Top Tips before Visiting a Waterpark in Australia

Australia Water Park Trip Tips

Summertime is the perfect time to head to the waterpark and enjoy some fun in the sun. With so many different waterparks located all around Australia, there's sure to be one near you that will provide a great day out for the whole family. So, if you're looking for some excitement this summer, be sure to check out one of these amazing Australian waterparks and follow these tips.

Top Water Parks in Australia

There are many different waterparks located all around Australia, and each one offers a unique experience for visitors. Here are some of the best waterparks in the country:

• Gumbuya World - Gumbuya world is located in Victoria, just 45 minutes from Melbourne. The park offers an amazing range of attractions including whirlpools, wave pools, lazy rivers and the G-Force Waterslides.

• Adventure World - This park is located in Perth and is geared towards families with kids. It features a number of slides, pools, games, and rides.

• Wibit Sports Park - This park is located near Sydney and offers a unique experience for visitors. Instead of traditional waterpark features like slides, you get to enjoy inflatable obstacle courses in the open ocean instead. It's perfect for family fun!

• Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast - This park is located in Queensland near Brisbane and offers a variety of slides and rides

Tips for visiting a waterpark with kids

Most waterparks are perfect for a fun day out for the whole family, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind when visiting with kids. Here are some tips to help make your day at the park enjoyable for everyone:

• Make sure your kids are familiar with the safety rules of the park before you go.

• Help them stay safe by ensuring they always listen to the lifeguards and follow their instructions.

• Teach your kids how to swim and be aware of their surroundings in the pool.

• Bring sunscreen and hats for protection against the sun, and don't forget to apply it regularly.

• Pack plenty of water and snacks to keep them hydrated and fueled.

Things not to bring at the park 

When you're visiting a waterpark in Australia, be sure to leave the following items at home:

• Sunglasses: While sunglasses are a great accessory for the beach, they can actually be quite dangerous when you're swimming or playing in the water. If a lens falls off and ends up in the water, it can become a serious safety hazard. 

• Jewelry: This includes anything from earrings to necklaces and rings. The last thing you want is to lose your precious jewelry in the water!

• Glass: No glass containers are allowed inside the waterpark, so leave your glass bottles or jars at home. 

Waterparks are a great way to enjoy the summer with friends and family, but these establishments can be tricky. There are many different types of waterparks in Australia, so it’s important to know which one is best for you before visiting. In this article we covered some of the most popular parks, as well as some tips to help you make your next adventure a better one! 

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How To Be a Cool Aunt or Uncle

Are you a cool uncle or aunt?

Whether or not you have your own children, being an uncle or aunt is a different experience. Because the parenting duties don’t fall on you, you get to be the cool relative! Here are some tips so your nephews will be in awe of you, and you'll know how to be a cool uncle or aunt!

Gift buying

Gift buying can be difficult, but with the guide on Wicked Uncle, you can find fun toys for your nephew. They simplify gift buying for all age groups. For 0-3, they have suggestions such as the Pull Back Town Vehicles or the Amphibious Remote-Control Car. For older children, their suggestions include Interactive Glow T-shirts and the Bean Boozled Jellybean Challenge. Whatever you decide on is almost certain to gain you the title of favorite aunt or uncle.

Give your Nephew experiences he will cherish

Although many adults look back fondly at memories of their childhood toys, experiences can create happy memories too.

These could be anything from fun days out, such as a local farm or a theme park, a visit to their favorite park with ice cream afterward, an activity such as Segway, or you could join the family on their next vacation. This lets you spend time with your nephew and your sibling and their family while being part of memories your nephew will have when he looks back on family vacations.

Act like a kid sometimes

As an aunt or uncle, you can be relaxed. So, you get to be a little childish sometimes. If your nephew is having a fun dress up party, you can dress in a silly outfit, and perhaps even save money for his parents by being a clown or magician. You don’t need any special skills, and if you get everything wrong, that could be part of your act. Remember, you're the cool uncle!

Alternatively, something simple like a trip to the park could make you more popular with your nephew. You can make playing on the slide or swinging from a climbing frame more fun by joining in. You get to have fun and be a big kid, and he'll think you’re a fun uncle = cool uncle!

Stay up to date with trends

By keeping up to date with the latest trends for boys his age, you will be able to talk about things he enjoys. This could be anything from the latest TV show, band or singer, or a recent video game that everyone his age is talking about. If your nephew is into video games, you could ask to play against him on one of his favorite games. If you’re not great at these games, it doesn’t matter, because he'll be happy to win against you.

Also, just by talking to him, you can find out what he’s interested in, then either ask him more about it or research it later and be able to talk about his interests in detail. He'll like that you understand him.

Being a cool aunt or uncle doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be lots of fun and help you recapture some of your own childhood. So, get out the and be the fun uncle!

 

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-Guest Post

Plan a Family Focused Wedding Day

Making Your Wedding A Family-First Day

While the wedding day is primarily about the bride and groom, the day is also about your extended family and ensuring that they are included in your special day. Children especially can be overlooked at weddings - Parents.com has charted a huge rise in adults-only events - which can result in kids feeling left out or bored. A wedding is a very emotional event and it’s important that any children attending are well looked after and enjoy what’s happening - starting with the main event. So, plan a family focused wedding day.

Photo courtesy of: Jeremy Wong Weddings

The ceremony 

Wedding ceremonies are often both emotional and formal, which can be quite intimidating to children - even more so if it’s a second wedding, it can be emotionally conflicting for the children involved. Make sure the children understand what is happening, also consider getting them involved in the activities of the big day to help ease their concerns. Letting the children take on roles and help throughout the ceremony is a great way to include them and ease their emotions, for instance give them a part as best man, flower girl, or ring bearer and talk up their duties as you plan for the big day. As Verywell Family highlights, kids love being given responsibility, giving them a special part to play will create memories for all to cherish.

Enjoying the reception 

Unlike the ceremony itself, the reception has a more relaxed atmosphere and is a time for everyone to wind down and start celebrating. Speeches are a big part of the reception, and it’s a nice idea for the children to be mentioned in the speech. This will make them feel appreciated and welcomed. Alternatively, you could have the children write and give their own speech and make them a central part of the day. What great fun this will make years later, as you re-watch the wedding day videos!

Late into the evening 

As the party goes on into the night, children can become tired and irritable. Wedding days are long so don’t expect them to be able to keep up with you and your other wedding guests. It’s essential that the children are catered for and have somewhere to retreat to when they’re tired and ready for bed. Don't let them feel forgotten! Furthermore, give them the confidence to be able to tell you when they’re ready to call it a night. This will ensure they don’t feel like they have to stay up with the adults. 

Weddings are an amazing occasion and a day to be shared with adult family and friends, but it’s important to ensure that children are happy too. Making a wedding family-friendly, by having children be a central part of the big day, will ensure their memories are happy, rather than unpleasant. When the wedding is family focused, it sets the framework for a pleasant future, blended family or not.

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Tips to Teach Kids Before College

Kids Going Off To College? Here Are Some Things To Teach Them Before

 

It’s a bittersweet time when your children fly the nest after years of living under your wing. While you know it’s going to be an exciting new experience for them to learn and become adults, you can’t help but worry about them. So, to put your mind at ease, and to give them some useful knowledge before they go, let’s have a look at some tips you can teach your kids or speak to them about before they set off for college.

Domestic Duties

College is the time when your children will realize all that you do for them around the house, from cleaning up after them to cooking their meals. Hopefully, over the years, they’ll have picked up a thing or two from you, but it’s always a good idea to send them off with recipes, cleaning products, and anything else that will equip them for what lies ahead. College care packages are always helpful, but they need to learn to prepare for life on their own.

 

You’re still sure to get calls from them exclaiming how the washing machine won't spin (click the link for possible issues and fixes for this) or the oven won’t turn on, which you can help them with, trying to decipher the problem. These will often be simple fixes but if not, they can always get a professional in to fix the problem. This is all part of them growing up and learning how to handle things going wrong and how to make them right again. Here are some healthy eating tips for college students.

 

Alcohol

College is notorious for parties and drinking, so even if your son or daughter isn’t a drinker, you should still speak to them about this before they go. Ensure that they know to always be safe and never leave their cup unattended at events, as it could pose a threat. Their safety is paramount, so without scaring them or being over the top, you need to talk to them about being sensible and always letting someone know where they are. Make them aware that they never have to buckle to peer pressure, saying “no” is their right and if they don’t want to do something, then they don’t have to.

 

The Value Of Money

Cash can be tight for college students, so teaching them about budgeting and not splurging on unnecessary items is something that will come in handy for them. You can instill this at an early age, by giving them pocket money if they help you with chores, or when special occasions come around. This will help them to realize that money is earned and if they want something expensive, they have to save for it. You can reiterate what you’ve taught them over the years in the lead up to them moving away for college, as it’s more important now than ever as they won’t be living under your roof anymore. You might also want to look into scholarships. There are several scholarships available to homeschoolers.

 

Most of the time, your children will learn a lot of this along the way, but if you can offer them any help and guidance beforehand, at least you know you tried! This is their time to make mistakes, and those are often the most prominent learning curves of all. 

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The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Children with Disabilities

Special Needs Children Need to Participate in Extra Curricular Activities too!

A recent report suggests that pediatricians should encourage more children with disabilities to take part in physical activities. It is common for both doctors and parents to be cautious about allowing children with physical impairments to join after school clubs or participate in sports and team games. Children with disabilities and special needs aren't always given the opportunity or encouraged to participate and enjoy the benefits of extra curricular activities.

However, a number of studies show that increased physical activity in children with disabilities can significantly improve general health as well as help to develop mobility, balance, and coordination. At the same time, involvement in team sports and other organized recreational activities offer great opportunities to build social skills, make new friends and boost self-confidence. With the right support, children with physical or learning disabilities are able to enjoy a range of recreational activities, from fun party games at a sleepover to residential camps during the summer.

Photo by Danny Nee on Unsplash.

Taking Part in Accessible Activities

Although it may sometimes be more challenging, many children with disabilities are able to safely take part in physical activities. With more accessible facilities, specialized equipment and personal recommendations, children with a range of different needs and abilities can find an activity that they enjoy. In addition, increased levels of exercise can help them to maintain a healthy weight and improve their cardiovascular fitness. 

While children with spastic cerebral palsy may experience difficulties with balance and movement, they can still enjoy activities such as horse riding or swimming that can allow them to experience greater mobility and independence. Even less physical activities such as drawing or photography are still very useful for refining motor skills and are also calmer activities for children with sensory issues. 

 

Joining After-School Programs

While parents are often more focused on academic achievement or medical therapies, after-school programs for children with special needs offer a great opportunity to try out a range of different activities. Each child has different abilities and requirements so it is important to find a hobby or sport that suits that builds on their strengths and allows them to develop and grow.  As well as having the chance to master a new skill, being part of a club allows children to make new friends and learn essential life skills.

 

Attending Inclusive Summer Camps

Summer camps are also a great place to develop life skills such as team working, resilience and decision-making.  As well as being able to choose a specialist camp designed to support particular conditions such as autism or cerebral palsy, children with additional needs can also take their pick from any camp in the country. The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that all camps are inclusive to children with disabilities. This means that accommodations such as wheelchair-accessible ramps or additional therapeutic programs, are made to allow children of all abilities to access a range of activities suited to their particular interests and needs. 

With the provision of accessible after school programs and summer camps, children with disabilities and additional special needs can enjoy the physical and social benefits of extracurricular activities.

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How To Get Fit While Watching TV

Sit in Front of the TV and Get Fit!

Kids – and plenty of adults – love to watch TV, and in a lot of respects, this is a positive thing. TV is an ideal way to take some time out and relax, and it can be highly educational too. However, the problem comes when we are sitting too much, and the modern lifestyle that many of us follow involves a lot of sitting during the day. If you add more sitting thanks to TV, you could be making yourself very sick. 

Studies have shown that for every hour of TV you watch, you’ll shorten your life by as much as 22 minutes. Not only that but there appears to be an increase in those developing cancer (especially lung and colon cancer) when you sit for long periods of time. Add to this the circulation issues you can experience, and suddenly TV doesn’t seem like such a great idea anymore. 

However, it can be okay as long as you are fit and active during the day or if you’re not if you can combine your TV watching with exercise. More self-care tips. 

Use Commercial Breaks 

What do you do when the commercials come in during your favorite shows? If you’re like a lot of people, you’ll either watch them, or you’ll reach for your cellphone and scroll through social media until they’re finished. Perhaps you’ll go and make a drink or grab a snack. 

However, it would be far better to use this time to exercise. It might only be for two or three minutes, but if you’re watching two or three hours of TV and you exercise during every commercial break, this will soon add up. Even a small amount of exercise is better than none at all, and therefore using this time effectively is a great idea. 

Of course, if you’re using a streaming service, there won’t be any ad breaks, but you can create your own. Every twenty minutes, pause the show and do some exercise for two minutes before restarting it. You’ll soon get into the rhythm. The great thing about this is that you can do this no matter what kind of health you are in; you can even do this before cataract surgery, as there is no evidence to suggest that TV watching permanently damages the eyes. 

Do Circuits 

If you want to know what kind of exercises you might benefit most from while you fit them in to your TV watching, circuits are a great choice. You don’t even have to wait until the ad breaks to get started. 

Begin by looking at the length of the show you want to watch. Once you know that, you can create a circuit routine that matches. So, it could be 30 minutes, an hour, or something else. Spend five minutes doing each exercise and then move on to something else, and all of the actions can be done while still watching the TV. Or perhaps you don’t want to time things. In that case, you can have a list of different exercises and switch from one to another after each scene ends, for example. 

Yoga 

If you practice yoga, you’ll already know how good it can be for you. It’s relaxing, improves your overall strength, and will build your balance and flexibility too. Some people like to practice yoga in silence, but if you don’t mind a little noise while you’re doing each exercise, having the TV on at the same time could work out well. 

You’ll simply need to clear some space in your living room or bedroom (perhaps adding a yoga mat for comfort and safety), and then carry out a routine while your show plays. You should find that your yoga routine feels easier and that you can reduce a lot of stress because you’re focusing on the screen and letting your other troubles drift away. 

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7 Winter and Christmas Activities to Do with Your Kids

Simple Christmas Activities to Do with Your Kids

Winter is here! Oh, and Christmas is also just around the corner! Not only do kids love this time of year, but so adults do too! Even the most mature people in society can’t help but get a little giddy when it’s snowing outside and the bells are ringing! Christmas brings out everyone’s inner child. Of course, winter means it’s time for fun, family, holiday activities and lots of them! Read on for 7 simple winter and Christmas activities to do with your kids.

Seven Simple Activities to do with Kids during Winter Season

There's no need to spend a lot of money or stress over making glorious holiday decorations and delectable cookies to achieve the perfect Christmas with kids. Simple winter and holiday activities make the best, long lasting memories. Why not start a new family Christmas tradition with these simple activities for family time with the kids.

1. Decorate your whole house with fancy lights

Winter isn’t the holiday season without fancy lights. 

From the colorful to the vibrant, get creative and beautiful LED fairy lights to your favorite rooms. Make sure to get the kids involved by allowing them to have input on which lights go in which location. LED lights don't get hot like those old fashioned Christmas lights so go crazy this year!

To get some amazing Christmas lights, as well as other cool bulbs and lamps, go to powerpointelectrics.co.uk. Be a clever mom or dad by ordering your lights now before it’s too late! The more lights, the merrier the holiday season. Your kids will treasure this family tradition, so go make it a thing!

2. Spend a day at your local slopes

Fingers crossed; it’s going to snow this winter! When it does, the entire family should wrap up nice and warm and head down to your local slopes. They’ll probably be lots of other families and kids there, too, which will make the occasion extra memorable. In Indiana, you can also do some stellar snow toboggan sledding at Pokagon State Park.

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3. Create paper snowflakes

Kids love to get creative during winter and Christmas time. A great winter holiday activity idea is to create snowflakes out of paper. Follow this easy tutorial on how to make paper snowflakes from Martha Stewart. Make sure to carefully guide your kids through the steps, and don’t forget to be extra careful with sharp scissors! Once you’ve created your paper snowflakes, scatter them around your home for a special winter holiday decoration.

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4. Read Christmas stories

It's impossible to count the abundance of classic Christmas stories. So, this winter, give your kids freedom of choice when it comes to which stories they want to hear. Maybe it will be The Polar Express, or – wait for it - How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Click here for some great holiday books for kids that you may not of yet read!

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5. Go on a Netflix marathon with the family!

Usually, the weather is freezing cold during the winter months in Indiana. Of course, this means that a lot of time is spent indoors (preferably with marshmallow.)

When your family is relaxing around the house during the holiday, load up Netflix and go on a movie-watching marathon! Elf, anyone? If you need extra help, here are 37 of the best Christmas movies for kids available on Netflix. 

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6. Have a cozy fire in your backyard

Bonfires don't have to be just for fall! If you have a nice spacious backyard, you should have a cozy (and safe) fire. You’ll even be able to toast some marshmallows, have some hot chocolate, and tell your best Christmas stories. While you're at it, make some savory s'mores!

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7. Build igloos and snow forts

When it snows, it’s only right that the entire family has a huge snowball fight! When you do, make sure to build some igloos and forts to make it extra exciting. You can even make indoor snowballs for an indoor snowball fight!

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