Spring has sprung (although Mother Nature does not have appeared to have received the memo yet) and the days are getting longer. Our regular routines are changing a bit as the kiddos play outside a little longer each evening and it is possible their sleep patterns are disrupted a tad due to the later setting sun and slightly brighter mornings. As we head into April, it is the perfect time to make sure everyone in the family is on the same page and remind ourselves of a few important things.
To help you stay on track this spring and to build better habits all year long, consider placing a calendar in a high traffic area of your home – such as the kitchen or foyer – and place monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly reminders for the following tasks:
Replace toothbrushes: The Canadian Dental Association recommends you change your toothbrush every three months[1]. Place a smiley face sticker at the start of every third month of the year to remind you to buy new brushes for your family. Better yet, stock up on some when they are on sale so they are already on hand when it’s go time!
Check medicine expiry dates: Remember that all medicines expire, including vitamins and supplements. To ensure your medicine cabinet is up to date, schedule a simple calendar reminder for twice a year. This will remind you to check the expiry date and re-stock, if necessary. **Note that you can bring expired medicines to your pharmacy to be discarded properly. I did this just last week and they happily took them back, in the original containers.
Change the baking soda in your fridge: Placing a box of Arm & Hammer™ Fridge-n-Freezer™ or Fridge Fresh™ Baking Soda in your fridge or freezer helps to eliminate odours and keeps your fridge smelling fresh. While many use this simple tip, it can be easy to forget when it’s time to replace the open box. When you purchase a new box, jot down a replacement reminder on the box for a month’s time to maintain maximum odour elimination, ensuring your food stays fresher, longer. Don’t forget to add it to your calendar as well. 🙂
Keeping healthy: Simple healthy habits, such as getting all of the required amount of fruits and veggies or taking vitamins, can slip our minds during hectic days. Vitafusion™ Vitamin D is a great addition to your routine, especially during the fall and winter months, when heavy clothes and cloudy weather can inhibit the production of Vitamin D in the body. To ensure your body gets all the Vitamin D it needs try placing a reminder in your calendar at the start of the fall season to start taking a supplement. Very few foods naturally contain this vitamin, meaning a supplement may be the best way to get your necessary intake[2]. Known as the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D supports bone and teeth health – Vitafusion™ Vitamin D also comes in a delicious gummy and is the perfect alternative to a traditional hard-to-swallow pill. My children will only take a vitamin in gummy form now and it sure is an easy way to avoid the “discussion” that comes when pills are involved. No fuss, no muss.
Keeping a family calendar is a lifesaver for many families. What are some of your calendar reminders and tips that you think families should consider?
FT&PD
Suz
[1] http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care/flossing_brushing.asp
[2] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
Disclosure: I am a 2017 Church and Dwight Ambassador and have been compensated for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
Gemma says
Excellent tips Suzanne! Especially the calendar reminder about a new tooth brush! Time flies and three months goes by quickly, so a reminder is a good thing.
Thanks!
Ira says
Ok, a note to self – need to buy more baking soda… 🙂
Jennifer Lo says
Thanks for the reminders!
Leslie says
I always forget to check expiry dates!
Kristy R says
Thanks for the tips! I recently cleaned out our medicine cabinet, and took some expired medicines back to my pharmacy. I was at my mom’s this weekend and reminded her that she should do that too! (I found some kids allergy medicine that expired in 2010! lol!)
Robyn Cobb says
checking expiration dates on meds is one thing i can’t seem to remember
Lynda Cook says
Great reminders, these are some of the things we overlook!
marthalynn says
I loved this! I just took a few minutes and set up recurring reminders for myself on my calendar. Great idea about the reminder for Vitamin D. Deficiency in that vitamin has been shown to cause depression-like symptoms!
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Great reminders, I’d suggest adding checking the furnace filter to the list too. I take daily vitamins including Vitamin D as we get nowhere near enough sun in the northern hemisphere
kathy downey says
Thanks for the list,i’m bad with expiry dates.
Jenn E says
Great reminders! I make a note in my planner to change toothbrushes every 3 months but I’ve never thought of changing the baking soda one! I’ll definitely make note to get a new box next shopping trip because ours is oooold!!
Judy Cowan says
I am going to have to pick up some of the Vitafusion™ Vitamin D to try, much prefer the gummy style vitamins.
AD says
We also check the batteries in our smoke and other emergency detectors.
kathy downey says
Such great tips,oh how I wish we were entering Spring it’s been a blizzard for 4 days now and today is not much better with the horrible cold and wind.
kathy downey says
These are all great tips to review before School starts also