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If you already own a pet, then you’re likely to be well aware of the uplifting effect that a pet can have on your mood when you’re feeling sad.  But have you ever wondered why this is?

Here are a few scientifically-backed reasons as to how a pet is genuinely able to make a person feel better when they are feeling down…

FEEL-GOOD BRAIN CHEMICALS

Your brain produces a number of different natural chemicals that each have their own effect on your mood.

One of these chemicals is called oxytocin. When the brain releases this, you immediately feel happier and more loved.

Not only that, but the oxytocin then sends signals to the other neurotransmitters in the brain, encouraging it to release other feel-good hormones, such as:

•     Serotonin             
•     Dopamine     
•     Adrenaline

How are these feel-good brain chemicals linked to pets? 

Well, research shows that when you stroke a pet, this triggers your brain to produce and release an increased amount of oxytocin. This, in turn, will quickly have an uplifting effect on your mood.

In fact, you don’t even necessarily need to stroke a pet to experience these benefits…

Simply looking into your pet’s eyes can have similar effects!

Pic Credit: Pixabay

COMFORT AND EMPATHY

Not only can many animals sense your emotions, but they can also tell whether you are feeling happy or sad. This is a concept officially known as emotional contagion, and it is something that is being increasingly studied.

While research may still be ongoing, what we do know is that pets, whether they can sense your sadness or not, offer so much comfort and empathy.

Your pet will be there to support you whenever you are feeling down, and your pet is also guaranteed to be one of the best listeners you will ever find! Just talking to your pet about whatever it is that is bothering you can actually increase your problem-solving abilities, meaning that you may even find a logical and productive way to overcome your sadness.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

While a fish or a hamster may not provide this benefit, other pets, such as dogs and cats, do tend to encourage their owners to spend more time outdoors.   This is especially the case with dogs, and dog owners will likely find themselves outdoors so much more than they would have been, all because of their dog. Did you know that spending more time outdoors can have a direct effect on how happy you’re feeling?

Even if you just spend half an hour a day at your local park with your dog, you will experience:  

•     Less stress         
•     More empathy         
•     Increased concentration and creativity         
•     An increase in physical fitness         
•     An improvement in overall health    

As you can imagine, when experiencing all of those different benefits, your sadness will soon disappear!

Pets add so much to our lives, and the fact that an animal can almost immediately make a person feel happier is a huge added bonus for pet owners. Whether you own a dog, a cat, a fish, or anything else, try turning to your pet the next time you are feeling sad for an instant mood lift.

WHY ESA’S ARE AN IMPORTANT OPTION

Out of the world’s entire population, one in four people will suffer from a mental condition at some point in their lives. For one in 25 adults, this condition will be quite serious, and will interfere in some way with at least one of their regular daily activities.   With mental illnesses becoming so much more prevalent, it only makes sense that people are now exploring a wider variety of treatment options, one of which are emotional support animals. Certapet.com is a great resource to learn more!

Note: This is a collaborative post

When I started out on this blogging journey back in 2015, I had no clue about any of the technology side of blogging, hosting, SEO, domain name were all foreign concepts to me. However knowing I loved to write but wanted an audience to read my writing I made a concentrated effort to further my own knowledge. There is a wealth of information available on line to help upskill in this area. For examples sites like myemma.com provide invaluable sources of information on everything from SEO, to trends in marketing and social media. You could spend days perusing the wealth of information. However key is knowing how to put it into practice.

One of the social media platforms which I admit im still very much behind the curve on is Instagram. I love it to look at and enjoy other peoples content, I do however find working on Instagram growth of my own page hard work.  Blogging is a hobby for me and I don’t want it to become a chore. One article from myemma.com which stood out for me was about Instagram and making it work. Did you know there are 500 million users on Instagram a day!!! That is a pretty mind blowing statistic and in equal measure its a captive audience waiting to be reached. I have been very kindly given permission to reproduce the article in question below however to see it in its home place, please see here.

A Sink or Swim look at Instagram

(credit: myemma.com)

Social media advertising has steadily grown in popularity ever since the opportunity to display promotional material on these platforms became available. It’s been a once you pop, the fun don’t stop type of trend.  But creating these targeted advertisements might be unfamiliar for many digital marketers. There are a number of complexities involved in these platforms, and it can be hard to have insight into your return on investment. That being said, the benefits to advertising on social far outweigh the negatives (as we’re sure you know). And Instagram is no exception to that rule.

500 million users log into Instagram every day. Yes—every day.

This visually-heavy platform is an immediate attention-grabber. And it’s an easy platform for consumers and brands alike to browse through thanks to its aesthetic appeal. These factors alone make it a great platform for advertising—again, not to mention the 500 million daily users. While growing your following organically is the most important step sometimes you do need to enlist the help of experts in this area for example  an organic Instagram growth service  can equip you with the tools needed to grow you audience and following to help you capitalise on the platforms appeal.

With so many users out there is a shame not to grab a slice of that opportunity to showcase your product or services. Sometimes we may need some assistance from third party provides which could assist to help us get more out of Instagram with Nitreo for example.

Instagram advertising is booming, and it’s time to jump on board.

How Instagram marketing works

Instagram launched in 2010, and by 2013, the popular social media platform was acquired by Facebook. Any good social media advertiser understands the staggering benefits of Facebook ads. And that success easily transfers over to this image-focused platform.   From traditional posts to sponsored content, IG Stories and more, there are copious opportunities for marketers to take their brands to the next level through visually stunning advertisements.

And with 200 million users visiting at least one business profile every day, your brand has very tangible potential to make an impact on consumers by promoting products and services through images, videos and even long-form content.

And yes—it sells.

In fact, Instagram mobile ad revenue hit almost 7 billion in 2018. Those numbers will grow through 2019 and beyond.   Much like its parent company Facebook, marketers can create a variety of content and target it accordingly. But there’s one thing that differentiates Instagram from Facebook and other platforms—its sorting algorithm.

How does the Instagram algorithm come into play?

Instagram feeds aren’t the chronologically ordered feeds of social media past. Instead, there’s an algorithm in place that sorts and sifts through posts and accounts. This algorithm is customized to each user, putting content from real people before content from brands.

There are three key indicators that dictate how Instagram organizes a user’s feed:

• content quality

• personalization

• post engagement

Let’s dive a little deeper into each so your marketing team knows what to do when setting out to create Instagram ads.

1. Focus on content quality.

Just like Google and its Facebook counterpart, the Instagram algorithm focuses heavily on content value. It won’t just promote your post because your brand posted it. Instead, the content needs to make an impact. It needs to tell a story. And it needs to drive action.

Your posts have to say something and tell a story in order for Instagram to promote it on a user’s feed.

Some users follow thousands of accounts, with hundreds of businesses included in those numbers. They don’t actually want to see all of that promotional content. Likewise, your brand shouldn’t be posting ads that are too promotional either.

Focus on answering questions or starting conversations. This gets more people—potential customers—involved, and gives your brand a better chance of scoring a top spot.

2. Personalize your Instagram ads to your audience.

This is where Instagram’s nifty native ad functionalities come in. With these Instagram advertising options, you can personalize your content to your specific audience.  And that’s important, considering consumers want more personalization when it comes to their interaction with brands. Only 22% of consumers are happy with the level of personalization they experience from brands.

Be better and give your audience what they want in the form of innovative and personalized messaging, targeting, and imagery.

3. Get your audience engaged.

The last, big-ticket factor in the Instagram marketing and advertising algorithm centers around engagement. The more people engage with your posts organically, the higher they’ll rank on a user’s feed. I know some creators do buy likes to get a head start on the algorithm, just in case you didn’t know this could be done, there are lots of articles online regarding how to buy Instagram likes.

Similarly, if you post an ad with high engagement, it’ll be promoted to more people and shared in a way that gets more views, drawing more eyes to your products and offers. Whether you’re using Instagram in the traditional social media marketing way, or you’re using it for paid advertisements, keep these factors in mind when it comes to content creation.

That being said, here are some more tips to develop an Instagram advertising strategy that drives results.

3 tips to boost your Instagram advertising strategy

1. Up your visual design skills.

80% of users follow at least one business account on Instagram. What’s better? 75% of users visit a website to learn more about a product or service they saw on the social media platform.  That means that your brand is already in front of your target audience. Consumers want to follow brands on social media platforms—especially Instagram.  But they’ll continue to follow you to see what visual assets you can bring to the table.

Yes, Instagram is all about the aesthetics. So you need to make sure that while your audience is there and ready to absorb your content, they’ll actually stick around to interact with it. This means you may need to invest heavily in your visual designs, or at least your design skills. Whether you’re promoting images, videos, photography, or graphics, they need to be eye-catching and engaging. There needs to be a very clear design plan in place for your designers, animators, and producers to follow. For example if food is your niche improving your Instagram food photography skills will be critical

It’s your visuals that’ll stop people in their tracks. If your ad is on a user’s feed that knows nothing about your brand, you need to grab their attention with eye-catching images and video. Yet as foundational as that sounds, this takes time, patience, and creativity.

Your first step in creating an Instagram ad is finding the right visual medium to get people interested. One brand doing a great job using eye-catching imagery in their ads—and in their Instagram strategy as a whole—is ONYGO.

The German fashion brand uses high-quality photography, enthusiastic videos, and a clear color palette to entice viewers and lead them on a fantastical journey that takes them to their website. This visual mastery immediately grabs attention and aligns the brand as a fun, flirty, and vivacious leader in millennial fashion.

Image Source: Instagram

2. Make use of hashtags.

Hashtags are a very low-maintenance way to instantly boost results: Instagram posts with at least one hashtag see a 12.6% increase in engagement.

Hashtags are a vital tool in the Instagram advertiser’s arsenal. Hashtags target specific groups, conversations, and audiences. There are people who are spending their time searching for these hashtags, or that follow an individual hashtag in their main feed.

Similarly, advertisers can target these hashtags through their ads and posts. Make sure your team is utilizing hashtags in all posts. There’s a sweet spot for every brand, but it’s important that you research and come up with hashtags that makes an impact on your audience.

Another effective way to make a splash with hashtags in your Instagram ads is by creating a branded hashtag. Think about your brand, its name, and its core values. Use this research to come up with a hashtag that can accompany all of your posts and compel audiences to use it in their own posts as well.

This opens up the possibility for conversation, which brings us to the last tip to break through for Instagram advertisers.

3. Start and jump in on conversations.

Fact: 72% of users have bought a product they saw on Instagram. So if you can get your product in front of your audience, there’s almost a 75% chance that they’ll take this information and run with it. They’ll Google your brand or visit your website, and this will lead them to learn more, and then ultimately to purchase.

I’m sure you can attest to this—almost certainly you’ve seen products on Instagram and immediately wanted to buy them.

But in order to sell products, you have to have the right messaging. And in most cases, that messaging involves asking questions, starting conversations, and giving your audience something to talk and think about.

This falls in line with the part of the Instagram algorithm that focuses on engagement. Instagram wants to facilitate relationships and conversations, so use your ads to get inside the heads of your audience and get them interacting. Some people at the outset often invest in Instagram growth services like Growthoid using it effectively like a kickstart to get their messages and page out there.

MeUndies effectively started a conversation with its Instagram ads. This underwear brand used its Instagram presence to eliminate stigma around underwear and make people more open to talking about it—and shopping for it online.

Image Source: Instagram

Wrap up 

Whether you’re using Instagram to market more traditionally, or you’re using it for paid advertisements, you need to be aware of the complex algorithm that sorts your content. More than awareness, use our explanations and tips to use it to your advantage!

From here, focus on your visual imagery—whether that’s a photo, an animation, an illustration, or a video. Make sure to use hashtags to engage with more audience and demonstrate that you’re an approachable brand.

Then it’s time to have fun! Engage in conversations, start discussions, and use your content to create a dialogue between you and your audience. This establishes trust and lets your audience know that you’re more than just a corporate entity.

There is some really fantastic tips in the article above and certainly lots of food for thought, perhaps 2019 will be the year I double my Instagram following, let hope so.

When a health condition advances, doctors might declare it a terminal illness. It is not easy to predict how much time anyone has before death occurs. It could be a few months or weeks, and the upsetting news can negatively affect you and your loved ones. How do you cope with this sad reality?

It is Okay to React

You cannot predict how you would react if the doctor says the disease is too hard to cure. Everyone reacts differently. The shocking news is almost unbearable, and that’s why some people go silent. You will most likely not believe what you’ve heard. It is okay to cry. Whether you feel scared, agitated, or numb, know that the feelings are normal. Take time to admit the reality even if you want to be alone.If your loved ones suggest Hospice Care, know that they are doing it out of love. As tough as it may be, don’t try to suppress the emotions. You can still express and manage them no matter how hard it seems.

Decide How You Want to Die

You have all the rights to choose where you wish to die. Your priorities, treatment method, and extent of the illness will determine your decision on planning a good death. It can take time to plan how you will die at home. Depending on your health condition, you might need a dedicated caregiver apart from the family members.Many who die in hospitals are subject to infections due to over-medication or unwanted contacts. End-of-life care tends to differ according to socioeconomic status. The good news is that there are nursing homes for all levels of income earners.A report compiled by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) indicates that Medicare beneficiaries dying annually (2 million) represent 80% of total deaths in the USA. Only half of them die at hospice facilities, meaning that the other half spends their end of life days at home. Do not overlook the quality of treatment from a good nursing home, hospital, or hospice. Once you set your priorities right, communicate with the family and doctors to see if you have chosen a viable option.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Be Kind to Yourself

As mentioned, it is normal to experience a range of emotions. How you react to those feelings is what matters as you approach death. Since not everything has or will go well, it is high time to forgive yourself. Some days, you will not handle matters as you would wish. Love and accept yourself.

Make Every Day Count

The most exciting moments are not found in big events or exotic vacations. You can make wonderful memories by seizing the day. Take time to reward yourself for living a worthy life. Spending time with a partner or child can be therapeutic. Whether you are listening to music or birds chirping, the idea is to find moments of joy. Get the most out of the little time that is left.

Process That Paperwork

The family needs to know where your vital papers are. Update them if need be. Have a health care directive planned and state your desires in writing. It is this document that spells out who will make your medical decisions if you are unable to. Remember to write down your living will and indicate the kind of treatments you prefer towards the end of life. You might also want to draft a Do Not Resuscitate order. Your doctor should also sign the paperwork. If possible, you can choose to donate organs to help others. Put detailed instructions in the health care directive.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Men are starting to spend money on their clothing, and a lot of those men are plus-sized. So why is it so hard to find men’s plus size clothing? Shouldn’t brands have figured out a way to create something these men will proudly wear?

It’s tough to find nice men’s plus size clothing. Mainstream stores never seem to have the right sizes. If you’re anything above a 38-inch waist, forget about finding clothes at places like Eddie Bauer or Gap. It’s just not going to happen.

Looking Good

There’s no reason that big and tall men can’t look good. While it is a challenge to locate men’s plus size clothing, once you do, find clothes that make the man. A nice white button-down shirt and a good looking pair of slacks is a great start for any man’s wardrobe.   Make sure you don’t get pants that are too tight around the waist. The last thing you want is bunching and creasing. This only serves to draw attention. At the same time, you also don’t want bulky draping fabric hanging off your frame. Looking for something that hugs you without making you look like you’re wearing a muumuu.

Take Your Time

The unfortunate reality is that finding men’s plus size clothing isn’t easy. It’s time-consuming and can be frustrating. Remember that you might not find something that works for you at the first store you walk into. Plus size clothing just isn’t that popular. Yet. Take your time, but don’t give up. 

As a matter of fact, you might be better off going online to find what you need. Head to a tailor to get accurate measurements, then browse online until you find something that will make you look good. Since online clothing isn’t limited by physical space, you’re more likely to locate what you want.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Naturally as 2018 come to a close we began to chat not only about our holiday plans but our 2019 goals for us and the kids. We uniformly agreed the the four of us knowing how to swim confidently was top of the agenda. I can swim, im by no means good at it but I can manage. The boys love the water, but can’t swim properly, now they are only 6 and 3! The Dada Fairy again loves the water but isn’t a swimmer.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

I have been on a waiting list for some time to get the boys into lessons and finally last week the email came through and Sundays at 1pm will be “swim time”.  We have various bits of swimwear from our holidays over the years but we do need a full suite of swimwear for all of us.

We are all going to improve our swimming ability this year every one of us!  Encouraging each other will spur us on and help us achieve this. We have Alvor, Portugal  booked for October and the goal will be…..all being competent in the water. We don’t need to be at Olympic standard just able to hold our own.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

The thought of buying swimwear for myself fills me with such dread. I’m very body conscious in swimwear, I suppose lots of us are. I stumbled on these absolute beauties by Tyr. The brand is of California origin so expect lots of cool prints. My absolute fave is the Tyr Thresher Baja open back knee suit. This is right up my street, covers plenty!! There seems to be a great sale on the these at the moment with 30% off lots of the swimsuits too. There are some stunning swimsuits for only £17.99 too. Bargain!!

My pair are typical little men, the swimwear will have to be loud and adorned with the favourite characters, currently anything Star Wars related. I saw some swim shorts which would be ideal but they were more excited about the Star Wars logo swim hats! I actually find it so funny my aim in the pool is to be as less noticeable as possible however at 6 the louder the better!! I have no problem investing in decent swimwear for the kids. This is the year we will do this. It was mooted in 2018 but with a lot less enthusiasm. We travelled quite a bit in 2018 and the kids saw the benefits of swimming and using all the amenities at their disposal when they travel.

I have vowed to up date this post in January 2020 with our progress so ill re share then.

Note: This is a collaborative post however all aspirations and goals are my own!!!

Just in time for the season that in it, Wellness consultant Julie Burke reveals her 7 top tips to stay strong and healthy through the winter season.  “Sickness is more prevalent in winter, so taking a multi-strain supplement like Bio-Kult can help to keep you healthy and strong this winter,” says Julie Burke.

So what are Julie’s top tips:

 Stay active

It’s easy to let our exercise and fitness routines slip in these cold and dark winter months. You might need to adjust your daily routine with the shift in seasons but don’t let it bring things to a halt. Simple changes like home workouts can be implemented into your exercise routine as a more accessible option. Yoga and Pilates are great for muscle strength and circulatory health, and these workouts range from beginner to expert.

Nourish your body

With Christmas comes even more excuses to eat out. Making the right food choices is important for immunity and overall health. Eat foods that will nourish your body, give you energy, and keep you fuller for longer.

Rest

It’s important to make an effort to get a minimum of 8 hours sleep a night, especially over the winter months when our bodies are subject to colder weather and the possibility of sickness

Keep hydrated

Staying hydrated helps to detoxify our bodies, making us less susceptible to colds and flus. Drinking water not only nourishes our bodies, but also helps combat the beginning of winter bugs.

Take probiotics

A probiotic and a glass of water can work wonders when it comes to prevention of sicknesses. A daily dose of Bio-Kult Advanced multi-strain is a brilliant way to keep on top of your health during winter while staying hydrated too.

 Make time for me time

“Staying strong” applies to mental health as much as it does physical health. I, for one, am the worst patient, so I pay particular attention to keeping my body and mind fit and healthy. In winter, many of us suffer with mental health issues. Knowing this, it’s important to be present and just check in on how you are, with no distractions. It can be a 10-minute yoga flow in the morning, it can be a walk in the park, and it can be a meditation practice. It doesn’t matter what it is, it matters that you make it happen.

Disconnect

We live in a world where we are constantly on our phones and bombarded by information and sensory stimulation. It’s vital that no matter what season it is, we all take time to unplug and disconnect. Try to have at least an hour before bed with no phone or make your sitting room a phone-free zone.

To find out more about the Bio-Kult product range, visit: www.scopehealthcare.ie

Note: This isn’t sponsored in anyway im simply sharing what I think is some great advice.

For the last few years we have developed a family tradition where my parents, sister, her husband and ourselves gather in our house to watch the Late Late Toy Show. My youngest hasnt managed to stay awake long enough yet but im sure next year will be a different story. My oldest despite being only 6 managed almost the whole show this year.  You cant not love the Toy Show sure it practically an institution at this stage.  We have plenty happy memories ourselves of it growing up.

The very lovely people at Four Star Pizza in Lucan very kindly sent us some super yummy pizzas and treats to make out night even more enjoyable. My oldest has the oddest eating habits – he hates chocolate, he hates chips and wouldn’t care for soft drinks. I do wonder at times if I did take the wrong child home!!! However he absolutely adores pizza. In fact id say he is in prime position to taste test the Four Star Pizza offerings!!

He loves garlic bread, like to insane proportions and he devoured the one from Four Star Pizza, mega thumbs up. My sisters husband reckoned the pepperoni was super yum and the base got a mega thumbs up. The chief cookies taster aka myself and my little sis devoured and I mean devoured the cookies. I’m drooling just thinking about them. I was really surprised with the variety on offer not only of pizza but sides and sambos too. I even saw some reduced gluten bases.

There was clean plates (boxes) all round that Friday night and myself and my sis had a girly night since and we reordered to hers.  I havent tried the sambos yet but I really want to – the Rajun Cajun looks right up my street!!

Overall its a thumbs up from me and two thumbs up for my 6 year old chief taster.  He officially declared the garlic bread the best of his life, quite the accolade for a 6 year old!!!

Note: Four Star Pizza kindly sent us some products to try, I wasnt asked or expected to write this review. All opinions are mine or the boys where appropriate.

If you live in a state or a country that does not have a lottery, this may sound like a silly subject. But maybe not. Growing up, we didn’t live in a place where there was a lottery and I can vividly remember my parents talking about it and the impact it had on my life. Like when I was 16 and asked my dad if he could buy me a new car for my birthday and he said, “Sure, as soon as I win the lottery.”  I know some people take things too far, but there are some good reasons why people should play the lottery. I am not talking about how the profits can help fund public schools or pay for new sports arenas. Those are good things that people sitting in the offices downtown are working on. I am talking about good reasons for the people who are standing on line two blocks from the Stop-N-Shop to get in on the action. 

Playing the lottery closes the distance between social classes

Pic Credit: Pixabay

There are few places in our “modern” society where people are treated equally. When you get on an airplane, first-class passengers are seated comfortably in the front of the plane well before business class or coach passengers are seated. The upper class are seated at the best tables and are giving the most professional treatment in restaurants, clubs, and shops. But, not when it comes to the lottery. 

Just drive by a line of people waiting to buy a ticket when the prize has rolled over to the billions. You will see young mothers standing next to little grandmothers, a businessman in a three-piece suit may be standing in front of a construction worker and he may be in front of a homeless man that you gave $5.00 too on your way to work yesterday. There is no social status when it comes to a big payday. 

Because even the janitor will quit

You really do not want to play the lottery. But, it has hit that number that has set off the lotto lady in the office. She is buzzing around telling everyone in the office that we all have to pitch in and play for a big payout. She has motivated some people and soon the break room looks like the line at the ATM with folks holding money. You don’t want to give it up, but then you think. If you are the only one who didn’t go in and they hit the prize, you are going to be such a sad loser. But worse than that, when the whole office quits their jobs and heads to the beach, including the janitor and the cleaning lady, you are going to be sitting in your dusty cubicle all alone. So, in the name of brotherhood, you turn loose of your money. On your way back to your desk you look at the janitor and think, “I hope you know what you are doing!”

It keeps hope alive

Pic Credit: Pixabay

When we are young, faith and hope live in us abundantly. We believe that there is magic in the stars that people are good, and that hard work is all it takes to succeed. As we grow up, we realize that the universe does not revolve around us. We have to provide for ourselves and sometimes, that gets difficult. We grow to understand that no one is waiting at our door with a basket of fruit and a pocket full of gold and hope begins to fade. Then, we start to think about the lottery. Yes, the chances are slim that we will win. But, somebody will win. Maybe it is not us, but it is someone. Just knowing that someone who was desperate yesterday is now comfortable today gives us a little hope. Fantasizing that it could be us, gives us a little more.

Which lottery should you play?

It can be confusing selecting a lottery to play, so Lottoland answers which are the best lottery to play by letting you choose any lottery from anywhere! Lottoland is an offshore casino company and they have more than 38 lotteries to select from. You select the lotto tickets from wherever you like and purchase your ticket online. The experience is just like the lotto in the stores only with no crowd. You are betting on the result of the lottery, so when the lottery hits, you win! This includes lotteries from other countries and other states. There is nothing stopping you from betting on one or betting on many. It is all up to you. Who knows, you could be the next millionaire. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Young children are very impressionable and curious, making them more willing to try new things. This impressionable stage is where lots of children develop their passions, their hobbies and their interests which have a huge impact later in life.

At a young age, parents have a certain level of influence over their child, what they do and when they do it. Today we’re going to look at how you can encourage a sporting hobby for your child and why you should keep it in mind for the future.

Physical Skills

Between the ages of one and five, children undergo drastic physical changes whilst they explore and learn more about the world. As a parent, it’s our job to serve as a safe base for this exploration. We are the omnipresent support that our children use when they’re tired of exploring and want to return to familiarity but that doesn’t mean we can’t help our children in other ways.

Sport is obviously quite physically intensive and through developing a hobby for your child, it’s easy for a parent to help their child gain better strength, balance and agility that can be transferred to everyday life. This is especially true for slightly more clumsy children where a safe and constructive environment is essential for them to practice balance and awareness,

Social Skills

Whilst sport for kids is great at developing physical abilities and strength, many people underestimate its power to grow social skills too. Most sporting events for children are held in groups, whether they be training sessions, introductory classes or other activities. This means that your child will likely be part of a team or at least surrounded by other children, forcing them to practice empathy, understanding and team play.

Even though a sports setting is competitive and objective focused, the act of speaking and engaging with other children (and other adults) is hugely beneficial for a young child. In fact, for particularly young children, some parent-child sports sessions can also help with learning speech. There are quite a lot of communication-based advantages to encouraging sports for your child.

Self-Confidence, Ambition and Self-Development

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Sports encourages a desire to improve oneself and to perform better. This ambition for self-development and growth is absolutely invaluable both in education and throughout life. Similarly, if your child is performing well on the sports field, they will receive positive reinforcement from their coach and from you, their parents. This is great for improving self-confidence, further assisting the social skills that we mentioned before.

Good Habits

Being active and staying fit is a big part of any healthy, balanced lifestyle and sport is an easy way of instilling this in your child. If your little one is playing sports throughout their school career, it shows

that they can maintain their passions and talents despite being busy for most of the day, increasing their likelihood to continue playing in their adult life.

As a minimum, being physically fit and athletic breeds a desire to stay in good shape. Therefore, even if your child drops their sport later in life, they’re likely to go to the gym or take up some other physical activity that keeps them healthy. For a more scientific look at habits and how to change them, you can click here.

So How Do We Get Started?

Whilst this whole post has been about the advantages of sport for kids, it hasn’t detailed how to get them started.

For an easy entry point, consider a sports party (click here for more information on these). They’re simple, they’re easy and they will give your child a taste of many different sports, allowing them to pick out a favourite.

For a more structured approach, research at community centres and local clubs, then see which sport fits into your schedule. Most clubs host free taster sessions for young applicants, so bring your child along once and see if they take to it.

That’s all there is to it! Hopefully this will help you locate and encourage your child to get involved in sports young, just be sure not to pressure them into doing something they don’t enjoy.

Note: This is a collaborative post