As a responsible parent, teaching your kids about the ways of effective financial planning remains crucial. Management of personal finance is a combination of art and science that cannot be mastered in a single day. If you want to make sure that your kids are duly aware of the need for frugality, you should start training them from today so that they can avoid making unwise monetary decisions later in life. Here is a list of few tips that you should use in order to help your child improve his financial literacy.

1) Use Piggy Banks: It is advisable to inculcate the values of good finance management in your child when he is very young, for instance, when he is four or five years. A piggy bank can become a major tool in this process. At the age of three or four, you perhaps cannot expect your child to understand even the basic concepts of financial planning like the need for starting early in life and saving for future. But if you make sure that you are giving him even a dollar per day  and asking him to deposit in the piggy bank then it will be easier for you to teach him the values of saving money. Moreover piggy banks are extremely fun ways of saving money for a child. The thrill of unraveling their hard earned treasure to make a small purchase can turn out to be a real exciting proposition for your child.

2) Ask Your Child to Start Early: As your child grows a bit older then you should at least start discussing the fundamentals of financial planning. Educate him on setting up short and long term financial goals. For instance, tell him that he should approach different ways of saving for a video game and for college. Ask your child to start saving from college now only. He can start off by saving up a little money every month for contributing to his expenses for higher studies.

3) Make Sure that a Systematic Approach is Adopted: If you do not adopt a systematic approach while aiding your child with his financial planning, then you he might find it difficult to manage his money. You should open a savings account for your child as soon as you are allowed to do so. Take your child to the bank at least once in a month and make a deposit.  Ask your child to sit down with you when you are checking out the bank statement.

4) Set Financial Goals for Your Kid: When the child is too young to understand the need for financial planning it would be a little incongruous to bombard him with suggestions on money management. Set financial goals instead. Ask him to save up for a toy first then  for a short holiday trip and so on.

5) Teaching the Nuances of Budgeting is Important: Please make sure that your kid learns about budgeting. He can learn it in a lot of ways. Ask him to note down his savings and expenses on a regular basis. Try to monitor his financial records at times. Ask him to bring down the expenses for a particular month if he had overspent in the previous month.

6) Take help of books on finance: Always ask him to refer to financial books if he decides to take a loan or insurance. There are a host of useful books that can guide you ably on matters like how to get a loan,what are the types of insurance available in the market etc. Tell him that it is not proper to make an investment without doing proper research.

Go through the tips mentioned above to help your child learn money management skills effectively. You might have to show him the way initially, but be rest assured that as he grows old, he will be better equipped to handle monetary concerns.

Marie Nelson is a renowned web content writer, who is well versed with a range of aspects of World Economy. She has appeared on famous financial portals voicing her concerns regarding the recent economic downturn.

The rise of technology and the need for two income homes has taken a huge toll to quality family time, not to mention the health of our children. Turn that trend around this spring and teach your kids fitness lessons that will last a lifetime by taking the family outside for some sun and fun. Here is a list of activities that will inspire you and your crew to grab bikes, kites and picnic baskets for some good old-fashioned family bonding.

1. Fun Bag: Always be prepared for an impromptu funfest with the kids. Kids love spontaneity, it gives a person the sense that you never quite know when a party is going to break out. Create a fun bag filled with balls, bubbles, kites, Frisbees and any other toys that you can play with at the park or beach. Keep it in your car so that at any point in time you can pull over and spend some quality fun time with the kiddos.
2. Pull Out The Bikes: Bikes are an easy way to get somewhere with the added benefit of exercise and vitamin D. Instead of driving to breakfast next Saturday, get the bikes out and get the whole family on the road. This will give you time to laugh and work up an appetite.
3. Clean Up Your World: Have your family join in on a beach or park clean up. This allows you and your clan to get some exercise and to work together for a greater cause. Altruistic parents raise altruistic kids that make the world a happier, cleaner place to live.
4. Put The Sun To Bed: My son and I live very close to the beach so we make it a priority to watch the sun sink into the ocean at least once a week. This is a time for us to bond and appreciate the beauty of nature. We also meet some really great families that make it a habit to do the same.
5. Moonlight Adventures: You don’t necessarily need the sun to have fun when the weather is warm. Invest in a telescope and take your crew to the desert or a secluded area with very little lighting so you can view and gaze at the stars and planets together. You can even make it a tradition to do some special outdoor activity every full moon.
6. Charity Walk: This time of year is flush with opportunities to get exercise and donate to a good cause. Pick a charity that the whole family can agree on or vow to walk for at least one charity for each family member. This will give you plenty of time to bond as you meet amazing people and help those less fortunate than you.
7. Ice Blocking: This activity is a blast but must be supervised by a responsible parent to avoid catastrophe. Many large grocery stores sell blocks of ice. Purchase a few and find a nice big hill. Throw a towel on it, sit your bottom down and, voila! You have a homemade roller coaster. You will laugh so hard and be the coolest parents on the block (pun intended). But use caution because a family trip the emergency room is on my list of “Things To Do To Bore Your Family” list.
8. Back Yard Fun: There is plenty of fun waiting for you and your family in your own backyard. If you have a hose, you are good to go. Slip ‘n Slides, to name one classic backyard toy, are a funny, cooling and exhausting way to bond with the family. Or get the whole family together to garden. You will get the job done quicker and your children will take pride in your home.
9. “When I Was A Kid” Day: Last summer my son and I spent a whole day playing the way I did in the 70′s and 80′s. We had water balloon fights, ran through the sprinklers, invited the neighbors over for a good old fashion game of red rover and even played kick the can. He learned two things. 1.) Not to turn his nose up to the phrase, “When I was a kid…” 2.) You don’t need technology to have a rip roaring good time.
10. Hiking: Get your hiking boots out, it’s time for a family adventure. Find an easy nature trail or an intense climb. This is a great time to teach children about plants, creatures and rock formations. Bring a camera to capture the moments. This is an activity even Fido can join in on.

Families that play together stay together! What are you waiting for? Go get some sunshine.

Sarah Stevenson, a.k.a., The Tini Yogini, is a Certified Yoga Instructor in Southern California. She has a degree in Behavioral Psychology and teaches not only yoga classes but also life affirming workshops. She also writes for www.beachbody.com, which provides effective weight loss fitness programs for all fitness levels.

Last week, the company committed to four business actions that will further contribute to the health and happiness of our communities:
-              Offer low- or no- calorie beverage options in every market
-              Provide transparent nutrition information, featuring calories on the front of all beverage packages
-              Help get people moving by supporting physical activity programs in every country where it does business
-              Market responsibly, including no advertising to children under 12 anywhere in the world

Today, building off these commitments in U.S., they have set a goal to inspire 3 million Americans to rediscover the joy of being active. Here are a few of the fun ways the “Get the Ball Rolling” will help refresh your summer with activity:

• Coca-Cola Happiness Trucks will be rolling into town and inspiring people to get on their feet and move to the beat of some of the hottest music during a series of dancing and activity events all across the country.

• Starting in June, families can support their favorite national, state or local parks by turning fitness activities into votes. The parks with the most votes will win recreation grants through the America is Your Park campaign.

• Thousands of Coca-Cola soccer balls will be given out at major events across the country and through MyCokeRewards.com, the Company’s online affinity program.

• Every summer weekend – starting June 21, the first day of summer, to Labor Day, September 2 – one Shine by MisfitT activity tracker will be distributed every hour from sunrise to sunset to a lucky individual throughMyCokeRewards.com. This stylish activity device allows users to track activities, such as swimming and biking, while syncing with their smartphones.

These are just a few of the many programs and partnerships to encourage Americans to get active. Through collaborative partnerships and programs, Coca-Cola USA is delivering more beverage choices, calorie information and physical activity opportunities than ever before. To learn more visit www.coke.com/comingtogether.

When people come together – and have fun – good things happen.

So close to Merida, we could have touched (we didn’t) and smelled (we did) the horse! Wow!

It’s hard to say who impressed me more: Princess Merida (and all 11 princesses) or Gabby Douglas and her mom!

Amazing (mom-inspired) entertainment at the Mother’s Day breakfast on Sunday morning.

More posts on the way!

• Tracy Beckerman writes the nationally syndicated humor column, Lost in Suburbia, and is an official blogger for Lifetime Television’s hit show The Balancing Act.
• Paul Lamar Hunter talks about his new book, No Love, No Charity: the Success of the 19th Child.
• Ken Guilmartin discusses how music can support all levels of learning.
• The Mom’s Roundtable discusses money saving tips for busy moms.
• Patty Lazarus, author of March into My Heart.

Listen to the podcast here or download the free Mom Talk Radio app here

Most parents now understand the value of music for the development of young children.  It is not only fun for their kids to listen, sing and dance along to, but it also helps children develop a host of important skills, such as language, concentration, social skills, confidence, and self-esteem.

According to music education expert Kenneth K. Guilmartin, Founder/Director of Music Together celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year, “All children are naturally musical.  Just as they are born with the potential to learn to speak and understand language, they have the ability from birth to learn music. And nurturing this innate talent early provides the foundation for later success with traditional music or dance lessons.”

Unfortunately, many adults feel inadequate as music-makers themselves and, as a result, fail to make music with their children in everyday life.  Parents and caregivers can contribute enormously to the enrichment of their child’s music development regardless of parents’ own music abilities. Guilmartin explains, “It is not important that you sing or move well; it is important that you model singing and moving for your child.”

Here are some tips from Music Together’s Guilmartin, to help you begin your child’s musical journey:

1. Simply sing and dance with your child. The best thing you can do to help set your child on the road to a lifelong love of music is to participate enthusiastically in music activities yourself. Have you ever noticed how instinctively children try to imitate older siblings and grownups? Imitation is an important part of how they learn. Children learn to talk this way, as well as to walk. If you read books, they’ll want to read. If you sing and dance, they will, too.  Don’t just put on a CD. Sing, bang a drum, get up and dance.  Your notes do not have to be perfect, and you may miss some words or some steps.  It is about showing your child that you enjoy the music you are making.

2. Sing a lullaby to your child before bed. Young children love to hear their grownups sing to them. The sound of your voice, even if it is not pitch-perfect, is precious to your child. A lullaby provides a time to be close to your child physically, emotionally, and musically. The lullaby can transform the bedtime hour into an oasis of loving calm. For babies and toddlers, it provides a comforting bedtime ritual. For older children, who are increasingly verbal, it is often the time they spontaneously confide their hopes and fears.

3. Take cues from your child and respond musically. If your baby or toddler “coos” on a pitch, return the sound. If your child sings in the car or when you are out walking, sing with her. If your child brings an instrument to you, try to stop what you are doing and play along.

4. Make it a family affair. Make music as a family. Have a dance party or a sing-along. Get out pots and pans and form a band. Gather around the piano. Imagine sitting around as a family and singing instead of watching TV or playing computer games. As technology increases, the importance of non-technical group interaction also increases, especially at home.  Family music-making can be a wonderful activity shared by siblings, parents, grandparents, and other members of the extended family, including nannies and babysitters.
5. Bring your child to an early childhood music program. Young children learn best in a non-formal environment free from performance pressure and undue interference with their natural sense of fun.  A good class provides children with all the ingredients for music learning. It offers them a rich musical repertoire to actively explore, along with the pleasure and support of being with loved ones in a music-making community. A music class is a fun activity that the whole family can participate in. And, attending class might just bring out your inner musician as well as your child’s.

Guilmartin adds, “All children can achieve basic music competence — which we define as the ability to sing in tune and move with accurate rhythm — provided their early environment supports such learning. It starts with parents’ and caregivers’ active and joyful participation, which is essential to a child’s musical growth. The next time your child is humming the theme to her favorite cartoon and rocking to the beat, make sure you join in and make some music together.”

About Music Together:
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary this academic year (2012-2013), Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children birth through age seven. The Music Together curriculum, coauthored in 1987 by Kenneth K. Guilmartin (Founder/Director) and Rowan University Professor of Music Education Dr. Lili M. Levinowitz (Director of Research), is based on the recognition that all children are musical: all children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning.

Music Together offers programs for families; schools; at-risk populations; and children with special needs, in over 2000 communities in 40 countries around the world. The company is passionately committed to bonding children and their caregivers through music and helping people discover the joy and critical educational value of early music experiences.  

Exfoliation refers to intentionally sloughing surface skin cells. The reason is to make the upper layer of skin look and feel smoother and also to stimulate the natural course of cell turn over, allowing new, plumper cells to replace those being shed away.  Another reason is to minimize the plugging of the skin’s pores also resulting in smoother skin surface.

Exfoliation is one of the most important steps in keeping the skin looking its best.  And, for most people  – especially busy moms — it is optimal to exfoliate daily and gently as your individual skin tolerates it.  Like with a fitness regimen, a little bit daily is better than overdoing it all at once.

The only thing more important than exfoliating in my opinion, is keeping the skin protected from the sun by using a moisturizing sunscreen or sunblock every day, no matter what time of year and what the weather is.

Exfoliation can be broken down into two categories: mechanical and chemical.

Mechanical “skin sloughing”: Examples are using an implement or product that by virtue of its rough texture, smoothes skin as if it were sand paper to wood. Mechanical exfoliation includes salt and sugar scrubs and other abrasive cleansers, sponges, washcloths, facial cleansing cloths, brushes, and microdermabrasion, to name a few.

Chemical exfoliators:  They slough the skin by way of an interaction a particular compound has with the epidermal surface that relies on a chemical reaction as opposed to using friction or rubbing to accomplish the goal. The most common chemical exfoliating substances usually contain some form of acid.  Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, retinoic acid, trichloracetic acid, are all examples of compounds used in cleansers, masks or peels that exfoliate the skin.

I am often asked which is “better” between chemical and mechanical exfoliation. There is no clear cut answer. Both serve the skin well in different circumstances. People with very oily skin tend to do better with chemical peels or acidic skin treatments. However, both types of exfoliation work well and are often used interchangeably.

One important step to take after exfoliation is a moisturizer application. Immediately after a skin polishing (exfoliating) face wash or peel, it is critical to seal the skin with moisturizer. If this is skipped, the skin can easily become irritated and inflamed. Exfoliation and moisturizing should always go hand in hand. This is the best way to achieve a dewy, soft and fresh skin complexion.

As busy as motherhood and juggling can be, you should never neglect the health of your skin!

Dr. Zalka is on staff at Danbury Hospital and New Milford Hospital, and is a Clinical Attending at the Yale University Department of Dermatology. In private practice since 1995, Dr. Zalka is President and Managing Partner of Dermatology Associates of Western Connecticut. She is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Medical Association, and the Connecticut State Medical Society. She was the president of the Connecticut State Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery Society from 2003 to 2006.  Dr. Zalka founded Surface Deep in 2012, when she saw a rapidly growing need for a bias-free voice of experience in educating and guiding consumers about caring for their skin.  (www.surface-deep.com).

I decided to create my latest Pinterest Interests post on Mother’s Day and mom-centric Pinterest boards. Check out a few of my favorites below!

1. Let Mom Shine from Zales – You’ve probably seen me mention Zales recently regarding their Friend Your Mom Movement. I decided to include their “Let Mom Shine” board in my Pinterest Interests, because I think they have some great gifts highlighted that moms will love. You can also check out their Let Mom Shine collection on their website to buy something for your mom or drop some hints around the house for what you’d like.
2. Mother’s Day from Real Simple – Real Simple is a magazine that I know a lot of moms enjoy reading. I think they have a great Pinterest account that is worth following. Their Mother’s Day board has a variety of great gifts and recipes to make Mother’s Day a sweet day for any mom.
3. Fashion for Moms from ColoradoMoms.com – Emily Vanek has curated a board full of some fun fashion for moms. Throw away the mom jeans, ladies! It’s time to get stylish! Check out Emily’s board for some fashion inspiration and don’t be afraid to buy yourself something to feel sassy in this upcoming Mother’s Day.
4. Mother’s Day Wishlist from Nicole Feliciano– Tired of getting the same old thing every Mother’s Day? Do What Nicole did and make your own Mother’s Day wish list on Pinterest! I love Nicole’s board because it’s filled with a variety of fun things from beauty products to clothes to gardening gifts. If you need some inspiration for a gift for your own mom, or haven’t even thought about what you want, I say Nicole’s board is a great place to start looking.
5. Moms Nite Out from Maria Bailey – Can I toot my own horn here and list my own Pinterest board? I think I will! National Mom’s Nite Out is the first nationally organized celebration of motherhood intended to bring together today’s moms, physically and virtually. I love pinning things to this board that would go well with Mom’s Nite Out, from cute outfits to delicious cocktails. I hope you will celebrate Mom’s Nite Out this year on Thursday, May 9^th!

Have you seen a great Mother’s Day board or have you created one of your own? Leave a link in the comments so I can check it out. Be sure to follow me on Pinterest so I can take a look at your boards and possibly feature you in an upcoming post!