kids Archives - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

How to Host a Kid-Friendly Open House

April 5, 2017 By Casey Danton

As the warm weather approaches and the last days of school are in sight, your open houses may start to become more of a family affair. Moving is not easy for parents or kids, and summer vacation provides families an opportunity to get settled in and adjust to their new surroundings. For this reason, spring is an ideal time to search for the new family home.

With more little ones popping up at your open houses, it’s wise to consider a few ways to keep them occupied so that their parents can have a good look and overall, a great experience. Here are four tips for hosting an open house that is fun for the whole family.

Hire a babysitter.

Bring in a responsible young adult to look after the kids. Depending on the home and the weather, they can bring the party outdoors or plan a few low-key indoor activities to keep them occupied.

Set up a movie or popular kids’ show.

If you’re looking for something more simple, have a few age-appropriate programs ready to play and provide some healthy, mess-free snacks.

Send them on a scavenger hunt.

If you want to get creative, place a few small “treasures” around the house for kids to find. Give them a list of items to look for and have some small prizes on hand to give away.

Create an activity table.

The kitchen is a great place to set up an activity center—put out washable crayons and a few coloring books or activity sheets. Try to get books for a variety of ages to appeal to all of the kids visiting.
If you do decide to make your open houses kid-friendly, make sure to let people know. Taking the extra steps to accommodate the whole family will not only be appreciated by the parents, it may allow them to better visualize their family in the home and bring you closer to adding a “SOLD” sign to the front lawn.

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How to Transition Your Kids’ Rooms

January 11, 2016 By Casey Danton

As your children grow and change, so should their bedrooms. However, if you were to revamp their rooms with every changing interest, favorite color or boy band, you would not only be spending a lot of time, but also a lot of money. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re looking to transition a child’s room as he or she continues to get older.

Start With Change in Mind

Designing a child’s nursery when you’re expecting is a fun and exciting experience. What parents may not plan for, though, are the unforeseen changes that the room might need as the child grows. Create a nursery with neutral wall colors and an open floor plan for playtime. It makes an easier transition that you can work with each changing year.

Consult With Them

When you’re planning to revamp your children’s room after a few years, make sure to consult with them. It’s likely they won’t hold back in letting you know what they want. You can enhance a child’s creativity and production levels if their rooms are filled with things that excite them.

Choose the Right Items

There are certain pieces of furniture and décor that can grow with a child. For example, a desk is a piece of furniture that can be added into a room and never seem to lose its importance, whether they’ll be endlessly creating works of art in coloring books or filling out college applications. Other items can include a classic bedframe and a monochromatic comforter.

Work Slowly but Surely

Make sure to try not to overwhelm your child with a lot of changes at once. If you’ve decided that it is time to “grow up” from the nursery, it may be best to do it little by little. Most parents choose to start with a new bed before gradually continuing to swap out the old with the new.

Remember Teen Tips

During the teen years, make sure to declutter (that garage sale money can go to their college fund), freshen up with a new paint job, and provide grown-up accessories. Allow room for self-expression, but with limits. For instance, you can frame posters instead of using thumb tacks or tape directly on the walls. A bold rug is fine for the time being, especially if it protects the carpet or floor from food spills or shoe marks.

Raising children can be one of the greatest joys in life, so make sure their room reflects that! Take these tips with you over the years and let the DIY project become a fun one you and your child can look back on.

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How to Style a Nursery

July 30, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Bringing home a new addition to your family is one of the most exciting moments of your life. Savor each and every day with your little one in a nursery that your family will enjoy.

Here are our style tips and nursery essentials:

Color Palette: Colors evoke emotions. Surround your baby with pastel colored walls, furniture, and bedding to create a calm, safe, and soothing environment (Custom Home Group).

Crib: A comfortable and safe crib is essential for any nursery. Choose soft, plush bedding to increase the likelihood that your baby (and you) will get a good night’s sleep. You’ll also need bumpers and a comfortable mattress. You may want a crib mobile to help your baby fall asleep (and be entertained if he or she wakes up during the night).

Chair: We recommend having a comfortable chair or small couch so that you have an area to sit with your baby.

Bookshelf: Keep picture books on a bookshelf because, as a new AAP policy recommends: “pediatric providers advise parents of young children that reading aloud and talking about pictures and words in age-appropriate books can strengthen language skills, literacy development and parent-child relationships” (Parents Who Read to Their Children Nurture More Than Literary Skills, Lori O’Keefe). You and your child will enjoy reading together, and the time you spend will introduce a love of reading at a young age.

Storage Space: If your baby has toys and stuffed animals, keep clutter at bay by storing them in a trunk, storage box, or large basket. This will make the room cleaner and safer (as your baby starts to explore) Plus, as an added bonus, it will also make the room feel larger!

Safety Essentials: Buy a baby monitor, night light, outlet covers, and other items to baby-proof your home.

Dresser: Keep your baby’s clothes in a dresser and use a drawer for diapers and changing table necessities. Buy a changing table pad for the top of the dresser. Once your child is older, he or she can use the dresser, meaning you’ll have one less piece of furniture to buy.

Rug: A soft rug will give your baby a safe, soft, and comfortable place to play.

Gallery Wall: Set up a gallery wall with your favorite art, prints, and photos. We recommend putting together a wall of your favorite family photos!

These tips will help you to create a nursery where your child can grow, play, learn, and (hopefully) sleep through the night.

Recommended Reading:

-10 Ways to Baby-Proof Your Home

-Serene Spaces: 5 Ways to Create a Calm Bedroom

-10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

-How to Style a Gallery Wall

-How to Style a Bookshelf

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5 Stages of Having Your Kids Home From College

June 9, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Isn’t it exciting to have your kids home from college? You haven’t seen them in months and now you will get to spend quality time with them (or so you think). You quickly go from the excitement of having them home to the excitement of sending them back to school. We get it. You’ll gloss over the details when talking to friends, but we know the five stages of having your kids home from college.

Stage 1 – Anticipation: You have been counting down the days on a calendar (“So retro, Mom”) or a nifty Facebook app (“Mom. No one does that. Like no one. Ever.”). You clean the house, leave a pile of interesting articles you’ve cut from newspapers on their bed, and buy all of your son or daughter’s favorite foods.

Stage 2 – Excitement: You pick your son or daughter up at the airport. You carry an entire bag of dirty laundry to the car and refrain from asking them why they didn’t just wash it at school. You cook their favorite dinner then proceed to ask them 20 – okay, maybe 200 – questions about school, their love life, and whether the campus is safe. Things are great! Your child is back and you are thrilled to get to spend quality time with them while they are home.

Stage 3 – Disappointment: Your son or daughter starts hanging out with his or her friends. You realize you won’t actually get to spend as much quality time together as you had anticipated.

Stage 4 – Annoyance: Your son or daughter comes home late, makes the third stair squeak late at night, and has noisy friends over constantly. You are starting to remember their time in high school. There is a pile of dirty dishes in the sink and a pile of clothes on their floor.

Stage 5 – Anticipation (again): You make your son or daughter have a family dinner the night before they leave. You drive them to the airport the next day. You come home feeling nostalgic and lonely and set a calendar countdown or Facebook app countdown for when they will come home next.

Time may go by faster than usual, but the best part about having your son or daughter back from college is knowing they always have a place to call “home.” Now to get ready before their next visit!

Recommended Reading:

-7 Reasons You’re Secretly Jealous of Your Dollhouse Family

-90’s Nostalgia: Doppelgängers to our Favorite 90’s Television Homes

-Oh, That’s Scandalous: Dirty Little Secrets

-Moving Advice You Should Not Take From Stock Photos

-5 Zombie-Proof Houses Your Family Won’t Be Caught Dead In

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