How to Teach Young Children to Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Teaching children proper dental hygiene is an important part of their development into healthy adults. Brushing, flossing and rinsing help prevent dental cavities and disease as well as tooth loss. Parents should teach good dental health by both demonstration and example; the family that brushes together smiles together

Instructions :

Baby Basics
1- Clean baby teeth twice daily with a soft washcloth or gauze pad as soon as teeth erupt. Baby tooth enamel is much thinner than adult enamel, and consistent cleaning will prevent cavities. Use water (up to age 2) or a small, pea-size drop of fluoride toothpaste. This will not only clean the teeth but provide a soothing sensation to gums that are inflamed during the teething process.
2- Floss teeth as soon as two teeth are touching each other. This will prevent bacteria from becoming trapped between teeth.
3- The American Dental Association recommends that children have their first dental appointment around their first birthday. This allows the dentist to check for problems and evaluate the hygiene regimen early on.

Ages 3-7
1- Children over 3 years old should begin brushing their teeth themselves, using a soft child's toothbrush. Instruct them to brush in a gentle circular motion, rinse thoroughly with water, and spit. They should be supervised by their parents until they are 6 or 7 years old. Children love to imitate adults, so brushing at this age could be a family activity, with parents demonstrating proper teeth-cleaning techniques.
2- Children should also begin flossing by themselves at age 3.
3- Replace toothbrushes every 6-12 months, with the toothbrush increasing in size according to the child's age. Choose brushes with a small head and medium bristles.

Do a Plaque Attack
1- Occasionally check the effectiveness of your child's hygiene routine with a "plaque attack." Plaque is a white substance that develops when food mixed with bacteria and saliva clings to teeth and forms cavities. To see how much plaque remains on the teeth after brushing, mix in a paper cup three to four drops of red food coloring into 2 tablespoons of water . Swish around in the mouth for 10 seconds. Spit it into the sink, but do not rinse. Use a magnifying or regular mirror to find the red spots of plaque. Brush these away, and note the areas where the initial brushing failed to remove the plaque.
2- After age 7, direct supervision is not as necessary, but parents should periodically watch their children brushing to be sure bad habits haven't begun.
3- Dental appointments every 6 months should be a family priority to ensure healthy teeth and gums.

Tips & Warnings
Always replace a toothbrush after an illness such as a cold or the flu.
Cut down on sugary foods, especially sticky ones, and replace them with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Encourage water drinking.
Chew a piece of sugarless gum if unable to brush right after eating. This will stimulate saliva and flush out remaining pieces of food.
Toothaches may indicate a problem that should be seen by a dentist.

How to Use a Ceramic Bowl for a Fire Pit

Using a ceramic bowl for a fire pit is a cost effective and versatile do-it-yourself project. Almost any ceramic bowl is usable as a fire pit as long as the bowl is entirely glazed and thus cannot absorb any moisture. Ceramic fire pit bowls have many advantages: they come in many sizes, shapes and colors, they are clean burning, have no odor smoke or fumes, no vent is needed and they can go indoors or outdoors.

Instructions :
1-Select a ceramic bowl that is completely glazed so that it is impervious to moisture.

2-Cut a piece of steel sheeting with metal clippers large enough to fit in the bottom of the bowl.

3-Cover the piece of steel sheeting with a 3-inch layer of builder's sand.

4-Set one, two or three canisters---depending on the size of the bowl---of ethanol gel fuel on top of the sand.

5-Fill in the bowl around the canisters of ethanol gel fuel with lava rock, either crushed or whole. If using fire glass, use the fire glass to fill in the last 2 inches up to the level of the top of the ethanol gel fuel canisters, without covering the tops of the canisters. If not using fire glass, fill in the entire area inside the bowl around the gel fuel canisters with the lava rock until it is level with the top of the fuel canisters, without covering the top of the canisters.

6-Open the ethanol gel fuel canisters by removing the tops and light them by barely touching the flame of a long handled lighter to the top of the gel inside each canister

How to Build a Clean Burning Fire With Little Smoke

On a chilly winter night, nothing warms a home more quickly than a crackling wood fire. Building a brightly burning fire takes a little practice, but once you've mastered the technique you'll start efficient fires in only a few minutes.

Instructions :
1-Place two split logs in your fireplace with 4 to 6 inches between them. Choose
logs that are about 3 to 4 inches thick.

2-Twist a length of black and white newspaper and place it between the two logs.

3-Place 1 inch of kindling on top of the newspaper and logs. Light the newspaper with a match and allow it to burn for several minutes.

4-Lay 3 or 4 small logs (3 to 4 inches thick) perpendicularly on top of the two logs in the fireplace once the kindling has almost burned out.

5-Add larger logs once the fire is burning brightly. Always add 2 or more logs at a time for most efficient burning

How to Repair Rust Bubbles

When corrosion occurs on the metal of your vehicle, rust will begin to form. It will appear as an orange or brown color on the metal's surface. When rust begins to form under the paint, it will appear as bubbles on the surface. These bubbles, if left alone, will slowly begin to eat away at the metal until there is a hole. You can fix this problem by removing the rust bubble on the metal.


Instructions :
1-Use the putty knife or metal scraper to scrape off the paint that has bubbled up from the rust. This will expose a small area of rust and remove any loose paint.

2-Rub the sandpaper over the rust area in a circular motion. Repeat this process until you have removed the layer of rust, or have reached bare metal.

3-Blow away the dust, then dampen a clean cloth with Mineral Spirits. Wipe the area to remove any of the dust and dirt that remains. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the Mineral Spirits to dry.

4-Apply primer to the exposed metal with the paint brush. The primer should extend beyond the rust area by about ¼ of an inch.

5-Mix a small amount of body filler until it is the consistency of peanut butter. Apply the body filler to the depression with the putty knife. Wait for the body filler to harden.

6-Sand the body filler with the sandpaper until it is smooth and even with the surrounding metal.

7-Wipe the area with Mineral Spirits, using a clean cloth. Apply touch-up paint to the area so it blends with the existing paint.

Chore Chart

Paid chores can help teach children the foundation for managing money as well as the benefit of rewards that come with a job well done, according to Home School Curriculum For Life. Chore charts organize tasks that need to be completed and help kids track their progress, according to Chore Charts. Blank chore charts can be printed from online sources to help you get started.

Ages 2 to 4
Young children love to help and you should encourage that feeling by giving your children simple chores, even if allowing that help creates more work for you, according to Chores-Help-Kids. Helping is the key word for a chore checklist for this group. A checklist for this age group would include helping with making the bed, putting dishes away, feeding pets, cleaning messes and picking up toys. Adding pictures next to the chore helps younger kids understand the job at hand and makes the process a little more fun.

Ages 4 to 6
Typically, this age group is still excited to help but can be motivated further with the promise of rewards, according to Chores-Help-Kids. Even better for parents, some chores for this age group can be done without as much supervision. A chore checklist for this age includes dusting, setting the table, simple food preparation, putting away clean clothes, taking dirty sheets from his bed and organizing anything needed for school the night before.

Ages 7 to 12
This age group is generally interested in and able to handle increased responsibility, according to Chores-Help-Kids. However, parents may also have to be ready to address consequences of not completing chores. While switching chores around each week for younger kids helps keep the process fun, preteens prefer consistency. A chore checklist for this age group includes washing the car, clipping coupons, meal planning, raking leaves, doing laundry, vacuuming the car or filing papers.

Teens Parents should insist that teens do chores even if it means that you have to tweak your child's high-school schedule to make more time for helping around the house.

A chore checklist for teens would include lawn work, babysitting younger brothers or sisters, washing windows or cleaning out the refrigerator.

How Much to Pay
Figuring out how much to give kids for chores is a tricky issue for many parents, and there is no set rule. The child's age, the family's income, the child's expenses and even the amount received by the child's friends all influence the dollar amount, according to Family Education.com.


If the allowance covers the chores, a good rule of thumb is $1 per year, according to the website. For example, a five year old receives $5 while his 12 year-old sister receives $12.



For older children, parents also need to consider what the allowance should cover. For example, if the family budget covers a teen's clothes, then the $1 per age may still work. However, if a high school student is expected to buy her own clothes, gas or other expenses, the allowance may need to be increased. If the teen makes her own money with a part-time job, it may be appropriate to scale the weekly allowance down, according to the website.

For extra chores, or chores not tied to allowances, parents should set realistic dollar amounts and remember that the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour as of July 24, 2009, according to U.S. Department of Labor.

Foods that Boost Brain Power

Good nutrition for the brain should be a diet low in saturated fats and sugars, and high in lean protein-rich foods, legumes, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These foods provide nutrients essential for protecting and nourishing the brain, as well as manufacturing brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters that are involved in regulating sleep, appetite and mood. Certain foods play a role in preserving brain function. A healthy diet goes a long way in optimizing brain health.

Protein Foods and Legumes
Consume eggs. They are the best food source of choline, which is essential for making acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, or chemical brain messenger, important for memory. Eat moderate amounts of very lean beef, lamb and turkey. These meats are excellent sources of protein and B-vitamins. Turkey is rich in tryptophan, a precursor to the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Lamb is rich in selenium. Selenium is a potent antioxidant. It works together with other nutrients to help prevent brain cell damage. Include legumes in your diet. They are rich in Vitamin B1 (thiamin) which helps convert food to energy and is also needed to synthesize acetylcholine. Make all beans a staple in your diet for overall health.

Foods Rich in Healthy Fats
Consume more Omega-3 fatty acids. The brain is 60 percent fat (structurally). For proper brain cell function, a diet rich in Omega-3 fats, including walnuts, flaxseeds, canola oil and cold water fish, is very important. According to a 2004 article published by the "Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging," fats (especially Omega-3 fatty acids), were the first of the dietary factors (nutrients) to show an effect on the brain's structure and function. Yellowfin tuna is a good choice because it is rich in both Omega-3 fats and Vitamin B3 (niacin), offering double protection against cognitive decline. These foods also provide a good source of the antioxidant nutrient Vitamin E. Vitamin E works against oxidative damage of the fat components of organs and tissues (such as the brain).

Fruits and Vegetables
Nutrients found in fruits, such as cranberries, blueberries, strawberries and grape juice, may help preserve cognitive function and improve working memory. They are anti-oxidant rich, protecting the brain from free radical damage. Berries are a good source of potassium, folate, riboflavin, Vitamin B6, magnesium and copper, all important nutrients for brain health. Eat more spinach (and sea vegetables like kelp) to lessen brain damage from strokes and other neurological disorders. Potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates, necessary for energy as the brain operates almost exclusively on glucose (broken down from carbohydrates). Potatoes are full of Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is necessary to produce a class of neurotransmitters that influence behavior, such as serotonin.

Whole Grains and Milk
Consume magnesium-rich whole grains, such as quinoa, barley and brown rice. Magnesium helps relax blood vessels, playing a role in preventing the constriction and dilation associated with migraine headaches. Increased intake of magnesium may reduce the frequency of both tension and migraine headaches. Quinoa (as well as skim milk) is also a good source of riboflavin (Vitamin B2), which helps convert food to energy within cells. Another role of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is to increase blood flow to brain cells

How to Grow Beans With Different Liquids for a Science Fair

Many of the most basic biology science fair projects require growing beans under different conditions and comparing their rates of growth. This version of the experiment shows you how to grow beans with different liquids, such as milk, water, salt water and sugar water, to determine which one helps the beans to sprout most effectively. Although older students can use this science fair project, younger students will be able to tackle it as well.

Instructions :
1-Fill three cups with 1/2 cup of water, and the last cup with 1/2 cup of milk.

2-Add the sugar to one of the two cups that contains water, and add the salt to one of the other cups that contains water.

3-Soak one paper towel in each cup for one minute until saturated.

4-Label the four plates with the following phrases: "water," "milk," "salt water" and "sugar water."

5-Place five beans on each plastic plate, and cover each plate loosely with the corresponding paper towel.

6-Observe the growth of the beans each day for several weeks.
Write down the number of plants that have sprouted on each plate, as well as the length of the sprouts.

7-Compare the growth on each plate to determine which liquid was most successful in causing the beans to sprout.