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Exotic Pets Found in Classifieds

July 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

No one sings “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?” anymore. Nowadays, kids are more likely to sing “How Much Is That Two-Toed Sloth?”

Forget Fido and Spot: the latest pet craze is exotic pets, and vendors are stocking the ebayclassifieds with everything from hedgehogs to sugar gliders. Here are some of the craziest, cutest or just plain weirdest exotic animals found in the classifieds.

1). Hedgehog

Characteristics: Having a pet hedgehog is perhaps best compared to having a hamster. It’s cute, small, quiet and not particularly interested in social interaction with humans. Since they aren’t rodents, hedgehogs don’t have the same chewing, destructive drive that rats or mice do.
Average Life Span: Three to four years.
Price Listed: $180.
Good For: People in apartments or people with allergies (Hedgehogs don’t have dander like furry pets, such as cats and dogs).
Not Good For: Owners who want lots of pet/owner interaction.

2). Sugar Gliders


Characteristics: These tiny marsupials live in social “family units” in the wild, so they thrive on social interaction. A sugar glider without social interaction can become depressed or die, so it’s essential to get a pair or a group. Sugar gliders require plenty of mental stimulation, so cages should be outfitted with plenty of toys and climbing equipment. Sugar gliders bond closely with their owners and will gladly ride around in hats or shirt pockets.
Average Life Span: 12 to 14 years.
Price Listed: $225 for a pair.
Good For: Owners craving small, cute pets who are great long-term companions.
Not Good For: Owners looking for a low-cost and low-maintenance pet or owners not willing to make a significant cost and time commitment.

3). Prairie Dog

Characteristics: Prairie dogs are actually quite affectionate pets as long as they’ve been handled by humans since they were young. Make sure your vendor has been properly handling and socializing them since they were babies.
Though the 2003 prairie dog national ban was lifted in 2008, prairie dog ownership is still illegal in many states, so check your individual state laws before purchasing. Prairie dogs need plenty of room to play and social interaction with their bonded owners or they’ll become sullen or prone to behavioral issues.
Average Life Span: Eight to 12 years.
Price Listed: $125.
Good For: Prairie dog fans willing to take the time to bond with their unique pet.
Not Good For: Owners looking for a low-maintenance pet or owners with children, as a child’s sudden movements or excitable nature can make a prairie dog overly anxious or prone to biting.

4). Kinkajous

Characteristics: By and large, kinkajous are still wild animals. These tree dwellers must be handled when young in order to make them tame, but they will never show traditional domestic behavior the way cats or dogs do. Kinkajous need plenty of room to climb and mental stimulation, so be sure to let them climb outside often.
Average Life Span: 20 to 25 years.
Price Listed: $2500.
Good For: Owners with lots of land and lots of patience.
Not Good For: City dwellers, low-maintenance owners.

5). Flying Squirrels

Characteristics: If you get a flying squirrel at a young age and invest the requisite bonding time, your flying squirrel will bond to you in much the same way as a sugar glider would. They are nocturnal, but don’t mind napping during the day in an owner’s pocket or pouch.
Average Life Span: 10 to 12 years.
Price Listed: $150.
Good For: Owners looking for reasonably-priced, moderate exotic pets. Flying squirrels can be kept in small apartments as long as they have a tall cage and opportunities for outdoor stimulation.
Not Good For: Owners with little time for initial bonding or exercise.

6). Fennec Fox

Characteristics: This native desert fox is mostly nocturnal. Unlike other breeds of foxes, the fennec fox doesn’t give off a strong odor. A fennec is a very social animal that, if given proper training and socialization, can make a great companion.
Average Life Span: 12 to 16 years.
Price Listed: $1500.
Good For: Fox-loving fans living in warmer climates.
Not Good For: Cold-weather climates or owners who want a cat or a dog–the fennec fox is a wild animal and will behave accordingly.

7). Wolfdog

Characteristics: Quite simply, the wolfdog is a wolf-dog hybrid. Always inquire about how much wolf your wolfdog has in his genealogy. The more wolf in the bloodlines, the more aggressive, will and overall wolf-like your pup will be.

If this is your first wolfdog, strongly consider getting one with more dog than wolf. Wolfdogs love having room to roam and plenty of mental stimulation.

Average Life Span: 12 to 14 years.
Price Listed: Prices vary widely; anywhere from $600 to $2000.
Good For: Owners with large spaces of land and plenty of time for training.
Not Good For: Owners looking for a dog like a Labrador Retriever or Basset Hound.

A WORD OF CAUTION…

As with any pet, be sure to do plenty of research before you commit to getting an exotic pet of any variety. Do some soul-searching and make sure you’re definitely the right owner for your exotic pet species.
Research your state’s exotic pet laws to make sure your dream pet isn’t illegal where you live. Consider your future plans, too: could you see yourself moving in the future? After all, it’s much harder to find homes for exotic pets than domestic ones. Exotic pets aren’t for most owners–just make sure you’re making the right decision before you adopt one.

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Helping Your Child to Have a Good Relationship with Food

July 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
vegetables

Image via Wikipedia

As a parent, it’s your responsibility to make sure that your kids get the proper nutrition. This puts a lot of stress on parents as they try to get their wee ones to eat their fruits and especially their vegetables. Unfortunately, this pressure has led to parents using threats and punishments in order to get their children to eat healthy. But at what cost?

When children are forced to eat foods that they don’t want to eat, it leads to children seeing the food as an obligation; they don’t eat it because it’s yummy, but because it’s a responsibility. There are ways to help your children to have a good relationship with food and eat a balanced diet naturally. Here are some tips:

Let your children see the vegetables, but don’t force them to eat it. Basically this means you should put the vegetables on their plates and let them choose whether they eat it. Be sure to let them see you eating vegetables as well. They may not eat the vegetables right away, but they will eat them eventually. More importantly, they will never see eating vegetables as a punishment.

Never use food as a reward or punishment. This includes desserts. Many parents use desserts as a reward for eating vegetables, but this can lead to a poor relationship with food where you see food as something you have to eat or something you only get to eat as a reward. Many overindulge on the sweets when they’re older or on special holidays because of this mentality.

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Facts & Stats On What Dads Get For Father’s Day

June 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Sometimes dads have to get creative with asking what they want for Father’s day. Often times they have interests that their kids may not even know about. The infographic below shows some interesting statistics and information regarding Father’s day gifts and shopping each year. You may want to pass this off onto your kids and let them know exactly what kind of dad you are. Let me know what you think.

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Birthday Parties: Making the Best of your Child’s Amazing Day

May 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Shrieks and sobs, wails and worry: the afternoon is met with the saddest of parties. A birthday celebration — which was hastily cobbled together, offered no consideration — is a disaster. The guests are listless; the presents don’t please; and your child…is crying, wondering how his special moment shattered so spectacularly.You’re wondering that yourself.

Birthday parties are not simplicities. They can fail easily — and quickly — when improperly planned. It’s imperative therefore to offer strategy to the hours and gain the greatest rewards

birthday cake

Image via Flickr

possible:

The Guest List

There is one rule to govern birthday events: they are defined by the ones who enjoy them. Success is earned by the arrival of guests; and these individuals must therefore be chosen carefully. You must be certain to invite your child’s closest friends to the party, shuffling schedules and activities to suit their demands. While this may seem to be too much of an effort, it is instead essential. The day will begin with low expectations if it’s revealed that too few guests can come. Plan carefully and try to compromise your desires for those of others.

Special Themes

Birthday celebrations are not shaped to mere cakes and cookies, the punch bowl splashes. They’re instead complicated affairs, demanding time, effort and consideration. A theme therefore is recommended to narrow the focus of a party and help to provide direction, such as games, decorations, menus, prizes and more. Choose a style that appeals to your child and then drench the day in it. Utilize clever accessories (like a Sesame Street centerpiece) to complete the design. This will spare you from weak activities and discontent among guests.

Professional Entertainment

The hours are soaked in sugar, the burst of calories and ice cream-fueled impulses. Little bodies quickly begin to roam, undone by their own excitement, and this can cause endless worries for an already harried chaperon. It’s vital therefore to provide your child and his guests with the appropriate entertainment — ensuring that all attentions are captured and no problems occur. Choose from magicians, clowns, comedians and more. These individuals will ensure that all youths are enraptured rather than restless (which could cause complaints and ruin the afternoon).

Games and Activities

Birthdays are centered around a singular moment: the opening of the gifts. This is what all children wait for; this is what all anticipation is offered to. There are countless seconds between the arrival of the guests and the reveal of the presents, however, and these must be filled accordingly (if only to ensure a party doesn’t lull). You must have games and activities prepared. Note the theme of an event and create amusements that complement it. You must be certain that all children can participate. Learn of any physical conditions — such as allergies — early to avoid any concerns.These suggestions can offer relief but you must first ask yourself a simple question: are you willing to earn it?

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The Most Dangerous Babysitter: Kids and Television

April 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Methods of raising children have been profoundly transformed over the last century.  Ways of caring for, disciplining, entertaining, and encouraging children have all evolved, and in some ways not for the best.  The circulation of widespread media, availability of unhealthy foods, and exposure to social disorder has made parenting more difficult than ever. Although there are a myriad of circumstances involved in raising a child effectively, the one that is constantly cited as the most influential is television.
Reports in the last decade have focused more and more on television as a source of problems in the upbringing of children—particularly toddlers.  Studies report that if children under the age of two watch television weekly, even if just briefly, it alters the way that their mind works.  Television is so rapid and interactive that the brain tends to diminish function while the T.V. is on.  For babies this is particularly dangerous, because it teaches their developing mind to cease functioning and can therefore disturb the healthy growth of cerebral response and basic thinking.
Also, according to   http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_child.html, children that witness aggression via television are more likely to be fearful of the outside world or violent themselves.  Kids constantly watching more than four hours of television a day are far more likely to be overweight.  There is also the clearly negative consequence of behaviors witnessed on television—including racism and sexism—becoming subconsciously ingrained in a child’s mind.  Programs exist that encourage beneficial and appropriate behaviors in children, but like everything else, they should be used in moderation, constantly monitored, and not exist as the sole influence in a child’s upbringing.

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Reasons to Make Improvements to Your Budget

April 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When people have difficulty with their finances, making some needed improvements in this area can pose a challenge. Many parents have had to cut back on recreational activities for the family in order to save money. Some have sought the help of many parenting resources available to help with items like food, clothing, and toys in times where they may find themselves strapped for cash. Whatever method you choose to help improve the family budget, taking the initiative for improvement is a great start. One tool some have found helpful in improving their live financially is refinancing.

There are many reasons why you may want to opt for a car refinance loan. Maybe you purchased a car with a high interest rate when you were younger and got trapped into a contract, or maybe you bought the car when you had bad credit with the help of a co-signer and ended up with a high interest rate. You may have lost your job and cannot afford the current payment.

Receiving a car refinance loan can help improve your budget in a multitude of areas, such as lowering your monthly car payments, giving you the ability to pay on other bills, and putting extra cash in your pocket when you consolidate your bills. You will also be able to lower your interest rate on your car loan so that you will be able to afford the payments. Getting car refinance loans is also an option for those whose credit is less than perfect. You can find out if you will get approval within minutes with refinance terms that are between 12-72 months.

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Character Costumes for Your Children

March 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

For many different children, dressing up is an exciting and fun thing to do – something that is not just for Halloween, certainly. This is something that many ages of children enjoy, where they get to look like some of their favorite characters. Here are some ideas for kids’ costumes that your children may enjoy.

When it comes to boys costumes you have many possibilities. In many cases you need only to look for your child’s favorite movies for costume ideas, such as in regards to Harry Potter, Iron Man, Toy Story and the various Star Wars (animated series as well, don’t forget) costumes available. Other classic options, such as Thomas the Tank Engine, the Batsuit, and traditional options like a vampire are always great choices for boys.

For girls there are also plenty of choices. Disney princesses continue to be a favorite, with Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Belle, Cinderella, and Ariel among the mix. Hannah Montana, Strawberry Shortcake, Tinkerbell, and many others are popular options for girls when it comes to costumes.

Purchasing kids costumes online is a very easy way to get the best costumes for your children. You can view a much wider variety online than normally possible at traditional stores. Be sure to view the sizing guidelines found online, which can help you choose the right size for your child – which is normally quite simple with costumes.

Purchasing costumes online is also cost effective. You can compare prices easily and get good deals on shipping and sales, which is made easy with the wide selection that is offered online as well.

Whether your child wants to be Shrek or a Storm Trooper from Star Wars, buying costumes for them to enjoy Halloween – or just a fun “dress up” day – is made easy online. You can view several choices and shop comfortably at home.

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Telling Your Kids You’re Tying the Knot

February 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Getting married again is a great thing. Not everybody finds someone to love a second time (or even a first time), but sometimes life is just not as simple as “riding off into the sunset.” This is no movie, and the realities of life can be very both wonderful and difficult. This is especially true if you and your former spouse had children together. You are going to find it very challenging to help them make the transition if you get remarried, especially if your children live with you. So you might as well tell them about it, and let them go through their inevitable feelings. They are going to resent you for it, and they will double that resentment toward your new spouse, at least for a time. Fortunately, there are ways to soften the blow.

For one thing, involve your children in the process as much as is reasonably possible. If your kids like to shop, invite them to help you browse diamond engagement rings for your new sweetheart. While you might encounter some passive aggressive behavior, you can make it into something of a game. After all, if you can get your children invested in this new person who is coming into their lives, it might make it easier for them to accept your new spouse and his or her role in your children’s lives.

For another thing, you need to be very honest with your children. Explain to them that your plans to get married don’t change how you feel about them and they’re still just as important to you as they have always been. They’ll roll their eyes, but if you mean it, they will feel a little bit less defensive. After all, “replacing” your spouse could cause them to think that they might be next. As irrational as that seems, that’s how many kids reason. Also, plan activities to help your children get to know their new stepparent.

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The Need to Save

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Having children might be a fulfilling experience, but the additional of a little bundle of joy does little to help a family’s economic standing. Working mothers understand that every little bit helps. Rather than splurge for a new crib or stroller, using a previously used one can provide a family with the tools necessary to welcome a new baby without causing the family to go belly-up financially.

Keeping a household running requires sacrifice and a reduction in personal consumption for most parents. Even though going to garage sales and reducing spending in some areas allows people to stretch their paychecks, not every item can be purchased secondhand. Finding sales on diapers and using gently used clothes might be ideal for infants, but as children grow up, getting new items for them to help them to fit in with their peers will become necessary. Seeking out deals has become an important aspect of being a parent. This means everything from finding the best sales on clothes and other necessities to finding coupons.

Coupon clipping once meant sitting down with a scissors and the Sunday newspaper. But as news and information has shifted to an online format, so have coupons. There are coupons and discount codes for nearly everything online. Shoppers can purchase non-perishable groceries in bulk from online stores. Shopping for other groceries can be easily done by printing out coupons. Smart shoppers will realize that the discounts are not only for tangible goods. Important services can also be found at a fraction of the cost by using online resources.

Tax season might be one of the most stressful times of the year for families, but thanks to discount deals such as H&R Block coupons, even completing taxes can be finished without the stress or the cost. It is not easy being a parent, but frugal families can use smart shopping and online deals to maintain a healthy standard of living while raising children.

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