(BPT) – Summer vacation means children, teens and in-betweens are spending more time at home, resulting in more messes, mud and madness. By tackling a few projects around the home now, you’ll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful weather and carefree days ahead.
• Make sure you aren’t stuck inside spending valuable time cleaning. Invest in products that’ll help do the job for you, and lessen the workload by having the entire family pitch in. Divvy up the chores and make a game out of it to keep things fun. Try turning clean-up time into a scavenger hunt and have everyone collect stray items throughout the house.
• Now’s the time to get organized. Do you have a large frame or two collecting dust in a corner? Pick up some chalkboard or dry erase paints to quickly transform an unused frame into a family message board that’s perfect for jotting down summer-time schedules, chore reminders and grocery lists. Not only will this keep you and your kids on task for summer months, but it will also make transitioning back into a structured school year smooth sailing.
• Pay special attention to your garage. Before you know it, you’ll have pool toys, golf balls and dirty cleats clogging up the space. Take the time now to create personalized storage bins for each member of the family. It will give everyone a place to keep their prized possessions while keeping dirt and mud out of the house.
• Make the most out of the outdoors by planting a garden. Not only will your household benefit from eating fresh fruits and vegetables, but your kids will also learn what it takes to sustain and grow food. If yard space is a concern, container gardens make a great option.
• You can also spend time with family outside after the sun goes down. Install a fire pit for making late-night treats. It can set the stage for story-telling and laughing about the day, keeping your family close and connected.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.
