How Many Kids Should You Have Over for a Playdate?

My kids love to go play with friends or have them come over to our house. The way so many parents are protective, most often they have to go to their friends’ houses rather than invite them over, which is frustrating, but that’s the way it goes.

But why do so many parents insist on their kids just having one friend over at a time? I’d rather invite a crowd!

There’s nothing wrong with some one on one playtime, but there’s a lot to be said for having several friends over at once. Better games of tag or hide and go seek, for starters.

“Sorry, they already have a friend over.”

The kids also learn more about dealing with each other in a group. How do you keep from leaving anyone out of the fun? How can you all agree on what to do, more or less?

I can’t tell you how often my kids have asked if a friend can play, only to be told, “Sorry, they already have a friend over.”

I know having several friends over is harder on the parents. I do get that. It’s more chances for arguments and hurt feelings.

These things are a natural part of childhood. Headache they may be, but you don’t need to mediate every little disagreement. Make sure it doesn’t get out of hand, and you’re doing plenty.

If feeding the kids is an issue, talk to the other parents. If you take turns having groups of kids over, you aren’t going to be getting hit too badly by the quantity of snacks consumed overall.

Best of all, once you can trust the kids, there’s safety in numbers. You can let a group of kids play out front or go to the park together once they’re old enough and responsible enough. A group of kids is very safe so long as the neighborhood itself isn’t dangerous, and most aren’t.

Yes, you’re going to want to know enough about your child’s friends and their parents to know you can trust them. Yes, there may be some of the negative effects of peer pressure.

Kids need these challenges as they grow up. It helps them to deal with the greater challenges they’ll deal with as adults.

Besides, if you get known as the mom who lets all the friends come over, you’ll know where your own kids are more often. As they get older, it may not always be going outside to play, but that’s okay. It’s just another way to keep up with your children’s lives and to know more about their friends. Personally, I like that idea!

How to Limit Your Use of the Air Conditioner During the Summer

Summer’s coming. It’s not too warm where I live yet, just mid-80s at the hottest part of the day, but I’m hearing my neighbor’s air conditioner running in the evenings already. That kind of amazes me. Our own home hasn’t gotten over the mid-70s yet, so I know they can’t be that hot, and opening the windows to let the air flow through is still really effective.

I know that’s not how many people think. But it’s a good idea to really think about how much you use your air conditioner. You can save a lot off your energy bill, and it’s better for the environment as well.

1. Set the thermostat high and program it.

I know a lot of people like a really cool house. They always make me wonder how warm they try to keep their homes in winter, since a lot of people try to keep their homes cooler in the summer than they tried to heat their homes to in winter. It makes little sense.

Most people can easily stand keeping their homes at around 80 F. It’s not that bad. You will get used to it if you give yourself the chance.

Put in a programmable thermostat and program it for appropriate temperatures throughout the day and night. If you regularly aren’t home for a part of the day, you really don’t need to cool your home that much. If you know evenings are cool enough to turn the AC off, take that into consideration as well.

2. Use fans.

You’ll feel cooler while still using less electricity than the air conditioner uses if you use fans in your home. Ceiling fans are best, but standing fans help also. They all blow hot air away from your body, helping you to feel cooler.

3. Use a damp cloth.

A damp cloth or shirt feels wonderful if you’re feeling too hot. The water evaporation helps to cool your body.

4. Open windows as the day cools.

This doesn’t work in all areas or all the time, but if your evenings are pleasant enough, open up your windows and let the breeze flow through. It’s a wonderful natural cooling that only costs you a little bit of time.

5. Plant shade trees.

I like these to be fruit trees also when possible, for a touch of hyperlocal produce. But even if your tree doesn’t grow food, it can shade your home, helping to keep it from heating up so much during the day.

6. Cover windows.

It’s not attractive, but a flattened cardboard box in the window keeps out an amazing amount of heat. You can also drape blankets over curtain rods if you want something that looks a little better. Mylar film is another good alternative. The kind used for emergency blankets is very cheap. You can find them for as little as $1 each if you look around a little.

How Is the American Lifestyle Bad for the Environment?

You may have heard the statistic that if everyone on the planet consumed like those of us in the United States, it would take 5 Earths to support humanity. It doesn’t take much to realize that that’s a problem. But what’s causing us to consume so much?

The typical lifestyle in the United States is pretty wasteful. Even as we try as individuals to make it better, there’s a lot to be done as a nation.

Carbon Production

The average person in the United States is responsible for 27 tons of carbon production annually. The world average is 5.5 tons per person. That right there is a lot of the problem we’re causing. There’s a lot you can do as an individual to limit how much carbon you’re responsible for.

Start by simply consuming less. Don’t shop for things you don’t need. Buy used when it’s reasonable.

Drive less, and try really hard to avoid flying.

Compost your yard waste and appropriate food scraps, or at least participate in any local composting programs if you don’t want to do it yourself.

Reset your thermostat. You can deal with your home being cooler in winter and warmer in summer. Dress appropriately, and make sure your home is well insulated.

Water Use

We’re very fortunate in the United States to have such great access to clean, cheap water. So many countries don’t. But our own water supplies are facing challenges due to overuse in many parts of the country. As a southern Californian, I’m very aware of the situation.

It doesn’t take much to cut back on your water use. Little things like shorter showers and turning off the water as you brush your teeth are common pointers made.

Even more important is how much water you use in your yard. Not only are yards, especially lawns, a major part of excessive water use, but they tend to be treated with chemicals that contribute to water pollution. This makes it still harder to have clean water available, and is damaging to plants and wildlife.

Really think about what you grow in your yard. The better suited your plants are to your local climate, they less you’ll need to water them, fertilize them or kill pests on them.

Consumerism

The United States could be called the land of consumerism. Most people buy far more than they really need, even for a comfortable lifestyle. Just think how often people replace electronics that are still working. Or how many clothes people buy that they almost never get around to wearing because they have such a huge wardrobe.

There’s nothing wrong as such with wanting to be comfortable. It’s when it goes to such extremes as we take it that it becomes a problem.

So much of our lives are defined by what we own. Never mind that you can be happy with less. We see what others have, and that competitive side takes over, and folks start wanting to keep up with what friends, neighbors and the Joneses have.

Really thinking before you buy can help quite a bit. Just walk away for a little and think about if you really need that new whatever. Don’t replace your cell phone, computer or television just because you love the shiny new model that came out.

Think about buying used. When you buy something used, nothing new had to be made to support your purchase.

It’s amazing the quality you can find in used products, particularly in clothing. Lots of people use things very minimally before giving them to charity or sending to a resale shop. You can take advantage and save money while reducing your effect on the environment.

It’s Not All Up to Individuals

Not everything that needs to be done in this country to improve how we treat the environment has to be done at an individual level. In fact, huge chunks need to be done by businesses and government.

But that doesn’t make your individual contributions unimportant. In fact, they’re hugely important, even when their overall environmental impact is tiny.

Your individual interest in protecting the environment is what gets the attention of businesses and government. The more that individuals insist something be done, and live a lifestyle that proves their interest, the more businesses and government will be encouraged to take steps themselves. If we don’t care, why should they?

Considering Homeschooling in the Fall

Over the summer, I’ll be working with my daughter on a bit of home schooling. It’s at her request, as she wants to be home schooled next fall. Given my busy schedule and her highly social nature, I told her that we could test it over the summer to be sure that we both like it at least a little before committing to it for the upcoming school year.

The program I’m interested in for her is California Virtual Academy, through K12.com. It looks like a great program. It goes through the California Public School system, and is free for California residents living in qualifying counties. You get a teacher who helps you guide your child through their schooling. And the K12 curriculum strikes me as really impressive. It’s available in other states through their public schools or private schools too. Just check the website for your area.

Our basic reason for this is frustration with the local school. It really doesn’t meet my daughter’s needs, for a variety of reasons. Some may be pure personality mismatch with her current teacher, but other issues are with a system that is too focused on getting the right test scores so the school looks good, rather than on overall quality of education.

The K12 program offers courses in the usual subject, such as math, English, science and history. But there are also courses in art, music and foreign languages available. You just don’t get that so much at most public schools around here these days, at least at the elementary level. That frustrates me as a parent who wants the best for her kids.

The Virtual Academy model has a lot of advantages for parents concerned about socialization, which is what every person I talk to who isn’t enthused about home schooling immediately brings up. Yes, current home schoolers, I know that’s not really a problem when you do it right.

My husband worries because the only kids he knew in college who were home schooled were definitely socially awkward. He’s going by his experience. Of course, he may well have known other home schooled kids who just weren’t so obvious as the ones he remembers.

The Virtual Academy includes time with fellow students, in the form of field trips, and local message boards and ways to communicate with the other families in your area who are also in the program. Seems to be a good way to get to know the other kids and ensure social time.

The one thing I’m dreading is the time commitment. That’s going to be hard for me with a home business and a toddler. I’m not going to pretend that it will be easy on me. That’s a big part of why I want to test things out over the summer. I need to know how I will cope or if it’s just going to be too much for me.

On the plus side, I often end up more productive when I have a lack of time to work. The lack of time means that I know I can’t goof off at all.

Should You Raise Backyard Chickens?

I got a treat from my younger sister recently. A bunch of fresh eggs from her backyard chickens. They started raising them a while ago, and generally have excess eggs to give away to family. I don’t live close enough to get these often, so when I do it’s a real treat.

I’m not in a situation to even think about getting them for my family. We’re renting in a house that doesn’t allow pets, and I’m pretty sure the Homeowner’s Association would flip if they caught us at it, even with chickens just in the back yard. Beyond that, we’d like to move back closer to family within the year (ideally), which really wouldn’t be fair to any pets. Too much stress.

So backyard chickens are on my “someday” list. Doesn’t mean you have to wait.

Advantages of Raising Backyard Chickens

Fresh eggs are the big advantage most people think of with backyard chickens. Lots of fresh eggs from chickens that are eating as chickens ought to, with bright, healthy yolks and a taste that grocery store eggs just can’t beat. But there are more advantages.

Chickens eat bugs. They’re a very natural pest control.

Chickens eat bugs. They’re a very natural pest control. Just give them some time to roam freely in your yard and they’ll cut down your bug population for you.

Chickens also eat weeds. Other plants too, no doubt. They love vegetable scraps from your kitchen.

Chicken poop makes great fertilizer, so long as you’re careful. It’s powerful stuff that can burn your plants if you use too much or too soon. Let it break down a while.

Many kids love chickens. They make fair pets. I’ve seen how my nieces sometimes carry the chickens around, and the chickens are pretty tolerant of it.

Backyard chickens also help kids to learn where food comes from. You may or may not choose to kill and eat your own chickens as they get older, but letting the kids see where eggs come from is a good lesson.

Disadvantages of Backyard Chickens

As with any other animal, backyard chickens need to be cared for. You need to provide some sort of coop for them so they have shelter from predators and weather. When you go on a trip, you will need someone to come over and feed the chickens, pick up eggs and so forth.

Not all neighbors appreciate chickens. This is particularly true if you have a rooster, but hens make some noise too.

Not all neighbors appreciate chickens.

It may be difficult to get around city ordinances in order to have chickens. You usually have to be able to keep your chickens a certain distance from your home, your neighbors’ homes and property lines. If that’s not possible, you may be out of luck. Some areas ban chickens completely.

You have to clean up after chickens, which can be a smelly job. You’ll want to wear gloves and wash up after cleaning up after chickens, as their poop can carry diseases.

Chickens love to eat plants in general. It’s nice when they eat your weeds, but rather less convenient when they go at your lawn, the young plants in your garden and so forth. You may need to limit their range. They also scratch up the ground quite a bit in their search for bugs.

Getting started isn’t cheap. It’s not just buying the chickens. It’s buying or building the coop, buying their food, and the other supplies you’ll need to keep your chickens happy and healthy.

The Chicken Coop

Even if your plan is to mostly let your chickens roam your yard, they must have a coop. This is a place where they can be cool in the heat of the day, dry when it rains, and mostly safe from predators.

You’ll have to consider what you can spend on a chicken coop. This is often the biggest part of your initial investment in raising chickens. The birds themselves probably won’t cost too much.

You’ll have to consider what you can spend on a chicken coop.

You can buy a premade chicken coop if you like – there are a lot of chicken coops available on eBay.

You can also buy instructions on how to build a chicken coop. Chicken DIY Guide is a great resource for this. It includes instructions on how to build your own chicken coop (much cheaper than buying one!), including small, medium, large and portable chicken coops. It includes a guide on city chicken ordinances. It includes a video library on caring for chickens. Plus a lot of other material to help you get off to a great start with your chickens.

Raising backyard chickens is not for everyone. It’s work. It costs money to get started. But it’s a great way to bring some pretty amazing eggs into your home and give your children still more appreciation for where food comes from.