Category: Family Life

Are you a new parent? If so, then you understand the anxiety of trying to make sure that your child grows up as healthy and happy as possible.

That’s why it’s so important to educate yourself about healthy emotional attachment, childhood cognitive skills, and other aspects of prenatal development and infancy.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for help. This article takes a look at the developmental psychology stages of early childhood. Keep reading to get the inside scoop on how to make sure that your child is progressing in a normal and healthy way over the first few years of his or her life. 

Trust vs Mistrust

The first stage in childhood development occurs between birth and 12 to 18 months of age.

During this stage, you’ll likely notice that your baby is totally dependent on you for absolutely everything. This includes food, shelter, comfort, and warmth. 

Keep in mind that beyond meeting their physical needs, cuddling your infant is incredibly important so that they can develop a healthy sense of security and parental attachment.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

Stage 2 of their development is from 18 months to 3 years of age. During this period of time, your toddler will begin to assert their independence.

You’ll also notice that your toddler has developed specific food preferences, thus you should allow them to choose their snacks, as well as to pick the shirts they want to wear, even if their choices don’t match. This freedom to make decisions is incredibly important for developing a healthy sense of autonomy.

Initiative vs Guilt

During stage 3, from 3 to 5 years of age, your child will develop their social skills. This period of development is significant because they will improve their abilities to make new friends, achieve goals, and begin taking responsibility for their actions.

It’s important to give them the freedom to explore the world within the limits that you establish.

This is also a period of time when they will ask lots of questions and being testing boundaries, so be prepared to be patient as their individuality begins to really shine.

It’s also important to consider therapy for children.

Industry vs Inferiority

Stage 5 is from about 5 to 12 years of age. During this stage, your child will learn lots of new skills. They will start comparing themselves to others and become more and more influenced by the culture as well as peer pressure.

Identity vs Confusion

During stage 5, your child will enter the very confusing part of life called adolescence. This is another stage where your patience will be put to the test, as your child challenges you more and more, as their sense of identity goes to a whole new level.

A Guide to the Developmental Psychology Stages of Early Childhood

Raising a child isn’t easy. Fortunately, this guide to the developmental psychology stages of children will help you provide the care your child needs to grow into a healthy and happy young person.

Keep scrolling to discover more great parenting and lifestyle advice on our blog.

Are you a single mom with tons of responsibilities, one of them including your elderly parents? If you think it may be time to have a conversation with your parents about assisted living options, it can be hard to know where to start. 

For some advice that can help you when bringing up this difficult conversation with your parents, keep reading. Make sure you are doing what is right for both you and your parents by having this conversation earlier than later. 

Do Research Before Hand

Before having this conversation with your parents, do some research to get an idea of the senior housing options available. You want to know what kind of setting seems appropriate for your parents as well as the level of care the facility offers residents. You will want to consider locations as well as finding a solution within your budget or your parents. 

Make Sure You Keep the Conversation Open

The best way to initially approach this discussion is to do so with the intent to make a plan for the future. For this reason, broaching the topic while the senior is still able to live safely on their own is best. This makes the conversation one that is not final, but ongoing, allowing you to discuss it in a non-threatening way. 

You want this discussion to be an ongoing process that is open for all parties involved to give their input. This allows you to discuss the issue without needing to take immediate action. Have the conversation in a casual and comfortable spot where the parent will not feel cornered or ganged up on. 

You should also make sure to promise the seniors that they will be involved in this decision. If they are able, you may consider touring different facilities with your parent to find one that suits them. 

Stay Positive 

While this conversation can be daunting and difficult for both you and your parents, it’s best to do all you can to remain positive when discussing housing possibilities. Invoke positivity with your tone and language, trying to avoid threatening words. It may help to replace words such as “facility” with “community”, or “rooms” with “condos” to make certain options more appealing. 

Highlight the perks that come with each option, such as the activities they offer, the amenities available to residents, as well as what kind of social opportunities they will have. Focusing on these elements rather than solely discussing the care that will be provided will help the elderly person feel that they will not lose their independence when moving into assisted living communities. 

To learn about some of the benefits of assisted living that you can present, head to mapleheightsliving.com. 

Discussing Assisted Living With Parents as a Single Mom

If you’re a single mom with elderly parents, it may be time to start talking with them about housing options such as assisted living. Having this conversation before action needs to be taken can help this conversation go more smoothly for both parties. 

If you’re looking for related advice for moms, head to the “Family Life” section of the site!

Some people think that raising a child is one of the easiest things that you can do. After all, you only need to clothe, feed, and change babies until they can do it themselves, right?

Raising a child can be challenging, but we’re here to provide you with a brief guide that’s going to help make things much smoother as you stare at the never-ending parenting checklist you’ve created for yourself.

Practice Patience

There will be times, especially as foster parents, where your patience will be tested, and you feel as if you’re about to explode. When you’re raising children, ensure that you practice patience.

Remember, children are simply children, and sometimes that means that they will try to push boundaries now and then.

Stick With the Essentials

When you’re having a baby and raising a child, it’s easy to get caught up in purchasing everything that looks cute. We recommend that you stick to buying only baby essentials.

During the younger years of a child’s life, they won’t necessarily care about the stickers you put on the walls or the color of the nursery set you purchased. Sticking to the essentials will reduce the clutter in your home and save you money in the long run.

Self-Care Is a Must

Often, parents get caught up in raising their children that they forget to take care of themselves. This causes relationship issues, and parents begin to lose their identity.

If you’re not taking care of yourself, it will show how you take care of your children. To be the best parent you can be, you’ve got to make time for yourself, even if that means taking a longer shower than you usually do.

Communicate With Your Kids

Many children say they don’t talk to their parents because they don’t listen. When your children attempt to communicate with you, take the time to give them your undivided attention.

Listening to your children helps them feel heard and increases the likelihood that you’ll be the first one they turn to when something happens in their lives.

Teach Kids About Emotions

One crucial way to help your children as they get older is to teach them how to manage the emotions they feel. Teach your children what each of their emotions means. And that it’s okay to feel the way that they feel.

Being aware of your emotions and how to manage them will help your child as they continue to grow and interact with other people.

Raising a Child: It Takes a Village

Raising a child isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s one of the world’s most rewarding feelings. Remember to practice patience with your children, and don’t forget to take care of yourself and your relationship.

If you found this post useful, don’t hesitate to check out some of the other posts we’ve published for readers like you.

Are you looking for an assisted living home? Wondering how to choose the best one for your loved one?

If you’re looking for a senior assisted living facility, it’s important that you don’t rush your decision. Instead, you should consider your options carefully and ensure that your loved one will get the best care possible.

Fortunately, we’re here to be your guide. Here are the 6 top things you need to look for when choosing an assisted living home.

1. Adequate Safety and Security

One of the most important things to think about when choosing an assisted living home is what kind of security and safety measures are in place. You should be confident that your loved one will be taken care of and will be safe and sound.

Ensure that there will be licensed nurses available 24 hours a day and be sure to find out what security and safety measures are in place.

2. A Great Dining Experience

You’ll also want to consider what the dining facilities are like in a care facility.

Usually, some meals will be included free of charge at an assisted care facility, but you’ll want to find out exactly what can be expected. You may also want to ask whether it will be mandatory to eat in the dining room or not.

3. Fun Activities

When looking for an assisted care facility, you should also find out what types of activities will be available for your loved one. Take a look at their activity calendar to find out what kind of activities are listed and whether they’ll be suited well for your loved one or not.

You may want to check whether they’ll have a good mix of on-premise activities and activities away from the facility. You may also want to find out if they’ll have religious services that your loved one can attend.

4. Caring and Friendly Staff Members

Another thing you’ll want to consider when choosing an assisted living home is the attitude of the staff. When considering your options, look for staff members who seem friendly and reliable.

It’s important to find a facility that has a caring staff that will be fully attentive to your loved one. Be sure to meet with the staff and management team early on to learn more about them. 

5. Comfortable Outdoor Spaces

To choose a great assisted living facility, you’ll also want to consider what the outdoor area is like. You’ll want to ensure that your loved one will have access to some great outdoor spaces.

Check to see what the outdoor common areas have to offer. You’ll want to make sure that the outdoor area is very comfortable while also offering adequate safety and security.

6. A Great Location

When looking for the perfect assisted care facility, you should also think about its location.

It’s a good idea to choose a care facility that will be close to family and friends so that visits can be easy and effortless. This can make the assisted living facility much more comfortable for your loved one.

You can use assisted living locators to find the best care facilities in your area.

Using These Tips to Find the Best Assisted Living Home

If you’re searching for a great assisted living home, you need to be sure that you carefully consider the factors listed above. Not every assisted care facility is the same, so be sure that you do your due diligence to find the best option for your loved one.

Need more senior care tips and advice? Read through our blog now to find more useful information.

Did you know that around 1 million adults in the United States live in assisted living facilities? If you are currently doing some research about assisted living including the costs, you are in the right place. We have put together this short guide to share more information about senior living. 

Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about assisted living communities. 

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?

The truth is that assisted living costs vary from one state to the next. The main variables include the location, the size of the rooms, the amenities, food, etc. There are some assisted living facilities that are all-inclusive where you only have one monthly bill and other facilities where the services are a la carte. 

The average cost of assisted living in the United States is around $4,000 but depending on the area it can be a couple thousand more. You can look at a bit more info about this reputable assisted living facility for a better idea. 

How to Pay for Assisted Living

Some people are under the impression that Medicare covers the expenses that come with assisted living but, the truth is that Medicare usually does not pay for assisted living. Most people pay for their assisted living from their own personal resources. Adult children tend to also help their parents with these expenses. 

In some states, you can look into community-based waivers to help those with lower income. If you do not make too much money then you can look at the Medicaid resources for your state to see if there is any help available for you or your loved one. 

Another way to pay for assisted living is to either apply for a reverse mortgage on your parent’s home to convert the equity into funds. Also, some people will rent or sell the home to pay for assisted living.

Sometimes life insurance can be sold for a lump sum to help with funding assisted living and long-term care. Take a look at your life insurance or your parent’s life insurance to see if this is an option. 

Choosing an Assisted Living Facility

It might feel a bit overwhelming choosing an assisted living facility but there are a few things that you can take into consideration such as how much help is needed daily or if there are dietary restrictions. Take a look at the activities that the place offers and also the size of the rooms and whether or not everyone has a roommate. 

Feeling Like an Assisted Living Pro?

We hope that now that we went over the costs that come along with assisted living you can make an informed decision for yourself or your loved one. Now is the time to decide if it is time for assisted living or not. 

Did this blog post help you? Please browse around some more for some of our latest tips and tricks.