INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Put at least 5 drops of the peppermint oil on each cotton ball. Place the cotton balls around your kitchen or near any entrances. After a few days, put a few more drops on the cotton balls since the oil will evaporate over time. Try different types of strong-scented essential oils to see if they deter mice. Place the repeller near an entry point or common problem area. The repeller will make a noise you can't hear that keeps mice away. Make sure nothing blocks the repeller, or else the ultrasonic waves will not work. Ultrasonic repellers can be purchased in big box stores or online. Mice can grow accustomed to the noise that the repellers make, so they may only work for a limited time. Mice can sense when cats are around your home and will steer clear once they smell them on the premises. If mice do show up on your premises, your cat will hunt and kill them quickly. Remove any poison bait or exposed traps from your home if you bring in a cat. Chop 1 or 2 cloves of garlic and mix it with at least 1 cup (240ml) of warm water. Shake the mixture in a spray bottle and spray near areas or trails where mice frequently travel. Reapply the spray every few days to keep mice away. Try other strong-smelling herbs and spices, like onion and cayenne pepper. Alternatively, leave a clove of garlic in places where mice enter your home. Call your local exterminators to get quotes on their rates. Once an exterminator checks your home, they will do what they can to seal any entrances where mice get in and remove the mice already in your home. Check reviews online for your exterminator to see how they handled other's infestations.

SUMMARY: Put cotton balls covered in peppermint oil near problem areas. Plug in an ultrasonic pest repeller to keep mice from entering. Get a cat to hunt mice around your home. Make a deterrent spray with chopped garlic and water. Hire an exterminator if nothing else works.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: As science and math are vital to a career in medicine, encourage your child to develop a curiosity about the subjects. You can find a lot of moments in daily life related to science and math. Science and math are found virtually everywhere, so point out examples whenever possible. If your child loves sports, for example, talk about the anatomy of an athlete. What muscles and bones does a hockey player need to develop? Talk about math in terms of everyday things like cooking. You can try doubling a cookie recipe, for example, and have your child figure out how to convert the measurements. Many children may protest doing science and math homework because it's "too hard." Rather than trying to argue with this, acknowledge that the subjects are hard. Explain to your child that challenges can be fun and exciting. Tell your child a hard problem is not impossible. Say something like, "Yes, these problems are hard, but think of how exciting it will be to really master this subject. Don't you want to understand how chemistry works?" You should also let your child know being wrong is not a bad thing. Many children develop anxiety over answering a question wrong. To this, say something like, "A lot of scientists came up with wrong answers to questions for years. Part of the scientific process is being wrong sometimes." A wrong answer should be seen as a learning opportunity rather than a failure. There are probably many places in your community where your child could learn about math and science. Make a point of visiting these places with your child over the summer and on the weekends. Take your child to a local museum, aquarium, planetarium, zoo, and science center. Your child will have fun, while being exposed to math and science as subjects. Programs like 4-H, the Girl Scouts, and Boys and Girls Club may sometimes have community events. Some of these events may be aimed at teaching children about math and science. Try taking your child to one of these events. You may not have loved math and science yourself as a child. That's okay. However, speaking negatively about the subjects may discourage your child's interests. Do not say things like, "I was never interested in math as a kid" or "I got the worst grades in these subjects." This may make your child see failure or disinterest as inevitable. Help your child understand he or she can succeed in these subjects, even if they're hard. Try saying something like, "I struggled with math as a kid, but I'm so glad I stuck it out and got better." You cannot completely control a child's development. While you may want to push math, science, and medicine, your child needs some independence. Try to be accepting and understanding of your child's interests, even if they deviate from the path you have planned. For example, you may want your child to spend the summer at a science camp hosted by a local museum. Your child says he or she wants to attend art camp instead. Art camp may not be part of your plan, but remember your child is an individual. Encouraging his or her interests and success is important, but you need to let your child have some independence. If you double down and insist on science camp, you're not letting your child explore his or her own interests. Try to reach a compromise. Let your child attend art camp, but encourage him or her to explore science on the side. Remember, you have to think about what your child wants rather than what you want. You may envision a certain future for your son or daughter. However, you need to give your child a chance to do what will ultimately make him or her happy.

SUMMARY: Look for science and math in everyday life. Encourage your child to see challenges as positive. Take advantage of informal learning opportunities. Avoid negative statements about math and science. Allow your child to develop his or her own interests.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Keep it simple.

SUMMARY:
Wear sneakers.