Preparing Your New Home for Young Children

Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! There is nothing more exciting than signing the papers and knowing that in a few short weeks you will get the keys to your new home and have the opportunity to start fresh with your young family. It is the security you need, to know you now have a stable place for your family to grow in, and somewhere to create memories.

But ensuring all the memories are good, means making sure you have prepared your home as much as possible, for the arrival of your young family. This means considering any areas that may pose potential risks to safety, and fixing them up before you move the kids in.

1. Safety for your babies and toddlers
Safety for very small children can be difficult, as at this age they are curious, and everything is a new and potential adventure for them. There are a range of safety devises you can get to help you out. These include child safety locks on things like your cupboards and fridges, so they can’t get into them and find hazardous toys and chemicals, as well as locks on draws so they can’t pull them open and hit themselves, and fridge door locks. In addition, you can purchase blocking devices for stairs and doorways, so you can restrict the children to a certain part of the house, for easier care.

2. Pool safety
If your new home has a pool, this will be a great opportunity in the future for your kids to learn to swim and become water comfortable in the meantime. It can also be dangerous if not looked after correctly. Ensure your pool has adequate – and legally required – fencing. This could save your children’s lives. Also head to a pool supplies outlet and purchase equipment to keep it clean so disease and bacteria don’t increase.

3. Outdoor safety
Again, your front and backyard are adventure playgrounds for kids. Preparing them, means fixing up all garden areas, so they are not over-grown and hidey holes for snakes and other dangerous creatures. Also check your fencing to make sure there are no sharp areas, or pieces missing that the kids or pets can escape through. Your front fence and gate are particularly important as it is what is between your children and the road. A fencing contractor will be able to help you put a new fence up and advise on your best options.

Check the backyard for any areas where leftovers from building or development may be stored – either fence them off or get rid of them. In the meantime, check for any wires, sharp things, unstable bricks or other building supplies that may fall, or be pushed over.

Check your garden shed. First to make sure the door is sound, and there is no way in except for the door – no little holes or breaks in the walls. Ensure all poisonous items are stored up high, and sharp items, such as the blades on your lawn mower are out of reach of children. A locked cabinet for anything very dangerous is a great idea as then you can be assured your kids can’t get into anything too nasty, if you aren’t around.

In general, think about everything as though it is to be explored and from a knee-high perspective!

Kids and Games

During holidays, their parents allow them –my niece and nephew- to play games every day. Look at them. They can be in the same position for hours!

The Ceiling of a Mosque

The original Sunan Ampel Mosque (Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia) building was built in 1421. The ceiling of this mosque looks complicated. The ladder can be climbed to reach specific room above for people who want to pray devotedly in more peaceful and quiet environment.
The Weekend in Black and White

How to Make Your New House a Home

Have you just moved into a new place and are now trying to work out what you can do to make it feel like home? New places can often seem really foreign and be difficult to adjust to; sometimes you might even start to doubt whether this new move was even a good idea at all. There’s no need to worry however, because it is easy to turn any place at all into a cozy home in no time.

1. Unpack straight away.
This might seem obvious, but you’ll find while starting the process of unpacking is easy, it can also be very easy to procrastinate on finishing unpacking: suddenly more than a few weeks have gone by and you are still living out of boxes and suitcases. This will only serve to make the move and transition more difficult. It’s not the most exciting of jobs, but invite a few friends over and get the wine flowing and you’ll have everything out in no time.

2. Add ‘homely’ touches as soon as you can.
Hang up your photos, put out your favourite cushions, stock your Westinghouse fridge up with the food you love. Surf the Internet and look through sites like tumblr, etsy or pinterest for creative ideas on how to make your new home stand out from all others. Once you have both familiar and new touches out and about, the more content and ‘house proud’ you will feel.

3. Get to know your new neighbourhood.
This is one of the most exciting aspects of moving somewhere new: check out where the nearest supermarket and closest ATMs are, and start the search for your new local café and bar. Explore the restaurants and test out the take-out menus. This can be a fun and exciting project to do with your friends over the period of a number of weeks.

4. Invest in home essentials.
Does your new house have a good shower? Do you need a Bosch Dishwasher? Are you going to need to purchase a heater? Maybe you would prefer a front loader washing machine to the top loader it has come with. Household appliances such as these play a significant part in making your home life easier and happier, so it is best to try and sort these from the outset.

5. Have a housewarming party and get to know your neighbours.
Don’t delay – getting your friends over as soon as possible so that they can give you many compliments on your new home will make you feel great.It will also pay to get to introduce yourself to your closest new neighbours. You don’t have to become best friends, but having established the contact will come in handy if you need someone to feed your pet for the weekend, or you get locked out and need to get in through the backyard. It’ll also make it easier if you ever have to ask them to keep the noise down or want to warn them about a party you are having. A little groundwork laid now will go a long away.

Jagir Dam

One interesting spot -captured from inside a car- in Surabaya city (East Java, Indonesia). Jagir Dam that far behind looked small.

At a Hospital

This hospital alley captured a few days ago. After being hospitalized for about one week, my father came home yesterday.

The Weekend in Black and White