The Taga Bike & Stroller Review

The last review I did was the Babybjorn Baby Carrier which expressed a big interest from Mums and Dads. The Taga Bike and Stroller got me going and I was hooked. The price is a bit steep but the benefits are rewarding. See what You think?

The Taga Bike & Stroller is truly one-of-a-kind: this is the only stroller that converts to a bike, and the only bike that converts to a stroller. So you can enjoy leisurely, fun, and safe bike rides with your child, and then convert your Taga to a stroller and hop right onto the bus or into the grocery store.

When you’re done shopping, convert your Taga back and pedal your groceries home! In bike mode, the Taga Bike & Stroller is a tall, sturdy tricycle, with a high-finish aluminum alloy frame, front, and rear brakes, and 16″ quick-release wheels. The child seat is right between your handlebars, so you can chat with your child as you roll along – riding on the Taga Bike is great for family bonding, and terrific fun for both parents and kids.

You can see your child  and your child can see all the fun scenery, instead of your back. Reviewers report that the Taga Bike is easy to turn, and the three gears help with small inclines. Plus, hey! It’s great exercise.

Read the Article  Is the innovative Taga Bike Stroller worth the price tag? Here’s the real scoop.

The Taga Bike and Stroller are available on Amazon

Healthy holidays 

There was a time when travelling with children used to be a nightmare. Remember! all those  nappies in your suitcase with just enough space  for your razor and boxer shorts. I have fond memories  of my kids in those collapsible strollers and chocolate smudged all over their faces. I normally make my hotel bookings with Yeego as they have a great selection of hotels worldwide.

My kids travelled with us to Ireland to see family and also to Africa when they were little. We found them great travel companions. Today my daughter travels around the globe on a monthly basis for business and leisure. My two sons also love travelling with their children and have become very safety conscious especially near water.

Have You Booked Already?

I urge you to take the plunge the rewards will be amazing education wise, I was a globetrotter myself in my youth and travelled with my wife quite a lot but travelling with your tots is a whole new experience. Panic when you have lost sight of them for a split second , stressed because you are exhausted.But feel so loved when they put their arms around you and say, “Can we do it again tomorrow, please Dad”? Be warned the seeds have been planted.

Beach Safety

Every summer, lifeguards respond to thousands of incidents on UK beaches. To stay safe at the seaside, be informed about the dangers and follow these simple tips.

 It’s better Giving than to Receive

The most rewarding thing any human can do for another being is give something of value that will enhance his or her life without asking for a reward. I did volunteer work at a homeless shelter in Cape Town with three teenagers.

I not only used all my skills as a parent but also used my coaching skills to get them into mainstream schooling. I worked on their self-esteem issues and encouraged them to read and talk on a daily basis. It’s amazing what encouragement and positive words can do for a person’s self-esteem.

That was ten years ago.The last time I heard from the Homeless Shelter was a year ago.The teenagers were now flourishing adults and were qualified as artisans.

We should  teach our children to do unselfish acts. There are so many ways we can give back to a community eg  your local church. Setting up a food kitchen, giving money, giving your time. We can give back in different ways. It does have an impact on the community.

Should I volunteer?

“Peer support doesn’t just work one way,” says Dr Casiday. “Even if you’re in a mentoring role, simply talking to someone else who is struggling with the same issue can support you as well. It’s not just an act of charity. In a lot of cases, the volunteer is helped as much as the patient.”

Health benefits

“Volunteering can yield as many benefits, if not more, for the volunteers themselves,” says Dr Casiday. Benefits can include:

             Quality of life

A May 2012 study by the Royal Voluntary Service (formerly the WRVS)found that volunteering in later life decreased depression and social isolation. It was also found to boost the quality of life and life satisfaction. 

Ability to cope with ill health

Volunteering can help people come to terms with their own illness and help take their mind off their own problems. One study found that it helped them perform better in their own daily lives.

A healthier lifestyle

“The research looked at smokers volunteering in stop-smoking services, who then gave up themselves,” says Dr. Casiday. “It also studied binge drinking on university campuses, and found that when students were volunteering, they drank much less.”

Improved family relationships

A study comparing older volunteers with older non-volunteers showed that the volunteers had better relationships with their family. “This may be because their caregiving role carries over into personal relationships and makes older volunteers more independent and less reliant on their family,” says Dr. Casiday.

Meeting new people

Volunteering is a good way to meet people. This can be vital for older volunteers and people who might be isolated or not particularly integrated into society.

Improved self-esteem and sense of purpose

“This can be really important in getting someone back to work,” says Dr. Casiday. “Volunteering can bring back your self-esteem and motivate you. Improved self-esteem can have an effect on other areas of your health and life.” 

Patient health

The report by Dr.Casiday concluded that it is difficult to accurately measure the effect of volunteering on people who use the NHS because the range of volunteering roles is so varied. The report did reveal the following results for patients:

Increased self-esteem and confidence

When someone has a long-term condition, their self-esteem is often affected, making it difficult for them to talk to doctors. “Having a volunteer to act as a mediator can really make the patient feel supported,” says Dr. Casiday. Volunteers can improve the relationship between staff and patient.

Better social interaction, integration, and support 

A volunteer is more likely to be seen as someone who’s on the same level as the patient (a peer) and is, therefore, easier to relate to than a doctor. The volunteer is also likely to have more time to listen and chat to the patient. One study showed that volunteers could even reduce depression in patients.

Reduced burden on carers

Having somebody to support carers can be of huge value to them. It reduces the strain on the carer and helps them to carry on effectively with their caring duties.

Decreased anxiety

One study showed that patients who were about to go through a medical procedure were less anxious when they could talk to a volunteer who had been through the same procedure themselves.

Longer survival times for hospice patients

“Hospice patients who have a volunteer making social visits live a month longer on average than those who don’t,” says Dr Casiday. “This is amazing considering how unwell people are in a hospice setting.”

An increase in breastfeeding and childhood immunisation

Studies of young or disadvantaged mothers show that volunteers, either through telephone hotlines or home visits, provide peer support and help to educate them about breastfeeding and vaccinations. Volunteers could also have an influence on how often the children are taken for their standard health checks.

Improved clinic attendance and taking of medicines

Having someone there who can help and be a mediator with the doctors can improve the chances of a patient following their treatments and attending their appointments. 

How can I volunteer?

• Volunteering England
• Volunteering Matters (formerly CSV) 
• Do-it Be More 

Give for mental well-being

Most people would agree that giving to others is a good thing. On top of this, it can also improve your mental well-being.

Small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones – such as volunteering in your local community – can give you a sense of purpose. It can make you feel happier and more satisfied with life.

Sometimes, we think of wellbeing in terms of what we have: our income, our home or car, or our job. But evidence shows that what we do and the way we think have the biggest impact on mental wellbeing.

Positive mental wellbeing means feeling good – about yourself and the world around you – and being able to get on with life in the way you want.

Helping and supporting other people, and working with others towards a shared goal, is good for our mental well-being.

 How giving helps your mental well being

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness – small and large – are associated with positive mental well-being.

Giving to others and co-operating with them can stimulate the reward areas in the brain, creating positive feelings.

Helping and working with others can also give us a sense of purpose and feelings of self-worth.

Giving our time to others in a constructive way helps us strengthen our relationships and build new ones. Relationships with others also help mental wellbeing.

How you can give more

Giving can take lots of different forms, from small everyday acts to larger commitments.

Today, you could:

• Say thank you to someone, for something they’ve done for you.
• Phone a relative or friend who needs support or company.
• Ask a colleague how they are and really listen to the answer.
• Offer to lend a hand if you see a stranger struggling with bags or a pushchair.

This week, you could:

• Arrange a day out for you and a friend or relative.
• Offer to help a relative with DIY or a colleague with a work project.
• Sign up to a mentoring project, in which you give time and support to someone who will benefit from it.
• Volunteer in your local community, such as helping out at a local school, hospital or care home. Find out how to volunteer.

More steps for wellbeing

Giving is one of five evidence-based steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing.

Learn more about the other four:

• Connecting for mental wellbeing
• Getting active for mental wellbeing
• Learning for mental wellbeing
• Mindfulness for mental wellbeing

Courtesy Daily Mail

I am a keen fan of Dr Phils Program on Family Issues. This week I watched an episode of a teenager out of control threatening to kill his mother.

The teenage years was the most challenging stage for me and my wife. We were very disciplined with our teenage children. Their  friends thought we were tyrants. I would say no!  to everything if I suspected they were going to find themselves in compromising situations. No amount of plea bargaining would change my mind.

How does one cope if your teenager uses threatening behaviour or becomes aggressive? The NHS report explains how to use coping mechanisms when your teenager gets argumentative or even violent.

Teen aggression and arguments

Courtesy Daily Mail

Many parents find that when their child becomes a teenager, their behaviour becomes more challenging. But how do you cope if they become aggressive or even violent towards you?

Find out how to cope with heated arguments with your teen, and what to do if they become violent.

If you’re experiencing aggression or violence from your teen, you’re not alone. A recent Parentline Plus survey found that 60% of calls (between October 2007 and June 2008) included verbal aggression from a teenager, and 30% involved physical aggression, much of it aimed at the parent themselves.

It is common to keep this kind of abuse behind closed doors and not confide in anyone. Many parents feel  that they have failed to control their child, or that they are responsible for the behaviour in some way. In addition, they may not know where to turn.

However, any kind of aggression can be stressful, and can cause an atmosphere of tension and fear for the entire family, not to mention the possibility of physical harm if their teen becomes violent.

No parent should feel obliged to put up with an unruly teen, and as with any type of domestic abuse, help and support are available. You can find appropriate organisations and helpline numbers in ‘Help and support’ below. There are also a number of techniques and tips that you might find helpful.

Defusing heated arguments

It’s useful to remember that your own behaviour can improve or worsen an aggressive situation, so it’s important to be a good role model for your teen. 

Linda Blair, a clinical psychologist working with families, advises: “Bear in mind that you are their principal role model. If you act aggressively but tell them not to, they won’t listen. It’s also helpful to remember that their anger is often based on fear – fear that they’re losing control.”

With that in mind, it is worth trying to maintain a calm and peaceful presence. You need to be strong without being threatening. Remember that your body language, as well as what you say and how you say it, should also reflect this.

Avoid staring them in the eye, and give them personal space. Allow them the opportunity to express their point of view, then respond in a reasoned way.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Breathing exercises to control anger

If an argument becomes very heated, Linda suggests that you “stop for a moment”. Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds and then exhale. Repeat five times. This technique is very useful in intense situations.

If your teen is becoming aggressive during arguments, suggest this technique to them when they’re calm, so they too have a way of controlling their anger.

If an argument feels out of control, you can also try explaining to them that you are going to walk away and that you’ll come back again in half an hour. Given the chance to reflect and calm down, you and your teen will both be more reasonable when you resume your discussion.

As with toddlers, if you give into teenagers because their shouting and screaming intimidates or baffles you, you are in effect encouraging them to repeat the unreasonable behaviour as a way of getting what they want.

Counselling for teenagers

Family Lives is a charity dedicated to helping families. They suggest that if very heated arguments happen frequently, it may be worth suggesting counselling to your teen. They’ll benefit from talking to someone new and unbiased, someone who isn’t in their family and who won’t judge them.

                                                                                                                   Courtesy Daily Mail

Read more about the benefits of talking treatments.

Remember they may not know how to handle their anger, and this can leave them frustrated and even frightened. Some guidance from an outsider can be very helpful.