Guest Post: How to Keep Your Child from Video Game Addiction

I would like to welcome Jenny Daniels to Grandma Bonnie's Closet. I hope you enjoy her guest post. The opinions expressed in this post are Jenny's and may not reflect the opinions of my readers. Consideration was received for the editing and publishing of this article. 

Jenny Daniels-A freelance writer, mother, wife, sister, animal lover, and avid surfer. Enjoys writing about many subjects, and anything that pops into her head during her morning runs. If you wish to contact her she can be reached at JennyMDaniels@live.com.

 How to Keep Your Child from Video Game Addiction

Being a parent you may want to gift your child with the best gaming console that is out in the market. Or maybe you've already gifted him a gaming PC on his birthday or for Christmas using the Alienware coupon. While it’s okay to watch your child enjoy himself with the video game, it’s also important to keep an eye on his gaming habits. If not it can lead to video game addiction, which is destructive in itself. So how do you go about making sure that he doesn't get addicted to video gaming? What necessary steps can be taken to prevent a fun activity turning into a bad habit? In the following article we look into a few tips that will help you keep your kid from video game addiction...

#1: Approach Your Child the Right Way

A lot of parents tend to make the mistake of being too stern or strict when it comes to limiting their child’s gaming activity. However, what you need to understand is children can become rebellious when and if you force them to stay away from something they like. So your pressurizing them can actually backfire and even increase the chances of him spending more time playing video games. Instead of going the harsh way, talk to him about it lovingly. Don’t force but rather explain and educate. Create a schedule that lets him distribute his time between his gaming activity and other productive activities such as reading, playing outdoor sports, spending time with the family, etc.

#2: Participate in Activities with Him

One of the best ways to encourage your kid to spend less time video gaming is to get him busy with other alternative activities that can be enjoyable for him. However, simply asking him to go play in the park or read a good book won’t motivate or push him to do it. You should participate in the activities with him yourself so that it becomes easy. Plan out some fun activities where not just you, but the whole family can participate in. Activities such as going out on a picnic to the park or playing family board games or reading a book together. There are a ton of activities that you can choose from where you can be involved with him.

#3: Teach Him What is Priority

Your focus as a parent should be to prevent your child from going against the schedule that has been decided and playing video games at odd hours. How you do this depends on how you teach him about priorities. In other words, let him know that the video game is not a priority but rather a privilege that can be taken away if he misbehaves. This will instill some fear in the child about losing his video game and will push him towards playing according to schedule. It’s a harmless way to show your kid what’s important and to teach him how to be a responsible video game player. In conclusion, it doesn’t matter how you were able to take advantage of one of those Black Friday leaks to buy a video gaming console for your child at a cheaper price. What

matters is how you keep him away from getting addicted to video games and show him how to play them without the activity coming in between other day to day activities.

Be Prepared For Weather Emergencies

When bad weather strikes are you prepared? I am talking about tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and other bad weather events.

Because of the recent tornadoes I have been looking over our emergency plans and have found some ways to improve our plans here at home. Our home is on the outer edge of what some might call tornado alley. We have tried to be prepared for the worst but there is always room for improvement.
After researching on line I have found a few helpful tips and resources I would like to share with my readers.

The first tip is make a plan. This plan should include answers to some what if questions.
Example: If  bad weather is approaching where will we take shelter? Answer this question for the places you spend most of your time. Such as home, school, work, neighbors, grandmas, neighborhood park, car and other places. Go over these answers with your family including your children.
Relatives in other states should also know where you plan to take shelter. In an emergency your relatives would know where to find your children if they were separated from you.
Each person in your family should know where your emergency supplies are kept. This would include a first aid kit, flash lights, blankets, emergency contact lists, medications, and other important supplies. Find a list of ideas for emergency supplies here.
Work out a communication plan. During an emergency or disaster it might be easier to call out of town or state. Choose as a contact a person who lives out-of-state for household members to notify they are safe in the event that they are separated from you. This would be a good way to pass on important information.
Do not depend on phone lists in your cell phone. Make a back up emergency contact card for each family member.
I found the following links to some helpful prints outs that can help you with your emergency planning.

Family Emergency Plan Worksheet from FEMA

Child's Emergency Contact Card

Helpful emergency tips.

Information on communicating with family during an emergency.

Tornado safety tips.

These are only my thoughts on being prepared for weather emergencies. The tips and lists mentioned are not a complete list or plan. When planning for an emergency you should search many resources and compile your own complete list per your families needs.

So what do you think? Do you have any tips you would like to pass on? How are you prepared for bad weather?

Missing Home

I have been away from home for almost three weeks. I have missed the usual walks my husband and I take  around our home and yard. We usually walk around our property two or three time a week. Often it is just to enjoy looking at certain plants and trees. Also its nice to know if something is not right or needs fixing.
Being the best husband there ever was he decided to take photos of his walk last week to share with me. What can I say except he is sweet like that. Now, I have all these pictures and I want to of course share them with you.
Well right off he found this critter hole. Fist thing is you have to watch and see who lives there. Some critters are welcome and some are not so welcome. We will have to wait and see. 

This is the view of our fish pond from our drive way. Lots of weeding to do there. I can't wait to get home and clear the weeds out.

Next, is the front flower bed. Weeds, weeds and more weeds. 

Blossoms in our apple tree. They sure are pretty this time of the year.

 Another view of the pond from our porch.

A view from the second fish pond. There are no fish in it now. Usually it will be filled with tad poles at this time of year. I will have to check that out when I get home.

My hubby could not leave out our grandson Little Bug. He is helping papa fix the lawn mower. He sure is a great helper.

Later that same day my hubby spotted this cute little critter hanging around. She is a mama. So I bet you can guess who is living in that hole.

After some observation. My dearest came to the conclusion there is a mama fox and four cubs (pups).

What do you think about our little walk? Do you have a morning routine you like to keep? 

Preserving Your Wood Furniture Naturally

Product Review

Thanks to Scott's Liquid Gold I have been give the opportunity to begin preserving and restoring my dining table back to its formal beauty. My dining table and buffet hutch are made from a dark wood. This set has been in our home for a very long time. With daily use the original luster and shine has faded. After trying this polish for about two weeks I was amazed at the improvement in the shine and beauty that has returned.

The product is made from a blend of natural organic oils that clean and moisturize wood. Keeping wood moisturized helps to preserve the wood. Scott's Liquid Gold is not a furniture polish it is considered a wood cleanser and preservative.The product does not contain water, wax or silicone.

Below is a photo of the first time I tested the product. I have circled the newly polished area in red. I hope you can see the difference.

 This wood cleanser works great on wood furniture, unfinished wood, paneling, and most any wood furniture. Not only is it a great furniture cleanser but it can polish brass, stainless steal and chrome.
I have a little tip to share with you on the best way to use Scott's Liquid Gold or any furniture polish. Spray your rag not your furniture. Spraying your rag will insure an even glossy shine to your furniture.
Check them out on Facebook.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day.  I hope you have a great one.

Farm Field Trip

This week my granddaughter's kindergarten class had a field trip to a farm. Although I was unable to be there to enjoy the experience with her I was sent some awesome pictures of the trip. Pumpkins mother was able to chaperon on the trip and shared the fun with me.

Pumpkin holding a chick. What a cute little fluff ball. You would have thought all the little girls would want to hold a little baby chick.

That sure is a fluffy calf. At first I thought it was a pony. 

Now, look where Pumpkin has got her head. She sure is not afraid of animals. Must be because she has been around animals since she was a baby. 

Last but not least Pumpkin learned to milk a cow. She has one up on her grandma. I have never learned to milk a cow.  What do you think readers? Was that a nice field trip for kindergarten? Have you ever milked a cow?