Problem: Article: Plants that are stressed are more vulnerable to spider mites. Make sure plants are adequately watered, are in healthy soil, and receive optimal light. Periodically dust the leaves and branches of your plant, as this will help prevent spider mites. In dry, dusty areas spider mites are thirstier and so they will cause more damage to your plant if you provide that environment for them. Just targeting spider mites with one treatment is likely not going to get rid of them completely. During warm weather seasons, eggs are laid continuously, and so management and repetition of treatments is vital to keep spider mite population to a minimum or nonexistent. Do frequent water sprays on your plant, as well as pruning leaves if you notice any eggs (small white specks on the underside of leaves) or mites. It may also be beneficial to keep the plant in an area where air can circulate freely.
Summary: Always keep plants nourished. Dust plants. Watch for eggs.

Problem: Article: Books are enjoyable, but actively reading takes a bit more motivation than watching TV or playing video games. Some people find it helpfully motivating to set goals for themselves. For instance, if you're not reading as much as you'd like, you can write something down along the lines of "I will read three books this month."  Make sure the goal is realistic, and account for the fact that some books will take you much longer to read than others. Goodreads has an annual reading goal feature free for use by all accounts. If you sign up with an account, you can set a chosen book goal at the start of the year and see how you've done by the end of it. Some book journal keepers prefer to wait until the end of a book to make their entry. Others find it enriches the experience of reading to be actively writing down notes as you go along. If you have a note journal at your side while you're reading, it may motivate you to have a stronger attention to detail. This is a very important part detail if you've been out of school for a while and find you've been losing your touch as a critical reader in the time since. A longer-form journal entry can feel like a bit of a chore before you get into it. Some journal keepers make the mistake of procrastinating their entries until days or weeks after they've read the book. This defeats the purpose of keeping a book journal. You want your reflections to be as fresh as possible. Otherwise, you're not writing about the book itself so much as your memory of the book. A book journal is a long-term commitment. Although you're encouraged to bring it along with you when you go on trips, accidentally losing your book journal could feel catastrophic depending on how much time and work you've invested in it. Make a habit of storing it in the same place when you're between books. Even if you don't publish your entries on a public blog, recording a second copy of your entries can be insurance against losing them permanently. If you're keeping track of your reading with a physical journal, you should take extra care to protect it from natural wear and tear. Even a high-quality leather book will begin to ear if it's given enough abuse.  Take care to keep your book journal clear of food and drink spills, and put it in a special compartment in your backpack if you're taking it out someplace. Alternatively, if you're keeping your book journal up to date with a blog, make sure you keep close guard over your password info.
Summary: Make a periodical reading goal. Write your book entry as you read. Finish your entry as soon as you're done reading. Keep your book somewhere safe. Take care of your book journal.

Problem: Article: Let them choose from a variety of age-appropriate activities. Older kids need different things to do than younger kids.  A young kid may like to color, but an older kid may prefer movies and video games. Ask the child what they’d like to do for the evening. You usually need to prepare these activities in advance.  If the children want to watch movies, make sure you know which ones they’re allowed to watch. Some parents are very particular about the movies their kids watch. If the children want to play video games, make sure to clear it with the parents first. Talk to the child and parents ahead of time to get some different ideas for activities and games that the child might like. Choose something age-appropriate. Children between the ages of five and ten might enjoy using watercolor paints or cutting out shapes, but older children will find this boring. Alternatively, they might enjoy making a book from scratch or learning how to use specialty art tools like oil pastels.  Gather your tools in advance. Don’t rely on the parents to have everything you need in their house. Be positive when making crafts with older children. Older children can be sensitive and may not take criticism well. Before they leave, ask the parents if there’s a park nearby that you can take the children to. Bring some kicking or catching balls, bubbles, or jump ropes. If you wear the children out, it will be easier to convince them to go to bed later. However, be sure you can handle watching them outside. Don’t let them wander off unsupervised.  Bring a picnic dinner if you’re planning on staying at the park for a long time. It will be a fun change of routine for the children. Outdoor activities are better for smaller groups of children because it’s easier to keep track of them all. If you’re babysitting three or more children, stay inside. Ask the child if they have any favorite board games they’d like to play. Similarly, you could bring two or three of your own board games and let the child pick their favorite. Popular board games include Twister, Monopoly, and Pictionary.  Twister is an excellent option for high-energy children, as it will wear them out quickly. If any arguments break out during the board game, remain calm and positive. Try to redirect the children’s attention to playing the game. Ask the parents in advance if you can order pizza for the night. While waiting for the pizza to arrive, play games to see who gets to pick the movie. For example, you could ask them to answer trivia questions. Whoever answers the most questions correctly gets to choose the movie.  If possible, have three or four movies for the children to choose from. It will be easier to clear four movies with the parents and may prevent long arguments among the children. Make sure the parents leave you money for the pizza.
Summary: Give the child a choice. Bring some crafts. Go to the park. Play a fun board game. Have a movie and pizza party.

Problem: Article: Singing in a raspy voice can cause long-term damage to your vocal chords. This is especially true if you are singing in a raspy voice, which can strain your vocal chords. Voice problems like vocal nodules and vocal polyps can develop if you abuse or overuse your voice. It is important that you keep your vocal chords safe when you are trying to develop a slightly raspy singing voice. If your throat is sore or dry, you should not sing. You should also stop singing in a raspy voice if your voice seems fatigued. You can remedy a dry throat by drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, resting your voice, and drinking warm water with lemon. Using the extremes of your vocal range, such as singing too high or too loudly, can put your vocal chords at risk. This is also true if you attempt to sing too low or too softly. Instead, sing within your natural range. Making sure your body is hydrated is an important part of singing safely. Be sure to drink eight glasses of water each day. Limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeine as both can dry out and irritate your vocal chords. You can also use a humidifier in your home.
Summary:
Understand you can damage your vocal chords. Know when to stop. Sing within your vocal range. Stay hydrated.