Karissa Tunis

9 Ways to Help Foreign Language Learners Prosper

Did you know that according to the Modern Language Association, foreign language study is on the rise in the United States? More and more people realize the importance of learning a second language. And schools are starting to offer more foreign language programs than ever before. If you’re looking for ways to help facilitate foreign language learning and promote success, read on! This article will discuss nine ways that can help learners prosper in their studies.

For more on this topic, check out the full Education Options collection

Provide Opportunities To Practice

This can be done in several ways, such as having conversation hours or offering tutoring sessions. If you’re a teacher, you can also create assignments that require students to use the language in creative ways. The more chances students have to use the language, the better they will become at using it.

Encourage the Use of Native Resources

Many language tutors online and offline resources can help foreign language learners, such as online dictionaries and forums, apps, and books. Encouraging students to use these resources will help them feel more confident in their abilities and learn more about the language. In addition, Saddleback Educational Publishing suggests high interest low level books for esl students to help with language skills.

Create a Positive Environment

It’s essential to create an environment where learners feel comfortable making mistakes. This can be done by encouraging questions and offering praise when students do well. Creating a positive environment will help students stay motivated and engaged in their studies.

Be patient and Encourage Progress

Learning a foreign language can be difficult, and it’s essential to be patient with learners. Please encourage them to celebrate their progress, no matter how small, and remind them that everyone learns at different rates.

Make It Fun

Learning a foreign language doesn’t have to be all work and no play. There are many ways to make learning fun, such as games, songs, and movies. Incorporating these activities into your lessons will help students stay engaged and interested in what they’re learning.

Set Achievable Goals

It’s important to set realistic goals for students to help them stay motivated and on track. If students feel like they are constantly struggling to reach an unattainable goal, they may become discouraged and give up.

[Read: Achieve New Goals]

Provide Positive Feedback

Positive feedback is essential in any learning situation, but it’s crucial when learning a foreign language. Students need to feel like their efforts are being appreciated to stay motivated.

Incorporate Pictures and Realia

Using pictures and https://busyteacher.org/2842-realia-esl-classroom.html real-life items in your lessons can help students better understand your teaching concepts. It can also be fun to mix up your lesson plans and keep students engaged.

Follow Routine

Having a set routine in your lessons can help students feel more comfortable and confident. This doesn’t mean that you have to do the same thing every day, but having a general idea of what will happen during each class will help students follow along and participate more easily.

As you can see, there are many things that you can do to help foreign language learners prosper. Incorporating these tips into your teaching will help create a positive and successful learning environment.

For more on this topic, check out the full Education Options collection

What to Look for in a Heating and Cooling Expert?

December 4, 2022

When hiring a professional HVAC technician, make sure they are licensed and insured. You can find out their qualifications by asking them directly, or by doing some internet research. It’s also possible that contractors in certain states are required to have special licenses or accreditation. So do not hesitate to ask for assistance from local, state, or federal authorities to verify their credentials.

Both liability insurance and a current license are required of HVAC technicians. Some states even require interning or testing before issuing anyone a license. This guarantees that you’ll be hiring an expert in the field.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

You should get dependable experts to do the task

When hiring someone, be sure that it is someone you can trust – especially since you will be paying them your own money. Find out whether the HVAC technician you’re considering is licensed and bonded before you employ them. If an expert fails to provide as promised, you will be better protected from legal repercussions thanks to these protections.

Checking the insurance status of a prospective AC contractor is a smart move. If you have any worries about the validity of their license, it is your job to investigate. Verify that they are licensed and insured. If you want peace of mind that the HVAC specialist you choose has the proper education and experience, go no further than a licensed professional. It is best to choose with a reputable firm that is well-liked by its clientele and charges reasonable rates. Choosing a less expensive Los Angeles heating and air company might be a good option if saving money is a priority. If you have any worries regarding the quality of their work, it is not worth the cost.

Do your homework and get a good start

Before committing to a heating and conditioning expert, it’s important to do some research. If you don’t know what to look for in a heating and air conditioning expert, read some reviews online. It’s also important to verify if they have the necessary licensing in your jurisdiction. If you have an urgent problem, you should get in touch with the organization right away.

You may also want to research user reviews and pricing comparisons on the internet. Before hiring an air conditioning professional, check that they are licensed and insured. Because of this, you can be certain that they will keep your property in pristine condition. In addition, picking someone who will need constant upkeep is crucial. Non-certified HVAC services may come with higher fees. Ask whether they provide any assurances for the quality of their job.

Get recommendations

You won’t have to go out of your way to get a qualified repairman. Starting with local contacts, such as friends and relatives, is recommended to narrow down your search. Find out who they call for HVAC help and why they like them. You should learn as much as possible about a technician and the assistance they provide before hiring them. Examining their price structure, sample projects, and degree of expertise are all helpful first steps. Your closest friends and family would be the best choice as a reliable source for this information.

The low-priced vendors don’t care about your requirements

Because of the increasing efficiency of today’s furnaces, it’s not enough to just buy a new unit and plug it in. On the other hand, many low-priced service providers don’t give a hoot and continue to use inefficient methods. A cheap installation will result in a furnace that is undersized for the home. So be sure to do your research before deciding on what is right for your home and space.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

Free Printable Teacher Poem – A Year End Thank You!

I wrote this teacher poem as a year end thank you for my oldest son’s preschool teacher! And now I have updated it and turned it into a free printable teacher’s gift. Keep scrolling for great ways to show your kids’ teachers how much you appreciate them!

For more on this topic, check out the full Summer Learning collection

Free Printable Teacher Poem

Simply print out the teacher poem below, frame it, and give it to your kids’ teachers for the end of the year as a way to say Thank You! When I gave this to my son’s preschool teacher, she cried and gave me a huge hug – which, of course, made me cry too…

This poem is perfect for preschool and kindergarten teachers because it highlights the unique things that they help our kids learn throughout their first classroom experiences.

Additional Teacher Gift Ideas

Check out this Teacher Appreciation and Gift Giving Guide written by a teacher herself! Here Katie offers 12 teacher gift options that your child’s teacher will surely love!

Here is an article that offers tons of fun, low-budget gift ideas for Mother’s Day. While we know that you are looking for teacher gift ideas, this article may provide some new ideas as it was created with inspirations for sweet and thoughtful gifts – Mother’s Day Ideas – Quotes, Gifts, Cards, Recipes, and More!

Bonus option for buying your child’s teacher the perfect gift

Another fun and unique option could be custom enamel pins no minimum from GS-JJ.com with no minimum order. Or a set of customized lapel pins that your teacher can add to any outfit, or enhance a personal accessory like a handbag. This option allows for you to customize some unique and interesting thank you words, or words on the brooches. For small orders Vivipins offers cheap custom lapel pins with personalizations.

For more on this topic, check out the full Summer Learning collection

7 Foods To Boost Oral Health

There is a lot of truth to the expression “you are what you eat,” especially for your gum and teeth. Tooth decay and gum disease-causing bacteria inside the mouth enjoy the sweet and starchy foods you eat. As a result, your diet can be the difference between wearing a healthy smile and making regular trips to the dentist. Consuming a diverse range of nutrient-dense meals from all food categories supports healthy teeth and gums. Below are seven amazing foods to brighten your smile and boost your oral health.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

Crunchy vegetables

Loading up on crunchy vegetables is a terrific way to tap into natural teeth cleansing. The fiber and roughage-rich crunchy vegetable aids in removing plaque from the teeth’ surface when eating. Aside from that, it also increases the water content in your mouth, which washes the plaque away from your gum and teeth. Carrots, for instance, are a wonderful cavity-fighting veggie and high in nutrients.

Strawberries

It is common knowledge that vitamin C benefits the body due to its antioxidant properties and role in the repair and growth of tissues in various body regions. It also repairs and promotes tissue growth in various body regions, including the mouth and teeth. Vitamin C is required to produce collagen in the teeth dentin to preserve its structure and strength. Strawberries are high in vitamin C, antioxidants, and malic, which can help whiten your teeth naturally. You may also include other C-rich fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, and pears in your diet.

Dairy products

Dairy products have been found in studies to help combat tooth decay. This is due to the component in proteins called casein, which is useful for building a protective coating over your teeth’s outermost layer. Cheese, yogurt, and milk, like all calcium-containing dairy products, can help with bone strengthening and improve your dental enamel to make it more resilient to plaque. When you eat sweets, plaque releases toxic acids that eventually erode tooth enamel, forming cavities. You can increase your calcium to reduce your cavities risk and give your teeth the power and resilience they require.

Garlic and onions

Garlic may not always be the best remedy for bad breath. However, it contains allicin, which has powerful antibacterial qualities and can help combat tooth decay, particularly periodontal disease. Onion may also not be the best option for fresh breath. But when consumed raw, its antibacterial properties can fight against germs that cause cavities and gum disease. Including more garlic and onions in your diet can be useful, especially if you can’t consume them raw.

Meats and fatty fish

Most meats contain essential nutrients, and chewing them also creates saliva. More saliva is also beneficial because it reduces acidity in your mouth and flushes away food particles that cause decay. Red meat and organic meats are particularly healthy. Additionally, it turns out that steak can even safeguard your dental health and help you brighten your smile.

Medical organizations such as the American Dental Association recommend red meat because it is high in phosphorus, which is important for bone and teeth enamel protection. So feel free to indulge in your favorite lamb chop recipe, beef stew, or even this easy Salisbury steak recipe, but ensure that you enjoy it as part of a balanced diet. Fish is also very helpful in protecting your smile. Phosphorus is also abundant in fatty fish such as salmon and sardines. Additionally, omega-3 fats are believed to calm oral infections and inflammation as it reduces tissue breakdown, and improves general dental health.

Nuts

Nuts are great for teeth because they are rich in essential nutrients, such as phosphorous and calcium. Cashews, almonds, and brazil nuts can help your immune system combat the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Peanuts, for instance, are calcium-rich and beneficial for your gums and teeth. Cashews are noted for stimulating saliva, whereas walnuts have everything from folic acid, iron, fiber, potassium, zinc, and other vitamins.

Whole grains

It is true that simple carbs can attach to your teeth and aid in the growth of cavities, but fortunately, whole grains do not. According to the University of Colorado, brown rice, whole wheat bread and pasta, oatmeal, and other whole grains are better options because they include complex carbs that provide bacteria to help break down less digestible food. They also include a variety of additional nutrients that actively support the health of your teeth and gums.

Eating healthy diets isn’t only great for your oral health but your overall well-being. The above foods can be useful for improving your smile. However, it isn’t best to seek professional assistance in severe cases.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

How To Make Family Meals That Everyone Will Love

There are few things as satisfying as sitting down to a meal that you’ve lovingly prepared for your family. It is a great way to show them how much you care and a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to new flavors and dishes. However, getting everyone’s approval can be tricky – not everyone likes the same thing. So how can you ensure that your culinary creations will be met with unanimous approval? Here are some tips for creating family meals that everyone will love.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Home and Recipes collections

1) Keep It Simple

When it comes to family meals, simplicity is key. After all, you want to be able to prepare the dish quickly and easily without having to spend hours in the kitchen. Plus, who has time for complicated recipes when there are hungry mouths to feed?

That’s why it’s a good idea to stick to simple dishes that everyone will enjoy. Think classic comfort foods like spaghetti and meatballs, roast chicken, or mac and cheese. These recipes are easy to make and universally loved by kids and adults alike. So why not give them a try next time you’re planning a meal?

2) Get Recommendations From Everyone

If you want to ensure that everyone in the family enjoys their meal, it’s essential to get input from all of them. For example, ask your spouse and children what kind of dishes they’d like to try – this way, everyone can have a say in what’s on the menu.

You can also look for inspiration online or through cookbooks. This is a great way to find interesting recipes for your whole family. No matter what you choose, be sure to keep things balanced by including plenty of fruits and veggies alongside the main course.

3) Use Familiar Ingredients

If you want to ensure that your family will enjoy their meal, stick to ingredients they know and love. This way, even if the flavors are new to them, they’ll have an idea of what to expect. For example, if you’re making chili, use beef and beans as your main ingredients, which are familiar to most people.

On the other hand, if your recipe calls for more exotic ingredients like tofu or tempeh, it might be a good idea to serve those dishes as side dishes instead of as the main course. That way, everyone can still have a hearty meal without feeling overwhelmed by unfamiliar flavors.

4) Experiment With New Flavors

Don’t be afraid to introduce new flavors and dishes into your family’s meal rotation. After all, everyone needs a little variety every now and then! However, if you’re feeling intimidated by unfamiliar ingredients, start small. For example, you could try adding a few new spices to your slow cooker chicken tortilla soup. This way, you can still enjoy a familiar meal with an unexpected twist.

Once you get more confident in the kitchen, you can start experimenting with more adventurous recipes. Just be sure to keep it simple – otherwise, your family may feel overwhelmed by all of the new flavors.

5) Get The Kids Involved

One great way to ensure that your family will enjoy their meal is to involve the kids in the cooking process. Not only is this a great way to teach them valuable life skills, but it can also make them more likely to try new dishes and flavors.

If you’re making tacos, for example, let your children help chop the vegetables or add spices to the meat mixture. You could even have them help assemble the tacos themselves – that way, they’ll know exactly what ingredients went into their meals and be more likely to try them.

6) Consider Dietary Restrictions

Finally, it’s essential to consider any dietary restrictions that might be present in your family. A vegan or vegetarian may need different ingredients than a meat eater, and gluten allergies must also be considered.

Fortunately, many online recipes cater to special diets so everyone can enjoy their meal without compromising their health or beliefs. Just make sure that you double-check the ingredients before serving them – this will ensure that everyone can safely enjoy their meal together.

Making Family Meals That Everyone Will Love

Cooking a meal that everyone in your family will love doesn’t have to be complicated. By keeping it simple, getting input from all family members, using familiar ingredients, experimenting with new flavors, involving the kids in the cooking process, and considering dietary restrictions, you can create an enjoyable and satisfying meal for everyone. With a little bit of creativity and effort, you can ensure that your family loves every meal you make.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Home and Recipes collections

Fun Activities to Do With Your Baby

Welcoming a new child into the world is a wonderful time for every parent. While these little bundles of joy spend a great deal of their time feeding and sleeping, during their waking state they will want to take in and engage with their new surroundings and bond with their parents. Sounds and faces are just some of the curiosities they wish to explore. Using their little fingers to tug hair and grab interesting objects to put in their mouths is part of the process. And as a parent, there are many fun activities you can enjoy with your baby, helping them become better accustomed with their world. Read on to discover more.

For more on this topic, check out the full Baby’s First Year collection

Give Them Some Face Time

Playing with different facial expressions is a fun way for your baby and you to bond. This game can also assist with their mental and social development. As they study the faces you make they become more familiar with your appearance and learn to recognize different types of facial expressions and emotions.

The more exaggerated the faces you can pull, the better. Making silly noises, cooing and imitating the sounds your baby makes is another great way to help them learn about language and communication responses. While hiding your face with peek-a-boo games is guaranteed to bring a giggle to your child’s face.

Go to the Park

Being out in nature on a nice day can be great for getting some fresh air as well as providing your baby with a rich range of sensory experiences. Quality infant carriers are an ideal way to carry your baby for short walks and give you the convenience of being hands-free.

Whether it’s spring, summer, or fall, nature will be alive with various flowers, trees and birds putting on a colorful and melodic display for you and your child. Let them take in the wonder of the sky. The birds and the leaves through Mother Nature’s very own baby mobile by placing them on a blanket beneath a canopy of trees. Allow them to feel the texture of the grass in their hands and the soft breeze on their face.

Sensory Fun

Introduce your baby to different sensory experiences through their sense of touch. Let them explore different surfaces and textures such as felt, velvet, corduroy, and straw. Whether it’s playing with a soft, cuddly teddy bear, or rolling around on a playmat with varying materials, your baby will enjoy exploring the feel of different tactile sensations against their skin. You can also incorporate touch through play. This includes blowing raspberries on your baby’s tummy, gentle tickling, or counting their toes one by one.

Put on a Play

Get creative by making some simple finger puppets to pique your young child’s interests and keep them entertained. Whether you use a pair of old socks, or create some elaborate puppets out of paper. Your child will love seeing these figures come to life, as they talk, dance and sing, and place kisses on your baby’s face.

Along with being entertaining, this fun activity will help your young child’s early development by enhancing their creativity and imagination, aiding their speech and language skills as well as promoting social interaction.

As this article highlights, there are many fun activities you can enjoy with your baby that will not only keep them entertained, but can also aid in their early development.

For more on this topic, check out the full Baby’s First Year collection

How To Cook Much Healthier Meals Without Stressing About It

If you want to be healthy, then you’re obviously going to need to focus on what you eat. Diet is the number one concern here. So as long as this is good, the rest will surely follow. Cooking your own meals at home is a good start. Especially because you can control exactly what goes into them. But how you cook those meals also matters, and you might find it can be quite stressful trying to keep them truly healthy. Here are some ideas for you to consider, to help you cook healthier meals without the stress.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

Keep It Fresh

Freshness is your friend. The less time there is between plucking an ingredient out of the ground and cooking it, the better. There are obviously numerous impediments to this, or else we would all be eating completely fresh food every day. It is ordinarily quite pricey to eat fresh, and it can sometimes just be logistically impossible. Nonetheless, as far as possible, aim to use the freshest ingredients you can. Growing your own veg is a good start. And something you can do even with only a little space in your garden.

Swap The Deep Fat Fryer For An Air Fryer

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard about air fryers in the past few years. Despite the name, they do actually require a dash of oil to get going – but it’s only a dash, not the huge vat of fat required for a deep fryer. The joy of an air fryer is that you can cook anything you could cook in a deep fryer. But much more simply and with considerably healthier outcomes. To get started, try these delicious air fryer sweet potato fries, or crumb a filet of fish and fry that. The sumptuous results will be sure to convert you.

Do Less

There is a great rule of thumb that you might want to think about following when it comes to cooking at home, and especially if you want to be healthier: just do less to the ingredients you are using. In other words, when you have natural whole foods that are already full of goodness, every single thing you do to them will take some of that goodness away. In fact, the less you cook a vegetable, the better it is for you. That’s why steaming is such a great way to cook your greens, for instance. Do less, and your body will feel more.

Remember Portion Control

Even while cooking and before anything goes onto a plate, you have to try and remember portion control. If you are able to bear that in mind, you’ll find that you end up with a much better portion on the plate, and any nutritionist will tell you just how important this is to keeping healthy. This doesn’t mean starving yourself, just that you should take care not to overeat, if at all possible. That alone is going to help you be a lot healthier with your meals.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

What Should You Put on Your Baby Registry?

Have you been planning a baby shower? Or perhaps you’re simply looking to ensure that you are as prepared for the arrival of your little one as you can be. Whatever the case might be, having a baby registry can definitely be helpful. And these 5 things could be worth considering as part of your decision. Luckily, we’ve outlined some of the key things that you should put on your baby registry as follows to help inform your decision and make the entire process a little less daunting. So, you can ensure you’re ready for anything!

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

What Should You Put on Your Baby Registry?

Your baby registry offers a simple and excellent way to prepare for our upcoming arrival. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be an overly complicated list. But some of the essentials may include the following.

#1 Diapers

Let’s face it – anyone who’s welcoming a baby into the world needs to be prepared for a lot of mess. Luckily, investing in top-quality diapers will help ensure that the dreaded “poonamis” are as few and far between as possible. Of course, though, these will add up in cost very quickly. So adding them to your baby registry list may allow your friends and loved ones to buy them for you as a cost-saving gift, instead.

Plus, specialist diapers such as the BabyCozyBouncy Soft range for newborns are designed with comfort in mind, too – keeping your little one fresh and happy.

#2 Baby Wipes

It’s no good having diapers alone! You also need plenty of baby wipes to keep your little one’s bottom squeaky clean and – well – soft as a baby’s bottom! With this thought in mind, it’s well worth adding baby wipes, such as the delightful BabyCozy Coconut Nourish Wipes, to your baby registry. Make sure you’re covered for when things get messy.

#3 Clothing

By now, you’ve got the basics you need to keep your baby hygienic in the immediate moment. But that’s not going to help keep your little one warm! As such, clothing is definitely an important addition to your baby registry – and be prepared, because your baby will get through a lot of them. Not only will you need (at a minimum) one change of clothes per day, but you’ll likely need to change your clothes regularly.

The aforementioned poonamis and that stomach-churning fresh baby sick are unfortunately a common occurrence. So having a very generous wardrobe is usually a good idea. Try to allow for at least 15-20 onesies, as well as additional blankets, bibs, sweaters/hoodies, mittens, hats, and so on to keep your little one toasty warm.

#4 Feeding Equipment

Whether you’re hoping to breastfeed or use formula, ensuring you’ve got plenty of baby-feeding equipment is crucial. Just a few of the necessities here that you’ll absolutely need for your baby registry include nursing bras and/or baby bottles (with nipples), nipple cream, a nursing cover, bottle brushes, and so on. If you’re planning to breastfeed and bottle feed interchangeably, you may also want to invest in a breast pump and breast milk freezer bags.

#5 Toys And Furniture

Now that the main essentials are out of the way, we can get onto the most exciting parts of your baby registry – toys and furniture for your little one! The most obvious necessities here include a car seat, stroller, crib, rocking chair, baskets, and so on to help keep your baby and their belongings safe.

Of course, they won’t be that interested in toys as a newborn. But soft toys, swings, seats, bouncers, lovey blankets, and the like are all popular options for a little while later. Soft baby books, activity mats, rattles, teething toys, and so on could also come in handy as your baby grows!

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been looking to expand your family, ensuring you know what you’ll need to begin with is hugely helpful. After all, a baby takes a lot of care. And you might be surprised by just how much they need! Luckily, making a baby registry is a great way to ensure that you’re prepared for their arrival – and a baby registry is an ideal way to start the preparations process.

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

8 Tips for Keeping Your Family and Home Safe

November 17, 2022

If you compiled a list of all the things you loved in life, you’d probably have quite a long list. It likely includes taking a personal day from work. A nice time spent reading on the beach. Enjoying the excitement before a vacation. Or, finding money in the pocket of your clothes. But certainly one thing stands out far beyond the other mentions on your list is your family. Of course you undoubtedly love your family! But you probably don’t include them on the list as often as you think because you just assume it’s a given that you love them and that you want to keep them safe.

Keeping your family safe is a prime example of one of the ways you show your love for your family without even thinking about it. You just do it. But the reality is that you can always be doing more. This often means protecting your home too, possibly with a home alarm system (check out more info here), because that is supposed to be a safe place for you and your loved ones. Here are 8 tips on how you can keep your family and your home safe to show them how much you care.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

8 Ways to Keep Your Family and Home Safe

Install a Screen Door

It doesn’t sound like much, but a screen door (and other custom home accessories) can offer a lot of value in many different ways. Primarily, a good screen door is great for protecting from harsh weather. It allows you to open up and vent out the house without letting things in. And it’s just another obstacle that a crook would have to avoid. If you look at Custom Screens & Security Products, you can see what kind of protection these home accessories offer. Beyond that, plenty of homeowners add protective measures to windows as well for the very same reasons.

Weather-Proof the Basement

Your basement is usually a cozy spot intended for rec room activities like a pool table, or maybe a home theatre. But it’s also, unfortunately, a problem when it comes to the safety of the home. The issue is in the fact that a non-sealed basement is not weather-proofed. Flood damage and water issues can cause serious problems! So you want to make sure that the foundation is secured (no cracks or broken seals) and that any windows, or other areas of concern, won’t be susceptible to water damage getting in and causing havoc. Get your home ready and prepared for anything Mother Nature decides to send your way!

Repair the Roof

Just like your basement, the roof is another area of concern for keeping your family and the home safe. If the basement is susceptible to water damage, imagine all of the problems that can go wrong with the roof. Make sure that gutters, eavestroughs, or any kind of drainage are clear and in good shape. Repair shingles to keep water out, and insulate it to ensure that heat stays in during the winter. A well-managed roof will help you avoid some major headaches!

Don’t forget to also check your outdoor spaces as well. You need to check and maintain your roof decks, patios and gazebos. These areas can be the most weatherworn so make sure to keep you dry with the changing seasons. Consider investing in a ceiling drainage system for your deck and outdoor spaces to prevent water damage. You don’t want to keep repairing your exterior more than you need to.

Build a Fence

You would be surprised at how many people, nice neighborhood or not, are victims of some form of invasion of property. Even someone coming onto your yard and peeking into the windows is enough to frighten your family and make them worry about their safety. But luckily a step as simple as putting up a fence is enough to dramatically lessen the chances of someone trying to break in. Not only does it physically prevent someone from getting onto your property, but it also provides plenty of privacy to let your kids or pets run around without much worry.

Set Up Security Cameras

If you really need help keeping the riff-raff out and being aware of what’s going on 24/7, a home security system with cameras is the way to go. Home security cameras are another excellent form of deterrence that can stop intruders before they even attempt to get in. Similarly, if someone does get in, at least you’ll have them on a recording. You can even get doorbells with cameras and sync the footage to your phone when you’re away from home.

Get a Dog

It should be a normal thing for families to have a dog because of how much they add to the family dynamic. Dogs are great for helping kids to learn compassion for other living things and learn responsibility. But on a more practical note, dogs are also excellent guardians of your house and loved ones. You don’t need to spring for a $20, 000 dog that was trained to be a guard dog; because even getting a big enough dog that can bark and scare away intruders is enough. It will add some peace of mind for you and your family knowing you have a canine friend looking out for everyone.

Have a Home Inspector Evaluate the Property

Going back to the weather-proofed basement and roof. – If you don’t understand what to look for, or feel you aren’t getting the full picture, it’s not a bad idea to call in a home inspector to give you a comprehensive rundown of how everything is. Home security isn’t just about stopping burglars. It’s also about the condition that your home is in. So a home inspector can come in and tell you all of the weak spots structurally that could be compromised by bad weather.

Purchase the Right Insurance Policies

In the most prudent and adult way possible, you need good insurance coverage. This helps to keep you, your family, and your belongings safe as well. No matter what you do to help protect the family; like a dog, a fence, security features, etc., sometimes things happen. It could be that someone broke in and stole some belongings. Or a freak accident caused a tree to fall onto your home or car. Whatever it is, though it is an additional expense (you can check the average life insurance cost in the UK here) the right insurance coverage is a necessity to protect you and your property in case of damage, theft, etc.

Furthermore, it’s important to remember that the cost of life insurance is heavily influenced by your age and health. According to extensive research (142,576 term-based policies) from Reassured, the UK’s largest life insurance broker, their average monthly premium between 08/09/21 – 08/09/22 was actually £38.15 for £151.972 worth of cover. Therefore it is important to lock in a lower premium rate while you are still young, if possible.

You don’t need to be Superman to be a hero in the eyes of your family. When it comes to keeping them safe, these 8 tips are helpful all on their own and will make you the real hero.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

Unique Advent Calendar Ideas for Kids and Families

Unique Advent Calendar Ideas for Kids and Families

My kids look forward to a new advent calendar every year, which has made me want to get a little more creative with what I give them each holiday season! We love counting down to Christmas with a dose of daily fun! Keep reading below for a wide variety of ideas to create your own advent calendars…

Advent calendar bags and boxes

If you want to put together your own unique advent calendar, you can purchase boxes, bags, or drawers that you can use year after year!

toy Advent calendars for kids

Want to make your own advent calendar but don’t know where to start? Here are some great ideas for a unique advent calendar for kids of various ages!

Toy Cars – Buy a big pack of Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars and add put them individually into advent bags.

Toy Trains – Purchase some new trains and track pieces to put into advent bags to add so your child can add onto their set each day.

LEGO – Get an open-ended pack of LEGO Duplo or traditional LEGO and give your child a few pieces each day to see what they can create with their imaginations.

Slime – Get a pack of mini slimes of different textures and colors for a fun, new experience each day.

Fidgets – You can buy a bulk pack of fidget toys that you can divide up into advent boxes for a new sensory experience each day.

Mochi Squishies – Purchase a bulk pack of the mini mochi squishy toys for adorable fun every day.

Erasers – I know this sounds boring, but my kids love collecting cute, little animal erasers as desk pets.

Gems and Rocks – Do you have a little rock collector in the family? Buy them a pack of gems to add to their collection each day.

diy Advent calendars for teens

Teens and pre-teens want to be included in the holiday fun too (whether they’ll admit to it or not)! Here are some great DIY advent calendar ideas for teenagers.

Stickers – Buy a multi pack of stickers that they can add to their water bottle, laptop, notebooks, etc.

Charm Bracelet – Whether you want it to be holiday themed or classic, charm bracelets are a great advent item! Give the bracelet itself on the first day, and then a charm every day after.

Tackle Box – Does your teen love to go fishing? Purchase a variety of hooks, lures, and fishing supplies to give one day at a time.

Socks – Buy a themed pack of socks and give a pair each day. Pick something holiday themed or find some that are themed with their favorite series or interests.

Earrings – Buy a pack of beautiful earrings, and give your teen a new pair each day in their advent box.

Doodle Supplies – Go stock up on cool pens, mini sketchbooks, and colored pencils to encourage your teen’s inner artist.

Nail Polish – You can find discounted nail polish bundles right now for the holiday season so stock up and create your own beauty advent calendar.

Money – Decide on a total amount of money that you’d like to give your teen, and then divide that up into smaller amounts so they never know what the day will bring – 25 cents or 5 dollars?

edible Advent calendars

Forget the toys… bring on the treats! Here are some delicious options to fill your advent calendars with candy and snacks the whole family will love.

Interesting Candy Packs – Taste new flavors each day of advent with international candies.

Intense Snacks – With spicy and sour challenges sweeping social media, why not join in on some of the fun as a family?

Decadent Chocolates – You can’t go wrong with this yummy classic. Buy your family’s favorite flavors for a treat each day.

Warm Drinks – Buy a variety of tea flavors, hot chocolate packs, or coffee pods to enjoy as the weather cools down.

quality time Advent calendars

If you’d rather put the focus on family quality time, here are some great ideas for an advent calendar filled with activities and games!

Holiday bucket list advent calendar

Write a holiday bucket list of fun, family activities to do this season. Cut out each activity and randomly pick one each day!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Bake and exchange cookies
Sing some Christmas carols
Make a toy drive donation
Do a random act of kindness
Write and send letters to Santa
Watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Wear Christmas jammies
Eat candy canes
Wear a silly Christmas sweater
Watch The Nutcracker
Play games by the Christmas tree
Decorate gingerbread houses
Wrap presents together
Watch Frosty the Snowman
Work on a holiday puzzle together
Make fancy hot chocolate
Take a photo walk around town
Go ice skating
Take a photo with Santa
Drive around and look at Christmas lights
Make Gingerbread houses
Read Christmas books together
Watch Charlie Brown Christmas
Make magic Reindeer food

family game night advent calendar

Look through the board games and card games that you already own, and then grab a few new ones from the store. List them all out on pieces of paper, and let your kids randomly pick out a game each day to play!

Here are a few unique games for family game night:

holiday books advent calendar

Is there anything better than snuggling in to read a book together? These types of traditions might cause some whining when you ask everyone to come together in the moment, but I promise the memories will be appreciated for years to come!

Here are some cute, holiday books to read as a family:

Advent calendars on amazon

Or maybe all you’re looking for are some fun advent calendars from Amazon that will arrive in a few days without any extra time or effort! Look no further 🙂 Here are some of our favorite grab and go advent calendars on Amazon: