Family & Parenting Special Section

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

Live Within Your Means Create a solid household budget

Protecting Curious Kids Check out these simple ways to childproof your home

Making the Grade How to help your kids in the classroom

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • THE INDIANA GAZETTE

Creating your household budget

By Metro Creative Services

Stretching every dollar is a reality for many families. A higher cost-of-living coupled with financial uncertainty has inspired many families to scale back their spending, a process that’s much easier when families create a household budget.

Creating a household budget is often more complicated for families than it is for individuals. That’s because families not only tend to have more monthly expenses, but also because families tend to pay more mind to their financial futures than men and women living on their own. The following are a few tips for men and women hoping to create a household budget for their families.

listed as luxuries and determine which ones you can cut so you can pay down your family’s debts. Dining out less and cutting back on entertainment expenses are great ways to free up money to pay down debt. If an examination of your finances indicates little or no consumer debt but lots of money being spent frivolously, allocate funds for daily expenditures like a morning cup of coffee or lunch into your budget and do your best to avoid exceeding that amount.

Establish a weekly budget

Examining monthly expenses, including grocery bills, is an important step for families when establishing household budgets.

Before setting a family budget, heads of the household should first get a firm grasp of their finances. Determine household income, fixed monthly expenses (i.e., mortgage, car payments, etc.), luxury expenses (i.e., cable television service, dining out, etc. ), and outstanding consumer debt.

Once you get a clear picture of what’s coming in and what’s going out, you can determine where you’re making sound decisions and where you’re not.

Many families find it easier to manage their money and stay within their budgets if they live on weekly, as opposed to monthly, budgets. This can be tricky, as many of your more significant expenses, including mortgage and car payments, are likely collected on a monthly basis. But establishing a weekly budget for your family allows you to monitor your monthly expenses more closely, reducing the likelihood that you’ll get to the end of the month and realize you exceeded your budget. Budget for those weekly expenses that are not fixed, like grocery bills and gas.

Staying within budget for such expenses every week can lead to substantial savings by the end of each month, and it’s far easier to save that money when you’re monitoring those expenses every seven days instead of every 30 days.

Set a goal

Consider long-term goals

Consider long-term goals

Once finances have been examined, you can then set a goal.

Goals will change as your financial situation changes, but let your existing financial situation influence the goal you initially set. For example, if an examination of your financial situation revealed a considerable amount of consumer debt, then a goal of eradicating that debt is a great place to start, and part of setting the goal is developing a course of action to make it a reality. When trying to free up money to pay down consumer debt, examine the expenses you

Long-term goals should be considered when establishing a family budget. Even if money is tight, you likely can still find room in your budget to save for your future. The goal of establishing a family budget is to ensure money is being well spent, and contributing to your family’s financial future is money well spent. Allocate funds for retirement account contributions and future educational expenses as well. Even small contributions can add up to a significant amount of money over time.monthly, budgets. This can be

Long-term goals should be considered when establishing a family budget. Even if money is tight, you likely can still find room in your budget to save for your future. The goal of establishing a family budget is to ensure money is being well spent, and contributing to your family’s financial future is money well spent. Allocate funds for retirement account contributions and future educational expenses as well. Even small contributions can add up to a significant amount of money over time.

Get a grip on your finances

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tricky, as many of your more significant expenses, including mortgage and car payments, are likely collected on a monthly basis. But establishing a weekly budget for your family allows you to monitor your monthly expenses more closely, reducing the likelihood that you’ll get to the end of the month and realize you exceeded your budget. Budget for those weekly expenses that are not fixed, like grocery bills and gas. Staying within budget for such expenses every week can lead to substantial savings by the end of each month, and it’s far easier to save that money when you’re monitoring those expenses every seven days instead of every 30 days.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • THE INDIANA GAZETTE

How to foster a love of reading in children their gadgets in exchange for curling up with a good book.

But instilling a love of reading in kids early on can pay a lifetime of dividends.

Children learn at a much faster pace during their first six years than at any other time in their lives, and the right kind of stimulation during these years can provide the foundation for future learning.

In addition, reading at an early age can inspire a child’s creativity and imagination.

Though many parents can recognize these benefits, that recognition does not make it easier to get kids to embrace reading.

No two kids are alike, so parents might need to employ different strategies to get each of their kids to embrace reading.

But the following are a handful of ways parents can foster a love of reading in their youngsters.

By Metro Creative Services

Today’s parents know that it’s not always easy to instill a love of reading in children.

Whether they are watching television, dabbling with their smartphones, toying with their tablets or engaging in social media, youngsters now have more distractions at their disposal than ever before.

So it’s no surprise that many youngsters may not be too enthusiastic about abandoning

Embrace their hobbies When encouraging kids to read, parents may find it easier to get them to pick up a book if that book’s subject matter pertains to a favorite hobby or something a youngster has expressed interest in.

A seven-year-old boy with a passion for baseball will likely be more inclined to read an age-appropriate novel about America’s pastime than he will a book about fishing.

Use youngsters’ enthusiasm about a given hobby or interest to lay the foundation for a love of reading.

Don’t limit reading to books Books are not the only reading materials that can foster a love of reading in kids. Local newspapers and magazines have sparked many kids’ initial foray into reading, and such source materials can be just as inspiring as novels or short stories.

Magazines made for youngsters give kids something they can start and finish reading in the same day. Young boys might want to read the sports page in the daily newspaper or visit a favorite team’s website to learn all about last night’s game, while young girls might be more inclined to read the arts and entertainment sections.

Parents should encourage such exploration, even if it means leaving novels on the bookshelf for the time being.

Read to youngsters Another way to foster a love of reading in youngsters is to read to them every day.

Many young kids just learning to read may be discouraged if their reading skills aren’t progressing rapidly.

Reading to kids every day can inspire them to work harder at reading so they can be just as good at reading as Mom and Dad.

Discuss reading materials with your children Many people enjoy talking about books they have read as much as they enjoy reading the books, and kids are no different.

Parents who want their youngsters to embrace reading can initiate discussions about what their kids are reading, discussing the plot of novels or the details of newspaper or magazine articles kids read.

Ask them what they like and dislike about a book or ask for a recap of a story they read in the newspaper or an article they read in a magazine.

Extend the reading experience After they have finished a novel, adults often find it enjoyable to watch films based on that novel. Doing so extends the reading experience and gives men and women a chance to see if their interpretations of a given story were similar or different from someone else’s.

Kids enjoy such extensions as well, so reward kids by taking them to the movies to see the film version of a favorite book or to a museum that’s displaying an exhibit that’s relevant to a book a youngster just read.

Though their youngsters may have many distractions at their disposal, there are still many ways for parents to foster a love of reading in their children.

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THE INDIANA GAZETTE • Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Furniture For Your Family’s Lifestyle!

Where families can cut costs

By Metro Creative Services

Whether they’re still recovering from the recent economic troubles or simply looking for ways to build their savings, many families are hunting for ways to cut costs. Increases in the cost of living have forced the hands of many families, some of whom may not know where to begin with regard to scaling back their expenses, while others are worried that cutting costs will negatively affect their quality of life. But there are numerous ways in which families can trim some fat from their everyday expenses without sacrificing the things they enjoy.

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smartphones skyrocketed and so, too, did family’s monthly mobile costs.

A typical family of four now budgets several hundred dollars per month just for their smartphones, a sobering reality that is cutting into family funds and stretching their budgets awfully thin.

Families looking to cut costs can shop around for a new provider offering less expensive plans or cut back on their mobile usage. Instead of four smartphones, which are often accompanied by expensive data plans, for the family, cut back to two smartphones and give youngsters more traditional cellular phones that don’t allow them to surf the Internet or enage in other costly activities that are a luxury but not a necessity.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1984 the average American household spent slightly less than 17 percent of its annual post-tax income on food, a figure that had dipped to 11.2 percent by 2011.

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But over the last century, Americans also have spent more and more on food they eat away from home. In fact, the United States, at 7 percent, and Canada, at 10 percent, spent substantially less of their family budgets on food they eat at home than many similarly developed countries, including Germany (11 percent), France (13 percent) and Italy (15 percent).

In 2010, those same consumers spent an average of $71.24 per month, meaning the cost of multi-channel video services increased by nearly 17 percent in just three years.

So while families may be trimming their grocery bills, those efforts might be offset if they are routinely dining out for dinner. Instead of weekly meals at a favorite restaurant, families looking to cut costs can reserve such nights on the town for truly special and unique occasions.

Another way to trim food costs is to write up a grocery list before visiting the supermarket.

Going into the store without a list is a great way to overspend and buy things you already have at home or simply don’t need.

Mobile services Data analysts at the global financial firm UBS AG found that in 2007 wireless carriers brought in $22 billion in revenue in the United States alone by selling mobile services like email and Web browsing.

By 2011, that revenue had nearly tripled to $59 billion.

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According to a 2013 report from Leichtman Research Group, a communications research and consulting firm, the average consumer spent $83.25 per month on multi-channel video service in 2013.

Industry analysts expect those increases to continue, as cable television providers continue to point to the escalating cost of programming as the driving force behind the rate hikes.

But families who feel their monthly cable or satellite television service is a luxury they can no longer afford or rationalize have options.

Broadband Internet connections allow families to access streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video, and access to such services is typically available at a fraction of the cost of traditional cable or satellite television services.

Certain streaming services have even begun to produce their own original content, putting them in a better position to compete with more traditional content providers by offering more than just a lower price.

Cost-of-living is on the rise, but families can find ways to trim their monthly expenses without negatively affecting their quality of life.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • THE INDIANA GAZETTE

Simple ways to childproof your home Bringing a new baby home from the hospital is a great moment for parents. But as a child settles into his or her new home, parents look around that home and see less “home” and more “hazard.” Kids are going to get some bumps and bruises along the way, but it’s still important that parents childproof their homes to keep such instances to a minimum and ensure that trips and falls don’t lead to something far worse than just some scrapes and tears.

Childproofing a home is typically more difficult for first-time parents who don’t have the trained eye for hazard spots that parents of one or more children feel is second nature. But a practical approach to childproofing a home can keep kids safe and let parents rest easy knowing their youngsters are safe. The following are just a handful of the many ways parents can make their homes safer for newborns and young children.

Store potentially dangerous household items high up

make off-limits, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Childproof locks on cupboards and drawers can be an effective deterrent to curious babies, but parents should never underestimate just how inquisitive some youngsters can be.

To safeguard especially curious kids from their own behaviors, always store potentially harmful household items in high cabinets that little boys and girls won’t be able to reach. Knives, household cleaners and scissors are just a few items that should be stored well beyond kids’ reach until they have clearly demonstrated they can handle such objects without cause for concern.

By Metro Creative Services

Turn down the water heater Young children are susceptible to burns from hot water, even if that water temperature is perfectly fine for the rest of the family. Mayo Clinic recommends setting the temperature on the hot water heater to below 120 F and installing antiscald devices on bathtubs and showerheads.

In addition, always test the water before your child gets into the tub.

Secure flat-screen televisions The televisions of yesteryear were so heavy that many adults couldn’t even move them without help. Not so for today’s flat-screen televisions, which are not only lightweight but also easily tipped over thanks to their often top-heavy structure. Such televisions should be mounted to the wall or kept high off the ground where kids can’t reach them.

Televisions that aren’t wall-mounted or those that are close to the ground are far more likely to tip over when curious kids go exploring.

Remove magnets from the refrigerator

Keep cribs away from the window

Small magnets on a refrigerator often fall off when doors are open or closed. Babies or toddlers can easily find such magnets, which then become a choking hazard.

Cribs should never be kept near a window, where cords hanging from blinds present a choking hazard.

Kids should not be in the kitchen anyway, but curious kids have a way of finding their way into rooms parents try to

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THE INDIANA GAZETTE • Wednesday, April 29, 2015

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Playground equipment is a magnet for children, and rightfully so. Kids love playing on swings, slides and climbing components of playsets on school properties and at area parks. While playgrounds are ideal settings for funfilled days, they also carry a certain degree of risk.

Approximately 20 children in the United States die from playground-related injuries every year. More than half of these deaths result from strangulation and about one-third result from falls, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But parents can reduce their youngsters’ risk of injury and the severity of injuries in various ways.

Purchase recommended, safe equipment Parents should do their research when buying playground equipment. Consumers can check with the Consumer Product Safety Commission for any litigation involving certain manufacturers or any product recalls. It may cost a little more to install a top-of-the-line playground set, but the peace of mind and reduced risk of injury is worth the extra cost.

Invest in adequate surfacing The CPSC says roughly 60 percent of all playground injuries are caused by falls from structures. Although no fall is pleasant, the severity of injury resulting from a fall can be greatly reduced depending on how safe the surface material surrounding the equipment is. Blacktop, concrete or even grass can be painful to land on.

However, loose-fill materials like pea gravel, sand, shredded rubber, or mulch can soften falls. Plus, these materials are relatively low-cost and can be made from recycled items. But parents should know that loose-fill materials must be maintained to ensure a safe level of thickness. A depth of 12 inches is often recommended.

Choose an age-appropriate structure Injuries frequently occur when children use equipment designed for older kids. Playgrounds are not one-size-fits-

all. There are specific differences in the size and stature of younger children from older ones, as well as limitations in younger children’s development.

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Segregated playground areas, or those with groupings of equipment recommended for certain age groups, can help limit injuries. Pre-school children need smaller steps and crawl spaces, while older children can utilize overhead bars that maximize upper-arm strength.

Safely situate equipment Consider placing a piece of playground equipment under a shady area to keep children comfortable and safe from sunburns. Hot equipment can result in burns and being out in direct sunlight can also cause UV damage to the children’s skin. Structures should be situated so there are no obstructions or obstacles to any moving parts.

Select a shorter structure Studies show that the greater the height of a playground structure the greater the risk for injury. Choose playground equipment that is nearer to the ground to prevent serious injuries from falls and other incidents.

Inspect and maintain the equipment. Safety measures must still be taken after the playground has been erected.

Equipment should be routinely inspected for damage and movable parts and joints should be examined for any signs of wear and tear. Bolts should remain tight, and any hardware that is protruding should be fixed. S-rings and other links and chains should not have gaps where children can get caught. Wood should be inspected for splintering or decay and replaced where necessary.

Supervise kids at all times Children should always be supervised when playing on playground equipment, whether they are playing at school, at home or in a public park.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • THE INDIANA GAZETTE

5 tips for relocating the family

By Metro Creative Services

Did you know the average person moves 11.4 times in his or her lifetime? So says the most recent information from the U.S. Census Bureau.

amenities they desire in a new neighborhood will feel empowered and in control.

Research potential new neighborhoods carefully

Various factors prompt people to move, from job opportunities to the desire to be closer to family members to wanting to live in a nicer climate.

Finding a new residence is not entirely about buying a home that fits the family and its needs. It also is about finding a desirable neighborhood and community.

Moving is seldom an easy task, and is often ranked among the most stressful events in a person’s life. The Employee Relocation Council cites it as the third most stressful event in life, following only death and divorce.

A good school district is an important factor, as is proximity to recreation, local culture and transportation.

That stress is only heightened when an entire family is making the move and an adult is starting a new job simultaneously.

Drive around a neighborhood during different times of the day to gauge how active it is. Investigating businesses in the area can also help gauge the personality of a given neighborhood.

Despite the potential headaches involved with moving, an estimated 43 million Americans move each year.

Work with an experienced agent

Those moving are often married couples between the ages of 25 and 44 with one or two children between the ages of 2 and 11.

To make the process go more smoothly, consider the following tips.

A real estate agent who is familiar with a variety of communities is a great asset.

Gradually introduce the concept of moving

Because the agent will be paid a commission on a portion of the sale price, which doesn’t come out of your pocket, it is in the real estate agent’s best interest to help you find a home you can call your own.

Moving is a decision to be discussed with the whole family, even with young children who may not fully understand the process.

Kids who are involved in looking at new homes or voicing opinions about which

A buyer’s agent will find homes and negotiate on the part of the buyer, having your best interests in mind.

In addition, the agent will handle many of the tasks that may be overwhelming if you were doing them on your own, such as scouring

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Pack children’s rooms last Young children who see favorite items disappearing into bubble wrapping and boxes may start to feel anxious. It’s not uncommon for preschoolers to act out or experience nightmares during the moving process.

Maintain a sense of normalcy in the home as long as possible. Begin by packing nonessential items, only packing kids’ items when your moving date is right around the corner. Let children say good-bye to familiar haunts and even to their old home.

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Plan a school orientation Take advantage of any programs schools offer to acclimate kids to their new environment.

Kids often leave friends behind when moving to a new home. The faster they get back to a normal routine, the better it will be for them.

Schools are where children will make new friends and participate in social occasions, so tour their new schools before the school year begins, and meet with a few residents and current students to learn about special programs that may make a move less stressful for youngsters.

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THE INDIANA GAZETTE • Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Fun ways to be fit together

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By Metro Creative Services

Obesity is a global epidemic affecting people of all ages. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of Americans are considered obese, while Statistics Canada notes about 25 percent of Canadians are obese.

Being overweight or obese has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer, and children who are overweight are likely to be overweight or obese adults.

While eating a diet that is low in fat and high in whole-grain fiber, vegetables and lean proteins is important, exercise remains one of the key factors in maintaining a healthy weight.

However, many adults and children simply do not get enough exercise during the day.

An active lifestyle is often hampered by the prevalence of digital devices or sedentary jobs that encourage more screen time than fitness time. But there are ways for the entire family to get fit.

Exercising together is not just a great way for families to get healthy, but also a great opportunity to spend time together. The following are a handful of ways families can work together to incorporate more exercise into their daily lives.

Tackle chores Yes, tasks around the house can count as exercise. Working together not only gets you moving but also cuts down on the time it takes to tackle tasks around the house.

Mowing the lawn, vacuuming the rugs, sweeping the floor — all of these activities can get the heart pumping. Make it fun by

setting chores to music or competing against one another to see who gets their task done first or the best.

Compete in the pool Swimming is a low-impact activity that works many muscles in the body. Taking a dip in the pool can be both relaxing and beneficial to your health. Compete with family members to make the most of the time spent in the water. Host relay swimming races, see how long each member of the family can tread water or create any other competitions that keep everyone in the pool moving.

Create an outdoor obstacle course Set up a series of obstacles in your yard and host your own triathlon. You can jump through tires, climb through tubes and scale trees.

Make it fun by having adults try to ride tricycles or pair up an adult with a child for sack races. The opportunities for fun are only hampered by your imagination.

Go for family bicycle rides Traverse your neighborhood or blaze new trails by riding bikes together. Young children can be strapped into trailers that are pulled behind the bike or ride in seats attached to the bike itself. This gives everyone a chance to enjoy the great outdoors and hone their cycling skills.

Go hiking Hiking is another fun family activity that also happens to make for great exercise.

Choose a trail that may not be level and put everyone’s endurance to the test.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • THE INDIANA GAZETTE

How to help your kids in the classroom

By Metro Creative Services

Parents often play a crucial role in helping their kids do well in school. Numerous studies have shown the positive impact that parental involvement can have on a student’s academic career, and those studies have inspired many educators to encourage their students’ parents to take a more active role in their children’s education, including helping them with their homework.

Parents can help kids with their homework in various ways, but that very involvement alone can help to establish a groundwork in which kids understand there are specific rules regarding their homework and that these rules will be enforced. Even parents who might not be able to help kids with their calculus homework are already helping by simply creating an environment in which kids know they are expected to do their homework every day and that mom and dad will be there to make sure they do.

But enforcing rules about homework is not the only way parents can help their kids in the classroom. The following are a few simple ways parents can support their children’s academic efforts as well.

kids to pick their courses, parents should sit down and help kids choose a schedule that’s challenging but not overwhelming.

Emphasize education over extracurricular activities Parents often marvel at the ease with which their children juggle busy schedules.

While students might be deft at balancing academics with a host of extracurricular activities, many adults feel that today’s kids are overburdened, and parents who feel that way should not hesitate to take some tasks off their youngsters’ plates.

Parents should stress to their children that education takes precedence over their extracurricular activities, paying careful attention to kids’ academic performances during those times of the school year when their children’s schedule seems especially busy. During such times, parents also can contact children’s teachers and ask that teachers let them know if their youngsters’ academic performance begins to suffer.

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Contacting teachers is now easier than ever before. Many teachers recognize the benefits of involving parents in their youngsters’ education, and as a result these teachers go to great lengths to make information about their classes available, whether it’s by posting a class syllabus online or emailing parents about upcoming assignments or examinations. Whereas the parents of yesteryear used to wait until parent-teacher conference sessions to learn how their child was performing in the classroom, today’s parents can email their children’s teachers for updates or questions if they notice their child is struggling with a particular subject.

Help your child choose his or her coursework The competition to get into a good college is stiff, and many of today’s high school students recognize that reality. Unfortunately, some students bite off more than they can chew. High school students don’t have the flexibility with regard to their coursework that they will have in college, but that does not mean their schedules are entirely up to someone else. When the time comes for

Limit distractions Time to unwind is important, but parents should keep a watchful eye on just how much time their kids are unwinding. Too much time spent online or in front of the television can compromise academic performance.

Establish limits as to how much time kids can spend online, watching television and playing video games, and enforce those limits so kids have time to focus on their academics.

11

THE INDIANA GAZETTE • Wednesday, April 29, 2015

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • THE INDIANA GAZETTE

THE place for family fun!

• Experience hundreds of interactive exhibits, live demos, and hands-on science activities.

• See live aquatic animals.

• Journey to the stars!

• Explore a real Cold War-era submarine.

• Become a human yo-yo.

• Make it rain in the water table.

• Conquer a “zero-gravity” climbing wall!

• Learn the language of robots.

Make memories with SC Carnegie Science Center IENCE at in Pittsburgh!