AAA-CHOO! Keeping a Healthy Home

Even a seemingly clean house is still susceptible to viruses and bacteria that can affect the health of you and your loved ones. Fortunately, there are ways to combat these hidden dangers. Below are a few examples of the germiest places in your home and easy solutions for keeping them clean and sanitary.

The Kitchen

Towels, dish cloths, sponges and countertops where food is prepped – all these areas are hot spots for germs. To combat them, put sponges in the dishwasher with the drying setting on, or zap wet sponges in the microwave for 1-2 minutes to kill bacteria. Use a fresh dish cloth every day, and sanitize in the washing machine with hot water in between uses. Wash out the sink with soap and hot water after preparing meals and washing dishes, and sanitize the sink, drain and counters with a bleach solution at least twice a week.

The Laundry Room

Did you know that there is a tenth of a gram of feces in every pair of soiled underwear? Because of this, underclothing should be washed separately in 150℉+ hot water. Move them to the dryer as soon as the wash cycle is done so germs don’t get a chance to multiply, and run it until everything is completely dry, which usually takes about 45 minutes. When you’re done, always wash your hands with soap and water and use a bleach solution on the washing machine’s tub.

The Bathroom

Your toilet bowl is not the only source of germs and bacteria in your bathroom. The flush handle on your toilet is often forgotten, and is one of the easiest ways to transfer sickness from person to person. The best way to cut down on bathroom germs is with weekly disinfecting of the floors, tub/shower floor and sides, and the toilet (including the flush handle).

Delayed Opening – Thursday 1/18/18

This is an important message regarding operations for Apple Tree Learning Centers for Thursday January 18th.

All Apple Tree Centers will operate on a 3 hour delay. We will open at 9am due to the freezing temperature and road conditions. Due to the delayed opening time we will only be serving lunch at 12pm and afternoon snack at 3pm tomorrow.

Academy classes K through 5th grade will be on a delay with a start time of 9:30am.

Child care is available for all public school students for an additional fee.

Sidewalks and parking lots have been salted; however, they are still icy and slippery from the below freezing temperatures. Please be careful and hold your child’s hand when walking in these areas to prevent falling.

We appreciate all your support and please be safe.

Sincerely,
Heidi Riden
CEO

Winter Is The Perfect Time To Go Outside With Family

With the start of the year, many people are setting goals and resolutions, and getting outside with those you love should make its way onto everyone’s lists. Spending time outdoors and spending time with loved ones have both been proven to benefit health and happiness, making it an activity that benefits all! However, it can be tough to find a way to get outdoors in a way that interests everyone, so here are a few ideas of how to get outside together this year:

 

Post-meal walks: Taking a walk after a meal is one of the easiest ways to get outside! The family is already gathered together during the meal, and this is an activity that requires no travel. Walking after a meal is also known to improve digestion, and it ensures that everyone has some fresh air and exercise for the day.

 

Geocaching: If you have trouble getting kids out of the house because of lack of interest, geocaching is an excellent activity to put the fun into walking outside. Using coordinates through their website, you can hunt down these boxes left by other people, or even make your own! Geocaches can be found almost everywhere and can include objects you already have around, making this mini treasure hunt a low-cost, simple option that takes you to new places.

 

Choose an adventure: Another great way to get outside together is by picking a new activity for everyone to try. Find your local adventure outfitters centers for fun options like mountain biking, kayaking and rock climbing, or even just check out your nearest batting cages or go-kart track! You’ll be sure to leave with fond memories and your children will look forward to the next family outing.

A New Year. A Not So New You…and that’s the beauty of Life!

Another calendar has flipped to the final page, welcoming a new year and a trip to the stationary store to get a 2018 calendar.

For most of us the a new year can bring on some anxious thoughts as we prepare to “do it right” this time. We make resolutions (that sound awfully familiar), clean out our closets (even after we purged for end of year giving), start a diet (back to those pesky resolutions), and the list can begin to get out of control!  There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of this, however, it might be time to give yourself a break. take a minute to think about your life, and move forward into the new year with the same old awesome you!

Take some time to write down – or enter into a computer – a “bucket list” of things that you “want” to do in 2018.  Once this list is compiled, create another list of tasks that you “must” do in 2018.  Lastly, create another list of commitments that you are routinely doing that could be moved to a list titled: “Not Needed In My Life for 2018”.

Once you have these things written down – your “life as it is today” will become more clear and your ability to soar in 2018 will be natural and successful.

 

 

DELAYED Opening – Monday, January 8th-Please Read