6 Ways to Teach Your Child to Cook

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Cooking is one of life’s valuable skills that you can teach your child. In this way, they will appreciate food safety and nutrition in addition to building their science, math, and fine motor skills.

Bringing your kid into the kitchen space can open a whole new world for them where they learn about different flavors, ingredients, recipes, and the how and why of mixing and measuring. In case you are wondering how to go about teaching your child how to cook, This article give 6 tips to help teach your child to cook.

  1. Build their Motivation

Instead of taking your kid right into the center of action in the kitchen, consider spending time together watching a cooking television show. This will give your child a visual idea of different cooking processes, utensils to use, and inspire them to start prepping their meals.

As part of the motivation, involve them in creating special menus which you then proceed to prepare together. Let them suggest and reflect on the various food categories to include as this can spur their creativity.

Naturally, children are inquisitive and tend to enjoy processes such as cooking where raw ingredients transform into a complete meal.

2. Assign them Simple Kitchen Duties

Before they get to the point where they handle the hot stoves and sharp knives, let your child participate in simple meal related processes  such as setting the table, carrying food dishes to the dining table, and taking away the used dishes after a meal.

Even though some of these tasks may look remote, asking your child to help in drying dishes, sweeping, or emptying the cutlery basket gives them the discipline of a master chef. Most of these duties demand that they hang out in the kitchen thereby becoming more comfortable with time.

Cooking is both an art and a science, every little attribute count. Allow your child to develop these soft skills early enough.

3. Incorporate Fun Cooking Utensils

Make the cooking process as fun as possible by using unique cooking utensils. There is no rule cast in stone that a particular utensil can only be used in a specific way. If you are running short of ideas on the utensils to include, visit Village Bakery.

This is a resourceful platform that showcases among other things, specialty appliances, kitchen appliances, baking equipment, and other necessitates. Just as an idea, you can get cookie cutters and potato smashers for 3 to 5-year olds; peelers and blunt scissors for 6 to 7-year olds; food thermometers, kitchen knives, and pans for 8 to 12-year olds.

4. Begin with Simple Meals

Snacks and breakfast meals are some of the easiest to prepare. The point here is to introduce your child to the basic meal assembling process so that they can begin with minimal supervision. Instruct them and then give them space as you watch them mixing the cereals and milk, scooping yogurt and pouring juice.

Children love being in control and therefore even when helping them out, do part of the task and let them complete the other part. For instance, you may add the toppings to a pasta salad and then give them the space to create their own little pasta salad.

5. Address Basic Safety Skills

If your child is age 5 and above, it is easier to enlist their help with the actual cooking. Safety in the kitchen is paramount and the earlier your child gets it the better. Teach them safe knife skills by assigning them the soft and easy to cut ingredients such as tomatoes and bananas.

When it comes to the boiling pot, teach them how to stir gently so that the fluids do not bubble out or spill and scald them. If the pot is not very heavy, train them on how to take it out of the oven.

6. Pick Favorite Recipes and Cook Together

Being the closest person in your child’s life, you must have noticed what they like to eat. Starting with such recipes that interest them, shortens their learning curve and opens the door to more fun. You may be surprised by their ability to grasp even fairly complex recipes simply because of their interest.

The process to teach your child to cook is not any different from the other learning processes. The more your child practices in the kitchen and takes instructions from you, the more their knowledge is reinforced. Introduce variations from time to time and try giving them space and some independence in the kitchen. You never know what they are capable of doing until you try it.

4 Ways to Keep Your Attic Rodent Free

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If you find yourself hearing noises in your attic, you may have some unwanted guests. Don’t ignore the signs. Hearing thumping or scratching noises especially at night is a surefire sign that you have animals or even squirrels in your attic.

Also, if you keep finding your trash can overturned and waste in your yard, this can be an indication that something is thinking about or currently taking up residence in your home. Acting early is important.

Animals like raccoons and squirrels living in your attic can quickly cause severe damage. They are notorious for destroying wiring, pipes and air ducts. You will need to seek the help of a professional to rid your house of these rodents and animals and seek the help of a professional cleaning crew. These types of animals carry diseases that are harmful both to humans and their pets. Here are some ways you can keep your attic rodent free.

Secure your Chimney

This is one of the easiest ways for rodents to get into your house and make there way into your walls or attic. Before taking any steps to block this entrance, you must first make sure there are no animals currently taking up residence in your chimney.

You can check it out yourself or ask for the help of a professional. You can use a chimney cap or vent, to make this inaccessible to animals. The cap will allow smoke to escape your chimney still but will block any unwanted guests.

Check your Roof

Check for any holes or damage to your roof. Missing shingles, gaps around vents or damage to flashing can be an indication that something is trying to get in or is already in. If you have any holes or damage, you must fix them as soon as possible.

Pay particular attention to pipe vents because they can dig around those and squeeze their way into your attic. The professional you have come out can advise you of potential work that needs to be done and additional preventative measures such as vent covers and reinforcements.

Trees and Bushes

Step back and check if you are making it easy for rodents and other animals to gain access to your roof. Do the trees in your yard have branches that touch your roof or are close? If so, these should be trimmed back, so they don’t provide a walkway to your house. Remember, a squirrel can jump pretty far, up to 20 feet in some cases. Keep this in mind when you are planting and pruning around your yard.

Yard

Keep your yard clean an uninviting to rodents and critters. Make sure when you take your trash out it is secure. Never leave bags loose on the sidewalk for pickup, this will attract animals and they will think this is an excellent area to source food and then begin to look for and make a shelter. You can also have a huge mess on your hands.

Make sure your trash cans lids are nice and secure and can’t be easily tipped over. You will also need to watch leaving pet food for dogs, cats or birds out all night. Raccoons especially hunt for this type of easy food at night.

If you are worried that you are at risk for having a rodent or animal problem in your attic or home, you can always call out a pest control specialist.

Most companies will send out an expert that can walk your property with you and inspect your roof and attic to look for weak areas. They are trained to look for spots that we usually wouldn’t see that can easily be covered or plugged.

Conclusions

The bottom line is, it is more cost effective to act now. If you wait until you hear noises in your attic or see other signs, there may already be severe damage that can be expensive to fix. If you do find yourself in this situation, call your homeowners insurance and let them know right away.

They can begin a claims process with you to help alleviate the costs of repairs. Most insurance companies will cover any damages to your roof or home, along with costs to repair or plug holes. While they won’t take care of personal items that are damaged in your attic, they will cover the costs to fix any electrical or plumbing work you may encounter. Taking preventive measures before this happens is the most straightforward path to take.

Tree House Project: Make Your Kids Wishes Come True

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Tree houses were all about a quick assembly of a simple little house where the kid could play with a bunch of friends and lead imaginary life. Today, tree houses are more of a complex building that includes certain luxuries unknown to the previous generations. Even so, this type of tree house building has a lot of benefits for the kids – a mutual work between the parents and the kids will bring out a lot of fun and educational experience.

The benefits of building a tree house

Building a modern tree house with your kids will take a couple of days, maybe more, but every step of the process will bring a teachable moment for the kids.

Physical activity – kids won’t even notice how hard they work while they are helping you build the tree house. This helps them be highly physically active, strengthening them and making them fit. It is an easier form of getting them active than forcing them to do regular exercises or a sport they don’t enjoy. Obesity is a frequent issue with kids of newer generations, and an outdoor project is what will entertain them and help them fight it.

Teamwork and problem-solving – the motto here is: the more, the merrier. Including the whole family will create team spirit and strengthen the bond between you. You will have a mutual goal you are aspiring to. And let’s not forget the problem-solving skills your kids will improve. Starting from calculating the size of the walls, the exterior look, the materials that have to be used and even the budget you need to stick to – your kids can be included in every step of the process, making their contribution, realizing what the limits are and how to overcome certain challenges. And all of that being done with close members of the family, figuring out the problems together.

Connecting with nature – spending too much time indoors separates children with natural processes around them, like changing seasons, leaves falling off, blooming of the flowers and lives of small animals around them. Building a tree house will expose your kids to the natural environment, and every day they spend outside working on the tree house (and later on, in the tree house that’s been completed) will show them what happens in the world around them, creating a strong connection with the living things in their backyard.

Sensitivity to risk – while building a tree house, there are certain things that can go wrong and endanger your kids’ safety, so it’s highly important to teach the kids about the necessity of taking precautions to avoid any injuries. Children learn from what they see, so make sure you are the role model demonstrating a cautious approach to work in order to protect yourself and others. It will prepare your kids for the potential risks in the future – they will learn to think in advance about possible dangers and they will know how to protect themselves.

Necessary tools for the construction

You don’t need a workshop to build a tree house, but here’s a list of the necessary equipment that will ensure quicker work, too.

Firstly, it’s important to note that angles and measurements stay accurate, so this is the part where your kids can help – but always double-check everything before you actually start cutting. A circular saw will save you a lot of time and effort here.

Next, as you will have to cut beams, studs and joists at a precise 90° so that they are connected firmly, a speed square is another useful tool for the precision.

A cordless and a corded drill are the next necessity, depending on the size of the hole you will need to drill.

Folding sawhorses are very stable even though they are really light. You can use them for cutting beams or to support a table with tools and smaller parts.

The safety gear you will need includes safety glasses to protect eyes from the dust and debris, cut-resistant gloves with a good grip. Earplugs to prevent hearing loss from loud noises, those power tools are sometimes just too noisy. And of course a pair of Australian work boots that provide protection and stability when doing any kind of handiwork around your house.

The most important parts

Supports is what you need to first decide on, and they include:

Posts – as they are inserted into the ground, they damage the tree the least.

Bolts – even though this is the traditional method, beams and platforms being inserted into the tree, this is very damaging to the tree.

Suspension – chains and ropes are what you use to suspend the house from bigger branches, but it isn’t appropriate for heavier constructions.

The platform and deck are the parts that need to be leveled and built as close to the trunk as possible, which could mean you will have to cut some holes if some branches get in the way. The deck should include railing so that no one falls off.

The access to the tree house – if the tree house is lower to the ground, it will be enough to put a rope ladder or the wooden one. But if the structure is high in the tree, a long wooden ladder with a handrail would be a better choice. If your kids enjoy adventures, you could even consider building a spiral ladder around the trunk.

Final words

Once you know the basic elements you need to have and to plan, they only thing left to do is to get on to work together, enjoy the learning process and everything that comes after it.

3 Common HVAC Leaks to Look Out For

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Did you know most HVAC service calls are related to some type of leak? A leak in your heating and cooling system can reduce the efficiency of your system, increase your energy costs, cause premature wear and tear to the HVAC system, and even damage your home.

We’ve compiled here information on three common leaks you should watch for to keep your system in good working order.

1. HVAC System Leaking Water

Do you notice water pooling inside your air conditioner? Do you have water leaking out of the system when it’s turned on? Leaks are common with central AC systems and they may be caused by many problems. If ignored, these leaks can cause serious damage to your home. If you have an air handler above your ceiling, for example, the water can drip and damage the structural integrity of your home.

There are 3 primary reasons for an air conditioner to leak:

  • Clogged air filter. Your air filter should be changed every 1-2 months. When the air filter looks dirty, replace it right away. A dirty air filter can make ice buildup on the AC’s evaporator coils. When this ice melts, it will leak water.
  • Crack in the overflow pan. You can tell if this is the problem by inspecting your overflow pan for problems with a flashlight. This pan is designed to catch condensation from your air conditioner, but it can develop small cracks and tiny holes, especially along the edges and corners.
  • Clogged drain lines. Drain lines divert condensate away from the air conditioner, but these lines are prone to clogging. When this happens, the water backs up and begins to flood the pan. You can use a hand pump or a wet/dry vacuum to suck clogs out of the line. Your drain line should also be cleaned regularly, before you develop clogs, to prevent a build-up of mildew, algae, and sludge.

2. Air Duct Leaks

Not all leaks involve liquids; leaks in your home’s ductwork can cause you to lose heated or conditioned air. Ducts are responsible for transporting cooled and heated air from your HVAC system to other areas of your home. If there’s a hole or gap in the duct work, it allows the air to escape.

Leaky ductwork can result in up to 30% in energy losses. Because the heated or conditioned air is escaping through leaks, your HVAC system has to run longer to reach your thermostat setting.

Leaking ductwork can also cause unnecessary wear and tear on your air conditioner or furnace. When your system runs longer than necessary, it can strain components and accelerate wear. This can lead to more frequent HVAC repairs. Air duct leaks can even reduce your indoor air quality by allowing the ducts to pull in dirt, dust, and other contaminants in the crawl space and attic.

The good news is air duct leaks are easy to address. Sealing your air ducts with metal tape and insulating ducts that can be accessed can dramatically reduce energy loss and save you a significant amount on your heating and cooling costs.

3. Air Conditioner Refrigerant Leaks

Refrigerant is what your AC system uses inside its coils to remove heat from the air. The correct amount of refrigerant is added when an HVAC system is installed and the refrigerant is never used up. As long as the system remains sealed, the refrigerant will stay in the coils.

Older systems are prone to developing refrigerant leaks, however. When your coils develop cracks or hole, the refrigerant can escape. This forces your air conditioner to work harder and become less efficient. You may have a refrigerant leak if your AC is not cooling your home very well even though air flow and the fans seem to be working normally. Over time, this problem will get worse.

Never ignore a refrigerant leak. Along with preventing your AC system from cooling your home, it can also damage your air conditioner. When refrigerant levels get low, your AC will compensate by running longer. This increases pressure in the system and may damage components like the compressor.

The longer your AC runs, the more energy it will use. A 10% drop in your refrigerant level can force your AC system to use up to 20% more energy.

Conclusion

If you’re like many people, you don’t think of your HVAC first when you consider water damage and leaks in your home. It may be time to change your thinking. A leaking HVAC system can end up costing you thousands when it comes to water damage, higher energy costs, and HVAC repairs. Preventive maintenance is the best way to keep these costs at bay.

Buying Guide: Best Scope Mounts

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It is very important that you ensure that rifles work as intended.  Owning am expensive rifle does not guaranty accurate shots. Proper quality firearm accessories play a massive role into ensuring that you weapon can give its 100% every time, there are few accessories more vital and essential to a gun than a scope mount.

Today I am posting a guest article to introduce you to the best scope mounts in the opinion of the guest author.

Benefits to using a scope mount:

Let’s start with the most primary benefit which is to actually lock and hold scope in place. A scope doesn’t come in design that lets it attach to the gun itself. So, you obviously need a mount to do that.

With a mount, the scope is securely locked inside the rings of the mount. This keeps the device put in one place no matter how to move and maneuver.

Buying Guide: best scope mounts!

1. Type of scope mount

There are many different types of scope mounts out there in use today. And the most popular choices are either a weaver style mount or a picatinny style mount.

A weaver style mount is the new craze. It has flat rails that have vertical slots and are used with Weaver style rings. These rails run under the rings and click into the crosswise slots in the bases. This is what prevents movement from recoil. A picatinny style mount is pretty identical to weaver style, except is has wider slots.

2. Material

Most scope mounts today are made out of aluminum. But steel mounts are also still in use. For a learner or beginner, we recommend aluminum mounts which is far more lightweight and inexpensive.

Best scope mounts reviews

Modkin High Profile Scope Mount

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The first mount to make it to our list of the best scope mounts is dedicated to everyone out there who is looking for a good quality mount without having to burn a hole through their wallet: the High Profile Scope Mount from Modkin.

The Modkin High Profile Scope Mount is made for scopes with a 1-inch tube diameter on a for picatinny or weaver rail that is of 20mm in size. What’s nice about this scope mount is that it features a hollowed out design between the sbest cope ring and the bottom of the base. This makes releasing super easy and yet, makes for a very tight attachment.

Speaking of which, this mount has just 1 rail clamp screw and 1 scope clamp screw on each side. All you have to do detach it is twist off the nut and you are good! And to ensure that the scope does not scratch or slide due to the impact for the shot fired from the weapon, the Modkin High Profile Scope Mount has a built-in tape in the scope ring. This keeps the scope nice and put even during hard recoil. A great plus for shooters who have 0 seconds to play around with adjusting the scope after a shot. One other thing we really like is that the scope is just 2.1 inch from the rail of your weapon. This makes re-targeting so much easier and quicker. Apart from these, it weighs less than 1.5 ounces and is made from decent quality aluminum alloy. Pretty neat for price.

Speaking of which, who doesn’t love a good deal? The Modkin High Profile Scope Mount comes in a set of 2. That’s twice the value!

Pros:

  • Easy to attach and detach
  • Built-in tape; prevents scratching and sliding
  • Close to the rail
  • Set of 2
  • Includes wrench

Cons:

  • Loosens after a few shots; single screw

Lirisy Dovetail Scope Mount Rings

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If you liked the value-packed nature of our first pick for the best scope mount, but are still looking for something a little more reliable, then look no further than the Lirisy Dovetail Scope Mount Rings.

The Lirisy Dovetail Scope Mount Rings, like the Modkin High Profile Scope Mount, come in a set of 2. Woohoo! This ring however is hands down a little more robust than the former.

The Lirisy Dovetail Scope Mount Ring is made for 11mmdovetail rails for a 1-inch diameter scope. Made out of high quality aluminum, has a 14mm profile and features a tape inside the ring to prevent scratches on your scope as well as hold it tight.

Speaking of which, unlike many mounts which have 1 screw on each side, this scope mount goes on to over 4 screws!

This obviously makes for a more securely held scope with minimal shifting or sliding after shots.

Pros:

  • Very secured and put; 4 screws
  • Built-in tape; prevents scratching and sliding
  • Close to the rail
  • Set of 2
  • Includes wrench

Cons:

  • Poorly designed threads
  • Takes a while to attach and detach

Final words

And that was everything you need to about picking out the best scope mounts! We have put together everything from a comprehensive buying guide to FAQs. But most importantly, we introduced you to detailed review of 5 of the best scope mounts so that you get a better understanding and insight of what goes into making a winner product.
With that, it’s wrap! We hope you found everything you were looking for. Thank you for staying with us. Adios!