A morning routine for kids is easier to achieve than you might think

Even if you live in a house full of early birds, the chances of your morning running smoothly from waking up to getting out the door isn’t always guaranteed. Whether you need a refresher or are preparing for newly busy days, there are a few things you can do to create an easy morning routine for kids that will help prevent the wee hours from being a lesson in chaos.

1. Make sure the kids get enough sleep. Simple fact—kids who don’t get the right amount of sleep won’t be thrilled when the light pops on in the morning. Check out this handy chart from the Sleep Foundation to see how much shut-eye your little one needs on a nightly basis.

2. Prep backpacks the night before. Nothing beats the tried and true method of getting homework done and in the pack the night before. It means one less thing to do in the morning, and when everyone’s in high gear, it helps preserve the flow—and your sanity.

3. Wake up at the same time every day. Who isn’t tempted to hit the snooze button once (or twice)? The best morning people wake up at the same time every day, so your internal body clock knows when it’s time to rise and shine. Even if you love sleeping in on the weekends, your best chance for weekday morning success is rising at the same time every day.

4. Let the light shine in. Once the alarm goes off, open the window shades and welcome the morning sun. Our bodies wake faster in the light rather than in the dark. Have your kiddos open their blinds or curtains as soon as they wake up. If you’re awake before the sun comes up, hop out of bed and turn on the light.

5. Start with a power jam. There’s something inspirational about theme songs. Whether it’s their current fave or a classic like Eye of the Tiger, blast it at o-seven-early to rally the troops. Use the same song each day or make a playlist to rotate favorites throughout the week. Let’s get this a.m. party started!

Related: 13 Alarm Clocks to Kickstart Your Morning Routine

tween girl picking out clothes, a good thing to add to a morning routine for kids
iStock

 

6. Set out clothes the night before. The last thing you need in the morning is your kid spending an enormous amount of time choosing between polka dots and stripes. Add this task to your bedtime checklist, and you’ll save yourself the style struggle in the a.m.

7. Take up a collection. Every parent is familiar with those last-minute necessities that always slow kids down when you’re trying to shuffle them out the door. Shoes, jackets, backpacks… the items that often take a search party to locate. Collect them all in cubbies, baskets, bins, or lockers kept right by the door. They’ll be the last things the kids grab before it’s time to go to school.

8. Eat in the car. Seriously. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But it can be hard always getting something nutritious in, especially if your kiddo is slow to rise or doesn’t have time to finish their breakfast before the bus arrives. The solution? An on-the-go snack with lots of staying power.

9. Have a posted morning routine and schedule. Kiddos (and adults) work best if they know what’s expected of them. Post a morning routine for the kids on the refrigerator, or hang a chore chart on the kitchen wall. Even if the routine contains simple steps like making your bed, brushing your teeth, and washing your face, checking the chart and crossing off the items helps every family member know what’s expected of them and keeps the morning on track.

10. Make morning time electronics-free. We all know phones and televisions are distracting. Keeping the diversions to a minimum will help everyone stay focused on the tasks at hand and keep the morning focused on getting ready and out the door. And yes, parents, we’re talking about you too! Put the phone away until the morning hours have come and gone.

11. Recruit the kids. Have you ever noticed how younger kids seem to be in awe of the big kids? Use that to your advantage. Find a responsible older child to be your kid’s morning buddy and hire them to wait with your child at the bus or walk them to school in the morning. It means more time for you, and your kid will be delighted. Big kids for the win!

12. Give them five. A familiar concept from elementary classrooms, Give Me Five takes five simple tasks and associates each with a finger. It’s as easy as turning Thumbkin into the “get dressed” reminder and Mr. Pointer into “eat breakfast.“ By the time it’s Little Pinky’s turn, your mini-me should be ready to board the bus. Carry on with a high five after each completed task, and it’ll be smooth sailing for everyone!

Related: 22 Super Easy (& Nutritious) Breakfasts for Hectic Mornings

 

If your toddler is a proud member of the Peppa Pig fan club, you’ll want to put this drop on your radar! Reebok is collaborating with beloved kid’s show to release a second Peppa Pig collection of sneakers and t-shirts. The first release is sold out, but you can snag the new items starting July 19.

You’ll find multiple styles of the classic shoes that feature a kid-friendly makeover, retailing at $40 and up. The Weebok Clasp Shoes feature a playful doodle design with a rugged outsole for early walkers. The Reebok Royal Complete rocks the classic white color with embossed details from the show. And the Preschool Kid’s Classics feature laces for the slightly older set, plus a whimsical garden scene.

To complete the outfit, three new t-shirts will be available for your little Peppa fan. They’re all $25, soft cotton and feature fun illustrations of the show’s cast members.

Ready to buy? Set your alarm for 10 am ET on July 19. Your family’s back-to-school wear just got a little more imaginative!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Reebok

 

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that Kidde is recalling several different smoke and combination alarms due to a failure to alert consumers to a fire. The alarms were sold at retailers nationwide between May 2019 and September 2020.

This recall involves Kidde TruSense Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms. The model numbers are 2040, 2050, 2060 and 2070, located on the back of the alarm. Only alarms with the TruSense logo or “AMBER=FAULT” printed on the front of the alarm are included in this recall. They were sold for between $10 and $70 and about 226,000 units are involved.

No incidents or injuries have been reported. Customers should immediately contact Kidde for a replacement alarm. In the meantime, continue using the current alarm until the replacement can be installed.

—Sarah Shebek

Image courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission

 

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Little ones are full of big emotions, and sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get! Now more than ever, our anxieties are bubbling over, and our kids are no different. That’s why we are loving Puppy in My Head, a new picture book by Elsie Gravel. 

Using the “puppy in my head” as a metaphor for anxious feelings, this brilliant book is an engaging how-to guide, taking kids step-by-step from fear to calmness. Who knew a picture book could do all that! Read on for three reasons why you need Puppy in My Head on your bookshelf ASAP.

A Must-Read For Kids With Anxiety

HarperCollins

Health goes way beyond just the physical. When it comes to recognizing the importance of mental health, we've taken a huge step in the right direction, from mindfulness to meditation. We also want our kids to learn positive ways of managing their experiences and expressing their emotions. Let's face it: when it comes to learning, whether it's a language or a life skill, the earlier, the better!

The reader meets a sweet puppy named Ollie, who sometimes gets scared, running around in a panic, making the narrator feel the same way. When Ollie is happy, it feels great! But sometimes, Ollie is overly excited or scared, and that can feel overwhelming. Puppy in My Head connects with kids with a sense of understanding and compassion and gives them tools to tackle anxiety.

An Excellent Metaphor For Feelings of Fear

HarperCollins

Fight or flight! We all know that unpleasant feeling: butterflies in the tummy, heart-pounding, flushed cheeks—"I forgot to set my alarm! AHHH!". Luckily, there's usually no reason to be scared, and we can talk ourselves through it (or talk to our boss if we did forget to set our morning alarm). Kids are still learning how to deal with their emotions and could use some help when it comes to fear—irrational or not. 

This book cleverly uses the metaphor of a restless and scared puppy to describe to kids what it's like to feel afraid when there's no real danger. Puppy in My Head is quiet and powerful while teaching kids the importance of mindfulness and how it helps keep the scaries at bay.

Praise From A Child Health Expert

HarperCollins

"Puppy in My Head will be a lovely way to introduce mindfulness to young children and parents at any pediatric clinic. With the growing awareness about the health impacts of toxic stress, books like this are a great help—fun, friendly characters that teach without being teachy. More like this please!"

- Dr. Deirdre Bernard-Pearl, Integrative Pediatrician, Santa Rose Community Health, Santa Rosa, California

With its bold colors and whimsical illustrations, little readers will be drawn into this comforting story that normalizes anxiety. You and your kids are now a little more well-equipped to handle the puppy in your head. (And don’t forget to set that alarm!)

 

Add Puppy in My Head to your bookshelf today! 

 

 

—Jamie Aderski

 

I’m 38 1/2 weeks pregnant. And we’ve already had two “false labor alarms.” I was having 2-3 minute contractions for a few hours each time but once we decided to head to the hospital, which is an hour and forty-five minutes away, the contractions slowed and stopped. 

The first false labor alarm was 2 weeks ago. I was 36 1/2 weeks. It would have been perfect. The kids were still out of school, our babysitters were available, our favorite midwife was available, my brother and sister who live out of state were in town and could have met her, the car was packed, the house was clean. And I was ready. But nothing happened. 

The ache to meet her grows stronger every day. To see her little face, to feel her weight on my chest, her hair brushing against my cheek. But baby girl seems content to hang out and push her little feet into my ribs. I have always been fascinated by pregnancy and birth, especially the parallel life lessons it provides. Each pregnancy and birth I’ve experienced has been different, but my goal has always been to truly experience it. For me, that has meant the absence of pain medications and epidurals. I wanted to feel all the pressure and pain of the process. I felt somehow I needed to experience that (and I believe all women do with their own unique birth experiences) to fully appreciate the joy that followed. 

And really, that’s how life works isn’t it? The process is most often hard, full of pressure and pain, which makes the emergence even more beautiful. Everything worthwhile is hard. The 3 singular moments I saw each of my daughters for the first time were some of the most spiritual and beautiful moments of my life. I remember the crushing wave of love and awe that came over me. And all the hard was worth it. The morning sickness, the aches, the infections, the medications and IV’s, the preeclampsia, the inductions, the awful epidural, the vacuum, the morning sickness, the plateaued growth, the specialist visits, the worry, the fear, the subchorionic hemorrhage, the cord around the neck, the swelling, the pressure, the pain, the morning sickness… did I mention all the morning sickness?… it was all worth it. 

And I am so ready to do this hard thing. To work with my body to bring this little one here. To get to the other side if you will. To start healing. To start holding and loving her. Ever since that first false alarm we’ve been walking on eggshells, feeling like she could come at any moment and trying to be constantly ready. It’s been exhausting. The timing has gotten worse and worse with our girls starting school, my mom, who graciously offered to drop everything, starting work, my mother-in-law, who always makes herself available, is now maxed out helping other family members, and although the car is still packed, the house seems to fall apart more and more each day. 

Our midwife reminded us the other day that induction was always an option if we wanted it. After months and months of feeling out of control, and these last two weeks of feeling completely out of control, I was seriously tempted. An induction would mean that we wouldn’t have to stress about getting to the hospital in time, our favorite midwife could be there to deliver, our mothers could plan on taking our kids instead of being ambushed, our kids (who are already anxious because of the false alarms) could plan and mentally prepare to meet their new sister, and my husband wouldn’t have to keep anxiously waiting for “the” phone call or worrying about delivering a baby in the car. I could have the house clean, someone scheduled to feed the animals, everything ready and in place for us to leave and peacefully return. 

But something about an induction just hasn’t felt right. I had to be induced with my 1st and 3rd for medical reasons. And although I appreciate it’s availability, I don’t prefer it. So why would I choose it now? To be in control? So everything can be perfect? So no one is overly inconvenienced? Why are we always so worried about being in control? Why do we panic when we don’t know how or when something will happen? Why are we always trying to make everything so perfect? And why do we always make our decisions with everyone else’s convenience in mind? 

After 3 children, I’ve learned a new life lesson from pregnancy and birth. We are not in control. And it’s OK. Life is rarely convenient or perfect. And it’s OK. Our best decisions aren’t always going to be the best for others. And it’s OK. I don’t want a planned induction. I don’t feel like it’s the right decision for me or my baby right now. Do I feel selfish for putting my desires before my husband’s, my children’s, and the family that is so willing to help us? Yep. Do I deserve to be selfish about this? You’re damn right I do. Gratefully, I know that I’m surrounded by amazing people that don’t mind being inconvenienced on my behalf. That they support me in my decisions. That they will understand. I’m deciding to give control over to God instead of trying to hold onto it myself. And the relief I feel is immense. So, I’ll enjoy these little feet pushing into my ribs a little while longer until I get to meet her and press those little toes to my lips. Because the best things are worth waiting for and anything worthwhile is hard. And it’s all OK. 

This post originally appeared on www.my-peace-project.com.

Amy is a creator and believes everyone else is too. She strives to be artistic in all areas of life but writing is her passion and her family is her masterpiece. She uses her blog to address the joys and struggles of motherhood and is currently writing her first novel.

Whether we want to believe it or not, the coronavirus is here and your child will be out of school and/or therapy and at home for the next 2-3 weeks and possibly longer. For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this spontaneous and abrupt change is a difficult one. Trying to explain to your child why there is no school when it is not winter or summer time is difficult and confusing. What adds to the confusion is containing your child at home and not being able to go to their favorite places within the community.

During this dramatic change please keep a couple of things in mind. Children with ASD feel the non-verbal anxiety and stress of the world around them much more intensely than you do, so when you are interacting with your child it is important to stay calm and positive. Being at home with your child will take a lot of patience, creativity, resourcefulness, and positivity. Your mindset and interactions with your child will affect the way in which your child will adapt to this big change. To help with the big adjustments from school to home I have listed five ways to help children with ASD and their families adapt to the sudden changes.

1. Create a Schedule. The first thing I highly recommend for every family to do is to create a daily schedule. There are many daily schedules you can find online that you can modify to fit your lifest‌yle. If your child is able to participate in creating the daily schedule let them have input because their opinion is important. When creating a schedule do not schedule an activity for longer than 45 minutes. Once you create a schedule STICK TO IT! Children with ASD like sameness and routine, in fact, they thrive in it. Even if you are bored with the schedule you created, trust me your child is not. Sameness will not only keep your child calm, but it helps YOU stay accountable and structured.

2. Schedule in Breaks. Provide lots of sensory, gross motor, and physical breaks to get your child up and moving. Add in bathroom breaks throughout the day to remind your child to use the restroom. Schedule in breakfast, snacks, and lunch. Also, add in “brain breaks” and during this time it is ok for your child to engage in self-stimulatory behaviors and/or screen time. Brain breaks are times for both you and your child to take a break from one another and decompress.

3. Use a Timer. To help your child transition from one activity to another it is important to use the alarm on your phone. Using a timer is always helpful because it lets your child know when the activity is over. Each morning set all the transition times on the alarm on your phone. This helps both you and your child to stay on task with the daily schedule. A few minutes before the timer goes off give your child a verbal warning. For example, “In two minutes when the timer goes off, we will clean up math and start writing.” Your child will learn quickly that when the alarm goes off the current activity ends and a new activity will begin. Ask your child’s teacher if they sing a transitional song such as the “Clean Up” song or say a transitional phrase such as, “All Done”. Replicate that during your transitions.

4. Set Goals. Creating a homeschool schedule can be quite overwhelming. My advice is to look at the goals written in your child’s IEP and/or service plan and find worksheets or activities online to help support those goals. Also, create a personal goal that you would like your child to accomplish during the next 2-4 weeks. Whether it is having your child learn to write their name or learn to dress themselves, you will be amazed at what your child can learn while they are at home.

5. Take Care of YOU. Do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. It may be waking up early and taking a walk around the block, drinking that extra cup of coffee, or binge-watching a Netflix show while your child is asleep. If you are not taking care of yourself, you will become ineffective when working with your child. When creating your daily schedule, add in breaks for yourself such as sitting outside for 5 minutes and taking a breath, looking on social media, eating a piece of chocolate, etc. Also, I highly recommend that you tape “Parent Prompt” cards throughout your house with positive sayings like, “You got this,” “You are doing great!” and “Breathe.”  Write down any positive statements that will get you through your day and put them throughout your house where you will see them. Both you and your child are depending on it.

Now is the time for you to mind shift and think of all the positives that will come out of this unexpected break. The one positive thing to come from social distancing is that the social bond between you and your child will become stronger. This is a time for you to socially connect with your child as well as teaching them life skills that will prepare them for their future. When finding homeschool activities for your child it is important to find activities your child enjoys, but ones that also provide the structure they need to be successful.

If your child isn’t into an activity move on and find something your child enjoys. By choosing activities that your child enjoys they are more likely to stay engaged with that activity for longer periods of time as well as strengthen the social connection with you. The ultimate goal during this unforeseen break is to make memorable social connections with your child while they are learning and having fun with you. Remember you can’t control the world around you, but you can control your mindset and the interactions with your child.

Dr. Annette Nunez, PhD
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Dr. Annette Nunez is the founder and director of Breakthrough Interventions, LLC. She is a licensed psychotherapist and has worked with children with ASD and other related disorders for over 22 years.

Leaving your baby in the car might seem unthinkable, but the sad fact is that it happens all too often. A life-saving new device is designed to prevent kids from being left in the car.

The Car Seat CoPilot Automatic Alert System is a seatbelt clip that attaches to a car seat harness and alerts you if you walk away from the car without unclipping it. The clip comes with two key fobs which you can attach to your car keys.

The fob and seatbelt clip communicate via Radio Frequency (RF) to transmit a signal that triggers the alarm sound within the key fob. The alarm is activated whenever the fob and clip are more than 10 feet apart while an infant or toddler is still strapped in.

“Parents will do anything to keep their children safe from harm, but as we’ve seen in the rising number of incidents, there is a real need for change in the way that parents and caregivers go about protecting their child,” said Rick Bond, President and Founder of AHSP. “While it’s not realistic to shelter your children from every harmful event or risk, with the Car Seat CoPilot Automatic Alert System, parents can now take precautionary measures without compromising time or money finding a suitable solution for their families on the go.” 

The CoPilot is available for purchase online at copilotalert.com for $49.95.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of American Home Safety Products

 

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From Christmas tree safety to keeping tabs on your kids in the mall, these savvy products are designed with for your peace-of-mind this holiday season. Scroll down for five products that are solving common holiday safety concerns in innovative ways.

The Twist and Seal Holiday Light Combo Safety Pack

Twist and Seal

This clever invention is designed to protect your holiday light cords from rain and snow. The pack contains five Twist and Seal Minis, specifically made to fit Christmas and holiday light power cord connections; as well as one Twist and Seal Cord Protect, which provides heavy duty extension cord protection for home and garden use (i.e that cord your running from the house or garage to hook up those blow-up snowmen). Connections stay dry all season and it helps prevent shock and tripped outlets. 

Get it at twistandseal.com for $29.95

The Neighbors App by Ring

Ring

Using your address, Ring's Neighbors App creates a radius around your home for you to get safety updates on your phone or tablet (you can customize this radius to be more narrow or expand it). You can also comment on the updates to share additional info. Add safety info yourself and your neighborhood will receive instant notification. Community members can share photos and videos as well. The Neighbors App also partners with local law enforcement to get the most recent updates. It’s a modern-day, real-time neighborhood watch program, right in your pocket. You can be on the lookout for package thefts, break-ins and more even when you aren’t home. 

Learn more at ring.com/neighbors, free! 

Safer Christmas Tree Alarm

Safer Alarms

This little ornament from Safer Alarms works as a sensor right at the source; it hangs on the tree and immediately detects fire danger. It also recognized temperatures hitting the “danger zone” and transmits a signal wirelessly to the alarm unit (included).unit. It literally installs in seconds, includes free Amazon tech support, and has multi-year battery life (takes AA batteries, not included). 

Learn more at saferalarmsinc.com

Buy on Amazon, $69.99

Master Lock Outdoor Bluetooth Padlock

Master Lock

Safeguard packages against theft by using the Master Lock Outdoor Bluetooth® Padlock on a box or container on your porch. The lock allows you to set temporary directional codes via a smartphone app based on date/time of delivery.. Simply include temporary codes in delivery instructions during online checkout, and then reset the code once delivery is complete. You can also monitor when the lock is being locked or unlocked. 

Buy it online at masterlock.com, $163

Momentum’s Robbi 1080P Smart Camera

Momentum

At just under $40 at Walmart right now, (regular retail price is $99.99) this camera is a great investment for anyone traveling during the holidays. It has motion detection and mobile alerts to let you know exactly what’s happening in your home. It has 130-degree viewing and a 360° hinge, built-in infrared LED for clear day and night vision, motion and sound detection, customizable mobile alerts, two-way audio, a remote alarm, 24-hour video playback and more. They also make the Momentum Knok Video Doorbell, which at $130 and offers a way for you to keep an eye on your front door with a live video feed. 

Learn more at momentum.com

Shop at walmart.com, $38.99

BoxLock

BoxLock

BoxLock is an internet-connected padlock that only opens when a delivery driver scans your shipping label—and only active shipping labels at that. It's compatible with all shipping carriers in the US, so no matter who you're expecting a delivery from, your package is safe. Just add the lock to a storage box, small shed or any container where you can close with a padlock. They even have boxes for you to choose from

Learn more at getboxlock.com 

Buy it on amazon, $129.99

Relay

Relay

Whether it’s walking home afterschool or shopping in a busy mall, this smartphone alternative for kids allows you to know where your kids are at all times. It’s basically a first-phone for kids that allows kids to send and receive messages, features GPS tracking with Geofencing (you can get an alert when your kids arrive home, school, etc.) and a Missed Message feature to make sure you never miss a message from your kiddos. Kids can’t get on the internte or get distracted by a screen, but there are fun features for them like a joke of the day and language translator. Kids cannot dial 911 but they can send SOS Emergency Alerts to pre-approved contacts. It has both a clip feature and an arm band. 

Learn more at relay.com, $42

—Amber Guetebier

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Celeb, supermodel and super-mama Chrissy Teigen got real on Twitter recently. Teigen candidly talked (or rather, tweeted) with fans during a no holds barred Q and A session!

So what did Teigen dish about? The model-mama opened up about what it’s like to raise her two kiddos, Luna and Miles, as an in-the-spotlight celebrity. When one fan asked, “What is the best perk of being a celebrity?” Teigen responded:

If you’re wondering how Teigen starts her days, when she was asked if she sets an alarm or someone wakes her “gently” she tweeted:

While Teigen has plenty of just-like-us issues to deal with, she also has those celeb-only parenting moments. When asked, “Do you ever have issues with people talking to Miles and Luna without your permission if they see y’all in public?” she said:

If you’re wondering what Teigen would do if she wasn’t a super-celeb, she said:

Like other celebrity parents, Teigen has to deal with the paparazzi following her kiddos. One fan asked how her fam deals with them and Teigen replied:

What is Teigen most proud of? Like many of us mamas, Teigen is proud of her kids—and of course, her cookbook!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Chrissy Teigen via Instagram

 

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A favorite holiday movie is “Christmas Vacation.” And one of the most memorable (and hilarious) scenes is the squirrel flying out of the Christmas tree. While funny in the movies, the threat of Christmas tree mishaps can actually be quite serious.   

Unsecured Christmas trees can topple over and cause serious injury, especially to a young child, and according to reports, Christmas tree fires are the deadliest of household fires. On average, one in every 32 reported Christmas tree fires results in a death compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.

Here are a few simple tips to ensure a beautiful and safe holiday season. 

1. Select a fresh tree. The tree should be green with needles that bend, not break. For pines and spruces, branches should be tough to pull, and fir trees should have needles that snap when bent. Also, look for a trunk sticky with sap.

2. Secure the tree. This will prevent it from accidentally falling over. If possible, make sure the tree stand is not on thick carpeting. Screw some eye-hooks into the wall and thread fishing line through the tree and tie to the hooks.  

3. Keep ornaments high. This is true especially for families with young children. Place ornaments off the lower limbs and consider using a gate around the tree to prevent kids from getting too close. Ditch the glass ornaments for non-breakable. 

4. Go hi-tech. Safer Alarms Inc. just released a first of its kind Christmas tree fire detector that looks like an ornament. While it looks like traditional tree decor, the ornament wirelessly connects to an alarm placed elsewhere in the home like near where you sleep. If the ornament detects unsafe heat, the alarm will sound (and continue to sound even if the ornament catches fire).

5. Water, water, water. Make sure the tree holder always has enough water. Cut an inch off the bottom of the trunk; fresh wood can absorb more water, so the tree will stay fresher longer. 

6. Be mindful of placement. Always place your tree at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights. Only use indoor lights indoors and look for the UL label. Do not use any lights that are broken and make sure sockets are in good condition, and that there are no frayed or bare wires. Keep light off lower branches that pets or babies could reach as they might chew on the wire. Be sure to turn the lights off whenever you leave the house. And if you have ornaments that light up with an off/on switch, be sure to turn off as well.

I'm a mom to 4 kids - my first died of SIDS and my second has Intellectual Disabilities. I'm the step-mom to another two. My husband has MS. I write about how to keep everyone in the family happy, safe and sane - especially women!