open deadlines?
- Do they feel more confident when they ask their classmates or teachers regarding their lessons or can they do self-study or work better alone?

Mental and Emotional State of Students

The pandemic has clearly affected our teenagers and may affect their learning capabilities or readiness. that's why the compassion survey conducted among students by Mapua University was helpful in providing insights on intervention techniques that can be used by both parents and educators. Dr. Jonathan V. Macayan, the dean of the School of Social Sciences and Education pointed out that the responsibilities of the school in addressing the mental and emotional well-being of students include the design and implementation of academic and school policies that are sensitive to and supportive of the mental health and well-being of students, the development of a school–parent collaboration system that will aim to monitor and ensure students’ well-being in online learning, as well as the development and implementation of necessary student support services.

Things we can ask our teenagers:
- What are they uncertain of?
-  Do they sometimes feel alone or helpless?
- Can they identify themselves well when at home? With peers?

Fostering Resilience

The third speaker is the University’s program chair for Behavioral and Human Science, Prof. Jasmine Nadja J. Pinugu, who points out that fostering resilience is critical to a teenager’s well-being during difficult times. She said that the key to nourishing students’ well-being is by fostering resilience, and one can do this by maintaining a positive self-regard for themselves, teaching them life skills such as positive coping and problem-solving skills, enabling them to have a sense of purpose and agency, maintaining positive social connections, as well as emotional regulation. “At this time of pandemic, there should be stronger collaboration between the students, parents,

and the teachers,” Pinugu said.

How we can help as parents:
- Teach them kindness and forgiveness not only of other but of themselves.
- Teach them life skills by making them decide on certain matters at home to encourage critical thinking.
- Show interest in what they do and asking how they are doing.
- Train how to make daily or weekly plans and sticking to them.
- Teach importance of complete sleep and teaching mindfulness in every thing they do.

Arlene V. Clarete-Macatuggal, Mapúa’s director for student advising and counseling, shared how the University has been responding to the needs of its students while learning in an online environment. She explained that Mapúa CGC offers various services for its students to help them cope with the new normal. These services include counseling, coordinating, appraising, and consulting services. “We just don’t wait for students to come to us, but we schedule them for counseling through Blackboard or [Facebook Messenger] to help them with their needs,” Macatuggal said.

I personally learned a lot after attending the webinar. My favorite topic was THE PLACE that our teenagers go to (a part of their persona - where they can identify themselves as a unique individual from one place to another). As parents, we really need to be in constant communication with our teenagers. We need to be intentional in getting to know them. This will signal us whether they are okay or are in trouble because their overall well-being affects how they will perform in the new normal of learning.

Through the webinar, Mapúa University aims to best equip parents with the tools needed to help their children have a productive, engaging, and safe learning experience remotely. It is imperative that parents, students, and the academe work together to provide a seamless academic experience for children via the online learning journey.