4Walls Back to School Special

Take 15% off all 4Walls Peel and Stick Children's Products. We have an incredible selection that will surely please any child!  You can find these fun room decor in our Wall Art collection at InspirationChild.com.

Peel and Stick products are printed on high quality materials using state-of-the-art print equipment. They're easy to install and create dramatic impact in any room. Here are couple reasons why to consider peel and stick products:

• No messy glue or need to wet the product, simply peel and stick!
• Products can be removed and are safe for your wall
• Save time, precision-cut images are ready for placement, no cutting required
• Durable, high grade vinyl material resists tearing

Helping Your Child Overcome the Fear of Water

When it’s summer, swimming is on everyone’s mind. Some children take to water like a fish, but others are afraid of getting wet in anything other than a bathtub. If you’re concerned about your child being afraid of water, use some of these tips to help them work their way through the. Not only will helping them over this fear empower them, it could save their lives (or someone else’s) someday.

Talk to your child to try to understand why they are afraid of water. This may be difficult with very small children who aren’t verbal, but you’ll probably remember if something happened to your child which would have scared them. Don’t dismiss their fears but encourage them to talk about their fears so you can work through them together.

Try to put yourself in your child’s place. If you were afraid of something, you wouldn’t want to be around it. That’s the way many children feel about water. It may be helpful to slowly expose your child to very shallow water such as a puddle. Stomp in and splash the water to let your child see water can be fun. Praise them for any achievement they might have in regard to water.

If your child doesn’t like having water in their eyes, you can combat that problem by purchasing good-quality form-fitting goggles. Once your child is comfortable in the goggles, let them practice putting their face in the water while in a small amount of water in the bathtub. This will likely feel less threatening to them than an entire pool with water much deeper than they are tall.

Take time to teach your child the proper way to float. Once they become comfortable with being in shallow amounts of water, teach them to float on their back. This is often an easy skill to teach children if they can relax.

Purchase a life jacket for your child to use when they are beginning to get comfortable in the water. Having a life jacket will allow your child to relax a little bit and protect them if they fall into the water or become tired while trying to swim.

Once your child has learned to float, is comfortable with being in shallow water, and can put their face into the water it may be a good time to enroll your child in a beginning swimming class. You may find your child reacts differently to someone else teaching them to swim than to you. If you think they need extra help, check into hiring someone to teach them on an individual level.

You may also want to ask other parents how they helped their own children overcome the fear of water. Between your own instincts, these tips and help from others, your child can learn to rise above their fear and learn to enjoy swimming.

Sweet and Tangy Banana Smoothie

Here is a wonderful, refreshing smoothie to enjoy during a hot summer afternoon:

Ingredients:

• 2 bananas
• Juice and rind of 1 lemon
• Juice and rind of 1 lime
• ½ cup of Orange juice

Instructions:  Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Enjoy!

 

Summer Sun Safety for Children

Summer is here (obviously) and those living in New York can vouch for that! You want your children to spend time playing outside but the possibility of getting sunburned is an ever-present thought.

Inspiration Child would like to offer a few safety tips to keep your young one safe and enjoy the fun filled days of summer. Here are some simple guidelines to help you - your children will be able to have fun in the sun and you can relax because you know they’re protected.

Summer Sun Safety for Children

Summer sun safety for children is simple:

• use sunscreen every time they go outdoors,



• reapply it every two hours or more often,



• dress them in lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, keep them hydrated.

Dermatologists and other experts recommend putting sunscreen on your children at least 15 to 30 minutes before they go outside each and every time before they go outside. This may seem like overkill, but the fact is, if your child gets seriously sunburned even once, it could increase their chance of developing skin cancer in the future.

Many dermatologists recommend staying indoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Why are these hours singled out? It is during these hours that the sun is at its strongest and most dangerous. This is also true on cloudy or overcast days even though the sun may not seem as strong.

If you want your child to spend time outdoors, it might be better to plan outdoor time early in the morning or later in the afternoon. You’d still want to be sure you and your child are wearing sunscreen, sunglasses and hats to protect your skin and eyes.

Another thing to be concerned about in regard to summer sun safety for children is keeping them hydrated. Children may be having so much fun running and playing they don’t realize they’re sweating and losing important hydration.

Here are some things you can do to keep your child from becoming overheated or dehydrated:

• Plan for the time you’ll be outdoors.



• Bring along lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, plenty of water, sunglasses and sunscreen.



• Take along some ‘quiet time’ activities to fall back on during the hotter part of the day.



• Arrive early enough at your location to find a spot under a pavilion or shade tree. This will allow your children to enjoy the fresh air and being outdoors but it will provide some respite from the sun.
  

Have a wonderful and safe summer from your friends at Inspiration Child.

How to Find the Right Father’s Day Present

There’s something about a boy and his toy - whether he is just a toddler playing with his fire truck or as an adult with the latest cool tools and cars. They know what they want and nothing else will do. Quite often their ‘toys’ are expensive, so knowing how to find the right Father’s Day present may be difficult. The following are ideas you may want to consider this year.

Fathers who are sports fans may be easier to buy for than others. You undoubtedly know which sport teams and athletes he follows, so that can be your starting place. It may take some research and time to find the right gift, but Dad is worth it, right?

Think about your budget. Season tickets for his favorite team would be awesome, but they can be expensive. If you can’t purchase Dad season tickets, maybe you’ll be able to buy tickets for one game, food and parking.

Buy him a team jersey or other memorabilia from his favorite team. Look for items which are autographed. Be sure the item is authenticated before you pay big bucks for it. Authentication is important not only to ensure it’s real but also for investment reasons. If you have an authentic ball with a signature, it could be worth a lot of money in the future.

Does Dad follow golf? Talk with other golfers to see what items they would like if they were given a gift. Chances are your dad would like something similar. Purchase a gift card to their favorite Pro Shop. This can be used to go toward the purchase of some new irons or woods.

Has Dad mentioned he’d love to learn to fly? Check around for airports or pilots who offer flying lessons and find out how much they cost. If money is an issue, perhaps you can purchase one or two lessons rather than the entire course.

Many dads enjoy fishing as a hobby. Consider buying them a new rod and reel. A gift certificate to pay for a lifetime fishing license would also be appreciated. Again, if money is an issue, you may want to find out how much it would cost for several years and purchase a gift certificate for that amount.

Personalized presents are always appreciated. If Dad wears business attire to work, consider engraved cufflinks or money clip. Does his job require him to travel? Noise canceling earphones would be a great choice.

How Dad spends his off time will give you more ideas about the right Father’s Day present. Sports items, woodworking tools, and music are obvious choices. He’ll also probably be grateful for a gift other than a tie. When you think about what Dad likes and try to purchase something associated with those interests, you can’t go wrong.

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads!