Education - Parenting Healthy

A few nights ago I sent my son in for his pre-bedtime potty and to wash his hands. He is the child that at age 4 ALWAYS washes his hands after using the restroom as Daycare and myself have installed that method into his head. I noticed he came out of the restroom way too fast. “Hold on, Mister…did you wash those hands?” I got a “Huh?” look and he shoved his hands in my face and I smelled soap. It then hit me….we tell him to wash his hands and he knows to put his hands under running water, use soap and rinse but I have never actually given him any concept of why or how long. At 4 1/2 he is perfectly capable at comprehending the concept so I thought fast about all those books and articles I have come across on creative ways to help him learn and to not just wash his hands or brush his teeth, but to CORRECTLY wash and brush! Here is what I found and will use from now on with my own son……

Washing Hands

Facts

80% of germs are transmitted by hands
CDC protocol is to wash hands in warm, clean & soapy water for 20 seconds.
The proper sneeze etiquette is to sneeze into your sleeve, NOT your hands.

Fun Ways to Encourage Hand Washing

Have your child sing Happy Birthday twice or the Alphabet song..any song, really. It needs to be a minimum of 20 seconds of their hands under water rinsing with soap!
Glitter! It is great for teaching hand washing for 2 reasons. First, you can put glitter on your hands. The glitter resembles GERMS. Have them see how easily the “GERMS” spread as you shake there hand, open a door, touch the flusher, etc… Second, glitter is a challenge to wash off. Give your child a paper towel and see them struggle removing the GERMS. Then have them rinse under cool water without soap-better, but still doesn’t get the GERMS. Finally, have them rinse with soap and warm water. The GERMS go away!
Buy the fun and colorful soaps for them

Brushing Teeth

Facts

It takes 3 years for toddlers to grow their 20 primary teeth
40% of kids will have a cavity by Kindergarten
2-3 years old is when self-dental care should begin-supervising them until about age 6-8
Use soft Bristle Brush with Flouride paste

Fun Ways to Encourage Teeth Brushing

Mix 3-4 drops of red food coloring in about 2-3 tbsp of water. Have your child rinse and spit out carefully into the sink or another cup. Let them look into a magnifying mirror and see their plaque and germs.
Put Tempura paint between your fingers and give them a piece of string. Demonstrate flossing. The paint is a bit challenging to remove resembling the work it takes to floss well.
Don’t forget the eyeball catching toothbrushes and toothpaste. Let them be Germ superheros. I did this with my son as I started him brushing his teeth (he brushes after I do it first as he is only 4). We went to the store and he picked out his own toothbrush and paste then he had his “weapons” for fighting the germ monsters that invade his teeth morning and night!

A great book to use is ‘Germs Are Not For Sharing’. I highly recommend it!

Whatever you do, have fun with it and educate them!

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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. The link to the recommended book is that of my Amazon affiliate page. Book suggestion is my own.

Back to School 2018, Education, Kids, Reviews, Toy Reviews

Bring Music Class Home with the VTech Kidi Star Karaoke Machine

August 14, 2018August 12, 2018 Erin Sluka

I have partnered with VTech for this feature

When you hear the word ‘music’ you probably think about tunes or your favorite radio station. But, did you know that the word music has such a beneficial meaning when you introduce it to children? Not only does music introduce a new skill that involves the brain and body working together, it ignites all the senses. VTech has the Kidi Star Karaoke Machine that helps bring music class home.

Music helps children learn sounds and word meanings. Dancing helps children improve their motor skills as well as allow for self-expression. Then you also add the benefit of recall and memory skills.

One of the best features of this karaoke machine is the stand opinion. This makes it so easy to share the fun with a friend or sibling. The disco ball is a lot of fun too. Turn off the lights and like me, you will be amazed how well it illuminates around the room on the walls and even the ceiling too.

It is such an easy interface that it is usable for as young as 4 years old. The added computer-like screen adds an element of STEM play when you have to configure and toggle through options to bring our musical creation to life. With options like games to play and to connect to any device to bring the music library you already have created to the speaker is so much fun.

You can add audience sounds like applause, cheering and laughter so it really feels like you’re onstage at a concert! Record yourself for up to five minutes and add fun voice-changing effects, then listen to and enjoy your performance. Visit VTech for more fun and also find the VTech Kidi Star Karaoke Machine at Amazon.

Back to School 2018, College Bound, Education

Back to School Organizing with Sharpie

July 26, 2018July 24, 2018 Erin Sluka

I have partnered with Sharpie for this feature. Samples were sent and opinions are my own

Chances are you have a drawer in your desk or kitchen with some Sharpie markers. They are like a home staple everyone has laying around. There is no time like Back to School season that my Sharpies get used the most. I have personal items to mark and the kids have backpacks to stuff and I use my Sharpies for so many organizing tasks before that first day.

Sharpie has much more than that standard black pen we all know and love to use. Find highlighters and art cut pens for so much more uses around the home and with schoolwork.

Don’t Lose Your Items

Marking your kids jackets, lunchboxes, bags, helmets and supplies saves money and can mean that in the event your child leaves it laying around it will get back to you. I work in the schools and I cannot tell you how out of control the lost and found can get! Using Sharpie pens to mark your child’s items means it will last through the year and weather. I like using the Sharpie Extreme Makers due to their fade-resistance.

Back to School Supply List

Do you have your supply list? I go around the house first and mark off items I already have and that way I do not overbuy at the store. Having the Sharpie Highlighters is great for marking off the items I have. Once I am done shopping I can still see the list as I load it all up into his backpack.

First Day Breakfast

There is a lot to do on that first morning. It is exciting, the kids nerves are on high and you are in a bittersweet moment. Make breakfast special. Decorate a plate, cook their favorite breakfast menu. It takes moments and starts the day off right. It is going to be a big day!

Have the Kids Organize their own subjects

It is tempting to stay up late one night and go down the list and pack the kids items for them. However, for the older child it is important that they find their own way to organize and prep for subjects. They need to find what works for them and motivates them to get their work done on time. Hand them the supplies you bough and some pens and book wraps. Let them organize it themselves.

Fall Sports

Don’t put those Sharpies away yet! Are they starting football, cheer or soccer? Mark that equipment or it is bound to get lost forever on a field or court!

So many Sharpies for your ‘so many’ back to school tasks! Find them at retailers near you. For inspiration on Sharpie projects you can have fun with, visit Sharpie.com

Car Talk, Deals, Education, Money Saver, Tips and Tricks

Finding The Best Car Insurance in Washington Is Full of Surprises…

July 10, 2018July 5, 2018 Erin Sluka

Trying to find the best car insurance can be a trial. We all know the big car insurance brands: State Farm, Geico, Progressive, Allstate — but after browsing those sites, I’m never sure if I’m actually getting the best deals. So this time I used Clearsurance, and what I found totally caught me by surprise. All those household brands we all see advertised so often? They aren’t ranked very highly. Clearsurance, which is a website that collects reviews from people about their insurance company, uses the data it gathers to create unbiased rankings of car insurance companies, both by state and nationally for 2018. The detailed breakdown helps you compare companies and find coverage that’s actually the best deal for your location and driving history.

Once I got over my surprise, I decided to see what companies other consumers ranked as the best car insurance options in Washington and if my car insurer was rated highly by other consumers. I didn’t even recognize some of the companies that ranked ahead of the giants in car insurance, including my own insurer.

For instance, Amica Mutual, which offers a home ownership discount, was founded in 1907 and ranks as the third best company in all of Washington. Amica Mutual’s 4.46 rating out of 5 on Clearsurance is significantly higher than that of Progressive (4.16) and Allstate (4.1).

Take a look at what companies are ranked as the top 5 car insurers in Washington on Clearsurance:

USAA — 4.68
California Casualty Group — 4.47
Amica Mutual Insurance Company— 4.46
Metromile— 4.45
American National Property & Casualty Company — 4.43

These aren’t the names we typically associate with car insurance. So why are these brands so much better than the big companies we all know? Clearsurance has tons of great information to help you navigate your car insurance coverage, and one of the things I discovered is that companies like Geico and Allstate spend billions of dollars a year on advertisements to become the names we think of when it’s time to buy car insurance or consider switching car insurance. But those advertising dollars have come to from somewhere, and it ends up driving up the cost of our insurance premiums.

Why should we be paying more to insure our cars so that our insurer can solicit new business?

For the most part, the companies rated highly in Washington are lesser known than the big names. But the bottom line is, they’re better. These are the companies that other policyholders have found offer fair prices with good customer service and claims handling.

Still, we’re not all eligible for these top insurers, and we don’t all have the same insurance needs. That’s something else Clearsurance understands and helps you navigate. For example, USAA is the best car insurance company for Washingtonians, but it only serves active and former military members and their families. And at a company like Metromile, it offers a multi-car discount. Plus, not all car insurance companies cover high-risk drivers, so if you have a lot of accidents on your record or a DUI, you may not be able to obtain coverage from one of these companies.

What’s a good option for high-risk drivers in Washington?

I did some digging into the car insurance companies that sell in Washington and offer policies to high-risk drivers, often referred to as non-standard drivers. If you’re looking for a cost effective option, The General offers affordable coverage. The General has a rating of 3.68. Consumers seem to believe The General offers cheap prices, but the low rates are reflected in the customer service and handling of claims.

Finding the best car insurance for you or your family shouldn’t have to be completely mind-boggling. Once you step outside the buzz of all those big name brands, figuring out which companies actually offer the best customer service at the best price becomes a lot easier, especially if you’ve got Clearsurance on your team.

Category: Education

Fun Ways To Teach Hygiene To Your Children