Choosing Children’s Shoes: Mechanical Considerations

If you let a child choose their own shoes you’ll probably be surprised by their choice, it will certainly look good, but it may not be the most practical option.

Of course, you may want to get your child shoes that look like yours, but this is also not necessarily the best option.

In fact, despite many children’s shoes looking very similar to adults, children do not have the same movements as adults. As children grow they need different shoes to ensure that their feet are properly supported; giving them the right footwear can help to avoid them having issues later in life.

It’s a lot of responsibility for any parent and the reason specialist shops like Garvalin, Australia exist.

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash

The first thing to understand is that a shoe serves several roles:

       Protection

A long time ago humans didn’t wear shoes, but shoes are seen as an essential means of protecting feet from scrapes and other abrasions.

It’s worth noting that adult footwear is trending towards a more minimalistic look which has helped shoe manufacturers to re-evaluate what is important in a shoe.

       Support

The secondary role of any shoe is to provide support. This is especially important in children. A shoe should support the arch of the foot, but, this is only actually necessary in older children. Children under 4 aren’t active enough for the arch support to matter. Select shoes with arch support at this age can actually hinder the proper development of the foot.

However, plantar support is important from a very young age.  The loading pattern of a foot is relevant from when a child is as young as 2 ½ years old, which means a shoe should have cushioning under the heel.

It is also important for shoes to offer forefoot flexibility, the range of movement can be significantly different in children to adults, it’s essential to choose shoes that allow the forefront of their feet to move in all directions.

Once children hit 14-15 years old their feet will stop growing and their needs are effectively very similar to adults, allowing you to comfortably purchase adult shoes for them. At this stage, the important factors are motion control and support at the rear of the foot.

Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com from Pexels

       Style

Although it can be argued that style is not very important in the correct development of feet. Style is an important consideration when you choose shoes and when your children are old enough to appreciate what they are wearing.

This is actually the reason that so many children’s shoes look similar to adult ones.

Additional Factors

By understanding the role of the shoe and how it supports your child’s foot and ongoing development, you can choose the right shoe for your child. But, you should also consider
these additional factors:

       Minimalistic Shoes

The current movement towards minimalistic shoes is actually a good one and worth considering for your child. Minimalistic shoes allow your child’s foot to develop more naturally, they are worth considering.

       Know Your Child

Your child may have a weak front foot, back foot, or a weak arch. You need to have a good look at their foot and even consult a pediatrician to ensure you identify weak areas and choose the shoes that give the right support.

We hope these tips will help you with your shoe buying process for your child.

A Quick Guide to Finding Endless Blog Post Ideas for Your Mom Blog

As a rule, starting your first blog is so exciting that you literally can't get away from hundreds of ideas that swarm in your head. Most people are feeling super inspired and passionate, making their first steps in the field. The flow of ideas doesn’t seem to stop. But what happens next?

After several months of writing, most people burn out and lose inspiration. It is not like they don’t want to do it anymore or don’t enjoy writing; it is just that they no longer have a clue what to post about.

Photo by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash

Running a mom blog is especially hard. At any time, your children may require most of your attention as they get involved in afterschool activities or just want more time with you.

To complicate matters, over time, blogging transforms into a full-scale chore rather than being just a hobby. That’s when you may face the real challenge. Overcoming this period of burnout is possible but not always simple. Some people decide to take a break, while others prefer to get professional help from https://essaypro.com/ while they recover and come up with new ideas.

Are there any other options? If you don’t want to stop and want to go all the way yourself, but it feels like you have no creative juices left, there still is a solution! In this article, we are going to give you clues on how to find endless ideas at any time. Let’s get to it!

Regardless of the chosen niche, most bloggers face the same issues, such as loss of creativity and inability to come up with fresh ideas.

However, don’t give up on the job you love just because you don’t feel those creative juices rushing through you anymore. This happens to many people, and in most cases, it is only a tough period that you need to overcome.

If you are currently facing such a problem, use the guide below to open an endless source of ideas for your mom blog:

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Follow the Influencers

Probably all of us have at least a couple of great blogs from our niche in mind. Do you read them? If no, this is just the right time to give them a quick look and, hopefully, get inspired! 

Even if you can’t recap any blogs you read, you can look up the most popular mom blogs on the Internet and find some inspiration there.

Looking at how the niche’s influencers work can give you enough ideas to get back to actively posting.

They have a vast audience, so every post they make is polished and unique, which makes them a perfect source of ideas. No copy pasting, though. We all need to respect the readers not to lose them because of similar posts.

Use Topic Generators

Can’t come up with a perfect headline for your next post? 

On the Internet, there is plenty of topic generating tools that can come in handy! Such tools help writers compose catchy and neat headlines related to their keywords in a matter of seconds. 

Social Media Platforms

Of course, writing an actual blog is much different from being an influencer in social media. However, don’t neglect using platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter for finding inspiration.

Here is the thing, millions of people around the globe use popular social media platforms. Every active user makes regular publications or reposts from others. 

This generates a broad base of content, including pictures, videos, written materials, memes, and much more. Why not use all of it to your benefit?

Have you found a hilarious story about motherhood or a helpful video guide? You can turn this into fresh ideas for a new post!

Pay Attention to Readers’ Comments

Even if you didn’t realize this before, readers’ comments could be a great source of inspiration at all times! Often, readers share their thoughts and stories under the posts they liked, and these stories could turn into some nice post ideas.

Therefore, be sure to pay attention to what your readers have to say. Also, you can check out comments on other websites on related topics.

Ask Your Audience for Advice

If it feels like you still can’t decide what you should write next, why not ask the audience who reads you? Do you have an email subscriber list? Great! Then drop them a short newsletter or create a survey to find out what your audience craves.

Google Analytics

Products created by Google always make our lives easier, and lack of inspiration for your mom blog isn’t an exception. 

Google Analytics allows one to look at the platform from an analytical perspective and find out which of previous pieces were the most popular and which don’t seem to come to the audience’s liking.

Having such stats should help you choose the right direction and maybe even refresh some of your old popular publications' ideas with a series of related materials.

Services That Gather Content Across the Web

Have you ever heard of platforms like Alltop or Buzzsumo? If not, you are missing out on a great deal of inspiration. Such websites gather stories on various topics from the most trending sites. 

Using such services, you can conduct quick research based on some relevant keywords (for example, early education, parenthood, children, etc.) and find out what content specialists like the most in your niche. This could be another source of ideas for you.

Photo by J. Kelly Brito on Unsplash

Final Words

For many moms, who are forced to stay at home, blogging becomes a real-life savior. It is an excellent way of expressing themselves, sharing experiences, socializing with like-minded people, and keeping themselves busy. 

Besides, running a mom blog can give you a stable and potentially high income. Doesn’t that sound like a dream job? It does, but it is still not that easy!

Being a blogger, you may experience various issues such as writer’s block, lack of inspiration, new ideas, etc. 

Therefore, it is crucial to have a backup plan that would let you generate excellent ideas even when you are at your least creative period.

Hopefully, this list will help you find the source of endless blog post ideas. Follow this simple guide, and your blog will prosper!

5 Most Popular Water Filtration Technologies For Homes

It doesn’t matter whether your water comes from a well or the main treatment works, you need to be confident that it is clean and safe to drink.

There are many ways in which bacteria can get into the water supply, this is why every home should invest in a water filtration system.  Of course, there are several different types of water filtration device, you’ll need to choose the one that best suits your home and your budget.

Before you invest in any water filter system you should be aware of the different types available and speak to a reputable supplier of water filters Sydney

Photo by Kaboompics .com from Pexels

1. Activated Carbon
This is arguably the most popular type of water filter. It is the one you’ll find in jug style filters and the slim containers that bolt into your mains supply line.

Water passes through the activated carbon and sediment, chlorine and VOC’s attach themselves to the carbon. The water that leaves the filter is cleaner and tastes better.
It’s important to note that this type of filter needs to be changed every 2 months.

2. Reverse Osmosis
This type of filter needs to be changed every year but, it is remarkably effective at eliminating nitrates, heavy metals, dissolved salts, and an array of organic and inorganic compounds.

Again, you’ll notice the taste difference and even the color of your water should appear clearer.

Reverse osmosis is also effective if you need to soften your water, which makes it essential in hard water areas.

3. UV Water Filters
A UV filter mimics the sun. UV rays are concentrated on the water, effectively killing any bacteria present. This type of filter can destroy most living organisms but it can’t remove any debris or sediment from your water.

You may prefer to use it in conjunction with a second water filter. You will need to change the filter annually.

4. Chlorine Filter
Chlorine is used by most treatment centers to eradicate bacteria in the water. However, it has also been linked with undesirable effects on your health. For this reason, you may want to use a chlorine filter to cleanse your water. The best one to do this is the carbon filter mentioned earlier.

However, if you source your own water, perhaps through a well on your land, you may want to use a chlorine filter to add chlorine to your water and effectively kill any microorganisms in the water, making it safer to drink.

Of course, you may then want to use a carbon filter to remove the chlorine…
You will need to refill the chlorine when it runs low.

5. Multi-Media Filters
This type of filter is designed to remove contaminants and sediment from your water. Again, it is considered essential if you have your own water supply. It can also be useful if you feel there is too much debris coming down the pipes to your home from the treatment center.

There are different choices of media depending on which types of contaminants you want to focus on.

New Uses for Old Curtains

Redecorating your home can be expensive. But you don’t always have to go out and buy the newest décor on the market. You can repurpose items you already have - like curtains! Your curtains may be old, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost their use. There are many ways to recycle the fabric that once covered your windows. Here are several ideas on how you can come up with new uses for old curtains.

Table accessories: The fabric from old curtains can be repurposed into a tablecloth or runner for any table in your home. The material can also be converted into placemats or decorative napkins that will add flair to any dining room table. Think about the different types of events you’re hosting, whether it’s Thanksgiving dinner or a small cocktail party, and use old curtains that match those vibes.

Photo by Jopofa Bolt on Unsplash

Blankets and pillows: Old curtain fabric can also be used to create throw pillow covers, blankets, or pieces to a quilt. With blankets and pillows, you do want to consider the texture of the curtain. Burlap may not be the best choice for something you want to curl up with, but silk would make for an excellent pillowcase. Make use of these old curtain fabrics to create unique pieces that add comfort to any room in your home.

Headboard: Another option for repurposing your old drapes is to convert them into a headboard. This option is less expensive than purchasing an actual headboard, and it will create a new focal point in your space. Headboards pull a room together, and it’s so simple to DIY one. You can hang one behind your bed as is or upholster a piece of wood.

Photo by Volha Flaxeco on Unsplash

Room dividers: Use old curtains to divide a large living area into two separate spaces. For example, you can split an office space from a living space or create a secluded play area for children apart from your main living room. It’s also a good idea for children who share a bedroom and want extra privacy.

Shower curtain: Old drapes can also be converted into shower curtains. Simply add a plastic lining to protect your repurposed drapes. Shower curtains are an item in the house that can really show off your style and personality, so the more eclectic the pattern, the better. Plus, you’ll have a shower curtain that can’t be found anywhere else and at a much lower price.

Doors: This option provides your home with the privacy of a door, but with a more open and decorative feel. Utilize old curtains to cover a closet space in a hallway, bedroom, bathroom, or any area in your home that you want to be hidden from view.

It doesn’t matter whether your curtains are solid or patterned. Any type of curtain can be repurposed in several ways. When you’re recycling old curtains, think about the color scheme and style of your home so that you’re creating a cohesive vibe throughout the house. Get creative and reinvent your old curtains into new décor for your home!

Many thanks to Piper Classics for this guest post.

10 Hacks To Choose The Best Destination For Your Next Holiday

If you are a travel buff, you will probably know that exciting feeling about planning your next trip. You may have seen a lot but the bucket list keeps getting longer. It is easy to create a bucket list but hard to order it according to your priorities. Of course, there would be some places that you would want to check out sooner than later.

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So how do you decide what your next destination is going to be? What are the factors that you should consider while making up your mind about the places to visit first? Though there is no tried and tested way to have the list ordered priority-wise, you can still follow some tips to decide the destination for your next holiday. Here are some hacks that can help you with the decision.

Start by considering your budget

First things first, you should have enough money to finance your vacation. After all, you cannot imagine traveling abroad only with a limited amount in your vacation fund. Have a complete overview of your travel budget and decide whether it can take you to a distant destination or somewhere close by. You need not splurge a fortune on a holiday and end up broke. Rather, choose an economical destination that gives you good time without toppling your budget. And if you are not willing to compromise, wait and save till you have enough for your dream destination.

Be open-minded when you decide

An alternative destination is better than no holiday at all. Rather than being rigid about your choice, be open-minded and explore places that are not as popular as the ones your friends talk about. Haven’t you heard about a place? Don’t you know that it even exists? Google is the best place to explore the most amazing destinations across the globe, all within your budget. Who knows, you may have the best holiday of your life if you are willing to just try and explore. So go ahead!

Get smart with travel bookings

When you are not really sure about fitting your favorite holiday destination in the budget, you can be extra smart with your travel bookings. Choose cheaper flights that take you through a different route. Rather than taking a direct flight, you can catch a connecting flight and save your money. Or why not fly in one that drops you to a city near your destination and take a train or shuttle to reach there? Just find the alternatives, calculate and plan a holiday to your dream destination without breaking the bank.

Find more about the shortlisted destinations

When you are not sure about where you want to go, make a list of the destinations that you would want to consider. Check online to find things to do in your area when you are actually there. Google is the best place to know more about any holiday destination, from the places to visit the ones to eat and shop. Once you have things listed out for each of the chosen destinations, pick the one you like the most.

Safety first

Of course, you need to find about all that the destination has to offer. But ensure that you check the places from the safety perspective as well. Whether you are planning a solo trip or a family holiday, keep safety on the top of your checklist. Search online and you will easily find out statistics about crimes involving tourists in specific parts of the world. Choose a place that is totally safe for travelers.

Understand your objective

Another factor that influences the choice of a holiday destination is the objective of the vacation. Ask yourself why you would want to travel to a specific place, whether it is going to be a short getaway or a long break to relax and unwind. The reason will probably make a difference in the choice of your destination. Similarly, you may want to explore a place with the idea of moving there or starting a business in the future. Another consideration that you may want to bear in mind is whether you would prefer a beach holiday or one to a ski resort.

Solo or with family

Are you planning to travel solo? Do you want an extended vacation with your loved ones? Obviously, the choice of destination will depend on this factor as well. Wellness resorts and adventure trips make the ideal choices for solo trips. On the other hand, you can choose a beach or ski resort if looking for a perfect family vacation. Whatever destination you choose, make sure that it offers all that you want and is safe as well.

Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

Avoid stereotypes

The biggest blunder that travelers make is to stick to the stereotypes while deciding the vacation destinations. Who says that you should visit only New York or Los Angeles when you travel to the US? Why just book for Paris when in France? Every country has some hidden jewels that are less popular but offer much more. Be willing to explore places that you have not heard your friends and colleagues talking about.

Trust your instincts

If a destination seems to beckon you, just trust your instincts and go ahead. When it comes to having a dream holiday, the best advice is to be selfish and choose a destination that you want to explore. If none of your friends or family members like the idea, plan a solo trip because you would not want to miss on a dream destination just because others are not keen to be there.

Don’t be indecisive

Once you have chosen a destination, go ahead and book it right away. Be decisive because indecision will just make you more stressed out and you may miss out on the opportunity to visit a cool destination. Don’t ask for too many suggestions because you may end up being confused and even drop the idea of going for a vacation. Rather go ahead and make your bookings as soon as you lock a destination that you would want to explore for your next vacation.

When you decide the destination for your next trip, do consider these hacks. After all, choosing the right place is surely going to make all the difference!