Downstairs bathroom

There could be enough space under your stairs to add a tiny bathroom. Look for a top rated plumbing company that can install a toilet and sink basin beneath. To save space, consider options like wall-mounted toilets and corner sinks. It may even be possible to add a shower to some under stairs spaces by turning the entire room into a wetroom. Having this extra bathroom could help reduce queues for the bathroom in the morning if you have a big family. 

Cloakroom

The space under the stairs could be the perfect place to add a cloakroom to organize coats. You could install multiple hooks on the walls to provide space for lots of jackets. You could also store shoes here on a shoe rack. This can prevent you having to clutter up the hall with jackets and shoes. 

Kitchen pantry

Kitchen pantries are small walk-in cupboards used for storing all kinds of ingredients and kitchenware. The  space under the stairs could make the perfect location for installing a pantry – particularly if your kitchen is not far from the stairs. Those who love their cooking are most likely to benefit from a pantry. If you have a tiny kitchen with few cabinets, you could also find that a pantry is helpful. 

Wine cellar

Love your wine? The space under the stairs could make a perfect mini wine cellar. Here you’ll have plenty of space for wine racks to store an array of bottles. You could also store other alcoholic beverages here and keep them locked away.

Pet hideaway

If you’ve got a dog, the space under the stairs could be a great location for placing their bed and crate. It could serve as their own little room to escape to when they want to sleep. You can also keep all of their toys here too. The space under the stairs could alternatively be used as a home for other pets – rodent cages, fish tanks or reptile vivariums could all be placed here. 

Bookshelves

Avid bookworms could consider turning the space under their stairs into shelving for books. If you’ve already got bookcases in other rooms, relocating all your books to under the stairs could free up space in these rooms. It may even be possible to build a reading nook in some under-the-stairs spaces, giving you a private space to sit and read. 

Kids’ den

The space under the stairs could alternatively be turned into a den for kids to hang out and play. You could store toys and books here. There may even be space for a TV and console. Ask your child to help you come up with ideas for a den so that they appreciate the space.

The post What Should You Do With That Space Under The Stairs? appeared first on InstantELLA.

There is little doubt your family is the most important thing in your life, and, as such, it is important to take steps that are going to help you improve things for you as a family. There are a lot of responsibilities you are going to face as the head of a family, and this is why you need to have some idea of what these are. This is something that you need to keep in mind, and there are so many elements that will help you make the best decisions for the family.

In this blog post, we are going to shine a light on the kinds of considerations you will need to make as a parent, and this is something that is going to play a role in boosting family life, and creating greater opportunities, and a better future. This is something that you need to focus on as much as you can, and this is going to help you moving forward. Here are some of the considerations you need to make that will help with this. 

Boss Your Finances

One of the biggest elements that you need to keep in mind is making sure you do the best you can to boss your finances, and take charge of the family money. This can be achieved in a lot of ways, including doing things like budgeting for your expenditure, as well as working out how much you will need to be bringing into the household each month. You also need to look at how you can cut costs by removing non-essentials from your list of monthly outgoings, and there are other factors to consider as well, such as how you can earn more money.

Getting a handle on your financial situation is super important if you are head of the household, and you need to make sure you are earning enough to cover the expenses required by the family. This is something that you need to try to work on as much as possible, and there are a lot of elements that play a part in this moving forward. 

Extend the Family Home

Something else you should consider when it comes to improving your family life is to look at extending the home. This is going to come with a lot of major benefits that you need to keep in mind, and there are so many avenues that you need to explore when it comes to making the most of this. It is vital to make sure you do the best you can to improve your life, and coming up with some of the major elements that are going to help you extend the family home is crucial. You have so many options for work you can do to the home to make it look great, and add value to it in the process. 

Whether you want to add a conservatory, expand the garage, create a garden office, or even convert the loft, there are a lot of things that you can do to help you make the most of this. Trying to ensure you have the perfect home extension is essential, as this is a great way to extend and expand the home, as well as making the property better and more spacious for you and the family. Additionally, it also improves it as an asset, and this is one of the best things you should be looking to achieve as much as possible moving forward. 

Observe a Balanced Diet

Observing a balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to making things work better for your family, and your long-term health and wellness. There are plenty of factors that you need to consider when you are looking to make this work better for you, and trying to keep the whole family fit and healthy is essential for your well-being throughout the years. The great news is that there are a number of ways in which you are able to keep on top of the family diet. 

Healthy eating is one of the best ways of being able to observe a more balanced diet, so make sure you include plenty of fruit and veg in the family diet, as well as lots of fish. You have to ensure you are eating healthy meals, and try to live as healthy and nutritious a life as possible. You might need to enhance and improve your culinary skills if you want to try to ensure you are giving people the 

Learn First Aid Skills

It is important to be able to look after your family as much as possible, and one of the best ways of being able to do this is to learn first aid skills. There are so many elements that play a role in this, and you have to look at what you can do to improve your first aid skills as much as possible. There are plenty of factors that you need to consider when it comes to improving this process, and looking after your family’s health and wellness is crucial for happiness and harmony. 

You can Google things like CPR certification near me, in order to ensure you can find the right courses so that you can be a qualified first aider. This is going to give you peace of mind when it comes to ensuring you can administer first aid or medical treatment to your family members if and when required. This is something that you need to keep in mind when you are trying to do what is best for your family members. 

Have Dinner Together

A great way of improving family life and dynamic is making sure you have dinner together as a family as often as possible. Too many families eat dinner separately, and barely say two words to one another over the course of a day. This is why it is important to think about some of the leading ways of improving this, and you are going to have to come up with some of the best options that are going to help you bond and connect with each other. 

Spending time together when having dinner is a great way of being able to catch up and talk about your days, and is an important way of being able to connect with your children on a regular basis, without having to book in time with them, or convince them to sit and talk to you. Not enough families have dinner as a household anymore, and there are so many advantages to doing this these days. 

Spend More Time With Your Kids

As a parent, you need to try to do the best you can to spend more time with your children. Not only is this important for things like nurture and emotional growth, it is also a key way of being able to improve your relationship with your children. This is something you need to consider when it comes to improving your bond as a family, and there are so many elements that are going to help you focus on this process as much as possible.

There are a lot of things that you can do that are going to help you spend more time with your kids, and this can be anything from trips out, to games at home, to movie nights, and more. It is vital to consider some of the best ways of being able to make your family bond stronger, and this is something that you need to focus on some of the best ideas that are going to help you spend more time with your kids in more ways.

Holiday Together 

Going on holiday together as a family is one of the best things you can do to make sure you strengthen your bond, and spend more time with the people you love. This is something that you need to try to focus on as much as possible, and there are a lot of options and places you can go when looking to holiday as a family, whether at home or abroad. 

One of the best tips to use for this is to make sure you consider the interests and needs of the whole family, and this is something that you need to try to plan and prepare for. It is vital to make sure you focus on improving your holiday experience, and this is something that you need to try to focus on as much as possible. A family holiday is something that you are going to have to get right when making the most of this, and you need to consider this process as much as you can. 

As you can see, there are plenty of ideas that can help you to improve this process, and you need to come up with some of the best ways of improving things for your family. There are loads of ideas that you need to keep in mind when you are looking to improve your family dynamic, and these are some of the key ideas that will allow you to improve this. 

The post Wonderful Hacks to Help You Make the Best Decisions for Your Family 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.

However, do remember that it’s okay to treat yourself now and then, as long as it’s in moderation.

Don’t Splurge

5 Fun Indoor Activities for Kids to Survive Winter

There’s going to be a ton of super good food during your holiday gatherings, but that doesn’t mean that you have to eat it all. Just remember to be mindful while you are eating, eat slowly, and recognize when you start to get full. When are full, or close to it, stop eating. That’s the hardest part – resisting the urge to splurge on all of the good food. If it helps, just pack a plate of leftovers for later that you can enjoy when you’re hungry again.

Bring Food

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This is where that planning comes in. Most people bring at least one dish to their holiday gatherings, so you can use that as an opportunity to bring something healthy (and delicious) that fits within your diet. You might find that others are really appreciative of the healthy choice too. If you can, bring a couple of items that you can keep going back to throughout the day.

Choose Healthier Options

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Besides brings your own food, it’s likely that there will already be some healthier options at the parties as well. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes (not too much though), veggies trays, meats and cheeses, fruits, and salads are all healthier options that tend to make an appearance for large holiday meals. Eat more of the healthy options and moderate the less healthy options.

Have a Treat Day

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Maybe for the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, you need to have a treat day. If there’s a day when your family or friends are having a get-together, make that you designated treat day to allow yourself some yummy holiday indulgences. Just be sure to reign it in and stick to your diet outside of the treat days that you’ve chosen.

Drink Water

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With all of the drink options available at big gatherings, it’s always best to stick to water – especially if you want to allow yourself more indulgences where food is concerned. Mixed alcoholic drinks, eggnogs, and sparkling beverages tend to have a lot of calories and sugar, so if you choose water instead, you can eat more of the food you enjoy within your diet’s restrictions. Also, drinking plenty of water will help fill you up before you eat too much too and it helps regulate your system as you deter from your standard diet.

Don’t Skip Breakfast

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On the day of a huge feast, make sure you still have a small breakfast or morning snack. If you go to a holiday gathering hungry, you’ll likely eat a lot quicker (and thus more) than your body should have in one sitting. This will help you be more mindful and be able to recognize when you are full, rather than going into full-on binge mode.

Enjoy Yourself

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This is so important! Allow yourself to have a piece of pie or some warm buttery rolls. You should enjoy your time with family, and food can play a huge part of that! Don’t go overboard, but give yourself a little leeway during this time of year.

If you’re concerned about your health through the holidays, you can always ask your family doctor to help you come up with a game plan to make it through without giving up on your endeavors.

The post How To Eat Healthy Through the Holidays 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.

It may seem like yesterday you were taking them home from the hospital, but the reality is that the tomorrow of taking them on their first day of preschool education in Montgomeryville, PA, or wherever in the world you may be, is fast approaching.

Part of your anxiety may stem from thinking about your baby leaving you for the first time, but probably another big part of that anxious feeling stems from the fact that you are not sure if you have done everything you can to prepare them properly.

Whether it is a year, a few months, or a week away there are actual several easy ways that you can begin to prepare your little one for that next big step – heading to preschool. It may seem overwhelming, but getting your little guy or girl ready for school is a lot easier than you think.

Here are six of things that you can do from home that will leave both you and your child pretty confident when it comes time for the first day of school.

Read books about school

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Books are a great way to introduce a topic to a child and to help them learn about it in a gradual and non-overwhelming way.

There are plenty of books out there most likely featuring characters your child is familiar with and showing them on their first day of school or going to school.

Read and discuss regularly with your child the characters in the books who are going to school and how they will go to school and likely do the same things your child will do. This will get them excited for when their time comes and help it seem a lot less intimidating.

Teach them to be independent

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Teaching your child little tasks each day to make them feel more independent will be a great way to help them prepare for a school where they will be doing a lot more independent tasks.

Ask them to help you to do little tasks throughout the day, and as time goes on make those tasks a little bigger and a little bit more difficult.

Let them figure it out on their own at first, then take the time to teach them how to do it, and then stand back and let them complete it.

Adjust your routine

If you know which preschool your child is going to go to, find out their schedule. And if you can, learn how their day-to-day is run and match your at-home schedule to it.

Adjusting your daily schedule to match theirs will help your child to adjust easier once school time runs around, such as getting up earlier than they normally do, taking a nap at a different time, and eating their meals at certain times.

Talk to them

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One of the best things to do with your little one is to be open and honest and allow them to express their feelings about going to school and being without you most of the day.

Talk about how you will have to leave them, but that they will have their teachers and friends there with them so they won’t feel alone or won’t have someone to help them.

If they are nervous or scared let them express it or be observant and watch for abnormal behaviors that could have to do with their anxiety and try to help them with it to the best of your ability.

Buy school supplies

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A fun way for you and your child to prepare for school is to go out together and gather the supplies they will need for a school, such as a backpack, Branded Notebooks, pencils, and paper.

Let them pick out what they want and help them to know what they will be using it for.

Show them how they will pack everything and how they can write their name on it so they will know which is theirs versus their friends.

Find the place that fits both of your needs

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This step is as much to prepare you as it is your child but look for a place that fits both your needs and the needs of your little one.

If you work for example and need both a daycare and a preschool, look up places such as loloschildcare.com which is both a quality preschool and daycare. Or if you want one that is just a preschool, drive around or look online for one that fits that criteria in your area.

Ask around and see what friends with your kid’s same age are doing and discuss possibly sending your kids to the same school.

The post 6 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Toddler for Preschool appeared first on InstantELLA.

5 Changes to Make When Summer Turns to Fall

Of course, you want to gather together for a day of fun, but it’s not always easy to plan out and decide what kind of activities to include. If your harvest celebration needs a boost or just something new to get any returning guests excited, you’re sure to find something in these categories that’s perfect!

Food

There’s no better place to start than food, and it brings people together more than anything else. It can also potentially be the most expensive part of your celebration, so it’s definitely a time to invite those attending to bring something to contribute.

Your main meal should consist of good hot food that even the kids will eat. Things like potatoes, corn, and rolls will fit into your theme and everyone’s bellies with few complaints. You can go easy with hamburgers and hotdogs as your main portion or have some fun with barbecuing, too.

Don’t forget the snacks and sweets that everyone will be coming back through the line for all night long. Pie is a classic must have, but sneak in some cookies, brownies, and other neighborhood favorites so there’s something for everyone.

Contests & Prizes

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Depending on the length of your celebration, it’s a good idea to plan a few activities where your guests can get involved and bring out their competitive spirit. These can be spread out throughout the event or ongoing contests like those you would find at a carnival.

Also, keep in mind the age span you’re entertaining and what restrictions need to be put on certain games. A shooting contest may be exciting for everyone to watch, but you want to be clear about how old you have to be to participate, as well as designating spaces only competitors can enter.

But there are still plenty of fun games to choose from that everyone can take part in. Host a baking or an eating contest, set up relay races that incorporate silly items like blindfolds and pumpkins, plan a scavenger hunt, or invite everyone to dress up in costume for the chance of winning a special prize.

Crafts

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Plenty of your guests will love to watch these games going on, but they might prefer to keep it to that, so a few non-competitive activities will be a necessary complement to any contests. These craft areas will be especially attractive for any young children in attendance.

If this is something you’re really excited about, you can get creative with craft supplies like feathers, glue, and popsicle sticks for children to piece together in festive decorations they can take home. Looking for something a little more low-key? It’s easy to print out themed coloring pages from the internet and grab a few boxes of crayons and colored pencils.

You may want to do something a little more out of the ordinary, too, so hiring someone to paint faces next to your space for painting and carving pumpkins would be a fun addition that keeps the kids from making too much of a mess.

Entertainment

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With so many interactive activities to choose from, you may be feeling overwhelmed, but don’t worry. You can pick a few of your favorites and fill the bulk of your event with some classic entertainment.

Designate an area for music and dancing. You can hire a local music act or pull out the speakers and make your own playlist. Guests can get a breather with intermittent performances spotlighting their talents of singing, acting, or reciting poetry.

It’s also a great time to let people just talk amongst themselves admiring your harvest, discussing your new dome storage from https://www.dometechnology.com/applications/wheat-storage/, and catching up on one another’s families. It really doesn’t have to be overdone, but a few well-placed activities can make your harvest festival that much more memorable.

The post Ideas for Your Next Harvest Celebration appeared first on InstantELLA.

Things To Do on a Summer’s Day

Is there anything you didn’t do last year that you wished you would have done? Now’s the time to make plans that you want to fulfill this year when the weather is nice again.

Top Summer Activities for All The Family

We’ve made a list of 50 things that you should do this year to take advantage of the beautiful warm weather.

1. Plant a garden.
2. Go hiking.
3. Go camping.
4. Climb a mountain.
5. Run a 5k.
6. Lounge in a hammock.
7. Repair your asphalt driveway (call some paving contractors!)
8. Smell the flowers.
9. Swim in a lake.
10. Go horseback riding.
11. Do a nature photo shoot.
12. Have a barbeque.
13. Visit the ocean.
14. Go bird watching.
15. Have a picnic.
16. Play frisbee.
17. Try golfing.
18. Go fishing.
19. Watch the clouds roll by.
20. Go stargazing.
21. Climb a tree.
22. Go to a waterpark.
23. Make a slip-n-slide.
24. Volunteer to walk dogs at a local dog shelter.
25. Read a good book (outside!)
26. Do yoga on your lawn as the sun rises.
27. Go for a bike ride.
28. Visit a zoo.
29. Build a fence.
30. Watch fireworks.
31. Have a water balloon fight.
32. Play beach volleyball.
33. Try water skiing (or tubing).
34. Have a garage sale.
35. Make lemonade.
36. Build a fort outside.
37. Have a bonfire.
38. Throw a backyard party.
39. Have a luau.
40. Dive into a pool.
41. Make salsa.
42. Go berry picking.
43. Make strawberry jam.
44. Go to a farmer’s market.
45. Drive a four wheeler.
46. Go mudding.
47. Get lost in a corn maze.
48. Go apple picking.
49. Visit a haunted forest.
50. Go to a pumpkin patch.

All of this and more are waiting for you when the weather is nice again. Don’t spend all of your time this spring, summer, or fall indoors. Get out and experience the world. Take advantage of the local activities and sites around you.

The post 50 Things To Plan For When The Weather Is Nice appeared first on InstantELLA.