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Parenting Tips

Advice for raising well-balanced children

When you left the hospital to take your newborn home for the first time, you may have hoped that the baby bag contained some kind of manual giving parental advice on how to handle the next 18-plus years. Then you remembered that babies don't come with a set of instructions for parents on how to teach a child values, resolve a conflict with a sibling or help a child study for an upcoming test. Our tips for parents can help prepare you for various situations, as well as provide ideas for activities that you can enjoy as a family.

  1. 7 Things Millennial Parents Are Doing Right

    December 18, 2018

    No matter which generation we’re a part of, we want the best for our children and we’re willing to put in the work to make that happen. However, the United States is a very different place from what it was 20 or 30 years ago.

    Millennial parents have challenges, resources and opportunities that their parents never faced or envisioned, which has led to some very big differences in how millennials approach parenting.

     

    1. Starting families later

    new parents - woman checking pregnancy test

    The current median age for getting married is 30 years old, compared to 23 years in the 1970s.1 With more women pursuing careers and with prices and expenses increasing, family life seems to be put on hold.

     

    2. Better informed

    millennial parents - couple cooking

    With so much knowledge at our fingertips thanks to the internet, today’s parents are searching for how-to tips for parenting. Millennials are strategic thinkers, interested in what has worked for other parents and what hasn’t.  Google found that three out of four parents are open to parenting tips they find on YouTube.2

     

    3. Dads are stepping up

    millennial parenting - dad playing with child

    Nowadays, new fathers play a bigger role at home than did previous generations of dads. They strive to be “perfect” and are interested in learning everything they can about parenting.3 As super dads, they are more involved with tasks like baby-proofing, changing diapers, making important purchasing decisions and more.

     

    4. Health conscious

    millennials - woman running with dog

    Millennials tend to be more health conscious than previous generations.  They carry their health consciousness into their parenting style, aiming to serve as positive, healthy role models.

     

    5. Dialogue is a priority

    millennial dads - father talking with son

    Millennial parents look for ways to be more “present” and involved, and let their kids be part of the decision-making process. Breaking away from “helicopter parenting,” they give their kids choices. Instead of pushing them to strive for perfection, they keep it real by having candid conversations with their little ones.

     

    6. They don’t define themselves as only a mom or dad

    millennials - woman painting

    “Millennial parents can do it all,” the saying goes. They prioritize their kids while still doing other things that make them happy. 75% of millennials say they’ve “continued to pursue personal passions” since becoming parents.3

     

    7. Saving more for the future

    saving money - piggy bank

    Once kids come into the picture, it seems like saving for retirement is kicked into high gear. To put this in perspective, boomers are saving about 5% of their income for retirement. But the Millennial generation is saving twice as much, with a very financially responsible 10% of income going into retirement savings!4

    And, of course, any sound retirement plan includes life insurance, so that spouses and children are financially protected if the unexpected happens.

     

    Wrapping it up…

    Yes, the parenting world we live in today is very different from previous generations. And Millennials may not be doing things the same way their parents did. New challenges require new approaches, and millennial parents are rising to meet those challenges. They seem to be doing parenting right.

     

    1 – “Millennials Coming of Age,” Goldman Sachs, 2015,  https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/archive/millennials/

    2 – “Marketing to Millennial Parents? Here’s How They’re Redefining Parenting for Their Generation,” Think with Google, March 2017,  https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/marketing-millennial-parents-youtube-insights/

    3 – “Millennial Dads Turn to Digital in Their Moments of Need” Think with Google, June 2015,  https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/millennial-dads-turn-to-digital-in-moments-of-need/

    4 – “Millennial Parents Outpace Gen X, Boomer Parents on Retirement Savings,” Nerdwallet survey conducted online by Harris Poll, Aug. 2017, https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/parents-retirement-study/

     

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  2. 5 Easy DIY Halloween Costumes and Decorations

    October 10, 2018

    Halloween is in HOW many days? Don’t worry, we have some last-minute costume and décor ideas that can make you look like a pro and that you can make with your child. If you’re putting things together in a hurry and on a budget, no problem. You could use materials from around the house to create a masterpiece.

    Here’s some costume inspiration for busy parents:

    1. The Mummy

    Use an old sheet or a roll of gauze bandages to give your child a “preserved” look. If using a white sheet, rip it into long strips. Wrap the strips or the gauze around your child in two sections – top and bottom – keeping the top separate from the bottom (you’ll thank us later for this tip). Dab smoky eye shadow around your child’s eyes and a little on the cheeks.

     

    DIY Halloween Costumes - child mummy costume

     

    2. The Superhero

    Start with leggings and a matching T shirt. You’ll also need some spare felt, safety pins or fabric glue, child-safe scissors and a solid-colored blanket or sheet. First, cut out a large letter –– from the felt, then attach it to the T shirt with safety pins or fabric glue. Cut other pieces of felt into strips and turn them into a belt, headband or eye mask. Add a solid-colored blanket or sheet and you’ve got a Superhero cape.

     

    Halloween Costumes - boy in DIY superhero costume

     

    3. The Emoji

    Got a yellow T shirt in a size that’s too big for your kiddo? Perfect! Next thing you’ll need is a printout of “emoji” facial expressions. Then, attach the selected emoji to the T shirt with glue or safety pins, or use a stick-on emoji. If you have several yellow T shirts, you could make more emoji T shirts and have the whole family go trick-or-treating as every mood.

     

    Halloween Decorations - cutting paper

     

    Don’t let your Halloween creativity stop with the costume. It’s also easy to give your house or apartment a face lift before the trick-or-treaters arrive. Here are some options:

     

    4. Wicked Welcome

    Turn your front door into a spooky or silly face that can catch the eyes of passersby. All you need is some white or colored paper, tape, child-safety scissors and imagination.

     

    Halloween front door decoration

     

    5. Eerie Entryway

    Transform your entryway into a critter cave. Begin by stretching cotton batting into long pieces, then positioning them in the entryway to create fake cobwebs. Sprinkle plastic or paper spiders throughout the cobwebs for a Halloween-style, spine-tingling effect. Finish the look by hanging cut-out paper bats from the ceiling.

     

    Halloween pumpkins on front porch

     

    A Word on Safety

    Halloween is a lot of fun for you and the children, but it’s important to play it safe.
    – Remember to keep your pathways cleared and well-lit for trick-or-treaters.
    – Make sure that your kids are visible when trick-or-treating at night by attaching reflective tape to their costumes.
    – Don’t forget to check the candy they bring home!

     

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  3. Paid Maternity Leave Infographic

    February 6, 2018

    Despite the fact that it happens every day around the world, having a baby is a big deal! Babies, while so small, have a big impact on the lives of new parents. And what’s more, this impact radiates out, touching careers and even our national economy!

    Click below to see why Paid Maternity Leave is so important for parents, employers, and the country at large.

    Maternity Leave Infographic

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    Categories: Health & Safety , Parenting Tips
     

  4. Teaching Generosity This Holiday Season

    December 1, 2017

    girl hugging her baby sister near sofa

    The holidays are coming and ‘tis the season…for what? In your child’s eyes, the answer is probably fun, treats and gifts. But how can you add generosity to the equation?

    Convincing your little one that it’s better to give than to receive is no easy task. Here are a few tips to get your child thinking about the importance of generosity during the holiday season and beyond.

    • Introduce the concept in a fun way. You may be surprised—and impressed—with what your child has to say once you start a discussion. Even young ones mostly understand that generosity is a fundamentally “good” thing. Try using themes from books or movies they love to start a conversation about positive, generous behavior.
    • Make it personal. Financial generosity may be a little abstract for young kids, so help them understand the topic in a context they understand. Sharing toys is a great place to start. (And probably the source of some drama in your household anyway, so why not tackle the issue head on?) Ask your child to think of times when someone didn’t share – how did it make them feel? It’s never too early to help your child develop empathy.
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  5. A Happy & Safe Halloween for Your Little Goblin

    October 16, 2017

    Halloween can be the best holiday for parents and kids, full of laughs and thrills – and candy.

    So how come it may also cause you some stress? Simple: Combine costumes, strangers and nighttime, and it’s a witch’s brew of potential challenges.

    Is this reason for caution? Of course.

    Is this a reason to avoid trick or treating? Of course not!

    At Gerber Life Insurance, we understand that you can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your children. As always, being prepared and as informed as possible helps to minimize anxiety and focus on the FUN.

    Here are four easy tips to help make this Halloween a safe and positive experience for you and your little goblin.

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