As the weather gets warmer we often feel the need to organize and clean our homes. May is a great time to do this and getting our children to help not only makes our lives easier, it also teaches them wonderful life skills. Our dominant sense affects not only how we interpret information but also what our natural skills are, even when it comes to cleaning.

Visual children tend to be more detail-orientated so make the most of this and give them the jobs that need visual focus. A cupboard or drawer that needs sorting will be just right as they will make sure that everything in it is tidy and organized and looks good. Don’t expect them to be quick, however, as doing something well can take time and visual children can be very particular. Try not to overwhelm them by giving them organizational jobs that consist of one drawer or cupboard at a time. Make sure to pick drawers that contain “safe” items like clothing or plastic storage containers, rather than the kitchen junk drawer as we often forget what items we have put in there and some may not be suitable for little fingers.

Tactile children love to help and if everyone else is cleaning, rest assured they will want to as well. They happily will carry things into other rooms, hold the dustpan while you sweep, and wipe down the coffee table and the cabinets in the kitchen. While they will be a great help with manual labor, don’t expect attention to detail, or any organization to happen as their interest is in doing things fast. Their forte is more the physical activity and general staying power but they will be your little helper for as long as the job takes, especially if you take extra care to notice their efforts. If your child is learning to write, take this opportunity for practice, by having them label drawers, boxes and baskets with what they contain.

The vacuum, the dishwasher, the radio and the general crashes as we unpack cupboards not usually opened can be very upsetting for an auditory child, so try to find them jobs that are quiet or in open space where the sound is diffused. Let them listen to their favorite music and allow them to organize to their own system. You will be very surprised at how advanced their pattern recognizing skills are and often the can find a new and better way to store things. Jobs like deciding which clothes should go to good will, and which should go to their little cousin, sorting out books, pens and papers, reorganizing a closet all speak to their pattern skills, and if your available your auditory child will delight in being able to chat and clean at the same time.

Any job that involves looking after animals or a younger sibling will be a taste and smell child’s dream, especially true if they can enjoy the result — watching the guinea pig playing in the new hay, or their little brother squealing at all his stuffed animals neatly arranged. They will tend to shy away from cleaning products as they tend to be sensitive to odors and fragrance, so try to use low allergy or low scent products in cleaning and substitute a spray bottle filled with water rather than a cleaning product they need to wipe things down. Being naturally sentimental, expect some resistance when it comes to throwing out old clothes or broken toys so you may need to organize quietly; with an older child, check in with them before discarding one of their items.

Make it fun! And enjoy the process of getting to know your child even better by watching how they organize and tackle cleaning problems. You will be able to see their natural strengths and be able to incorporate them into your everyday interaction with them.

Good luck,

Daddy Nickell

Parenting Expert and father of 7, Robert Nickell (aka Daddy Nickell) offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel for every stage of fatherhood, and the Daily Daddy Blog.  He is also the creator and producer of “My Life as a Dad,” the groundbreaking new web series that showcases celebrity fathers offering their personal experiences and parenting tips.

The post Spring Cleaning Teaches Life Skills appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

“Allergen avoidance and environmental control are important parts of any asthma and allergy management plan,” say Dr. Beth Corn, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Director of the Division of Immunology Faculty Practice Associates, “that means a patient should try and avoid contact with allergens like dust mite particles and pet dander that can be found in the dust of most homes. Exposure to irritants, like strong scents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be found in some common household cleaners should also be avoided by patients with respiratory issues.”

If your cleaning routine doesn’t specifically focus on allergen control and removal, you may be only moving dust around, sending allergens and irritating cleaning chemicals into the air that could aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms. To create a “healthy home” this season, consider these simple tips from the asthma and allergy friendly Certification Program, a healthy home initiative of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA):

• Use a certified vacuum that has a high efficiency filter with tight seams and seals to prevent particles from leaking out while you vacuum. Also, choose a style that requires minimal exposure during canister emptying or bag changes.

• Use moist cloths or special dry dusters designed to trap and lock dust from hard or flat surfaces that rarely get cleaned, such as baseboards, door jambs, air duct vents, ceiling fan blades and window blinds and shades.

• Certain cleaning products can contribute to airborne irritants, especially if they contain harsh chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or have strong odors. Also avoid “green” products with natural allergenic ingredients, such as lemon, coconut or tea-tree oils.

• Place certified allergen barrier covers on your mattresses and pillows. Wash your bedding at least once a week in 130 degree hot water to kill dust mites and their eggs.

• Mold, a common allergy trigger, can grow anywhere in your home where moisture is present. Look for cleaning products that help kill and prevent mold from returning. Also, keep your household humidity below 50 percent and fix leaky pipes and cracks to reduce standing puddles of moisture where mold can prosper.

• If you are unable to remove carpets and heavy rugs from your home, have a certified professional steam cleaning service care for them three to four times a year. The asthma and allergy friendly Certification Program has recently adopted a new standard for Professional Carpet Steam Cleaning Services. Visit www.AAFA.org/certified to learn more.

• If children live in your home, look for certified plush toys. Dust mites, mold and pet dander can accumulate on plush toys over time. Certified toys can be machine-washed and dried, or placed in the freezer for 24 hours then rinsed in cold water to remove dead mites. Dry completely. Do this monthly.

• Lots of air passes through window areas and airborne dust and allergens accumulate on all types of window treatments – which are rarely cleaned. In the family room and throughout the home, replace big, heavy linen drapes with more sensible window treatments such as wood blinds or flat screens that are easy to wipe and keep clean.

• If your home uses central air conditioning or heat, replace the filter in the machine regularly, typically every 30 to 90 days. Choose an HVAC filter that has been certified to effectively capture fine airborne particles like pollen, dust and dander.

AAFA’s asthma & allergy friendly certification program helps consumers evaluate and verify the allergen-reducing effectiveness of a variety of products, from cleaning supplies, air cleaning devices and vacuums to toys, bedding, home improvement products, paints, clothes washers and more. You can learn more at www.AAFA.org/certified.

*BPT

The post Healthy housekeeping tips offer a fresh approach to spring cleaning appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

With spring so close we can almost see lime green buds peeking out from the plants, it’s time to shake off winter lethargy! Since it’s still a bit icy out, there’s no better place to start your seasonal de-shelling than inside your home. Below are a few fantastic spring cleaning tips for spring cleaning, organized by problem area, that are eco-friendly, DIY, and (believe it or not) fun!

Overstuffed Closets

Closets are sneaky beasts. One day they’re well curated and clean. The next day, they’re erupting with pants, dresses, shirts, and more. And flabbergastingly, people only wear a jaw-dropping 20% of all clothes they own, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Bring order to closet disarray and disuse by use by purging your wardrobe and swapping excess items online. Sites like Swapdom.com make this to-do easy and—dare we say it?—addictively fun. Swapdom is free to use and its special circle swap system means less effort and higher success than traditional swaps. Plus, you can trade your items for clothes, kids’ gear, or (this last one launching soon) home goods!

If your clothes aren’t quite fit for giving away, though, you can upcycle them or use them as rags for spring cleaning.

Disorganized Odds and Ends

Mason jars aren’t just the glass of choice for hipster bars nationwide; they’re a great organizational device as well! Glue or nail jar lids to the bottom of a shelf, fill the jars, and screw the jars into place for a neat way to organize office or craft supplies, or simply stack jars sideways to create good-looking holders for pens, pencils, or utensils.

Another set of interest upcycling ideas puts your worn-out denim to work. Cut off pockets and stick them to fabric stretched over an old frame to create a nice organizer for office tidbits, or weave together long strips of denim to create a handy denim basket, perfect for storing toys, knickknacks and more.

Overused, Undercleaned Surfaces

Giving the house a thorough scrubbing may not be as fun as skydiving or winning the lottery, but nothing beats starting spring out with a house so fresh and so clean, clean, even OutKast would be tempted to write a song about it.

Instead of turning to the harsh-on-the-hands, bad-for-the-earth cleaning supplies that shout out at us from advertisements and grocery store shelves, concoct your own grime-fighting solutions. With a few natural, around-the-house ingredients, you can create great DIY cleaning products that cut down on dirt, soap scum, and polluting chemical use. Simply look online to easy recipes! 

Armed with these tips, we foresee you fighting your way out of winter stagnancy with adamancy! Good luck and happy spring! 

The post Spring Cleaning Tips That’ll Rock Your World appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Contributed by Stacey Boyd, national parenting expert & founder of Savvy Source

Springtime usually means spring-cleaning. It’s time to get rid of the old to make room for the new! Here are four great tips to organizing your child’s closet this spring:

1. Did you know you can donate old clothes and get money for your child’s school? Schoola Stitch is a brand new program. Parents donate their child’s used clothing to a massive online consignment store. Stitch sends you a prepaid UPS bag and then you fill it up and send it back to them. Shoppers then get great deals on those brand names (think 80-90% off retail) and up to 40% of the proceeds goes right back to your child’s school. It’s a win-win-win. Learn more at www.schoolastitch.com.

2. Abide by these quick rules: If it’s ripped or stained, don’t bother—throw it out. If it’s in good shape, but too small, donate it or hand it down. Get two piles going and you can zip through the closet in 10 minutes. Added tip: If you live in the Phoenix metro area, you can hire a Task Rabbit for $10 to $20 to make that run to Goodwill for you. Learn more at www.taskrabbit.com/phoenix.

3. Organize your child’s closet in three simple steps:

• Divide the closet by season: This makes it super easy for kids to find an outfit each morning.
• Use bins! It’s hard for kids to fold clothes neatly. Instead, use bins and buckets where they can store their undergarments, socks, pajamas, accessories and shoes. Also, kids love labels. You’ll be amazed how much more ends up going where it belongs when you just put a tag or label on it. Having your kids pick out cute, fun labels with you can help with their participation.
• Divide and conquer: Simple do-it-yourself drawer dividers can multiply space for shorts and pants. Use a silverware drawer organizer for storing extra buttons, belts and other small clothing accessories. 

4. Give them a junk drawer or bucket. There they can keep all their rocks, seashells stickers, vending machine prizes and more.

The post Closet Organization 101 appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.