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.

Top 3 Precautions For Winter Road Trips

Photo Courtesy

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.

A Family New Year Celebration

 

Photo Courtesy

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?

Make Time for Family Time

Make Time for Family Time

Julia @ Kids Matter

          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.

           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.

           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.

              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.  
         
           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.

The Family Vacation: a Relic of the Past

The Family Vacation: a Relic of the Past

Julia @ Kids Matter

            Sadly, fewer and fewer families are going on vacations these days, and there are many contributing factors as to why. A lot of parents can’t take the time off for employment reasons, can’t afford it for financial reasons, or need to surplus any personal time for when their little ones get sick. One way to get through these road bumps is to take mini-vacations once or twice a year, then plan for a bigger vacation every three years. It may seem easier to plan around government holidays in order to save a day from your personal time pool, but hotels may be pricier around holidays, so beware.

            If you live in an area like where I live, you may have access to several places of interest within a four hour drive. Living in Louisville allows me the ability to go to cities like Cincinnati, Gatlinburg, Indianapolis, Nashville, Chicago, and St. Louis. These cities, and ones near you, have many sites for a family to enjoy! Shop the travel sites for discounts on hotels a few months before your trip or check Groupon for Bed & Breakfast deals. I used a Groupon for a B&B just outside of Cincinnati one year, and we had a whole three bedroom house to ourselves for only $100 per night!

            It is a good rule of thumb to research restaurants in your destination city and plan an eating budget. Try to avoid touristy spots and search out city websites to see where the locals go! You can view menus and pricing, which can really get your food budget down to a science! Another money saver is staying where complimentary continental breakfast is served daily.

            A BIG vacation takes a lot of time, rigorous planning, and a killer budget. Do not let that intimidate you! The sky is the limit when you give yourself a few years to plan. Take your family some place they will never forget; Disney, New York City, New Orleans, Hawaii, Ireland, Italy, or Paris! A good way to save for this kind of trip is to research the cost of hotels, transportation, food, shopping, and if overseas, the currency exchange rate.

            The 52 week money savings challenge can really help you save. If you do it for a few years in a row, you will be all set. Each week of the year, starting in January, you will place money in savings. Your money progresses along with the week’s number you are on. (Example: Week 1 you would put $1 in savings, Week 2 you would put $2 in savings, and so on.) By the end of your 52 weeks, your grand total savings will be $1378.

            Family vacations should not be a relic of the past! Spend time with your children in a new environment. Show them this great country of ours and all of her historical splendor. Showing a child the beach for the first time or looking out over New York from the Empire State building is incredible! So, pile the family into the car, pack a cooler of snacks, drinks, and lunches, and head to a new destination for your children to explore!

Happy Summer!

National Bubba Day

National Bubba Day

Belinda @ Kids Matter

June 2^nd is National Bubba Day. This holiday is in honor of all those, formally or informally, named Bubba. The name Bubba became famous by a character in the movie, Forrest Gump. However, if you live in the south the name Bubba has been around for ages, and is typically a male name. When you think of “Bubba” you think of your brother, cousin, a guy you grew up with, or went to school with. But… did you know, Bubba actually means grandmother in Yiddish? Isn’t that an interesting fact?

Just seeing the name Bubba creates an automatic image of someone you know. But, how do we show them honor on their special day? Below are a few examples… pick one or more and get to celebrating your Bubba!

1.     Call Bubba and sing Happy Bubba Day.

2.     Send a Happy Bubba Day text!

3.     Post a pic of your Bubba on Facebook.

4.     Take Bubba out to eat.

5.     Buy Bubba a gift.

6.     Send a Happy Bubba Day email.

7.     Talk about ‘old times’ with Bubba.

8.     Thank Bubba for everything ever done for you.

9.     Throw Bubba a surprise party.

10. Do something nice for Bubba (wash car, clean house, babysit… etc.)

You may know one or ten Bubbas, but do something to acknowledge each of them on their special day! Happy Bubba Day to all the Bubbas out there, especially my own five year old little Bubba!

#LookUp!

#LookUp!

Julia @ Kids Matter

            My Facebook app just alerted me to the fact that several of my “friends” have enjoyed and liked my quick wit and Twitter constantly bleeps at me, to let me know that someone I have never met is now “following” me. I am sooo popular and loved by social media!

            WHAT AM I DOING??? What are any of us doing? Have we lost touch of who we are? Why is it that kids today can barely speak, let alone write the English language? Why do I see parents simply hand over their $700 phone to their seven year old for entertainment instead of a book? I have asked parents what their kids are looking at or playing on their phone; I always get the same responses, “It keeps him quiet,” and “… because she sees me on it and wants what I have”. That last statement really hits the bulls eye, “… because she sees me on it and wants what I have”. Recently, I ate at Red Robin and everywhere families sat in similar situations; kids jumping and screaming in the booth seats, higgledy piggledy, while their parents looked down at their phones, simply ignoring them.

The table at meal time should be a time for family conversation and recapping each other’s days. Studies have shown that children and adolescence that have at least four meals per week at the table with their family are more emotionally and socially sound than those families who don’t eat together. Also, they have a lower risk of smoking and drinking, as well as higher grades in school. Research states that the reason for these results is due to families eating meals together, at the table, without electronics as a distraction. Your family enjoying a meal and conversation together provides structure, boundaries, and a sense of belonging for your child. All these things are needed for the developmental health of your children.

            It may seem hard enough just to get your teens to the table, let alone to the table without their phones, but if you set that rule early and stick to it for yourselves and them, you will have far more socially adjusted and happy children.

            I recently saw a Youtube video. It was a young man who wrote and performed a spoken word film about unplugging ourselves from our phones. The central message is about getting back to communicating with one another, and more importantly with our kids. Put down your phones, show interest in your kid’s lives, and eat dinner at the table. Show them and teach them that your family unit is, and always will be, more important than whatever is trending.  

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Mary G.

Belinda @ Kids Matter

Mary is an Eligibility Specialist for the CCC and has been in the child care assistance business for seven and a half years. She respectfully serves the counties of Ohio, Butler, and Muhlenberg. Mary is such a wonderful people person who enjoys time spent with clients. She has a smile that lights even the darkest of rooms. She is the most caring, loving, person with a delightful bubbly personality and is always there to lend a helping hand.

Mary has been married to her sweetheart, Jody, for twenty-three years and falls in love with him more each day. She refers to him as her rock saying, “He works so hard to provide and be there for each of us.” Mary and Jody have four beautiful children, two boys and two girls, and also a handsome four year old grandson. She has also taken in another child, who she loves with all her heart, just as if she were her own. They also have a Labrador who she says is, “spunky and a crazy beast.” But, the dog loves them unconditionally and that’s the best kind of love.

Mary is deeply rooted in family unity, which she attributes to her mother. She says, “Mom is the most caring, unselfish person I know. She isn’t one to just say she is there, she actually is there.” Mary carries that over into her own family. She loves her family with great passion and considers them her greatest accomplishment in life. She enjoys every minute they spend together. Her family takes fantastic vacations. She conveyed a story of one particular fun and exciting adventure at Jelly Stone Campground, near Mammoth Cave. “It was October and there was so much for the children to do such as Halloween costume contests, hayrides, campground songs, picking and painting pumpkins, trick-or-treating, decorating camp sites, and even a haunted woods.” She was very excited as she described the fun they had.  The whole family enjoyed themselves and, believe it or not, there was not one single electronic device to be found. They went unplugged the whole weekend which, Mary says, “allowed them to spend time getting to really know each other”.

Having a large family can present challenges, and she tackles them head on. She describes her idea of a perfect day as being home ALONE cleaning the house. Her motivation in everything that she does is her family. She states, “I want them to be their best and I hope someday they come to realize I did my best to raise them into bright, sincere, caring, loving, thoughtful individuals who are never afraid to go after what they want.”

When asked about advice for raising a family she said, “Surround yourself with people who have the same goals and expectations.” Those people will be the community helping to raise your child. She’s a firm believer in picking your battles and often tells her children to, “Pick one you will win”. We aren’t meant to win every argument and sometimes it’s really not worth the time spent being angry. Her greatest advice is to take time and listen to what your children are saying. “Put down the remote, iPad, cellphone, or whatever gadget you’re connected to and truly spend time listening to them.” Mary is so family oriented that even her hobbies involve spending time with her children. She is a wonderful and devoted mom whose children love her immensely.  Her time is so packed with work, children’s sports, maintaining the household, church functions, and helping everyone that needs her that, if she were granted one super-human power, she would choose, “not to sleep”. She laughs as she says, “There is not enough time in the day.”