Bringing an animal into your residence is usually a very safe practice, as pets are a common feature in family homes. They become parts of the family and are adored by both parents and kids. However, having a pet in a home with young children can pose some problems. A young child might be fearful of the animal, or they might not understand how to correctly engage with it. Additionally, an animal can become territorial and potentially aggressive to the child. In most cases, having both at home is perfectly fine, and they get on well together. Nonetheless, it’s important to know how to manage a safe environment at home for both your kids and your pet.

Vaccinations

Before you bring an animal into your home, make sure it has been vaccinated first. A lot of animals could develop diseases that can be passed on to your kids or even yourself. To keep all parties safe, you should take your pet to the vet. When you’re there, the vet will also carry out a general check-up on your pet to make sure there are no other problems you need to be aware of. All vets will offer this service, but places like veterinarianfriscotx.com might be more affordable than others.

Boundaries

An important part of training your pet is teaching is boundaries. If you have a baby or toddler, having it jump up on them could cause the child some distress. Although your pet is probably only trying to be friendly, this isn’t going to be understood by the child. It is equally as important to teach your children about the boundaries they should have with their pets, too. There will be times when your cat, dog, or whatever other animal you have will want their own space to be left alone. If your children keep bothering them, this could result in the animal behaving aggressively.

Respect

Furthermore, teaching your kids how to have a general respect for animals is essential. It is cruel to mistreat animals, and again this sort of thing can lead to aggressive and dangerous behavior from your pet. They must learn to treat the animal with care and consideration. Not only this, but teaching them to take responsibility for a pet will be good for them, too.

Sensible Choices

If you don’t currently own a pet, but are thinking about getting one for your family, be mindful about what animal you choose. The most common choice of pet is a dog, but picking the right breed is important. If you’re living space isn’t very big, or you don’t have time to go for three walks a day, then consider choosing a smaller dog instead. It’s also worth asking what pet your kids would like, as bringing home an animal they are afraid of will only create a tense environment for both the child and the animal. Welcoming a pet into your family is a wonderful experience, but there are certain safety precautions every parent should be aware of. Use these points above to help guide you in creating a safe living space for your pet and your kids.

Every creature on this planet, no matter how big or small, has a distinct and invaluable role in the ecosystem that it lives in. Each species is dependent on the existence and contributions of another. It’s a delicate balance that, if disrupted, can cause chaos. This is why some people are so passionate about wildlife conservation and protecting endangered species and their habitats.  

If you’re looking to get started and support wildlife conservation, there are some unbelievably easy ways to make an impact! From staying informed about conservation trends to organizing a beach cleanup, here are the four best ways to do it. 

1. Stay informed about endangered species

You’ve probably heard the expression “knowledge is power,” and it’s so true. In order to protect wildlife and their habitats, you need to learn which species are endangered as well as learn about what’s threatening them. It’s difficult to help if you don’t know where to start, but by researching and learning about the wildlife in your local area, you can find a good place to begin your efforts. 

Not sure where to start learning? You can do some research online, or you can go straight to the source by visiting a national wildlife refuge or park. Some zoos that participate in wildlife conservation efforts are a good source of information too. Visiting in person allows you the opportunity to ask the experts directly, as well as observe some of the animals that are affected by habitat destruction. 

One zoo that has made great strides is the Gulf Breeze Zoo in Florida. Its CEO, Eric Mogensen, has initiated a number of wildlife conservation efforts. You can read all about his contributions here: https://www.gbzoo.com/eric-mogensen. Eric’s story is proof that if you care about a cause,  you can to help make a difference worldwide. 

2. Support businesses that donate and support wildlife conservation efforts

If you are able to donate to an organization that supports wildlife conservation, you can make a huge impact on their reach. Donating directly will provide the biggest impact, but you can also make a difference by choosing to support businesses that donate a portion of their profits to conservation efforts. 

Check the business’ website and social media profiles to see if they advertise that they support conservation organizations. Sometimes businesses will also match direct donations, so that is another thing to watch out for to maximize your contributions.

3. Protect the environment around you

One of the best and easiest ways to help with wildlife preservation is to actively work to preserve the environment that those animals live in. Always work to reduce your environmental impact and footprint, whether you’re at home, school, or work. 

You can help protect the environment by:

• Reducing your overall waste by consuming less and using less plastic
• Reusing whatever products you still can
• Buying from secondhand shops instead of buying new
• Recycling whatever you can
• Avoiding disposable products or products with a lot of wasteful packaging that cannot be recycled

You can also do your part by conserving energy. When you’re not home or in a room of your home, turn the lights off. Unplug kitchen appliances and electronics when they aren’t in use or plug them into power bars that can switch off when you aren’t using them. If you have a car, try to drive less, or only when completely necessary, to avoid extra pollution into the atmosphere. 

Try and conserve the amount of water you use every day as well. You can turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, have quicker showers instead of baths, and use a dishwasher instead of handwashing dishes. 

If you have a lawn or backyard, a good way to help your local habitats is to plant flowers, trees and shrubbery that are native to your area. It helps feed the local wildlife, gives them a place to nest and raise families, and offers them shelter during poor weather. Whatever you do, stay away from chemical pesticides. 

4. Organize community initiatives

Take the initiative in your community and hold your own environmental activities to help get others involved in protecting the environment. You could make posters and promote your community event on social media to help get the message out, plus ask your friends and family to join you and help spread the word. Some ideas for community initiatives could include:

• A local garbage clean-up /beach clean up
• Tree planting
• Starting a community garden to grow fruits and vegetables

Spring is around the corner, and now is the perfect time to start teaching your children the importance of cleanliness and organization. You might want to teach them how to clean out their closets to make room for new items. 

Regardless of what kind of spring-cleaning tricks and tips you have up your sleeve, the best time to get prepared is now, since winter is more than half over. Here are some helpful ways to get your children involved in spring-cleaning, so you’re all well-prepared when the time comes to start whipping your house into shape.

Make Sure Everything Has a Place

Making sure everything you (and your children) own is tucked away in a specific place makes it easier to clean and allows for less clutter. If you can’t determine where certain pieces of clothing should live, consider items that will make it easier to keep things organized like bins, baskets and shelves, and perhaps labels. 

That way, your children will be able to easily help you clean with purpose on cleaning day. Additionally, they also won’t have the opportunity to be lazy about it by just dumping things anywhere they see fit. So, make sure every toy, book and article of clothing has a home.

Separate Items into Piles 

One of the best ways to make room for new items during spring cleaning is to throw away what you don’t need or donate it to charity. If the items you no longer need aren’t of use to you or anyone else, throw them away. But if someone else could benefit from their use, it’s better to donate them.

Thus, when sorting through your belongings, make “keep,” “trash” and “donate piles.” That way, while you’re sorting through items in your children’s room, you can easily get through the day without wasting time worrying about which items should be kept and which should be thrown or given away.

Put Year-Round Items in the Front of the Closet 

Once you’ve decided what’s going and what’s staying, teach your children to put year-round items in the front of their closets, so they don’t have to go searching for clothing they wear most often. This includes items like flannel shirts, which are the perfect article of clothing to stay warm in the winter. These styles of shirts are a worthwhile investment and definitely worth getting front and center closet space, along with undershirts and light sweaters.

Make it Fun for Everyone 

Before spring-cleaning day, try to come up with ways to make it fun for everyone. Whether you decide to put on your favorite music while you clean, turn it into a game or offer your children rewards for a job well done, make sure that it’s well worth it by the time you’re finished. 

To turn spring cleaning into a game, hide Easter eggs in your children’s rooms, so that they have to pick up their clothes before finding their treasure. For older children, a financial reward might be more appropriate, so why not try offering them gift cards to their favorite stores or even cold hard cash? Both are always crowd-pleasers.

Getting Started

Getting ahead of spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore. Using the above tips, you can be well on your way to a successful day of spring cleaning and teaching your children the value and importance of getting the house clean and organized for the coming seasons. It just takes a little bit of planning and preparation ahead of time. So, get what you need, whether it’s baskets, bins or shelves (or that new label maker), to make cleaning day a little bit easier.

Summer break is often met with excitement from students and sighs from parents. Even though the days will be filled with sun, water, extra sleep, and memorable vacations, there is always that nagging concern about making the most of the time off. While students do not want to see another textbook or math problem until September, many parents worry that their children will be at a disadvantage when school starts, having forgotten everything they learned the prior year. If you want to keep your kids sharp and ready for the next school year, here are some ways you can keep the students in your house engaged over the summer break. 

Head to the Library

One of the best things you can encourage your child to do over the summer is read. You don’t have to stick a textbook under their nose to create a learning experience. Head to your local library and check out comic books, novels, sports magazines, or any other genre or book that piques your child’s interest. Many libraries and school systems offer summer reading programs, using different incentives to keep kids excited about learning and reading. You could set your own goal for your family, with a pizza party, movie, or theme park trip as a bonus incentive for really big accomplishments.

Go Digital

Many schools now incorporate tablets and Chromebooks into the classroom, so kids are already familiar with a lot of the websites and apps that can teach them learning throughout the summer break. Frequenting websites such as i-Ready Math and i-Ready Reading over the summer can help students be ready for an i-Ready test or grade-level assessment during the school year. It is very easy to forget things like spelling words and math facts when you aren’t drilling them every day, so adding some content-specific gaming apps to their tablets or devices can make it easier for students to practice without realizing it. You can also set a mandate with screen time, that requires a certain amount of practice time before you allow other activities on gaming consoles or other devices.

Keep Up the Routine

Even though it is great to get in some extra sleep during the summer, keeping your kids on a schedule can help with the transition back into the classroom. Don’t let your children sleep all morning, then spend all day indoors watching television or playing video games. Create opportunities with summer camps or local programs that still require order, self-control, and cognitive engagement. Have your children keep a journal, making notes or drawing pictures in it a few times a week about their experiences. Encourage your children to set fitness or activity goals, as well as personal interest goals like learning to cook or practice their soccer a few times a week. Keeping your children in a routine prevents boredom and promotes feelings of fulfillment and accomplishment in your children.

Take Educational Trips

There are probably several museums or state parks in your area that can give your kids a new learning experience without screaming “boring” at them. Taking your children to reenactments with time-period costumes and displays can open their eyes to learning beyond what you can find in a book. Visit an art museum, aquarium, or theatre to expose your kids to a more organic education, combining fun and knowledge in the same experience. Not only are you giving their brain something to process and grasp, but you are also creating family memories that could last a lifetime. Plan your vacation in a way that hits some historical or significant cultural highlights. 

Your kids don’t have to mope about all summer complaining that they are bored, and you don’t have to worry that they aren’t working hard enough. With some creative planning, you can fill their summer with activities that are both fun and educational.