How to go about investing in a single-family home

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For many families, owning their own single-family home is the dream. For today's blog, Joseph Cianciotto discusses some important points in investing in a single-family home.

Looking at the housing market, it's clear that real estate is a solid investment. Since 2000, home prices have grown by an average of 2% per year. Real estate agents will tell you this information to prove how good an investment buying property can be.

However, there are also two common pitfalls new investors face when investing in a single-family home. First, they may not be able to handle the house's maintenance costs. Second, they don't thoroughly understand the pros and cons of financial products that tie into real estate (such as mortgages).

The following are three important points when it comes to investing in a single-family home.

First, you must be able to handle the maintenance costs. Second, you should understand how mortgages work and hedge against higher interest rates. Finally, don't forget to consider taxes and insurance.

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The first point is important because future owners will pay for all your current expenses; this includes property taxes, repairs, utilities, and more. These costs can add up, making it hard for some to make ends meet.

So how can you be sure that your maintenance costs will stay at a manageable level? Your best bet is to hire a service provider who can take care of all these expenses beforehand, which brings to the second important point: understanding mortgages (and hedging against higher interest rates).

Every investor must know how mortgages work. Mistakes here can significantly increase the cost of your home, which will eat into your profit in the long run.

Finally, Joseph Cianciotto reminds everyone to consider taxes and insurance in their calculations. Unless you have a strong relationship with an accountant who understands real estate investments, it's best to ask for help from a professional for this part.

Learn more about Joseph Cianciotto’s insights on family life by checking out this blog.

How to teach kids to be more truthful

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One of the eventual challenges parents face is when their children lie, which can be a huge problem for a child's fundamental character-building.

As a parent, it can be difficult not to get angry or anxious when your child lies to you. But there are ways of working through this situation without assigning labels on your children, says Joseph Cianciotto. Labels like "liar" have a way of sticking to your child's consciousness for a very long time, and when their sense of self-worth gets deflated because you always call him such, he might not heal from a deep psychological wound that remains.

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A lie is essentially a violation of trust, and it may be irritating sometimes to any parent. However, remember not to remind your child of his past transgressions when you reprimand him for a recent lie. When you scold a child, do it once and put it to rest, notes Joseph Cianciotto. Let your child know that everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but there's no need to rub it in profusely constantly. They'll feel much better about themselves in the long run if they don't have to be reminded of their past failures constantly.

Reinforce this good behavior by teaching them that they will never be in trouble for telling the truth. Tell them how honesty has helped you or someone they know. Remember that honesty is just as important as any other lesson you teach your kids because lying can have severe consequences, especially when practiced repeatedly over time.



Joseph Cianciotto used to be the executive creative director at Translation. He now maintains a blog wherein he offers family advice. For more information, visit this page.

Some ways that you can teach your child fairness

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Joseph Cianciotto is quite fond of giving fatherly advice, which has made much sense to his loyal base of readers. Drawing from his own experiences and personal journey as a father, he shares with us today some ways to teach your child the value of fairness.

Give them responsibilities

Teaching your child about fairness is a great way to teach them responsibility. Your child will learn that being irresponsible has consequences and that they should do what's right even if it isn't easy. For instance, if you have them water the plants every day and they miss out in a few instances, they will eventually see that the plants will become wilted, shares Joseph Cianciotto. After all, life has a way of being fair, whether one is responsible or not.

Make agreements

Agreements are a huge reality of life, and your child will have to learn to forge agreements with people throughout the rest of their life. If you start them young, they will know the value of making promises and keeping them and how important it is to make fulfillments on one's end. Otherwise, consequences will have to be faced. You need to teach your child that fairness means that they make good on their promises.

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Apologize when you’re wrong

When you apologize to your child, it means that you are taking responsibility and admitting fault. Your kid needs an example to see how this works, so try being more upfront about mistakes. When fairness comes into play, both parties involved need to accept their parts in any mix-up or misunderstanding without hesitation.

Joseph Cianciotto has a degree in Visual Communications from Carnegie Mellon University. Most recently, he has served as an executive creative director at Translation. For similar reads, visit this page.

How to go about encouraging children to save money

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Joseph Cianciotto has mentioned that one of the hardest parts about teaching children to save money is to motivate them. Children love to spend when they have cash and see something they like. Getting them a piggy bank or even a glass jar at home is a good start. But it shouldn’t end there. Parents have to follow up on the encouragement.

For this blog, Joseph Cianciotto shares a few ways to encourage their children to save money.

Open a savings account.

When accompanied by their parents, children can easily acquire a sense of responsibility when they go to the bank to open an account. As long as it’s explained in a manner that makes children want to save, opening a savings account would be a terrific idea. It serves as a good foundation for good financial habits, which they will carry on when they grow older, Joseph Cianciotto mentions.

Teach them the difference between wants and needs.

Parents should teach children the need for savings. One of the best ways to explain is to differentiate “wants” and “needs,” as well as the measures to satisfy both. Parents can use a child’s daily budget as the perfect basis for determining this.

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Talk about goals and incentives.

Kids’ goals will mostly revolve around their wants at their age—and this is not a bad thing. But, according to Joseph Cianciotto, this will actually push them to save more money. To increase motivation even further, parents can offer incentives, such as conditions to shoulder the rest of the purchase if their child saves up to a certain amount.

Joseph Cianciotto is an executive creative director and lives in Long Island, New York, with his wife and two daughters. For more articles on parenthood, visit this page.

Understanding children: A parent’s guide

 

Joseph Cianciotto has always believed that parenthood is the most fulfilling job of all. Countless couples have had their lives transformed for the better because they became parents. That said, while it can be a person’s greatest adventure, it’s also probably the most challenging job a person will ever have.

For this blog, Joseph Cianciotto shares a few thoughts that may help parents understand their children more.

1. A different view of the world

Children are the most curious creatures on Earth. This is one of the biggest reasons they’re restless, and they often misbehave. This is because they don’t understand the world like adults. Keeping this in mind, parents need to be more understanding themselves. Joseph Cianciotto urges parents to instead reprimanding children who misbehave, they should first try teaching their children about the world.

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2. Many things are big deals

It’s a sad thing when parents scold children for disturbing them. Parents, though busy, have to remember that they’re the first people their kids look for when the latter discovers something they’ve never experienced before. Also, Joseph Cianciotto reminds parents that each discovery a child makes needs attention because not all discoveries are good.

3. The importance of rest

Children are as active as they are curious. Because of this, they need to rest and recover from a day filled with play or study. Parents who understand this should either allow their children or insist that they rest. Proper nutrition is also a big part of a child’s development, and this should go hand-in-hand with rest time, Joseph Cianciotto adds.

Joseph Cianciotto is an executive creative director and lives in Long Island, New York with his wife and two daughters. For more articles on parenthood, visit this page.

Summertime: Three possible family adventures

 

With summer now here, Joseph Cianciotto is more than just excited. At the same time last year, he and his family stayed at home because of the global health crisis. And while they had many memorable events staying indoors, they truly missed going out on their usual summer adventures.

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On that note, Joseph Cianciotto shares three things families can do this summer.

Swimming

The beauty of swimming is that it’s an activity that can be done almost anywhere; an inflatable pool in the backyard, the nearest clubhouse pool, a nearby lake, or the beach. Joseph Cianciotto has taken his kids out to swim on several occasions, and they’ve loved every minute of it. Summer is the perfect time to go swimming, and people should take advantage of it.

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 Camping

One of the great things about living in the U.S. is that there are great family-friendly campsites in almost every county. Joseph Cianciotto has advocated camping on more than one occasion through his blogs, and for a good reason. In some of his blogs, he talks about the many benefits families can get from outdoors.

Going on a road trip

Families going on well-planned summer road trips can have more than a couple of unforgettable experiences. This is because there are so many wonderful places to visit. Joseph Cianciotto suggests that every family member suggests a place on their route to visit, so everyone wins.

Joseph Cianciotto is a digital media native and family man from Long Island, NY. For more fun activities with the family, visit this page.

Speech disorders in children: What parents need to know

 

Speech disorders in children are some of the most worrisome issues parents have to deal with. As a service to all mothers and fathers out there who are doing their best to raise their kids, Joseph Cianciotto shares what he knows on the topic.

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As mentioned earlier, many parents worry about their children not talking upon reaching a certain age. The fact is that babies should start talking at about six months. That's the time parents should observe a child's progress. There may be cause for concern when this doesn't happen, and Joseph Cianciotto recommends that parents see a specialist to rule out any of these speech disorders.

Speech apraxia is one of these speech disorders. It happens when the connection between a child's speech function and his brain experiences issues. While the child may know what to say, coordinating with the muscles needed for talking may prove incredibly difficult.

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Stuttering or stammering is one of the more common speech disorders, which happens when a toddler says certain syllables repeatedly, making the formation of simple phrases a frustrating experience. Joseph Cianciotto explains that approximately 3 million people struggle with some form of stuttering or stammering. The good news is that around 75% of children who stammer eventually grow out of it.

Dysarthria is another speech disorder that is characterized by slurred speech. This is a result of damage to a nerve or muscle responsible for speech. Dysarthria can also be identified through changes in speech cadence, limited tongue, jaw, and lip movement, and sudden changes in the timber of one's voice, Joseph Cianciotto adds.

Joseph Cianciotto is a digital media native and family man from Long Island, NY. Read more family-oriented articles on this blog.

Understand your rebellious teenage child more with these helpful reminders

 

As he is quite fond of giving advice on fatherhood, Joseph Cianciotto is also a source of wisdom on handling conflicts within the family. One of the more common problems that families go through is teenage rebellion. This blog shares some reminders that are helpful in dealing with this matter.

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Accept that anger doesn’t work all the time.

When your teenage child does something that doesn’t sit quite well with you, it may be natural for you to react with anger. However, you must know that teenagers inevitably reach a point when they try to challenge your rules, which is something even you probably went through during your own time, shares Joseph Cianciotto. For this reason, you also need to understand that anger does not always work on your rebellious teenager.

Treat your child like an adult.

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Teenage rebellion always comes at a time when a person is transitioning from being a child to being an adult. When your child acts up and some sort of conflict arises in your relationship, you might benefit by treating him or her as an adult. By doing this, you are honoring your own child’s independence and ability to think freely and make decisions. Also, you teach him or her to be more accountable as an adult by giving adult treatment.

Practice forgiveness.

Teenage rebellion is a stage in the life your child as much as it is a stage in your life as a father. Remember that after everything that happens, even when you both break each other’s hearts, you need to find ways to heal the relationship. It’s very important that you practice forgiveness.

Joseph Cianciotto obtained his degree in Visual Communications from Carnegie Mellon University. He has most recently served as executive creative director at Translation. For more information, visit this page.

Why families need to camp out at least once a year

 

While most people are confined to their homes right now because of the global health crisis, it shouldn't stop them from making plans, according to Joseph Cianciotto. And for families that have yet to experience it, Joseph Cianciotto highly recommends planning for a future camping trip, even if it's in their own backyard.

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Here are three of the best reasons parents should take their children camping at least once a year.

1. Children can learn new skills while camping.

There are some things that conventional schools don't teach. Most of these are practical skills. Joseph Cianciotto explains that children learn outdoor skills such as pitching tents, using a compass, cooking food, and roasting mallows during camping.

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2. Parents get a break from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

Camping is perfect for parents who toil day in and day out with work. When parents and children go camping, life slows down, and they, the parents, can breathe a sigh of relief. Of course, it goes without saying that parents need to leave their work at home for this to work.

3. The entire family develops a renewed appreciation for the world.

It's very easy to take the natural world for granted in today's world since everyone is so engrossed in the virtual one. Parents and, many times, children are too attached to their electronic gadgets that they forget how beautiful nature can be. Camping helps the entire family develop a renewed appreciation for nature and the world, Joseph Cianciotto adds.

Joseph Cianciotto is an executive creative director and lives in Long Island, New York with his wife and two daughters. For more articles on parenthood, visit this page.

How fathers should deal with their teenage children

 

As Joseph Cianciotto always says, one of the best things that could ever happen in a man’s life is fatherhood. This blog focuses on fatherhood during the teenage years.

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You were once a teenager, and you already had a first-hand experience of the best years of your life. This means that you should understand that your child is going through the same thing. The teenage years are both memorable and tricky.

This is just natural because, during the teenage years, you expose yourself to the tension between extremes that you discover on your way to independence. It’s true that when you’re a teenager, you get your first crack at defining your identity as an individual.

That said, here’s some advice for you as a father to your teenage children.

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1. Be available to your children at all times. You never know when it’s exactly going to be, but your children will surely need your adult wisdom soon enough. Get ready to process some potentially tough questions that they might ask. Also, remember not to make them feel judged in your answers.

2. Relax on the rules a bit. This is one of the toughest challenges that parents may face as they deal with their teenage children. However, as a father, you should be the one to balance things out. Fatherhood is always a balancing act between controlling and letting loose on your child’s freedom.

3. Spend time connecting with your child. Once the teenage years hit, it’s only a couple of years more before they become all grown up. Don’t lose the chance to do memorable things, even if this is something as simple as hanging out. Don’t be too preachy on your advice, but make sure to keep the conversation going.

New York resident Joseph Cianciotto has a degree in Visual Communications from Carnegie Mellon University. Most recently, he has served as an executive creative director at Translation. For similar reads, visit this page.

A number of life lessons that hit you in fatherhood

 

As an individual in the business world, Joseph Cianciotto has proven himself to be successful. However, he wants to think of himself as an even better father, which he strives to become in every step of the way. Today, he shares some life lessons that have hit him as a father.

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1. Your kids will remember how you spoke more than what you actually said.

Sometimes, being a disciplinarian can bring out the worst in a person, especially around young and unruly children. It’s easy to think that you’re the boss and you know what’s best for your child, and you’re even probably right most of the time, says Joseph Cianciotto. However, yelling at your children can intimidate them. Be careful not to break their spirits and leave them with a wound that they take with them for the rest of their lives. Anger, when not kept in check, can cause permanent damage on your kids.

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2. Preparing your kids for the world is better than keeping them blinded from its ills.

Your first instinct is to protect your child from any dangers lurking around, whether this is a threat to life, a bad influence, or even foul language from other people. We all want the best for our children, agrees Joseph Cianciotto. However, rather than remove your children from the world with its evils, it’s better to equip them with the proper skills and attitudes that would allow them to successfully deal with anything that comes along the way. Training your children’s hearts is more important than trapping them in the house.

2. Give your kids a happier home by making their friends feel at home, too.

Teens tend to crave a sense of freedom when they are their age. They get to exercise this freedom by choosing to be in the company of the people they identify with as their peers. Sometimes, it’s hard not to see how costly it can be, because teenagers tend to snack on everything that’s in your kitchen, especially the boys. However, it would be great to welcome their friends into your home regularly. It’s better to have a full house than a full pantry.

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How parents balance their work and family lives in the time of COVID-19

 

Joseph Cianciotto mentions that these are trying times. For almost the entirety of 2020, families everywhere had to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The global health crisis has taken its toll on everyone on almost all fronts. Even Joseph Cianciotto has had to find ways on several occasions to balance his work and family time.

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Fortunately for Joseph Cianciotto and many other parents out there, several tried-and-tested methods are to be successful at work and happy at home. And what’s more is that these are methods that have been used way before the coronavirus hit, and they have proven to be effective.

Dinner should be a priority.

Joseph Cianciotto has always maintained that dinner is the most important meal for the family, which means parents always need to make it a point to get in touch with everyone. Parents who work from home are urged to take a break and have dinner with the family.

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Schedules should always be followed.

Like the previous point, schedules have to be kept, especially when it comes to time with the kids. Parents need to have a calendar with days and times marked in which they intend to spend with their children. If anything comes up at work that does not require urgent attention, parents should learn to say “No,” Joseph Cianciotto adds.

Joseph Cianciotto has a degree in Visual Communications from Carnegie Mellon University. He currently resides in Long Island, New York, with his family. For similar reads, visit this page.