5 Lifelong Benefits of Family Travel

Family Travel Has Lifelong Benefits for Children

Traveling with children can be a daunting idea for many families. This is especially true for those who have young children. When young children are involved there seems to be a larger potential for things to go wrong. Planning for family travel and packing for the trip is even harder when infants and toddlers are tagging along.

Despite these difficulties, there are many reasons why you should continue to travel after having children. Experts agree that travel is beneficial for adults and kids alike. Here are 5 lifelong benefits of family travel.

Exposure to Different Cultures

In today’s digital age, one of the greatest things that we can give our children is preparation for how to thrive in this new interconnected world of ours. How can you do this? By exposing your children to different cultures! By teaching your children to appreciate different ways of living, you set them up for success in the global world. A person that is able to communicate and interact with people across different cultures is a person that is more prepared for success in life.

Limitig Screen Time

Traveling as a family means time spent together that may not be possible during non-vacation time. Studies show that limiting screen time for children is important for their growth and development. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the preschoolers use screens no more than 1 to 2 hours per day. Family travel is a great way to show your children just how much is possible without the use of computers, tablets or smart phones. With so much to see and do in the world, your children will discover new ways to learn and explore.

Creating Memories

Making memories as a family is important for many reasons. For parents and children alike, memories of time spent together on family vacations can be some of the best and fondest memories created. Traveling with your family gives you the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and do things out of the ordinary. Whether it’s taking a balloon flight, white water rafting, or something as tranquil as a visit to a national park, these memories that you create will last a lifetime.

Travel is Educational

Seeing the world firsthand provides an education that is completely different than the education that children get in school. Travel teaches children about the economy, world politics, global history, geography, and sociology in an hands-on way that no classroom education can even come close to matching. The history of the world is amazing. There are so many places in the world rich in history that you can explore as a family. Wherever you choose to travel, the possibilities to make things teaching moments is endless.

Travel Challenges You

Going about your daily routine tends to become just that, routine. It’s never too late to break away from the ordinary and do something extraordinary. Make this the year that you take that family vacation and do something that inspires you. Travel is full of moments of joy as well as challenges. By overcoming the challenges, you can give yourself some of the greatest joys of all. How better to spend time with your family?

5 Lifelong Benefits of Family Travel

Holistic Parenting for Lifelong Health and Happiness

Parenthood is a life-changing journey. As new parents, we learn that our choices have important consequences for the health and well-being of our children. Holistic parenting embraces that journey. It emphasizes natural health, a strong and loving parent-child bond, and green living. This article discusses 5 approaches to holistic parenting during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood.

• Practicing Prenatal Yoga

Prenatal yoga is a holistic approach to pregnancy that involves gentle stretching, meditation, relaxation, and breathing. Prenatal yoga increases strength and flexibility, improves mood, and reduces pain, stress, and the risk of preterm labor. Mothers who attend prenatal yoga classes also have the opportunity to meet and bond with other pregnant women.

• Breastfeeding

Holistic parenting encourages breastfeeding for natural immunity and healthy development. Breast milk has antibodies that protect babies from numerous infections and diseases. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of long-term health problems, such as obesity, allergies, diabetes, and autoimmune disease. Breast milk even facilitates mother-infant bonding through the release of oxytocin, a love-promoting hormone.

• Co-sleeping

Holistic parenting embraces co-sleeping, where parents and children sleep in the same room or bed. Co-sleeping helps parents and babies get more sleep; breastfeeding during the night is easier when babies are nearby; and babies have less nighttime distress when parents are within close proximity.

• Sharing a Good Laugh

Holistic parenting encourages laughter. Laughter brightens family life and offers numerous health benefits. Kids with a sense of humor are smarter, happier, and better able to handle life’s challenges. So do something silly to get those giggles flowing, like watching a funny movie, running around the house, or sharing a good joke.

• Spending time outdoors

Holistic parenting values green living, like spending outdoor time with your child. Outdoor play reduces aggression, improves muscle development, and enhances imagination. There are many fun ways to enjoy the outdoors, such as organic gardening, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping.

Conclusion

Finally, holistic parenting respects every parent’s unique approach to health and child rearing. Parents should make open-minded and informed decisions that best suit their personal values and family needs. Remember, only you and your child truly know what is best for you and your child.

References:

http://www.baeacupuncture.com/17024172.pdf

http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2093315

http://kellymom.com/parenting/nighttime/cosleeping/

http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/child-humor.html

https://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature/Why-Get-Kids-Outside.aspx

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicole_Else-

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicole_Else-Quest/publication/247828086_Breastfeeding_Bonding_and_the_Mother-Infant_Relationship/links/54256bd50cf26120b7ac9829.pdf

http://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/what-holistic-parenting

Holistic Parenting for Lifelong Health and Happiness

Childhood concussion linked to lifelong health and social problems

Children who suffer a traumatic brain injury, including mild concussion from a blow to the head, are less likely to do well at school and are at increased risk of early death, researchers have revealed.

As adults they are also more likely to receive a disability pension, have failed to gain secondary school qualifications and nearly twice as likely to have been hospitalised for psychiatric reasons.

The team analysed data from more than a million people born between 1973 and 1985, finding that around 9% had been diagnosed with at least one traumatic brain injury before the age of 25. More than 75% of these were mild injuries.

The researchers compared the outcomes for these individuals with those of others who had not experienced a head injury, as well as carrying out a second comparison, where possible, with siblings who had not been injured.

Once factors such as age and sex were taken into account, the team found that those diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury have an increased risk of experiencing a number of health and social problems. Those who had suffered a traumatic brain injury were 76% more likely to receive a disability pension, 58% more likely to have failed to gain secondary school qualifications and nearly twice as likely to have been hospitalised for psychiatric reasons, compared to those who had sustained no injury.

When the researchers looked at patients who had siblings that had not sustained a traumatic brain injury, they found similar – although smaller – effects, suggesting that genetics could also play a role.

The study also indicates that more than one brain injury increases the risk of ill effects and that the older the child, the more profound the potential impact.

Writing in the journal PLOS Medicine, researchers from the UK, US and Sweden describe how they examined a number of Swedish national registries to explore how traumatic brain injuries could affect a variety of outcomes later in life.

“To summarise, we found that even a single mild traumatic brain injury will predict poor adult functioning,” said Amir Sariaslan, first author of the research from the University of Oxford.

Peter Jenkins, a neurologist from Imperial College, London who was not involved in the research, described the study as powerful. “I think clinically in healthcare at the moment we don’t necessarily recognise these persistent problems [and] we don’t necessarily have the resources available to help deal with those problems,” he said.

The study comes just five months after UK health experts called for a ban on tackling in school rugby games, citing a number of concerns including the risk of fractures and head injuries.

But experts are quick to warn that the new study does not mean that parents should prevent their children from taking part in sports. “What we also know is that across a range of health-related conditions sport is very good for you,” said Alan Carson from the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in the study. He added that exercise is also good for the brain as it thought to reduce the risk of dementia.

The researchers say more should be done to prevent children and adolescents from experiencing head injuries, and to make sure that any problems arising from such an injury are picked up early on.

“[Design of] playgrounds, helmets, the use of helmets, even certain rules in certain collision sports may need to be thought about,” said Seena Fazel, co-author of the research from the University of Oxford. With many head injuries in young adults down to traffic accidents, messages around road safety and drink driving are also important, he added.

Researchers say that parents should seek medical advice if their child has received a blow to the head, or appears to be having problems at school following an injury. “There is some vigilance required when the injury is severe, or there are changes to the trajectory of your child,” said Fazel.

While it is not known exactly how traumatic brain injuries affect later outcomes, scientists have proposed a number of possible mechanisms, including damage to the brain’s neurons, changes to levels of chemicals in the brain and long-term inflammation of the brain. Other effects, such as interruptions in a child’s education due their need to take time off from school, could also play a role.

But, the researchers point out, while traumatic brain injuries appear to be linked to a increased risk of a number of problems, the chances of experiencing such issues are still low. “Most children will be unaffected,” said Fazel.

For those who had not experienced a traumatic brain injury, the chances of an early death were just under 1%, while the chances of failing to achieve secondary school education was 9%. For those who had sustained an injury the figures were 1.6% and almost 14% respectively.

Peter McCabe, chief executive of brain injury charity Headway, said: “This research is a clear warning signal that the physical and psychosocial implications of brain injury can last a lifetime.”

McCabe says more support needs to be in place for those who have sustained traumatic brain injuries, and that teachers, social workers and GPs should all be aware of the possible effects.

“The often hidden effects of brain injury can make it difficult for people to get the diagnosis and help they need,” he said. “This is particularly the case in young people whose naturally developing personalities may mask any psychosocial changes following a traumatic brain injury.”

Childhood concussion linked to lifelong health and social problems