tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44495113558901796362024-03-13T10:04:35.543-04:00Kids MatterInvest Early, Invest Often!Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.comBlogger605125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-33364035569862634232015-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:002015-01-20T08:00:01.498-05:00Hang On and Enjoy the Ride<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Guest Post by: Beth C.</span></div>
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Being a parent is the most rewarding yet most challenging
thing in life. There isn't a book that
tells you<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> how to raise children, so you have to live and
learn, hoping that by the time they are 18 they can make wise decisions on
their own. My husband and I have three
children, twin 1 year olds and a 2 ½ year old.
Needless to say, with two full time working parents and three kids under
the age of three, we stay very busy! </div>
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I would have to say that my biggest struggle is being a
working mom. Balancing family life and
work life can be very difficult. My
weekdays start at 5:30AM, which is a struggle in itself, and ends around
10:30PM. I usually get home from work
around 5:00pm and fix dinner, feed kids, bathe kids and put kids to bed by
8:30PM. I then clean up from dinner and
start laundry. With five people in our
house, laundry is a daily task. Around
9:30PM, I will usually sit down and watch tv with my husband and try to catch
up on our day. I am very blessed with a
wonderful husband who helps out around the house and makes time to play with
our children. </div>
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We are experiencing the terrible two’s right now and potty
training. Let me say that it is just not
right for these two things to happen at the same time. I am still learning what correction methods
work with my son and which ones don’t. I
have a very strong willed/stubborn 2 year old, so the disciplines that work for
him, probably won’t work with my 1 year old who is laid back and easy going. I must be doing something right though because
when my 2 year old has to sit in timeout, he always comes and gives me a hug
when he gets out. As for potty training,
this has been a huge challenge for us. I
think I have tried every bribery tactic there is out there. I have finally accepted that my child will
use the potty when he is ready. As
frustrating as that is to hear from other people, I believe it to be the
truth. However, when my child went to
the potty for the first time and had success, it gave me such great joy. I was so proud of his accomplishment! Yes, that’s right, I am one proud mommy that
my kid went pee pee in the potty! Take
pride in the little things!</div>
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I would be lying if I said I wasn't exhausted 90% of the
time with this crazy life I live, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love being a mom. I love when my son gets mad and crinkles his
nose when he says “NO!” I love that my
kids and I have a dance party every night in our kitchen. I love cuddling with them. I love singing to my kids. I love hearing them say “momma/mommy”. I love that my kids are so close in age. I often times get told “Bless your heart” or
“You have your hands full”, when people hear that my kids are 17 months apart. I usually respond with “Yes, I am
blessed!” </div>
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Having young children so close together can be challenging,
but the love and memories I make with my children are totally worth it. Life with small children is a constant
roller coaster, so hang on and enjoy the ride! </div>
Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-5473408750113744972015-01-14T10:15:00.000-05:002015-01-14T10:15:00.969-05:0015 Family Goals in 2015<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"> By: Angie @ Kids Matter</span></div>
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As the new year is underway many people have already broken their New Year Resolutions. Instead of resolutions like lose weight, get in shape, etc., I have put together a list of 15 Family Goals in 2015. These 15 things are things that I already try to do, but sometimes I need a reminder.<br />
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1) Patience - Kids do not have the same sense of urgency that adults have. Occasionally stop saying "hurry" and slow your pace down to match your child. Children see the world through different eyes and it can be refreshing to our weary adult eyes!<br />
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2) Laugh - You are busy. Your schedule is jam packed and some days you feel like you have to schedule time to breathe. We understand, because we are busy too! During this busy time, take time out to laugh and the rest will be easier.<br />
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3) Be silly - Some days you have to be serious, but other days you need to take time to be silly. Wear a funny hat, do a funny dance, make up a funny rhyme, but show your kids that it is okay to be silly.<br />
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4) Read a book with your kids - Even better, find a series to read together. Even "big kids" like to share special moments like this with a parent.<br />
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5) Read a book alone - Want to raise readers? Let your kids see you reading and how important that is to you. Be the example that your kids are looking for!<br />
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6) Watch the clouds - Lay on your back, on the ground, with your kids and pick out shapes in the clouds. Kids seem to be very scheduled today and you need to show them that they need to relax too.<br />
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7) Watch a meteor shower- Take a look at <a href="http://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/">The American Meteor Shower Website</a> and pick a great night to lay in the yard and be amazed at a meteor shower.<br />
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8) Be kind - Empathy is an asset to everyone! Take the kids and let them see you volunteer or to assist someone. Kids learn by example and kind people are always needed in the world.<br />
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9) Be understanding - Sometimes we all mess up! If your child spills something or has an accident, remember that it was an accident! Help clean up and move on!<br />
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10) Cook together - Kids love to get in the kitchen and explore. Not only do you get the time with your kids, but you are teaching them a valuable life skill.<br />
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11) Game On! - If you want your child to be gracious in victory and in defeat, you must teach them this skill. That means occasionally challenge them to a game.<br />
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12) Say Yes - You have adult responsibilities that have to be done, but sometimes you just have to tell the kids YES when they ask you to do something. Whether it is go to the park, eat ice cream before dinner or just to build a fort in the living room, say yes once in a while!<br />
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13) Get outside - Don't spend all of your time inside. Get outside with the kids and teach them to get their hands dirty. Grow something, collect rocks, take pictures of bugs, whatever you want! Just do it outside.<br />
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14) Teach history - Show your kids where you grew up and where you went to school. Take them on a short tour and show them your history because your history is also their history.<br />
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15) Bring back on oldie but goody - Was there something you did as a kid that you remember fondly? Teach your kids how to do it. Whether it is a solar s'mores oven, painting your summer tennis shoes or making friendship bracelets, teach your kids something from your childhood.Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-22501540813716646392015-01-09T09:30:00.000-05:002015-01-09T09:30:00.609-05:00The Modern Baby Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By: Angie @ Kids Matter</div>
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I have a friend that is an amazing single mother. I am not sure how she does it. She works all day, she cares for her toddler, she cooks, she cleans, she makes time for friends and family, but most importantly, she makes time for her daughter. Real one on one time that is spent just talking, learning and sharing with her daughter.<br />
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When her daughter was born, a regular old baby book just wasn't good enough for her. She had to take an extra step and make it meaningful. She set up an email address for her daughter and she gave it out to all of her family and her close friends. As her daughter grows, her friends and family send her periodic emails. They include dreams for her daughter, funny things she said or did, pictures of her, birthday wishes, holiday wishes and just general thoughts. I think this is an amazing idea! My friend has not read any of the emails to her daughter yet. She was initially going to wait until her daughter turned 18, but since her friends and family send so frequently, she may start when her daughter is a tween.<br />
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I believe this will be a truly memorable way for her daughter to cherish her childhood. What have you done to commemorate the childhood of your children? We would love to hear about the mementos that you cherish for your kids.Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-74464257915919385612015-01-06T09:00:00.000-05:002015-01-06T09:00:02.520-05:00Top 3 Precautions For Winter Road Trips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue;">By: Angie @ Kids Matter</span></div>
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As we prepare to make trips to see family for the holidays, or we just get out on the roads to go on every day errands, there are some things to keep in mind. The safety of you and your child is of the utmost importance and in order to be safe you have to take a few precautions. </div>
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1) A safety kit. Be sure you have a safety kit in your car including a minimum of the following things: </div>
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<li>First Aid Kit</li>
<li>Hat and gloves for each family member</li>
<li>An appropriate winter coat</li>
<li>Emergency blankets</li>
<li>Kitty litter or sand to help you get a vehicle unstuck</li>
<li>A charged cell phone</li>
<li>Water</li>
<li>Snacks with protein</li>
<li>Flashlight with working batteries</li>
<li>Jumper cables</li>
<li>Ice scraper and brush </li>
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2) Activities to distract kids. You do not want to try and entertain your kids while driving on roads that could be slick from snow, ice or freezing rain. Bring a few things along to occupy the kids:<br />
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<li>Coloring Books</li>
<li>Crayons (Altoid tins are perfect to carry a few crayons in)</li>
<li>Books</li>
<li>Blank paper</li>
<li><a href="http://www.momsminivan.com/printables.html">Car Bingo printable games</a> </li>
<li>Small toys</li>
<li>Small electronics, if they will not be distracting to you </li>
<li>Travel size games</li>
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3) Driving in winter weather. Before you go for a long drive, try out these procedures in an empty parking lot. The more sure you feel, the safer you will be.<br />
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<li>Steer into a skid</li>
<li>Know your brakes: Stomp on anti-lock brakes, pump on non anti-lock brakes</li>
<li>Always wear your seat belt and be sure your passengers are also buckled in.</li>
<li>The safest spot for kids 12 and under is in the back seat.</li>
<li>Rain, Ice or Snow? Take it slow - reduce your speed and increase your distance between vehicles</li>
<li>Do not drive when you are overly tired</li>
<li>Alcohol and drugs never mix with driving, regardless of the weather. If you plan to drink, please be sure you have a designated driver.</li>
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Be safe on the roads, for the sake of your family and others. Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-34051393312596392592015-01-01T08:30:00.000-05:002015-01-01T08:30:01.399-05:0010 Parenting Mistakes That We Have All Made<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue;"> By: Angie @ Kids Matter</span></div>
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When you are about to become a parent, you see the world through a complete fog of happiness. You dream of being the perfect parent and how amazing your children will be.<br />
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Once the baby gets in the house, you live in a sleep deprived fog ranging from "look at how amazing and beautiful my baby is" to "Honey, it's your turn, I got up the last time!!"<br />
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As you start your parenting trek with a small baby, it can be hard to picture the choices you make in parenting that will make a life long influence. You just feed the baby, change the baby's diapers and snuggle up to smell that baby smell. As that baby grows though, you will make many decisions every single day that will influence the way your child interacts with the world. The best advice that I ever received was from my Granny. She told me "Raise that baby so that EVERYONE can love him, not just you and your husband". My Granny was very wise! She knew that if I spoiled my child, other people would just tolerate him, not love him for all of the wonderful things he has to offer the world.<br />
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Without further ado, here is a list of parenting mistakes that every parent (including me) makes at least once, but you have to be willing to change your ways!<br />
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<b>Mistake #10: Already have a vision of what our child will be like.</b> Each person is unique. Just because a parent or a sibling is never shy, does not mean another child will not be shy. You cannot go into parenting with a preconceived notion of what your child will be like. They say that no one ever really changes, but I think that is untrue. I am very different as a "40ish" Mom than I was as a "20ish" fun loving girl and that is because my parents cared enough to let me grow up. Let your child be the person that they will be. It is your role to accept and love this person, not to change her.<br />
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<b>Mistake #9: Always trying to be your child's BFF.</b> This is a biggie. Some days it can be hard to be the adult, but we still must complete that task. If I was just my kid's friend, homework would never get completed, he would probably start ditching school in kindergarten and he would never have the chance to blossom into the wonderful person that I know he will be. We all want our kids to love us and to sing our praises from the highest mountains, but if I do my job correctly there will be days that he loathes me, rolls his eyes at me and prays that he was switched at birth and his real parents will rescue him any day. If you need approval so desperately, seek it elsewhere. You have to make tough decisions to raise a child and trying to be the BFF will always affect your decisions.<br />
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<b>Mistake #8: Judging other parents and kids. </b>We have all been there. You are in the grocery and there is a parent walking through the store with a screaming child and the parent does NOTHING! You think to yourself, what is wrong with her? Why can't she control her kid? If that was my kid, he would NOT act like that. Really? Your kid has never cried in public? You always have your kids under control all the time? Kids are vocal and they cannot always figure out how to process emotions. Does that mean we let our kids act like hooligans in public? No, we just do the best we can and we understand that other parents are doing their best too. Back to that screaming kid in the grocery: Maybe the Mom is in a daze because she is a single parent and was just terminated from her job? Maybe the child just lost someone close to him and he is traumatized? There are any number of things that could be going on. If you do not know the journey that family is on, cut them a break and maybe some day other parents will cut you a break too.<br />
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<b>Mistake #7: Reliving YOUR youth through your child.</b> You had your chance! Now you need to sit back and let your child make her choices. We have all seen the parents that think they have the next World Class Ballerina, NBA Pro, MLB All-Star, etc. Just because they have a little talent does not mean they need to be pushed to be a champion every single second, of every single day. Let your kid enjoy the HOBBY they choose. If you are always screaming at them to be better, to work harder, to just try; do you think they are having fun? Allow kids to have fun and enjoy themselves, there will be plenty of competition in life, let them savor childhood.<br />
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<b>Mistake #6: Never let them make mistakes.</b> People learn from the mistakes they make. If you always tell your child how to do something correctly and then ensure it is correct, they have learned nothing. If your young daughter whines about doing homework every single day and then tells you that she didn't have any homework today, choose to let her learn. The next day, she will be the one facing her teacher and admitting that she neglected to do her homework. After that embarrassment, maybe the tune will be different at home when it comes time to do homework. I am not saying, let her fail a grade by never doing her work, but at some point kids have to learn cause and effect.<br />
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<b>Mistake #5: Practice what I preach, not what I do.</b> Parents have tried this for eons and it still doesn't work. Kids see everything and you have to practice what you preach. If you always tell them to share their things with others and then they see you hoarding the chocolate chip cookies to be eaten after they go to bed, they will not believe in sharing. If you tell them to always be kind to people less fortunate than you and then they see you lie to get out of some charity event, they no longer feel the need to be kind. If you make them eat all of their vegetables, you better eat yours too.<br />
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<b>Mistake #4: Always being in a hurry.</b> There are times to be in a rush to get someplace, but you have to slow down sometimes and let your kids be kids. Adults today are wired to be in a hurry, kids are wired to meander. An adult goes straight from point A to point B, without interruptions. A child starts at Point A and wanders through most of the alphabet before he finally arrives at Point B. Take time to savor the explorations of your child. Take time to enjoy the awe and wonder of the world through the eyes of your child. Whatever age your child is this very second, is the only time he will ever be this age! Take time to enjoy it!<br />
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<b>Mistake #3: Not understanding the developmental stage of our kids.</b> I have seen parents that are distraught that their kid seems to be behind physically. The child has an advanced vocabulary so they expect her to be advanced everywhere. That is not how it works. Each area of each child develops on its own time frame. As a parent of a child with a disability, I can assure you that kids cannot do everything. In my house we have a burst in physical improvement and then we have a burst in vocabulary improvement. He cannot put all of his efforts into all things at once. Accepting that was the best thing I did for may parenting skills. Having said that, only my son can decide which skill (physical or speech) he will focus on for now. I am just along for the ride and encouraging him all the way.<br />
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<b>Mistake #2: Always believing that your child is perfect and not at fault.</b> It can be so difficult to hear anything negative about our child. We tend to see the intent, instead of the action. We also think that our child has friends that are a bad influence, the teacher is terrible or hates our kid, the other parents are jealous, etc. Sometimes you have to put the ego aside and realize that there could be times that your kid may be the instigator and not the victim. If your child fails a test, maybe he didn't study. If a parent calls and says that her son came home sobbing because your child was bullying him, you have an obligation to look at the situation without your ego and with clear eyes.<br />
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<b>Mistake #1: Making empty threats.</b> This can be one of the hardest things in parenting. Your kid will not pick up the toys all over the floor and so in a moment of anger you declare. "If you do not pick up these toys, I am taking away every single one of your toys!" He still doesn't pick up the toys and you just made a threat with several layers to it: 1) Now you have to pick up the toys. 2) Now you have to gather up all of her toys. 3) Where are you going to put all of these toys if she can't play with them? 4) You will have to listen to her whine all day and night for every single day that she has no toys.<br />
If you make a threat, you have to follow through with the consequences. Kids will learn at a very young age when you are bluffing and they will then call you out every single time. Do not make big threats and the ones you make, you have to be willing to follow through with them or you will lose your household to anarchy!<br />
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Parenting is not the easiest job in the world, but it can be the most rewarding! Give it your all, try to avoid the big mistakes and you and the kids will come out better on the other side!Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-62021966406074559782014-12-26T10:30:00.000-05:002014-12-26T10:30:01.369-05:00A Family New Year Celebration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;">By: Angie @ Kids Matter</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Once you have kids, your life is full of big decisions. Just one of those decisions is what are we going to do on New Year's Eve now? For many, the nights of going out to clubs and drinking lots of champagne are over. They choose a quieter evening at home with the kids. Just because you aren't getting all dressed up and going out to party, doesn't mean the night has to be a drag. You can still have fun, it's just a fun that the kids can participate in too!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Eat traditional New Year's foods with the kids. Some traditional foods and the beliefs associated with them:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Greens - eat your greens as they represent spendable greens of another type</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Black eyed peas - This is a Southern thing, representing humility and invites good fortune. I believe in other regions, they choose a different type or bean.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Noodles - signify long life and you get bonus points if you eat the noodles without breaking them.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Rice - signifies abundance</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Grapes - eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the new year. If a grape tastes bitter, watch out for that month next year.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Pomegranates - with its many seeds representing prosperity.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Pork - pigs are considered lucky animals as they root forward and they are rotund/abundant</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Fish - the scales represent money and when a fish swims in a school it represents abundance.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> Circular foods - like a cake or cookie represents coming full circle</span></span></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Count down bags - get 12 paper lunch type bags and draw a clock face on the front of each bag. Each time that is reached, the child opens the bag to find small trinkets, noise makers, hats, candy and/or games to play. You can do this for each hour up to midnight if your child can stay up. Mine never makes it past 10:00pm, so we start at 10:00am opening bags.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Fill out the same printable form each year, covering the basics of the past year. It would be so much fun to look back on these each year and see the changes in your life, your likes and your handwriting.There is a great free printable at <a href="http://www.wonderfuljoyahead.com/2011/12/new-years-eve-tradition.html">Wonderful Joy Ahead. </a></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Toast one another with special drinks. Each year, I melt chocolate and dip the rims of glasses in the chocolate and then into sprinkles. Once the chocolate hardens, I serve the glasses with milk inside alongside homemade cookies.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">There is nothing more fun than a balloon drop! Besides having to actually blow up the balloons, there is little prep and it is completely mesmerizing for kids. You can order a balloon drop kit on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C15KS2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002C15KS2&linkCode=as2&tag=modparmeskid-20">Amazon</a>.</span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> Whatever you do for New Year's Eve, be sure to include the kids and make it memorable for them. During the time frames of waiting for the next count down bag, we usually play some of our lesser used board games and see if we can find a new favorite family game! If we still don't like it, then it goes in my donate pile and I get an early start on my resolution to get organized. Have a wonderful 2015! </span></span></span> </span>Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-58237562597818867452014-12-15T09:00:00.000-05:002014-12-15T09:00:04.821-05:00Christmas Traditions For Your Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By: Angie @ Kids Matter</div>
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As the holiday season gets into full swing, lets discuss traditions that families have. I personally feel it is important to have traditions, not just for holidays but throughout the year. Kids will not always remember the gifts they received each year, but they will carry your family traditions with them forever.</div>
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1) Christmas Books: Many people collect 24 different Christmas themed books and wrap them individually. Each evening, a child opens one of the books to be read together as a family.</div>
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2) Baking cookies for Santa. We love to decorate special cookies for Santa and he even has a special plate at our house.</div>
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3) Special foods served each year at the big meal. For our house, it is always scalloped oysters on one side of the family and dumplings on the other. Delicious!</div>
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4) Gingerbread houses. You can bake it from scratch, but in our house we just buy the kits. It makes my life easier and the fun is in the decorations, not the baking for this.</div>
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5) Visiting Santa. We actually see Santa twice each year. We go to see him at the mall and have a great picture taken, but our church also has Santa come to a big breakfast that they have at the beginning of December.</div>
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6) A new ornament for each child, each year. We always do this with the intention of when the kids move out, they will already have ornaments for their own tree. I try to make it personal by selecting something reflective of the past year and I prefer the ornament to be home made, whether by us or someone else.</div>
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7) Writing a letter to Santa. In our house, you can't ask Santa for more than three things. It can be hard to narrow it down, but somehow he manages to do it each year.</div>
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8) Angel Tree. Each year we select a kid to buy for. The kid is either my son's age or has the same interests as him, then we go shopping and my son picks out a gift or two for the Angel.</div>
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9) Salvation Army. Each year we participate in the red kettle campaign by spending a few hours ringing the bell with some friends. In addition, I have to keep lots of cash on me for my son to donate in each and every red kettle he sees.</div>
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10) North Pole Breakfast. The morning after we decorate the tree, we eat breakfast under the tree. It is always festive, but we just eat donuts and drink hot chocolate. Our Elf usually shows up that morning also.</div>
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11) Elf on the shelf. We participate in the Elf on the shelf, but our elf (Buddy) knows that there are some rules he has to follow too. He is not allowed to make big messes or be bad. Buddy can be silly without making a big mess and we expect him to boost spirits by pointing out nice things we do and leaving little notes to parents about some nice things.</div>
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12) Birthday party for Jesus. Our church has a birthday party with snacks and storytelling and each family brings books to be donated to foster children. In addition to this, my parents always have a cake for Jesus and the grandchildren get a lit candle to blow out in each of their slices of cake.</div>
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13) A personal Christmas tree. We replace the nightlight in my son's room with a small tabletop Christmas tree that he decorates and we keep it lit for him each evening.</div>
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14) Drive around to see Christmas lights. If it is not too cold, bonus points for the kids being in pajamas for the ride.</div>
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15) Drive Through Bethlehem. Our church puts on a live action Bethlehem and includes real animals and actors portraying scenes. We always attend this event and it is a highlight of the season for us.</div>
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16) Stockings. Each year the stocking has a piece of fruit and 4 toothbrushes, in addition to small gifts. That is because my stocking always contained those things when I was growing up and I carried the tradition over. </div>
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What are some of the traditions that your family carries with you every single year?</div>
Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-47734055547405386112014-12-09T13:00:00.000-05:002014-12-09T13:00:10.312-05:0016 Natural Treatments for Colds and Flu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Angie @ Kids Matter</div>
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We have officially moved into cold weather and with the cold, comes the season of germs and being stuck inside. Winter has its attributes, like snowmen, hot chocolate and snuggling with the kids to watch movies, but it also has its downside. With the onset of winter, comes germs and with the family spending more time inside, those germs can spread quickly!</div>
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<i>Full disclosure: I am not a medical professional (I don't even play one on TV), but these are some suggestions for keeping healthy. Please check with your health care provider about your personal case.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Prevention:</b></span></div>
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1) Always get a good night of sleep. Sleep keeps your immune system healthy.</div>
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2) Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Try to get most of your vitamins through foods.</div>
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3) Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. If there ever was a time to sing the Happy Birthday song to be sure you are washing your hands long enough, winter is that time! Be sure the kids are using enough soap and they are washing between the fingers, on the back and the front of the hands.</div>
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4) Wash the items we touch on a daily basis. These items include door knobs, phones, light switches and sink handles.</div>
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5) Cough into your arm or sleeve, not into your hands.</div>
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6) Run a humidifier.</div>
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7) Drink hot liquids like teas or hot chocolates to soothe a throat. You can also add honey to your hot tea to soothe your throat even further.</div>
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8) Be sure you are getting enough Vitamin C.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Remedies:</span></b></div>
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1) Be sure you are staying hydrated. Drink lots of fluids. In my home, this usually means Sprite. We normally drink lots of water, but I offer Sprite when my son is sick. It is so bubbly that it can make throats feel better and it soothes upset bellies.</div>
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2) Eat homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.</div>
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3) Get lots of rest. This is the perfect time to lay on the couch, snuggled under a blanket. Your body needs time to heal. Do not push yourself too hard.</div>
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4) Sleep with an extra pillow to elevate your head. This will assist with any drainage issues.</div>
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5) Take a steamy shower. This will not only release kinks and body aches, but it will also help to open your sinuses.</div>
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6) Know when to see a Doctor. A cold cannot be treated, but the flu requires treatment.</div>
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7) Realize that there are times your body is fighting something and you have to let it fight. Don't be too quick to treat every little symptom. Your body is an efficient machine, allow it to work.</div>
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8) Some times you can put a damp wash cloth in the freezer for a short period and then rest it across your eyes. This can relieve your sinus pressure for a short while.<br />
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Take care of yourself and try to avoid unnecessary contact with people that you know are sick. </div>
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Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-1795127314215359542014-11-26T08:17:00.000-05:002014-11-26T08:17:21.133-05:00Your Change CAN Change a LifeAs we prepare our list for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, let us not forget the less fortunate. You can make a difference in the life of a family!<br />
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Thank you for your support and for caring about the health, well-being and education of our youngest members of society. The Child Care Council of Kentucky is on a mission to be sure that all children are ready to start kindergarten and your donation can help! Please give during the <a href="https://www.bggives.org/education/child-care-council-of-kentucky-inc/">Good Giving Challenge</a>. <br />
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</script>Blog Squad @ Kids Matterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14890356829392253431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-3056167767513723292014-10-29T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-29T11:27:55.652-04:00Kentucky State Parks “Get Spooky With It”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOjHLLJzWSE/UmE8Y3KsAgI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/HO0r-LE5hRw/s1600/ky+state+parks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_597625="null" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOjHLLJzWSE/UmE8Y3KsAgI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/HO0r-LE5hRw/s320/ky+state+parks.jpg" esa="true" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Kentucky State Parks</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Get </span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Sp<span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">oo</span>ky</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> With It”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What’s a great combination? How about Halloween and Kentucky State Parks? That’s right; Kentucky State Parks are “getting spooky with it”! All over the state, parks are hosting Halloween events. We are invited for hayrides, crafting, reptile presentations, cookouts, trick-or-treating, haunted trail adventures, ghost hunting, and costume contests to give a few examples of what’s in store. Who can resist such great temptations? Spending time with nature and exploring the activities for Halloween. Yes, that’s a great combination!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why is nature such an important part of our lives? "Nature is fuel for the soul," says Richard Ryan, lead author and a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. He says, "Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.” Nature restores the harmony between mind, body, and soul. I think Gautham puts it best, “Everything we as humans have created has been derived from this harmony: anything from simply utilizing it efficiently to downright trying to copy its intricacies. Whenever we see the world around us becoming more and more chaotic we can look to the harmony that is nature to guide us back. The harmony that allows the whales and the sharks to live in the same ocean, the harmony that allows the wind and the trees to roam in the same fields, the harmony that allows the body and mind of all living beings to function as one.” Nature is literally the path to inner peace. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walk hand in hand with your loved ones, steadfast into the great hope of a beautiful park covered in fall foliage. Inhale the essence that is purity in its simplest form. Disconnect from the technology that has you plugged in the majority of the day. Exhale the anxiety and tensions that have you in a choke hold. Open yourself to the possibility of enrichment and fulfillment through the anticipation of nature. Add in the excitement of celebrating Halloween in such an atmosphere and there you have it… a great combination! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Explore Kentucky; infuse yourself with the harmony found in its state parks through the essence of nature. Visit the </span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.parks.ky.gov/halloween/default.aspx"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Kentucky State Parks</span></span></b></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> website to see information on Halloween events taking place in a state park near you. Have a Happy Halloween and a spooktacular time getting back to nature while you celebrate!</span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-69316211432084001642014-10-27T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-27T09:44:56.059-04:00Five Crafty Halloween Ideas for Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Five Crafty </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Halloween</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Ideas for Children<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I am all about family time, I can’t imagine a better way to kick off the holiday season than by getting “spooky crafty” with the kids. Children absolutely love to do crafts. We will take a look at five crafty Halloween ideas that will put those creative little minds to work. Craft ideas are just that… ideas… add your own little twist to them. You will be surprised what children come up with while creating their crafts. Halloween is a holiday that sticks with you throughout your lifetime. Every Halloween you remember characters you became, the fun of going door to door, haunted houses, candy, and all the decorations. Create memories with your children by participating in as many fun filled activities as possible throughout October.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Creepy spiders<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Materials:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Styrofoam balls, black spray paint, black pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes, orange felt, glue, scissors, and gum drops. Make different sizes and create families of spiders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paint the Styrofoam balls black and allow them to dry thoroughly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insert eight pipe cleaners into the ball for the legs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut two small circles of orange felt for the eyes and glue them onto the ball. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Glue two wiggly eyes onto the orange felt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stick a gum drop on the end of each leg for the feet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Frankinpumpkin<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Materials:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> One large oblong shaped pumpkin, one lime, stapler, black and green paint, white, black, and green felt, two bolts, toothpicks, scissors, glue, and dark green marker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paint the pumpkin green and dry thoroughly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paint black hair on top of pumpkin and dry thoroughly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut the lime in half and insert two toothpicks into the sides of the pumpkin where the ears will go. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Place the lime halves onto the toothpicks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paint a long black eyebrow across the forehead of the pumpkin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut out two oval shaped white pieces of felt for the eyes and glue them onto the pumpkin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut out two circles of black felt for the eyes and glue them onto the white felt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut out two half ovals of green felt for the eye lids and glue them on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paint the mouth and nose with black paint and dry thoroughly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insert a bolt toward the bottom of each side of the pumpkin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using the green marker, draw a line a couple inches long across the forehead of the pumpkin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using the stapler, insert several staples across the green line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Mummy cup<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Materials:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Plastic cups, medical gauze, wiggly eyes, candy, scissors, and glue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coat the plastic cup with glue around the sides leaving the top and bottom uncovered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wrap gauze around the cup going several layers deep around the cup.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut the gauze and glue with a drop of glue to the back of the cup.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Glue on two wiggly eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fill cup with your favorite candy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Spooktacular necklace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Materials:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> yarn, white glue, parchment paper, scissors, and black marker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a sheet of parchment paper, using the glue, draw an outline of several ghosts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Allow them to dry for one minute.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fill in the outline with more glue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Allow the ghosts to dry for two days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gently peel the ghosts from the parchment paper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using the black marker, draw eyes and a mouth on the ghosts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Punch a hole at the top of each ghost large enough to insert yarn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cut strands of yarn long enough to make a necklace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">String ghosts onto the yarn creating a necklace and tie to appropriate size.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: 'Gungsuh','serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Cup of worms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Materials:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> One small box of instant chocolate Jell-O pudding, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>two cups of milk, one package of Oreo cookies, one package of gummy worms, and four clear plastic cups.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make the chocolate pudding according to the directions on the box.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Crush Oreo cookies and sprinkle some in the bottom of each cup.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pour a ½ cup of pudding into each cup.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sprinkle more Oreo crumbs on top of the pudding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insert a couple worms into the Oreo pudding mixture (dirt) burying them about half the length of the worm with the remaining half sticking out the top of the cup.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chill for an hour in the refrigerator and then eat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But don’t stop here... keep that Halloween momentum going and search for other creative crafts and projects to do for the holiday. Spend quality time with your children doing things to spark their creative juices while having fun. With all projects, make sure you have a wet cloth and dry towel handy to clean up messes. Prepare the working surface before delving into a project. Make certain that any furniture near the activity is covered for protection. Dress the children in old play clothes in case of accidents. Most importantly… be patient with the children as fun can be very exciting and may lead to distractions and failure to follow instructions. Allow the children to be as hands on as appropriate for their age. During the tasks where the adult must do the work, remember to talk with the children and describe what you are doing so they learn as you work. Explain to them why an adult must do that specific task and why they should not attempt it on their own. Crafts are great teaching tools! Discuss colors, shapes, textures, counting, letters, sounds, and safety rules as you work. Have a great time with your projects and create beautiful smiles and memories as you go!</span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-56515962574544764312014-10-23T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-24T09:59:12.450-04:00Halloween: A Night for Treats, Not Tragedies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6oHfF8EBq0/UlQV5aME6YI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Glq0vf05TQ8/s1600/halloween+safety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_706329="null" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6oHfF8EBq0/UlQV5aME6YI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Glq0vf05TQ8/s320/halloween+safety.jpg" dsa="true" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-themecolor: accent4;">Ha</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">ll</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">ow<span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">ee</span><span style="color: #8064a2; mso-themecolor: accent4;">n</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-themecolor: accent4;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">: A </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">Night</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-themecolor: accent4;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> for Treats, Not Tragedies<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Robin @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Twice as many kids are killed, while walking on Halloween, as on any other day of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids usually </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">trick</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-or-</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-family: Chiller; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">treat</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> when it is dark which makes it more difficult for drivers to see them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they’re excited about getting candy, children may not be watching for cars.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parents and drivers need to do their part to help kids stay out of the emergency room on Halloween. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni; mso-themecolor: accent4;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Top tips to keep Kids safe on Halloween<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For parents and children:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emphasize safe pedestrian behaviors to kids before they go trick or treating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cross the street safely at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, keep looking as you cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walk; don’t run across the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walk on sidewalks or paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Slow down and stay alert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch out for cars that are turning or backing up, and never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Costumes can be both creative and safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decorate your children’s costumes with reflective materials and, if possible, choose light colors that can be seen in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, so choose nontoxic face paint, makeup and wigs instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Carry flashlights or glow sticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These will help trick-or-treaters see and be seen by drivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For drivers:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Slow down in residential neighborhoods and school zones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be sure to turn your full headlights on between 5:30 and 9:30 P.M., the most popular trick-or-treating hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Slowly and carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Treats:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While pedestrian safety is a main concern on Halloween, parents and kids should be careful when dealing with candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remind children to only eat treats in original and unopened wrappers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This information is provided by Safe Kids, Fayette County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit their website to learn more about how to keep our children safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu/safekids/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu/safekids/</span></a></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-48215194529424434622014-10-20T10:00:00.000-04:002014-10-20T12:04:58.057-04:00Bonfire and Spooky Story Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G9NDFK2gpEA/Uk2AuutXQFI/AAAAAAAAADA/tm6fYKj1rOc/s1600/bonfire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_676256="null" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G9NDFK2gpEA/Uk2AuutXQFI/AAAAAAAAADA/tm6fYKj1rOc/s320/bonfire.JPG" height="307" width="320" xsa="true" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I stepped out the door to a nippy 60 degrees this morning. Suddenly, I was reminded of the season. I’ve always been quite fond of autumn. I look forward to the beauty of the leaves changing, the nip in the air, shorter days longer nights, and most importantly… those fabulous bonfires with the grandchildren. You haven’t truly experienced the wonder of fall until you have sat bundled in a blanket, surrounded by loved ones, with a marshmallow blazing on a stick. Oh, the great fun of the bonfire!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fun, yes, but for a worrying Nana like myself, I spent a lot of the time creating a barrier between the children and the fire. I took into account the clumsy and tired and exerted extra effort to keep them safely from the fire. The first few bonfires with the grandkids, I have to tell you, I was a nervous wreck! I spent the majority of the time circling the fire instead of enjoying it. Escorting children back to their seats instead of teaching them. I was yelling, “blow the marshmallow out!” instead of delighting in the essence of the rich gooey toasted marshmallow. Finally, it occurred to me there was a way to bring a little peace to the Indians circling the fire preparing for war in our backyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spooky stories!!! This was the answer to recapturing my sanity and inspiring great adventures in my grandchildren’s minds! They are young, so the stories can’t really be too scary. It’s the build of the story that captures their attention. The whispers, the sudden scary noises thrown in, and best of all including their names into the story, pull them into the story with intensity. It’s not so much the words of the story, but the drama you bring in telling it. Using different voices create characters that go on great adventures and pull in things your children love like a favorite doll or toy. The more creative you get with the story the closer to the edge of the seat you will have the child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have told many a scary story around the bonfire. Besides the marshmallows, that is the children’s favorite part of the bonfire. Before Grandpa even has the fire blazing, I hear, “Tell us a spooky story, Nana, but not real spooky and with a funny ending!” Yes, that is one of my great accomplishments… the spooky story with the funny ending. Nothing makes me happier than watching my babies faces light up as they get into the story. The look of anticipation is heartwarming. This is the kind of excitement you want to see in a child; inspiration, the desire to learn and grow. I see spooky story time as an opportunity to inspire, motivate, and encourage great adventures in growing minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUMPS</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in the Night: A </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Spooky Funny</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Story for the Bonfire<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The children were playing in the yard beneath the porch light when suddenly they heard a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aparajita;">THUMP</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. After the thump, a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SQUEEAAAKKK</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, then a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">SLAM</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">! The noises repeated over and over each time growing more eerie. The porch light began to fade slowly until it was no more. The children crept around the yard holding hands… eyes wide as flashlights in search of the thump. Something swooshed by them touching them ever so slightly on the legs then vanished into the darkness. The children screamed! They clasped hands tighter and tighter as they made their trek through the jungle that was the backyard. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUMP</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SLAM</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">!... </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUMP</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SLAM</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">!</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Over and over came the noises… louder and LOUDER until the children realized the noises were coming from right above their heads. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUMP</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">!!! The children froze where they stood; too frightened to even look toward the sound. Their tiny bodies shook… their teeth rattled… their knees knocked. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SQUEEEAAAAKKK</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">!!! “Don’t move,” whispered the little girl. The little boy, slightly clumsy, fell over something leaning against the tree and made a loud crashing sound. The frightened little girl screamed, “</span><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif';">AHHHHHHHHH!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">” Then the boy screamed, “</span><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif';">AHHHHHHHHH!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">” Then they screamed together, “</span><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif';">AHHHHHHHHH!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">” Fear crept in like a cat on the prowl on a dark, dark night in a big, dark jungle. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUMP</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SLAM</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">!... </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUMP</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SLAM</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">!</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The little boy looked up toward the sound. With each squeak he saw a light. With each slam the light disappeared. The little boy looked to see what had made him fall and he saw, there in the shadows, a ladder, a very tall ladder that went all the way up to the top of the tall, tall tree. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUMP</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SLAM</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">!</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The children stepped up the ladder… step by step they came closer and closer to the sound. Finally they could see the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUMP</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">… it was a knock. It was a squirrel knocking on the tree. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SQUUUEEEAAAAKK</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">! It was a door opening in the top of the tall, tall tree. The squirrel raced in. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT Black','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SLAM</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">!</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The door closed. They reached the tiny, tiny door in the top of the tall, tall tree, in the middle of the dark, dark night. They knocked on the door. The door swung open with that same familiar </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">SQUUUEEEAAAAKK!</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> There, standing at the little tiny door was a big… fury… grey… squirrel who screamed out in this big high pitched squeal... “</span><span style="font-family: Forte; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy Birthday</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">!!!! It’s about time you guys got here! What’s a birthday party without the guest of honor? Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday…” The squirrels sang and danced and shook their big fluffy tails. The little girl and the little boy were no longer afraid of the thumps in the night because they knew… somewhere in the yard it was somebody’s birthday party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-84884070292845906092014-10-16T10:57:00.000-04:002014-10-16T10:57:53.403-04:00Meet the Child Care Council Staff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-04pCdsUGJno/VCq9aWEO5II/AAAAAAAAA3o/uj9hs62Dj0g/s1600/casey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-04pCdsUGJno/VCq9aWEO5II/AAAAAAAAA3o/uj9hs62Dj0g/s1600/casey.JPG" height="224" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing Casey G.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please say
hello to Casey. She has been employed with the CCC for the past five years and
is an Eligibility Specialist serving Scott County. Casey said she loves her job
because, “… it allows me to reach families that need the childcare assistance
the CCC provides and guide them to additional useful resources. I give them
comfort when they need it, a shoulder to cry on, and ears just to listen to
them when needed. I try to go above and beyond for all of my families every
single day. I just love my families in Scott County.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Casey is
married to her wonderful husband of three years, Shane. In May, to celebrate their
third anniversary, they took a trip to Gatlinburg (where they spent their
honeymoon). They made this trip on a motorcycle. “Thank goodness for good
weather,” she said. They rode the Tail of the Dragon, which is a “tourist thing”
for people who have motorcycles. It’s an 11 mile stretch of road with 318
curves. Casey declared, “It was fun and scary all at the same time!” After
venturing on to Nashville and back home, the whole trip was 1400 miles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Casey and
Shane love anything outdoors. She said, “We love to hunt,</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">mostly for deer, during firearm and
archery season, but each of us would love to go turkey hunting or bear hunting
someday. We do lots of fishing, out of our kayaks, in the creek near our house.
We show antique tractors and farm equipment all over the states of Kentucky,
Indiana, and Ohio. We love to go camping as well; either while we are showing
our tractors, or at the horse park with family. We love anything and everything
we can do outside!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Casey is a
proud wife and dotes on her husband, “He is currently a volunteer firefighter
for the community of Stamping Ground and is in the process of trying to become
a career firefighter in Georgetown.” She went on to tell me about the sweetest
thing he ever did for her, “He spent all week writing me a poem. On Friday,
when I came home, I saw the poem with hand-picked wildflowers from our own land.
The poem told me to get all dolled up as he was going to pick me up, like on an
actual date. We had a very nice dinner and then he took me dancing.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, but
that’s not all! Casey’s love for Shane shines in what she considers her greatest
achievement in her life. She said, “It may not count to some people, but it
counts for me. Marrying my amazing husband has to be my greatest achievement.
He is a wonderful man, husband, protector, and provider. Not only does he
promise to serve and protect me, but he also promised to serve and protect an
entire community that depends on him along with the rest for the Stamping
Ground Volunteer Fire Dept. He rushes from our home whenever the radio sounds
to save someone’s life. He comforts the loved ones of the lost after he
desperately tried to save them. It is dangerous for him and absolutely
terrifying for me, but it is something that he loves to do and people count on
him to be there. He completes me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They don’t
have children but, they do have a six year old Australian Shepard, who is like
their child, Molly Ann (pictured above). She has a pretty amazing story that I
have to share. Casey said, “Molly rescued my husband and me when she was almost
a year old. When my husband went to the home, he was not expecting to rescue a
dog. But, when he got there, she was chained to a fence along with four other dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing they had eaten was some table
scraps divided between the dogs. She was shot with a BB-gun every time she
barked. She was underweight, dirty, and flea infested. Shane paid for her and
brought her home. She has been our baby ever since and we could not imagine
life without her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Casey said
her dad is her hero, “He is always there for me when I need anything. He took
care of his family by any means necessary, but would always leave work or stop
what he was working on to come to my softball games, cheer competitions, or
just play with me. Dad was, and is, always a part of my life. He is strong,
caring, and would give the shirt off of his back to help anyone. I strive every
day to be just like him. I am who I am because of my dad. He taught me a lot of
things that have come in handy for me. I can just about figure anything out
mechanically and I have a passion for working on cars, trucks, tractors, or
equipment. I love being able to get in there and get my hands dirty.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Casey has learned, from life, that you should
always, “Reach for the stars, but don’t forget about the ones that helped you
to reach them.”</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-70727063453659794702014-10-13T10:58:00.000-04:002014-10-13T10:58:50.433-04:00Help with LETTERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-31ch98W47ek/VCq9-1N5UzI/AAAAAAAAA3w/p_jIRy3OA3s/s1600/letters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-31ch98W47ek/VCq9-1N5UzI/AAAAAAAAA3w/p_jIRy3OA3s/s1600/letters.JPG" height="285" title="alphabet - help with letters - kids matter" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help with
</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Elephant","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">L<span style="color: red;">E</span>T<span style="color: #00b050;">T</span>E<span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">R</span>S<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Belinda @
Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Instead
of throwing your hands up in despair, how about searching for fun ways to
teach, those precious little ones, the letters of the alphabet? We have to
remember that what works for one child, may not work for another. Children are
like snowflakes; none of them identical. Sometimes teaching is more about the
teacher learning, instead of the child. We always have to be willing to improve
our teaching skills and that requires us to continually search for new, and
better, methods. Below are some fun things to try with your child. Remember,
patience is a wonderful virtue!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://handsonaswegrow.com/50-alphabet-activities/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Hands on as
We Grow</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
– 50 great activities to try.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/05/25-alphabet-activities-for-kids.html"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">No Time for
Flash Cards</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – 25 alphabet activities for kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.justmommies.com/articles/teach-alphabet.shtml"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Just Mommies</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – 10
creative ways to teach your child the alphabet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://teachmama.com/10-fun-ways-of-helping-kids-learn-the-abcs/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Teach Mama</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> - 10 fun
ways of helping kids learn the abc’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.icanteachmychild.com/alphabet-activities-for-toddlers-preschoolers/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">I Can Teach
My Child</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
- 35+ Alphabet Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.yourchildlearns.com/alphabet-activities.html"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Your Child
Learns</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
– Alphabet adventures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://fun-a-day.com/teaching-children-about-letters/"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Fun-A-Day</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – Teaching
children about letters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://spoonful.com/family-fun/26-alphabet-activities-for-kids"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Spoonful</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> – 26
alphabet activities for kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mylifeinverbs.com/2013/06/21-ideas-to-help-your-child-learn.html"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">My Life in
Verbs</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
- 21 ideas to help your child learn letters and letter sounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ready-set-read.com/2012/03/14-ways-to-explore-letters-in-your.html"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Ready-Set-Read</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> - 14 ways
to explore the letters in your child's name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Make
learning fun, not only for the child, but the teacher as well. There is plenty
of time for worry, stress, and rush, later on in life. Brighten a child’s day
by spending time teaching and playing with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-1866346408893301452014-10-07T09:21:00.000-04:002014-10-07T09:21:49.535-04:00Introducing Charity through a Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UMW40kdyWY/VCq8xgTmrAI/AAAAAAAAA3g/LYvjbkiVI3s/s1600/charity.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UMW40kdyWY/VCq8xgTmrAI/AAAAAAAAA3g/LYvjbkiVI3s/s1600/charity.JPG" height="301" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing Charity
through a Book<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you
remember your favorite book as a child? What about your child’s favorite book?
Is there anything as sweet as watching a child’s eyes light up as a story is
read to them? It’s like we are making a whole new discovery in the world.
Reading opens doors to the most wonderful adventures in life. Imaginations soar
upon the clouds chasing dragons and befriending fairies. Oh for the joy of
freedom in our own little piece of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I found the
most awesome website. And beyond that, it inspires reading in a child… it is
FREE and inspires charity and teaching your child to give and help others. I
can’t think of a more worthy cause to support. Please go to </span></span><a href="http://www.wegivebooks.org/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">We Give Books</span></span></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">and start
your journey with your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, student, or neighbor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The books
are laid out by age. There are so many to choose from. “Together with the
Penguin Group, the Pearson Foundation has launched We Give Books, a digital
initiative that enables anyone with access to the Internet to put books in the
hands of children who don’t have them, simply by reading online. By reading one
of the Penguin or DK books online, you are assisting the Pearson Foundation in
donating a book to a child in partnership with one of the exemplary
international, national, or local literacy organizations that the We Give Books
program helps to support. Just think, by allowing your child to read online,
you are helping another child who doesn’t have that opportunity. It’s a win/win
situation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The We Give
Books site also offers parents the opportunity to:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Explain how
a child can help people by his or her actions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speak about
the volunteering and charity they do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talk to the
child about how his or her actions make other people feel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Discuss
goals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Encourage
opinions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tell
children that you are proud of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Explain the
importance of giving to others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-5348064524899520692014-10-02T09:18:00.000-04:002014-10-02T09:18:52.094-04:00Meet the Child Care Council Staff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TrbsHQZKpvg/VCq7w3NOGhI/AAAAAAAAA3U/HHQIgpdCxGE/s1600/gia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TrbsHQZKpvg/VCq7w3NOGhI/AAAAAAAAA3U/HHQIgpdCxGE/s1600/gia.JPG" height="400" width="345" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing Hygia P.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please say
hello to Hygia (Gia). She has been an Eligibility Specialist with the CCC for
the past two years. She serves the counties of Breathitt, Johnson, Knott,
Magoffin, and Perry. I asked her how she came to work for the CCC. She replied,
“I was looking for a job, and a friend sent a link to a job listing for an
Eligibility Specialist with the CCC. I thought this was something interesting
and applied. I started on my 28th birthday… it was a good birthday present.”
What does she love most about her job? “I like to help families better their
situations,” she replied.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gia, is a
fun, caring, and friendly person. She can be found at home, when not working,
in her comfy PJ’s with her eight year old son, Zack. In her spare time she
loves to catch up on all of her recorded shows. She is an avid Facebooker,
Tweeter, and Pinterest user who uses social media to keep up with her friends
and family. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, cooking, baking, playing with her
cat Muffy, and riding motorcycles. Her least favorite thing is doing all those
dishes from the cooking and baking. I think a lot of us can agree with that
statement!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gia received
an AAS and AA from Hazard Community College and a BA in Criminal Justice from
Eastern Kentucky University. She is an avid sports fan and is excited about the
upcoming football season. Her favorite team is the New Orleans Saints. Her
favorite vacation, thus far, was a week-long stay</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at Disney World.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I asked Gia for her best advice to parents on
raising children. After sincere thought she replied, “Teach children respect,
kindness, honesty, integrity, and values when they are young. It’s the parent’s
responsibility to raise the children right. Raise your child right the first
time because there are no second chances.” She also had advice for children in
regard to understanding their parents, “Children should understand that parents
do the best they can to raise their children with what they have. Parents will
say no or give advice that the child is not wanting or willing to hear. Later,
the child will realize it was probably the best advice.”</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-88997926511625231072014-09-29T09:05:00.000-04:002014-09-29T09:05:08.768-04:00Critical Thinking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kCebZAbc544/U_-fhhOAhmI/AAAAAAAAA20/yl1M3DVzKHc/s1600/critical%2Bthinking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kCebZAbc544/U_-fhhOAhmI/AAAAAAAAA20/yl1M3DVzKHc/s1600/critical%2Bthinking.JPG" height="280" title="Critical thinking - Kids Matter" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Critical Thinking<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, I have
to ask… did you just read that quote, look at the picture, and think “WHAT!”?
Or, did you possibly just accept it for what it said? Now, if you apply
critical thinking here, the first thought that pops into your head is that
there was no internet during Abraham Lincoln’s lifetime. Correct? Secondly, is
that a picture of Abraham Lincoln? No, it’s out first president, George
Washington. Learning about critical thinking could save you a little
embarrassment down the line.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is critical thinking?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to
The National Council for Excellence, critical thinking is the intellectually
disciplined process of actively and skilfully conceptualizing, applying,
analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or
generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication,
as a guide to belief and action. Simply put, it is the opposite of seeing,
hearing, and accepting information without questioning it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What does it take to be a critical
thinker? (</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As
provided by </span></span><a href="http://www.criticalthinking.net/definition.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">CriticalThinking.net</span></span></a><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">)</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be open-minded and
mindful of alternatives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Desires to be, and is,
well-informed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Judges the credibility of
sources.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Identifies reasons,
assumptions, and conclusions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Asks appropriate
clarifying questions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Judges the quality of an
argument, including its reasons, assumptions, evidence, and the degree of
support for the conclusion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can develop and defend a
reasonable position regarding a belief or an action, doing justice to
challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Formulates plausible
hypotheses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plans and conducts
experiments well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Defines terms in a way appropriate for the
context.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Draws conclusions when warranted – but with
caution.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Integrates all of the above aspects of
critical thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What can you do to implement critical
thinking in your daily life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">STOP! Think about what you read, saw,
or heard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ask questions for clarification.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ask yourself, does it make sense? Why
or why not? What knowledge do you personally have on the subject?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be open-minded and open to seeing
from another point of view.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do research.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t take the word of just one
person or website. A general rule is getting three opinions and comparing the three.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ensure you are using reliable
resources in your research.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never rush to a conclusion. Give
yourself time to think it through.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“A critical
thinker is able to deduce consequences from what he knows, and he knows how to
make use of information to solve problems, and to seek relevant sources of
information to inform himself. Critical thinking should not be confused with
being argumentative or being critical of other people. Although critical
thinking skills can be used in exposing fallacies and bad reasoning, critical
thinking can also play an important role in cooperative reasoning and
constructive tasks. Critical thinking can help us acquire knowledge, improve
our theories, and strengthen arguments. We can use critical thinking to enhance
work processes and improve social institutions,” says </span></span><a href="http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/critical/ct.php"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Hong Kong University’s</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> open courseware on critical
thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do you consider yourself a good critical
thinker? Try this </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.cof.orst.edu/cof/teach/for442/quizzes/q1003.htm"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">quiz</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> to check your skills. You might be surprised at
the results. Yes, some of the questions sound silly but the purpose here is to
get you thinking outside the box. If you miss a question go back and try to
figure out why you missed it. Honing your critical thinking skills is great
practice.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-90393100800910858752014-09-25T09:33:00.000-04:002014-09-25T09:33:58.669-04:00Meet the Child Care Council Staff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-alVHyqKfE_M/U_-fApMKAlI/AAAAAAAAA2s/qnOHhlG20YI/s1600/beth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-alVHyqKfE_M/U_-fApMKAlI/AAAAAAAAA2s/qnOHhlG20YI/s1600/beth.JPG" height="400" width="270" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing Beth G.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s my
honor to introduce Beth, a 16 1/2 year veteran of the CCC. She is an
Eligibility Specialist serving the counties of Woodford, Anderson, and
Washington. Beth started her career teaching kindergarten. She then owned her
own childcare center, where she met her husband and worked as director in a
couple more centers. She also taught at the college level and says after that
experience, “… give me little kids anytime!!” After a while, she decided that she
needed a change. She still wanted to work with children and families, but in a
different capacity. Along came the position with the CCC and the rest, as they
say, is history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beth said, “What I love
most about my job is the satisfaction that I get from helping families attain a
better quality of life. It makes me feel good to be able to remove some of the
barriers that our clients meet.” Ultimately, Beth said, “… the greatest job is
the one that gives you a feeling of satisfaction; one that you look forward to
every day, and offers you an opportunity to help others. One that makes you feel
that you are making a difference in people’s lives. I can honestly say, I truly
enjoy my job. And, although there are a few days that I would rather be on a
beach somewhere, I like coming to work and feeling such a sense of
accomplishment.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When asked
about her home life, Beth beamed with pride as she replied, “As of this
September, I will be have been married to my husband, Gary, for 33 years. We
have three children, all BOYS. Jason, 34,</span> who <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">served in the Army National Guard and was in Iraq for
one year, is married to April. They are parents to our first grandchild, Wade,
who is almost three years old, and our pride and joy! They are also expecting a
baby girl, Sybil, around the middle of November. Brian is 31 and he and his
wife, Sheneda, are expecting a little boy, Harrison, around the first of
November. Aaron is 23 and busy working and interviewing for positions with area
police departments. We are also the proud parents of a 12 year old Schnauzer,
Zelda, who is the sweetest dog ever.” She said her greatest achievement thus
far is, “My family, no question about it. My husband and I have raised three
wonderful young men who are not only kind, but also thoughtful, and caring, and
a lot of fun to be around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we watch
our sons go out into the world as productive members of society forming
relationships, becoming husbands, becoming fathers. We can be nothing but proud
of the amazing individuals they have become. And, as our little family
continues to grow with each addition that comes to us, we are truly blessed.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beth is a
born and raised Kentuckian. Her father was employed with the University of KY Agriculture
Department as a County Agent. Beth, her sister, father, and mother lived in
Inez for a few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They moved to
Prestonsburg, and from there to Ashland where they lived until 1980 when her dad
was transferred to the big city of Lexington. It was the biggest place they had
ever lived. She was terrified of all the traffic and roads going in all
different directions. It took her quite a few years to get used to the hustle
and bustle, but Lexington became home. Both of her parents are gone now, but they
still like to visit their roots back home, from time to time. Beth says she is
who she is because of two things in particular, “Number one, my parents and the
morals and beliefs they instilled in me. My parents always supported me in
everything. They gave me the opportunity to make my own choices and were always
there with advice and support. I knew that I could always depend on them for
anything. Number two, my life experiences and those who have shared them with
me, whether the experience was good or bad, they played an important part in my
becoming the person that I am today.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Beth told me about one of her most favorite
vacations. It’s such a tribute to friendship that I just have to share. She
said, “One of my favorite vacations has to be the trip that we took to Oahu,
Hawaii, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. The thing that made this
trip so very special was that our best friends, Doug and Rosemary, went with us
as they were also celebrating their 25th anniversary. (Not sure how many people
know this but Rosemary, from the billing department, has been my dearest, best
friend for 32 years.) We spent a whole week just cruising the island in a
Mustang convertible, taking in the beautiful scenery, trying some interesting
foods, and returning to our little beach house to enjoy the hot tubs and a few
cool and fruity beverages. There is nothing better in the world than having
lifelong friends to share the good times and the bad, and believe me; we have
shared lots of both!”</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-34444670024273530932014-09-22T10:11:00.000-04:002014-09-22T10:11:05.181-04:00The Responsible School-Ager<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQDbxnCg4p8/VCAtWnU7vZI/AAAAAAAAA3E/-SvxznxYQxo/s1600/chore%2Blist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FQDbxnCg4p8/VCAtWnU7vZI/AAAAAAAAA3E/-SvxznxYQxo/s1600/chore%2Blist.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
Responsible School-Ager<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brandy Southard (Guest Blogger) @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have officially entered
into the, “mother of a school-ager” phase of my life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never saw myself as such, yet, here I
am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often think, “How in the world am
I going to survive this?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few
deep breaths, I realize that I am totally equipped to do this job. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been in the field of Early Childhood
Education for almost 20 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently,
my husband and I needed to make a change in how our daughter would contribute
to the household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She needed to have
more responsibilities around the house, but also needed reinforcements for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We came up with a chore chart and
reward system that fit our family needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has become quite successful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She now has a clear expectation of what her responsibilities are and
what the rewards will be if she completes the tasks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has helped teach her lessons about being
accountable for her decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can
choose not to complete a task on a certain day, but she also knows that by
choosing that, she is also choosing the consequence that goes along with
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning, this was a painful
process for everyone in the household; as she became more responsible, it became
much easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truthfully, we are all
happier now with the clear expectations that have been set!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has even come so far as to help with
things not on her chore chart, because she likes to contribute to the family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I imagine many parents and
child care providers have the same overwhelming feeling when it comes to helping
their children become more responsible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is important to say that children <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need </b>responsibility!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Responsibility is a trait all individuals
need, to be successful in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
giving children responsibilities, it shows them they can be trusted to make
their own decisions as well as to answer for their own behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Assigning responsibilities for your child
must be individualized based on where they are developmentally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to set them up for success by
defining responsibilities that they are able to accomplish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you find that they are becoming frustrated
with a task, take a look at how you can simplify it for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, asking them to keep their
bedroom clean may be too broad and become overwhelming for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Break it down into smaller tasks for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep books stored on bookshelf,
toys go in the toy box, dirty clothes belong in the hamper, bed must be made,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can seem much more achievable
for them and the end result is: their bedroom will be clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you see them handling the tasks with more
ease, you can add a little more to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This will help them continue to develop into more responsible
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will do wonders with their
self-esteem and self-worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will feel
like an important member of the family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all know that you catch
more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same goes for children!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure to give them specific praise on
chores they have accomplished verses giving them negative feedback for what
they didn’t do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By saying, “I really
appreciate how you fed the dog his dinner every night this week,” you will
encourage them to continue to uphold their responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have clear guidelines about what
happens if they choose not to complete a task, then they will already know the
outcome for the choices they make.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another wonderful benefit
to having a responsible school-ager is that they will be more successful in
school!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They become more organized and
enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This helps push them to want to learn and achieve more from school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I stated earlier, it helps them become
successful later in life and want to contribute positively to society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another important way to
teach children responsibility is to model responsible behavior for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds super easy, but it can go such a long
way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If children see that the dishes and laundry
are piling up, the lawn has become a jungle, and stacks of papers are
everywhere; they see this as acceptable and have no motivation to keep up with
their own responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is good
to talk with them about a few of your responsibilities and what the consequences
might be if you don’t follow through with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They need to see that there are even consequences for actions, even as
an adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more information and
ideas on helping your school ager with responsibilities, visit the following
websites:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://tip.duke.edu/node/745"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Duke TIP Responsibility: Raising Children You Can
Depend On</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.care.com/a/9-tips-for-teaching-kids-responsibility-1303120948"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Care.com 9 Tips for Teaching Kids Responsibility</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.somewhatsimple.com/free-printable-chore-charts-for-kids/"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Free printable chore lists</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Brandy Southard is a STAR Quality Coordinator,
in the Quality Enhancement Initiative in Kentucky.</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-8296680274360883472014-09-18T15:11:00.000-04:002014-09-18T15:11:45.513-04:00Meet the Child Care Council Staff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-2i4jIRyVo/U_-eJdViG8I/AAAAAAAAA2k/lldMRDJkJAo/s1600/cynthia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-2i4jIRyVo/U_-eJdViG8I/AAAAAAAAA2k/lldMRDJkJAo/s1600/cynthia.JPG" height="320" title="Phi Theta Kappa - Kids Matter" width="291" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing Cynthia M.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Belinda @ Kids Matter</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cynthia, born in New Orleans, made her way to the great state
of Kentucky 22 years ago. She has been employed with the CCC for two years as
an Eligibility Specialist. She serves the counties of Logan, Todd, and Simpson.
I asked what brought Cynthia to the CCC. She replied, “I worked as a Substitute
Teacher in Logan County for nine years. Even though my degrees were in Early
Child Education and Education, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to end up. When
given the opportunity to apply with the CCC, I put a lot of thought into it. I
loved working with the children at school. When I was interviewed, I knew this
was going to be THE career for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cynthia was raised in Louisiana by her mom and Ralph, her stepfather
who adopted her. She was recently reunited with her biological father,
Clarence. When asked about her home life as a child she said, “I did not live
with any of my siblings growing up, but I had an older sister who I lost last
October to breast cancer. I have a younger sister, as well, who lives in Louisiana
where my birth father lives. I also have an older sister, who is my mom’s biological
child that she gave up for adoption, and lives in Chattanooga, TN. We were
reunited 16 years ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her home life today consists of a recently single, Cynthia,
and her daughter, Caitlyn Danielle, who is 22 years old. She said of her
daughter, “She is the greatest gift I have ever been given!” She said the
master of their house is their eight year old cat, Taz, who has been her saving
grace for the past four years, since her mom’s passing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Education has played a huge role in Cynthia’s life. When
asked about the schools she attended and the degrees she earned she stated, “I
attended kindergarten at Delta Heritage Academy in Buras, LA, and then
transferred to Buras High School for 1st-12th grade and was the Rifle Corp
Captain. I graduated in 1985. I attended Molar Beauty College in Marrero, LA,
and obtained my Cosmetology Degree in 1992. In 2004, I completed my degrees of
AAS in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education and AAS in Education at
Hopkinsville Community College. In 2008, I completed my degrees of AA, AS, and
my State Director’s License in Child Care at Hopkinsville Community College. I
also completed my junior year at Murray State University for a BS in Elementary
Education. Due to family issues, I decided to delay the completion of my
degree. I will be returning to college in the spring at Lipscomb University in
Nashville.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Education lit a powerful passion in her, and has led to many
accomplishments. She said, “My passion in life is giving back and serving
others. I am a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. I have been a member
since 2002. I have served as Chapter and Regional Officer. I won the 2007
International Orlowski Award.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
served as the President of the Kentucky Regional Alumni Association for six
years and am the current Kentucky Regional Liaison. I serve on the Alumni
Advisory Council and Alumni Mentor Committee through Phi Theta Kappa
Headquarters located in Jackson, MS. Recently, I Chartered my first Regional
Alumni Association in TN and they made me the TN Regional Alumni Association
Advisor. Even my vacations are actually times where I served others by
attending Phi Theta Kappa conventions, conferences, and workshops, to teach
others about programming, assist with events, or just fellowship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also serve on the Logan County Relay for
Life Committee as the Sponsorship Chair. Having lost several members of my
family to cancer, it is important for us to give back and help raise money to
help others celebrate more birthdays!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obtaining such achievements takes great dedication, focus,
will-power, and concentration but that’s not where it leaves off. July 17,
2013, Cynthia hit 319 pounds. It was at that point she made the decision that
enough was enough and began to challenge herself to lose weight. Today, she
weighs in at a slim 182 pounds. Losing 137 pounds in a years’ time, is
definitely something to be proud of. She is a real go getter and inspiration to
us all. Congrats on your accomplishments, Cynthia!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">C</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ynthia’s
advice on raising children is to love them, teach them, help them, and always
encourage them to reach for the stars. Teach them to always have great
dedication and focus on the required goals needed to help them see where they
have been and where they are going.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-22034898098642867052014-09-15T09:26:00.000-04:002014-09-15T09:26:21.490-04:00Multivitamins: Friend or Foe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1EM4CJ8Gg7g/U_-dYifMzjI/AAAAAAAAA2c/6PjyoEbQoo0/s1600/multivitamins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1EM4CJ8Gg7g/U_-dYifMzjI/AAAAAAAAA2c/6PjyoEbQoo0/s1600/multivitamins.JPG" height="201" title="vitamins - Kids Matter" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Multivitamins: Friend
or Foe<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just when
you thought you could not fit another thing on life’s plate… PLOP! Are you
getting the recommended daily dose of all the needed vitamins and minerals? Are
you eating a healthy well-balanced diet? Have you been caught coming out of
McDonald’s drive-thru several times this week? Do you choose not to worry about
recommended daily dosage because you supplement with a daily multivitamin?
Which is worse… not enough or too much?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before you
make the decision to change your diet, or supplement it with a vitamin, talk to
your doctor. Do some research regarding the levels you need for your specific
gender and age. Go to </span></span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/vitamins-minerals-how-much-should-you-take?page=2"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">WebMD</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> for a listing of the daily required
levels. You can also visit </span></span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/vitamins-and-minerals-good-food-sources"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">WebMD</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> to determine what vitamins and
minerals are in the food you consume. Research the products you put into your
body at </span></span><a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/multivitamins"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Consumer Search</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Read those all-important food
labels, which we often take for granted. Be mindful that the added colorings
and sugars, often found in multivitamins, could do more harm than good.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nothing can
replace a healthy well-balanced diet. Not only is food better for you than a
pill, but the body can also break down the food much better and easier than
swallowing a pill. Per </span></span><a href="http://www.jigsawhealth.com/resources/myth-multi-vitamin"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Scott Olson</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, “Typically, many one-a-day
supplements are packed tightly in a capsule form for easy swallowing. Many
times these compressed pills are too hard to actually digest in your stomach.
X-ray technicians often see these pills far from the stomach, never having
dissolved. A pill that is not digested is worthless and simply increases the
nutrient content of your toilet water.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, that
doesn’t mean that you should not take multivitamins. It simply means that you
need to understand what vitamins and minerals you are not receiving from the
food you eat. Once that is determined, you will then need to figure out what
supplements you need, and in what amount. Too much of a supplement can be just
as dangerous as not enough. Maybe you don’t need every vitamin or mineral found
in a multivitamin. You may just need a calcium supplement. Discuss your eating
habits and any deficiencies you think you may have with your family doctor.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about our
children? Should we be giving them those cute little gummy bear vitamins? Just
like an adult, the major source of vitamins and minerals should come from the
food they eat. </span></span><a href="https://www.bcm.edu/research/centers/childrens-nutrition-research-center/consumer/archives/percentDV.htm"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Baylor College of Medicine</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> published an index chart, which you
can use, to calculate your child’s calorie intake and determine the levels of vitamins
and minerals that may be lacking. The USDA created a program called </span></span><a href="http://www.choosemyplate.gov/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">ChooseMyPlate.gov</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> to help you plan and prepare a healthy well-balanced meal for your
child. If you determine that your child is lacking in nutrients and requires a
supplement discuss your concerns with your family physician. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember to
buy age appropriate vitamins. Children’s vitamins come in liquid and the gummy
version. Which would be more appropriate for your child? Most importantly,
vitamins look like candy to a child. Explain to your child it is NOT candy,
keep them stored out of the reach of a child, and explain they can only take
this vitamin when given by an adult. If a child takes more than the prescribed
daily allowance you may need to call the American Association of Poison Control
Centers at (800) 222-1222 to be automatically redirected to your local poison
control center. If the child is experiencing difficulty breathing, severe
throat pain, burns on the lips or mouth, convulsions, unconsciousness, or extreme
sleepiness call 911 for emergency services.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Your health, and your child’s health, should be
a priority and you are the master of your body and the caretaker of your
child’s. Take control and discuss any change in diet and the need for
supplemental vitamins and minerals with your family physician. As Thomas
Jefferson said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-49118378964308132892014-09-11T09:36:00.000-04:002014-09-11T09:36:35.455-04:00Meet the Child Care Council Staff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Kk1scsSUrY/U_-cwgFWYhI/AAAAAAAAA2U/qdYS7HzBNOU/s1600/melissa%2Bb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Kk1scsSUrY/U_-cwgFWYhI/AAAAAAAAA2U/qdYS7HzBNOU/s1600/melissa%2Bb.JPG" height="295" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing Melissa B.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing,
Melissa (Missy); she has worked in the Child Care Assistance Program for three
years and serves the counties of Whitley and McCreary, as an Eligibility
Specialist. Missy said that she loves working for the CCC and working
daily, with a group of people, to help others. It gives her a sense of great
pride and accomplishment. She said, “I love knowing the job we do, helps
families. Raising kids is NOT an easy job! It’s the most rewarding job, just
not the easiest.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It only
takes an instant of looking at her pictures above, to realize that Missy is a
fun, outgoing, and happy person. She has a beautiful smile that lights up
everything around her. When she asked her mom to describe her using three words
her mom replied, “Well, that really depends on which personality they get!” Her
boyfriend of four years, Gus, agreed but added that she was always caring,
giving, and willing to help others. She proudly said the same characteristics
have been said of her eight year old daughter, Lily Grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, if you were like me, I saw the pictures of the animals and just went,
“AWWW!” Missy, Gus, and Lily Grace live on a farm in McCreary County. Missy
says that Gus is her soul mate and she is very proud of him. At work he is the
Sheriff of McCreary County; at home, he is a rancher. They have six miniature
donkeys, two mules, two horses, one miniature horse, three dogs (including a
K-9), and one cat. She said, “There is NEVER a dull moment around our house!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When she is not acting as a ranch hand, Missy loves photography and has
plenty of beautiful scenery around her home to capture. You can see some of Missy’s
photography in our </span></span><a href="http://kidsmatter1.blogspot.com/2014/04/spring-in-kentucky.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Spring in Kentucky
blog</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. She also loves to read, whenever she can find a spare moment. Janet
Evanovich and James Patterson are a couple of her favorite authors. Horseback
riding is also one of her favorite things to do. Living out on a farm affords her
such beauty and peace, but she never imagined herself living on a farm. She
said, “If someone had told me 10 years ago, that I would be living on a farm,
I’d have called them CRAZY! Now? NOW, I can’t imagine it being any different.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever been listening to someone talk when suddenly a wave of
emotion comes over them? That emotion can be felt in each word. You feel their
pain even though its hidden by a smile. Your heart goes out to them. I had that
experience with Missy. I just have to say, what a strong woman she is. I asked
her to what she attributed her being who she is today and her only hesitation
came from pain, still fresh in her heart. On June 15, 2014, Father’s Day, she
lost her father in a motorcycle wreck. She said, “My Dad built his own Harley,
a 1976 Shovelhead, and he was an avid rider my entire life. So, the irony that
this is how he was taken has not been lost. So, I cry… a lot lately. He was, of
course, the BEST MAN EVER.” Spoken like a true daddy’s girl. I’m certain he is
very proud of her and her brother. She went on to say, “He was not my
biological father. He and my mom were together since I was 12. He married my
mom, who had two kids. This was a man who had never been married and had no
kids of his own. God knew exactly what he was doing when he gave us Daddy. So,
as much as I cry these days, I truly know how very blessed we have been for the
last 30 years to have him in our lives. He was loved by so very many people. We
couldn’t have asked for a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>better husband
to our mom, a better dad for my brother and me, or a better papaw to Lily
Grace.” What a beautiful tribute to her parents. A lesson for us all, cherish
your parents, because they are only with us for a short time in our span of
life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-50903759394188340302014-09-08T09:22:00.000-04:002014-09-08T09:22:41.915-04:00Make Time for Family Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yNgMUPwbEOA/U_-b9VLGb5I/AAAAAAAAA2M/hz-c8nca8bQ/s1600/jon%2Band%2Bgage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yNgMUPwbEOA/U_-b9VLGb5I/AAAAAAAAA2M/hz-c8nca8bQ/s1600/jon%2Band%2Bgage.JPG" height="400" width="221" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Make
Time for Family Time<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Julia
@ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
really seems like, more and more, a two income household isn’t a choice, it’s a
necessity. As the cost of living increases and pay remains stagnant, more
parents find the daunting reality that daycare teachers get to spend more time
with their children than they do. As shocking as that sounds, most of you know
what I mean. I was a preschool teacher and I can tell you that the bond between
teacher and child is very strong. I’ve had parents call me at night because
their children couldn’t go to bed without talking to me first. I’ve had
children throw tantrums in a restaurant if they happened to see me eating there
too, and I was not sitting with them. I have left a date sitting alone while I joined
the child for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many parents have confided in me that they
feel guilt about how little time they have with their children. When they broke
it down, they realized that during the week they spend maybe four hours a day
with their children, while the teachers get to spend ten. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teachers usually have a reward system in the
classroom, like a sticker chart. This is a cute and awesome way to get your
little ones to learn responsibility, and create opportunities for family time. Have
a Sticker Chart in your home, in a location that everyone visits. Reward your
child daily with stickers if they: behave, do chores, get a good report from
their teacher, or any other age appropriate rules you agree on when making the
chart. By the end of the week, if your child has a sticker every day they are
rewarded with a treat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Give your child “family
responsible choices” as treats, and try to avoid buying a toy as a reward. An example
would be to allow them to pick between two treats like, choosing a game the
family will play together, or helping to make cookies for family game night. Family
responsible choices affect the whole family. This way they learn to understand
how choices affect a group, and not just themselves. Allowing them to pick out
a toy each week is nice, but it doesn’t really teach them how their efforts
throughout the week help the family as a unit. Letting them have a toy as a
reward is like your child earning a paycheck. That ‘paycheck’ really only
benefits the child and not the whole family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You can’t help your work schedule, so don’t allow that to
bring you down and feel guilty. Instead, on weeknights, turn the TV or game
systems off, and sit down to dinner together and talk about the day. The
weekends should have the same structure as week days with bedtimes, naps, etc.,
but devote a lot of time to family time. Ride bikes, go to the park, see a
movie, make/decorate a cake, feed the ducks, or go to a museum. The
possibilities are endless when you make more time for family time. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449511355890179636.post-15215893555712385662014-09-04T09:36:00.000-04:002014-09-04T09:36:31.295-04:00Meet the Child Care Council Staff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mp79YSOfPbg/U_-bPUe5pgI/AAAAAAAAA2E/zTKOruE7-zc/s1600/brittany.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mp79YSOfPbg/U_-bPUe5pgI/AAAAAAAAA2E/zTKOruE7-zc/s1600/brittany.JPG" height="320" width="285" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing Brittany L.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Belinda @ Kids Matter<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week I
introduce Brittany, from the North region of the CCC. Brittany is an
Eligibility Specialist covering the counties of Boyd, Greenup, and Lawrence.
She has been with the CCC for a year and a half. What is Brittany’s motivation
for coming to work every day? She said, “Everything! I love interacting with
the public, as well as being able to help people out and give them a little bit
of relief with their finances. We don’t just give out daycare assistance, we give out a little peace of mind by helping them know that they are going to
be able to get up and go to work the next morning without having to worry about
their children. We provide people with the opportunity to seek a safe
environment for their children and alleviate some of the expenses associated
with the cost of daycare so they can work to support their family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love seeing people smile when I am able to
help make their lives a little easier. I also love my work family! Everyone
that I have met in the CCC has been very nice and helpful! I love every
opportunity that allows us to get together. I am very grateful for my job, and
being able to be a part of the CCC family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I look forward to the future!” To sum up her love of her job she said, “Ultimately,
the greatest job to have, is the one that I am fortunate enough to have!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes,
through tragedy and heartbreak, we realize the smallest miracles in our lives.
That can be said of Brittany. I asked about her home life and family. She
shared this, “I am married to my high school sweetheart. We have been together
since I was 14. We have had four children, Tyson 7, Jaxon 5, and Krymson 2. We
also had a son Izaiah, who would have been eight this year; however, he passed
away after 23 days due to being a premature baby. He is my beautiful angel
baby! If I wasn’t working in CCAP I would love to be working as a NICU nurse
just to be able to hold those precious miracles.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brittany
grew up in Greenup County. She lived with her parents and older sister. She and
her best friend, Shanna, loved to go to football games, movies, parties,
concerts, and etc. She said, “I am lucky to say, she is still my best friend
this very day.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In her spare
time, you can find Brittany attending church every Wednesday and Sunday! She
said she is, “… proud to say I am a Christian.” She is also proud to say, “I am
a football and baseball mom who hopes to one day say that I am also a
cheerleading mom,” she laughed. Her family enjoys sports and she said, “My
family and I are Alabama football fans. That’s actually where my daughter’s
name came from, it’s just spelled differently, Krymson.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Her great-grandmother
was a woman of God and was always so loving and caring. Brittany said, “She was
always teaching us about life and what truly matters,” and because of those
traits, Brittany says that her great-grandmother is her hero. What a truly
special relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As a mother of three, I had to ask her if she
had any parenting advice. She answered, “Enjoy every moment, because we never
know what tomorrow holds. Always pay attention to your children as well as
listen! Remember that children are always listening to you, even when you don’t
think they are, so make sure you’re always setting a good example. Give out
lots of hugs and kisses and remember that, “Each day, we make a deposit into
the memory banks of our children!”</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0