Tag Archives: kids

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

SIX NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR KIDS (GUEST POST)

New Year’s Eve is almost here, and with that brings the famed New Year’s resolutions.  Adults everywhere are reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the next, finding places where they can improve their lives.  Parents often make big plans to change habits and behaviors with this fresh start, and these plans often include their children.  Here are a few New Year’s Resolutions you could work with your child to make.

Keep my belongings organized – The first thing that parents need to recognize about this resolution is that it very likely means something very different to your child.  Children typically have unique ways of keeping things organized.  This frequently stirs friction between child and parent because mom and dad might believe “organized” means that everything is folded, put away neatly and out of sight, while their child might consider things organized if he can find his underwear in the morning.  This is a great opportunity for parents to connect with their child.  Sitting down and discussing the differences between your view of organization and theirs can actually help a child if it is done though positive conversation.  Giving him freedom in this area can go a long way in helping him discover what his organization style is.  If there are rules in common areas, parents should be clear about those, but should also allow their child to control how he organizes his own space. This will help him learn to keep it all together.

Drink water with every meal. Most people do not drink enough water; this is true for adults and children.  Telling a child she cannot have soft drinks or juices anymore will cause aggravation in the child and will only work to make her sneak them elsewhere.  By setting the rule that everyone drinks water with each meal, this healthy liquid is introduced without the ban on other drinks altogether.

Practice the sport, art or activity of their choice for 30 min every day.  Everyone has hobbies or skills they want to improve.  Children often beg parents for lessons to learn to play piano or be in basketball, but after the first few weeks of lessons, the excitement fades when they learn they have to practice.  Parents can help their children set the goal to practice by finding their own new skill to work on. This way parents and children can work in unison to improve themselves in at least one way.

I will talk to one new person every week at school.  This is a great resolution for the child that has a hard time making friends and connections.  It can seem like a leap of faith for a timid child to make new friends, which is why it is so important to start with just one conversation.  Maybe only one in every five conversations end in some kind of friendship, but then in a little over a months’ time your child will have a new friend and be confident enough to make more.

I will try one new food a week.   Children tend to eat the same foods every week.  This is due in part to the fact that these foods are easy to make and because parents are tired of fighting with their children to eat new and more healthy foods.   This approach addresses the problem in steps.  It does not require the child eat entire meals that he hates, just one new food a week.  Make the new food three or four times during the week so that he gets a chance to try just one bite a few times.  Parents should try to make the experience fun and set a good example by eating the food alongside him.

I will help one person every day without being asked.  Generosity is a character trait most people believe is absent in children these days.  Parents can inspire the development of this habit by encouraging their children to find one person to help or to do one helpful activity each day without being asked to do it.  Keep a chart of these activities and praise the big-heartedness that it brings. Try to avoid “rewarding” these activities with material positions because part of generosity is not expecting anything in return.  Instead give rewards with kind words and gratitude.

Change is best done with someone else.  If parents want to encourage their child to make these transformations, the best way to do so is to make the changes along with their child.  Find one or two small changes that you and your child can work together to make, then connect and talk about the successes and the challenges of altering this habit every week.  If you do, then by this time next year both you and your child will be healthier, happier and more connected to each other.

General Safety Issues

PROS AND CONS OF TAKING CHILDREN ON CRUISES (Guest Post)

 With the holidays coming up, and kids out of school for a couple of weeks, some families may be considering taking a cruise.  Here are some thoughts sent to us by Jeralyn Nelson of HouseSittingJobs:
 
Cruises have become a popular vacation option lately because they offer multiple stops and plenty of activities both onboard the ship and off, and many of them have started catering to families, planning the entire cruise around kid-friendly events.  If you’re toying with the idea of taking the kids on a cruise for your next family vacation, then check out these pros and cons and see if they help if your decision making.

Pros

  1. More and more cruise lines are taking families into consideration and ships are more kid friendly now.
  2. Many of the cruise lines (Norwegian, Royal, Disney, and MSC) are catering to kids with ships that have attractions such as water slides, kids’ clubs, kids’ camps, mini-golf, outdoor movies, and video arcades.
  3. There are plenty of things for the kids to do so parents can enjoy some time alone.  Cruise lines have increased their staff to include camp counselors and others to work strictly with the kids on board.
  4. There are teen clubs where teens are free to dance the night away in a non-alcoholic environment or just hang out and make new friends.
  5. One cruise line (MSC) even lets kids cruise for free.
  6. Most cruise lines will accommodate the tastes of your child and several even make their own baby food, but you will need to request this ahead of time.
  7. Room service is free so if you would rather feed your child away from the crowds and distractions of the dining room you can.
  8. Staff members are willing to babysit on the ship during their off hours so that you can get out and take in a show.  Some parents prefer to bring their nanny or a babysitter with them on the cruise, and the cost for an on board babysitter can vary.
  9. High chairs are available in the dining room, or you can have one brought to your state room.
  10. Some cruise lines even have classes geared toward teenagers like photography and film making.

Cons

  1. Some cruise lines have not gone the extra mile to include very many kid friendly activities, so you’ll need to do some research ahead of time to see if they have or not.
  2. Even on the cruise lines that have been touted for their kid friendly programs there is often not enough for the kids to do.
  3. Typically kids have to be at least 3 to go into the kids’ clubs and they have to be potty trained.
  4. The tweens (8 to 12) struggle to find their place.  They are too old for many of the kid areas where they are doing crafts and games, but they are too young for the teen club areas.  Depending on the kid you may still find them saying that they are bored.
  5. While some cruise lines have added many kid-specific things to do there aren’t very many family friendly activities.  So if you are looking for a place that you can do something as a family the cruise ship may not be the place.
  6. Most cruise lines charge full price for kids.
  7. Most of the state rooms only have a stand up shower so if your child can’t take a shower you will need to bring an inflatable bathtub with you.
  8. Toddlers who are not potty trained cannot use the pools. Pools on the cruise ship are usually highly chlorinated and it probably wouldn’t be good for young kids anyway.
  9. There aren’t many outlets in the room so you will want to bring your own outlet strip to plug in cell phones, iPods, DVD players and the like.
  10. Closets are very small and filled with shelves, so keep that in mind when you are packing.  There are a few drawers, but not enough for everyone to have their own if you’re all in the same room.

Before booking a cruise with kids in tow, consider the pros and cons to evaluate if family cruising is right for you.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

FIVE HEALTHY TREATS FOR KIDS OR THE “YOUNG AT HEART” (GUEST POST)

 

Sent to us by Joyce Del Rosario

Kids tend to be picky eaters and finding foods they actually want to eat throughout the day, while still ensuring that they get the nutrients and vitamins they need, can be quite a challenge.  Some adults are picky, too, so these ideas might tickle their taste buds!

In addition to this, most children don’t eat much in one sitting so you have to plan numerous smaller meals throughout the day, which makes it difficult to think of new and interesting things to serve at snack times.

Snacks, despite being merely a supplement to the main meals, should still be a good mixture of vegetables, protein, vegetables and whole grains.

The key to getting kids to eat healthy is to present the food to them in a fun and appetizing way. Here are five excellent ideas for healthy and delicious snacks that your kids will enjoy.

Popsicle smoothies

Popsicles are sure to go down smoothly with even the pickiest of eaters, but rather than serving the store-bought varieties that are generally full of sugar and preservatives, you can simply make a batch of your own at home.

This is also a good way to keep snacks on hand for those days when you just don’t have time to look for the right ingredients to whip up something edible for your young charges.

You can make your smoothies in a popsicle tray, but if you don’t have one, an ice tray or even small cup and popsicle stick (or teaspoon) will work just fine.

You can make different varieties, although its best to stick to using sweeter fruits that kids will enjoy, such as grapes, apples, pears and peaches. You can even add some yogurt or natural fruit juice to the mix.

Once you’ve blended everything, just pour the liquid into the mold add the popsicle stick and pop it into the freezer to use for the rest of the week.

Orange jelly smiles

Orange jelly smiles can be made with oranges or grape fruits and are full of vitamin C, calcium and fiber, making them a perfect afternoon snack. Just squeeze the orange juice from a couple of fresh oranges, add a little jelly and then pour it back into the orange halves.  Once the jelly has hardened in the refrigerator, you can slice them into thinner pieces (hence the name orange jelly smiles) and serve them on a plate.

Ants on a log

This is a fun snack that will have your kids eating their vegetables without complaining, it’s also a simple one to make and doesn’t require much pre-prep so you can have it on a plate and in their bellies within a matter of minutes.

Just wash and slice a few celery sticks and spread some cream cheese over them. Then add a few raisins to the top and serve on a plate. The name itself is half the fun as kids are very visual, so make sure you spark their imagination by explaining that it looks a bit like ants crawling on a log.

You can also do this with peanut butter instead of cream cheese, depending on what your children prefer.

Hummus or white bean dip with whole grain crackers

Kids tend to love dips, so making a great hummus or white bean dip is a great way to eat their beans, and in combination with a few whole grain crackers, you couldn’t wish for a healthier snack.

You can use either canned beans or dried beans, depending how quickly you want to prepare it. Using dried beans involves soaking and boiling them beans in advance, so you’ll need to plan ahead of time. Canned beans work just fine, though, and kids won’t know the difference.Cook the beans till they are soft, and add some roasted garlic, lemon juice, spoon of olive oil and some salt. For kids you’ll want to make sure that the garlic taste is not overpowering.

Once you’ve added all the ingredients you can let them cool and put the mixture through a food processor or blender to finish off the dip. If you don’t have whole wheat crackers, you can always use a piece of toast or bagel for an equally delicious snack.

Popcorn

Popcorn has gotten a bad rep as a junk food, mainly because of its popularity at movie theaters and fairgrounds. However, it actually has a number of health benefits and if prepared properly, is known to contain antioxidants that can prevent cancer and heart disease. It is also rich in fiber which clears the digestive tract and prevents constipation.

If you choose to serve your kids popcorn as a snack a few times a week, avoid the microwavable kind, which often contains additional calories, grease and other flavorings and chemicals. To enjoy the benefits of popcorn, go for the natural type that can be made in the pan and use oil and salt sparingly.