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Like
every home, the family comes in various shapes and sizes. The pandemic's
lock down and social distancing protocols mean you’ll likely spend more time
than usual with your families. Working from home, virtual school with your
kids, and ensuring your family's safety can sound pretty daunting. However,
there are additional risks. A 2018
study asserted that the US recorded 125,3000 preventable fatal home
injuries, a figure which represented 75% of all preventable home injuries. With
your family spending more time at home now, check out these simple tips to
secure your family.
1.
Don't just dine, connect
Eating together as a family seems to be more and more difficult. But the rewards for finding a time to eat together at least a couple times a week can pay off big dividends. Dinner
presents a fantastic platform to measure how well your children are navigating
their teenage years. Studies have shown that the time you spend together with
your kids is essential in reducing their chance of falling into conditions like
alcohol or substance abuse, depression, or in the worst case, contemplating suicide. Dinner builds individual members into one collective family; 30
minutes of dinner together each day is enough to get the family more
connected.
2. Your home should be a haven
For your family to
flourish, it’s essential to have a physically and emotionally safe space where
every member feels secured and protected. Where else can you have that than
your home? Children particularly need that safe place to re-energize and get going
once again. Regardless of how independent they become after they begin having
sleepovers and going to extracurricular activities like sports and other
programs, they'll always need a home to return to. The home offers a safe spot
where they can be themselves entirely and comfortably connect with the entire
family.
While we continue to face
the pandemic, it’s practical to consider ways to make your home more
comfortable for your family. Are you remote working, or are your kids'
schooling from home? Here are some tips to make your home a haven.
- ·Allow more light into your home. whether that is to open the
window treatments during the day or maybe get a light therapy lamp!
- Have dedicated personal spaces regardless of whether you are
sharing or living alone. It allows people to relax, regroup and unwind on their
own time, in their own way.
- ·Prioritize presence and connection. Have a designated screen-free
time (dinner would be perfect) to foster connection and rapport with other
family members
- Keep your home tidy and clean. That may be tough if you have kids. Don't feel as if you have to be perfect at it. You'd be surprised what a few
minutes of tidying up in the morning and in the evening can do for the feeling of peace within your space!
- ·Establish sound limits. Letting people know what your limits are
is a good strategy. Make sure they are reasonable and that you stick to them!
3. Pick up a family plan
As daunting as it may
seem, picking the appropriate family health plan for your family is vital to
protecting them. Choosing the right family plan is key to guaranteeing that
even in your absence, your family will have some level of financial protection
to cater for basic things like food and healthcare, mortgage, and care for the
aged or disabled loved ones. You need solid leads to figure out which insurance
agency is reliable and explore their products to find one that suits your
family's needs. More serious health issues require more specialized coverage
and could even require legal assistance. Some health issues can be the result
of former employment with hazardous working conditions. For instance,
mesothelioma is a common illness due to asbestos exposure. It's important to
find a firm with highly
successful mesothelioma attorneys to hold the company responsible.
4. Examine your home for safety hazards
Statistics by Safe
Kids Worldwide have suggested that an average of 2,200 children suffer fatal
home injuries each year. Take the time to examine the various rooms in your
home and eliminate any potential hazard source to secure them. Establishing
control over the health and safety of your home is key to protecting your
family. Make a consistent effort to remove any potential hazards. If possible,
replace hazardous products with safer ones.
5. Prepare For Unexpected Emergencies
Being prepared for the unexpected will give you and your family more confidence that you can overcome problems with ease. These emergencies could be a power outage or natural disaster (or both at the same time). But, other emergencies can happen outside and around the house as much as inside it. Make sure you teach your kids (and partner) to be safe outdoors to avoid injury and accidents, even if it is as close to home as your front lawn. Make a point to learn more about potential personal injuries so you know your options and, hopefully, have the funds to pay for any legal fees you may have to get appropriate compensation.
Make sure to have a plan for unexpected emergencies. Have a designated meeting place in case people get separated, have a 24-hour survival bag ready and accessible for everyone, store extra food and water in extra available space. A great place to store emergency food and water supplies is under beds and in closets.
Remember, all
families are different. All families need safety, nurturing, love, and a place
to grow. It's not an easy task, but so worth every little effort you
make towards those ultimate goals!
What is something you do with your own family to cope or prepare for challenging times ?