Lilac City Momma

Lynn

The Importance of Reading to Your Child

by

Reading is one of the simplest joys in life, and it is one you should share with your child as early as possible. While to you it might just be a fun activity to do with your kid, there are also reams of benefits they get out of it! Here are the reasons for reading to your child is one of the most important activities you can do.

Bonding Time

Bedtime reading cultivates a time for you and your child where you can bond and enjoy a story together. Reading brings people together, and you can share the magic of story-telling each night. Once they are older, you will both look back on the time you spent reading to them with nostalgic glee.

Increased Imagination

Children have the wildest imaginations, and there’s no better way of pulling that out than through reading. Let them release their creativity by telling them of other’s adventures. You can find imaginative, adventurous stories at juliana-sheikh.co.uk. A great story can be enough to stimulate your kid’s mind, and soon, they will be telling entertaining stories of their own!

Time Away from Screens

These days, it can be difficult to pull anyone away from a screen, but it is particularly crucial to make sure children aren’t spending all day staring at one. One of the better ways of doing that is to introduce reading as early as possible. Make it a fun time for both of you, and they will be less interested in your phone before bedtime.

An Activity Before Sleep

It can be difficult to get your child into a routine, but reading will help you do that. If you have a regular set of activities that ends with a bedtime story, your child will grow more accustomed to falling asleep after it. You might even find they start yawning before you’ve opened the first page!

Increased Cognitive Development and Language Skills

Reading to your kid makes them smarter. It will increase both their cognitive development and language skills. Think about it, children learn through others, so if they are constantly exposed to an array of different words in the form of stories, then they will be more likely to pick them up. One day they might turn into a story-teller themselves.

They Will do Better in School

Their language skills will help them in school. School focuses a lot on reading, so if your child is already exposed to it at home, then they will thrive when they are in the classroom. You might just find that they come home with books above their reading age, and a well-done sticker from their teacher!

More Chance of Becoming an Adult Reader

If you get your child into reading when they are young, there is more chance that they will cultivate a reading habit well into their teens and adulthood. With their happy memories of reading with you as a child, reading will be an enjoyment for them rather than a chore.

Getting into a habit of reading to your child when they are small will create an imaginative reader who will still be seen with a book in hand way after they’ve left home. Encourage reading early, and watch your child blossom into a creative book-worm.

 

4 Tips For Successful Homeschooling

by

 

As more and more parents are forced to rely on their own devices to keep their children’s education going during these precarious times, the more struggles they have trying to figure it all out.

Navigating the world of homeschooling is not something that comes easily for everyone. Having to wear multiple hats in your family is no small matter. From parenting to teaching, to being the bread maker, these are certainly difficult times for parents.

 

To help see you through, take a look at some of the best tips for successfully educating your child at home.

 

Create a Schedule

 

Children thrive in a routine environment. Creating a similar structure to one used inside of a school makes the most sense. In order for your child to be able to benefit from homeschool, routine is essential.

Creating a daily schedule won’t only just give them a sense of security; it will also give you some sort of idea of how your day will play out. Make sure to schedule everything in from when you’ll take breaks to when you’ll have meals. Doing so will also help you make sure that you get everything done outside of homeschooling. No one has forgotten that you still have a job and housework to take care of!

 

Remove Distractions

 

One of the biggest challenges of homeschooling is that children often associate their home with having fun and relaxing rather than a place for learning. Create a learning environment that is free of any distractions.

Make sure that there is no one around them watching TV or having loud conversations. Create a dedicated area that is similar to a classroom environment, which gives them the maximum amount of focus on their work.

 

Try to encourage other members of your house to stay quiet in this designated learning area and avoid interacting with your student during their working hours.

 

Gather Plenty Of Resources

 

One of the biggest reasons why parents start to feel like they’re failing in their homeschooling efforts is because they have a lack of resources. There are all sorts of great websites out there to give you plenty of educational content to support your child’s at-home education.

In addition to finding resources online, you can also reach out to other parents who are engaged in the same learning method with their children. Chances are that they will probably have something that can be of use to you. By trading information and resources regularly, you’ll set yourself up for success.

 

Make It Fun

 

One of the best ways to get children enthusiastic about learning is to make it as fun as possible. Turning learning into a game will help your children stay engaged and excited about their subjects. While not every assignment can be turned into a game, a lot of them can.

Get creative when you can!

 

6 Cheap and Easy Ideas to Make Your Wedding Unique

by

Planning a wedding usually takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Booking a venue, choosing a dress, food, catering, organizing a seating plan, and sending out invitations can leave you with very little time and money left to give your wedding that quirky, personal touch that sets it apart. If you are looking for cheap and easy ideas that you can use to make your wedding unique and memorable, we have listed six of the best here!

Pre-ceremony drinks

Having drinks at the reception is essential, of course, and let’s be honest—a lot of guests will be looking forward to a few glasses of bubbly most of all! However, one way to set your wedding apart is to offer drinks to your guests before the ceremony. A glass of champagne, wine, or a cocktail can be a great start to the celebrations. Make sure not to serve drinks that are too strong—you don’t want your guests to be falling asleep or getting too lively during the ceremony! If you don’t want to serve alcohol that early, why not serve mocktails or iced tea? Non-alcoholic alternatives will also be appreciated by some guests, especially those who are driving.

Custom signs

Custom signage can be surprisingly easy and inexpensive to arrange. For example, you can get a few chalkboards and get your most artistic friend to write custom messages (for example, “this way to the wedding” or “cocktails here!”) in a stylish font. These signs can be left around the venue, or even on roads leading up to it! Custom table numbers can also add some flair to the day.

Creative wedding favors

Wedding favors are small goodies given out to guests, typically items that are useful or fun during the reception, such as bottle openers or disposable cameras. If your wedding has a particular theme, favors that relate to this theme can be fun. If your theme is a little more unusual or “out there” you may have to go beyond any traditional guide to wedding ceremonies. For example, if you have a disco-themed reception, items like novelty sunglasses or glowsticks can be entertaining!

A choreographed dance

The first dance is a special moment at any wedding and is the transition between the formality of the ceremony and the fun of the reception. If you and your partner have some dancing skills, you can really personalize this. Breaking into a choreographed dance routine can surprise and thrill your guests, and really get the party started! Why not start out with a traditional waltz and halfway through change the music and show your best Saturday Night Fever moves? You can even recruit a friend or family member to jump in on the action for an extra surprise.

“To go” gift baskets

Gift baskets to take home can be highly appreciated, as well as being inexpensive and easy to arrange. If your guests are arriving via a coach, you can leave these baskets in there, or you can leave them by the exits of the venue for guests to grab on the way out. If your guests have had a few drinks, you can put together a hangover survival kit, with water, aspirin, and multivitamins to get them going in the morning.

Karaoke after-party

Sometimes guests want to carry on the party after the venue closes. Offering an entertainment option for guests after the reception is over can be surprisingly easy. Let’s be honest, after a few drinks your guests probably won’t be too hard to impress! Booking a room at a karaoke bar, or even getting someone to host it at their place is a great way to finish the night belting out cheesy classics.

4 Tips For Getting Rid Of Mice

by

Unfortunately, when winter hits, mice are known for finding a way into unsuspecting residents’ homes where it’s warm and cozy. There are few things more frustrating than finding yourself with a mice infestation. Not only can they enter your cupboards and start eating your food, but they can also destroy your belongings and incur expensive damage. Apart from that, they carry potentially dangerous bacteria that can hurt your family.

So, how do you get rid of these critters as fast as possible? Take a look at some of the best tips for getting rid of mice once and for all.

Find Out Where They’re Coming From

First thing is first. You’ll need to find out how they’re getting into your home. If there is an entry point, then chances are more than just mice are making their way into your home. Make sure that you find the hole and block it off. Take a look around and see if they’ve built a nest, and if so, you’ll need to call a professional exterminator to get rid of it.

Unfortunately, putting mouse traps all over the place alone won’t do the trick. An exterminator knows how to effectively get rid of the problem.

Use Steel Wool

One of the oldest secrets for getting rid of mice is using steel wool to seal off entry points. Since mice are able to fit through a crack the size of a dime, they can easily sneak into places they need to get.

It’s important to know that anything that you place to block it off will easily be gnawed through. Steel wool, however, cannot be chewed through. Mice will not be able to get through anywhere that has been blocked off its sturdy material. Make sure that in addition is steel wool, you also seal off entries with caulk.

Cut Back Trees

One of the worst things you can do for pest problems is surround your home with trees. Tree branches that lead to your house’s roof or windows are basically an invitation for pests to come make a home there.

Even though you may love the shade that trees provide for your house, you’re not doing yourself any favors in terms of pests. In addition to your trees being cut back, you should also keep firewood far away from the home. Piles of wood are inviting mice and all sorts of insects to come make a nest.

Clean Away Food Debris

One of the biggest reasons why mice enter your home is to eat your food. It’s important that any time you make food in your kitchen, you wipe the remains away thoroughly.

In addition to wiping off counters and surfaces, you should also make sure that all of your food is kept in airtight containers. If there’s no food to get to, mice will lose interest in that area.

What’s the Difference Between Full-Time Assisted Living and Respite Care

by

Entering a new stage of life can be both exciting and overwhelming. With age, new considerations have to be made about what level of care is required. This transition can be tough as you navigate through the variety of senior living options available. If this is the first time you or a loved one is having to consider senior living, the range of options can be overwhelming. Though the available services for residential living are different, they can all sound the same if you’re unfamiliar with the terms.

Does your loved one need assisted living or respite care? What’s the difference, and which best suits their needs? Differentiating between assisted living and respite care doesn’t have to be difficult. Let’s look at the differences so you can find the right level of care for your loved one.

What Is Full-Time Assisted Living?

Assisted living is residential housing—often within a senior community—that provides nursing care, housekeeping, and prepared meals. Full-time assisted living is designed for seniors who may require additional assistance with their daily activities. Residents of assisted living communities have access to 24-hour supervision and care. This includes care services such as bathing and dressing as well as help with medication management.

Who Benefits from Assisted Living?

Assisted living may be the best option for your senior who requires long-term care and assistance. If your loved one needs additional help with their daily activities but still values their independence and social life, you may want to choose full-time assisted living. These communities are designed to meet the health and safety needs of your loved one while still promoting independence and community socialization.

What Are the Advantages of Assisted Living?

Assisted living care is personalized. Each resident has specific and individualized needs. With an array of care available, everyone receives the level of care that’s best suited to them. Assisted living strives to create autonomy and protect the dignity of the residents while providing help with medical needs or personal care. If needs change, the personalized care adapts to meet these changing needs or preferences.

Assistance may include help with bathing and showering, dressing, grooming, incontinence care, and medication management. If your senior struggles with daily activities, caring and professional staff will aid them with such tasks, ensuring they get the help they need while relieving them of any burden if self-care is difficult. With 24-hour supervision and emergency response monitoring, your senior can rest easy.

Assisted living also provides help with daily chores and offers a host of social and recreational activities. They provide meals in a group setting, manage housekeeping and maintenance, and assist with transportation. With the burden of these daily chores relieved, the freedom to pursue interests and hobbies abounds. Senior living communities offer organized recreational activities, exercise and wellness programs, and planned outings. Your loved one can get the care they need while still enjoying the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

What Is Respite Care?

Respite care is temporary care for a senior recovering from an illness or injury. It is short-term care that provides relief for the primary caregiver. Though it can be offered in-home or at an adult day center, it’s often provided at residential senior living communities.

Who Benefits from Respite Care?

Providing care for a senior struggling with an illness or injury can be quite demanding. If you’re family or the primary caregiver and need a break, respite care offers temporary relief. If you’re overwhelmed and need support with your loved one’s care, it’s an opportunity to rest while not compromising their quality of care. Respite care is designed to share the responsibility of caregiving. You can help maintain the health of your loved one while also managing your own.

As a caregiver, it can be difficult to focus on your own health. You may even struggle with feeling selfish for simply wanting a break or vacation. Respite care relieves this burden so you can rest without guilt. Needing support is not selfish and is integral for sustaining your health as well as your loved one’s.

Respite care is also a good option for a senior who has been discharged from a hospital or nursing home and is in need of additional help during this transition.

What Are the Advantages of Respite Care?

Aside from a caregiver getting support with additional or transitional care, a senior needing short-term assistance will also benefit from receiving care in a home-like setting.

They’ll receive the same quality of care and benefits as full-time assisted living residents. This means they have the same access to all the same social activities and amenities, such as meal delivery, transportation, and help with daily needs, including laundry, bathing and showering, and dressing.

They also have the advantage of being within a senior living community staffed with trained professionals ready to help; your loved one has 24-hour supervision and support.

Respite care is also an opportunity to get a feel for what full-time assisted living is like without the decision of relocating permanently. Your loved one can test out assisted living and decide if it’s a good fit for them should they want or need it in the future.

If your loved one requires assisted living or respite care, consider choosing Solterra Senior Living. Our compassionate caregivers are trained to meet your senior’s needs with dignity and respect. We believe everyone should live well. Our well-trained and caring professionals are available 24 hours a day and focus on wellness and independence. No matter what level of care your loved one needs, we are committed to maximizing their quality of life.

Aging can be difficult but providing the best care for your loved one’s individual needs can help them age gracefully with minimal stress for everyone involved. Assisted living respite care doesn’t have to be confusing. Knowing the difference between the types of care available can help you and your family ease through the transition so your loved one can enjoy the highest quality of life for more years to come.