Teaching the next generation about compassion is the true essence of paying it forward.

Compassion is the feeling of empathy towards other people and beings. At a very young age, children see the world through their own eyes, wants, and desires. Teaching children compassion is a crucial stage in their development. In fact, some studies suggest that their ability to feel empathy towards other people at an early age can affect their interpersonal skills when they reach adulthood.

Research cited by Very Well Mind suggests that learning compassion actually changes your brain. The study, after observing the brain activity of subjects, found out that compassion functions like a skill, which anyone can develop and improve through practice. Which is why it is best to teach children early.

In this article are some of the ways you can teach your child the meaning and essence of compassion.

Through role models

One of the most effective ways children learn is through mimicking. Moreover, it has been noted that most children look for figures to look up to and it is from them that they learn how to behave. Teaching compassion means walking the talk, according to a post by Huffpost. This means you should show your child through actions, what compassion is. If you see an opportunity to demonstrate compassion by helping a complete stranger, you should do so.

Another way is to introduce real life role models who are exemplary in showing compassion and empathy. Tackle how these ‘heroes’ display empathy and how your children can do too.

Volunteer your time

Incorporating teachings of compassion with a great childhood experience will ingrain the value in your children. Try volunteering together in a hospital or a home for the elderly. Spending time caring for others is a great way to teach empathy.. Grace’s article on ‘Have an Attitude of Gratitude’ recommends volunteering at an animal shelter, a local food bank, or even a crisis center. This can spark a new perspective that will stay with them throughout their lives.

Introduce Charity

The value of giving is one of the greatest facets of compassion you can teach your child and The Balance advises parents to encourage children to get involved in a charity. Giving them the opportunity to help pick out canned goods for food drives or setting up a charity box at home can help instill compassion in them. In fact, there are lots of ways to aid charities. Save the Children has a list of fundraising ideas that are perfect for families, and suggest turning Christmas, Easter, and Halloween events into charitable occasions. This adds a sense of fun to the proceedings and is more likely to encourage your children to want to do more. Likewise, encouraging them to donate old toys, clothes, and other belongings fosters the notion that charity is indeed rewarding.

Care for a Pet

Children’s author Elana K. Arnold believes you can also teach children compassion through looking after pets. Respecting and taking care of other’s needs before yours is the pinnacle of compassion. It does not have to be a big animal right away; Arnold’s son got a chicken, as this entails a major decision for the household. The goal is to teach them to take responsibility for others’ needs, unconditional love, and compassion for all living things.

We had the exciting opportunity to check out the new Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur and since it’s summer and we think you need to add this to your bucket list, we wanted to give you some tips before you go!

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a state of the art natural science museum in downtown Decatur. It provides a hands on, immersive experience where people of all ages can explore, interact with, and learn about nature.

1. Perfect Day Trip:

The Museum is a quick drive from Birmingham, only about an hour and twenty minutes from just south of Downtown making it the perfect trip if you’re looking to do something different and still be back home in time for dinner!

2. You’re Going to Need Some Time:

There are 62,000 square feet in the museum, that’s a lot of opportunity for exploring. We highly suggest allowing at least 2 hours to see everything, we were there with no crowds and spent more than that trying to soak up all of the cool things to see, plus they have THE coolest sand table that you will probably need an extra hour for when your kids are ready to circle back around and play more at that exhibit.

3. Delicious Food Options:

Inside the Cook Museum of Natural Science is Alabama’s first Nature’s Table Cafe. Enjoy ‘clean eating’ at its finest with healthy wraps, sandwiches, salads, protein bowls, smoothies, coffee, and more, all made to order with the freshest ingredients. We highly recommend the Baha Turkey Jack sandwich, the peanut butter cup smoothie and the acai bow topped with granola. We got to try lots of menu samples but those stood out as our favorites!

4. Parking:

Free parking is located in 3 lots around the museum. Primary parking adjacent to the museum and 2 secondary lots located on Holly Street and Cherry Street

5. Exit Through the Gift Shop:

As with most museums and attractions, Cook Museum has a great gift shop that has some very affordable and fun things for the kids and adults. Even with a budget of about $5 or $10 your kiddo (or you) can walk away with a cool keepsake.

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is located at:
133 4th Ave NE
Decatur, AL 35601

Ticket Prices:

Adult (Age 15+) $20
Child (Age 2-14) $15
Infant (2 and Under) Free
Senior (age 65+) $17
Military (with Military ID) $17
Groups (15 or more) $17 for Adult, $13 for Child

Grand Opening Weekend Hours: June 7-9

Friday, June 7th 11am – 8pm
Saturday, June 8th 9am – 8pm
Sunday, June 9th 11am- 6pm

Normal Hours of Operation:

Monday – Thursday 9am – 6pm
Friday 9am – 7pm
Saturday 9am – 8pm
Sunday 12pm – 6pm

While drowning is 100% preventable, nearly 300 children under the age of five drown in pools and spas every year. According to Eric Lupton, President of Life Saver Pool Fence, the number one way to prevent drownings is through proactive parent supervision, but most drownings occur when a child was thought to be in the house but slipped outside without anyone knowing. In 77% of accidental drownings, the child had been seen 5-minutes or less before being missed. Here are 10 tips for keeping their kiddos safe.

1. Install high locks. Put locks on doors and windows that are high and out of reach. Some drownings happen because a parent didn’t know their toddler figured out the door knob. Don’t forget sliding glass doors as well.

2. Get door and window alarms  Families should install simple contact alarms for doors and windows that lead to the pool. The ring-type alarm sounds every time a door opens, alerting an adult.

3. No doggy doors. Pet doors should be permanently sealed off. Toddlers are known to mimic their pets and may follow them right out the doggy door and into the pool area, putting both child and pet at risk.

4. Pool safety fence. One of the most reassuring steps is installing a pool fence. Fences should be at least 4′ tall and have a self-closing, self-latching gate. Mesh pool safety fences, like Life Saver Pool Fence, flaunt an effective layer of protection with a transparent and aesthetically pleasing look.

5. Pool alarms. Surface pool alarms will trigger a sound inside the home when the water’s surface is
broken. However, a small child could quietly walk down the pool steps and slip under water without setting off the alarm, so they cannot be used alone.

6. Child immersion alarms. When you first move into a home, consider using a wearable immersion alarm, like the Safety Turtle, which triggers an alarm inside the house if the sensor gets wet. This is especially important when you are unfamiliar with the area.

7. Assign water watchers. When children are in the pool, assign one person as a designated Water Watcher. Active supervision means sitting close to the pool with your full attention on the child/children. Do a regular headcount never leave young kids unattended.

8. Clear out pool area after swimming. Always remove pool floats after swimming, especially toys that attract children to the water. Also, make sure to move any tables or chairs away from the pool fence so they cannot be used to climb over.

9. Swimming lessons. All children should receive swimming lessons. Some organizations even offer training for infants to roll over and float, and to swim to the edge of the pool in case they fall in.

10. CPR. Every adult should be trained in CPR. Check out community centers for classes. This training can make the difference between life, permanent disability, and death.

Alright, Mama’s, we’re about to get real with you for a minute. It’s time for some down and dirty on a topic that I don’t remember ever discussing at any of our playdates… Urine stains on your mattress. If you’re reading BirminghamMommy on a regular basis, I think it’s safe to assume you’ve got kids, and those kids are in some various stage of diapers, pull ups, potty training or if you’re lucky beyond all of that and the only thing left of those days is the damage they probably caused to the mattresses in your home. Kids (and pets) there is nothing more we love in this world. They are irreplaceable members of our families (obvi) but one thing’s for sure, accidents will happen and it can leave you with a mess.

Urine stains leave discolored, yellow circles on the surface of your mattress. To help you remove these unsightly stains we’ve consulted with our friends at Stanley Steemer who have outlined step-by-step instructions below on how to remove those stains:

What you will need:

8 oz hydrogen peroxide
3 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp dish soap
Microfiber cloth
Spray bottle (2)
Vinegar
Water

What you will do:

1. Create a mattress stain remover by combining 8 oz. hydrogen peroxide, 3 tbsp baking soda, 1 tsp dish soap in a spray bottle – this solution will remove urine stains on its own, just wait until the spots are gone.

2. Once the spots are gone and the mattress is dry, to disinfect, add half water and half vinegar to a spray bottle and lightly dampen the mattress to remove surface germs.

3. Wait for the cleaning solution to dry before use.

4. If there is any kind of odor lingering still, add a layer of baking soda and let sit for 10-15 minutes and vacuum away for a natural way to remove odors.

If you would rather leave the task to the professionals,  Stanley Steemer cleans mattresses, very similar to how they clean upholstery, because mattresses absorb odors, dirt and allergens. They use a hot water extraction process, often referred to as steam cleaning, to lift dirt, spots and allergens up and out of your mattress using an EPA Safer Choice cleaning solution that does not leave a residue.

Stanley Steemer provides professional deep cleaning services including carpet, tile & grout, upholstery, hardwood and air ducts. We also provide water restoration services. Stanley Steemer of North Central Alabama services the greater Birmingham Metro Area and surrounding counties, spanning from Cullman to Clanton and from the Mississippi state line to the Georgia state line. Stanley Steemer is the first carpet cleaning service certified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, removing an average of 94% of common household allergens from carpet. 24/7 scheduling available! Use Code: Mom30 for $30 off any service. (Minimum charges apply)