Merlino & Gonzalez - September 2023

PARENTING PRO TIPS

Keeping Your Kids Busy While You Work From Home

Let them be crafty. Kids are swift learners, and after a quick tutorial from you, they’ll be ready to tackle any art project. Gather construction paper, child- safe scissors, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, glue, cardboard, and markers, then go online to find some creative ideas for arts and crafts that your kids can make themselves! Schedule sensory playtime. Sensory activities are sure to keep your kiddos busy and their minds engaged. While you work, let those little hands feel, poke, and explore different food textures, shaving cream, sand, Play-Doh, and water. Build a fort. Forts are a great way to keep your children entertained all day long — you’ll be surprised how long a few pillows, blankets, chip clips, and furniture cushions will keep little ones busy. Camping out in the wilderness of your family room is an epic adventure!

Break out the puzzles. If your children are old enough to build puzzles, these are interactive enough to occupy them for a few hours. The best part is that puzzles can be incentive-based — offer a yummy treat or extra playtime later in the evening once they complete the puzzle! Get moving. Dance parties, balloon volleyball, kids’ yoga, indoor hopscotch, and scavenger hunts are some safe ways to keep your kids active indoors during your workday. These ideas will help burn off energy and pass the time while allowing you to concentrate in relative silence. With so much technology available today, it’s tempting to plop your kids in front of the television so you can get some work done. However, these ideas keep kids busy without relying too much on screen time and allow you to finish your work with minimal distractions.

Studies show that roughly 43% of parents work from home, which means you’ve likely experienced a few of your important meetings being interrupted by kid-fueled chaos. Whether you work remotely full-time or out of your home office occasionally, keeping your children quiet long enough for you to stay focused on your job can be challenging. Here are some great ideas for keeping your little ones entertained during your 9-to-5 without Netflix playing babysitter.

5 UNEXPECTED USES FOR DRYER SHEETS Unleash the Magic

Freshen up shoes.

Dryer sheets, thin pieces of fabric coated with softeners, fragrances, and lubricants, are a game-changer when it comes to freshening and softening your laundry! However, did you know these thin sheets of magic can also work wonders in your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom? Check out some of these awesome dryer sheet hacks!

Nobody likes the funk of well-used sneakers and dress shoes. If your shoes have gotten a little ripe over time, add a scented dryer sheet to each one before returning them to your gym bag or shoe rack. Just remember to remove the sheets before slipping them on! Clean your car. There’s nothing worse than having a bunch of dead bugs all over your vehicle’s windshield and grill after a road trip. Dryer sheets have abrasive properties that are strong enough to remove the insects but are still gentle enough not to damage the paint and finish on your car. It’s a win-win!

Clean your pots and pans. It’s a real bummer when you have food stuck to a kitchen pot or frying pan. The next time you have food caked to one of your pans, place an unused dryer sheet in the bottom of the cookware, fill it with hot water, and allow it to soak. The silicone coating on the dryer sheet will help to soften and remove all the crusted food and particles left behind. Remove pet hair from clothes and furniture.

If you have pets or visit a friend with pets, then you likely know the hassle of being carpeted in dog or cat hair. The same properties that reduce static on your clothes in the dryer are perfect for helping lift fur off your clothes and furniture. Just take a clean dryer sheet and wipe the area to loosen the hair. Then, follow up with a lint roller.

Remove soap scum . If soap scum coats your shower door and the corners of your tub

or shower, use a damp dryer sheet to wash away the soap residue. It also works on hard water stains. The result is a sparkly clean shower without harsh chemicals!

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