Hang On and Enjoy the Ride

Guest Post by: Beth C.

Being a parent is the most rewarding yet most challenging thing in life.  There isn't a book that tells you 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! 

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.

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!

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!” 

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!  

15 Family Goals in 2015

 By: Angie @ Kids Matter

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

7) Watch a meteor shower- Take a look at The American Meteor Shower Website and pick a great night to lay in the yard and be amazed at a meteor shower.

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.

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!




 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

The Modern Baby Book

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By: Angie @ Kids Matter

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.

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.

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.

Top 3 Precautions For Winter Road Trips

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By: Angie @ Kids Matter

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. 

1) A safety kit. Be sure you have a safety kit in your car including a minimum of the following things: 

• First Aid Kit
• Hat and gloves for each family member
• An appropriate winter coat
• Emergency blankets
• Kitty litter or sand to help you get a vehicle unstuck
• A charged cell phone
• Water
• Snacks with protein
• Flashlight with working batteries
• Jumper cables
• Ice scraper and brush

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:

• Coloring Books
• Crayons (Altoid tins are perfect to carry a few crayons in)
• Books
• Blank paper
• Car Bingo printable games 
• Small toys
• Small electronics, if they will not be distracting to you
• Travel size games

 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.

• Steer into a skid
• Know your brakes: Stomp on anti-lock brakes, pump on non anti-lock brakes
• Always wear your seat belt and be sure your passengers are also buckled in.
• The safest spot for kids 12 and under is in the back seat.
• Rain, Ice or Snow? Take it slow - reduce your speed and increase your distance between vehicles
• Do not drive when you are overly tired
• Alcohol and drugs never mix with driving, regardless of the weather. If you plan to drink, please be sure you have a designated driver.

Be safe on the roads, for the sake of your family and others.

10 Parenting Mistakes That We Have All Made

 By: Angie @ Kids Matter

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.

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!!"

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.

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!

Mistake #10: Already have a vision of what our child will be like. 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.

Mistake #9: Always trying to be your child's BFF. 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.

Mistake #8: Judging other parents and kids. 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.

Mistake #7: Reliving YOUR youth through your child. 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.

Mistake #6: Never let them make mistakes. 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.

Mistake #5: Practice what I preach, not what I do. 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.

Mistake #4: Always being in a hurry. 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!

Mistake #3: Not understanding the developmental stage of our kids. 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.

Mistake #2: Always believing that your child is perfect and not at fault. 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.

Mistake #1: Making empty threats. 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.
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!

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!

A Family New Year Celebration

 

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By: Angie @ Kids Matter

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!

Eat traditional New Year's foods with the kids. Some traditional foods and the beliefs associated with them:

• Greens - eat your greens as they represent spendable greens of another type
• 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.
• Noodles - signify long life and you get bonus points if you eat the noodles without breaking them.
• Rice - signifies abundance
• Grapes - eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the new year. If a grape tastes bitter, watch out for that month next year.
• Pomegranates -  with its many seeds representing prosperity.
• Pork - pigs are considered lucky animals as they root forward and they are rotund/abundant
• Fish - the scales represent money and when a fish swims in a school it represents abundance.
•  Circular foods - like a cake or cookie represents coming full circle

Kid friendly activities:

• 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.
• 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 Wonderful Joy Ahead. 
• 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.
• 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 Amazon.

 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! 

Christmas Traditions For Your Family

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By: Angie @ Kids Matter

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.

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.

2) Baking cookies for Santa. We love to decorate special cookies for Santa and he even has a special plate at our house.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

14) Drive around to see Christmas lights. If it is not too cold, bonus points for the kids being in pajamas for the ride.

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.

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.

What are some of the traditions that your family carries with you every single year?

16 Natural Treatments for Colds and Flu

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Angie @ Kids Matter

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!

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.

Prevention:

1) Always get a good night of sleep. Sleep keeps your immune system healthy.

2) Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Try to get most of your vitamins through foods.

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.

4) Wash the items we touch on a daily basis. These items include door knobs, phones, light switches and sink handles.

5) Cough into your arm or sleeve, not into your hands.

6) Run a humidifier.

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.

8) Be sure you are getting enough Vitamin C.

Remedies:

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.

2) Eat homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.

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.

4) Sleep with an extra pillow to elevate your head. This will assist with any drainage issues.

5) Take a steamy shower. This will not only release kinks and body aches, but it will also help to open your sinuses.

6) Know when to see a Doctor. A cold cannot be treated, but the flu requires treatment.

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.

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.

Take care of yourself and try to avoid unnecessary contact with people that you know are sick. 

Your Change CAN Change a Life

As 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!

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 Good Giving Challenge.

Kentucky State Parks “Get Spooky With It”

Kentucky State Parks “Get Spooky With It”

Belinda @ Kids Matter

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!

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.

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!

Explore Kentucky; infuse yourself with the harmony found in its state parks through the essence of nature. Visit the Kentucky State Parks 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!

Five Crafty Halloween Ideas for Children

Five Crafty Halloween Ideas for Children

Belinda @ Kids Matter

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.

Creepy spiders

Materials: 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.

1.     Paint the Styrofoam balls black and allow them to dry thoroughly.

2.     Insert eight pipe cleaners into the ball for the legs.

3.     Cut two small circles of orange felt for the eyes and glue them onto the ball.

4.     Glue two wiggly eyes onto the orange felt.

5.     Stick a gum drop on the end of each leg for the feet.

Frankinpumpkin

Materials: 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.

1.     Paint the pumpkin green and dry thoroughly.

2.     Paint black hair on top of pumpkin and dry thoroughly.

3.     Cut the lime in half and insert two toothpicks into the sides of the pumpkin where the ears will go.

4.     Place the lime halves onto the toothpicks.

5.     Paint a long black eyebrow across the forehead of the pumpkin.

6.     Cut out two oval shaped white pieces of felt for the eyes and glue them onto the pumpkin.

7.     Cut out two circles of black felt for the eyes and glue them onto the white felt.

8.     Cut out two half ovals of green felt for the eye lids and glue them on.

9.     Paint the mouth and nose with black paint and dry thoroughly.

10.  Insert a bolt toward the bottom of each side of the pumpkin.

11.  Using the green marker, draw a line a couple inches long across the forehead of the pumpkin.

12.  Using the stapler, insert several staples across the green line.

Mummy cup

Materials: Plastic cups, medical gauze, wiggly eyes, candy, scissors, and glue.

1.     Coat the plastic cup with glue around the sides leaving the top and bottom uncovered.

2.     Wrap gauze around the cup going several layers deep around the cup.

3.     Cut the gauze and glue with a drop of glue to the back of the cup.

4.     Glue on two wiggly eyes.

5.     Fill cup with your favorite candy.

Spooktacular necklace

Materials: yarn, white glue, parchment paper, scissors, and black marker.

1.     On a sheet of parchment paper, using the glue, draw an outline of several ghosts.

2.     Allow them to dry for one minute.

3.     Fill in the outline with more glue.

4.     Allow the ghosts to dry for two days.

5.     Gently peel the ghosts from the parchment paper.

6.     Using the black marker, draw eyes and a mouth on the ghosts.

7.     Punch a hole at the top of each ghost large enough to insert yarn.

8.     Cut strands of yarn long enough to make a necklace.

9.     String ghosts onto the yarn creating a necklace and tie to appropriate size.

Cup of worms

Materials: One small box of instant chocolate Jell-O pudding,  two cups of milk, one package of Oreo cookies, one package of gummy worms, and four clear plastic cups.

1.     Make the chocolate pudding according to the directions on the box.

2.     Crush Oreo cookies and sprinkle some in the bottom of each cup.

3.     Pour a ½ cup of pudding into each cup.

4.     Sprinkle more Oreo crumbs on top of the pudding.

5.     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.

6.     Chill for an hour in the refrigerator and then eat.

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!

Halloween: A Night for Treats, Not Tragedies

Halloween: A Night for Treats, Not Tragedies

Robin @ Kids Matter

Twice as many kids are killed, while walking on Halloween, as on any other day of the year.  Kids usually trick-or-treat when it is dark which makes it more difficult for drivers to see them.  Because they’re excited about getting candy, children may not be watching for cars.

Parents and drivers need to do their part to help kids stay out of the emergency room on Halloween.

Top tips to keep Kids safe on Halloween

For parents and children:

·        Emphasize safe pedestrian behaviors to kids before they go trick or treating.

·        Cross the street safely at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.  Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street.  And, keep looking as you cross.  Walk; don’t run across the street.

·        Walk on sidewalks or paths.  If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.  Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.

·        Slow down and stay alert.  Watch out for cars that are turning or backing up, and never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

·        Costumes can be both creative and safe.  Decorate your children’s costumes with reflective materials and, if possible, choose light colors that can be seen in the dark.  Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, so choose nontoxic face paint, makeup and wigs instead.

·        Carry flashlights or glow sticks.  These will help trick-or-treaters see and be seen by drivers.

For drivers:

·        Slow down in residential neighborhoods and school zones.

·        Be sure to turn your full headlights on between 5:30 and 9:30 P.M., the most popular trick-or-treating hours.

·        Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.  Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.

·        Slowly and carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys.

·        Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

Treats:

·        While pedestrian safety is a main concern on Halloween, parents and kids should be careful when dealing with candy.  Remind children to only eat treats in original and unopened wrappers.

This information is provided by Safe Kids, Fayette County.  Visit their website to learn more about how to keep our children safe.    http://www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu/safekids/

Bonfire and Spooky Story Season

Belinda @ Kids Matter

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!

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.

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.

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.

THUMPS in the Night: A Spooky Funny Story for the Bonfire

The children were playing in the yard beneath the porch light when suddenly they heard a THUMP. After the thump, a SQUEEAAAKKK, then a SLAM! 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. THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM!... THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM! Over and over came the noises… louder and LOUDER until the children realized the noises were coming from right above their heads. THUMP!!! The children froze where they stood; too frightened to even look toward the sound. Their tiny bodies shook… their teeth rattled… their knees knocked. SQUEEEAAAAKKK!!! “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, “AHHHHHHHHH!” Then the boy screamed, “AHHHHHHHHH!” Then they screamed together, “AHHHHHHHHH!” Fear crept in like a cat on the prowl on a dark, dark night in a big, dark jungle. THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM!... THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM! 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. THUMP! SQUUUEEEAAAKKK! SLAM! The children stepped up the ladder… step by step they came closer and closer to the sound. Finally they could see the THUMP… it was a knock. It was a squirrel knocking on the tree. SQUUUEEEAAAAKK! It was a door opening in the top of the tall, tall tree. The squirrel raced in. SLAM! 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 SQUUUEEEAAAAKK! There, standing at the little tiny door was a big… fury… grey… squirrel who screamed out in this big high pitched squeal... “Happy Birthday!!!! 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.