Fatherhood Factor

For all the "dealings" of dads...

Emily Joswiak

Fun Activities for a Father and His Young Son To Do

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If you surveyed 100 fathers and asked them what age their son was when they really started to connect, many of them would likely say when he was around his teenage years. Some dads seem to have trouble connecting with their sons at a younger age.

Regardless of the reason for this issue, we feel some of it comes from not knowing what to do with them until they’re old enough to do “manlier” things. Ahead, we’ve created a list of fun activities for a father and his younger son to do together. Don’t miss out on any good times early in your son’s life.

Take Him To a Ball Game

Many people would go with the cliché “play catch with him,” but we think actually taking your son to a sporting event is a better use of your time. No matter how young he is, he’ll enjoy the food, the excitement of the crowd, and whatever silly things the mascot is doing. Sure, he might not remember it when he’s older, but this could be the event that sparks an interest in the sport down the road, which could lead to many games of catch in the front yard.

Build or Fix Something Together

Some dads think that this idea is only suitable for older children, but building or fixing something together is an excellent way to bond. Give your son some easy tasks, like grabbing a tool or twisting in a screw.

If you’re working on something for your son, he’ll be more likely to want to help. For example, some people like to modify their child’s ride-on.

Go on a Camping Trip

If you want your son to experience the outdoors, take him on a father-son camping trip. On this trip, you can teach him how to fish, set up a tent, or even build a campfire. If he likes it, you could turn it into a yearly tradition, finding new things to teach him every year.

Play Some Games With Him

If none of our previous fun activities for a father and his younger son to do together seem to be working, you might have to do something on his terms. Many kids are into video games these days; try playing one or two of them with him. Even if you aren’t very good, your son will appreciate that you’re trying it out with him.

If you want to meet him halfway on this subject, try to find a board game that he likes. If you need more players, get the whole family involved and make it a family game night. Regardless of what you do, taking an interest in the things your son likes goes a long way.

The Benefits of Taking a First Aid Course With Your Kids

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When you think about hanging out with the kids, your mind probably goes to amusement parks, the zoo, indoor fun centers, and the like. But a first aid class? You might imagine the look of disappointment on their faces when you describe a morning or afternoon of instruction, but give them the benefit of the doubt. A first aid course is fun in the right circumstances and setting, and you’ll equip them with the skills they need. Here are the benefits of taking a first aid course with your kids.

Learning First Aid Is Never Boring

First aid and CPR courses promise excitement, engaging activities, and interesting anecdotes from the instructor. You’ll have to practice what you learn, leading to the fun of practicing techniques on each other, including bandaging, CPR, Heimlich maneuvering, splints, and more. If your kids are fascinated with such things, they’ll love learning the importance of caring for others while satiating their curiosity.

First Aid Knowledge Builds Confidence

Another one of the benefits of taking a first aid course with your kids is that kids certified in first aid and CPR are more confident about their ability to handle an emergency. Kids can learn first aid skills as young as nine years old, and a child who knows how to look out for and care for their friends is more self-assured and will view themselves as a leader in their peer group. You’re also showing that you trust them with this sort of knowledge, making it a great bonding moment.

They’ll Learn Valuable Skills

There’s no argument against learning first aid. Everyone should know the basics of providing first aid to an injured or otherwise incapacitated person until healthcare professionals arrive. First aid gives a person a fighting chance, potentially saving their life, limbs, or general health and well-being. When you equip your kids with first aid skills, you’re ensuring this doesn’t just apply to your family but all the people your kids know or meet in their lives. Other courses and camps can entertain and educate your children, but first aid prepares them for the worst life can throw at them. Who knows? They may even save your life someday.

Common Reasons Your Engine Is Overheating

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It’s summertime, and with summer comes unbearable heat. This oppressive heat isn’t just suffocating to humans—it can also suffocate cars. The risk of your car overheating is at its highest in summer. But external temperatures aren’t the only factor that contributes to overheating. Here are some common reasons your engine is overheating and some tips on how to detect it early on.

Troublesome Thermostat

The thermostat in your car is, in some ways, like your thermostat at home. At home, your thermostat measures the temperature and uses it to decide whether the AC should run.

Your car’s thermostat, on the other hand, is both a temperature measuring device and a valve that controls the flow of coolant. It measures the temperature and uses it to decide whether the valve should open or stay closed. When the engine starts to overheat, the valve opens and sends coolant into the engine to cool it down.

But if the thermostat is broken, it may not register that the engine is overheating and fail to open the valve. This means coolant can’t pass through and cool the engine down, which results in the engine getting hotter and hotter until it eventually fails.

Not Enough Coolant

Another common reason your engine is overheating is a lack of coolant. Coolant, as the name suggests, plays a huge role in keeping your engine cool. It’s a heat transfer fluid that removes heat from the engine to keep it from overheating. But if there isn’t enough coolant in the coolant reservoir, the chances of your engine overheating skyrocket.

Several factors can cause a lack of coolant. This includes blocked coolant passageways, coolant leaks, incorrectly diluted coolant, and even the wrong type of coolant. If you notice a green, orange, pink, or blue puddle under your car, bring it into a mechanic to have it inspected for leaks. Think you might have another problem with the coolant? Your local mechanic can help with that, too.

Rowdy Radiator

The radiator is an important part of the engine’s cooling system. Once the coolant has carried heat away from the engine block, it moves to the radiator, where it passes through thin metal fins that transfer the heat outside your car. Sometimes, the radiator also includes a small fan that blows on the coolant to reduce its temperature.

If the radiator is broken, it can result in the coolant not cooling down enough. This, in turn, can lead to overheating. Think the radiator is your culprit? Examine the radiator fan for broken blades or an unstable connection. Both problems can prevent the radiator from doing its job.

How Do I Prevent Overheating?

Regular maintenance can help you detect and fix potential problems with the cooling system. But sometimes, the engine overheats without warning. Installing a pyrometer gauge, which allows you to closely monitor the engine’s temperature, can make it easier to identify early signs of overheating on the road.

Best Temperature for Bodily Function During a Workout

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Rarely remaining static for too long, the body is a fantastic system that can regulate itself. Having the ability to maintain itself through different processes allows for this self-regulation. Through a process of elimination and statistical study, we can determine without question the best temperature for bodily function during a workout.

Regulating the Body

The body’s natural mechanism of regulation is more formally known as thermoregulation. A perfect example of this is warming up for exercise. Whenever you warm up, the blood from your core rushes into your musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular system all at once. This primes the body for activity and, in turn, slightly raises the temperature of the body, activating it for whatever it needs to get done.

The Ideal Temperature

Certain things will happen whenever the body is under stress. If the body is too hot, it will cool itself, and whenever it’s too cold, it will warm itself. The body prefers to be in a state of comfort, so in order to achieve this, it works to keep itself within a certain temperature range. Studies show that this range is somewhere between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 37 degrees Celsius.

Dressing in Layers

It’s important that you pay careful attention to the weather forecast and terrain for your outdoor activities. Wearing the proper clothing keeps the body well-regulated and comfortable. In recreation such as skiing or snowboarding, for example, dressing in layers to better help the body regulate its temperature might be ideal. You’ll need fewer layers in warmer weather, so for hiking in summer temps, you might only want shorts and a tank top or T-shirt.

The next time you’re shivering in the cold as your body works to warm itself or sweating uncontrollably after a nice workout, you’ll now recognize thermoregulation in action. It’s important to know what your body is doing so that you can act accordingly to the elements. Therefore, everyone should know the best temperature for bodily function during a workout or during rest periods.

What First-Time Parents Need to Know

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Being a parent for the first time is an exhilarating, joyful, complicated, and often messy experience. You may feel a little lost and confused, but holding and nurturing your child makes it all worth it. As you watch your newborn grow and interact with the world around them, there are a few things to prepare for as a new parent. Here’s what first-time parents need to know; be the best dad you can be with these tips.

Bringing Home Baby

The first few weeks are chaotic. You’re on the baby’s schedule now; you sleep when they sleep. If the little one needs a bottle or a diaper change, they will let you know—and loudly. If there were complications at birth, like breech positioning or hip dysplasia, your baby may need extra care. Stay in contact with those who delivered the baby, whether that’s the hospital obstetrician or the doula or midwife who assisted at a home birth. Their specialized knowledge will lend you support during those first weeks and months.

Keeping Them Clean

For the first month, give your baby sponge baths in the sink two or three times a week (everyday baths can dry out their delicate skin). Use gentle soap specially formulated for baby skin and hair. Continue with sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off and the navel completely heals. If you had your little one circumcised, make sure it has completely healed as well before transitioning to tub baths.

Bonding and Nurturing

Your baby needs lots of love and affection; babies who don’t receive adequate cuddles in their first two years of life can develop attachment issues later on. Take care to support their head and neck when you hold them, and always wash your hands first. Many parents find skin-to-skin contact with their baby particularly powerful in bonding. And make sure to talk and sing to them often! Babies love gentle, soothing sounds. Talking to your baby also aids in their development—get them used to hearing words.

Parenthood is a monumental undertaking, and doing it for the first time comes with a learning curve. You’ll need extra support from your community and your little one’s doctor; don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Remember: your baby is also new to all of this, so you’re having these experiences together. These reminders are just a taste of what first-time parents need to know, but keep these basics in mind as you bond with your little one.

How Cars Can Connect You With Your Kids

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If you’re looking for a way to better connect with your kids, consider the many ways your car can bring you together. Along with transportation, cars can be excellent opportunities to teach kids lessons they can carry through life, as well as happy memories they can share with their children in turn. Pull the car out of the garage and get ready to have fun and several wonderful family moments. Here’s a variety of ways how cars can connect you with your kids.

Take Them on Trips

For getting out and having one on one time with your progeny, nothing beats a road trip. Not only does the time on the road allow for great conversations, travelling games, and lots of delicious road food meals together, but it’s also truly an experience you can all share and enjoy. Find a central destination like the Grand Canyon or Washington, DC, and plot a trip, looking for sites and sights of interest to everyone. Work together to prepare the car for the trip, pack, and plan the snack options and entertainment for the ride. When the day comes to hit the road, it will truly feel like a family trip.

Wash the Car

Washing the car is one of the few vehicular activities any age can enjoy. Appoint duties according to age group. Little ones will have a blast wetting down and rinsing the car with the garden hose and can even man a sponge while washing the car’s exterior. Tweens can be trusted to wash the exterior and parts of the interior and can be the official vacuum operators for the entire car-washing operation. Teenagers, of course, can learn the importance of detailing and treating specific parts like tires, car seat covers, floor mats, dashboards, and the like with special solutions and tools for getting that deep-down clean. With proper supervision, you can save on a car wash while having a silly and fun time with the children.

Teach Basic Maintenance

Every generation should learn the basics of car maintenance. Little ones will love a look under the hood, where you can point out the different parts of the engine and their functions. Do it when the engine is turned off and cool in case little fingers accidentally touch a hot part. Your teens might be fascinated by the steps to take during minor jobs like changing the oil, removing and replacing filters, filling up the wipe fluid tank, and more. If you have the time, explain the importance of tires and keeping them inflated and show how to change one.

Learning To Drive

Restrict this one to teenagers with driver’s permits! When considering how cars can connect you with your kids, don’t forget this timeless interaction between parent and child. Taking your child on periodic test drives to sharpen their skills, remind them about road safety, and make them feel more confident in their abilities is a rite of passage for you both. Just remember to keep your cool!

The Best Graduation Presents for the Teen in Your Life

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This year’s graduates deserve a special salute. These students spent most of the year learning remotely, and they had to miss out on special events. For this reason, they deserve a little special something after everything they’ve been through. Here are some of the best graduation presents for the teen in your life that they’ll surely adore.

Drones

Technology lovers should look into getting the top racing drone for their graduates. Drone racing is becoming more and more popular. Teens will have a blast getting out this summer and perfecting their skills. So, think about getting them a drone so you can watch them in their first competition.

Class Ring

Perhaps the teen you know isn’t into technology. There’s no need to worry! You can purchase them a class ring instead. Class rings are so sentimental and something they can look back on with fond memories. Who knows, one day, the item may even become a family heirloom.

TV and Video Game System

Sure, parents might not want their kids to be couch potatoes all summer. However, the point of a gift is to give someone something they wouldn’t normally get themselves. That’s why a TV and video game system is perfect for teens. If they’re headed to college, they can take the mechanisms with them and be the coolest kid in the dorm.

Room Décor

Teenagers don’t want to feel like children. As a result, you could get them something that indicates their transition into adulthood—bedroom décor. Think about buying them a grown-up comforter and art for their walls so they can get rid of their childhood things.

These are only a few of the best graduation presents for the teen in your life. Remember, this year’s seniors deserve something special after the year they’ve had. So, don’t be afraid to splurge a little and show them how proud you are of them for making it through these difficult circumstances.