Family
6 Tips for Traveling with Your Furry Friend
(Family Features) No matter the distance or destination, a vacation can make for a perfect opportunity for families – including four-legged family members – to bond and spend some quality time together.
In fact, nearly three-quarters (72%) of dog owners feel traveling with their pet makes the trip more enjoyable, according to research1 by Hilton, and 56% plan to travel with their pet in the next 3-9 months. Because traveling with your furry friend requires additional planning to ensure it’s a safe, comfortable experience for everyone, consider these tips from the experts at Mars Petcare and find more information to make your trip inclusive for your pets at BetterCitiesforPets.com.
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Check In with Your Veterinarian
Prior to your trip – within 10 days if traveling by plane and the airline requires a health certificate – visit your vet to ensure all vaccinations are up-to-date and that your pet doesn’t have any underlying issues or conditions that could be worsened by dealing with the stress (or heat) of traveling. Also ask for ideas to relax your furry friend in the event he or she becomes afraid, anxious or uncomfortable while in the car or on the plane.
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Ensure Proper Identification
Regardless of where you’re going or how you’re getting there, it’s important to make sure your pet can be properly identified. Ensure microchip data is current and that he or she is wearing a secure collar with your name and updated contact info. Also label your pet’s carrier in case you become separated.
Photo courtesy of Mars Petcare
Look for Pet-Friendly Accommodations
According to the same survey1, 79% of pet parents’ destination choices are influenced by their pets, so it’s important to research locations that offer pet-friendly lodging options. For example, to meet pet parents’ evolving needs when traveling, Mars Petcare joined forces with Hilton to provide pet-friendly resources at its approximately 5,000 hotels across the U.S. and Canada, including access to Mars PET On-Demand and a dedicated Hilton team sharing local pet-friendly resources.
Photo courtesy of CESAR Canine Cuisine
Prep a Travel Kit
Remember you’re not the only one who will need some essentials while away from home and pack a bag for your four-legged friend that includes food, portable bowls, medications, a leash, grooming supplies and a pet-friendly first-aid kit. It may also be a good idea to pack a favorite toy to provide a sense of comfort.
Photo courtesy of CESAR Canine Cuisine
Creating Meaningful Memories
As a pet owner, you want to provide the best care possible so your dog can travel comfortably. To celebrate traveling with four-legged friends, Mars Petcare and Hilton teamed up to provide free CESAR® Canine Cuisine (while supplies last) for all dogs staying at participating pet-friendly Hilton hotels in the U.S. and in select Toronto area hotels on International Dog Day – a holiday created by pet lifestyle expert Colleen Paige. By offering free CESAR Canine Cuisine on Saturday, Aug. 26, dog lovers and their pups can enjoy their travel experience together even more. Providing pets with meals and complements they love shows them the love they deserve, which can help make the most of spontaneous adventures.
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
Secure Your Pet During Travel
Whether traveling by car, boat, plane or train, the safest way to take your pet along is in a secure and well-ventilated crate or carrier that is large enough for him or her to stand, sit, lay down and turn around inside. Secure the carrier so it will not slide or shift in case of abrupt stops or turns. If you opt to forgo the carrier while driving, keep your pet harnessed in the back seat and ensure heads and paws remain inside the vehicle.
1Hilton partnered with Morning Consult to inform the Pet-Friendly Survey study. Morning Consult conducted an online survey among a sample of n=2,200 adults, n=1,445 of the adult sample self-identified as owning a pet, and n=1,029 of the self-identified pet owners self-identified as owning a dog and n=773 self-identified as owning a cat. The survey was conducted in May 2023.
SOURCE:
Mars Petcare
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(Family Features) Learning to write is one of the defining milestones of early childhood, but it doesn’t happen all at once. Children build writing skills over time, from indecipherable scribbles to writing letters and words. While children progress at their own pace, families can help foster early writing development.
Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at The Goddard School, and Dr. Sonia Cabell, professor of reading education at Florida State University and member of The Goddard School’s Educational Advisory Board, provide this insight and guidance for families.
Early Writing Milestones
Writing begins in early toddlerhood, around 18-24 months. The earliest developmental milestone is when children scribble on paper with a crayon.
By 2-3 years old, children often draw shapes and narrate their writing. Parents should show genuine interest to help build confidence and interest. Ask your children to read what they write, as this helps make the connection that marks on paper represent thoughts and ideas. It’s not expected for children younger than 3 to write identifiable letters. Instead, encourage them to make marks on paper without constraint, allowing them to freely express themselves.
Around ages 3-5, children begin to move from writing (making marks) to handwriting, which is the formalized motion of making numerals and letters in recognizable forms. It’s vital for parents to value their children’s writing no matter what appears on the paper and provide opportunities for them to regularly engage in writing. Children at this age tend to write letters in different ways. It’s common, for example, for letters to appear backwards or from right to left. These are not causes for concern; this is a natural part of the development process.
Writing Supports Reading (and Vice Versa)
Reading and writing skills develop in tandem, reinforcing each other. Through writing, children experiment with how written language works, learning English moves from left to right and top to bottom. By estimating spelling – using their knowledge of letter shapes and sounds to attempt to write words – they are beginning to break the code of reading. Moreover, when children are composing stories, they are supporting comprehension and oral language growth, which are critical for reading development.
Encourage Writing at Home
Make writing part of everyday life. While ensuring paper and writing utensils are accessible is a start, materials alone won’t spontaneously create writing experiences. Children naturally want to engage with things they see, so parents and older siblings should serve as writing models. For example, when writing a grocery list, ask your children to write their own lists. When you’re writing a thank-you note, have them write their own.
The development of fine motor skills is also essential. One way to do this is provide tools like chopsticks or tongs that require them to use their forefinger and thumb in a pinching motion; this strengthens the hand muscles that are used to write. Also encourage play with small toys like blocks or beads that engage the hands in different ways. As fine motor skills improve, it becomes easier to grip writing utensils and write for extended periods.
Writing Tools
From apps to workbooks, countless tools and resources tout their ability to help children learn to write. Be wary. Typing on a tablet or computer is no substitute for learning to write by hand. Multiple studies have shown that writing – not typing – better promotes cognitive and literacy development.
Avoid activities like workbooks that require repetitive writing of letters over and over, as this inhibits creativity and experimentation. These activities can cause children to fear making mistakes, which can lead to anxiety, frustration and a loss of interest. The best tools are often the simplest: a small writing utensil (not big or bulky; children have small hands and need appropriately sized utensils) and a blank piece of paper.
Remember, children develop at their own pace. Provide encouragement and focus on effort, not perfection.
To watch a writing webinar featuring Loquasto and Cabell and access additional parenting resources, visit the Parent Resource Center at GoddardSchool.com.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
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child education
Choose Play Every Day: How to transform everyday activities into playful learning opportunities
(Family Features) Play is a universal language spoken by people of all ages. Through play, children learn to forge connections with others, build a wide range of leadership skills, develop resilience, conquer fears and navigate relationships and social challenges.
For babies and toddlers, play is about far more than just having fun; it’s about learning and building important skills, from cognitive and physical to emotional and social abilities. As children get older, play helps reduce stress levels, process difficult emotions, promote problem-solving and build confidence – skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Despite its importance, play is often undervalued and overlooked due to busy schedules, lack of resources or misconceptions about its benefits. Approximately 4 in 10 children ages 2-4 do not get enough responsive interaction or stimulation at home, based on estimates from UNICEF, and roughly 1 in 8 children under age 5 don’t have toys or playthings at home.
To overcome these barriers, it’s essential for parents and caregivers to recognize the value of both structured and unstructured play. Simple, everyday items – like kitchen utensils, cardboard boxes, leaves and stones – can be tools for imaginative play. Setting aside dedicated time for play, even in short intervals, can make a difference.
In honor of International Day of Play, consider these ideas to turn everyday activities into playful learning opportunities from UNICEF, which recognizes play as an important means to help children by providing access to evidence-based parenting programs and working with governments to prioritize play-based teaching and learning practices in schools and other learning environments.
- Turn a grocery shopping trip into a scavenger hunt to teach kids about different foods, counting and categorization.
- Role play or act out different scenarios you read in books or see in movies to help develop social skills and emotional understanding.
- Make important language connections when getting dressed, such as identifying different articles of clothing and teaching colors.
- Use bathtime to explore buoyancy and water with floating toys.
- Play “I spy” while driving in the car or going for a walk around your neighborhood to help kids identify different animals, shapes, colors and elements of nature like trees, clouds and more.
- Explore the kitchen through tasks such as choosing ingredients, measuring them and keeping time while cooking.
- Use puzzles and building blocks to help develop problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Stimulate senses and promote fine motor skills through play with materials like sand, water or crafting dough.
- Make sorting laundry educational by asking children to match socks by color or size, reinforcing their understanding of sorting and categorization.
- Take turns doing the feeding at snack or mealtimes to build hand-eye coordination.
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5 expert ways to make the most of seasonal gatherings
(Family Features) From summer holidays and pool parties to spontaneous backyard barbecues with friends and neighbors, the hottest season of the year brings people together. When it’s your turn to host, make the most of the occasion by setting up your space to maximize the fun while showing off your festive side. “Summer is hands down my favorite time to host,” said Kristina Zias, lifestyle, beauty and fashion expert and mom. “I love any excuse to bring people together and – let’s be real – I’m always looking for a reason to throw a party. The key is keeping things low stress for the host and making sure guests feel comfortable the second they walk in.” This season, Zias and Glade are teaming up to share some of her favorite summer entertaining tips, which are simple, low-effort ways to make every gathering feel special. Whether you’re planning a full-blown backyard bash or hosting a few friends for drinks, Zias’ go-to ideas are all about setting the mood and enjoying the moment. 1. Set the Scene Without the Stress To achieve a beautiful scene and make cleanup a breeze, try using disposable plates, utensils, napkins and cups in red, white and blue. A self-serve drink station with strawberry-infused water and a table of colorful fruit skewers adds charm without requiring much prep.
2. Tap Into Nostalgia Through Scent
Scent can instantly transport guests back to cherished summer memories, making it a powerful way to set the tone and spark conversation. Zias suggests using home fragrances to do just that. The new Glade Americana collection, available exclusively in stores and online at Walmart, features three limited-edition scents inspired by nostalgic summer traditions like beach trips, ice pops and garden-fresh fruit. Masterfully crafted to help bring summer to every room of your home, they’re designed to evoke warm-weather traditions.
- Berries & Cream: Scents of a classic American summer treat spring to life in a picnic-perfect blend of apple, red berries, apricot, vanilla and sweet cream.
- Summer Pops: Reminisce on childhood memories of a cool ice pop on a warm summer day with bright notes of Brazilian orange, pineapple, strawberry, white peach and sandalwood.
- Beach Life: Transport yourself to a favorite summer vacation spot by the ocean with a breezy mix of sea salt, driftwood, white moss and white peony.
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