Happy Fourth of July! The recent droughts have really put a damper on festivities for this special holiday. Parents and kids a like look forward to fireworks, food, watermelon, Bar B Que, boating and more. Don't let the lack of the wet stuff "rain" on your celebration with family & friends!
There are many alternative ways to enjoy the 4th! This is a good time to get pool tags to the local neighborhood pool, hook up a sprinkler for the kids to play in, for never ending fun, buy a Slip N Slide, an inflatable pool, water guns. (don't forget to share!)
I have known many adults who can enjoy sitting in an inflatable up pool with their kids! Give them buckets, cups, strainers and let them enjoy the water with you. (be nice and share!)
Here are some fantastic craft ideas to help entertain children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc....
* Paint a T-Shirt, wooden stars, picture frames, clay flower pot (plant a red/white/blue flower) , canvas bags.
* Make red-white-blue necklaces, bracelets, earrings, flip-flops, hair accessories,
* Canvas painting, let the kids make a mural with finger painting and then let them hang it up!
* How about an apron? (boys & girls) have the children decorate an apron with buttons, paint, ribbon, jewels, appliques, and then.....help them cook red-white-blue cookies, cupcakes, etc...
* Make red-white-blue fruit smoothies (recipes On Line)
* Play dough; shape into stars, use different "textures" to create fireworks
* Paper and a straw.....place the straw in water based paint and "blow" fireworks on paper/canvas.
* Gather old paper towel rolls, paint them red-white-blue, tape/glue curly ribbon to an end. Add rice or beans to the inside for their very own Fourth of July Shaker.
* Paint Popsicle sticks red-white-blue, glue them together to make an American Flag
* Pipe cleaner "sparklers"...twist red & blue pipe cleaners together to make a stem/handle, shape/bend white pipe cleaners and add to the top of the stem to create the "sparkler" (buy the metallic pipe cleaners for a more dramatic look)
Tons of ideas! One last one.....BUBBLES!!! Make your own with food coloring & dish detergent (you know which colors). All of these crafts are easy to make and inexpensive, use household items to lower the price.
ENJOY your weekend and have a safe and happy Fourth!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is a website created to guide families through all of the ups and downs in marriage, relationships, parenting, praying and more. There are discussion groups, materials to purchase on just about every subject. Please take a look and bookmark this valuable website, when you are in need of help, advice or just a God pick me up, you will find it here.
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Temper Tantrums
It is inevitable that at one point in your child's life, he/she will have a temper tantrum. How to deal with a tantrum is a burning question for many parents. The most important thing to remember when this happens is DON'T LOSE YOUR COOL! Remain calm until it is over.
1. If your child is screaming and/or throws himself on the floor, one of the most important things to watch for is their safety. If your child is not hurting himself or in danger, let him throw the tantrum. Stay close but do not try to stop or encourage the tantrum.
2. If the child is hurting himself, remove him from the danger immediately. If the child causes harm to himself repeatedly along with the tantrum, immediately make an appointment with your pediatrician to discuss this issue. Children can cause serious harm to themselves during a tantrum.
3. Trying to soothe, distract or give in to what the child wants, sends the signal that is it OK to lose control. Instead remain calm and let them know you are ready to talk to him when he is finished.
4. Communicate with your family what you expect from them when your child throws a tantrum. Make sure your expectations are clear and that they agree to the same
5. Let your child know that you love him and you will be waiting to talk to him after he is finished. Do not show your emotions at this time, he needs to know & see that you mean business.
6. Lastly, consistency as always is the best prescription for any type of discipline. A child needs to see consistency in your style of discipline and also need to see both parents on the same page.
1. If your child is screaming and/or throws himself on the floor, one of the most important things to watch for is their safety. If your child is not hurting himself or in danger, let him throw the tantrum. Stay close but do not try to stop or encourage the tantrum.
2. If the child is hurting himself, remove him from the danger immediately. If the child causes harm to himself repeatedly along with the tantrum, immediately make an appointment with your pediatrician to discuss this issue. Children can cause serious harm to themselves during a tantrum.
3. Trying to soothe, distract or give in to what the child wants, sends the signal that is it OK to lose control. Instead remain calm and let them know you are ready to talk to him when he is finished.
4. Communicate with your family what you expect from them when your child throws a tantrum. Make sure your expectations are clear and that they agree to the same
5. Let your child know that you love him and you will be waiting to talk to him after he is finished. Do not show your emotions at this time, he needs to know & see that you mean business.
6. Lastly, consistency as always is the best prescription for any type of discipline. A child needs to see consistency in your style of discipline and also need to see both parents on the same page.
Friday, February 11, 2011
A little humor for Friday
One day I was testing the daycare kids on thier colors. I would point to something and ask what color it was. Yellow, blue, green, brown, this went on for a while. We were having a good time, then one of the kids said "you should really try to figure these colors out on your own"!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Ideas from free websites
Here are just a few of the free websites available to download and print coloring pictures, crafts and recipes for Valentine's Day.
www.free-coloring-pages.com/valentine.html
http://www.coloringbookfun.com/
www.coloring.wc/valentines.htm
www.coloringpages.net/valentine4.html
www.allcrafts.net/valentines.htm
www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/index.htm
www.crafts.kaboose.com/valentines-day-crafts.html
www.familyfun.go.com/crafts
Have Fun with your kids!!
www.free-coloring-pages.com/valentine.html
http://www.coloringbookfun.com/
www.coloring.wc/valentines.htm
www.coloringpages.net/valentine4.html
www.allcrafts.net/valentines.htm
www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/index.htm
www.crafts.kaboose.com/valentines-day-crafts.html
www.familyfun.go.com/crafts
Have Fun with your kids!!
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is right around the corner! This is a great time to explore heart shapes and the colors red & pink with your kiddos! Don't limit the teaching, make it fun! Play a game with your kids, try to find items in your house, car, at the store, etc...that are red or pink. Help your child make a list of these items, draw them and then color them. Spell out H-E-A-R-T, teach the letters. Read books about Valentine's Day, shape books. Bake come heart shaped cookies, make heart shaped sandwiches, practice cutting out hearts.
There are many things to do, keep it simple, lost cost or free! Happy kids make happy parents and teachers!
There are many things to do, keep it simple, lost cost or free! Happy kids make happy parents and teachers!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Why do kids instinctively reach out and grab a toy from another?
Good question.....why do kids instinctively reach out and grab toys (even when the room is full of other toys)? This question will be asked over and over by parents & childcare providers. Here are some answers and ideas to this burning question.
Learning to socialize and communicate begins the moment the child is born. Whether at home or in a daycare setting, kids will be interacting with other children. It is important to find opportunities to teach our children how to interact and socialize in a variety of settings. We will take a look why a child acts this way and what the adults role is in the situation.
Parents, childcare providers and teacher all join together to show our children social skills and discipline. Teaching the children how to play, listen, focus, share and much more should be on the priority list. But, being a parent means taking on many roles and sets the foundation for your child's learning and behavior.
Sharing is a learned task, learning to not take a toy from another can be a difficult learned task. Please remember that children are different and they respond different in each situation. Reaching out for a toy is natural, wanting to touch a toy is natural, curiosity is what the child is experiencing. This is an exciting time for our little ones to explore and learn everything they can. But, there must be limitations.
When a child instinctively reaches for a toy that another child has, this is the perfect "teaching" moment for the parent. Please remember that your reaction and tone of voice to this incident is very important. Be ready for these teaching moments, they will happen a lot. Take the time to show the child that he can not take the toy that his friend has. Use small and simple words to explain to your child that he can not take away the toy. No child is too young to start learning. Please remember, never "baby talk" to your child. They need to hear correct grammar in order to start learning to speak.
Children at the age of 12 months to around 18 months do not understand that they can not grab a toy away from their friends. They learn not to do this by gentle corrections and diversions. Using the diversion method means getting another toy, let him hold it, show him how to play with that toy. This will change the attention from the original child'd toy to something new and exciting. Also, moving the child away from the other child and redirecting their attention is a method that works for some children. Find which method works best for your child and stick with it. Remember consistency is very important when teaching children.
A child's attention span varies with each child. One child might completely forget that he was trying to take a toy away, while another child might go right back to the child and try to take the toy away again. I have seen both of these types of children in my daycare. Consistency is the most important tool when teaching any child, so keep a close eye on your child when they are playing with other children. Do not assume that your child knows how to play and interact with other children.
Have open communication with your child's childcare provider or teacher. Be sure to ask specific questions about how they are getting along with the other children; are they sharing, are they socializing well, are they contributing to a group activity. Any issues can easily be resolved with communication and working together.
Learning to socialize and communicate begins the moment the child is born. Whether at home or in a daycare setting, kids will be interacting with other children. It is important to find opportunities to teach our children how to interact and socialize in a variety of settings. We will take a look why a child acts this way and what the adults role is in the situation.
Parents, childcare providers and teacher all join together to show our children social skills and discipline. Teaching the children how to play, listen, focus, share and much more should be on the priority list. But, being a parent means taking on many roles and sets the foundation for your child's learning and behavior.
Sharing is a learned task, learning to not take a toy from another can be a difficult learned task. Please remember that children are different and they respond different in each situation. Reaching out for a toy is natural, wanting to touch a toy is natural, curiosity is what the child is experiencing. This is an exciting time for our little ones to explore and learn everything they can. But, there must be limitations.
When a child instinctively reaches for a toy that another child has, this is the perfect "teaching" moment for the parent. Please remember that your reaction and tone of voice to this incident is very important. Be ready for these teaching moments, they will happen a lot. Take the time to show the child that he can not take the toy that his friend has. Use small and simple words to explain to your child that he can not take away the toy. No child is too young to start learning. Please remember, never "baby talk" to your child. They need to hear correct grammar in order to start learning to speak.
Children at the age of 12 months to around 18 months do not understand that they can not grab a toy away from their friends. They learn not to do this by gentle corrections and diversions. Using the diversion method means getting another toy, let him hold it, show him how to play with that toy. This will change the attention from the original child'd toy to something new and exciting. Also, moving the child away from the other child and redirecting their attention is a method that works for some children. Find which method works best for your child and stick with it. Remember consistency is very important when teaching children.
A child's attention span varies with each child. One child might completely forget that he was trying to take a toy away, while another child might go right back to the child and try to take the toy away again. I have seen both of these types of children in my daycare. Consistency is the most important tool when teaching any child, so keep a close eye on your child when they are playing with other children. Do not assume that your child knows how to play and interact with other children.
Have open communication with your child's childcare provider or teacher. Be sure to ask specific questions about how they are getting along with the other children; are they sharing, are they socializing well, are they contributing to a group activity. Any issues can easily be resolved with communication and working together.
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