The Case for Staying Put

Before booking a moving truck or looking for new neighborhoods, take time to consider what an addition can do for your current home. An extension may not only meet your space needs but can also add significant value. Remodeling can provide the chance to make changes that truly meet your individual requirements while remaining in a location you cherish. When done in an intelligent fashion, additions can become hidden gems in real estate.

The Whys and How’s of Building Up or Out

Expanding or renovating is an adventure in creativity and practicality, whether vertically by adding stories or horizontally with expanded wings. Understanding zoning regulations is critical. Embarking on this path means indulging your inner architect while managing permits and construction timelines with ease. But the end result will be an oasis tailored specifically for you and your family without uprooting their lives in the process.

Plumbing Considerations for Your New Bathroom

When planning an addition with a bathroom, professional plumbers are important in order to ensure proper plumbing for functionality and future maintenance needs. Proper installation not only guarantees proper functioning but can reduce costs associated with any unexpected maintenance needs down the line. Experienced plumbers are experts at designing an optimal layout for water supply and waste lines that seamlessly integrate with existing systems. This involves taking into account factors like water pressure, drainage and venting, three important considerations which could prevent problems like leakage or slow drains from developing. Additionally, compliant installation of fixtures and compliance with local building codes are key factors to avoid any complications with your new bathroom project. Partnering with skilled plumbers will allow your new bathroom to provide both efficiency and luxury, increasing both comfort and value in your home.

The Lure of New Beginnings

A bigger house may promise the thrill of fresh starts and clean slates. Just thinking about stepping into an environment ripe with untapped potential where every room awaits your personal touches. No construction dust to disrupt daily life and no longer having to deal with. Of course, moving also comes with its own set of challenges, including financial hurdles to contend with while selling and buying, not to mention packing every last spoon.

The Financial Facade

One may think a minor inconvenience will be ok when purchasing their dream house, but be wary. Buying requires dealing with mortgages, fluctuating interest rates and housing market whims. Not to mention any renovation costs necessary to meet personal preferences and needs. 

Conclusion 

When it comes to the decision between expanding or exchanging, the answer lies within your personal priorities and circumstances. If you prefer customizing over moving, and are up for an adventurous journey of nails and dreams, an addition may be your path to glory. Alternatively, if you yearn for new landscapes but lack the financial means necessary for real estate transactions then an exchange could be more suitable. Ultimately though, whether staying put or moving further out, make sure it fits with your vision of home regardless of its square footage.

The post Bigger and Better: Building Additions vs. Buying a New Home appeared first on InstantELLA.

So, keeping this in mind, here are a few critical chores, I believe, are connected to success and if taught to a child early enough, will develop positive & effective habits later on in their adult life. If you can get your kids to do these willingly & correctly on their own by age 12 (if not before), count yourself lucky

Making the Bed: Setting Goals

Here’s what making your bed (or not) reveals about your personality

This is the first opportunity for success every morning. It’s the first task that is presented to the child when he/she wakes up & often signals their response or how they will react towards other activities throughout the day.

I remember teaching & explaining the importance of making the bed to my sons (now age 10 and 12) a few years ago. They share a room and have bunk beds. The older one is on the top bunk. Initially the younger one would forget but eventually has got into the rhythm of making his bed. Every time I asked ‘boys, are your beds made?’ the answer was always ‘yes!’ I thought my job was done. The older one started off strong but I recently discovered he’s been shoving his blanket out of sight, behind a huge body pillow. Since he’s on the top bunk, it’s hard to notice the bed isn’t made the way he was taught and supposed to do it. When questioned, he had no excuse for not making his bed. What possible good did he achieve by not doing the right thing? Was there anything more urgent he needed done instead & why did he not come back later to finish his bed?  Was he also giving his teachers the slip with homework or assignments, was he slipping up elsewhere by taking what he thinks is the easy way out? Was this laziness or slyness? These were questions I had to ask him because I had to make him see that they were not good qualities to have in the world of adults or when he worked his first paid job.

What I realized is that unlike my younger son, the older one for some reason, finds it hard to set goals and rules for himself. He finds it difficult to follow goals others may have laid down too (like making the bed). So, he’ll need more time or guidance. But in the process, I’m hoping that making the bed will teach him to set goals in life because that’s important.

Taking out the Trash – Solving Problems, Starting Anew

What Japan can teach us about cleanliness

My husband & I were watching a few minutes of Jerry Seinfeld’s standup comedy last night where he talked about an object’s journey to becoming junk, how everything in a house is  pre-trash stage, eventually on its way to becoming junk. eBay is a newer concept of people transferring trash from one person to another. And while the jokes made us laugh, it’s also kind of true. Getting rid of trash is necessary & needs to be done routinely. Physical trash if unattended to, causes disease. For me, a messy room is also a messy mind. I cannot concentrate with mess around me. Mess inhibits creativity & so, the process of cleaning up the house, taking out the trash is rejuvenating & cathartic.

For kids, taking out the trash can serve as a lesson i.e. It’s ok to make mistakes & it’s ok when things don’t work out the way you expect, but it’s important to understand that mistakes, like cleaning up trash, can be fixed and that every time you fix something, the possibility of starting a new will always be available! There’s no need to feel bogged down with childish worries and let the trash pile up. Taking out the trash is always the solution

Taking care of the Pet: Love & Responsibility

5 Ways to Help Your Pets Stay Healthy and Strong in 2019

My sons have had hermit crabs as pets for 3 years now. The first pair died & we replaced them. The replaced crabs are still with us and the credit of keeping them alive (this time) goes to my older son. He has a connection with animals. He even feeds & pets the neighborhood cat who’s started to visit us regularly.

Looking after a pet, gives the child a sense of purpose. It has developed nurturing qualities in my son. He loves his pet and knows he plays a big role in keeping them clean, happy & fed. Having a pet, I believe, teaches a child to look beyond themselves and towards other’s needs. The world could use a bit more of that

Doing their Laundry: Planning & Hard work

Cleaning Skills to Teach Your Children

‘Laundry’. My husband shudders at that word and so do I sometimes. Not only is it chaotic, rule-bound, painstaking and time-consuming, but the thought of the number of sweaters that shrunk & ‘whites’ that became off white at their best and discolored at their worst, makes me want to cry.

Now, imagine your kids doing their own laundry.

Why should you create this nightmare for them? Why, when the load is heavy and it involves rules & using chemicals and an electronic washing machine that could get damaged? The answer – to root out laziness and teach your kid about hard work, planning & responsibility.

My kids used to have a gala time switching out clothes throughout the week, like it was a fashion show, with no regard about who took care of doing the laundry, folding their clothes or making sure they had a neatly organized closet. So, at first, I made them only fold their clothes & put them away. And boy did they grumble about that but it taught them, at least, to be more responsible about rotating their clothes & keeping their closet clean. Then I began to notice my younger one getting both mentally & physically lazy, refusing to think logically, and putting up a resistance to do any kind of work (except make his bed). So, I decided to make him responsible for all laundry in his room, including his brother’s. This would involve being aware when to do the laundry, washing, drying, setting timers on the machine, deciding how much detergent & water to load, separating clothes, making sure the machine and laundry room was clean & everything in place when he was done, bringing the laundry up to his room & then folding all the clothes and putting them away. The task truly is exhausting. On a weekday, he’d need to balance his schoolwork and sports and find the time to do all of this.

Skip to 6 months later! My little guy is a pro at laundry, he maintains good grades at school & has a great willingness towards work. No complaints whatsoever. He thinks critically and even plans his day and tasks ahead on his own with little guidance from us. I’m so proud of him, eager to see what he’s capable of. And we owe it all to ‘doing the laundry’. Since he doesn’t seem to be lazy anymore & that issue is resolved, I felt there wasn’t a need for him to continue doing the Laundry .I’m now making his older brother do it and let’s just say, I’m looking forward to the end of another 6 months to see if this experiment takes similar roots!

Putting together a simple meal: Gratitude & Survival

2 Questions You Should Ask Your Kids at Dinner

I can write a book on how ungrateful kids are about homecooked meals. From eating excruciatingly slowly, to wasting their food, to not saying ‘thank you’ when served their meals to comments like ‘I can eat a whole lot at olive garden’ and ‘ why can’t we have more of that ravioli (store bought, frozen or out of a can) like we do at grandmas?”…. these are all signs of the sense of entitlement a child has towards food. It’s common, we may have done it when we were kids and we’ve all heard about the starving children in Africa & Asia and why we shouldn’t waste food. But let’s face it, when we grew up, we very quickly and painfully discovered that life isn’t a buffet and neither are our meals.

Sure, fast-food tastes great but so does every other unhealthy food and Olive Garden is heaven on a plate but isn’t sustainable every day, even on a 6-figure salary!

More importantly, it’s not just irritating for the parents but every time a child acts difficult with meals, he/she is unnecessarily obsessing about the food, making himself/herself a slave to it and preventing himself/ herself from moving on to other more creative thoughts and activities. At no rate would I ever encourage a child’s ranting about meals.

So, it boils down to being grateful for what you have and if you’re not happy with it at least learn to fix it on your own, like a little adult. And here’s where my suggestion of a child learning to  put together a simple meal comes in. Example – boiling/ frying eggs, cooking rice, brewing tea/ coffee, cutting veggies, tossing a salad, learning how to operate an oven so you can grill/ bake fish & veggies on a try. I taught my kids to do it all last summer with the intention that one day in the week, they prepare a homecooked, healthy dinner for the family & their father & I will eat it without grumbling. That is yet to happen but on a daily basis, they do put together their own lunches to take to school – PB or ham sandwiches, cut fruit, crackers & other snacks.

There’s always a post its reminder on the cabinet door in case they may forget how to do lunch, but I relieved to confidently know if ever my husband or I leave the kids on their own, they will not starve or wait to get the next meal served to them. Often, they ask if they can help with dinner & I take that as a sign that they are beginning to understand & appreciate the love & work that goes into preparing a meal.

Choosing their outfits: Awareness

4 Reasons Why Your Kids Should Pick Out Their Own Clothes

How you dress may say something about who you are, but how you carry yourself speaks volumes! That’s something I learnt as a little girl studying in a convent. We had a uniform but there were other standards governing how we did our hair, wore our socks, polished our shoes and managed our fingernails. Times have changed, true, but that discipline has stayed with me till this day. It’s something I’ve tried to instill in my boys.

By encouraging them to choose their own outfits for school, I’m teaching them that they are responsible for how they want to represent themselves to others. Not only are they enjoying discovering their own styles, they also know that different occasions call for different attire. Casual sporty school clothes & sneakers are not appropriate for a more reverent occasion like attending Sunday Mass. The clothes they wear also serve as a physical cue or awareness as to where they are and how to behave.

This will prepare them for how to get on in the real work environment.

Doing the Dishes: Service & Discipline

Dear Kids: Do Your Own Damn Dishes

Like taking out trash, washing the dishes and cleaning up after meals is a necessary activity. There’s no escaping it in the adult world, so kids might as well get a head start. This chore is especially helpful to solve the problem of children who are slow eaters – the last one who finishes eating gets to clean up. And while they are ‘cleaning up’ perhaps they could do a little introspection to see how they can improve themselves to avoid a repeated episode of dish-washing. The truth is, like I said at the start, it’s not something that can be avoided as an adult.

An easy childhood, without chores, accountability or responsibility may be fun in the short term, but could lead to a more difficult & challenging life as an adult. My point to this litany of chores and why kids should do them is this: Learning how to cope!

Life is a juggling act. It’s all about coping & multitasking. The more self-reliant you are, the less you have to depend on people and situations. You can better control the outcome and you have a better grip on life. That’s when you stop coping and start living successfully and what parent doesn’t want that for their kid.. So, while other members of the family may dote on your child, it’s your primary job as a parent to teach your child to cope, to become self-reliant as quick as possible!

The post Raising Success – 7 Chores You Kids Should Be Doing & Why appeared first on InstantELLA.

1. Start Early

Hate that daily battle? Here’s how and when to brush your toddler’s teeth

The perfect time to have your child learn about brushing teeth is as soon as those baby teeth start coming in. Be gentle and careful, and introduce them to a soft toothbrush that they can munch on. About the age of two is when you’ll want to help them brush their own teeth. It might be a little messy, but that is a small price to pay for good oral health.

2. Make It A Game

Brushing teeth doesn’t have to be a tedious process. Try making a game out of keeping your child’s mouth clean. Use your imagination. Maybe the toothbrush is a train and your kid’s teeth make up the track. Now your kid can choo-choo their teeth clean.

3. Race the Time

3 Great Ideas To Make Brushing Teeth Fun for Kids

Get a small sand timer for your child to watch while they brush their teeth. Let them flip the timer to start the time and then they can watch the sand flow out while they brush their teeth. This gives them something to do and something else to pay attention to besides the brush in their mouth.

4. Incentives

If you have a child that can be incentivized then you might consider doing some sort of chart where if your child brushes consistently for a whole week straight then they earn something. This could be a toy from a toy chest or if you want to stick with the teeth theme they could earn a new flavor of toothpaste or a cool new toothbrush.

5. Fun Toothbrush/paste

The best toothpaste for kids

Speaking of a cool toothbrush, it might help your child to be interested in brushing their teeth if they like their toothbrush and toothpaste. Having a toothbrush with Paw Patrol on it instead of just a plain blue one can make a huge difference to an obstinant toddler.

6. Never Use Scare Tactics

This isn’t necessarily to help your kid brush their teeth, but it will save you a world of headache at their next pediatric dental appointment. Never tell their children that if they don’t brush their teeth then they’ll have to go to the dentist. This will just make them afraid of their dentist, which won’t be fun to deal with in the long run.  

7. Be A Good Example

Brush your teeth at the same time as your kid. This will help them to see that even big people need to keep their teeth clean. If you aren’t actually ready to brush your teeth for the night, you can always forgo the toothpaste and just act like your brushing your teeth.

Every child is different so what works for one might not work for another. The key is to stay consistent and positive. Compliment them on how good they are at brushing their teeth as you teach them to make good oral hygiene a part of their daily routine.

The post 7 Ways to Help Your Kids Brush Their Teeth appeared first on InstantELLA.

The wonderful thing about teachers, though, is that they love what they are doing. They try to support the kids that come into their classrooms, and they are usually doing their best to provide the best possible learning environment for each of their students.

Here are a few things that parents of preschool and grade-school age children can do to help your kids’ teachers.

Donate Books

25 doable ways to volunteer at your kid’s school

Teachers love to have books available for their students to read during their downtime. A great way to support your child’s teacher is to give her a few books. These could be books that your children no longer like or even stories that you picked up at a garage sale. However you come by the books, the teacher will be grateful to add them to their meager supply.

Purchase School Supplies

What Teachers Need Most in 2018 (in Every Grade Level and Subject)

Most parents roll their eyes when they see the school supplies list. They think that it isn’t fair that they have to buy hand sanitizer and tissue for the classroom. This may come as a surprise to those parents, but your child will probably need tissue and hand sanitizer sometime during the semester. If you don’t buy it then the teacher will have to and chances are your student will still use those things.

One way to make those supply lists more useful is to include items that help students learn more efficiently and cut down on waste. For example, a pen that can be erased cleanly lets kids fix mistakes without messy crossings-out or extra paper. Many parents and teachers have found practical value in the Pilot FriXion erasable pen, which comes in pens, highlighters and stamps and erases neatly for neater homework. Tucking a couple of these into a pencil case can save time and help students turn in cleaner work more confidently.

Be Involved In the Classroom

Why I Volunteered in My Kid’s Classroom and You Should Too

Teachers are always looking for volunteers to come into the classroom and help with activities. Whether it is dressing up as a witch and serving the children “snot-stew” (based on the children’s book Snot Stew) around Halloween, or being the chaperone on a field trip, the teacher will be grateful for any help you’re willing to provide.

Attending School Board Meetings

Three Reasons Why You Should Attend Your Next School Board Meeting

If you are able to help on a more managerial level, try to make it to the next school board meeting. This is where all of the big decisions are made, and your extra voice could be the difference between a band competition and new parking spots for seniors.

Volunteer

A+ Secrets of Awesome School Volunteers

There are lots of ways to volunteer besides in the classroom. You could be part of the parent music committee and help with the band and choir. You could be a coach on the speech and debate team. By doing these sorts of these you help make possible what the teachers are trying to do for your kids.

If you’ve read through this list and none of these suggestions seem like things you could do, then talk with your kid’s teacher. They will be thrilled that you are willing to lend a hand and, most likely, they will be more than happy to find somewhere for you to help.

The post How to Support Your Child’s Teacher appeared first on InstantELLA.

With this change comes many fun things, school, holidays, snow, but it also means the kids can play less and less outside. Cold temperatures mean more time inside.

This means more time for you to fill for them, which can sometimes be difficult.

So, what indoor activities can you do to keep them occupied and you sane?

Here are five fun indoor activities to do with your kids that will keep you all warm and entertained.

Let them help with interior design

Best Indoor Activities for Winter Break

Having extra hands around can also mean having extra help around the house, but instead of having it be the same old chores, maybe use it as an opportunity to let them add their personal touch to decorating the house.

If you don’t want it to extend to the entire house you can just start off with their rooms, and adding such things as wooden letters for their walls, creating little paintings to hang up, and picking out some new bedding, whatever is easiest and fun for them.

Have a hot chocolate bar

CREATING THE PERFECT HOT CHOCOLATE BAR FOR KIDS

A fun idea to do with the kids and a good idea for dessert as well is to put together a hot chocolate bar.

The fun part about putting this together is you can have the kids pick out the things they wish to have in it, and you can let them use their imaginations.

Then set it up for them and let them get creative with it, all ending with some delicious concoctions and smiles on their faces.

Plus, you get never go wrong with hot chocolate when it’s chilly outside.

Everybody story time

Why it’s important to read aloud with your kids, and how to make it count

This is another activity that could possibly happen in the big, giant and comfy fort that you build if you want to lesson screen time and have more family interaction.

What you do is have someone start off by telling a story, and after whatever designated time you choose it will be time to switch to someone else who has to pick up the story wherever the other person left off and then continue on with their own story.

Laughs are sure to ensue and it’s a great way to be interactive and use their imaginations.

Movie fortnight

Indoor Winter Activities for Kids

Having a particularly cold, snowy night? Gather all the family together and get as many blankets, sheets, pillows and whatever else you want all together to build a giant fort.

Have fun with the kids putting the fort together however you like, and then when it is done, turn on a movie inside of it and all get comfy and cozy as you watch it.

The kids will think it is so much fun and may want it to become your new weekly or daily tradition.

Ultimate hide and seek

Power’s out, fun’s on: 29 indoor activities for kids and families when the lights are out

One night you can have all the family come together and find all the flashlights you can, turn off all the lights and have the ultimate hide and seek.

It will be crazy but fun, and it will help get their energy out as well as creating a fun family time.

While setting up these exciting activities, you should also consider making your home more comfortable. For instance, your furnace is essential for keeping your space warm and cozy. Therefore, invest in furnace maintenance services to ensure that your heating systems operate safely and optimally. Understanding what happens during a furnace maintenance visit is vital for homeowners looking to improve their systems’ longevity and performance. Furnace maintenance professionals usually run detailed inspections and servicing of your heating systems when they visit your home. Now’s also the time to get lots of fuzzy blankets and throw pillows, so feel free to consider this.

The post 5 Fun Indoor Activities for Kids to Survive Winter appeared first on InstantELLA.

Change How You Talk About It

Make Choices for the Better

Maybe you really don’t like going to the doctor yourself. Chances are, your child can tell and they might start to be afraid of their own visits because of it. Instead of letting fear get the best of you, try out a different approach.

Busy Days, Crazy Nights: Today’s Top Android Apps for Tired Dads

When talking about a check-up, whether yours or theirs, speak clearly and calmly. You want your child to feel safe when they arrive at the office, and you can reassure them with a positive attitude. You should also talk about it more routinely in this positive way. Your child can then become more comfortable with the idea of visiting the next time it comes up.

You can also communicate clearly and accurately with the doctors and staff taking care of your child ahead of time. Make sure you know your child’s updated health history and medications so staff can treat your child accurately. If you have complaints or concerns, talk about these without your child present and in an understanding way.

See a Pediatric Professional

Getting Proper Medical Care for Your Family

There are many types of healthcare professionals to choose from, and many of them specialize in certain age groups. If your own providers don’t treat children, find a pediatric or family doctor, or a kid dentist that your child will feel comfortable around.

These practices tend to fill the office with fun toys, exciting pictures and paintings, and staff that are great with children. They might even give rewards to children for being great patients.

Make It a Learning Opportunity

8 Things You Should Know Before Going to the Dentist

When you’re talking about any type of doctor’s visit, take the time to explain what happens when you get there (in that positive light we talked about). Encourage your child to ask questions before you go.

The physician or staff members caring for your child are also happy to talk with your child and teach them about what they do. They’ve had practice making it sound less scary, too. By the end, you may end up taking a future doctor home with you.

Use Comforts & Distractions

Ways to Bring Your Family Closer Together

If your child is especially anxious in the healthcare setting, pull together a few items that can help everyone get through the experience with the least amount of pain possible. Your child may have a favorite toy or blanket that can accompany them on the visit. Some dentist offices even offer a television at each chair to keep minds entertained during cleanings.

You can also use things like music and stories to distract your child’s mind from what might be a traumatic experience otherwise.

Offer Treats & Rewards

5 Reasons Why Parents Should Share Their Gaming Passion With Their Kids

Rewards can have an amazing effect on your child’s behavior while at the doctor’s office. It doesn’t have to be something extravagant, but use your best judgment when selecting a treat for your child. It could be literally that: their favorite ice cream or meal that evening, a small toy, a visit to the playground, or a movie they’ve been waiting to see.

While the promise of getting something afterward is effective, don’t use this tactic too often or you might find your child needs bigger rewards to deter their tantrums.

The post 5 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Patient Experience appeared first on InstantELLA.