You can sing songs together, count bath toys, or see who can blow the most bubbles—whatever types of activities will entertain the toddler so that they don’t mind taking a bath. Use your imagination to get them involved and excited about bath time.  You can also use bath time as storytime, letting the toddler pick out a book or two they want read to them while they’re taking a bath. Play music while they’re in the bath, or ask the toddler to help you come up with a bathtime song. Get your toddler used to interacting with water by testing out some water activities outside of the bathroom—likely outdoors. You can encourage them to play in the sprinklers, sit in a kiddie pool, scoop water into cups from a bowl, or even just use a hose to water the plants. There are tons of bath toys available that help turn bathtime into a fun activity. Choose bath toys that won’t be damaged by water, such as rubber ducks, boats, animals, or squirt toys.  When bathtime is over, let the toys dry out so they don’t grow any sort of mold or mildew. You can purchase bath toy letters or waterproof books, allowing your toddler to work on their phonics while in the tub. Bath toys such as basketball hoops and fishing games help improve hand-eye coordination while taking a bath too. There are lots of different art supplies available for bathtime, such as bath paints, markers, crayons, and foams. Your toddler can draw on themselves or the tub’s walls to have fun while bathing, and it all washes off once bath time is over. There are also bath dyes that will turn the water a different color (but they don’t stain the tub or the toddler). This will help the toddler keep their head tilted back while you wash and rinse their hair, keeping all of the soap out of their eyes. You can tape a picture, attach stars, or hang a mobile from the ceiling to capture their attention. If your child is wary about the water, try to make the water engaging by adding bubbles. Your child will have fun playing in the bubble bath while you scrub them clean. Make sure to get bubble bath that will not irritate your toddler’s skin or eyes. If you don’t have bubble bath, you can create bubbles by pouring soap into a stream of running water. You most likely won’t win a battle with a toddler who is at the height of enjoying their playtime if you start telling them it's bathtime. Instead, create a routine for your toddler so that they develop an understanding of when bathtime will occur.  Stick to this schedule and have bathtime at the same time each day. For example, your toddler’s routine could involve playing outside, eating dinner, and then taking a bath. If you need to change the routine, explain the reasoning to your child.
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One-sentence summary -- Turn taking a bath into a game. Try out water games outside of the bathtub. Use bath toys to make taking a bath fun. Buy bath paint or crayons for an artsy bathtime. Hang a picture or similar attention-grabber on the ceiling. Distract your child with bubbles. Set a routine to get your toddler excited for bath time.


You might not understand exactly what your friend is going through, but you can still let them know you’re there to support them. Reassure them that they’re not alone and that you’re there to listen and help them if they need it. It can sometimes be helpful to share a story about a time when you were emotionally struggling and asked for help. This lets your friend know that difficult times happen to everyone and that it’s okay to reach out. Asking the right question will not only help you better understand what your friend is going through, it will help your friend get out their emotions. Try to keep questions open-ended to encourage your friend to talk about what they’re thinking and feeling rather than probing for details. Questions like, “How are you feeling right now?” give your friend more space to express their emotion than questions like, “Are you mad?” It can take a lot of courage for your friend to reach out, especially if they’ve done something they’re not proud of. Try to listen to them without judgment. You don’t need to agree with what they’re saying or what they did, but remember that all people make mistakes. Listen, and understand that your friend has flaws just like every other person. Avoid placing blame for problems. If your friend cheated on a test, for example, don’t tell them they’re a bad student. Instead, say, “Math can be a tricky subject. Instead of cheating next time, though, why don’t we do our homework together so I can tutor you?” If your friend needs help to get them through a difficult time, offer to help them reach out. It can be scary and isolating to ask for help on your own. Offer to go with them or help them research options. This lets them know they’re not alone, and that it’s okay to get help for hard times. For example, if your friend is struggling with depression, they might be afraid to talk to a therapist. Offer to look up a few therapists in their area that specialize in helping patients with depression.
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One-sentence summary -- Let your friend know that they’re not alone. Ask open-ended questions. Avoid judging them. Help them ask for help.


You will get a more total body workout by doing different exercises throughout the week. Remember to give your muscles at least 48 hours of rest after you have worked them according to this strategy. Your muscles become stronger during the rest period, not while you are lifting. Swimming is a great workout for both building upper body strength and cardio. There are also special water exercises like ball training and core workouts. Even doing basic resistance training by walking or running in a pool can be great ways to build muscle in parts of your body neglected by typical strength training exercises. Some people find that joining a gym helps them stick to this schedule. That said, it's certainly possible to strength train at home. While traditional weight equipment such as dumbbells and barbells are a common choice, they are not required. Any form of resistance training will help build muscle. Don't worry about getting too bulky. It is much easier to build muscle with heavier weights. Here's one approach you can use:  Choose a weight that you can perform 5 to 6 reps with per set. The exact weight you choose will depend on your strength when starting. Perform the main 3 weight training exercises regularly. These include bench presses, dead lifts and squats. Do 3 sets of 5 to 6 repetitions. You should rest for 2 to 3 minutes between each set. If you're lifting correctly, you should need those 2 to 3 minutes to recuperate. There are many other exercise plans you can follow with weights. Other weight trainers and gym staff are often happy to suggest approaches as well. Keep the length of your workouts to a minimum. Try not to spend 2 hours in the gym doing repetition after repetition. This can increase your endurance, but building muscle mass requires short, hard workouts. Cardio has its benefits, but strength training can often produce better and faster results for fat loss. Add cardiovascular exercise into your workout plan sparingly. Keep it 45 minutes and under, and perform it before you use weights. Go as hard as you can every time. You won't build muscle, lose fat, or achieve many fitness goals if you don't push yourself hard. Consider using a personal trainer, even if it is only to help you make sure that you are doing the right exercises and doing them properly.  During sets, your last repetition should be nearly impossible for you to accomplish. You want your muscles to be completely fatigued after a set. If they are not completely fatigued after 5 or 6 reps, you should increase your weight. Consider finding a workout partner who can push you in the gym. Working out as a team can produce greater results than working out alone.
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One-sentence summary --
Diversify your exercises. Consider exercising in the pool. Work out 3 to 5 times a week. Train with heavy weights in the gym. Cut down the time you spend in the gym each day. Keep your focus in the gym mostly on weight training. Push yourself to the limit in the gym.