Parenting Archive

My thoughts on parenthood, and what it's like to be a mom in the Philippines.

Making Team Spirit a Family Activity

Team spirit can bind a family together like no other shared passion. Families who cheer on their favorite teams are more likely to spend time together and feel closer to each other. When parents want to get their littlest family members in on the act, they can select items like St Louis Cardinals baby clothes and other accessories in which to dress their children. Dressed in their gear, kids can join their parents and older siblings in cheering on their family’s favorite team.

Sports clothing for children is available throughout the year. When parents have a passion for football, basketball, baseball, and other sports, they can shop online at their convenience to find shirts, pants, socks, and other gear for their kids to wear. For babies, parents can find onesies, matching headbands, and other infant-safe clothing. For older children, parents can find jerseys, shirts, pants, socks, and other clothing essentials that will keep their kids well-dressed and emblazoned with the family’s favorite sports logos and colors.

Along with clothing, parents can also find accessories like hats, pacifiers, and more for their babies and children. These accessories serve a practical purpose, but at the same time show the family’s favor of their sports team. Depending on the time of year during which they shop, parents may also find some of the items that they want or need on sale.

They can use the links at the top of the page to filter their search. If they want to look for teams that play in the NCAA, for example, they can click on the words Baseball or Football. If they want to find things on sale, they click on the word Clearance. Some items are on sale for charities. The charity link lets them shop for items from which the proceeds go to the family’s favorite listed charity.

If parents need to get in contact with anyone from the company, they can use the social media plugins at the top of the page. The company is on social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. People can also contact the company by using the listed phone number on the website. If it is a matter of tracking their order, people can use the order tracking link at the top of the page. Ordering sports gear for children online is possible with this website and its links.

Two Steps to a Better Family Vacation

Everyone has been on a family vacation that encompasses a long drive and a less than stellar vacation. As a whole the experience tends to stick out as how not to have a good time. However, there a few steps that can be taken to ensure that the annual family event is a great experience for everyone. Planning and researching are the two factors that separate the average family vacation from one that keeps everyone talking for years to come. In the end, doing a bit of homework and digging beneath the surface can be deciding factors that produce the kinds of activities that everyone in the house can enjoy.

Research
Online travel guides, like Hipmunk, can be great assets in the research process. From uncovering affordable hotels in Orlando to locating the perfect backpacking spot at the Grand Canyon, online guides are loaded with information that can inspire anyone looking to ramp up the enjoyment of the trip. After all, theme parks and other major attractions are just the surface of many destinations. Cities and towns have a number of activities that lurk just off the radar begging to be discovered, and without digging a little deeper families will never know these great times and businesses exist.

Planning
Perhaps the biggest factor facing family vacations is time. Time is a perishable commodity, which makes maximizing the fun factor extremely important. Taking a few hours before the trip to plan a short itinerary, along with a brief back up plan for inclement weather, can help keep the focus of the trip where it belongs—having a good time. The entire trip does not have to be scheduled down to the minute, but daily activities and meal schedules can help make sure that everyone gets to do what they desire and try the things that were uncovered during the research process.

In the end, research and planning are important steps to a better family vacation. Plus, everyone can get involved with both tasks, which spreads responsibility out a bit among the family members. Having an idea of what to expect once the destination is reached helps increase the anticipation factor and also aides in finalizing the budget for the trip. Daily checklists and goals keep the trip on track and make sure that everyone is talking about the vacation for years to come for all the right reasons.

How To Apply For A UK Child Passport

Posting this blog post for my sister who now lives in UK and someday, this article will be of big help to her: When Will My Child Need Their Own Passport?

Travelling on your own can be exciting and life changing. Travelling with children? Now that takes travel planning to another level. We take a look at the child passport requirements for your jet setter in training.

Image via Flicker

Until October of 1998 it was possible to have your child included in your own adult passport. However in 1998 the rules have changed. Nowadays you will have to apply for a child passport (regardless how young your child might be) if you plan to travel with your family. The good news is that the child passport is valid for 5 years.

To qualify for a UK child passport your child should be under 16 years of age and one of the following three: a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen or a British overseas citizen. You will also have to have parental responsibility (which is automatic if you are the child’s mother, the child’s father and you are married to the child’s mother, were married to the child’s mother at the time of birth or have adopted the child).

It takes up to 4 weeks (or longer during certain periods of the year) to be issued a child passport so do plan ahead especially if you have a holiday booked.

To apply for a child passport you will have to either fill out the online passport form or request one online. The price of a child passport is Ł45 or Ł55.75 if you use Post Office’s Passport Check and Send Service. If you are pressed for time you can use the Fast Track Service. The cost of a child passport issued via the Fast Track Service is Ł87.

How to fill out the passport application form

The sections of the form that need to be filled out are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9 (and section 6 if applicable). Countersignatory will have to fill out section 10 and certify and sign one of your child’s passport photos.

If you child is between the ages of 12 and 15, they will have to sign the passport application form themselves. If your child is not able to sign the form themselves, you will need to explain the reasons why in a cover letter.

Image via Flicker

Additional documents

Apart from the passport application form you will also have to submit additional documents most notably your child’s birth certificate and the British passport details belonging to the child’s mother and father. However in some circumstances (for example if the child is in foster care, has been adopted, has been born of a surrogacy, if there is a court order relating to the custody in case of a divorce, etc) some additional documents might have to be submitted or you will have to fill out some additional sections of the passport application form. Do bear in mind you can only submit original documents and no photocopies are accepted.

Child passport photos

You will also have to submit 2 photos with your child’s passport application form.

Photo requirements:

45x 35 mm in size.
White or light grey background.
Sharp and clear image.
Whole of your child’s face should be visible in the photo.
The child should be alone in the photo (if the baby’s head need to be supported, your hand should not be visible).
The child should not have any toys in the photo or dummies in their mouth.
If a child is younger than five it is not necessary for them to look directly into the camera or have a neutral expression.
Babies younger than one do not have to have their eyes open in the photo.

If your child is close to 16 years of age or has already turned 16, they will have to apply for an adult passport and they can do so without the parental consent. If your child held a child passport previously, they will have to follow the procedure for renewing an adult passport. If you never applied for a child passport and your child is 16 years of age or older, it is considered that they are applying for an adult passport for the first time.