Most of us are aware that a new year at school translates to getting a new pair of shoes. Nobody wants to wear an old, worn-out pair of shoes on their first day at school, especially if they have switched schools or cities. New shoes are not only about style and freshness, but also about comfort; and, as a parent, this is your primary concern. Kids spend a large part of their day wearing the same pair of shoes, be it at school, the playground or even when they visit a friend’s home for homework. Following are three of the most comfortable, yet stylish back-to-school shoes for kids.
Galactix by Super Heroic
The perfect back-to-school shoe for your kid, this gender-neutral sneaker is one of the best and most comprehensive packages for children. Not only does it grip the foot and provide exemplary comfort but it also has the right style and pattern. It is a slip-on shoe with a fastener for advanced grip. It comes in a box that plays a heroic theme on being opened and contains a backpack that also morphs into a cape, making it the perfect back-to-school shoe for your kid. You can check their official website to see if they offer any back-to-school sales on their shoe range.
Carter’s Light-Up Sneakers
Light-up sneakers might not be particularly popular among the grown-ups, but they are still a hit among kids. Carter’s Light-Up Sneakers are tailor-made for comfort, with lights adding to their style quotient. They are slip-on shoes and have a hook-and-loop (Velcro) fastener. Along with this, they are also extremely comfortable and affordable. They cost about $14 on the official Carter’s website.
New Balance 574
If budget is not your primary concern, then the 574 range by New Balance should be your final pick. Along with being extremely comfortable and providing a good grip for your kid’s foot, they have a long shelf life and could last for 2-3 years (if maintained well). This shoe is an all-rounder with a slightly old-school look and multi-purpose sole. These shoes provide ample support on the football field as well as on the monkey bars in playgrounds. Your kids could be extremely attracted to a glow-in-the-dark version of these shoes.
It is all about striking a balance when it comes to preparing meals for your children. Most of them want to eat something tasty, especially when it comes to snacks or sides for their lunch box. It can be tough to find something that is yummy enough to keep your children engaged, and at the same time, provides all the essential nutrients that they need. Below are some popular and healthy snacks for school-
Apart from the snacks mentioned above, you can also give your children some frozen fruits, veggies with cheese and dark chocolate cubes, and even fruits with almond butter on the days when you are in a hurry. This way, even on busy days, your children eat healthy and tasty snacks.
A baby is a wonderful addition to any family and it brings on much laughter and so many challenges for the new parents. Starting from taking care of an infant to rearing a feisty little toddler who is forever testing the waters (and your patience), there are a number of things that go into becoming a parent to a wonderful child who blossoms well.
Communication is one of the key traits that all parents need to have. There are many new parents who are mistaken when they think that communication starts only at the toddler phase. In reality, the way you begin to communicate with your infant is what will set the tone for the bond between you and the child when the child starts to grow up. So follow these steps for setting the right tone and forging a good communication pattern with your infant and toddler.
The Needs of an Infant: The infant has many needs which cannot be well articulated. You will have to learn to listen and decipher the cries of this little one because that is all he or she has when it comes to asking for attention. Mostly, an infant cries when it needs feeding, diaper changing, or is colicky which is also gas that most infants go through at a particular time of the day. This can make them cranky.
Communicate to soothe: At this phase, it is important for the parent and the baby to feel comfortable with each other. If you panic and get hassled, the infant will only get more cranky as this is the cue that he or she will get from your mood. Instead, you must seek to soothe. When the baby cries, you may want to lift him or her in your arms and talk in a soft soothing voice with encouraging words, or even sing to the baby. You must also develop a night time routine at this phase so that the child knows that it is time to sleep. A massage, a bath or some singing will generally help lull the child into peaceful slumber.
The Toddler: As your toddler begins to come of age, you will that he or she will try and assert his or her personality in a certain way. This can turn out to be a pretty trying time for most parents, who will find themselves at the receiving end of many tantrums and also, they will find that they are constantly saying no.
Setting Boundaries with Love: Here, communication is all about body language too. You will need to stoop and meet the young one’s eyes to carefully explain why he or she cannot do a certain thing. Also, develop a bond with play where the child gets to lead you, and read plenty of stories at bed time. Also, start doing activities which the child shows interest in. Take the child on various outings and teach him or her many different kinds of words which can build the vocabulary.
At the moment, pursuing studies via online universities can be an incredible option, especially if you are based in a region with limited academic options or have professional or personal responsibilities to take care of. Moreover, as compared to a traditional degree, it is a financially viable alternative. However, since the field of education has become increasingly competitive, it is imperative that you weigh the pros and cons before arriving on a final decision. Your first job is to check the university’s reputation, types of courses offered, the faculty, mode of instruction and last but not the least its accreditation status. It natural that gathering all this data can be a time-consuming task, therefore, to make your work easier, here are some best accredited online universities of 2018 that you can consider applying to.
Harvard University
The Harvard University has an extensive range of academic options for all kinds of students such as podcasts, free courses, non-credit certificate programs and graduate degrees. Harvard is one of the best online accredited universities that use various technologies and platforms to make online education less challenging and more rewarding. One such example that demonstrates their effort is the edX platform which was a collaborative project between Harvard and MIT. Harvard offers two types of online programs, i.e., entirely self-directed courses which have to been completed within a certain timeframe and are only available online. The second type, on the other hand, is delivered in a hybrid format, i.e., a combination of online and on-campus instruction. Students enrolled in credit-based programs at Harvard Online will be given transcripts.
Columbia University
If you are specifically interested in finishing a master’s degree, then Columbia University Online is one place you can rely on. Apart from graduate programs, they offer numerous non-credit certificate programs for people who wish to work in the fields of business, health information technology, and environmental sustainability. These specialized courses can also help in grooming students for advanced-level degrees such as a master’s degree at Columbia University. The courses are either just available online or in a hybrid form with evening classes and fieldwork options during the weekend. Furthermore, students who opt for Columbia’s online classes get access to other academic opportunities such as the Coursera programs which include virtual classes of the partnered universities across the world.
Johns Hopkins University
The John Hopkins University is one of the most celebrated institutions in the country for their research and educational efforts. Currently, they have over 240 degree and certificate courses spread across nine divisions which covers a broad range of online programs. These online options are associated with disciplines such as teaching, engineering, healthcare, business, arts, and science. Course offerings are pretty comprehensive comprising bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate and professional certificate classes. These can be pursued as part-time or full-time programs. Moreover, they are delivered in both formats, online and hybrid. The students studying online at John Hopkins University are provided with online resources such as JHU library materials, academic advisement, a 24/7 help desk, student assistance via phone, e-mail, and Skype.
University of Southern California
At University of Southern California (USC) Online, you can explore numerous graduate-level and certificate programs including popular subjects such as engineering, psychology, and teaching to specially-tailored programs such as Geriatric Dentistry and Geospatial Leadership. Depending on the nature of the course, the mode of its delivery will be decided. For instance, a teaching or social work degree will require field work, so it will be managed in a hybrid format. However, there’s no need to worry as USC will help the students located in distant regions to arrange their research base. The USC, at the moment, also has some programs specially designed for military students and their coursework involves subjects such as military social work and cybersecurity. Moreover, they offer a master’s degree in business for veterans.
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
The IIT currently only focuses on fields such as science, technology, and research. Therefore, their online courses essentially cover specializations concerning business, human sciences, architecture, and applied technology through hybrid or online medium of instruction. Students can choose from bachelor’s or master’s degrees. IIT has developed some of its own online professional development courses which are a combination of lectures and lab work. A considerate number of these courses are suitable for people working in the IT industry.
Apart from the above mentioned best online accredited universities, you can also check schools like Drexel University, Carnegie Mellon University, Lehigh University, Florida Institute of Technology, University of Denver and New York University for great online courses. These best online accredited universities also offer financial aid to their students studying remotely.
Ranging from Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, students have plenty of course options when it comes to online nursing schools. In most cases, these courses require students to complete about 120 credit hours, but it also depends on the course and the degree that you pick. Here are the top options for online nursing schools that you can consider.
A part of clinical research, clinical data management involves creating, collecting, managing, and integrating data from clinical trials. Data management courses or degrees in clinical management enables a person to work as a clinical researcher, clinical data manager, clinical research coordinator, or clinical research associate. These courses can be done online as well as offline. For those that are already employed and want to pursue further education to change careers or move ahead in their jobs, an online data management course would be more feasible.
Online clinical data management courses can be done at the undergraduate and also at the postgraduate level. A person can also do a short-term certification course in this subject. These courses usually fall under the category of health information management or clinical research. Here are 5 popular clinical data management courses that you can do online:
BS in Healthcare Administration: Offered by Kaplan University, Florida, this course covers healthcare administration, operations, and management. This online course is designed for those interested in entry-level administration jobs in the healthcare industry.
BBA in Healthcare Management: This online program is available through the American Intercontinental University. This program covers healthcare finance and healthcare information systems that include data management as well. The program also covers healthcare management and marketing practices along with covering ethical issues.
Master of Science in Health Services Administration: Offered by Strayer University, Virginia, this advanced course gives the necessary skills to work in biotech firms, pharmaceutical companies, government healthcare organizations, and so on. The program extensively covers information technology specialization that revolves around clinical data management concepts.
MBA in Healthcare Administration: This postgraduate clinical data management course is offered by Abilene Christian University, Texas. This program includes courses such as healthcare accountability, innovation, and trends in healthcare, healthcare law and the future of the American health system, and so on.
Data Management for Clinical Research: Conducted by Vanderbilt University, this data management course is available on Coursera. The course covers research data collection strategies, the fundamentals of electronic data capture, and so on. This beginner’s level course does not require any prior knowledge of technology.
Cybersecurity, also known to us as computer security is a field that broadly envelopes tools and systems associated with monitoring, mitigating, and preventing online threats. There is an advanced use of innovative technology in a bid to combat hackers, cyber terrorists, network outages, and other lesser-addressed technical problems. There is a clear shift in the reliance on information technology at home as well as the workplace, which has led to a massive bunch of students opting for online cyber security degrees. There are many national security departments, which have grown to provide great opportunities for young individuals to serve the country as well as find a stable job. Similarly, to meet the growing demand, there are quite a few online cyber security degree programs that the students can take up. Following is a list of some of the best online cyber security degree programs.
Western Governors University
The B.S. in Information Technology-Security by Western Governors University is one of the best online cyber security degrees. This is mainly because the program is based on five areas of study, which include systems and services, networking and security, IT business, data management, and scripting and programming. The university was established back in 1995 by 19 U.S. governors in a bid to redesign an existing traditional high education system. In line with the online degree, the students must demonstrate competencies in passing certificate exams like Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Security certification and the CCNA Routing and Switching certification. To execute the successful completion of the online cyber security degree, the student must have a capstone project and must develop a portfolio. The school stands out with one of the best online cyber security degree programs as it is highly affordable. The tuition for this program is 50% lesser than most of the other online institutions.
Excelsior College
Excelsior College is home to around 39,000 students spread over various undergraduate and postgraduate programs right from healthcare and business administration to criminal justice and cybersecurity. It also provides an opportunity for adult learners, especially the ones that underrepresented in higher education. The B.S. in Cyber Security offered by Excelsior College has three different options – a general cybersecurity track, a cyber operations concentration that requires the students to acquire knowledge to solve cyber incidents, and a healthcare concentration that requires the students to obtain the specialized cybersecurity skills so that they can address the regulatory needs of the industry. In every program, the students will receive training in fields like cyber attacks and defenses, cryptography, risk management, and computer forensics. The students are also exposed to hands-on applications through simulations, exercises, and labs in cybersecurity. The perks of this university include tweaking of online teaching schedules, affordable tuition fees, and input from well-known industry leaders. Furthermore, it qualifies as one of the best online cyber security degrees as it meets the standards set by the National Security Agency.
Liberty University
Students that are planning to attend Liberty University can avail of an amazing education system and a Christian foundation. The catalog held by the university for their degree programs is extensive as it holds around 120 bachelor’s degrees and 97 master’s degrees. A large chunk of these offerings by the university is delivered 100% online. The B.S. in Information Technology–Data Networking and Security Program provides the students with expertise and knowledge that are essential for success in data security. The online cyber security degree includes topics such as cyber security, network security, and web architecture and security. Since the college has a solid Christian foundation, their courses follow a stringent biblical worldview in their teachings. This university has one of the best online cyber security degrees with its availability of hands-on experience through projects that include real-world applications in the courses taught by industry leaders. There is an online academic support set up for distant learners, including an online library, access to study aids, writing resources, and databases. Liberty University also offers low tuition rates along with flexible payment plans, scholarships, and a few other forms of financial aid.
Did human behavior and their complex conscious and subconscious thoughts always fascinate you? Do you wish to study psychology but do not have time because of your busy work schedule?
If yes, then nothing should stop you now from pursuing your degree. With the blessing of the internet, today you can take up as many online classes as you can manage to squeeze into your schedule.
With that said, it is also important to understand that online courses are not as easy as they seem and you need to be determined to complete psychology degrees online.
Here are five essential things you should note before you sign up for psychology degrees online.
To what extent is it online?
It is important to understand that though all psychology degrees online claim to be online, many are not entirely online. Many universities require their students to travel to the campus for at least some minimum hours throughout the course.
So, this might be something you need to keep in mind, especially if you are considering psychology degrees online, which are in a different country or an altogether different continent.
What extra benefits can you avail?
While browsing through different psychology degrees online, make sure to check out the USP’s of the courses. There are many colleges which offer unique features like one to one tutoring for free and an internship placement after you complete the course. Find out more about these offers and opt for the best online course.
How much money will you be shelling out?
One thing that makes psychology degrees online different from the traditional college courses is the fact that you pay credit per hour instead of paying for the entire term. So, it is essential that before enrolling you have a rough estimate of how many credits you will be taking and what would be the total cost of your course.
What specialization does the college give?
Every college has its own list of topics which their psychology degrees online would be consisting of. One of the main factor to consider while enrolling for a course is to find a college which gives you the best subject choices.
Most colleges offer various interesting topics ranging from general psychology, child psychology to something as intriguing to criminal psychology.
Can you grab a scholarship or any financial benefits?
If you are a working student, you can check with your firm for employer reimbursement, where the company helps you pay for your online course. Also, if you have a good academic record, you can opt for a scholarship program. You can also find colleges which offer cheaper credit rates if you take more than one class at a time.
Explore all the options and choose what suits your interest the best. It is important to know what you are signing up for and be prepared.
Traditional and Roth IRAs are the widely preferred investment plans as both these plans offer to allow the income to grow tax free by deferring the taxes. The amount deposited in the IRA accounts are levied with no taxes on the dividends or capital gains made through its contributions.
Merits of Traditional IRA:
Anyone who has an earned income is allowed to contribute with a maximum limit of his annual earned income. An individual is not compelled to any one type of investment and is free to choose from a range of options like stocks, annuities, mutual funds, bonds, etc. The investment grows tax-deferred until retirement at the age of 59.5 which gives an advantage of paying less taxes if the tax bracket is lower ate the time of withdrawal. The contributions can be made right until mid-April of the next financial year to make payments into IRA giving a longer period to add savings to the account.
De-merits of Traditional IRA:
Once the age of 70.5 years is crossed, one is compelled to take the Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) failing which heavy penalties will be charged.
This plan may not be useful to save tax if already covered by another retirement plan at work based on the income slab and tax rates.
A high penalty of 10% will be levied in case an individual chooses early withdrawal before 59.5 years of age.
It restricts the investment towards certain insurance contracts, precious metals, antiques, etc.
Merits of Roth IRA:
It offers many early withdrawal plans like withdrawing up to $10,000 for first time home buyers, for paying study expenses of self or dependents, etc. The contributions into this IRA is made after amount after being taxed at salary/income source. There are no fixed withdrawal deadlines and hence the amount can indefinitely be allowed to grow indefinitely. In case of early withdrawals, the contribution amount can be withdrawn penalty free if the Roth account has been at least five years old and the individual is 59.5 years of age.
Demerits of Roth IRA:
The contributions to this plan are not tax-free as compared to traditional IRAs. As these form a part of gross income, it puts an individual in a higher tax bracket or makes him ineligible for several related tax benefits. The contributions toward these IRAs are limited to certain limits which restricts the amount that can be invested if the income grows beyond the eligible limits. The tax on contributions can become a burden if an individual on a higher tax bracket is trying to convert a portion of his Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA by requiring him to pay large amount towards a one-time tax deduction.
Each IRA has its own advantages and disadvantages. One must be wise to choose the IRA plan based on his financial situation and after consulting a financial expert to talk him through the various conditions considering the individual’s capabilities.
Chromebooks were considered as the only devices that students found usable till a couple of years ago. However, that has changed now, and more and more professionals are using them. Not just this, Chromebooks are also being bought for casual use. This has pushed the demand for Chromebooks by over double year-on-year.
Let us have a look at the best Chromebooks 2021 has to offer:
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
It is one of the best Chromebooks 2021 has with a great set of features and beautiful design. It sports a 3:2 screen that ensures that you have a lot of vertical space for easy multitasking. The backlit keyboard is easy to use and can be worked on quietly. An HDMI port further sets it apart from most Chromebooks, and the 10th-Gen Intel processor ensures no lag even when using multiple tabs. Two shortcomings in the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 are no biometric login and below-average sound quality.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
With a QLED display that is bright and beats almost all of its competitors when it comes to screen, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is a delight to work on. The battery life is improved as compared to the previous generation. The Chromebook comes in an interesting red color, which makes it look attractive. It also has the functionality of a touchscreen, which can be used with the help of a stylus. The only downside is that the processor is not as good as the last model from the same company.
Google Pixel Go
If you’re willing to spend extra to get a better experience, you might want to consider the Google Pixel Go. Just like Pixel smartphones deliver the best Android experience, the Pixel Go provides a great Chrome OS experience. It comes with an i7 processor and has 250 GB storage. The $1399 variant also sports a 4K display, which is uncommon for Chromebooks.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
If you’re looking for an inexpensive Chromebook, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is just the right choice. At a low price of just $249, you get a device with a detachable keyboard and kickstand cover. The Chromebook comes with 4 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, and a MediaTek Helio P60T processor. It is suitable for regular use, especially for students.
HP Chromebook x2
HP Chromebook x2 is suitable for business users owing to its long battery life and detachable design. The display is sharp, and the sound quality is impressive. Although the Core m3 processor is not what you’d expect in such a machine, it works well for regular business tasks. The Chromebook comes with a keyboard as well as a stylus.
There are many free cell phone deals in the country, which differ from one state to another. The cheapest plan would be Freedom Pop’s Basic 500 plan that has no monthly fee structure, comes with a free cell phone. The features you get are 200 free minutes of talk time, 500 free text messages, and 500MB of free data for a month. They even offer a two-week trial period where you can analyze the speed of the Internet services and opt for a premium plan as well after you feel comfortable with the whole plan and pay an extra of around $23 monthly for a 2GB per month data service.
Saving you almost $150, you can get an Alcatel phone for free. This free cell phone deal is one of the best as it has 16 hours of battery life, a 5-inch display, a 5MP primary camera, and a 2MP front-facing camera. There is no contract for this phone as well. The other free cell phone deal would be Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime that is around $200, but on the qualification of receiving this phone for free, it’s a pretty good deal for a 5-inch screen, a 5MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. This phone has a battery life up to 13 hours and with a playback time of 12 hours with data service. All you need to do is sign up for an unlimited plan with MetroPCS because there is no fee that you have to pay up front and you can procure unlimited talk time and text messages as well. The data services depend on the plan you choose. If your focus is on the camera, go for the LG Aristo 2 that has a 13MP primary camera with a built-in LED flash option, 4x digital zooming facility, autofocus, burst options, voice recognition, etc. This phone has an HD-quality video recording option and it can be directly linked to YouTube and other social media like Instagram and Facebook. If you choose the $30 upfront fee plan, you get unlimited talk time, 2GB full data service, even increased Internet speed by paying. The next best free cheap cell phone deal would be the Motorola Moto E4. This phone is for heavy users with unlimited talk time and unlimited messaging. You save around $129 by paying $50 upfront. The carrier for this free cellphone would be MetroPCS, offering unlimited data for $50 per month and you can switch from your old cell phone carrier to MetroPCS just for getting this phone.