A 13th Birthday party is a monumental event in a young adult’s life. This is considered the age when you are officially a teenager, or young adult. Therefore, many want to have a big bash in celebration of such an occasion. If you are the parent who is struggling to come up with ideas on how to celebrate your child’s special day, then you have already made more progress than others by reading this article! In today’s day and age, children no longer want cute little themes; it is all about x-Boxes, Playstations, sports, gossiping, and the opposite sex. So the last thing you want to do is embarrass them by having a party with all their friends that is similar to family gatherings you have had in the past.

If you want to have a party, most children want to have a co-ed get-together. Just make sure you monitor the invites and make sure that the people who are invited will only make the party better and not worse! And since they are young adults with hormones raging, make sure you have enough eyes to monitor the situation.

But do not worry, you can still have a big cake and make him or her blow out the candles. Everyone wants to make a special birthday wish! Depending on where you decide to have the party, will be the basis of your decorations. If you are having it at your house, double check with your child, to see if they want streamers, balloons and confetti. It is best just to stick to plates and cups that are plain in color instead of having something like Winnie the Pooh which is a potential embarrassment to them.

If you are having it at a park, little decoration and planning will be needed seeing as how they can play soccer, tennis, volleyball, etc. If you have it at a reception hall, you might want to higher a deejay so they can have dancing. Depending on your budget, you can definitely tweak the party by having an awesome deejay, decorations and entertainment. You could even splurge for a live band. If you have ever heard of the MTV show Sweet 16, you will know just exactly how elaborate you can go. People with the time and money, spends months planning with party planners, on how to make the best entrance into the party, who will be the entertainment, what will be the themes, the food, etc. Some have fashion shows, dance parties, grand entrances on camels; the skies the limit. And many people are choosing to let their child have similar parties for their 13th. So if you have the money and patience to plan something truly spectacular, let your child get to work planning a day they will definitely remember!

As for those who want to have something on a more normal scale, a party is all about food, decorations, entertainment, and of course presents. You could have a big cake with a picture of your child on it. Many people like to buy ice cream cakes so you do not have to buy the ice cream separately. Typical party snacks, like chips, pop, and even candy are great grabs for young adults. If you want something a little more filling, try the all-time favorite pizza, or even sandwiches. You could also have fruit and veggie trays.

As for entertainment, besides the much needed music, most kids would probably not like a magician, but you never know. Just double check with your child before you plan any surprise acts. But who knows, magicians nowadays do some pretty awesome tricks besides sawing a person in half or pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

You could also have a bonfire or cookout which is always fun. Make sure you have basketball, soccer, football, and other games for them to play while they are hanging around outside.

Finally, do not forget about the present! Get them something that they are dying to have. The newest Ipod, cellphone, Gamecube, or whatever their hearts desire and your budget can afford. If you have more than one present, bring out the smaller ones first and save the best for last.

Things to remember :
It is perfectly okay to have cake, blow out candles and unwrap presents. You can even take pictures.
It’s just all about loosening up and being more accepting of their ever changing and growing needs and wants, and learning to let go because they no longer want to sit on your lap. The best thing you can do to have the best 13th birthday for your child is to listen to what they want and take it from there. It really is not that hard to do, after all you’re just trying to make them happy!

By: Lisa Bevan

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Perhaps most Mums-and-Dads-to-be envisage their new pride and joy fast asleep in a beautifully decorated Nursery. Most Dads also envisage the new Aston Martin tucked cosily away in the garage too, but then we are entitled to dream!

The early preparation of the nursery is potentially a joy. Although, colours and theme may dictate that you wait until you are sure whether there will be a boy or girl theme.

Now, wallpapering is most certainly not my forte, but you do get a wonderful range now of cartoon orientated papering or the cute bunnies etc. So, if the thought of attempting to line up a Minnie Mouse with her Mickey seems all too much then a neutral painted room decorated with borders and an array of stick on cartoon characters may will appeal. Furthermore, most of these stickers can be removed and allow for a differing theme from time to time. Rest assured there will be less time to strip down walls and redecorate once your baby arrives.

Windows create light, and light awakes babies, therefore, a blackout blind may well be worth investing in. This then doesn’t prevent you from choosing a lovely themed set of curtains. Do take care of the cords or strings etc that pull the blinds and curtains. Your growing baby at sometime may be able to reach these, and therefore be aware of all safety issues which may arise.

The furniture may consist of a cot, wardrobe and chest of drawers (room size permitting). Placement of your cot should be safely away from any hazards such as plug sockets. Your babies hands will soon be slipping through the bars seeing what he or she can grab!
Secondhand cots should always have a new mattress. Always check as well any sharp bits or old stickers have been removed, and if the secondhand cot conforms to todays requirements.

Mobiles and glow in the dark stickers can also be great for your baby, and may give you a little bit of extra sleep while they stay focused. Some of the lullaby toys are great too, but beware that the ones that lay near the baby could be rolled on and set off thus waking the baby. I found this out the hard way, with a Pooh Bear sing song going on at regular intervals. Even if the baby doesn’t wake you are likely too.

Even the smallest of rooms can be made to look enchanting and a lovely place for your baby to sleep.

So, enjoy the fun of creating a nursery for your pride and joy’s dreams.

By: Simon Brice

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Babysitters are entrusted to care for the most precious people in your life. Here are five steps you can follow to make sure you hire the best candidate for the job.

Step One: Ask trusted community members for recommendations.
Some of the best babysitters come from referrals of other parents who have found a babysitter they are delighted with. Ask friends, relatives, and moms you meet in the supermarket or on the playground. In addition, you may want to ask preschool teachers or early grade school teachers for recommendations and advice. These early childhood experts often keep a list of recommended sitters, and they may even provide babysitting services themselves.

Step Two: Interview the prospective babysitter.
Ask for references and call several families whom the babysitter has worked with. Also during the interview, ask the candidate if she has any special qualifications, such as first aid training or CPR certification. Ask her what she would do in the case of emergencies such as accidental poisoning or choking. And do not be afraid to ask the potential sitter about her personal habits, such as swearing, smoking, or drinking. If you are interviewing a younger sitter, you may want to ask about Red Cross Certification. Red Cross babysitting courses are designed for 11 to 15 year olds, and instruct participants on such topics as first aid, diapering and feeding, as well as safe and age appropriate toys and games. The interview with your prospective sitter is also the time to work out such details as the rate of pay and transportation to and from the job.

Step Three: Make sure you choose someone who is experienced enough to handle your children at their present ages and stages.
Infants, in particular, will require special care and experience. Toddlers and school age children can have a lot of fun with a younger sitter, but make sure to provide the sitter with a list of emergency numbers, including contact information for nearby relatives and neighbors, as well as your family physician. Of course, you will need to leave detailed information as to where you are going and when you will be returning. Write down your cell phone number for both the babysitter as well as for your children, if they are old enough to call you themselves. Make sure to keep your cell phone with you and turned on at all times while you are away.

Step Four: Give the babysitter a clear idea of your expectations, as well as the House Rules.
If you have older children, it is a good idea to explain house rules, including bedtime and meal instructions, to the babysitter in the presence of the children. This will minimize any objections the children might have in your absence. (Many sitters are familiar with the “but mom says we do not have to go to bed until 11″ routine.) You will also want to discuss any special expectations you have about the way discipline issues are to be handled.

Include specific rules that may affect each individual child, such as “No snacks before dinner.” And remember to include rules you expect the sitter to follow (such as no visiting friends, no long cell phone calls, no loud music). Discuss special instructions personally when the sitter arrives at your home, and reiterate them in a set of written instructions for her reference, as well.

Step Five: Make sure to discuss with the children what kind of behavior you expect from their babysitter.
Discuss with them what abuse is (physical and verbal) and instruct the children to tell you immediately if the babysitter does something to hurt them or to make them feel uncomfortable. If your children are sufficiently old enough, instruct them to call you if anything occurs that they think you should know.

By: Jamie Jefferson

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