How To Choose The Right Video Games For Your Kids

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Ask kids what they would prefer to have as a gift, and most of them will pick a video game. That’s how popular video games have become for today’s kids. While there’s nothing wrong with that, the last thing you want to do is purchase just any game for your child. Research shows that video games can positively and negatively impact a child’s brain, and every loving parent will prefer the positive impact. So, if you’re considering surprising your child with a video game gift, here are some tips for choosing the right one. 

  1. Think about the games you loved when you were younger

Let no one tell you otherwise; retro games are still very fun to play, and kids of today can enjoy them as much as you did. Many parents even believe that retro games are the best, but that’s not the focus for now. If there are some games you loved growing up, it’s not a bad idea to try to use them as a way of introducing your child to video games. Thankfully, you can still find the best of such games in any retro video game store.  

  1. Read the reviews

One of the most reliable ways to identify what video game is good for your child is to read the reviews posted by other parents about the game. All you need to do is conduct an online search on game titles you are interested in, and you’ll find several reviews from other parents. You can also watch review videos to learn more about particular games. 

  1. Consider the purpose of the game

Playing video games may be a great source of entertainment, but most games also have other purposes. And for children, it’s best to invest in games that can support or boost their development. You want your child to play games that can improve their cognitive skills and critical thinking and help them solve problems in school or at home. So, before you purchase a game, find out if it offers any other purpose beyond entertainment. For instance, on RPGs like Diablo 2 players have to combine certain items like these D2 resurrected items for sale, to create more advanced equipment to have the upper hand on opponents. With these games, the user has to actually think as their actions and ideas could change the game. Because, believe it or not, the game your child plays can potentially influence their way of thinking. 

  1. Don’t ignore the enjoyment factor

Yes, you want to pick a game that can impact your little one with some developmental skills or help them learn, but you shouldn’t ignore the enjoyment factor. Kids are mostly invested in things that they consider fun. So, if your child finds a game boring, don’t be surprised if they refuse to play it a second time. It’s best to pick a game that combines fun with intellectual challenges, so your child can play and learn simultaneously. 

  1. Consider your child’s abilities and talent

Another great way to pick the right games for your child is to consider their abilities, skills, and interests. For instance, if your child loves history and adventure, then it makes sense to buy them a game that takes them through a historical adventure. If your little one loves solving problems, a problem-solving-oriented game wouldn’t be bad.

5 of the Best Family Friendly Racing Games for PS5

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The PlayStation 5 has been out for a little over two years now and is excellent for kids and adults alike. Here’s a list of some of the best family-friendly racing games for PS5.

Sony’s Gran Turismo 7

The king of racing simulations, Gran Turismo 7 is the acclaimed newest entry in the series. While it’s not as instantly entertaining as some of the simpler drifting games available, you learn a lot with this game. First, GT7 goes back to its roots, and you feel like you have the old Gran Turismo back after over a decade. But it’s great for kids because there’s a ton of educational material within the game for car manufacturers, individual vehicles, and even each country’s approach to design. And you can set assistance options to max if it’s too hard for the kids.

Sonic Team Racing

There are many novelty racing games available. Nintendo’s Mario Kart is a perfect example. Like Mario Kart, Sonic Team Racing is an excellent pick-up-and-play title you can jump into for instant fun. Plus, you get access to many beloved characters like Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails. If you know Mario Kart, you will feel right at home, as it plays very similarly. However, you can customize each character’s vehicle with a surprising amount of detail, adding to the fun. Of course, you can also unlock even more options as you progress through the campaign mode.

Family Friendly Racing Games Includes F1 2022

Over 400 million people watch Formula 1 racing each week. The pinnacle of motor racing, the games themselves are extremely popular. While they dipped in excitement over the recent years, veteran racing video game developers Codemasters has brought the series back to life. F1 2021 intrigued a revamped career mode and improved AI. The latest release, F1 2022, builds upon the best parts and adds greater immersion with race day features. While most children won’t be entertained by this game, it will add tons of value for sporting families.

Hot Wheels Unleashed

Almost every child has memories of Hot Wheels play sets. Countless kids spent countless hours setting up wild tracks at home and then running their zany cars through them. Finally, Mattel’s best-selling toy range comes to PS5. You and your kids can race wacky tracks and try gravity-defying stunts with some of the most beloved Hot Wheels cars. But the fun doesn’t end there. You can also build your own crazy tracks together as a family and share them with the world. Or you can download the creations of other families and gamers.

Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled

Nintendo has Mario, Sega has Sonic, and PlayStation has Crash Bandicoot. So it’s no surprise there’s a racing game featuring everyone’s favorite marsupial. Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is pretty similar to Sonic Team Racing and Mario Kart. As a kart racer, it plays out the same. There’s fast-paced action, zany tracks, and cute weapons. But there are also many well-known Crash characters and a very intuitive customization mode. Additionally, you can unlock more skins and game features as you make your way through the game’s story mode.

Summary

Not all racing games are too serious. Some of the best family-friendly racing games for PS5 include the in-depth GT7, the immensely fun Hot Wheels Unleashed, and Sonic Team Racing.

5 Tips To Start Your DJ Journey

DJs are in high demand these days. They are in charge of what songs are played when they spin on the turntables and are the life of any event. That means that they have to be creative with their music selections and know what will work well together. DJs need to know how to read a crowd and know how to keep them engaged throughout the night. They also need to make decisions quickly, which is a skill that most people don’t have naturally.

This is an interesting career path for people who like making decisions, reading crowds, and thinking creatively about what songs will work well together. So, if you’re interested in becoming a DJ, here are five tips to get you started. 

Learn the Basics of Music Theory 

Learning basic music theory can help you become a DJ in many ways. First, it will give you an understanding of how music works and how to construct your own music. Second, it will help you understand the patterns in different genres of music so that you can mix them to create fresh sounds. 

Third, it will teach you how to read charts and understand the structure of songs so that you can find the right beats to mix together. Finally, learning basic music theory will teach you how to read sheet music so that if there is a song that is not on Spotify or YouTube, then you can still play it.

Get The Best DJ Gear and Software

The best DJ gear and software can help you become a DJ. There are many reasons why this is the case, but it is important to know that the best DJ gear and software will not make you a DJ. You need to know how to use it, which takes time and practice. 

The first reason why looking at the best DJ gear and software can help you become a DJ is because it can give you an idea of what equipment to buy. For instance, you’ll be able to find the best cheap audio interfaces and mixing equipment. This may seem like an easy decision, but many people who want to be DJs don’t even know where they should start when looking for equipment.

One of the many reasons to look at what the best DJ equipment and software can offer is because it can provide guidance on which software is best for you, offer tutorials on how to use a program, and show reviews of specific products.

Get Educated On The Equipment Needed for Mixing and Mastering 

There are many reasons why learning about the DJ equipment needed for mixing and mastering can help you become a DJ. One of these reasons is that it will teach you how to mix two songs together, so they sound great. You’ll also learn about different speakers, amplifiers, and other gear that you’ll need in order to master your mixes.

Practice Your Skills by Playing in Public Venues or Online Communities 

Practicing your skills by playing in public venues or online communities can help you become a DJ, since it can help you gain experience, which is essential for the profession. It also helps to build confidence and improve your skills. Playing at public events or through online communities similar to Twitch can help you become a DJ by allowing you to perform on stage and get feedback from an audience. So, the more experience and skill you have, the better your chance of success as a DJ.

Start Producing Your Own Music and Services For Clients 

One of the first steps to becoming a DJ is to produce music. This means that you need to make your own music and not just remix other people’s work. There are a few reasons it is important to produce your own music if you want to become a DJ. First, remixes are seen as cheating by most of the community. Second, they don’t give DJs any room for creativity or originality in their sets, which is what DJs are all about.

In order to be taken seriously in this industry, you must put in the time and effort into creating your own original content, learn about your equipment, and understand the music you want to play. This will help you to pull in more gigs, clients.. and allow you to reach a wider audience. 

Giving Your Car a Longer Life

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When you buy a car, you are going to be making a long-term investment. After all, you don’t buy cars to change them after a few months; you are going to want them to last. The trouble is, cars can and do break down and stop working, and whilst you may not always know when this is likely to happen, the good news is that there are ways that you can try to limit it happening and to stop it having too significant an impact if it still does. 

To help to ensure that your car lasts for as long as possible, we have put together our main tips for what to do and what to avoid too.  

Look after your battery 

There are many essential things in your car, but the battery is up there near the top. This means that one of the best things that you can do to look after your car is to look after your battery. One of the simplest ways to do this is to make sure that you use your car regularly rather than sit for an extended period. If you leave your vehicle without being started, you should think about using a trickle charger to keep the power flowing and stop your battery from degrading. 

Book regular servicing 

You are not an expert in cars, which means that you will not know what to look out for when it comes to picking up signs of your car stopping working. However, there are experts out there who will be able to check your car over properly. This is why it is essential to book in regular servicing – something that can be cheaper if you go with Volvo service plans. This will pick up any current issues that can be fixed and any future problems before they get too major and can’t be fixed.  

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Drive as smoothly as you can 

Another way that you can look after your car is to make sure that you drive the best that you can. Driving with understanding for your vehicle means that you will reduce how much wear and tear you place on your car’s components and keep things such as your gearbox, wheels, and pedals in the best condition possible.  

Replace the leads and spark plugs 

They may be some of the minor parts of your car, but that doesn’t mean that you should overlook them. If you know how to replace them, then this can be an easy enough job to do regularly; however, if you don’t know, then you should definitely make sure that you take your car to be serviced and you ensure that you point out that you need this as part of the service.

At the same time, you want to check the fluids within your car, topping these up and making sure that they are at the right level is really going to help with not on longevity, but also performance too. 

Consider various extended coverage plans

When it comes to giving your car a longer life, extended warranties, service plans, and guarantees can be an effective way of ensuring that your vehicle is properly cared for. For example, you may want to consider looking into Cars Protection Plus for your vehicle. Ensuring you have all the necessary coverage means that should something go wrong, you’ll be able to rely on the warranty and service plans to get it taken care of efficiently.

If you have spent a considerable amount of money on your car, you will want to make sure that it lasts as long as possible. This means that you need to make sure that you take proper care of your car each and every day. 

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.