living – Raising Reagan

5 Simple Ways To Improve Your Family’s Life

Having a family is difficult, stressful, and expensive. You care about your spouse and children more than anything else in the world, and because of this you are constantly worried about their health, well-being, and quality of life. Of course you would do anything you can to improve these things for them, but especially in this day and age that isn’t always easy. Here are some simple ways you can improve your family’s life right now.

Preventative Measures

Preventative measures such as calling exterminators for pest control, keeping fire and carbon monoxide alarms in working order, and checking for mold on a regular basis are great ways to keep your family healthy and happy. Most of these things are much less stressful to prevent than they are to take care of later on. So to ensure that stress levels stay low in your household, keep up on preventative measures.

Keep A Schedule

Keeping yourself and the rest of your family on a semi-strict schedule is a fantastic way to make sure stress levels stay low and everyone is as productive as possible. Young children especially thrive when they have schedules because they always know what to expect and there are no surprises. Consider hanging up a calendar or dry erase board so that everyone in the family knows what important things are on the to-do list.

Make Meals At Home

Everyone eats out once in a while, and it can be a fun treat reserved for special occasions, but cooking meals at home is a great way to save money and also make sure that your family is as healthy as possible. When you make meals at home you know every ingredient that goes into everything and can better control the caloric intake as well as keep in mind any allergies anyone in your clan might have. Making meals at home on a regular basis will improve your family’s life for sure.

Home Improvements

A happy home equals a happy family, and making improvements to your home (no matter how small or inexpensive) will make the general quality of life in your family go way up. It’s important that your home is a place where you and all of its other inhabitants feel safe and calm. Things like layout, scent, furniture, paint, textiles, etc. can really make a difference in the mental health of your family members. Consider making changes to the aesthetics and functionality of your home and you might be surprised the positive things it will bring about in your home life.

Don’t get so wrapped up in work and personal obligations that you forget about the importance of your home. Improving your home even in the slightest ways will help so many other things for your family such as their mental and physical health! These things are priceless and will be totally worth whatever time and money you invest in home improvements.

4 Things Every Parent of a Toddler Should Know About Air Conditioning

If you have ever had to sit in a hot park with a fussy toddler, you know how relieving it can be to go back indoors where there is a working air conditioner. Although they can’t always explain why they are cranky and uncomfortable, if you can see your toddler beginning to sweat it is definitely becoming too warm for their taste.

Being out in the sun won’t harm your child, particularly if you are applying sunscreen regularly. On the other hand, children can be very susceptible to overheating if they aren’t being kept hydrated or they have to spend extended periods of time in excessive heat. You should allow your toddler to cool down inside of your home and keep your air conditioning system maintained if you are intending on making this a fun and safe summer for your child. Here are the four most important things that you should know about air conditioning and children.

1. Extreme Temperature Changes Aren’t Good For Children

In instances where your child has been playing outside for a long time out in the heat, you should take care to keep your toddler’s body temperature regulated. You can offer your child cool treats and stay in the shade, but the best relief will come from going back indoors. At the same time, you don’t want to expose your child to a sharp shift in temperatures. If it feels chilly inside, you should change the temperature settings so that it is somewhere around 75 degrees. Realize that drastic changes in temperature can send your child into shock and lower his or her core body temperature in an unsafe manner.

2. Air Conditioners Are Best Checked at the Beginning of the Season

Even if your air conditioning system comes on just as soon as you hit the power button, you can’t assume that everything is okay. First and foremost, the air filters need to be clean if you are going to be running an air conditioner with a toddler present. Dirty air filters can reduce the quality of the air, leading to respiratory issues in childhood, excessive sneezing and allergies. You should also have your air conditioner checked at the start of summer because of the risk of leaks.

3. Watching Your Child Is the Best Way To Learn If the Temperature Is Right

People have an ideal temperature range that keeps them most comfortable. Go into a room that is too hot and within a few minutes you will start to sweat. Relocate to a place that is just a smidge too cold and you will soon start to shiver. Your toddler will react the same way, so if you notice that he or she no longer wants to play and socialize in a home that is being air conditioned you should immediately check the thermostat. Even if it feels comfortable to you, you want your child to be able to walk around in weather appropriate clothing.

As long as you interact with your child and check on him or her while taking naps in your air conditioned home, you will find that every day goes pleasantly. Keep the popsicles on hand, apply sunscreen whenever necessary and seek out relief if it just gets too hot to stay outdoors. Be happy and thankful that you have air conditioning as it would be a lot more difficult to keep your toddler content in the summer if you didn’t have one.