Now a mommy of five, it's no small effort by Hubby and I to insure each of our children are properly nurtured for growth both mentally and physically. I've always believed that a child’s success easily relates back to their home environment. Hubby and I do our best to provide a good foundation by reading books to them at night, playing educational games, listening to music, and bringing them on adventures. We also take the time to make sure that as hectic as schedules may be, most dinner time meals are consumed as an entire family unit.
We've also focused on providing a clean and organized home. In fact, we are nearing the end of a mini kitchen / mudroom renovation. It's our hope that this improved space will make it easier for the kids to do homework nearby while we prepare meals, improve functionality of the space, keep their items better organized, and even make it a more desirable for us all to hang out.
Interestingly enough, a new Taste & Smell Research Foundation conducted a study, commissioned by the maker Pine-Sol® cleaners. This study found that children who perform better at school almost always identify their homes with scents associated with clean. The study also showed a correlation between memory of positive scents and performance, demonstrating that it begins at an early age and is something that parents can impact. The study went on to say that children who perform better at school almost always identify their homes with scents associated with clean - 84% of students reporting GPAs of A or B had positive childhood home smells – using descriptors like “lemony, minty or clean”; with only 16% noting negative smells at home. And on the flip side, those who recalled their childhood home as being an environment with negative smells or aromas were two-times more likely to have a lower grade point average (GPA) than those that did not. The study demonstrated a positive connection between a well-cared home and the sort of stable family environment that promotes academic success, self-esteem, learning and harmony – and enhances achievement later in life. 34% of students with a GPA grade of C or less, remembered negative childhood home aromas including urine, fecal and mold – double the percentage of those with higher GPAs.
This study commissioned by Pine-sol really reinforces my own beliefs on the importance of providing the proper home environment for maximizing a child's success. The appropriate stimulation of all five senses including smell will continue to be my focus moving forward. And as I begin clean up of all this kitchen construction debris I'm sure they'll be a fair amount of cleaning scents to be detected.
In fact, Pine-sol has a couple new scents along with their improved classic scents that the kids just may be smelling including Garden Fresh™ Pine-Sol® cleaner & Outdoor Fresh™ Pine-Sol® cleaner. All featuring the first ever easy-to-pour flip-cap in this category, offering controlled pouring.
Pine-Sol is a proud supporter of Reading Is Fundamental by donating $40,000, in 2011, to help children further achieve in life. I know most of you readers are real busy insuring your own child (grandchild, nephew, etc) has been provided with all the learning fundamentals, but I wanted to tell you real quickly how you can help another child have them as well. Consumers can get involved by simply “Liking” Pine-Sol on Facebook during National Reading Month (March 2011) – and for every two “Likes” Pine-Sol will donate one book on your behalf, up to 5,000 books. Simply visit www.facebook.com/PineSol and "like" them.
Enter to Win:
And in honor of National Reading Month, I am even giving away a trio of books to one lucky reader! The books include My People (2010 Winner - Coretta Scott King Award) illustrated by Charles R. Smith, Jr., The Lion & the Mouse (2010 Winner - Caldecott Medal) By Jerry Pinkney, and The Dot
By Peter H. Reynolds.
Simply leave a comment below telling me how you are helping your own child or another child further achieve in life to be entered.
Optional Additional Entries for:
1 extra entry if you "like" Pine-Sol on Facebook.
1 extra entry if you "like" And twins make 5! on Facebook & share, comment, or like something regarding us.
1 extra entry if you "tweet" about this giveaway and include a link back to it.
Rules:
An email address is required to enter. Please leave it in your comment, or make sure one is visible for me to find in your blogger profile. If you qualify for additional entries please comment separately telling us which options you have used. Please limit your tweets to once daily. A winner will be chosen via random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. This contest is open to 18 + USA only. Ends on 3/31/11 @ 11:59PM CST.
Please note, my post was sponsored by Pine-Sol through a compensated Mom Bloggers Club member program.