Articles written by Karen Banes

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About me - Karen Banes

British born, but well traveled, I've lived/worked in the USA, Australia, Holland, Spain and Canada. I have a degree in Public Relations and started my writing career producing press releases and publicity material as part of my job.

I now write everything

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Parenting & Pregnancy > Working Parents Returning to work after maternity leave: 1 of 26
Returning to work after maternity leave can be a stressful time for any new mom, but there are a few simple strategies that will minimize stress and help smooth the transition.Plan ahead. Even before you start your maternity leave think about how your working life will change when you return. Find out if you can adjust your w... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Children's Activities (Other) Great books for preteen boys: 1 of 14
Now, more than ever, books for preteen boys have to be instantly engaging and hugely entertaining. After all they are competing with TV, DVDs, video games and internet based entertainment. A great new series of books hugely popular with preteen boys at the moment is the Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. They are written in a... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Tips Things I have learned from my first child: 1 of 13
There can be no doubt about it. Parenthood comes as a bit of a shock first time round. We've read the books, surfed the net, attended the antenatal classes. We think we know what to expect. Then this tiny, unique, brand new human being is handed to us and the real learning process begins. Here are the most important things I ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Children's Activities (Other) The best games for kids: 2 of 25
Games for kids are big business. Walk into any toy store and you'll find a bewildering number and range of games aimed at kids of all ages, from the relatively affordable to the prohibitively expensive. So what are the best games for kids right now? Which types of games are popular and why? As you might expect the answer isn'... More..
Education > Homeschooling The case for "unschooling": 1 of 12
Unschooling is a term often heard on the homeschooling circuit. It's a common method of home based education, although certainly not used by every family. At its most basic, it involves letting go of preconceived ideas about everything we have ever associated with school. School hours, schedules, lessons, drills, tests, and g... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Travel: Ten things to pack for a working holiday to Australia: 1 of 11
A working holiday in Australia can be a fantastic experience. What you take will depend on which areas you're going to and how long you're going for. I took full advantage of the one year working holiday visa available to British citizens and some other nationalities. I also planned on traveling around a lot which really affe... More..
Education > Early Childhood Ed Deciding whether full or half day kindergarten is best for your child: 1 of 11
The decision as to whether children should attend kindergarten for full or half days is increasingly being made by the school board rather than the parents, and school boards seem to be increasingly opting for full day kindergarten programs.Whilst the full day kindergarten system has its critics, there are actually many benef... More..
Education > Alternative Education (Other) Educational travel and the benefits to children: 1 of 11
All children deserve the opportunities of educational travel, whether they travel overseas or close to home, on an organized school trip or with family. Travel can provide opportunities to learn things that a child would never learn in the classroom. Some high schools and even elementary schools arrange semester long exchange... More..
Health & Fitness > General Health (Other) Reduce stress in five quick and easy steps: 1 of 11
Stress can be an underlying factor in a wide range of physical and mental conditions. Constant, unmanaged high stress levels can have a negative impact on existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome and depression. Even moderate stress can lead to a compromised immune system and result in... More..
Health & Fitness > Pilates & Yoga Everything you need to succeed with yoga: 1 of 10
Yoga is an excellent way to improve fitness, flexibility, long-term health and emotional well-being. It's also easy to practice wherever you are. Yoga can be conveniently fitted into your day, at home, work, on vacation, or during a trip to the park.GETTING STARTEDA beginners yoga class is suitable for most people but, as alw... More..