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Home Improvement Projects You Can Do With Your Kids

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It’s always a good idea to teach your children valuable new skills. Sometimes when you have some projects around the house that need doing, it’s a good idea to involve your kids. Of course, several projects that require heavy equipment or sharp instruments may not be the best place to start, but here are some home improvement projects that you can do with your kids to get them started.

Installing a New Doorknob

Whether you’re remodeling, upgrading, or just replacing a knob that’s giving you trouble, installing a new doorknob is a great DIY project for younger kids to gauge their interest. Typically, the only tools you need are screwdrivers that match the necessary screws and a little patience. This is an excellent project because it’s relatively low risk, and if your child makes a mistake, it’s easy to take the screws out and try again.

Measuring Home Skirting

If you live in a mobile home, your house probably has skirting to protect your pipes from external damage related to weather or temperature. Unfortunately, weather can beat up the skirting, and it eventually needs replacing. The full replacement may be a bit too much for small builders, but one way your kids can help with this project is in the preparation.

Many kids love playing with the tape measure. Before replacing your skirting, it’s a good idea to measure the length and width of the exterior of your home and put it into an online skirting calculator. Have your kid grab the tape measure and run it to the other side of the house, allowing you to get the correct numbers. The kids feel involved, and you save a bit of running.

Lawn Care

Maintaining a proper lawn or garden is a valuable step in home care. Depending on your kids’ age, you could show them how to use a lawnmower or focus on watering the grass to keep your yard looking fresh and clean. Learning how to care for a lawn or garden is a great home improvement project for your kids and gets them outside now and then. If you use a sprinkler to water the lawn, offering a bit of summertime fun running through it is a great motivator.

3 Tips for Furniture in a Shared Kids’ Room

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One of the best spaces for childhood bonding is a shared bedroom. But a poorly designed space can make kids feel restricted and lead to fighting.

You don’t have to be a professional interior designer to make a functional space that your kids enjoy. Read these three tips for furniture in a shared kids’ room.

1. Use Vertical Space

It’s no secret that using vertical space saves floor space. And in a bedroom that kids share, floor space is in high demand. You can foster your kids’ creativity and promote peace of mind by giving them space to stretch out.

One of the classic ways to save space in a shared bedroom is using a bunk bed. Beds take up a lot of space, so stacking them is an effective countermeasure. When you consider what bunk bed to get, make sure to get a frame in the right dimensions and configuration to free up the most usable space in the room.

2. Buy Well-Made Pieces

The second tip for furniture in a shared kids’ room is to buy quality pieces. When you’re buying furniture for a shared space, you must be careful about what you let in. When it comes to furniture you need to rely on, such as beds or tables, buy well-built pieces that are manufactured from quality materials.

Solid wood furniture is sturdy enough to withstand daily use by multiple, rambunctious kids. It will stay functional and look great year after year. Plus, it’s safe for kids’ use.

3. Keep It Fun and Personal

While you’re focused on space, reliability, and safety, kids want fun. Even in a shared bedroom, children should have a personal space in a style that appeals to them individually. One way to accomplish this is to select a furniture layout so that each child has their own area. Cubby holes and personal shelf space can help achieve this.

Make use of several organization options, such as wall shelving, bookcases, and closet space, so that kids have their own places to put their things. If each child has their own space for stuff, that helps to keep the bedroom from getting cluttered with one child’s objects. It’ll help kids share the space responsibly while encouraging them to pursue their own interests.

How To Clean Your Baby’s Pacifiers the Right Way

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How To Clean Your Baby’s Pacifiers the Right Way

Pacifiers are amazing tools for satisfying non-nutritive suckling, offering pain relief, and helping babies learn how to latch. In addition, most parents know the magic of their baby’s favorite pacifier. It can be an instant calm for a crying and fussy baby. Despite the myths and misunderstandings about pacifiers and teeth, they’re undoubtedly great tools.

With all of these benefits, you want to keep plenty of pacifiers on hand and keep them clean. However, there is a right and wrong way to clean them, and cleaning them the wrong way can be a hazard to your baby’s health. That’s why this article will review how to clean your baby’s pacifiers the right way.

Sanitizing Pacifiers

While it’s easier to have plenty of pacifiers in rotation so that you always have a clean one on hand, you should still strive to sanitize your baby’s pacifiers once a day. Take some warm water and a bit of perfume-free soap, and wash it. Just be sure to wash off all of the soap so that your baby doesn’t swallow any.

If you’re on the go, there are cleaning wipes designed for pacifiers that are free of alcohol, perfumes, and bleach. In general, you should clean whatever your baby puts in their mouth as often as possible.

Sterilizing Pacifiers

Sterilizing gets rid of any water, mold, bacteria, and other forms of dirt. The most popular way to sterilize pacifiers is to boil them, but you should be careful. Boiling your pacifiers can cause them to crack and break down, potentially becoming a choking hazard, so boil them on a low boil for five minutes.

There are also steam and UV sterilizers specifically designed for pacifiers that will do a great job of getting rid of any harmful bacteria. However, use sterilizers specifically designed for pacifiers, as regular UV sterilizers and steamers can also break down the pacifier’s material.

What Not To Do

Sometimes you can’t clean your baby’s pacifier. Whether you’re nowhere near soap and water or don’t have any wipes, don’t clean your baby’s pacifier by sticking it in your mouth. Your mouth has bacteria in it that can cause your baby to get sick or cause cavities. In addition, don’t clean or keep any pacifiers that have cracks or look worn, as mold and germs can get caught on the inside of the pacifier, becoming impossible to remove.

Knowing how to clean your baby’s pacifiers the right way is critical for your baby’s health. However, do what you can and clean when you can. Being a parent is difficult enough, so don’t be hard on yourself if your baby’s pacifiers aren’t sparkling clean every day.

Things To Consider When Making a Nature-Friendly Patio

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Things To Consider When Making a Nature-Friendly Patio

Few pleasures are as great as completing a big home project with your family. The addition of a new and improved space keeps everyone excited during the process. At the same time, the finished result allows all who partook in its construction to reminisce about the moments they experienced together. But before jumping into a new backyard space, consider these things when making a nature-friendly patio.

Create a Detailed Blueprint

As fun as it is to throw everyone’s ideas into the design of your patio, it’s important to get as accurate as possible when creating the blueprint. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t change things once you set it up. Having a guide to follow offers several organizational benefits and helps keep your progress manageable. This is also a good opportunity to ask your family what they want in the space. That way, they feel included from the start.

Terrace Your Slopes

If your patio rests on top of a slope, it’s a good idea to terrace the paths you will walk up and down regularly. This helps with mowing and prevents water runoff from building up at the bottom, potentially eroding the integrity of any structures on the lower elevations.

Once you’ve created the paths, the spaces in-between are perfect for gardens that you can fill with local flora. This aids the local bees in pollinating and ensures that at least one of the flowers is their favorite. Just be sure to familiarize yourself with the different kinds of bees. It’s usually surprising to find out that they’re often quite harmless.

Use Trees for Shade

A simple and beautiful technique for keeping you and your family cool during the hotter times of the year is creating natural shade against the sunlight. Tall trees, or trees that will grow tall, are perfect for increasing the plant life of your backyard while using it as a practical and aesthetic benefit for daily living. Pine trees are typically the selected option for this type of function while also providing some privacy.

A project like a new patio is a big addition to undertake. Making it into an experience to share with the family is great for cementing your memories in the foundation of your home-building history. By considering these things when making a nature-friendly patio, you are sure to create a fun and enjoyable experience, but don’t be surprised if you still end up doing most of the work. After all, if you want it done right, it’s best to do it yourself.

5 Ways To Improve Your Truck’s Performance

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5 Ways To Improve Your Truck's Performance

Every dad’s truck is their prized possession. It is a symbol of strength, power, and capability. It is only natural that every owner wants to keep their truck in optimal condition.

Making sure that your truck is smoothly running ensures that it will last longer and that you’ll enjoy good gas mileage. These are five ways to improve your truck’s performance and fuel efficiency.

Invest in a Good Quality Air Filter

A good air filter is essential for any vehicle, especially a truck. A truck’s engine is more powerful than a car’s, so it needs more air to operate correctly. A good air filter will ensure that your truck’s engine gets the clean air it needs to run efficiently.

Change Your Oil Regularly

Another way to keep your truck’s engine in top condition is to change the oil regularly. Over time, engine oil breaks down and becomes less effective at lubricating the engine.

This breakdown can lead to increased wear and tear on the engine, eventually resulting in engine problems. By changing your oil regularly, you can help extend the life of your truck’s engine.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Tire pressure doesn’t get much attention for truck maintenance, but it is imperative. Properly inflated tires can improve your gas mileage by up to 3 percent.

Additionally, properly inflated tires will help extend the life of your truck’s tires. Checking your tire pressure is a quick and easy way to improve your truck’s performance.

Make Some Upgrades

You can make several upgrades to your truck that will improve its performance. One such upgrade is a cold air intake.

A cold air intake will help improve your truck’s airflow, increasing power and fuel efficiency. Another upgrade you can make is the installation of a performance exhaust system. An exhaust upgrade can improve your truck’s performance and make it sound great.

Keep Your Truck Clean

A clean truck not only looks better but can also run better. Over time, dirt and grime build up on your truck’s engine, which can inhibit its performance. By keeping your truck clean, you can help to ensure that it is running at its best.

These are five ways you can improve your truck’s performance. By following these tips, you can help extend the life of your truck and keep it running smoothly.

Dads know that their vehicles are an integral part of family life. You can ensure that your truck will be around for years to come by taking care of it.

Simple Ways To Make a Summer Road Trip More Fun

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Winter has left the building, and summer quickly draws near, so there are bound to be some exciting expectations for this summer vacation. For those dads who love packing and driving out to some great places, making the trip enjoyable is a key factor. These are some simple ways to make a summer road trip more fun for you and your family.

Take the Scenic Routes

Living in the city or the suburbs keeps things relatively tame in terms of sights to behold. Depending on how long you are willing to drive, consider taking a few scenic routes and humoring any request to go out and explore them. This is a vacation, and the name of the game is finding something new. Whether that comes in the form of a hiking trail or a gas station with a giant rocket sculpture, letting your family take off and run around helps keep things lively and active.

Make a List of Local Spots

For those who love experiencing the local favorites, making a list of some hot spots to hit up is a good way to engross yourself in the area you’re visiting. This is especially true if you have a family full of food lovers. Anything from a local diner to more fancy restaurants is great for making memories that last. Some locations even have the owners working alongside their employees.

Invest in Comfort

No matter how enjoyable a road trip is, they tend to do a number on the back. Investing in some quality lumbar comfort for each passenger helps alleviate the inevitable soreness of a long ride. There are also plenty of ways to keep younger kids entertained during the trip. Buying seat trays for mobile devices helps keep them occupied when they are bored without forking over too much money.

This summer is sure to have some new moments to share. From beautiful sights to engaging experiences, the only thing your family will be wondering is when the next one is coming up. After considering a few of these simple ways to make a summer road trip more fun, your family will notice the difference and appreciate your efforts.

Top Father’s Day Tips for Divorced Parents

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After a divorce settlement is final, the work of managing child custody and support arrangements begins. Holidays can still feel strained, even if your divorce settlement spelled the matter out in detail.

Holidays that celebrate parenthood are especially fraught. It might feel like something is missing or diminished. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Consider these top Father’s Day tips for divorced parents.

It’s Not About You

Parent holidays are not actually about parents. They’re about kids. These observances are a chance for your kids to show you how much they love and appreciate you and to celebrate their connection with you, despite your divorce.

Make a big fuss over homemade cards and gifts. Your kids worked hard on them, and their hearts are invested in what they’ve made for you. Regardless of whether your ex was involved, let your child know how much you appreciate their effort.

Communicate Ahead of Time

Perhaps the top Father’s Day tip for divorced parents is communication and planning. If you have an every-other-weekend arrangement and Father’s Day falls on your partner’s weekend, see if you can agree ahead of time to trade weekends so that you can spend Father’s Day with your kids.

If it doesn’t work out, be generous about it. When you’re a Dad, every day is Father’s Day, so reassure your kids that you’ll have a great celebration when it’s your turn for the kids to stay with you.

If You Can’t Be There Physically, Be There Virtually

When it comes to relationships, technology leaves much to be desired. But if it is your only option, make the best of it. Schedule a time to meet online via your preferred app, and plan some online games you can share with your kids. The web is full of sites that provide free games you can share, from trivia to word games to charades.

Try Something New

Accept that you can’t recreate what Father’s Day used to be. Create a new tradition with your kids. Go to a movie, take a hike, visit a zoo, play a board game, or take in a kid-friendly exhibit at a museum. Make a meal together, listen to their kind of music, teach them a new skill, or share a hobby with them.

Money Is Not the Point

Don’t fret if your budget is tight, as it is for most divorced parents. What your kids want is time with you. Maximize your time with your kids in a way that has nothing to do with expensive toys or gadgets.

Be Flexible

Whatever you’ve planned, keep it age appropriate. If you’ve got a teenager, factor some eye-rolling into the day. Don’t disrupt care routines for toddlers. They’ll love you no matter what, but it won’t seem that way if they miss a nap.

If your kids are not thrilled with your ideas for the day, don’t sulk—pivot. Find some other way to spend the day that gives them the time with you they want and lets you be the Dad you want to be.