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Pumpkin Planters for Kids!

- Monday, 14 September 2015 No Comments

As the Halloween holiday approaches, pumpkins will be appearing everywhere! There are tons of ways to carve a pumpkin for a scary decoration, but pumpkins can also be used to beautify and create a fun fall planter project for kids! Read on to find out how to gather the kids and get started!

Gather the Supplies

To create your pumpkin planter project, begin with selecting a suitable pumpkin for each child. Choose a pumpkin that is a large enough size and that is round enough to accommodate your plants. Additionally, you will need to pick up some annuals that are appropriate for the autumn season, such as hardy mums. You will also need potting soil and basic gardening tools.

Preparing the Pumpkin

To begin transforming your pumpkin into a planter, start by cutting off the top and removing the insides, including the seeds and the flesh. Be sure to save the seeds for roasting into a healthy snack! Once the inside of the pumpkin is empty and clean, decorate the outside of the pumpkin however you choose. From paint and markers to glitter and embellishments, this is a great opportunity to get creative with your planter and make it special and unique!

Finishing Up

Once your pumpkin planter is all ready, add enough potting soil to fill the bottom one third of the inside of the pumpkin. You are now ready to place your annual plants into the pumpkin planter. Once you have your flowers in place, add additional potting soil around the sides and pack it down to fill the pumpkin cavity. You may also opt to add a thin layer of mulch to the top, for a nice finish and to help retain moisture.

Décor & More

A pumpkin planter makes a great outdoor décor item when placed on a porch, patio, or other outdoor area. Consider creating multiple pumpkin planters, in a variety of sizes and colored flowers, for even more fall beauty! Your planter may be left out for several days, and then when the pumpkin begins to soften and decay, the entire planter can be planted directly into the ground. The pumpkin will decompose and continue to feed the plant throughout the fall season or until the cold becomes too much for the plant.

There you have it! A fun and creative fall project to get the kids outdoors, learning and decorating with garden inspired ideas!

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Summer Camp and Its Lifelong Benefits for Children

- Saturday, 12 September 2015 No Comments

It's easy to think of summer camp as just a place for swimming lessons, dodge ball, boating and arts and crafts, an easy solution to summer boredom for kids. Of course, all these things are true, and summer camp memories are made of canoe expeditions, swimming competitions, tie-dye t-shirts and rousing camp songs. However, while kids are having a blast playing games, making summer friends and learning new skills, they are also absorbing a host of vitally important life lessons that will last long after the last bus ride home from camp.

The Pluses of Perseverance

It's not always easy to set a goal and then battle on through hardships and setbacks to meet it, whether it's trying to finally swim the length of the pool, making it across the highest wire in the ropes course or mustering the courage to try a speaking role in the camp skit. At summer camp, kids have a safe, nurturing environment perfect for trying out new skills and learning how to keep going through initial failures to meet a goal. Maybe they get tongue-tied on stage at first and need a little prompting to keep going, or maybe they start to get discouraged at repeated failures to make it up to the next level of swimming classes. But many learn the rewards of finally succeeding with practice, perseverance and a bit of morale-boosting. Not only do kids benefit from the help of staff and other campers, but they can also learn how rewarding it can be to be the person cheering on a friend or camp mate who's trying hard to meet their own goals.

No "I" in "Team"

There are of course loads of games and activities at camp, and many of them have sneaky ways of helping kids learn to function as a team while they are having piles of fun in the sun. More obvious team builders include rope course activities, many of which are specifically geared to this all-important skill. However, there are a vast variety of ways camp encourages kids to figure out how to work toward a common goal with a group. Whether it's working together for a great opening night at the camp talent show, going all out in a color wars event or helping a struggling fellow softball teammate perfect her swing, camp is chock full of opportunities to learn there is no "I" in "team". Needless to say, this skill is highly valued everywhere in our society from school to the athletic field to the work place.

How to Make Friends and Influence People

Camp is a great place to learn how to make friends, a skill more difficult than it sounds for many. Some people are by nature out-going, but many of kids need to learn a few skills that build confidence and make meeting new people and making friends easier, whether at camp, in school or in the far-distant "grownup" world. Summer camp is where kids can shed whatever role they may feel pigeonholed in at home and reach out to all sorts of new people. Camp counselors are specially trained to help kids reach out to others and even how to cope with the inevitable occasional rejection. By the end of camp, most kids have a host of new summer friends that make the anticipation of next summer's fun even more enticing.

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Keeping Kids Busy in the Summer - Fun Recreational Classes

- Wednesday, 9 September 2015 No Comments

The first thing parents need to think about in the year for their children in the year is what they will do in the summer. Children have six months of summer holiday every year, and it's always a struggle for parents who work because they've suddenly got to find something for their children to do. For parents who already use a child minder it would be useful to simply book the children in for longer with them, dropping them off in the morning and picking them up after work. Child minders are always better for children than nurseries, as they aren't overprotected by the workers, and can do more things like go out for a walk for the day, and learn how to care for other children from a young age.

Schools often run summer classes for children that contribute to their learning but are also more fun than school normally is. Circus classes and obstacle courses are among some of the activities children will take part in through summer school, and they'll love every second because they're doing something they've never done before. Giving a child these opportunities is important, as when they're older they won't have as much opportunity to do anything like what they can do through summer school classes.

Indoor play centres will also be running summer classes and events, as they know that parents need somewhere for their children to go or one day they'll be too tired to do anything with them. Some centres will alter the arrangement of their equipment to give children something more for the summer, as throughout the rest of the year they won't get half as much business as they do in the summer time.

Some parents can't afford to take time off from work to look after their children during the summer, and these classes provide the perfect way for them to keep them busy whilst not leaving them on their own in the house for weeks on end. It's healthy for children to have a break from constantly doing things at school, but through the summer they still need to be stimulated and continue their learning, as their bodies and minds are constantly growing.

To conclude, there is a lot for children to do in the summer, parents simply need to find out what's going on in their local area and ensure their children can be involved. If parents can take some time off from work to spend with their children then they should, as there's never a better time to spend with them than during the summer when they have endless amounts of free time.

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Get Ready for Back to School

- Sunday, 6 September 2015 No Comments

Summer days may still be among us, with plenty of time to enjoy the beach, pool, movies, and hangouts. But it's also time to prepare for another school year or semester. With some simple planning, you can easily get ready for back-to-school and have plenty of time to enjoy the remaining summer days.

1. Make a List

How is your wardrobe? Do you need to replace anything or buy new clothes for school? Look through magazines to get an idea of what the latest looks are. Make a list of what you need and want for the new year.

Write down your classes and make a list of the supplies you'll need.

2. Buy Your Supplies

Determine your budget before you head to the stores so you'll know how much you can spend on clothes and supplies. Depending on what stores you like to shop at, you can do it all in one day, or plan one day for supplies and one day for clothes. Take your shopping lists with you, and check off each item as you add them to the cart. You will probably come across extra items you'll want to grab. Just be sure they fit into your budget before you buy them.

3. Get Organized

When you're done shopping, it's time to organize all of your items. Clean off your desk and make room for your new supplies. Store them on the shelves and in the drawers of your desk. Keep everything organized so you know where to find everything. The cleaner you keep your desk, the easier it will be to study.

Clean out your closet. Remove all of the old clothes you're replacing and set them aside to take to the thrift store. Hang up your new clothes neatly, and in order. Keep outfits together, or create sections for your pants, shirts, etc. Line your shoes up on a rack or the closet floor so you can see them easily. The cleaner you keep your closet, the easier it will be to get ready in the mornings.

4. Create a Schedule

Look at your class list, and block off specific study times for each class every day. Block off times you have other commitments, such as after-school activities and family obligations. Follow this schedule throughout the semester. It will help you get your studying and homework done on time during the week, and allow you to take the weekends off.

By planning and organizing your school year before it starts, you'll save yourself time and frustration later.

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Recognizing and Understanding How Trauma Affects Children

- Friday, 4 September 2015 No Comments

Children are amazingly resilient and adapt to changes in their life whether it's adjusting to a different school, or spending the weekends with a parent following a separation or divorce. However, recovering from a traumatic event is not as easy as parents would hope. Children don't just "get over" trauma; as much as we would like to wish otherwise, they often live with the consequences as an emotional scar for the rest of their lives. Many parents ask questions like, "How does it affect them if they don't even remember it?" or "They seem fine and are acting like they did before, are they really OK?" It helps to take a closer look at how trauma can affect children and what can help them.

If a four year old boy witnesses a traumatic event like his mother passing out due to overdosing on drugs, then his sense of safety is likely broken by the scary images of what he's seen. The terrifying images he remembers are likely to show up in nightmares and developing into new fears that may indirectly involve a situation similar to what he experienced. Children often have strong belief that their thoughts, fears, and wishes can become real and happen due to not fully understanding the relationship between cause and effect. Younger children around ages five or six may also interpret traumatic events differently than an older nine or ten year old child would, and can blame themselves or their parents for not preventing what happened. How a child perceives an event or misunderstands the reality of what happened can add to the negative impact on their developing mind.

Rewiring the Brain

There are a lot of theories and research being done that is looking at how experiences can rewire the brain, and affect how a child's brain forms and functions. Although children can adapt in order to survive abuse or an unexpected life changing event, they are still emotionally overwhelmed. When faced with an intense or life threatening event the brain switches into survival mode, and even long after the event has passed a child may begin to sense a vague feeling of threat everywhere. If trauma in children isn't treated then stress that comes along as they grow will causes their brain to overwork itself for, which can lead to serious mental health issues in their adult life.

Research is showing that children who experience abuse or extreme stress have higher rates of depression and anxiety in addition to other emotional problems than other children do. New studies are looking at how early experience becomes embedded in the body and brain, changing how the brain functions.

Knowing how trauma effects how children grow is important as a first step. The next decision that parents need to carefully consider is: "How do I help my child?" There are many evidenced based approaches in mental health that can make a big difference in how children can recover from trauma.

Trauma Focused Play Therapy

A therapy that is a structured and goal-oriented form of therapy that uses both directive and non-directive approach to help children in using play as a natural way to process the trauma and for them to re-enact what happened through art and storytelling in which a child can process and express their thoughts and feelings while building their self-esteem and ability to cope.

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is an approach in which a therapist works with a child or teen in learning skills to help process and manage the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the traumatic event that occurred. This approach includes working with the parent in developing family communication and support.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Working with a therapist in an EMDR session would include using bilateral eye movements, taps or tones, which effects the way that the brain processes the traumatic memories. EMDR is effective in a child no longer reliving the memory and feelings when the event is brought up. While the memory of the event would still be there, it will be less upsetting to them.

Working with childhood trauma can help prevent or reduce the odds of children developing future emotional and mental health problems. It is crucial for children to receive some form of therapy so that they don't develop unhealthy ways of coping with memories by self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. If you are the parent or caregiver of a child who has experienced a traumatic event, then seek a consultation of a therapist. Children can be amazing resilient, and it is possible for them to heal and thrive.

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Count and Learn With Babushka: Educational and Fun Games for Kids

- Wednesday, 2 September 2015 No Comments

Russian nesting dolls, (most commonly known as Matryoshka or Babushka) are mostly used as decorative pieces as well as gift items. But did you know that they can be used as educational tools? Because they come in pieces, these dolls are great especially for kids who are yet to begin formal schooling. They provide an easy way of slowly introducing leaning concepts in a fun way. To add to the experience, it is prudent to make the learning process fun by incorporating games.

The babushka dolls come in pieces, and they have simple paintings that will make it easy to differentiate. They are also attractive hence easy to capture a child's attention. Below are some of the ways in which you can use the dolls to teach your kids.

Practicing and Enhancing Motor Skills

Although many child development experts suggest that motor skills are inborn, enhancing them is a different ball game all together. Children that do not have the opportunities to play, learn and discover are often at a disadvantage in life. Learning and motor skill development require active learning combined with an interesting environment that activates thinking and motor skills. This is the reason as why kids are able to do different things at different ages. If you want to have to have your kids enhance fine motor skills at an early age, then babushka dolls will come in handy. They are made in such a way that in order to access the entire set, you have to open and close. To do this there is a considerable amount of coordination as well as using the hand muscle.

Number Concepts and Counting

Because most of the babushka dolls come in 3 to 5 pieces, they make a great way to start introducing numbers to the little ones. You start by counting the pieces, then introduce the child in the process and eventually have them count by themselves. This makes a fun way of introducing numbers while at the same time teaching the child how to count. Once the child has mastered the simple concepts you can then increase the numbers and even introduce basic multiplication. With babushka dolls, if you are creative then the possibilities are innumerable.

Ordering by Size

Once a child has mastered the numbering concept you can enhance the learning experience by including the ordering bit. Try to get the kids to arrange the pieces from the biggest to the smallest and vice versa. To make the experience even more thrilling you can add a stop watch and let the kid see how fast they can arrange the pieces. This way, they are able to practice their fine motor skills and face the challenge.

Develop Story-Telling Skills

The pieces in the babushka dolls have pictures that mostly have a story behind them. Even if the pieces do not necessarily depict a story, you can make up a story together with the kids using the pieces as illustrations. This will help the children to comfortable tell stories. You can also engage the older children further by having them write down stories. This will help them improve their grammar and greatly advance their creativity and imagination.

From the above it is clear that apart from their beauty, the babushka dolls are great pieces that can be beneficial in a child's early learning and development. These beautiful items can be used in hundreds of different ways to enhance childhood learning and creativity. Using these dolls as educational tools is a fun and an intelligent choice for parents seeking interesting ways to combine learning with fun activities.

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How TV Is Killing Our Kids

- Tuesday, 1 September 2015 No Comments

For the first time in modern history the youth of today will more than likely has a shorter lifespan than their parents.

Historically, viruses such as TB, polio or the measles were the cause of early death in the under 18-age group. Today, the root cause is obesity as a result of inactivity.

Watching television, even for just an hour a day, may boost the risk that young children will be overweight or obese, according to new research.

"Children who watch one to two hours of TV a day, as opposed to those who watch under one hour per day, are more likely to be overweight and obese at kindergarten and first grade," said Mark DeBoer, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia and the study's lead author.

Kindergartners on average watched about three hours of TV daily.

William Muinos, MD pediatric gastroenterologist and director of the weight management program, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami considers an hour a day or more of television viewing recorded by the parents of kids at unhealthy weights highly likely includes other unhealthy habits, such as an unhealthy diet and/or snacking.

Muinos went on to state "You are establishing behaviors early in life," he said.

The behaviors that we teach our children at a very young age can easily become their life long habits. As parents, we owe our kids the best possible opportunities. We should not be subjecting them to a life of potential debilitating disease states, such as obesity, diabetes and other that are a result of inactivity and poor eating habits instilled at young ages.

Take the time to spend some quality team with your kids, get out in the yard and throw a baseball around, run them through speed and agility exercises; play kickball, go for a bike ride or walk daily. Make a game out of strength and speed training by having them carry a bucket of water 50 ft and run back to the starting point. We owe them the gift of a long healthy life that is free of totally preventable disease states that result from inactivity. Meet with a Certified Fitness trainer and ask for advice on how to make exercise fun.

The last thing that any parent wants to do is harm their children. However the inactivity and using the TV as a form of free, mindless entertainment is doing just that.

Previous research has linked children's television viewing with obesity and other problems.

The study included data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey of more than 11,000 children who attending kindergarten in 2011-2012. The database included the number of hours kids watched TV, how often they used computers and records of their height and weight. A year later, most of the children were evaluated again for these same factors.

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