Winter Archives - Serendipity Mommy

How to Keep Your Kids Healthy this Winter

January 20, 2021 by Mandy

There’s no denying the fact that you have concerns about your kids’ health and well-being during the winter months (just like every other season).

While it’s natural to have concerns, it’s nice to know there are steps you can take to keep them healthy and happy during this time of the year.

If you’re struggling for ideas and have simply hoped for the best in the past, here are five tips you can use:

1. Wash Those Hands!

This goes for both you and your children. Yes, it can be a difficult habit to teach your children, but it’s well worth it in the long run. It can be the difference between your child always being sick and them making it through the winter months unscathed.

Encourage your children to wash their hands both at home and while out of the house, such as during school hours or visiting with friends and extended family.

This is one of the easiest things a person can do to reduce the risk of contracting an illness and/or spreading germs. Help your children develop this habit early in life, as it’ll stick with them well into the future.

Note: there is a right and wrong way to wash your hands. Here is a resource to ensure that you’re doing it correctly. If you’re not doing it right, it won’t do you much good.

2. Don’t Forget About Skin and Hair Health

As you’re well aware, the winter months will drain your skin and hair of moisture. Subsequently, it takes a dedicated approach to keep it healthy until warmer weather arrives.

So, it’s safe to say that this is an issue your children are dealing with, too.

Look into the many products that are available to fight dryness, such as natural hair oil and hair moisturizer. Healthy hair and skin will make your children more comfortable, while also taking one less thing off their mind.

3. Make Sure They Eat Right

When your children eat immune-boosting foods (and consume immune-boosting drinks), they’re better positioned to fight off anything that comes their way.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, other foods to incorporate into their diet include yogurt, garlic, and beef.

Regardless of the time of year, it’s not always easy to get your children to eat right. However, when you mix immune-boosting foods and drinks into their diet, it definitely helps. And who knows, they may even find a few healthy foods that they actually enjoy!

4. Make Sure They Get Enough Sleep

Just the same as managing their diet, getting your children to follow a sleep schedule is a challenge. This is particularly true if your child is the type who likes to go to bed late and rise early.

Keep in mind that children require more sleep than adults—seven to eight hours is not enough. For instance, a child between the age of 5 and 10 requires roughly 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night.

Sleep is when the body heals and repairs itself, so it’s essential to the overall health and well-being of your children.

5. Limit Sugar Intake

Yes, your children probably love sugary treats such as cake, brownies, and candy. And while it’s okay to give it to them every now and again, be careful about how often.

Too much sugar suppresses the immune system and causes inflammation, both of which make your child more likely to contract the flu, a cold, or another type of virus.

Don’t let your child go overboard on how much sugar they ingest. One treat per day is more than enough.

Final Thoughts

Are you the person primarily in charge of taking care of your children—as well as elderly members of your family—during the long, cold winter months?

If so, strongly consider the benefits of implementing the five tips above. Not only will it put your kids on the right path over the months to come, but it’ll also give you peace of mind.

Should you still have concerns, consult with your child’s doctor to ask questions and obtain guidance and advice. You never know when you’ll come across a nugget of information that better positions your child to make it through the winter months happy and healthy.

7 Pointer Checklist to Consider for Winter Weather

July 29, 2020 by Mandy

If you were to describe Melbourne’s winter months in two words, you would probably say- Freaking cold!!

We know our coldest months, June and July, are not being too kind with us this year too. You might have already experienced frosty nights over the last month. Hence, it is very important that you keep yourself protected throughout this season.

In this article, we have compiled a 7 pointers’ checklist that you should consider for the cold days ahead.

1. Hot Water System

A reliable hot water system is one of the best things you could get in the wintery winters. We know that you need a hot shower during winter. Not only does it feel relaxing, but it also boosts your mood, keeps you active, and also helps you get good sleep.

Hot water system’s benefit us in many ways:

For washing hands frequently (we all know it is a must in this season)
Washing fruits and vegetables
Washing kids’ toys (washable toys)
For any kind of household cleaning

There are two types of hot water systems.

Gas hot water system
Electric hot water system

Both are useful. Both have their own pros and cons. You can choose the one that suits you the best. For more information on hot water systems, click here.

2. Shine in the Sun

We don’t get sunlight throughout the day. But, when it is present, we should make the best use of it. You should give your body 20 minutes in the sunlight daily. Once the sun hides, close the windows and curtains to avoid the winter chill.

Sun is the actual protector. Keeping windows open for the sun not only warms the house but also kills the germs. You could also make use of thermal curtains for better insulation of the house.

3. Door Draught Blockers

Air leakage due to the gaps underneath doors should be addressed soon. If this is rectified, we can avoid almost 25% of the heat loss in winter. Door draught blockers can be easily found at your local departmental stores.

4. Winter Clothes

Spending on winter clothes is not a bad idea. Shop for woollen and polyester clothes. They keep you warm.

Windproof outer layers need particularly nylon clothes. Thermal wears are the best for those extra cold days. Thermal garments include undershirts, jumpers, underwear, etc.

5. Rugs and Mats

Placing rugs and mats all over the bare floors is a must to not kill your warm shower’s tender effect with the cold floor’s touch. Avoid chills from rising We can use thicker rugs for better insulation of the room.

Wool rugs are very good at this but also very expensive. Some of the most affordable and best-insulated rugs and mats are made up of acrylic, nylon, and cotton.

6. Hot Water Bottles

Hot water bottles are great purchases for the winter season. Before using, check for leaks. Moreover, the water should be warm and not boiling hot, while using the bottle.

The rubber of the bottle can perish from inside due to high temperatures. So, we must always remember to replace the bottle every two years. Make sure to wrap them in a towel before placing them directly on the skin.

7. Drink Hot

Drinking a hot drink will make you feel warmer. Especially on a cold day, if you are shivering, grab a hot beverage. This helps because your stomach is stimulated by other thermo-sensors. You can pick from hot water, milk, tea, coffee, soups as well as green tea for a healthy beverage.

Drinking hot beverages will also keep you hydrated during winter. Keeping all these pointers in mind, let’s enjoy this winter weather. Let’s keep all necessities ready for the winter.

Have a happy winter!

Keeping Your Family Safe, Warm and Happy This Winter

February 27, 2019 by Mandy

When its cold outside, nothing is better than being indoors with the family. This is especially true when a Polar Vortex is bearing down and it’s outright dangerous to go outside. What you may not know is that sometimes even indoors can become a death trap in frigid temperatures.

Knowing what to do in cold weather can save their lives

There have been some unusually cold temperatures, some minus 37 degrees in certain regions. This has called for some city officials asking their citizens to turn down their heat to the low to mid 60’s because of a shortage of natural gas. More than two dozen people perished in the recent cold blast.

While the news is heartbreaking in all, one news report really stood out. According to The New York Times, “Four men in Illinois, Wisconsin, and two in Michigan were found frozen near their homes, and a woman was found frozen to death inside a Milwaukee apartment after the thermostat malfunctioned.”

This could have possibly had a different outcome had there been preventative maintenance on her apartment’s life-saving furnace. The furnace is one of those things many won’t even think to check unless something is amiss, it’s making noise, or they see a fluctuation in their bill. Still, a furnace, much like a car, must have a tune-up or preventative maintenance to maintain good running conditions. You don’t need it breaking down at a critical moment such as this one when roads and businesses are closed.

Know who will be open ahead of frigid temperatures and don’t wait until it’s too late to call in a professional for furnace repair or inspection.

What to do inside with your family when it’s too dangerously cold to venture outside

This is not just for your sanity, it is also for theirs. Being isolated indoors for a significant amount of time can actually do some strange things to your mind and to theirs. This is a real condition often referred to as “cabin fever.”

Keeping your family and yourself occupied can really make all the difference. Here are a few ideas that have proven successful time and time again.

Have an “indoor campfire” with the kiddos

No, I haven’t entirely lost my mind. You only take tissue paper in red and orange colors and use a flashlight to create a flames effect. Grab a few marshmallows, tell stories around the campfire!

No logs? Use brown paper bags to create the illusion of logs.

Be creative with it, do a cowboys and Indians theme, get the sleeping bags, let your imaginations take you wherever you want to go. Just don’t use real fire indoors on your camping adventure.

Get active

Grab the nearest roll of masking tape and get a hopscotch game going. This gets everyone moving around and preoccupied. Charades is another great game to get you laughing and active.

Try Twister or even sensory games to dispel some of that pent up energy. One idea that we just loved and which sounded like a ton of fun is to create a family work out video. After a while the obvious runs out. You have to get creative and have fun doing it.

Make time for some valuable lessons

Let’s face it, the isolation won’t be a 24/7 party. There will be times when even the fun isn’t much fun anymore. This is a great time to get organized, clean up, or make some home improvements while teaching some very valuable life lessons.

Accompany this with stories that your grandparents used to tell you about their childhood or your own. There is just something a little nostalgic about the stories and the values that are passed down through them.

Show them how to cook, sew or whatever your heart desires. Scrapbooking and looking at old family photos are other great ideas and they learn about their history.

Play in the snow, inside

Don’t fear to bring the outdoors indoors. If that sounds a little crazy, that’s ok, so is the weather. Use buckets and build a snowman right in your sink or bathtub. Additional snow play can be done on waterproof tablecloths on the tile flooring. Afterward would be a fantastic time to implement the above suggestion of cleaning and organizing.

You’re never too old to build a fort

Show the kids how fort building is really done. Go all out. Use boxes, bedding and even decorations. Have fun with it and get as creative as you like.

You can even camp out inside your fort afterward, make a day and a night of it! You can even use a tent. This is an activity only as limited as your imagination.

Hey Alexa, play some music

It’s time for a dance off. This will get the blood pumping and laughter in the air. It’s also great for burning calories and pent up energy. You can even introduce the kids to some of your music back in the day and show them how to really boogie down! You can put on plays, shows and even go all out dressing up with the crazy hair and makeup. When it comes time to wash it all off, make a spa day out of it.

Make time for the gamer

Dare to challenge the gamer in the house to a gaming marathon. The younger ones can enjoy some learning games on the smaller devices while you show the older ones a thing or two about what you know. Board games are also a fun idea.

Make time for your spouse

After the kids are in bed, get all dressed up, have a romantic candlelight dinner with good music and talk about the things that you normally don’t have time for after work. Finding time to spend together when everything is hectic can be tough. Take advantage of the downtime. Cuddle on the couch and watch a movie, or make out in front of the fireplace. Whatever your heart desires, just make time for one another.

There you have it. With a lot of love, a little effort, and some wild imagination, being inside with your family can get you through this intense Polar Vortex. This time can be turned into priceless memories and irreplaceable bonding moments that you will all be thankful for.

Simple and Organic Ways to Protect Your Lawn During Winter

January 23, 2018 by Mandy

Going organic is not just a trend, it is a lifestyle choice that can greatly benefit you, your family, and even your lawn. Yes, there are organic gardening methods that you can use in order get a healthy and lush lawn even during winter. No, we kid you not; organic gardening and lawn care is a thing.

Did the thought of winter organic lawn care spark your interest? Here are some organic tips on protecting your lawn in winter.

Via https://pixabay.com/en/rush-lawn-frosty-meadow-winter-1868254/

One: Your Lawn and Its Soil is Alive as You Are

The first step in organic lawn care is changing your mentality. People succumb to the shortcuts presented by chemical fertilizers and pesticides because they think that their lawn is an inanimate object that just needs to look presentable. Pocahontas would have a fit; because your lawn and its soil are both alive.

People usually go organic because they do not want to experience any potential harmful effects of indirectly consuming food sprayed with harmful chemicals. If that is the case; what do you think would happen with direct exposure? Because that is what you are doing to your lawn whenever you spray weed control chemicals, pesticides, and the like.

Two: There is No ‘Too Well’ In Getting to Know Your Lawn

Having your lawn’s soil tested can help you adjust nutrient imbalances earlier on. Lawn soil is prone to nutrient imbalances after summer. Making sure that you add the right amount of add-on nutrients before winter kicks in is key to having a healthy lawn during winter and a beautiful lawn come springtime.

Knowing the type of grass you have is also an important step in organic lawn maintenance. It is true that there are more general ways of caring for your lawn regardless if it is a warm season or a cool season grass. But there are practices that are great for cool season grass but will not be so good for warm season grass.

Three: Compost that Lawn

Forget about buying tubs of dangerous and expensive chemical fertilizer from the gardening section. Pile your kitchen waste, meal scraps, and fallen leaves in a shallow hole in the ground and turn it into compost.

Add a good layer of compost your lawn’s soil before winter kicks in is an organic and affordable way of making sure that your lawn absorbs a lot of nutrients in order to survive the cold of winter.

Furthermore, emptying out your compost pit before winter also has its own benefits that includes being able to start a new one in preparation for the next season.

Four: Watering

We almost do not need to water in the winter, but if the weather is too dry, then you should water 1 to 2 times a month. Using a sprinkler system is still the best way to irrigate your lawn, but outdoor sprinkler heads often freeze in the winter, so you should store a traveling sprinkler kit in your shed to apply for many different watering purposes.

Five: Mow Wisely

Although you will not be doing a lot of mowing during winter, properly mowing your lawn before your home welcomes the frosty season can do wonders.

Lawn care experts suggest that you keep the grass as short as possible for winter. Cutting the grass short without prior preparation can negatively impact grass growth. That is why lawn care professionals suggest to gradually cutting the grass shorter starting late summer. This gradual change will help your lawn adjust in its dormant winter state and accommodate healthy grass growth come spring time.

Six: Keep off the Grass and that Includes Weeds Too

Keeping off the grass is not just for aesthetic reasons. Having your lawn’s grass continuously and regularly stepped on, even during winter, can make it difficult for the grass to grow

The same reasoning applies for objects left on the lawn during winter. Toys that are left in the lawn during winter can create dead spots come spring time. That is why, it is important to make a clean sweep of the lawn before winter sets in and avoid foot traffic.

Weeds steal the nutrients that your grass needs to survive the winter. Therefore, killing weeds in winter is an important step as any other.

Some organic lawn care experts suggest pulling weeds out, pouring boiling water on them, or smothering them with newspaper. Others advise to sprinkle salt on paths or in areas where your mower cannot reach to prevent weeds from growing at all.

Organic is the Way to Go

Practicing organic law care during winter is not that hard. If you just remember that taking care of your lawn is taking care of a living thing; then you are all set.

Do you have a few organic lawn care tips of your own? We would love to hear from you. Share your organic tips on protecting your lawn in winter on the comments section below and let us learn from one another.