Month: December 2024

2024-12-11T07:43:00

(BPT) – Winter weather brings with it numerous activities that inspire curiosity in adults and children alike. In fact, many snow day activities can even help with child development. As snowflakes begin to fall in several states across the country, parents can use this time as an opportunity to ignite their child’s curious mind and engage their imaginations.

“The winter season is a time when we see children’s curiosity soar, especially when snow is involved,” said Joy Turner, vice president of education at Kiddie Academy^® Educational Child Care. “Snow days are an excellent opportunity for children to engage in play that isn’t always available to them. Not only can parents encourage their child to experience and appreciate nature, but they can also take time to teach them about snowflakes, the different seasons, how snow is formed and more.”

Kiddie Academy encourages parents to make the most of their child’s next snow day. Here are a few activities to consider:

1. Take a nature walk. Observe and discuss the quiet that descends over newly fallen snow, look for animal tracks and try to identify what animal left them, or count the number of icicles hanging from roofs. Let your child’s curiosity guide your outdoor exploration.

2. Create winter bird feeders. Cover pinecones in nut or seed butter and roll them in birdseed. String the pinecones on pieces of yarn and then hang them on a tree outside near a window with a good view. Together with your child, watch as birds of many sizes and colors enjoy the treat, taking time to call out observations about each bird that stops by.

3. Make a heartwarming soup. Talk about the origins of the recipe and explain how all the flavors and ingredients mix to create a tasty meal. Let your child ask questions about the cooking process and encourage them to help with tasks like washing veggies, and measuring and combining ingredients.

4. Engage in pretend play. Act out different arctic animals like polar bears, penguins and seals. This is an opportunity to introduce different animals to your child and teach them about various habitats. Wherever this play goes, leave it unstructured and let your child’s imagination lead them.

5. Invent a snowflake matching game. Together with your child, clip symmetrical snowflakes out of paper and cut them in half. Explore how every snowflake is different, just like each person. Depending on the age and ability of your child, help them cut shapes out of paper that’s been folded into a triangle. When you unfold it, the snowflake will have a unique, symmetrical design. Cut each snowflake in half and then work with your child to match the snowflake pieces.

Snow days are an excellent way to encourage your child’s curiosity and make lasting memories. Next time you see snow in the weather forecast, take it as an opportunity to get creative with your little one.

2024-12-11T09:49:00

(BPT) – The most wonderful time of the year is here, and with it comes the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Between juggling year-end deadlines and festive celebrations, many families are managing to-do lists as long as Santa’s. And if you’re in the habit of last-minute shopping, it’s easy to feel like you’re on the naughty list as you dash through the aisles.

If you’re looking for an easy, affordable way to put a bow on your shopping list, Walmart can take the hassle out of the holiday hustle. From simplifying stocking stuffers with this one-click stocking bundle to launching a new GenAI tool that delivers a highly personalized holiday shopping experience, Walmart can help you find the perfect gift — even for the hardest-to-shop-for person. Check out the gift inspiration below to wrap up the season stress-free and full of smiles.

Unwrap the fun with Walmart’s Top Toys List

If you’re looking for an easy way to shop for the kids in your life, look no further than Walmart’s annual Top Toy List. This year’s list features 66 of the season’s top trending toys, featuring fan favorites from beloved brands and franchises like Disney, LEGO, Hot Wheels and Barbie. This year’s list includes must-have Walmart exclusives like the Star Wars Force N Telling Vader Child Action Figure, Little Tikes Creative Chefs Kits, LEGO Speed Champions Aston Martin Set and more.

The best part? In the spirit of Every Day Low Prices, Walmart is making it easy to shop the season’s hottest toys at unbeatable prices, with 25 of the toys on this year’s list available for under $25.

Gifts wired for success

When you’re down to the wire, tech gifts can be easily plugged into any holiday shopping list. Whether you’re shopping for a gadget lover or gaming enthusiast, Walmart’s private brand onn. offers a variety of different affordable essentials. The onn. Google TV Full HD Streaming Device brings your favorite movies, shows and streaming services right to your living room screen, while the onn. 11″ Tablet Pro offers powerful performance on the go. Gamers will love this vibrant onn. Gaming Keyboard and onn. Gaming Mouse, designed to elevate any gaming setup.

Show-stopping holiday looks

Looking to add a little glam to your holiday shopping list? Walmart has a variety of stylish gifts that won’t break the bank. From rhinestone ballet flats to metallic cargo pants from No Boundaries — all for under $25 — you’ll find fabulous fits for the fashionista on your list. You can also never go wrong with the timeless collections from Free Assembly and Scoop. Walmart also has trending beauty items like the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and festive Grinch Eyeshadow palette for less than $20. Plus, don’t miss the luxury-inspired beauty picks from Pretty Smart for under $20.

If you’re dashing for last-minute deals, Walmart has you covered all season long with flexible and convenient shipping, delivery and pickup options to help you sleigh your shopping list.

• Order by 12:30 p.m. local time on December 23 for delivery on December 25
  • This year, customers now have two more days to shop for gifts for delivery with extended cutoffs for next day and two-day shipping.
• Express Delivery is available until 6 p.m. local time on December 24
  • Walmart’s Express Delivery brings orders to doorsteps in as soon as 30 minutes.
  • And don’t forget this ultimate holiday lifesaver: if you’re a paid Walmart+ member, you’re eligible for one free Express Delivery through December 31.
• Order by 12 p.m. (noon) local time on December 24 for in-store same-day pickup and delivery
  • For last-minute gifts and grocery runs, customers can swing by more than 4,000 stores for easy in-store or curbside pickup. They can also choose to have items delivered to their homes with expanded delivery timeslots as early as 6 a.m. and as late as midnight.

For more gift inspiration for everyone on your list, visit walmart.com.

2024-12-11T10:35:00

(BPT) – By Mary Hines Droesch, Head of Consumer, Small Business & Wealth Management Banking and Lending Products at Bank of America

As a kid, there’s nothing quite like tearing open holiday gift boxes to find the latest gadgets, games and toys. But there’s another gift, less often discussed, that can benefit your child all the way into adulthood — financial literacy.

Bank of America found that only 47% of college students feel financially prepared for the real world. Why not take the opportunity to start preparing them at a young age by sharing financial lessons with your kids throughout the holiday season? After all, winter festivities present many teachable moments to help them become more financially savvy rather than getting caught up in the temptation to overspend.

Whether it’s budgeting for holiday gifts for loved ones, baking holiday cookies or taking time to give back to a local organization — this season provides plenty of opportunities to help your children develop the skills to manage money with confidence. Here are a few ways you can wrap up the gift of financial literacy for your kids this holiday season:

1. Incorporate financial lessons into holiday festivities. With all of the festive activities on your to-do list, there are many natural opportunities to start money conversations with your children. For example, consider giving your child a set budget to plan a holiday activity for the family — whether it’s decorating gingerbread houses or having a hot chocolate and movie night. By setting a spending limit, you encourage them to think through costs and make decisions, providing valuable experience in budgeting, planning and responsibility.
2. Prepare for cash gifts by opening a bank account. If your child opens an envelope to find a check or cash from relatives, it can be a wonderful opportunity to teach them how to manage those funds. Opening a bank account for your child provides a place for you to deposit the funds, to keep track of balances, and help them avoid the temptation to spend immediately. For example, SafeBalance Banking^® for Family Banking is a convenient, digital bank account that gives parents the tools and resources needed to help their children practice healthy financial habits and learn to responsibly manage their money. Parents also have access to Better Money Habits educational content to help facilitate conversations with their children about financial literacy. A bank account gives your child a sense of ownership and accountability over money, setting the foundation for future financial independence.
3. Give back to the community. Beyond putting gift money into a bank account, you can also encourage your child to allocate a portion of their funds toward a cause they care about. This can be a powerful lesson in budgeting and prioritizing, as well as the value of giving back. Involve your kid in the decision-making process so they’re empowered to be more compassionate and mindful with their finances. Alternatively, volunteering time as a family can also serve as a reminder that the holidays are just as much about giving as receiving!
4. Practice spending with their own debit card. If your child has already built a strong foundation of responsible financial habits — consider giving your child their first debit card so they can purchase gifts for their family members. Bank of America’s SafeBalance Banking^® for Family Banking not only offers an option to provide your child with a debit card, but also allows parents to easily monitor and set spending limits on the child’s card. Helping your child navigate their first debit card provides them with hands-on experience to manage money and practice responsible spending. They will also feel more excited having bought their family members’ presents on their own!

Although the gift of financial literacy might not seem as ‘shiny’ as a new gaming console or this season’s trendiest water bottle, finding teachable money moments with your kids this holiday season is a worthwhile investment in their future success and independence.

2024-12-11T11:01:00

(BPT) – As the holidays approach, gift giving can be a thoughtful way to spread the holiday spirit and let a loved one know you are thinking of them. While there are many unique gift ideas, there is one type of gift giving that is often overlooked — the gift of learning.

Winter break is a great time for high school students to think about the future of their academic career and what they can do to get ahead of the curve. With a wide range of flexible options available to students today, the opportunities to support learners are endless. If you know a student that would benefit from the gift of knowledge, here are some unique ideas for this holiday season.

1. Help them excel in a language

High school students tend to spend a lot of time on their phones. Why not buy them an app that will help them learn a new language? You can choose from several language learning apps that let students learn at their own pace and reward them for their progress. Many of these apps offer various ways to learn such as structured lessons, fun games and immersive language videos.

2. Introduce them to Sophia courses

If your learner is interested in a self-paced option, consider purchasing them a subscription to Sophia to grant them access to 60+ courses that are designed to transfer to 70+ partner colleges. With Sophia, high school students can knock out college-level courses in a 100% online and flexible environment that allows them to jumpstart their postsecondary education.

3. Pay for a workshop in your student’s field of interest

Workshops can help students to learn about a specific field of interest before committing to a course/program. Workshops are typically short-term classes aimed at teaching practical skills and introducing attendees to new concepts that allow them to learn something new without taking up too much of their time.

4. Help pay for their AP exams

Designed to offer high school students the opportunity to earn college credits in a classroom setting, AP courses are a great option for enhancing a student’s learning. If your learner is planning to enroll in these courses, consider pitching in on the cost of their exams to ensure that they’re set to succeed.

5. Buy them a magazine/book service subscription

Is your learner interested in learning about a wide range of subjects? If so, gifting them a book/magazine subscription service may be the right gift this holiday season. In doing so, you’ll allow your learner to have access to a wide range of topics that expand their knowledge.

The holiday season is a time for giving, and gifting knowledge can play a key role in empowering students to learn new skills. With the options outlined above, you can help a learner in your life achieve their academic goals and get a head start on their education as we enter the new year.

Interested in giving the gift of knowledge this holiday season? Explore options with Sophia.

2024-12-10T09:01:00

(BPT) – Chilly temperatures and winter weather aren’t the only burden that comes with this time of year — it’s also the peak of cold and flu season. Cold and flu germs can lurk on hundreds of common surfaces we encounter daily, and according to the CDC, the flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for up to 48 hours after being deposited on a surface.

“Respiratory illnesses like common colds and the flu can stop families in their tracks, leading to sick days and missed school or work,” said Dr. Mona Amin, Board Certified Pediatrician, IBCLC and Clorox spokesperson. “A holistic germ prevention strategy is one of the most effective ways to help stop the spread of illness-causing germs.”

Here are a few simple steps:

Disinfect high-touch and high-traffic surfaces

You likely come into contact with certain high-touch and high-traffic areas in your home multiple times daily that can harbor germs. Think of countertops, doorknobs, light switches and toilet handles, for example. Disinfect these areas regularly with a disinfectant like Clorox^® Disinfecting Wipes to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses when used as directed on hard, non-porous surfaces. With any disinfecting product, make sure you follow the product label instructions to ensure you’re using it correctly and effectively.

Establish a “drop zone”

Along with high-touch surfaces, germs can be brought home from work and school on items like lunchboxes, reusable water bottles and work bags traveling back and forth. To help mitigate bringing germs home, establish a “drop zone” or a designated place to leave shoes, backpacks and other outside items so that germs don’t get tracked through the house.

Practice good hand hygiene

Washing your hands is a simple and effective way to help stay healthy. Make sure to wash your hands often, especially when you are likely to get and spread germs after being in a public place, before or after preparing or eating food, going to the bathroom or coughing and sneezing into your hands. To make sure you’re washing your hands thoroughly, lather your hands including your fingers and under your nails with soap and scrub with warm water for at least 20 seconds — or the amount of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

Take care of your holistic health

Maintaining a balanced diet, staying hydrated and exercising regularly all contribute to your overall immune system. Prioritizing sleep is also an important part of maintaining your immune system, especially when you feel under the weather, because it helps the immune system to repair and rest.

Reset after someone in your household is sick

If you or someone in your household is sick, stay home from work or school to help reduce the chance of others getting sick and prioritize rest and fluids to recuperate. “When someone in your household gets sick, it can feel inevitable that your home will get caught in a ‘sick cycle’ or a seemingly never-ending loop of getting one another sick,” Dr. Amin said. “As a parent with a sick kid, try your best to get a good night’s sleep as much as you’re able, wash your hands after providing care and disinfect communal surfaces that can harbor germs.”

Once your household has recovered, reset your home. Disinfect hot spots in shared spaces and in the infected individual’s room such as doorknobs, light switches and faucet handles. Wash dirty clothing and linens, and to sanitize — or reduce bacteria in laundry — you can add bleach to your wash load of bleach-safe clothing, towels and linens. You can also sanitize dishes after washing them with a bleach and water solution.

Follow CDC guidance

Lastly, the CDC provides up-to-date guidance on vaccines like the flu shot, prevention tactics and different virus trends in your area. Check the CDC’s website to stay up to date on the latest information and guidance.

Maintaining a holistic strategy can help you and your household navigate cold and flu season with ease. To find more tips and product recommendations like these, visit Clorox.com.

2024-12-10T10:05:00

(BPT) – In 1987, President Ronald Reagan boldly stood before one of the iconic symbols of the Cold War and, in words that shape his legacy, demanded from the Soviet leader, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

Two years later the Berlin Wall came down. Then, in 1991, the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Lasting nearly a half-century, the war profoundly changed and, perhaps, saved the world.

During that time, the United States and Russia engaged in a global contest over different ways of life; threatened and deterred each other with vast arsenals of nuclear weapons; tested one another’s resolve in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis; raced to become the first country to put a human in space; and sought allies and influence throughout the world.

A key component of the U.S. military strategy during the Cold War was the Blytheville Air Force Base in northeastern Arkansas. It closed in 1992, but throughout the post-World War II conflict, the base — and especially its alert center — formed a vital part of the U.S. Strategic Air Command, which controlled most of the U.S. nuclear weapons and the aircraft and missiles that delivered those weapons.

Today, this former Arkansas Air Force base is being transformed into the home of the National Cold War Center (NCWC), a museum and historic site dedicated to honoring Cold War veterans, preserving history, and advancing understanding and debate about the world’s most protracted and expensive war and its legacies for today.

To elevate its mission on a national and international level, the NCWC has partnered with the distinguished Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Wilson Center) in Washington, D.C. Chartered by Congress as a public-private partnership and affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the Wilson Center is a premier research institute on Cold War history and its vast network of relationships and resources in the international policy research community will support and strengthen the NCWC’s goal to become America’s official museum of the Cold War.

The partnership is poised to enhance the NCWC’s unique mission “to comprehensively tell the story of the Cold War, informed by the experiences of those who fought, lived, and survived the conflict that has had such profound consequences for today’s world.”

Dr. Christian Ostermann, an award-winning historian and the longtime director of History and Public Policy at the Wilson Center, will direct the historic collaboration. A world-renowned scholar of the Cold War, he brings decades of experience and a strong vision for the future National Museum of the Cold War. Working with Blytheville community leaders, the NCWC’s National Advisory Board, and federal, state, and private-sector partners, Ostermann aims to help the NCWC turn its historic Ready Alert Facility into a state-of-the-art educational site that draws visitors from across the globe to learn about the Cold War.

“Understanding the history of the Cold War is critical to making sense of our world today,” Dr. Ostermann said. “The ideological and geopolitical rivalry between capitalism and communism defined global politics for nearly half a century, leading to a nuclear arms race, regional and proxy wars, as well as cultural, economic, and technological transformations that hold profound lessons still vital in the 21st century.”

Mary Gay Shipley, chairman of the National Cold War Center board of directors, has been at the forefront of its development efforts since they launched in late 2016.

“This partnership with the world-renowned Wilson Center gives our efforts even more credibility. We had a tremendous gain when the 118th U.S. Congress established the National Cold War Center as America’s federal museum of the Cold War, and this is another huge step forward,” Shipley said. “We look forward to welcoming thousands of people to our community annually to learn more about this important time in world history.”

While the grand opening of the NCWC is slated for 2027, the NCWC currently provides visitors the opportunity to experience the history of the Blytheville Air Force Base (BAFB) and its role in the Cold War via its BAFB Exhibition, which opened in November 2020. Once fully open, the Center expects to welcome more than 50,000 visitors in its first year, fueling education and providing a boon to the tourism economy of the Arkansas Delta.

As the NCWC expands its role to the global stage through its new partnership with the Wilson Center, the Center looks to develop an unparalleled experience providing visitors a window into a conflict that echoes throughout modern society and remains deeply relevant to geopolitics in 2024.

To learn more, visit the NCWC website at https://nationalcoldwarcenter.com/.

2024-12-10T07:01:00

(BPT) – If you had told me at 16 years old, a recent high school drop-out, that I would one day have a successful career with a C-suite title, I wouldn’t have believed you. I spent years struggling to figure out my path — completing my GED, serving in the Army and working as a police officer — until tragedy struck. Following the sudden death of my sister, I knew I wanted to do more with my life and needed a career that provided more opportunity, which is when I turned to nursing.

Despite my previous academic difficulties, I passed the nursing school entrance exam and gained admission, using the $10,000 from my sister’s life insurance to earn my associate degree. While becoming a registered nurse might have seemed like an unconventional pivot at the time, given that as recently as 2023 only 12% of registered nurses were male, I absolutely loved it. In my role today as the Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center in North Houston, I hope to serve as a role model to others, especially men, considering becoming nurses.

Careers in nursing are on the rise, and it remains a very stable and desirable profession, especially in states like Texas that are facing severe nursing shortages. Besides the flexibility and competitive pay, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for registered nurses in the U.S. will grow 6% between 2023 and 2033, faster than the average of other professions.

But we don’t just need more nurses; we need a more diverse nursing workforce. Because nurses have more touchpoints with patients than other caregivers, research shows how important it is to have nurses of all ages and identities, as it can narrow disparities and improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. Male nurses play a pivotal role in that diversification, as the gender of a healthcare provider can make a difference. For example, male patients may prefer a male nurse to perform more sensitive procedures or feel more comfortable disclosing personal information to them.

Although the number of male nurses is ten times what it was in the 1970s, the percentage of male nurses and the number of male nursing students have remained stagnant over the past few years. When I speak to high school-age men about nursing, which Nursing.org says is one of the best ways to attract men to the field, I tell them nursing is not just a caring profession. Now, it’s a very technical job, particularly in specialties like emergency medicine and surgery.

There seems to be a common misconception that, as a nurse, your track is limited to the traditional clinical setting. While nurses can start practicing with an associate or bachelor’s degree, there are paths to go on to a career in education, leadership or advanced clinical practice. For example, I started in infectious diseases before I moved to emergency medicine, and now I’m a chief nursing officer at a Level II Trauma Center. It’s up to you to decide how far you want to go, and you can chart your own course. You can benefit from whatever pathway you choose whether you are already a registered nurse looking to move up the professional ladder or considering nursing as a second career.

However, going back to school can understandably seem scary or nearly impossible. I was sure that earning my associate degree would be the end of my formal education, but after managing two emergency departments, I realized creating budgets and hiring staff was difficult to learn on the fly. That led me to Walden University, a top conferrer of nursing master’s degrees in the U.S. The online curriculum made it easy to balance my studies with an already full schedule, and allowed me to gain valuable, real-life experience that immediately translated into my work.

Earning my degrees while juggling a full-time job certainly hasn’t been easy, but I’m so glad I did. I’m living proof that it’s never too late to pursue your passion and successfully make a difference, but I’m certainly not the only person to do so. In fact, the average American will change careers three to seven times over their lifetime. You can achieve great things once you take the first step, and I hope more people, especially men, will take that first step towards a rewarding career in nursing.

John Voight, MSN, RN, NEA-BC is Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, where he leads a staff of 1,200 nurses. Previously, he served as CNO at HCA Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. He is a graduate of Walden University’s College of Nursing.