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Taking on the immense challenge of homeschooling is not to be taken lightly, it will take a level of dedication and commitment rivaled only by the vows we took with our spouse.
However, if we’re certain we need to do this, then there are a couple of options out there that will help us achieve the level of excellence we’ll ask of our young one(s). The trick here is to make the most out of everything we can afford to alter in order to stimulate learning in all fields, free of distractions like the TV, pets, the PC etc. 
Make a plan
When we’re set on the notion of homeschooling, we need to take a step back and figure things out. If we intend to essentially take the place of every single teacher, we need to be prepared…or at least seem prepared in front of our child.
Take time to research all the courses you want to teach and buy the necessary materials. After you’ve done that, it’s time to hunker down and create a course plan. Every day of every week – you need to know what you’ll be doing and what they need to get out of it. Difficult? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely. Set up a supply area
Simply put, the coming months will be nothing short of excruciating until both you and your child get the hang of this homeschooling thing and all the different ways your child can benefit from it.
The least you can do is alleviate the pressure a bit by buying school supplies in bulk and storing them away. This copious amount of, essentially, office supplies will need to be housed somewhere, so consider cleaning out a closet to make room for all the stuff you’ll need. This will eliminate the need to go to the store during lessons with an already tight schedule as you’re juggling your child’s education and the rest of your obligations during the day. Keep it functional
With so much stuff to take care of and things to keep in check, it can be pretty easy to fall into the trap of throwing things around in hopes of cleaning it up later. Avoid this way of thinking at all costs. The whole idea of homeschooling is to give your child a quality education from home – how are you supposed to manage that if you can’t find your supplies, your pen, his books?
Make sure everything is labelled and has a designated place, just like in public schools. Above else, make these rules crystal clear to the little one so you won’t have to go on scavenger hunts each time little Timmy needs to read from his English book. Technology is your friend
Ah, the wonders of the information age. If you own a tablet or anything that is remotely movable, you’re in luck. Using a laptop or a tablet for books and any other need you might have will minimize the space your teaching will take up and will also have the added benefit of your child working in a familiar digital environment.
The only downside of this is that the very same laptop and tablet will still have all the games and “fun” things on it, so maintaining focus for the entirety of the class might prove a tad difficult. Go outside once in a while
One crucial thing to remember is that kids still need PE. Take them out for a ride on their bike, go for walks in the woods, whatever floats their boat essentially. They need some physical activity in the day to spend their energy and get rid of the feeling of being bolted down in a chair for hours and hours (like in school).
A good middle ground for this would be to organize classes outside, this doesn’t need to be anything fancy, it can be just a simple lesson in the backyard. Spending the day outside and learning will come as a welcome change of pace and will more than likely revitalize their willingness to learn. Clear out unused space
Ah, now comes the hard part – clearing out a room. Make no mistake, this is absolutely necessary to do and will greatly affect your child’s ability to absorb the knowledge he’s supposed to.
When you find a nice room you can make into a temporary classroom, throw everything out. Jokes aside, if you’re not able to move your furniture elsewhere within the house, there are plenty of super easy storage options out there. This will keep everything safe and sound and let you focus on your child’s future. Good luck!
Now that you’ve taken care of everything around the house and made a plan so you know what you’ll be doing and when, there’s only the small issue of getting our hands dirty and getting to teaching.
Teaching truly is one of the noblest professions and the joy experienced when passing on knowledge to young ones cannot be compared to anything else. That said, dealing with children unwilling to learn is a whole other ballgame we’ll let you find out for yourselves, good luck!
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We all need to get some sleep and rest. Sleep helps us in so many ways, keeping our mind and body working at top performance. It is critical to our health and wellbeing.
Best of all it keeps people from being cranky and unhealthy. If you're the type of person that has a tough time getting to sleep, this information might help. Here are the do's and don'ts of getting a good night of sleep. 
Create a Relaxing Sleeping Environment
If you want to get to sleep, then you must relax. So, having a relaxing sleeping environment is key to sleeping well.
You create a relaxing sleeping space by turning off the lights and eliminating all noise. Turn off your cellphones, tablets, computers, TVs and the radio. Relaxing Bedding and Sheets
Bedding is very important to get a good night’s sleep. The right type of bedding will make you feel comfortable. Soft sheets bed sheets will help you to unwind and relax.
You can buy cotton sheets for the summer time to keep cool during those warm nights. Flannel sheets are best for the winter if you tend to be cold. The right form of pillows, covers, and sheets are also essential for sleep. Establish a Sleep Routine
You should establish a sleep routine to make it easier to fall asleep. A sleep routine will help you to rest better because your body will get used to the schedule.
Every day your body will recognize that it is time to shut down and rest. Consistency is the key to making this work. Figure Out What’s Keeping You Awake at Night
If you can not fall asleep easily, it may help to figure out why. Write down what is running through your mind and then address it in the morning or next day, during daylight hours.
You may find that you have a different perspective this way, and perhaps some clarity or a new way of thinking about the issue. Once you find out the problem, try and resolve it. If you are worrying about something, then figure out how to stop. The point is to deal with anything that is keeping you up at night. Stress not only puts a damper on your ability to fall asleep, but it also can affect the quality of sleep that you get when you eventually doze off. Don't Eat Before Bed
Do not eat before you go to bed for at least 2-3 hours. If you do, eat a light meal or snack.
Eating, especially before bed, has been known to keep people awake because your body is at work digesting. Avoid Caffeine, Medication, and Alcohol
You probably already know that caffeine and drugs will keep your body and mind active. If you take these substances before sleeping, then you will probably stay up all night long. Unless medication is specifically for the sleeping hours, avoid taking it before bed.
Using Sleep Aids
While some over the counter or prescription sleep aids are beneficial, you should first try natural remedies. There are teas and elixirs to drink before bed that can relax you, essential oils, sound devices, and breathing techniques that may assist with helping your body to shut down.
Hot Water and Sleep
Hot water works wonders for relaxing the body and inducing a sleepy mindset. People that take a hot shower or a relaxing bath may find that they more easily go to sleep.
Napping
Are you napping during the day? If you are doing this because of a lack of sleep at night, you may be feeding right into the problem. Napping could worsen the problem if you are doing it at the wrong time, but done properly; it can offer the benefits of relaxation and improved mood and performance during the day.
However, if you can take a quick nap during the day, you may not be affecting your nighttime sleep. Exercise During the Day
People that exercise in the day and regularly have had better results sleep at night. You should exercise to help you sleep better as well as to reduce anxiety and stress that may be keeping you awake at night.
Even moderate activity on a regular basis will help with sleep disorders, and it has been found to beneficial to addressing a variety of sleep deprivation issues.
Whether it’s partial or complete deafblindness, when they’re home people with hearing and sight difficulties need to feel comfortable, safe and completely in charge of their surroundings.
Acquired deafblindness can be frustrating and scary. It forces people to rethink their habits, their needs, and their environment. To help deafblind people gain their independence, we’ve hand-selected 7 ways to adapt your house in order to accommodate them. 
1. Lighting Changes
Whether they live in a studio, apartment or house, one of the first and most important changes for a deafblind person’s environment should be lighting.
Changing the placement of light fixtures can also help better illuminate dark spaces: • Choose the brightest light bulbs. These will come in handy in darker spaces where accidents tend to happen such as the bathroom or on the stairway. Invest in fluorescent bulbs – they emit a more powerful light and they last longer. • Be generous with the light fixtures. Illuminate the house entirely, including the hallways, closets, and outside. 2. Interior Design Adjustments
The home of a deafblind person should be a safe haven. Here are some tips to help you create exactly that.
3. Appliances
Electrical items can be tricky to get used to. But it’s not impossible for deafblind people to use them.
Here’s how you can make it go smoother for them.
4. Bathroom Adaptations
This type of adjustment is essential for safety.
Here’s how to adapt a bathroom for deafblind people:
5. Hallway Adaptations
Hallways shouldn’t be overlooked when you are working on adapting a home for a deafblind person.
Here’s what you should know about corridor adaptations:
6. Outdoor Adaptations
To make it easier to deafblind people to go out or access the garden, here’s what you should keep in mind about outdoor adaptations:
7. Security Adaptations
There are special alerting systems designed for people with hearing and sight difficulties that keep them informed about what is happing: phone ringing, smoke alarm going off or someone at the door.
About the Author: John Stuart works on behalf of raisedfloor.co.ukin outreach and content creation. He creates engaging content that help businesses connect with their audience and stand out from the crowd
There are millions of people in the world who live with some degree of sight loss either from birth, or caused by an injury or old age. All of those people want both their indoor and outdoor spaces to be completely safe and secure so that they can be independent in them.
When it comes to outdoor spaces, visually impaired individuals need a space that’s free of clutter, well-lit and well-marked. Designing such a space doesn’t have to be difficult and expensive. It only needs some careful planning and a few useful tips that will allow their inhabitants to live and move more comfortably outside. Here’s how you can do it for your outdoor space. 
Use Color as a Guide
Many legally blind people can see up to a certain point, and they can see bright colors and changes in lighting. These can help them as guides through their outdoor space.
The use of bright contrasting colors is especially helpful to partially-sighted people to differentiate between different areas and spaces. For instance, garden paths can be made out of red or orange pavers to provide a good contrast with green lawns. You can also opt for outdoor furniture in different colors and textures to prevent bumping into it. If you have a green thumb, make sure all of your gardening tools are painted in bright colors that will make locating and identifying them much easier 
Be Organized
Good organization and tidiness is the key safety element for people with complete blindness or visual impairments. If everything is nicely organized it’s easier to remember where everything is located.
You must always know where all your sharp gardening tools are, and you can even consider creating a database of your garden inventory. If you love to take care of your plants, you can create neat little labels for them in Braille or use vivid colors to make signs. This way, each individual plant will get exactly the right care. Also, always know exactly where your fire extinguishers and telephones are when you’re outside. Eliminate Hazards
In order to eliminate as many hazards as possible, make sure that your front yard and your garden are well maintained to avoid any inconvenience. Your outdoor paths should be wide and perfectly flat. As soon as you notice some bumps or broken pavers or bricks, have them removed and replaced. Additionally, try to keep your greenery well maintained, and avoid letting your plants overgrow and cause obstructions in the path or on the stairs. It’s way easier to move around without all these obstacles blocking your way.
Another thing you should consider is removing all cables and watering hoses from pathways. They can be hard to spot if you leave them on the ground, and you can easily trip or slip on them. Lastly, you can secure the slippery surfaces with non-slip rubber matting and be sure that no matter the weather, the outdoor living space will be hazard-free. 
Get Smart with Lighting
Visually impaired people greatly benefit from good lighting, so make sure to incorporate it in your outdoor spaces. If nothing else, at least illuminate your pathway and the entrance.
Also, pay extra attention to your stairs. Make sure to install LED lighted handrails and lights on each step. The best solution for your stairs are linear lights that are easy to install and offer great illumination. Also, use better lighting near your outdoor furniture to make it easier to spot and avoid it. 
The Importance of Handrails
Every set of stairs in your outdoor space should have sturdy handrails. You can even use linear lights and gently illuminate the handrail so you can spot it more easily. Another great way to ensure outdoor safety is to put up rope handrails along your garden paths or use them to make barriers. Ropes look amazing in any garden, plus they can give you an additional sense of security. If you implement these safety tips into your outdoor space, you or your visually impaired family members can enjoy it without any worries. About the Author 
Catherine is a passionate home design consultant from Melbourne. She loves making homes beautiful and buildings sustainable, but she also like sharing her advice and knowledge with people. That is why she is also a regular contributor to the Smoothdecorator blog. Besides all this, she loves reading and enjoys a superhero movie from time to time.
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For most people home décor is not something they plan to change whenever a new style becomes trendy. But when decorating their home, the up-and-coming fashion will certainly be something they follow and respect. The catch though is that when you decorate after a while, you really don’t have to change everything to make your home trendy and fashionable, but just a few things here and there to refresh the look.
Therefore, check out these timeless décors which will keep your home always in style and admired. 
1. Art is forever
Sure, many homes buy artworks just for decoration or because they are trendy at that moment, but if you want to save your budget from overspending on future décor, the simplest thing you can do is to make your art personal.
If you personalize the art in your home you will gain more than saved money - you will add emotional and personal value to those pieces and thus make it timeless. What you can do is upgrade it a little or refresh it, for example by changing frames on paintings or changing their places. 2. Natural materials
This year’s trends in interior design are all about organic environment, meaning that natural materials have become a highly desired commodity. Truth be told, they were always in, since the furniture, flooring and fixtures made of natural materials are considered to be of the highest quality. Marble, wood, leather, ceramic or terrazzo are all natural and will keep your house interior in good and long-lasting shape.
Their price may be a bit higher, but the quality is unprecedented and will also give a special charm to your home. The most interesting fact about these materials is that their worn out state or a few marks on the surface only add to their exclusivity 3. Built-in shelves
When you plan for storage space, think about built-in shelves. They are incorporated in the overall design and can easily adjust to any change. That’s why they’re the perfect and lasting solution for storing your books or other belongings, without having to buy new shelves.
The other plus is that they make your home look bigger and spacious, since they are out of the way, but also classy and cozy. For that extra added value, play with the symmetry or use a different color for their background. 
4. Great lighting never goes out of fashion
One of the most important parts of any décor is lighting, and the best thing about it is that it never falls out of trend. Natural daylight is irreplaceable and the more you can invite into your home the better. Tall windows and a mirror positioned to reflect the light can do the trick.
Today, there are many great solutions on vertical blinds online and in stores which can dim sunlight and still let it brighten up the room. But if you don’t have too much sunlight, use lighter warm colors on walls and furniture which will brighten up the space. 5. Good old soaking tub
The one thing that seems to never go out of style is a bathtub. They have class, luxury and commodity that will last you a lifetime.
Freestanding tubs are a bonus, since they always breathe elegance into a bathroom. What attests to their popularity is the fact that they even make them for small bathrooms and with shower heads, all because people don’t want to stop soaking and enjoying the relaxation they provide. And if you choose those made of quality materials and by a renowned manufacturer, you’ll enjoy these benefits for a long time Lastly
When it comes to interior design, it’s all about that year’s trends and fashion. But even that big of an industry can’t deny the charm and magic of some vintage and everlasting pieces.
The best thing about that is that you don’t have to compromise the first time you decorate your apartment, or think about pieces of your home becoming obsolete. With just a few little adjustments they will not only fit right in with the new design, but also give it that extra spice to make it unique, original and only yours. |
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