How To Ensure Your Child Gets More Fresh Air

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Today, most of us live in a world which is far from being connected with nature and the great outdoors, meaning our children today are often sat in a car, an air-conditioned classroom, and stay indoors on their gaming devices - rather than be exposed to nature and get the abundance of fresh air they need to develop.

Getting fresh air has measurable benefits for children in terms of their physical health, especially in terms of receiving their daily dose of Vitamin D, which is provided from exposure to sunlight and assists in them growing strong bones and also lowers their risk of cancer. Some studies have even shown children who play outdoors are less likely to have visual issues, later in life, such as nearsightedness.

Exposure to fresh air helps your child to get a good night’s sleep and is instrumental in regulating sleeping patterns. Of course, the term “fresh air” doesn’t relate purely to the air that your child is breathing into his or her lungs, it captures an essence of physical activity, play, and social interaction - though there are certainly health benefits associated with your child breathing in an abundance of replenishing oxygenated air.

Time outdoors has proven to lower the risk of hyperactivity and depression. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that children spending more time watching TV and playing video games than playing outdoors, tend to have shorter attention spans - which is, perhaps, because children that play outside in places like PDPlay areas are more likely to engage in ‘creative play’ and use their imagination… they are in the active position of creating entertainment rather than the passive position of receiving entertainment (e.g. watching TV or playing video games).

There are three basic principles to follow in terms of encouraging your children to be more active and spend more time outdoors.

GO WITH THE FLOW

There’s no need for things to be too rules-based, as an example, if your child is playing an organized sport one minute but then starts chasing after a butterfly - go with their curiosity and allow them to discover what they want to discover.

CHALLENGE THEM

The age-old game of “tag” is a great way to keep your children active. It is a mental and physically stimulating game that creates an element of competitiveness which allows you to bond… without it being too rigid and formal. Often, children love to embrace challenges, but they don’t want to feel the pressure of competitive sport - make it fun, keep it loose, and you’ll encourage them to participate much more.

TURN OFF THE TV

Kids aren’t born lazy. They are conditioned to be lazy, because as human beings, we all look for the path of least resistance, and for many of us, the easiest way to be entertained and quasi-stimulated is through sitting staring at the TV. Whilst the TV can certainly be a good tool to use from time to time, particularly when you are too busy to engage, it shouldn’t become habitual to the point that children get home and see it as the ‘only option’ or ‘preferred option’. There’s a whole world to explore but children need to be encouraged to get up and explore the world, rather than watch it, from the comfort of their arm chair.

A House With History, Or A Decorating Nightmare?

We all look for different things in properties. For some, a contemporary space is essential. Such individuals look for crisp, clean homes. It makes sense. A new house is a blank canvas on which to paint your style. Plus, you can ensure there won’t be any unpleasant surprises with the condition of properties like this.

For some of us, though, the bonuses aren’t enough to sway us away from period properties. If you’re after an old house, you’ll look out for character and features. A wood beam here, an authentic window there. Rather than look out for pristine properties, you’ll want something with history.

While old properties can work wonderfully, they can often have a few problems, too. Old houses just weren’t designed to the standards we’re accustomed to. Instead of being crisp and sharp, most old houses are a little wobbly. ceilings are often curved, and floors are sometimes uneven. While part of the character, these touches aren’t always practical. Which is why we’re going to look at a few ways to smooth the slopes in your old home.

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The floors

For the most part, carpet covers a multitude of floor sins. But, if you’re attempting to lay tiles, you may stumble across issues. Trying to lay any hard flooring on an uneven surface can be incredibly tricky. In this instance, it’s worth turning to concrete. A layer of concrete on top of your original flooring is all it takes to even things out. Head to companies like rollingercompanies.com now to find out how this could work for you. Bear in mind that, once a concrete layer is in place, it won’t be easy to remove it. Make sure this is what you want before taking action!

The walls

Uneven surfaces and wonky ceilings aren’t too tricky to maneuver when painting. But, if you want to lay wallpaper, things get much more complicated. The main issue is that wallpaper will show those slopes and uneven angles much more clearly. Plus, you’ll find it difficult to pattern match on a wonky wall. The good news is, sites like thebestwallpaperplace.com have some fantastic solutions. In extreme cases, you may need to plaster the surface. Again, this will give you a smooth foundation to work with. Or, you could use textured wallpapers which hide a multitude of sins. Have a think about which would work best, and then get to work. 

The windows

The windows of old properties are often the most charming feature. But, they aren’t without their issues. Old window panes and glass fittings aren’t designed with modern standards in mind. The panes certainly aren’t double glazed. In a drafty old house, the heat which escapes through your windows will make a huge difference. But, you don’t have to get rid of those beautiful classic frames. You could head to sites like www.diynetwork.com, and find some simple solutions. Many companies will also replace single panes with double glazing, and leave the frame intact if it’s in a good condition.

Avoiding Home Makeover Horrors - Lessons To Swear By

Ever watched a home makeover TV show where the couple were devastated by the finished result? It happens in real life too. A disastrous home makeover can be difficult to bear, as well as expensive to put right. Want to make sure you avoid a home makeover horror? Take a look at some of these top tips for getting it right.

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Don’t rush into things

There are some great reasons to give your home a makeover. Want to increase the value? Make the most of your available space? Give a room a lighter and airier feel? These are all good reasons to give your home a makeover. Want to know some bad reasons? Making changes because you’re bored or because you’ve seen something great online or on TV could put you in way over your head, and might even lead you to do something that could decrease the value of your home. Plan any changes to your home carefully and take your time to make sure that you get what you really want out of it.

Opt for classic styles rather than jumping on trends

Jumping on the latest trends is great for your fashion, but not so much for your home. If you rush out to try every trend that’s out there, you’ll be forever making changes to your home. Rather than giving your home a makeover to keep up with the latest trend, choose a classic interior style that will stand the test of time. Save your money and buy home accessories instead that suit the latest home trends - these are much cheaper to replace and can help you keep your home up to date easily.

Seek professional help

A home makeover is a great idea until someone gets hurt. Sure, home makeovers look easy on the TV, but in reality, they take a lot of work. Get the professionals like the team at Million Dollar Makeovers to carry out the work for you. This way you’ll get your dream results and can avoid injuries or poorly executed work to ensure you get exactly what you’re looking for.

Find ways to save on your costs

Home renovations can be expensive, with the cost soon adding up to stretch your finances way over your budget. Some home makeover ideas are cheaper than others, and you need to be sensible with your spending to stop it from becoming a nightmare. Work out how much you can afford and work backward from there - this will allow you to separate the tasks into ‘must-haves’ and ‘nice-to-haves’ so that you can prioritize the things that you want and save costs on the others.

Home makeovers are a great idea when done correctly. Plan it all out carefully so that you know exactly what you’re getting into, how much it will cost and how long it will take. The last thing you want is to have to abandon your project halfway through because you’ve run out of money or steam, so avoid these common home makeover mistakes and do what you can to achieve your ideal home.

Spare Room, Less Ordinary: Alternative Ways to Use the Space

When you have a house, you want all the different rooms to be used in the best way possible. If you have a spare room and you don’t just want to keep it as your standard bedroom as you rarely have guests to stay, there are plenty of better ways that you can use the space. Struggling for inspiration? You have come to the right place! 

Game Room

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There is nothing like playing some games to take your mind off your stresses and worries so you could create a space where you have access to all your favorite activities. Perhaps you are a poker fan and you want to put in your own table. You may be more of a video game fanatic and choose to set up a TV, comfortable chair, and your favorite console. Otherwise, some classic arcade games may be more of your thing or perhaps a pool table. The range of options is endless! 

Home Office

With more and more people working from home or starting their own businesses, a home office is always going to be a great use of space. When you are undertaking a big conversion project, you may want to call in the professionals like The Renovation Company. The basics include a desk, chair, filing cabinet, and bookcase, but you will also want to lay the room out in a way that encourages work.

Home Theatre

A home theatre is something that the whole family can enjoy, giving you the opportunity to relax with your favorite TV shows and movies. All you will need is a few comfortable chairs and a big-screen television and you are pretty much good to go. Some pillows and blankets are also useful now that the nights are drawing in and the temperatures are dropping. The beauty of a home theatre is that is can be created in a room in which you don’t have a huge amount of space to work with.

Gymnasium 

For the health-conscious, creating a home gym is a very practical use of a spare room. To start off with, you may only need a few basic pieces of equipment like gym mats, dumbbells, and an exercise ball. Over time, you may decide to start accumulating bigger pieces of equipment. To create a real gym feeling, you could add a television in the corner of the room and a speaker system so you can enjoy your favorite tunes while working out.

Hobby Room

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If you are a keen practicer of a hobby such as arts and craft or music, having your own room to practice and create is perfect for many people. A wooden floor is a good base as this is where paint and other materials are most likely to spill. You will also need plenty of storage space to keep your range of different equipment.

These are just a few of the most popular uses for a spare room, so why not try out one to make a real improvement to your home?

What Do Homebuyers Want?

When you are preparing to put your house on the market, there are probably a few changes you need to make to your home. These will ensure that it is an attractive property to all the house hunters who are looking to buy somewhere new. And then someone will snap it up quickly at your asking price. There’ll be no need to reduce your price or sit on a property that doesn’t sell for months or even years.

Some things that you should do to your home are quite obvious - for instance, you should ensure that the house is clean and tidy whenever anyone comes around to view the property. But there are some things that aren’t quite as obvious. Want to know what homebuyers want from a new home? Read on to find out!

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