If you are a homeschooling parent who has a house full of people with allergies than you probably already know how difficult it can be to get work done. The constant sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes can really put the brakes on any homeschool day. So I thought it would be a good idea to share some helpful ideas on how to combat those indoor allergens, so that you can still make it through the school day.
1. The Right Plants Can Go a Long Way
Did you know that there are some plants that can help to keep the air in your home clean? Plants like the Boston Fern, or the English Ivy, do not make your allergies worse, but can help to make the air better. Why not take the time to do a bit of research to find what plants are easy maintenance and will look nice in your home. This can also make a great homeschool project for all of the kids. You can have them do the research on finding the right plants, and then go out and purchase a few to put around the house. Each child can be responsible for caring for the plant that they choose. Nothing wrong with throwing a little responsibility into the mix right?
2. Morning Chores Are A Must
Most kids do not like the idea of doing chores each and every morning, however if they know that it could mean allergy relief inside the home, they may be on board. Each child should be assigned chores every morning even the little ones. Chores can be based on the age of the child. There are several chores that should take priority during allergy season, like dusting. Everything from the blinds to the television needs to be thoroughly dusted. If you have carpeting, vacuuming should be done daily, and the vacuum filter, canister, or bag should also be changed daily. If your kids have bad allergies have them wear a face mask when doing their morning chores. Also remember to use damp rags to dust the home, so that the dust does not just end up floating around.
3. No Shoes In the House
Whenever the kids come back into the house we have a no shoes on rule. This helps to keep bringing anything from outside inside and adding to the allergy problem. If you have a porch it may be a good idea to have everyone leave their shoes their perhaps on some homemade shoe rack.
4. Turn on The AC During School Time
It may be a little easier on the wallet to not turn on the AC during the day. However for a family that suffered from allergies it may be a necessary solution. Just be sure to change the filter in the AC on a regular basis to keep the air clean. Turning on the AC helps to keep the allergens outside of the home instead of opening windows and allowing them to come in, additional resources.
5. Allergy Free Homeschool Room
If you have the space in your home you may be able to dedicate one room to homeschooling. This room can be free of any carpeting, drapes, and any other dust collecting item. Add a good air purifier to the room and you have an allergy free zone where school work can get done, without the sneezing interruptions.