Family Magazine

The Chrysler Pacifica was originally introduced as a sport utility vehicle, but it later became a van. Most mini vans were not created to be stylish but more for efficiency.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica has been designed with a lot of style in mind.

Video Source

This is the only mini van with all-wheel drive.

The Chrysler Pacifica has a sleek outward appearance with LED lighting for both the headlights and taillights. This mini van has been given a completely new, modernized look.

The interior is luxurious, with leather, carmel-colored, heated seats that are memory controlled. These seats are so comfortable you could drive for days. Even the steering wheel is luxurious. It is thick in design giving one a good grip. The analog gauges give the new Pacifica the look of classic elegance. You can customize the display screen. It has wireless capabilities and a navigation system by TomTom.

Come give the Chrysler Pacifica a test drive today. You will fall in love with all its fancy new features. The Pacifica gives new meaning to the old term “mini van”.

Having children requires consistent communication and the sharing of valuable knowledge at every stage of their lives. You should teach them how to be independent and to navigate the complexities of life the best way that they can. Life skills are an essential part of developing into a well-rounded individual whether they become dentists or accountants. They have a positive effect on how an individual can assimilate into society and improves their employability and problem-solving strategies.

Modern life has changed significantly and continues to do so. To ensure that your children can meet the demanding realities of everyday life, they ought to have a sufficient amount of life skills to help them deal with these demands. Moreover, the increased pace of technology and economic development has had an impact on every sphere of our lives. Meaning that even education has been changed to fit this new narrative of life.

As a result, there are several good things to teach your child that can help them to maneuver the intricate details of life without paralyzing anxiety. This is why we have created this guide for you. Below are some valuable life skills that we believe every parent should teach their kids. Keep on reading to find out more.

Problem-Solving Skills

To ensure that they can practically navigate through a highly competitive world, children should be taught how to think critically. This includes the ability to observe and analyze situations to come up with solutions to complex situations. To do this, you should teach your child how to answer higher-level questions with thought and exploration. This means that the type of questions that your child should ask is ‘why?’ and ‘what if?’. This can be achieved by turning the questions that they ask into minor research projects. For instance, if your child asks why the sky is blue, you can turn around and ask them why they think so.

These good things to teach your child while they are still young can determine if they will end up being an electrician or an aeronautical engineer one day. The best part is that you do not need to wait until they are bored to invent something new for them to learn. You can create different activities for them to do. Research shows that when children are equipped with fundamental problem-solving skills, they can solve mathematical problems with less difficulty.

Moreover, problem-solving can be fun while remaining educational. Let’s say that you had a tire with a blowout that you wanted to fix. You could get your child involved in fixing it. This way you are teaching them a practical lesson that can also enhance their mathematical skills.

Team Building Skills

If you are asking yourself about the good things to teach your child that can benefit their lives, you are not alone. Many parents understand that raising a child requires the utmost care in everything, especially in what they learn. Learning to work with others is an essential life skill that can help them when they are in a working environment. When children learn how to work in a team, they learn what it means to work towards a common goal with others. The value of teamwork is not the only thing that they learn, they should learn self-control, empathy, diplomacy, and time management amongst other vital things.

There are different ways that you can find at home that should help make the teaching easier. Below we have listed these good things to teach your child about teamwork at home.

• Board games are excellent for developing imperative skills such as collaboration, compromising, negotiating, and giving others a chance.
• Cooking teaches kids how to plan, patience, and it reintroduces mathematical and scientific concepts.
• Playing musical instruments should enhance creativity, planning, understanding of patterns, and multi-tasking.
• Incorporating outdoor activities such as going to the local swimming pools or playing basketball with other children should improve healthy teamwork.

While team building is part of the significant good things to teach your child before they become a teenager, there are a few things to remember. Children are still learning to understand the world and how it operates. This means that there should be more troubleshooting when teaching them to integrate with a team in comparison to teaching an adult. Sometimes your child is an introvert who may not want to be part of a team. It is important to ensure that as a parent you emphasize the significance of being part of a team and the skills that you will achieve from that.

The best way to get your child involved is by boosting their self-confidence and demonstrating what teamwork means at home. However, children are not the same. You may find that your child is still reluctant to socialize even after your support. If you suspect that your child has any social difficulties, seek professional help.

DIY Skills

Should DIY be part of the good things to teach your child while they are still young? Definitely. There is a wide array of invaluable and practical skills that children can learn from collaborating with you on a DIY project. Not only are you providing them with ways to improve their analytical and problem-solving skills, but you are allowing them to explore potential outcomes for a single problem. Scientific research also reiterates that when kids engage in DIY projects, they exercise their minds and gain lateral and logical thinking skills.

It also enhances the way that your children should use their imagination to promote creativity. The movement and dexterity from a DIY project are essential for developing fine motor skills and enhanced physical activity. Let’s say that you had a minor garage door repair that you were busy with. Should you involve your child in this type of DIY project, you require patience and concentration to ensure that you achieve the desired outcome. If fixing a garage door is too much for your little one to handle, you should try out these ideas.

• You can try to redesign their bedroom. You can listen to their ideas, help them with the design process and planning.
• If your child is younger, there are various toys and kids designed to mirror real-life construction models.
• Create opportunities for them to assist. If you have a plumbing issue to fix, ask them to help you out.
• Teach them basic environmental DIY solutions. You should consider building a compost heap to teach them about the importance of recycling.
• If you enjoy doing craft projects such as refurbishing old shelves, you should get them involved.

If you do not feel confident enough about your DIY skills, there is a good deal of DIY blog sites and Youtubers who can teach you a thing or two about how to unblock a sink or change a fuse. Part of the good things to teach your child is using equipment safely.

Technology Skills

There is no denying that technology skills are part of the good things to teach your child before they start school. The world is constantly changing and reshaping the way that technology works. Our lives are molded by the latest gadgets, and we spend our money trying to keep up. Years ago, parents would worry about the consequences of technology and how it would affect their children’s development. Nowadays, technology runs everything that we rely on, from road signage to the cars that we drive. Even schools have incorporated technological advances to improve their methods of instruction.

Withholding your child from learning how technology operates should be counter-productive. You should consider digital media as a significant source of information. The best thing about technical skills is that you can incorporate them into your child’s daily routine with ease. This helps to take away the formal teaching aspect of technology. It also makes it easier for your child to practice without feeling pressured.

The following are some reasons why you should teach your child technology skills.

• Nowadays, jobs require technology skills.
• They help kids to think of ways to succeed in the future.
• These skills are essential to bridge the gender gap.
• It helps to enhance an inquisitive mindset.
• These skills nurture determination in young children.

Finance Skills

As a parent, you are always thinking of good things to teach your child because you want the best for them. Part of the ways that you can ensure that your child has a safe and secure future is by instilling better financial sense into them. Lessons about money are a key aspect towards a future with possibilities. A lack of financial literacy can affect how a person navigates financial transactions such as healthcare, tuition, and how they apply for loans.

However, there are still many parents who are not helping their children to become financially literate. As a result, these children grow up to be adults who struggle to make seemingly basic sound financial decisions. If you are having trouble with knowing where to start, you are not alone. This is why we have come up with a few suggestions that you can try.

Start With the Basics

When you want to instill these good things to teach your child about money, you can start from an early age. Starting with the basics should help them to process the financial processes easier. Kids form money habits and their attitudes from a young age. You can start by explaining what money is and how it functions in the real world.

Teach Them How to Save

If you are teaching your child about ways to use money, the next logical step is to teach them effective ways to save. Incorporate various means of saving until they can find the one that works best for their financial goals. There are other valuable lessons that they can gain from learning how to save. For instance, you can instill discipline and teach them ways to set goals.

Create Opportunities to Earn Money

Once you have taught them how to use money and how to save it, you should consider teaching them ways that they can use to earn money. To do this, you should categorize their chores to include those that they can earn money once they have completed them. You can find creative ways to improve this system. You should also teach them ways to negotiate their finances.

Teaching your child the importance of smart spending and saving decisions can help them understand the way that money works and effective ways to improve its flow as they get older. However, it is essential to teach your child about the value of giving to those that are less fortunate. Knowing how money works should include lessons about those that are less fortunate to be afforded opportunities to make money.

First Aid Skills

The more that your child grows means they are spending more time outside the home and this can expose them to tricky situations. It is important to teach your child about first aid and ways to ensure that they are safe in everything that they do. Your child needs to know the skills that are associated with remaining calm if they have been injured while playing. They should also know how to assess their situation and to know when and how to get help.

You can teach your child how to take care of minor injuries that can require urgent care. For instance, you can teach them how to care for their scrapes and cuts, how to treat minor burns, and how to handle a twisted ankle.

The Bottom Line

There is no limit to the number of good things to teach your child to prepare them for how real-life works. Not only will you be able to equip them with essential skills such as problem-solving and analytical techniques, but you will also help them to navigate complex situations throughout their life. Raising a child is not an easy task to do. It requires a lot of patience, time, research, and having hope that it will all work out. But when you give your child essential life skills and knowledge, it should make the journey a lot better to handle.

You don’t need a lot of money to have your home looking fresh and clean. Whether you are looking to make some functional upgrades or you just want to enhance the look of your home, there are several cheap DIY projects around the house that are easy and do not require a lot of time. Read on to find out more.

Simple Bathroom Updates

If you are looking for cheap DIY projects around the house, your bathroom is a space where you can perform easy updates. Many bathrooms come with glass mirrors. Rather than removing those mirrors and installing new ones, you can just update the section of wall they are attached to. You can add a wooden frame to the mirror to add a fresh look. The possibilities of styles and colors for your frame are endless. All you need to do is get the proper measurements and have fun with your frame designs. You can also buy new bathroom storage for your vanity to organize all of your toiletries and orthodontic treatment supplies.

It can be quite costly to buy new fixtures for your bathroom. You can, however, paint the old ones and have them look new. With a little paint, you can turn your shiny chrome into any color that you want. This is an easy and cheap way to have things looking fresh in your bathroom. You will be pleased that with the small amount of work you will put in, the results will be very impressive.

Another way to update your bathroom is to paint your tiles. You don’t have to paint all of them, just get some chalk paint and a stencil design for a few of your tiles. This way you will get a nice new look without spending too much time or money on a bathroom remodel project.

While you are at it, this is a good time to repair any leaks in your bathroom. Leak repair can be quite easy, just ensure that you have the right tools and materials for the job.

Get Organized

Organizing your home is one of the best ways to get that new refreshed look. If you are thinking of cheap DIY projects around the house, don’t leave this one out. One thing you have to note about organizing your home is that you should do it regularly. There is no way you can maintain order if you organize once in a blue moon. Have a schedule and space management system for regularly organizing things in your home and it will stay neat and tidy all the time.

When organizing your home, it’s often best to start with the storage space. This will enable you to get some free space as you do away with items you don’t need anymore. It’s important that you do this before you tackle the rest of your home.

Refresh Your Garage Doors

There are several ways you can refresh your garage door without having to buy a new one. We can all agree that pulling up in your driveway to a beautiful garage door is a pleasant feeling. Apart from that, curb appeal is a crucial part of home styling, and it will greatly increase the value of your home. Freshening your garage door is undoubtedly one of the best cheap DIY projects around the house.

The first step to refreshing your garage door is to plan. Consider what you want your garage door to look like when you are done before you go in search of garage door accessories. Once you have figured it all out, prep and clean your garage door.

The easiest way to have your garage door looking fresh is to apply a fresh coat of paint. Start by removing all the dirt from the door and scraping off or sanding loose paint on it. When you are done sanding it, spray the entire door with a degreaser and scrub away all the grime. If you notice any cracks in the door, you may need to call a garage door specialist before you start.

After you are done with the initial phase, rinse the door with clean water to remove the degreaser and dirt. Repeat this cleaning process until you are convinced the door is clean enough. When you are ready to paint, lay down a cloth to protect your driveway from paint. It can be quite difficult to remove paint from your driveway, so it’s best to avoid it getting there in the first place.

Choose the paint you want to use and start the process by brushing your paint onto all the recessed areas on the uppermost parts of the garage door. Once you are done covering these areas, move on to the flat areas on the upper part as well. When you are done with the top parts, lift the door so that you can paint the bottom part. This will save you from bending down for a prolonged period while you paint.

Repeat the painting process until the entire door is covered. Once you are done, leave the paint to dry. Now that the door is dry, it will be time to add the hardware. Decide where all the new pieces will go on the new door and get to work fitting them. By the time you are done, your door should look as good as new.

Give your Backyard a Makeover

There are many ways you can give your own backyard a makeover without consulting a landscape design specialist. For instance, you can create a garden or add a simple deck. These are all things that you can do yourself in your spare time. If you are looking for cheap DIY projects around the house, this is certainly one that’s worth considering.

Before you start trying to fix things, decide what spaces you are going to need. For instance, you can have a cooking area, a shady sitting space, and a play area. If you manage to clearly define these spaces, you can transform your backyard successfully in no time at all. Sometimes all that’s needed is to move around the furniture you already have. If you have a garden, you can add a DIY garden path. This can give a nice, polished look to your simple garden. If you don’t want to use pavers, you can even get crushed rocks to create a meandering path.

Adding some paint is another great DIY project to add some life to your backyard. Paint the back of your house with a color that’s different from the other sides. Try to find a shade that goes well with your garden. Usually, neutral shades like beige or gray work well, and they can even blend well with your garden path.

If all you have in your backyard is a flat lawn, adding some positioning boulders can inject some life into an otherwise boring space. This is one of the cheap DIY projects around the house that can have a big impact. Boulders can be arranged in clusters or you can place them individually all over the lawn.

Fake a Kitchen Remodel

For a lot of families, the kitchen is more than just a space where you cook and store your food. Nowadays, with kitchen space becoming bigger, kitchens are becoming the heart of the home. It is therefore important to ensure that the kitchen is beautiful and nicely designed. You can achieve this with a few cheap diy projects around the house.

The best way to get the kitchen you have always wanted is to renovate. This, however, can be a very costly project. Most kitchen remodeling projects can cost about $12,000 and that’s not money everyone has in their pockets. Fortunately, there is a way you can get the space of your dreams without spending a lot of money. There are lots of clever hacks to make it seem like you have renovated your kitchen.

One of the most stylish DIY upgrades is to design a handcrafted hood. A range hood is one of the hallmarks of an expensive kitchen and can be quite expensive. To make your own hood, get some plywood and tools, then find a video you can follow. It can take you about a day to make your own handcrafted hood without being charged for home remodeling services.

Another simple kitchen hack you can employ is changing your cabinet doors and hardware. Installing new cabinet doors is quite easy and it will change the way your kitchen looks significantly. All you need to do is find doors that are nicely textured and will fit with your overall design plan.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency means making use of less energy while still managing to do everything you want and need to do. To ensure that you don’t waste energy, you need to be aware of the ways you are using energy in your home. This is how you can spot where energy is being wasted and decide on the moves you can make to cut back and save. The following are some energy-saving tips you can employ in your home:

• Start using LED lighting.
• Use cold water to wash your clothes.
• Install insulation and seal your home so that you don’t lose heat.
• Clean all the filters in your home. Try to replace the old ones as well.
• Do not place your freezer or fridge near a heat source.
• Do not open your oven when you are baking, it will lose heat.
• Buy Energy Star certified appliances, they use less power.
• Use natural light whenever you can.
• Install solar if you have the budget for it.
• Ensure that your HVAC is working at peak efficiency by regularly maintaining it.
• Don’t leave fans running unnecessarily.
• Switch off all the lights when you are not using them.
• Do not leave chargers plugged in wall sockets when they are not being used.
• Turn off all appliances that you are not using.

Never Get Locked Out Again

If you have been locked out of your home before, you probably know how frustrating it is to lose your keys. To avoid this, you can install keyless entry on your doors. This is a simple way to ensure that you are never locked out of your house again.

Compared with standard locks, keyless entry systems are more secure and one of the easiest and cheap DIY projects around the house. You do not need any keys, therefore thieves cannot copy your keys and get into your house. Additionally, these gadgets can be fun to operate and they give your home a fresh modern look.

Easy Decor Updates

There are many cheap DIY projects around the house and decor updates that you can do in your free time to freshen up the look of your home. Shadowboxes are one such project. They are a cool, simple, and cheap addition to your decor but the results can be amazing.

There are a lot of cheap DIY projects around the house that can improve the look of your home. They are cost-effective and most of them are quite easy and fun to do. In your free time, you can get together with your family members and decide on ways you can improve the look of your space. It’s nice to do things together, and it will give you an opportunity to work together and bond. There is no reason to stay in a house that looks old and boring, and sometimes you don’t need to spend too much money to get that fresh new look.

If you want to significantly improve the health of yourself and your loved ones, science overwhelmingly agrees: stop spending so much time indoors. Make time to get outside and get your blood pumping while you are out there.

According to the School of Health and Human Performance at Dublin City University (DCU), even short walks around the neighborhood can be enormously restorative. “From the neurons in your brain to the blood vessels in your small toe, there isn’t a body part that isn’t positively affected by even a 15-minute walk,” Professor Niall Moyna tells RTE. “The impact [of] exercise on mental health is incalculable.”

It is important to weigh the effects of our everyday activities on our mental health — and particularly on our children’s emotional well-being. Countless studies show that children are struggling right now and that the rates of depression and anxiety amongst young children and teens are higher than ever before. Spending time outside can change that.

Consider these simple outdoor activities for families. Spend more quality time as a family and ensure the well-being of all family members, young and old.

Why Is it Important for Kids to Get Outside?

For children and teens, getting outside is just as important as regular visits to the family physician. Learn how simple outdoor activities for families improve mental and physical health.

• Spending time outdoors lowers cortisol and improves mood. Spending time in nature reduces the stress hormone cortisol and boosts the feel-good hormone serotonin. The effect is having more energy, feeling calmer, and lowering rates of anxiety and depression.
• Being outside promotes better health and wellness. Did you know that spending time outdoors can literally improve your immune system? Time spent outdoors increases your exposure to vitamin D, and vitamin D plays a key role in maintaining your immune system. The great outdoors also expose you to more oxygen — important for thriving white blood cells — and a greater number of phytoncides, a chemical from trees that naturally fights germs.
• Time outdoors is correlated with regular exercise and stronger bones and muscles. Finally, being outside encourages you and your family to take part in healthy outdoor activities, like hiking, swimming, cycling, gardening, and more. These activities use and strengthen multiple muscle groups, increase bone density, and improve balance.

Try a Unique Activity

Simple outdoor activities for families do not have to be a bore. Mix things up this spring by choosing a unique activity that is accessible to all members of the family. Examples of unique activities include jumping on a trampoline, slacklining, and archery. See below for a more in-depth look at each activity.

• Jumping on a trampoline. Jumping outdoors on a trampoline has several benefits. Children learn more quickly and attentively when they are surrounded by nature. Use jumping as an opportunity to teach kids how to count or use a timer and teach them to share and take turns. The activity also boosts cardiovascular fitness, builds strong bones, and improves mood. For safe jumping, look into outdoor trampolines with special features, like springless trampolines or trampolines with safety nets.
• Slacklining. When it comes to slacklining, one of the most common questions that come up is, what is it? A slackline a thick strip of fabric, like nylon, suspended in between two supports. Many include a rope or support, called a training line, above your head to help you balance and stabilize. To slackline in your backyard, many families secure them between two trees. Slacklining is a full-body workout. It improves focus, balance, and may even help children recover from injuries. Perhaps one of the best advantages of slacklines is that parents are able to position them however they like. If you are more comfortable starting your child off low to the ground — with just a few inches of clearance — do it. As their skills improve, you can move the slackline up slightly if you wish.
• Archery. Archery is an ideal sport for you and your family because it is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. The activity can be adapted for all types of weather. Begin teaching your children archery now, spend plenty of time outdoors this spring, summer, and fall, and bring it indoors during winter. Archery teaches kids valuable life skills, including confidence, focus, and hand-eye coordination, and it is surprisingly safe. In fact, archery is 15 to 25 times safer — meaning there are comparatively fewer injuries — than basketball and baseball, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

  Of course, this depends on the type of archery in question. Run-of-the-mill archery is very safe. If you plan to combine archery and hunting or use a crossbow, follow the recommended safety guidelines for those activities at all times.

Garden and Fix Up Your Home’s Landscaping

There are also simple outdoor activities for families that get you moving but do not feel like a traditional workout. A simple way of working up a sweat while outdoors is to garden and work on your home’s landscaping.

The Washington Post describes gardening as “excellent physical activity. There’s activity in tilling the soil, carting fresh compost by wheelbarrow, seed-planting, then weeding and watering, and maintenance of the garden.” To successfully introduce kids to gardening, keep it age-appropriate. Outdoor Living Today recommends starting with large seeds, like sunflower seeds, that are easy to handle and to see or, for especially young children that are prone to being impatient, visit your local nursery to purchase already growing fruits and vegetables. Begin by teaching kids to plant seeds or growing plants and water them. Over time, introduce more steps, like weeding and harvesting.

While you supervise your children, you and your spouse can take part in activities to improve your landscape. Use tree trimmers to cut back small branches and prune trees. Look out for any bald spots on your lawn, and plant new grass to fill them in.

Go On a Hike

For other simple outdoor activities for families, don’t forget about hiking! Hiking is an extraordinary workout for adults, and — with the right preparations — your children can easily benefit from it, too.

It is always important to stay well-hydrated and safe while hiking. It is even more important to be prepared while hiking with children. The National Park Service (NPS) recommends bringing along 10 essential items. These include water, sun protection (sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses), food, navigation, a flashlight, matches, a first aid kit, an extra layer of clothing, repair tools, and an emergency shelter. While it is true that we are living in The Digital Age, it is always wise to bring along a compass and/or a paper map just in case your phone loses reception or runs out of battery.

With the essentials in tow, hiking is an extremely engaging and fun family activity. Hiking is a great workout, it teaches your children about local wildlife, and it can easily be an opportunity to teach your child about leaving the park the way you found it. Teach your children to respect nature and never litter or leave trash behind.

Have a Picnic In a Local Park

Sometimes, simple outdoor activities for families can be just that: simple. Pack the family up, and enjoy a picnic in the park. If your children want to play and run around, all the better. If not, getting outside is much better than not getting outside at all.

Keep your kids happy with child-friendly pasta salads or quesadillas with cheese and vegetables and fruit or homemade trail mix to snack on. Keep the trip dentist-friendly. Make sure your children thoroughly brush their teeth when you get home.

Bring bubbles, a Frisbee, or gloves and a softball to encourage active play.

Make Your Driveway a Fun Space

With some precaution, your driveway can be much more than a place to park or to drive over on your way to the garage. The driveway can also be the perfect spot for fun and simple outdoor activities for families. To transform your driveway into the perfect place to play:

• Buy a basketball hoop. A trip to the local basketball facility can be enriching and fun, but why not bring the fun home? Invest in a basketball hoop to shoot some hoops, and play games, like H-O-R-S-E, Knockout, and Around The World.
• Two words: sidewalk chalk. Sidewalk chalk is the perfect excuse to get your kids out the door. Head outside with a bucket of chalk and simply let your child be creative. Liven things up by playing games. Draw a line or swirl, and challenge your child to draw a picture using that as a starting point. If you and your child grow tired of being artsy, use the chalk to draw a maze, hopscotch board, or four square onto the driveway and get a more active game started.

Wash Your Family’s Vehicles

For the adults in the family, washing the car may seem like a chore. However, get young children involved, and you may be able to transform the item on your to-do list into a day of family fun.

Start by setting the stage. Talk to a paving company about finally paving your driveway before taking on the task. A driveway made up of pebbles, stones, and dirt is going to get muddy fast — and that makes it a less than ideal environment to wash the car, particularly with children.

Make it fun by playing music, talking to your kids, and directly involving them in the process. Give them big, soft, soapy sponges to help clean the car or have them put socks on their hands and dip them into buckets of soap.

After putting the finishing touches on the family vehicle, park it in the garage to ensure it stays clean. If moving the car in and out of the garage becomes cumbersome due to a malfunctioning garage door, stop parking the car in the driveway and simply living with it. Call a garage door service to get the problem resolved.

Rent an RV For a Weekend Camping Getaway

Don’t overthink simple outdoor activities for families. Camping is the perfect outdoor retreat for the family, and it is one that families have enjoyed for years and years. Introduce your child to the well-loved activity by easing them into it.

Start by searching for a used RV for sale. A used RV comes with everything you need, often at half the price of a new one — or less. Having a source of running water, a toilet, and a place to cook should it rain will make it easier to camp with young children. Camping helps children learn how to unplug from devices. You can also use the opportunity to teach children basic survival skills and to instill a love of nature in them from a young age.

Go Swimming

To fully enjoy the benefits of the great outdoors, stick to simple outdoor activities for families. Staying active and spending time in nature can be as straightforward as spending a day near the pool.

Swimming is a great activity for all members of the family. It is low-impact, which is important for family members — likely the adults — who may have bad knees, achy joints, or arthritis, it builds muscle and greatly improves cardiovascular health, and it is an essential skill for your kiddos to learn. If you have a pool in your backyard, it is critical that your children learn to swim at a young age and that they are strong swimmers.

Keep your swimming experience as carefree and comfortable as possible by keeping up on routine pool maintenance. Should you notice a tear or rip in the pool liner, a faulty pump, or other common problems, call a pool repair service to fix it right away.

Are you looking for simple outdoor activities for families this spring? Stick to the list above, and you are sure to find something for the entire family. Get outside to improve mood, boost your immune system, and encourage children to regularly exercise.

According to ADHD statistics, 2.8% of adults live with ADHD globally, with reports indicating that many adults still go undiagnosed even with this estimate. This may be attributed to the popular belief that ADHD only manifests through constant fidgeting. In fact, it manifests in various ways, such as impulsiveness, poor time management, and lack of focus. With these symptoms, living an unsupervised adult life can often become a problem. Fortunately, there exist various ways to cope with inattentiveness. Here are some tips on how to be focused and concentrate during your everyday routine.

Get a Planner for Starting Tasks

Planners may be the go-to for setting deadlines, but they can also be a multipurpose tool, coming in handy as a reminder of when to start your projects. To get the best out of planners, go for one with clearly designated dates for each month of the year. Plan out your week in advance, and write down each day’s tasks. Your schedule should include time slots of when to start your daily tasks and how long you expect to complete each. The idea is to cross off each when you accomplish it, setting the foundation for a proper pace.

If, however, you cannot find a good planner during your visit to the store, simply create one from an unused notebook. Start with weekly schedules and then scale it up to monthly plans.

Use a Timer

A timer also goes hand in hand with a planner and is another way to focus and concentrate during your tasks. For starters, set your timer to intervals of 40 minutes. If you get your work done during this period, then consider sticking to this 40-minute time slot. However, keep in mind that your time may vary based on the tasks at hand, so consider switching it up for each project. Simple phone timers will work for this, with additional online focus apps also helping you stick to a determined schedule for each task. The latter option often comes with rewards, making it a fun technique for improved motivation.

Start Small and Scale-Up

If you are struggling to get started on any task, it may be causing you anxiety, you are bored of it, or you simply have no proper skill to go about it. Rather than let procrastination derail you, start small on what you can complete. By doing away with small tasks first, motivation will soon set in, allowing you to figure out how to get over the larger hurdles.

Use Visual Reminders

Utilizing visual reminders comes fourth on our how-to be focused and concentrate list. Unlike other focus techniques, these introduce a fun element to an otherwise dull day. They act as another way of reminding you of what you should be doing during various times of the day. Where possible, color code each task on your visual reminder to allow you to view them even when you are away from your desk or workspace. Morning tasks can, for instance, be marked with a different color from afternoon tasks. The most common visual reminders to use include flashcards, with the option of customizing with your home-based art supplies.

In addition to visual reminders helping you stay on track with your current work, they can also help you keep track of your future goals. Rather than using flashcards for this, you can have printouts of rewards to remind you of what you wish to get after each task. This can be rewards such as getting a vehicle after long-term projects or simpler incentives such as a take-out at your favorite eatery.

Clear Distractions Before-Hand

Focusing on getting payroll done when your favorite show runs on your tablet is no way to start your day. Before beginning your work, take note of any obstacles that may cause distractions and get rid of them. This includes phone calls, social media, and chores you may need to take care of. You can, for instance, slot your chores for later on in the day after you complete your work or have your phone on ‘Do not disturb mode’ to help with better concentration.

Have a Consistent Sleeping Schedule

Part of our how-to be focused, and concentrate schedule also comes from getting enough rest, specifically a good night’s sleep. During sleep, your body gets rid of toxic waste, which goes a long way in supporting healthy brain function. This results in better attention spans, allowing you to concrete on your everyday tasks. Focus on implementing a good sleeping schedule with a gradual winding down routine is the best place to start. Allow your body to transition from your everyday activities such as watching television or doing chores. This means minimizing electronic usage as your bedtime nears and any harmful vape habits you may have grown accustomed to.

Some practices to consider implementing include taking a warm bath or reading a book. Stick to your preferred schedule until your body fully adapts to it for better attention spans during the busy parts of your days.

Switch Up Your Tasks

Concentration can sometimes be fleeting, and no matter how hard you try, it may still be unforthcoming. When this happens, try switching up your tasks to get multiple jobs done at a time. The rule of thumb on this seventh is how to be focused and concentrate tip is to switch it up to three tasks at a go, as juggling more can signal a downward spiral. If you cannot focus on your chosen task for the hour, move on to the next chore on your plate. Depending on how long each lasts, you can go back and forth in intervals until you get both done. As you get the hang of it, try sticking to your laid down time frame for both to ensure that you do not waste any time.

Schedule Breaks In Between Your Work Sessions

Another tip of how to be focused and concentrate on taking breaks between work sessions. These can comprise 15-minute dancing sessions, lightly walking around the house if remote working, or going for bathroom breaks. You can also check your email during this time, with priority falling on urgent work-related emails. Breaks should allow you to unplug from your current work, allowing your mind to wander just enough without getting you too distracted.

Practice Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing also acts as another method of focusing and concentrating, helping you stay in the present when your thoughts seem scattered. For your deep breathing exercises, breathe in slowly and count to 10. Let your abdomen rise with each inward breath and feel the release with every outward breath. Do this at least 10 times as you focus on your breathing. Along with this, practice mindfulness consistently, with meditation working well for this. It will especially come in handy when you have a business dispute to take care of or when you have a pending case of giving baby up for adoption for your client that can often seem overwhelming.

Use Hand Held Fidgets

Numerous people take to work their fidgeting and stress relieving toys, with the Koosh ball acting like a favorite for most. As an adult trying to cope with ADHD at the workplace, this is another ideal how to be focused and concentrate tip that helps you channel your distraction. Shop around for what works best for you and utilize it when you feel inattentiveness kicking in. If you prefer to keep it minimal, a pen and paper will work just as fine. Write down notes during meetings and any thoughts during these sessions. You can also use your pen as a fidgeting device to roll around your fingers for this concentration technique.

Get Support from Your Co-Workers

Being an employee with ADHD comes with its unique set of difficulties and can often present challenges when working with colleagues who have no proper way to address it. Try opening up to supportive workmates when you have difficulties maintaining your focus at work. Educate them on simple how to be focused and concentrate practices that can help you stay on track and ask for help when you need it. This can include requesting better work accommodations such as having your desk away from open areas and pathways that cause distractions. Where possible, you can also ask for closed office spaces.

ADHD support groups can also help in handy when you have no workplace support, with most online platforms offering avenues when you need help. They also allow you to have an accountability partner to help you prioritize your goals, keep in line with your progress and celebrate wins with you.

Use ADHD to Your Advantage

ADHD can often be frowned upon as a disability, while it has its share of positives. Numerous adults with ADHD work best in different scenarios, an aspect that often comes with heightened focus during these periods. Take note of conditions that favor you, with the most common being music in the background and, in some instances, being in noisy rooms. Work with your strengths and recreate these conditions in your workplace where possible, with earplugs coming in handy for the above-listed examples. If, however, you prefer the outdoors, consider requesting office work arrangements or consider getting your work done during your commute to the office. Suppose you are a young adult looking to complete your education. In that case, you can also sign up for community colleges to allow you to accelerate your learning period rather than get stuck with extended study periods that may not work in your favor.

Get a Regular Exercise Routine

Exercises have been found to provide a mood boost for the majority of people, often injecting a fresh burst of energy both physically and mentally. Exercise releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine which helps with better thinking, a chemical that most people with ADHD have a shortage of. Some exercises that come with these benefits include:

Aerobic/Light Exercise

Light exercises, specifically aerobic-based, target your heart, an essential component that aids in better concentration. Depending on your preference, a 30-minute workout session is enough to create pathways in your brain that allow it to receive chemicals that boost your attention span. Some aerobic exercises to try include swimming, running, riding a bike, and even walking. While these can be performed indoors, performing them outdoors will reduce your ADHD symptoms considerably, so consider getting these out in nature as you soak in the solar.

Martial Arts

Martial arts have been considered a building block for self-control, which also goes a long way in building a stronger mind. By practicing martial arts, you benefit from improved motor skills, better memory, and overall increased focus and concentration spans. Sports that fall under this category include judo, jiujitsu, and karate.

Strength Exercises

For more experienced exercise fanatics, exercises targeting strength work can also help improve concentration. You can try out lunges, pushups, squats, and weightlifting.

Group Exercises

If, however, you prefer group exercises once in a while, switch it up with basketball or soccer. Apart from helping your brain stay active during your weekly sessions, group exercises will also allow you to stay in touch with colleagues and friends, making for better social support.

Outdoor Exercises

You can also scale up with a mix of other exercises, most notably yoga, rock climbing, and gymnastics. As with the rest, aim for about 30-40 minutes of activity. This will be enough to get your heart rate up and allow your muscles to feel tired.

Consider Neurofeedback Therapy

Neurofeedback may not be a widely utilized procedure for helping adults with ADHD cope with focus given the costs that it comes with, but it has been shown to have its share of positive side effects. To break it down, neurofeedback is a non-invasive form of neurological rehabilitation aimed at changing the behavioral attitude of ADHD patients by changing their brain’s functioning. Among the benefits it has been shown include medium scale improvements in hyperactivity and large scale improvement to attention and impulse tendencies. These aspects constitute a large part of any adult’s life living with ADHD, suggesting that this therapy may prove effective in improving focus and concentration deficit. Note, however, that before getting neurofeedback, first check with The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research to ensure that your practitioner is certified in this area.

Living with ADHD does not have to be a struggle. With the right systems in place, you can enjoy a fulfilled work and personal life balance, helping you live each day to the fullest. Consider utilizing the above-listed tips of how to be focused and concentrate for an improved life with ADHD.

Home repairs can often be a hassle, but if you can turn them into a teaching moment, they can also be a great way to spend some quality time with your family and impart some important lessons. Committing to DIY fixes when possible and getting your kids involved in simple home repairs is a great way to start teaching them independence, responsibility, and a life-long love of relying on their own skills to solve their problems before turning to the professionals for help.

While you should always let them know that it’s okay to ask for help and that sometimes professional assistance is the best way to go for projects that are above your skill level, you can impart a healthy love of hard work by showing them just how much they can accomplish on their own, or with a little help from you. Before too long, you’ll be able to step back and allow them to work out a problem entirely on their own.

You can start with teaching them how to change the batteries in a simple smoke detector or how the light switches work, then up the difficulty as they get older and can handle more complicated instructions. Here are some fun and easy ways you can start to get your kids involved with home repairs.

Fence Repairs

Fixing a broken, sagging, or rotted fence is a great first project to get your kids involved in. Even if they just keep you company and hand you a nail here and there, they’ll likely feel a sense of accomplishment once the project is done. If your children are a little older, you can even let them nail up new boards or help you dig and set posts. Either way, use this as a way to teach them the value of doing small things for themselves whenever they’re capable.

This is also a great time to start teaching them basic safety around tools and what not to do with them. Older children might even benefit from learning more high-concept things, like the basics of how to organize and plan a fencing or other construction project. You can also make sure they know the proper way to use a hammer, a ruler, a level, and so on.

Plumbing Repairs

If the issue isn’t bad enough for you to call a plumbing service, then getting your kids involved in repairing a sink or a drain is a great way to help build their skills and confidence. This is a good project for multiple ages as younger children can assist in handing in tools you may need while older children can assist with the repair itself. This will also help them develop a useful set of skills they can use later on in life, which will likely help their self-confidence as well.

It’s best if you approach complicated systems in an easy-to-digest way at first, then build from there as your children grow or as you realize that they’ve really understood the material. Start with the basics of how drains and pipes work and help us live in modern society, then move to more specific aspects of whatever issues you’re addressing. Teach them both the proper and common names of tools and fittings as you know them.

HVAC Repairs

Repairs to the air conditioner can be more complicated than you might expect, but if you have a good knowledge of the system you’re working with and your children are capable of following your directions, this is a great project to involve them in. Start with the pieces they’re likely to recognize, such as the fan, then add in the more complicated components as you go.

Working on large systems can feel daunting, so be sure to break it down and go in steps so that no one gets overwhelmed. This is also a good time to teach them about safety around large systems and equipment, as well as when it might be time to call in a professional, after they’ve determined the problem is beyond their knowledge or their current skill level.

Heater Repair

Working on a heating system together can help give your kids a useful skillset they can use when they’re eventually out on their own. Whether it’s contained in an HVAC unit, a baseboard heater, or another unit like a radiator, fixing the heat themselves can not only save them money in the future but will boost their self-confidence and help them feel capable.

Depending on the age of your children, now can also be a good time to reinforce more basic lessons, like being careful with tools and not touching hot surfaces. If your children are a little older, they may enjoy learning a little of the history behind the sort of heater they’re working on. Do a little research and pull a few interesting facts to share the next time you get together to work on a radiator or a baseboard heater.

Dock Building

Similar to fencing repairs, building something is a wonderful way to teach your kids self-reliance and give them a sense of accomplishment. This project will look a little different based on the age of your children, but even if you end up doing most of the work, having your kids keep you company while you walk them through the process still gives them valuable knowledge they can apply to their own projects later in life.

Building a dock from scratch gives you a chance to block out every part of the project with them, from the early planning stages all the way through to finish carpentry. By the end, you’ll have not just a new structure, but a well-rounded lesson about seeing things through as well.

Building Repairs

Basic building repairs are an excellent way to introduce your kids to DIY fixes. Start with simple things, like changing the batteries in a smoke detector, before moving on as they grow and can handle more complex topics and instructions. Remember that getting your kids involved doesn’t mean you have to have them do all the work. If you can, work together on larger projects to provide them with not only a safety net but some quality time with a parent as well.

These basic fixes are also a great time to teach them the proper way to use specific tools, such as a ladder. For example, make sure they understand that the base of the ladder has to be flat and stable before they start to climb, that they should keep three points of contact at all times, etc. before you let them move on to the next topic. You can also take this time to reinforce rules about being careful around electricity, such as when changing outlets or switches.

Roof Repairs

Roofing is a large topic and can be home to a long list of lessons and a lot of quality time if you know where to look. Getting your kids involved in roof repairs might be tricky depending on their age, but most children can at least keep a parent company while they plan a project or while they work. If your kids are older and can be on the roof with you safely, use this time to teach them what to look for on and around the roof of a house. Inspect the gutters, check the flashing, and look over the shingles to be sure everything is clean and in good shape.

This will not only teach them basic roofing skills, but also impart some important knowledge about what goes into homeownership and ways to make sure your home isn’t being damaged by something you could have easily noticed and fixed if you had known what to look for.

Asphalt Shingles

As an example of a project to involve your kids in, if your roof has asphalt shingles, you’ll likely need to inspect and possibly replace some of them as they age or if they’re damaged. This project can involve children of various ages depending on how involved you’d like them to be in the actual work. A very young child may only be able to assist in the planning stages of roofing, for safety reasons, but an older child may be able to help you carry tools, correctly set up a ladder, inspect the shingles, and possibly even replace them.

Roofing may seem like a very difficult thing to get children involved in, but children often feel empowered by even the smallest sense of having been helpful, especially if they’re younger or if larger projects are new to them. While it’s never a good idea to push children to do more than they’re ready to handle, many of them will be willing to jump in with repairs so long as you’re around to guide them through it.

Automotive Repair

Fixing simple issues with a car can help give a child or young adult a sense of self-reliance and an increased feeling of self-esteem. Even learning the basics of auto body repair can help jump-start a life-long love of working on cars and relying primarily on their own skills to solve problems.

As with everything else, start simple. Teach them how to change a flat tire and check the oil before you try to show them how to repair an engine, especially in a newer car. If you have older children, you can look into doing more physically intensive work, like body repair.

One of the biggest projects you can undertake with your children is that of restoring a car. While it’s not a project for the faint-hearted and is likely to take upwards of a thousand hours to be fully complete, it will not only give you and your kids a lot of memories and quality time, but the skills it teaches run the gamut from simple patience, to budgeting, to more hands-on work like repairing an engine or changing a flat tire.

Involving your kids in DIY repairs around the home early in their lives, and continuing the involvement as they grow is a wonderful way to teach them not only self-reliance and independence, but reinforce valuable skill sets they can use throughout their lives.

When it comes right down to it, there are many ways to involve others in your DIY repairs you know the sort of opportunities you want to look for. Are your children very young? Stick to simple fixes that involve only a few steps and don’t place them near anything too dangerous. If your children are slightly older, you can add in more complexity and teach them about things like electricity and HVAC systems. If your children are grown or nearly grown, you can involve them much like you would involve any other adult.

Never underestimate the value of long-form projects. Especially if your children are young now, get them involved in a long-form DIY project with you. This will not only give you a lot of quality time together over a number of years, but it will teach your child a long list of useful lessons, not the least of which are independence, self-reliance, and resiliency. Being able to realistically rely on their skill sets to solve their problems also often boosts self-esteem and helps children feel valued and helpful.

While you should always enlist help when a project is above your skill level, imparting a love of hard work and self-reliance in your children is far from a bad thing. Look for any opportunity you can to involve your children in your projects and give them a little of that self-esteem and confidence yourself. They’re sure to thank you for it when they’re older.

Have your kids been begging you for a dog? Maybe you have been considering adopting one. No matter the breed, dogs make loyal lifetime companions and can make any house feel like a home.

Need a reason why you should get a dog? There are so many reasons to bring a dog into your home, and here are eight of them.

Dogs Make Great Companions

Loneliness is one of the most universal feelings, and if you are looking for a reason why you should get a dog, constant companionship is one of the best. Dogs are incredibly intuitive animals and they seem to have a sixth sense for knowing when you need a little extra love and support. You do not have to explain how you are feeling, you do not have to justify what you are feeling, your dog will simply be there for you because they love you.

Your dog does not know how to fix your problems, but he does know you have them and that his support will help you. Some people may use a decorative rock or a crystal as a physical reminder of calmness and peace during times of stress, and a family dog can provide the same type of physical touchstone of companionship.

Another universal feeling is the desire to be needed and loved. Dogs offer love and loyalty that are truly unparalleled. Whether you make a ton of money or you live paycheck to paycheck, your dog will be true and loyal and love you. Your dog will give you and your family companionship every single day of her life. All your dog asks in return is for attention and your love.

Dogs Are Calming and Therapeutic

Want another reason why you should get a dog? Multiple studies have found that pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those who do not own pets. On hard days when you feel like you would just rather pull the shades shut and curl up in bed, a dog can provide you with love, support, and motivation.

A 2009 study in Japan found that just staring into the eyes of your dog raises your level of oxytocin. Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” provides a natural boost in mood and pleasant feelings.

In addition to providing soothing companionship to help ease depression and anxiety, dogs also help give their owners a sense of purpose in life. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open in 2019 suggests that people who feel a strong sense of purpose in life are less likely to die from heart disease.

Even if you are not concerned now with heart disease, simply taking your dog for a walk or feeding them in the morning can motivate you on days when you are experiencing lower moods. Not only will walking your dog motivate you to get going, but being out of your home and connected to the outside world can also have a significant positive impact on your mood.

Everyone in Your Family Will Learn How to Care for a Pet

Caring for your new dog goes beyond making home renovations to ensure his safety. Whether you have always owned a dog or you are bringing one into your home for the very first time, learning to care for a pet is one of the most rewarding experiences.

From doctors and lawyers to home inspectors and teachers, everyone is humbled by taking care of a dog. In addition to the daily tasks like taking your dog outside to use the bathroom, preparing food, and walking your dog for exercise, caring for a dog teaches you – and your children – some very important life lessons.

Beyond the obvious lessons children learn, like responsibility and kindness, children will learn social skills and beneficial interpersonal skills when caring for a pet. Need a reason why you should get a dog? Empathy, compassion, motivation, and improved self-esteem are all things both you and your children will gain when you add a dog to the family.

Training a dog takes time, and letting your children help you teach your dog simple commands like sit and stay can do wonders for their own self-esteem. Not only will you and your child feel a sense of accomplishment when your dog obeys, but you will also feel immense pride and joy seeing the look of triumph on your pup’s face when he does something that he knows makes you happy.

Your Kids Will Learn Responsibility

Your kids learn responsibility gradually. From a young age, you teach them to take charge of things like their oral health, then you encourage them to help with things like laundry and floor cleaning. Taking care of their health and helping around the house are important ways to teach your kids how to care for themselves later in life, but having them help take care of a pet will teach them to care for others.

Teaching your children to take care of something other than themselves is another good reason why you should get a dog. Whether you have very young children or teenagers, there are age-appropriate pet responsibilities that they can handle. Experts suggest not giving pet chores to children under five without supervision, but you can help your younger children get the dog water or scoop food into the bowl.

Older children can be responsible for taking the dog outside to use the bathroom, feeding, and providing water. Exercising as a family is a great way to encourage lifelong healthy habits, but on days where you just are too busy, you can have older children take the dogs on the daily walk.

Everyone can help groom your dog, but if you have younger children, make sure they understand the importance of being gentle. If a dog requires medication, task an older child or teenager with making sure the proper dosage is given at the right time.

Dogs Encourage Social Interaction

Another reason why you should get a dog? As mentioned above, owning a dog helps to reduce feelings of loneliness, but having a furry friend can go a step further. Children make friends easily. With close interactions at school and after-school activities like sports and dance, kids are frequently around others with similar interests.

As you age, getting out and finding new friends tends to become harder, and that makes sense. Adults spend so much time at work, cooking behind ovens, and caring for a family that finding time to socialize can be difficult. If you are looking for friends, social interaction is one reason why you should get a dog.

A British study found that 40% of dog owners speak with other dog owners during their daily walks. Why? It is easy to acknowledge an adorable little pooch, and research has shown time and again that once people begin to discuss their dogs, they tend to open up more and conversation flows more freely. Much like stories about children, people love telling funny or cute stories about their furry family members.

An additional study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science specifically looked at the social lives of families before and after adopting dogs. This 1996 study found that families had more social interactions, both inside the home entertaining guests and outside of the home following the adoption of their pet dogs.

Know a single family member? Encourage them to adopt a dog! Appearing more attractive is another reason why you should get a dog. Studies have found that men are more likely to ask women for their phone numbers if the women have dogs with them. Additionally, numerous studies have found that having a dog in a profile picture on a dating app makes people more likely to express interest. The assumption is that people with pets are caring and empathetic, which are highly desirable traits in a partner.

Your Family Will Get More Exercise

Ask any family physician what families could use more of and exercise will almost certainly be the top answer. With different schedules to keep, school, and work, finding time to exercise can be difficult. But if you are looking for a reason why you should get a dog, exercise is a great one.

One of the reasons that exercising as a family is beneficial is that children learn what they experience. Modeling healthy behaviors, like daily walks, will help your child learn to prioritize their health and will make them more likely to continue healthy habits later in life.

Walking the dog is great, but that is not the only type of exercise you can enjoy with your dog. Some families like to take a dip with their pups on a hot summer day, while others love spending lazy Saturdays playing fetch.

Dogs Teach Children Unconditional Love

A good reason why you should get a dog is to help your child feel compassion and love free from judgment. Everyone has things they do not like about themselves or things that they can improve, but dogs have a unique ability to love everyone just as they are. You may think you need varicose vein treatment to make yourself more attractive, but your dog thinks you are beautiful and deserving of love no matter what. Your child may feel a dip in self-esteem after receiving a poor grade on a test, but the family dog will still think that your child is the best human to walk the earth.

This unconditional love and support not only makes children feel good about themselves, but it can also help them learn to trust. When a child understands that a pet will be by their side steadfastly no matter what else is happening in their life, they learn to trust, which will help them form more meaningful relationships.

Another skill children learn when caring for dogs is respect. Respect is a crucial part of interpersonal relationships, and young children will learn boundaries through caring for a dog. It can be hard to expect a child to understand boundaries, but with a dog, it is easier. Children will learn that gentle touches are required and that there are times, like eating and sleeping, when boundaries need to be respected.

While it is never pleasant to think about the death of a dog, learning how to grieve is a skill that humans need to develop. Children are more resilient than adults when it comes to bereavement, but they still experience loss in a profound way.

Dogs Can Protect You

Need one last reason why you should get a dog? Whether you are a premises liability injury attorney, pastor, or entertainer, dogs can provide you with protection. Even with a high-tech security system, your home can be vulnerable to attacks. There have been surveys done among prisoners charged with burglary, and an overwhelming number of respondents said that home security signs are not necessarily a deterrent. However, a barking dog was frequently cited as a deterrent for would-be burglars, particularly if the dog sounds large or intimidating.

Beyond providing home security, dogs are highly tuned in to their human companions and can sense when something is wrong. In part, this is why the concept of medical and service dogs is so popular. While adopting a family dog is not the same as receiving a highly trained service dog, your dog will know when something is not quite right with one of its humans and can alert you to potential danger.

Stress is one area of concern for many American households, and a significant reduction in stress is another reason why you should get a dog. Between the emotional companionship, physical activity, and sense of purpose that caring for a dog gives an owner, dogs make life more fun. Sometimes, the best thing in the world is seeing your dog’s tail wag as you walk in the door from a long day at work or school. Dogs give so much, require so little, and make every home a happier one.