How To Take Care Of Your Entire Family This Winter

Flu and Cold Season is on the Way

The beginning of the school year, can signal the beginning of colds and flu in your home. When the weather becomes cooler and the days grow shorter, health may become a significant concern. Coughs, colds, and even the flu, as well as more severe diseases, can suddenly become considerably more common. It's essential to understand some of the ways you can help your whole family stay healthy during winter so you can enjoy the time you spend together while everyone is safe and sound. The following tip will help you take care of your family during winter months of cold and flu season.

Tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season

Eat Healthily 

Our bodies are amazing machines that convert what we put into them in the form of food and drink into energy and hormones that do everything for us. We are happier and healthier when we eat the proper meals. A bad diet means our immune systems don't work as well as they should, and sometimes shut down altogether, so eating correctly to get enough vitamins and minerals to keep our bodies strong and ready to fight off the numerous illnesses that attack us, particularly during the winter months, is crucial. Try this recipe for baked salmon.

Adopt Healthy Lifestyle as a Family

Fruits and vegetables are the simplest methods to get these nutrients, so getting your five a day is critical. If it's a challenge to include more fruits and vegetables into your diet, try preparing a nutritious morning smoothie for everyone.  Here's a fun way to get kids to eat potassium rich bananas.

Keep Clean 

The simple act of washing your hands can help to keep everyone in the home healthy, and not just the individual who did the hand-washing. The initial point of contact between you and a virus or illness is usually your hands. Giving a loved one a hug, shaking hands, holding hands, and so on can spread diseases from one person to the next. By ensuring that everyone washes their hands frequently (particularly after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and wiping your or a child's nose), you can minimize the chance of unpleasant diseases spreading. If washing your hands causes dry skin (as it may during the winter months), then invest in some excellent hand lotion as well to keep the momentum going. 

This "how to wash your hands" interactive printable lesson is great for the classroom or homeschool, it explains the importance of hand washing in detail and makes it fun.

Check The Animals 

If you have pets, you might discover that they are prone to sickness during the winter months as well. They, too, have immune systems, and although they don't function exactly like ours, that doesn't mean they can't become sick. It is important to take your pet to a great vet, such as exceptionalpets.com, if you suspect they are ill. In this way, you can keep your pet healthy, and everyone else in the family since some animal illnesses can spread to humans.  Our pets can even catch Covid19, so if you're sick, watch them for symptoms. Our bird, a Cockatiel, was very sick when we had Covid, luckily he recovered with some TLC.

Exercise

Getting adequate exercise is another brilliant way to strengthen the immune system. This could be as easy as taking your dog for a walk or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Park a bit further away from the supermarket's entrance, so you'll have to walk a little longer. Spend some time cleaning up the leaves in the garden. It doesn't have to be an exercise class or an hour at the gym, and the more people that participate, the better.  We've got some fun PE Activities to get you moving,check them out!

Help Child Succeed in School

 5 Factors That Determine a Child’s Academic Success

If a child falls behind at school, some teachers might blame the student or their parents, while parents might blame the teachers. While each child’s educational experience is different, certain circumstances can determine their performance and grades, which might be beyond their control. Read about the five factors that can determine a child’s academic success.

1. Emotional Stability

Students with more emotional stability tend to perform better at school, as they can cope with pressure and adapt to an academic environment with ease. Plus, they tend to develop friendly, respectful, and relaxed behaviors. 

However, children living with depression, anxiety, or aggression might struggle with behavioral issues and find it difficult to earn good grades. If your child has poor emotional stability, they could improve their mental well-being with therapy, group support, or prescription medication.

2. Classroom Respect

Disruptive behavior can interrupt lesson plans, negatively impact another student’s education, and result in poor grades and test scores. If a student doesn’t respect a teacher or a school, they are more likely to chat during class, talk back to an educator, or appear insubordinate.

Teachers can take back control of a disruptive class by adopting a tried and tested classroom management strategy, such as offering praise or using non-verbal communication. Also, parents must avoid making negative comments about a teacher or school to their children, as this can cause a lack of respect in the classroom.

3. Parental Imitation

Children will often observe and imitate a parent’s attitude and behavior. If a parent has a negative outlook on schools, education, or work ethic, their children might adopt the same mindset. 

If you want your son or daughter to perform well in school, secure fantastic grades, and enter a rewarding career, you must lead by example. To do so, you must promote education, positive thinking, and a hard work ethic.

4. Educational Inequality

Children from poor backgrounds are often at a disadvantage. For example, many children from low-income families struggled with computer access or internet accessibility when self-isolating during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, many will have fallen behind on their education, while students from higher-income families will have remained on track.

Also, all schools aren’t created equal. Some will receive more funding than others, which can lead to some educators struggling with a lack of textbooks, stationery, or financial resources for field trips and educational activities. The inequality can lead to poor grades, low test scores, and fewer career prospects.

5. Stressors

Children are not immune to worry or stress. Various external factors can affect their focus and performance in the classroom and shape their grades. For example, a child might become disengaged due to bullying, family problems, or a mental health condition. 

It is both a parent’s and teacher’s responsibility to get to the root cause of a child’s poor grades and find an appropriate solution, such as therapy or suspending a bully. Common signs of stressors can include sleeping difficulties, angry outbursts, a lack of interest in hobbies, or changes in eating habits.

How to Renovate a Nursery for First Time Parents

How do you Plan a Nursery?

The prospect of becoming a first-time parent is an equally daunting and exciting journey. There are many things that need to be done in preparation for your baby’s arrival, and for first-time parents, the list can often seem never-ending and overwhelming. Wondering how do you plan a nursery? A key task within that list is decorating the nursery, and organizing a space for the newest member of the family. Although it’s a joyous project, there are various factors and small details that are required to create the perfect nursery for your baby. Here at We Buy Any Home we’ve composed a guide on how to renovate a nursery for first time parents, along with things to include and some helpful tips. This article is written by Holly Herbert.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Planning a Nursery Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1- Make A Plan:

It’s no question that preparing for the arrival of the baby takes planning, and planning the nursery is no exception. Your nursery will serve as a multi-functional room, not only will it be the place where your baby will eventually sleep, but it's where you will dress them, change, teach and feed them. Ensuring you have an in-depth plan is a great way to make sure you have everything you need and no little detail is missing.

Nursery on a Budget Ideas

Step 2- Cleaning and Maintenance:

It’s vital that you ensure your future nursery is pristine before you begin to think about decorating. Babies are incredibly susceptible to germs that arise through dust, pet hair and mold, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time cleaning all surface areas. However, try to refrain from using harsh chemicals when cleaning as the fumes can linger in the air and be toxic if inhaled by your baby. 

It’s important to consider the smaller factors about the room. Are there drafty windows? Is the main light overbearing? Do the door hinges creak? All these small maintenance checks need to be fixed prior to the arrival of your baby, as you want them to have the most comfortable time in their nursery.

Whimsical Nursery Decor Ideas

Step 3- Themes and Painting:

Once you have decided where you are going to put the nursery, then it's time to get creative. If you're thinking about painting then your options are limitless. Traditional colors are usually pink and blue, however neutral color palettes are becoming increasingly popular for a minimalist feel to the room. If you're thinking of being extra creative then you may want to consider going with a theme or perhaps a mural wall. A side note- if you opt to paint the nursery, make sure you buy a non-toxic paint that won't flake.

Don’t forget to decorate the ceiling too. Babies spend a lot of time on their backs, so why not give them a feature to look at. Consider adding a ceiling mural or a soothing color to enhance your nursery.

Under the Sea Children's Bathroom Decor

Step 4- A Focal Furniture Piece:

Most nurseries are centered around a focal piece of furniture such as a crib, but there are other options to choose from. A painted dresser can work well, or a large window or alcove. A small checklist of essential nursery items includes:

•  A cot (mattress and sheets too!)

• Changing table or mat.

• Nursing station.

• Storage for things like clothes and nappies (bibs.)

• Feeding chair.

A helpful tip is to ensure that everything is in reach of the changing table- including wipes, changing table covers, diaper disposal system, laundry hamper and a pacifier. This will allow you to reach for things with ease, avoid stress but more most importantly, keep your eye on your baby at all times. 

What Style Baby Sling are You?

Step 5- Don’t Forget About Flooring:

As your baby grows, you will notice that they will begin to spend more time on the floor- therefore it's an important factor to consider before they get to that stage. If you’re opting to lay down a carpet, ensure it’s a shade that won't highlight stains and spills.  Wooden floors are a popular choice, and you can put down a rug to add a pop of color and cushion any tumbles.

How to Make a Birthday Balloon Cupcake

Step 6- Sentiment:

This is your baby’s first room, so don’t forget to make it feel like home. Including items of sentiment for example, family photos, generational gifts such as soft toys and blankets are a neat touch to completing your nursery.

Recommended:

Portable Nursing Station

Educational Toy Ideas

Nursery Decor Ideas Amazon

Tips to get Baby to Sleep Through the Night

Affordable Home Mortgages

Can you Afford a Home Mortgage?

Have you been thinking of buying a new home or purchasing your first home but don't know where to begin? An affordable home doesn't have to be a pipe dream. Various government programs or housing non-profits like Habitat for Humanity are available to help even low income home buyers. Can you find an affordable home mortgage? Here are some housing tips to get you started.

                                                    This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Purchasing a new home is daunting, especially if you're a first time home buyer with no or a low credit score. There are many resources out there for financial counseling that can help guide you on the path to home-ownership. The first step is knowing how much house you can afford. An online mortgage calculator is a great resource to let you now what to expect when it comes to your monthly mortgage. Plugging the interest rate and mortgage amount into a simple mortgage calculator is a good way to get started. This type of calculator doesn't include property taxes or other fees like mortgage insurance. For the best estimate on your future mortgage payment, you'll want to try out an advanced mortgage calculator.

Tips to Find an Affordable Home Mortgage

Residents of some rural communities are eligible for affordable, low-interest loans. These loans are available to people who live in low income areas. To see if your neighborhood falls within one of these areas visit the USDA income and property eligibility site. Many areas in Indiana fall within this category.

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority also has down payment assistance programs, programs to help you find low interest rates, and opportunities for tax credits. Visit the IHCDA to see what programs are available in your county.

Learn about the steps to home-ownership at Habitat for Humanity. To qualify for a Habitat home, you'll have to attend home owner courses, do several hours of sweat equity, and pass credit and background checks. Once you've completed the process, you'll be given a low-interest loan at monthly payments you can afford. The path to home-ownership is not for the faint of heart. A Habitat partner-family representative will lead you through the process and a qualified loan officer will work with you to insure that your payment is one that you can maintain long term.

Pathstone is another non-profit that focuses on housing counseling. PathStone offers housing education and counseling in locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Puerto Rico. If you're renting, delinquent on a mortgage, or wanting to purchase a new home, this program will guide you on the best steps to move forward. The counselors at Pathstone can even serve as your advocate through the mortgage processes mentioned above.

The Corona Virus was hard on housing. In 2020, the housing market changed and not for the better. However, there are many Covid Relief grants and special programs to help current homeowners bounce back from missed payments and loss of income. For those looking to purchase a new home, the news isn't as friendly. 

The shortage of affordable homes will get worse because the price of homes skyrocketed in 2020 and beyond. However, CNN has announced that the housing market will weaken in 2021. That may be bad for real estate agents, but it's good news for anyone looking to purchase an affordable family home.  If you are still on a tight budget and can't afford to buy a new house, you can temporarily rent apartments near Boston or other large cities while you work toward your long term goals.

Housing predictions for 2022.

Additional Resources:

Government Mortgage Information and Relief -Government guidance & support for homeowners

The Home Loan Expert - Indiana mortgage advice and expertise

How to save for a House - Actionable tips for buying your first home

Recommended Reading:

How to Apply for a Habitat House

The First Time Homeowner's Guide

Tips to Help you Settle into your New Home

Free Educational Games and Videos for Kids

Online Educational Games and Videos

We've all seen those kids with their faces glued to the tablet in their lap. What are they doing? Generally, they're watching some silly and possibly inappropriate video on YouTube. Even if it's just a cartoon, kids' time could be better spent doing something educational. Playing an online educational game, a game that sharpens hand eye coordination, or watching educational videos, keeps kids entertained while they're learning. If you or your kids enjoy learning online, read on for some fun, free ways to add to your classroom curriculum.

Math and English educational games tend to be the most fun when it comes to educational online gaming, These games are more fast paced, but there are also history, science, and foreign language games too. I prefer to watch educational videos to learn about history and science but you can pair educational videos with online games for a lesson students will enjoy.

Our favorite history videos  are from the  Crash Course in U.S. History series on YouTube. Now, they offer Crash Course Science videos too.  Below, I've shared a few science videos that I think your students will enjoy. 

Educational Science Videos From Crash Course

What's a Species?

 

Organic Chemistry

 

Here are 10 more educational videos for teens

Plays.org is a site full of all kinds of games. You don't have to load apps on your phone or tablet and take up extra space. All of these games are played right in your browser, just add it to your favorites for easy access.

To navigate this free gaming site, scroll down to the bottom page footer where you'll find all of the categories of their free online game collection. As you scroll through the alphabetical list, you'll see the education tab.

Here are my picks for fun educational games from plays.org. 

Defense Math

This site has detailed instructions and tips on game play. Here's a sample description:

Defense Math starts out easy, but gets more difficult as you play. This is a fast and challenging addition, subtraction, multiplication and division math solving game for kids and students. Players must answer an infinite amount of questions to send projectiles to the enemy horde. Players must prevent them from reaching their defense tower. Get the highest score you can get. 

Freaky Math is a fast paced game that works like flash cards. I think this game is great for all ages and it's a great game to play to keep your brain sharp.  You'll be surprised how long it takes to solve some of the problems. Think fast!

Younger children will enjoy this grocery store cashier game from plays.org. The items come across the conveyor belt and you add them all  together, press total and choose the correct amount of cash to pay.

If you need worksheets and other printable curriculum to pair with these free online educational games videos, check out my store on TeachersPayTeachers.

Recommended:

Science Games from PBS

Physics Games from Plays.org

More Free Educational Online Games from Adventures of Kids Creative Chaos

Get Fit with these Fitness Gift Ideas

 Gift Ideas to Stay Fit and Healthy

Here I am again, out of shape. This time, I'm not alone. Covid isolation wasn't kind to many of us. So, once again, I have to get fit. The last time, I really thought I'd kicked it, I had maintained my weight loss and healthy habits for over five years. Sigh. Life is a constant battle. I thought you might want to join me on the journey this time. Are you ready to get fit with these fitness gift ideas? It's okay to buy them for yourself! We all deserve pampering after the past year and a half.

                        This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links for your convenience.

It's July 2021 and I'm kicking off my fitness routine-  Again.  You can follow along on Instagram. Step one, buy cool fitness products to keep motivated!

Fitness Gift Ideas List:

• I've had these Jenn Ardor walking shoes for over two years now. They are lightweight, sturdy, comfortable, breathable mesh. This makes them perfect for hot summer days. 

What I love about them: They just slip on and off, they're comfortable, and they're easy to clean.

Hop over to Instagram to see the shoes on my feet! 

Since then, I've walked in them (you know, back in 2019.) I even mowed the yard in them. Don't you do that, they're a thin mesh, you should mow in boots to protect your feet. Anyway, the point is, these are durable, inexpensive, walking shoes!

• It's not Lemonade, it's Nakedade.  Can you get fit and feel good about yourself naked? I sure hope so! I tried the Nakedade Electrolytes Powder Packets in Fruit Punch flavor. It smells delicious! 

What I like about it: The sweetener is derived from beet juice. Beets are rumored to lower blood pressure. No idea if that works with this powder, but you can read about it, beet benefits.

Here's the blurb about Nakedade:

Nakedade starts with Palatinose™ (isomaltulose), a low-glycemic smart carb derived from sugar beets. We isolate the sucrose from sugar beets, and remove any potentially harmful fructose and glucose. Palatinose™ improves fat oxidation and provides a steady supply of energy to increase exercise endurance.* 285 mg of potassium in Nakedade helps you stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes lost through sweat.

My thoughts:  

• I wish I'd tried Blueberry Lemonade too. It sounds so good. Next time!
• I had to use scissors to open the packet, maybe I'm just a weakling?
• Play fair. Don't drink this after you've had hardcore sweetener like regular juice or soda. Cleanse your  palette with water first. 
• Don't drink it warm. Pop it in a cooler or the freezer for a special treat after a work out. 
• It's a great alternative to those other electrolyte drinks with sugar and artificial sweeteners.
• It's good, especially if you aren't a sugar addict. If so, it may take some getting used to. 

How can you stop consuming sugar? Try these tips.

As always, remember, you can do it!

• I don't know if this falls in the category of fitness gift ideas, but a really good way to help rid your body of sugar loving yeast is to take a daily probiotic. This affordable probiotic from Amazon works well, but it gave me some unpleasant side effects when I used it daily. 

Everyone seems to react differently to different strains. There are many types of probiotics so try a few options before you give up on them. My favorite is the Align generic from Target. My Gastroenterologist actually recommended Align. The Target knock-off is much less expensive and works just as well for me. 

Tip: If I take too much of it without eating properly I get shaky and emotional. You're supposed to take probioitcs with a full glass of water.  Start slowly with one probiotic a day or even every other day.  As you begin to succeed with Candida die off you can get Herxheimer syndrome. A Herkheimer reaction can make you feel tired and cranky. Once you work past the yeast die off, life on the other side of too much yeast and sugar over indulgence is so much better. Just remember Stevia can be your best friend. Learn more about the downside of probiotics.

What I like about it: It keeps thing moving.

• Stevia is a great replacement for sugar. Like the Nakedade above, replacement sweetener can take some getting used to. There are several Stevia based drinks and Gift Packs available.

What I like about it: Stevia comes from a plant that you can grow yourself!

Russel Stove Chocolate sugar free sweetened with Stevia.

• Joy Lab work out clothing for women is comfortable and affordable. At Target, I found navy and peach leggings, tanks, and sports bras.

What I like about it:  This fitness wear is comfortable and well made.

 

• My favorite get fit fitness gift idea is this Weight Gurus Scale from Target.  

What I like about it:  No struggle to turn it on, step on the scale and your weight appears. Connect the Bluetooth app to track you weight loss and bmi.

Recommended:

More on my weight loss journey

Quotes about weight loss

What is Influencer Marketing?

Influencer Marketing is a form of Word of Mouth Advertising

Did you ever have a homepage with Microsoft or are you even old enough to remember those? There's been a steady progression in the world of blogging and I've been along for the entire ride. Now, I'm considered a social media influencer. Influencer marketing is the latest trend on the world wide web, remember that term? Ha. It's been a wild ride. What is Influencer Marketing? 

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Influencer marketing is online word of mouth advertising. It goes like this. I went to a new ice cream shop, I loved the pineapple flavor, I took a picture and shared it all over my social media pages. It's true. I do love pineapple ice cream. If I tell you how much I love it, maybe you'll try it and love it too. Generally, influencers are trusted or are recognized as a celebrity or specialist in their area of influence.

Me? The influencer progression went like this: 

• Microsoft Homepage - I shared my page with my family members to update them on the status of my new baby. (He's 17.)
• MySpace page for my family - like a scrapbook.
• Blog - Here's what we've been doing, doesn't it look fun?
• Facebook page - So, you want how to instructions for the kids activities we've been doing?
• Twitter profile - Because someone told me I had to have at least 5k followers to be of any value. (Twitter doesn't really fit my niche.)
• Pinterest profile - Picture this and save it to make later! My stats skyrocketed quickly, so I wrote a how to book which ended up on Amazon's Best Seller's list and that boosted my influencer status.
• Instagram profile - Everyone's doing it, it's the place to be. So, I did it too.

In between all of those social media platforms, I tried Snap Chat, Periscope, Blog Frog, Google+, and a host of other platforms that you've never heard about. My influencer status grew by leaps and bounds on Blog Frog. Once I caught on to how they got paid when I wrote an article or allowed ads on the page, it was a game changer.

Suddenly,  I realized that I could do that on my own website. I solicited brands, got free product, and a small payment for my articles. This method later became known as the sponsored post. The more sponsored posts I did, the more I was hooked. Next thing you know, I'm a huge (one of the first) Pinterest influencer. It happened while I was looking the other way. 

Over the last several years, my influencer status has grown to include Instagram. People like to see what other people do behind the scenes. That's why these unboxing YouTube videos are all the rage. While I do love to receive free product, as an influencer, it is important that I am compensated for my time. It's how I make my living. Never heard of me? Just Google it.

These days, I like to focus on educational kids' activities and budget friendly family travel. However, my blog is considered a lifestyle/parenting website so I get offered all sorts of influencer marketing proposals. I can afford to be choosy. 

Back in the day, Paris Hilton was one of the first social media influencers. Now, anyone can be an influencer, celebrity not required. You just have to be patient and persistent. There are many bloggers who became influencers by accident. I particularly like this story about the Barefoot Marathoner in the Influencer Spotlight. Like me, she was just doing her own thing, minding her own business when people began to take notice. Surprise, you're an influencer! 

Some Influencers make their money with YouTube advertising. I haven't found the time to focus on YouTube. Notice, I forgot to even mention it my progression list, it fits in somewhere after Facebook. I've helped other websites market themselves with YouTube, but my own profile falls flat. Maybe someday.

We don't have to all love the same things! There are some platforms I just don't love, and they obviously don't love me back. If you want to start building your own influencer marketing business, pick a social media platform that you love. Build it, love it, and they will come. Don't be fake. Just be yourself.

So, how do I use Influencer Marketing?

I get offered products to try. I do a lot of kids' recipes and snacks. So, influencer marketing platforms pair me up with food brands and retail stores who send the product and offer a small payment - they call it a fee. That can be confusing to newbies. It's a fee that I require to publish the article on my website. It's a payment to me.

I also get free tickets to events in exchange to promote the event on my social media pages and write about my experience on my blog.

I get pitched various things to post on my Instagram. I try to curate these to include only things that my followers (largely teachers and homeschoolers) will appreciate learning more about. I charge a fee per post or story.

When I do a sponsored post on my blog, I almost always share it to Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. I charge an additional fee to share it to Instagram because it seems to be a premium service. If sponsors just want me to pin something on my Pinterest profile, I'm happy to do it for a fee. Time is money. Even adding a link to an existing blog post takes time, so I charge a fee for that too. 

What should you know? There are regulations on sponsored posts. Sponsored posts should be noted as such. On my social media pages, I am required to add #ad or #sponsored. Amazon affiliate links require a disclaimer at the top of the blog post. I always say, "This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience." For other sponsored posts, I use different language, 'This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own." or "Post sponsored by INSERT BRAND." 

What's the biggest rage in influencer marketing these days? I'd say it's tiktok. Notice I don't have that listed above? I'm still thinking about it. Still. I've never been an early adopter, but I do okay. Juggling all of those different social media platforms is very time consuming. Many times, by the time I get around to thinking about signing up for a platform, it's already obsolete. 

Now, how do I find these influencer marketing gigs? Well, these days most of them find me. However,  if you're just starting out, just do a search for 'influencer marketing,' 'sponsored posts,' or 'become an influencer.' There are a ton of sites that help pair influencers with sponsors.

Good Luck! If you have any questions on your journey, feel free to reach out to me.

Recommended:

More on Social Media Marketing from Adventures of Kids Creative Chaos