YOU’RE GETTING VERY SLEEPY ...
ESTABLISHING A BEDTIME ROUTINE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
Between vacations, bonfires, and sporting tournaments, your children’s sleep schedule probably went on break when they did this summer. With school fast approaching, it’s vital to get your kids back on a proper sleep schedule. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, getting enough sleep can significantly improve a child’s growth and cognitive function.
one week later. Slowly work your way back to an appropriate time, and bedtime will be easier when school starts. Make It Easy Though the days may be getting shorter, it’s still relatively light out at night, making it nearly impossible for your kids to doze off when they should. Sleep experts recommend creating a sleeping space that mimics a cave: dark, cool, and quiet. This means sunlight shouldn’t sneak into the room, and the home should be a quiet zone after bedtime. No one wants to sleep while everyone else is having fun, so it’s important that everyone in the home is quiet at bedtime.
But getting a restful night’s sleep is easier said than done when kids have had almost complete freedom for three months. Try these tips to get your kids snoozing through August and prepared for school. Start Early and Go Slowly When practicing this tip, think of the old adage: “It takes 21 days to break a habit.” If your kids have been going to bed late this summer, set a time when they must go to bed, but don’t make it too far off the time they have been regularly hitting the hay. If they shuffle off to bed around 10 p.m., push their bedtime to 9:45 p.m., and then push it back to 9:30 p.m.
Just Relax This is a rule your family should follow year- round, not just when you want to reestablish a routine. At a certain time each night, begin the nightly wind-down. For example, at 8 p.m. shut off your screens, put on pajamas, and engage in a relaxing activity, like reading a book or doing some yoga. Signaling to your body and your family that it’s time for bed will help your kiddos, and you, fall asleep at an appropriate time.
15 CRAZY FLAVORS OF TOOTHPASTE AND FLOSS YOU’RE BRUSHING WITH WHAT?
lemon, and vanilla chai, your morning and nighttime routines just got a bit sweeter. Most of these kid-friendly flavors are available on Amazon, so feel free to indulge your sweet tooth without worrying about cavities. Fruit of the Tube Everyone loves fruit. At least, that’s what the makers of these toothpastes and flosses are counting on. The California-based company Cocofloss, founded by two sisters, specializes in fruit flavors with tasty options like fresh coconut, summer watermelon, pure strawberry, cara cara orange, and passion fruit. In the world of toothpaste, Schmidt’s, a plant-based company, is a standout with a coconut lime flavor guaranteed to make your toothbrush taste tropical. Suspiciously Savory Considering the sizzle bacon has had in recent pop culture, it’s no surprise that it invaded the bathroom counter. If you’re bacon obsessed, Perpetual Kid has just the product for you. See for yourself with its description: “Brushing your teeth with a strip of fried bacon is tricky. If it's too crisp, it will break apart as you brush, and if it's too limp, you won't be able to remove any of the plaque. So, when it's time to brush your teeth, leave the bacon strips for breakfast and try this bacon toothpaste.” Pair it with some bacon-flavored floss from quirky company Archie McPhee for the full breakfast experience, and, if that isn’t wacky enough, roll the dice with floss that tastes like pickles or ranch dressing.
While mint is unquestionably the nation’s favorite flavor of toothpaste and floss, every once in a while, you’ll come across someone who dislikes the taste. How do they deal with dental hygiene? A few big-name brands offer cinnamon options or even mysteriously dubbed “original” or “regular” flavors. But why stop there? Here are some of the more unique flavors available to delight kids and adults alike. Dental Dessert Brushing your teeth is usually what you do after having dessert. But with flavors like cupcake, chocolate chip, vanilla bean, licorice, Coca-Cola with
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