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10 Christmas Classic Books To Add To Your Child’s Library

Posted on December 10, 2018

Christmas is a magical time of year for both kids and adults alike.  The kids are out of school, the holiday cheer keeps everyone in high spirits, and spending time together as a family is at the top of everyone’s priority list.  One hallmark of the Christmas season is the wide variety of Christmas stories, both new and old, that you can tell your child.

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – This story is actually a poem that was written in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore.  The poem was the first of its kind to describe Santa and his sleigh, and contributed largely to how people picture Santa today.  Moore wrote this poem for his children, but it was later published in the newspaper and was so popular that it was reprinted year after year. GET IT AT AMAZON

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas – Dr. Seuss is at it again, this time with a rather surly furry green character who hates Christmas.  The Grinch is sick of everyone being so cheerful at Christmastime that he decides he’s going to steal Christmas.  However, the kindness shown to him by one little girl melts his heart, and he ends up giving everything back while learning the true meaning of Christmas. 

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A Christmas Carol – A classic story written by Charles Dickens, this Christmas tale talks about a crabby old man named Scrooge who is a penny-pinching, miserable man.  He is estranged from his own family and treats his workers terribly.  Scrooge is visited by three ghosts one night who show him what Christmas really means.  The story ends when he wakes up on Christmas morning, just in time to make amends.  This one is best watched!

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The Polar Express – Chris Van Allsburg writes a story about a boy who isn’t quite sure if Santa is real or not.  He boards a train that appears in his backyard one night and is swept away on the adventure of a lifetime to the North Pole.  While there, he meets elves and ghosts who convince him that Santa really does exist, and when ends up back at home it’s with a firm belief in Santa again. 

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Christmas in the Big Woods – One of many Laura Ingalls Wilder books, this one tells the story of Laura’s life during Christmas in their home in the big woods of Wisconsin.  This book is an excellent choice for very young children. 

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The Gift of the Magi – This story is about a couple who has very little money, but still want to give each other a Christmas gift.  The woman has long beautiful hair, and it’s the thing she is most proud of.  Her husband has a pocket watch that belonged to his grandfather, and he loves this family heirloom.  The wife decides to sell her hair to buy her husband a chain for his pocket watch and the husband sells his pocket watch to buy combs for his wife’s beautiful hair.  The story is compared to the magi that brought gifts to the newborn king. 

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Christmas in Camelot – A Magic Tree House book by Mary Pope Osborne.  Jack and Annie travel to Camelot in the magic tree house to find a cup, a key and a compass in order to save Camelot from the evil wizard Mordred.  The kids prove to the king that kids can be useful. 

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Meet Santa Bear – As in most books by Stan and Jan Berenstain, there is a lesson to be learned in this book.  Although, in this book, the lesson is really more about getting answers to difficult questions, like “how does Santa get down a skinny chimney?” or “how does the sleigh land without snow on the ground?”  These questions, and others, are answered in this Berenstain Bear book. 

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The Year Without a Santa Claus – The author, Phyllis McGinley, pens this story about the year Santa decides to take the year off because he doesn’t think anyone believes in him anymore.  He leaves two elves in charge and they make a mess of things.  Heat Miser and Cold Miser make their debut in this book and subsequent cartoon.  Santa comes to the rescue and realizes that there are some believers left and changes his mind. 

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The Christmas Sweater – Glenn Beck writes this story, which contains some autobiographical elements.  The main character is young Eddie, who wants a new bike for Christmas with all of his heart.  He knows his mom can’t afford it, but he wants it anyway.  Christmas day comes and he gets a sweater that his mom made herself and he is so bitter and disappointed that he throws the sweater in the corner and leaves it.  He goes through a rough patch and finally gets some mentoring from a neighbor named Russell who helps him understand what a great gift the sweater really is. 

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One way to really get into the Christmas spirit is to curl up by the fire with your kids, hot cocoa in hand, and read them one of these 10 popular Christmas stories:

If you don’t have some of these books and you’d like to read them, make a trip to your local library and pick one or more of them up.  These books would all make great gifts for the children in your life as well.  

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Moms: You Won’t Make It Through the Holidays Unless You Do These 6 Things

Posted on December 8, 2018

Being a mom is one of life’s most wonderful experiences for a woman, but it can also take a toll on you.

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, you might find yourself even more stressed out than usual. What can you do to feel better?

Today, we offer tips to help moms everywhere this time of year, compliments of Vinay Saranga M.D. is a psychiatrist and founder of Saranga Comprehensive Psychiatry.

His tips to help moms everywhere this time of year:

  1.  Give yourself a break: Being a mom is a lot to take on, so first and foremost, give yourself a pat on the back for how well you have things together even if it doesn’t feel that way all the time. Chances are, you have your own personal and professional life to manage, and on top of that, raising kids is a tremendous amount of responsibility so don’t be so hard on yourself.
  2. Prioritize: Make a list or a schedule for the coming week of things that need to get done. Include appointments you need to be at, tests you need to help your kids study for, extracurricular activities, birthday parties your kids need to attend and more. Seeing everything for the upcoming week in front of you helps you prepare and stay organized
  3. Make time for you: Being a mom is one of the most fulfilling experience a woman can have, but it can also take a toll on you. That’s why all moms need to make time for themselves every day. Even 20 to 30 minutes of some quiet time will help you rest, relax and recharge. You can sit in a quiet place and do nothing, listen to music, read a book or whatever takes your mind off of things and reduces stress. This shouldn’t be seen as optional but should be required for all moms
  4. Delegate: This is especially true as your kids get older. Delegate the household chores and other responsibilities. There’s no reason that mom should have to do everything. Get your kids to pack their lunch, clean up their rooms, do the laundry, takeout the garbage, etc.
  5.  Understand the delusion of perfection: As a mom, you may strive for perfection. Perfection in your parenting style, perfection in your kid’s studies and grades, perfection in your cooking, perfection in your career, perfection in the gifts you get your children this holiday season and more. While it’s certainly great to want to be the very best you can be, don’t let perfectionism eat away at you.
  6.  Discuss your feelings: Again, being a mom is a lot to handle. When it gets to be too much, don’t hold in your feelings because that’s not good for your mental or physical health. Find a friend or your spouse and speak about what you are feeling. You can also find a group of other moms who meetup to support one another. If you’re really not feeling like yourself, see a mental health professional to discuss what’s going on.
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Secrets to Getting Your Kids To Eat Better This Thanksgiving

Posted on November 17, 2018

A common worry parents have around Thanksgiving? Their children won’t eat well.

They might not even eat at all. The solution? Imagine Thanksgiving from the perspective of a child. You don’t whose going to be there, the food or the schedule. In short, you don’t know what’s going on. And, on top of all that, you’re expected to just go along, and get along. As long as your kids aren’t infants, it doesn’t matter how old they are.

Filling them in on the plans for the day can solve a lot.

Eating expert and Sociologist Dr. Dina Rose, author of”It’s Not About the Broccoli: Three Habits to Teach Your Kids for a Lifetime of Healthy Eating” offers these tips to help your children and you conquer Thanksgiving and Holiday Eating and create a lifetime of healthy eating habits without focusing solely on nutrition:

1.       DO tell children what will be on the menu — and when. Don’t assume they know. Then, brainstorm together how they’ll find something to eat, if they’re picky, or how they’ll manage all the sweets and treats.

2.       DO let your children eat a meal before leaving home (or in the car on the way to the main event) if they’ll be too tired or too distracted to eat at the meal, or if they’re worried they won’t be able to eat anything at all..

3.       DO help your children figure out what they really want to eat by doing some taste testing, but only if they’re up for it. Assuming some of the food is unfamiliar, fill a plate with one pea-sized bite of everything on offer.

4.       DO tell your children that after the taste test they can help themselves to anything they want. Resist the urge to “push” the healthy stuff.

5.       DO resist the urge to tell your kids to eat-up. Remind them to pay attention to their tummies.

6.       DO help your children save room for treats coming down the pike.

7.       DO keep some familiar   s in the car for the ride home if your child is unlikely to eat at the meal.

8.       DO teach your kids to bookend Thanksgiving with a couple of no-treat days before and after their holiday feast. Even if Thanksgiving is outrageous, this strategy will even things out. Then, let them figure out their own holiday favorite treats.

Good News:

1.      Many children pick at their food. Nibbling, rather than gorging, is a healthy holiday habit.

2.      Many children would rather play than schmooze by the appetizer table.

3.      The mindless eating that parents do is easily avoided for kids who would rather run around than sit around.

4.      Happy holiday memories are more important than healthy holiday eating.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

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First Time Ever Govt Recommendations for Toddlers Physical Activity

Posted on November 15, 2018

Even preschoolers don’t get enough exercise in America.

For the first time, the US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has released federal guidelines on physical activity, fitness, and health that include specific recommendations for preschool children between the ages of three and five years old. The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, released this week (Nov. 12), are the result of 21 months of research from an advisory committee made up of 17 non-federal experts in physical activity and health.

The guidelines recommend that preschool kids be physically active for at least three hours a day. But the average US preschooler doesn’t meet that standard, according to available data. For example, a 2015 study published in Pediatrics looked at 98 preschoolers in 10 child-care centers in Seattle and found that they only got an average of about 48 minutes of exercise a day. That’s bad news both for kids and their caregivers.

Encouraging kids to be active

American children, including preschoolers, are increasingly sedentary—which can have with devastating consequences for their physical and mental health. Childhood obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a lack of physical activities in kids and adolescents can increase their risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, low bone density, and breast, colon, endometrial, and lung cancers. There’s also an important linkbetween daily physical activity and better grades, school attendance, and cognitive skills like memory or concentration.

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5 Ways to Teach Kids About Thanksgiving

Posted on November 10, 2018

The first Thanksgiving as we know it was celebrated in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was a celebration that was born from the pilgrims desire to give prayers of thanksgiving to God for giving them a good harvest.  Thanksgiving was tied to religious celebrations for hundreds of years, but today there are many secular celebrations as well.  Many times, Thanksgiving is over shadowed by Halloween and Christmas because it’s not as flashy or filled with gifts and treats.  Here are some ways to teach your kids to be thankful and to enjoy Thanksgiving.

  1. Create a thankful jar.  For this, you will need a jar of some sort.  This is a great time to recycle a jar that you have recently emptied.  Wash and dry the jar thoroughly and remove any labels that might be on it.  Cut a strip of printer paper that is the right size to wrap around the jar.  Encourage the kids to decorate the strip with a Thanksgiving theme, making sure to write “Thank you” or “Thanks” some place on the strip with crayons or markers.  When the kids are finished, glue the strip of paper around the jar. If you like you can tie a pretty ribbon around the mouth of the jar.  Have the kids cut up slips of paper that can be used for everyone to write what they are thankful for during the days leading up to Thanksgiving.  During dinner everyone should pass around the jar and take a slip of paper out and read it.
  2. Read a book.  There are many books in the library or at the bookstore that explain the story of the first Thanksgiving.  Pick out a book that is age appropriate for the children you are reading to so that they can better understand the story.  Use the story to teach the kids how you feel about Thanksgiving and why you think it’s important.
  3. Perform a puppet play.  Gather together several lunch sacks, construction paper, glue, crayons and other things to create puppets.  If you’d like, you can also print out characters from clip art, cut them out, and glue them to a craft stick instead.  Even a sock puppet will work for this project.  Make puppets that represent the pilgrims, the Native Americans and maybe even a turkey or two.  As the kids are working on making the puppets you can talk about what the pilgrims wore versus what the Native Americans wore.  Keep in mind that historically it is believed that the Native Americans were dressed very simply and would not be wearing a big war headdress.  Once the characters of the puppet play have been created you can talk about the first Thanksgiving and then act it out with the puppets.
  4. Play a game.  Create your own Thanksgiving trivia game.  Go online and find a bunch of facts about Thanksgiving and put them on cards.  Each question should be on its own card. The person who gets the question right can keep the card, that way you can see who wins the most cards at the end.  The beauty of this game is that you can gear the questions to the age of the players.  You may need to have true and false questions or multiple choice questions for little ones.  This game can even be played at the table during Thanksgiving.  You can reserve a special set of adult questions to be added to the game.  You might want to print out the adult questions on a different color paper or using a different color of ink so that you will know which questions are meant for adults.  The game can be fun and challenging, and it will also teach your children a lot about Thanksgiving.
  5. Cook an authentic dish.  There are some misconceptions about what kind of food was served at the first Thanksgiving dinner.  Research with your child what foods would have been there and then prepare some of those dishes on the days leading up to Thanksgiving.  A few suggestions would be: succotash, corn soup, squash, beans, maple sugar candy and berries (even cranberries).  While you are cooking you can talk about how you think the pilgrims and Native Americans would have cooked their food since they didn’t have electricity.  You never know, you might find some new family favorites.

Spend some time with the kids talking about Thanksgiving and why it’s important to you and your family.  Many people find that adopting an attitude of thankfulness all year long helps them enjoy life more.  Give it a try and see what you think.

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Review: Engage Your Picky Eater With This Food Explorer Tool

Posted on November 8, 2018

If you have a picky eater at home, one way to get him or her to be a more adventurous eater is by exploring it first! That’s right! It is the premise behind a book by Dina Rose, “It’s Not About the Broccoli: Three Habits to Teach Your Kids for a Lifetime of Healthy Eating” Rose suggests that if you get your children to learn more about food, its color, its texture and nutrition benefits, they become more informed. Dr. Rose describes the three habits – proportion, variety, and moderation – all kids need to learn, and gives you clever, practical ways to teach these food skills.

She believes that all children can learn to eat right if their parents change the way they interact with them around food. “Just like children need to be taught how to walk, read or dress themselves, healthy eating habits must be taught. Once you do, children will benefit from a lifetime of happy and healthy eating.”

With It’s Not About The Broccoli you can teach your children how to eat and give them the skills they need for a lifetime of health and vitality, Rose explains.

To supplement her ideas, her health food company, The Happy Bite Company, released a Super Food Explorer kit with experiments you can use to guide your child through learning about the food he eats.  It retails for $35. 

Each Kit includes:

  • 32x Magnifying Glass
  • Child-Sized Tongs
  • Eye Droppers
  • Mini Cups
  • Tasting Spoons
  • Exploration Tray
  • Colored Pencil Kit
  • 60 Discovery Activities
  • Specialized Vocabulary List
  • Color Chart
  • Discovery Food List
  • Laminated Discovery Card
  • Progress Chart
  • Insulated Carry Bag

We have the kit and cannot wait to start exploring with the little ones in the blog family! Learn more about the kit here:

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9 Tips for Your Next Family Vacation in Marrakech

Posted on November 7, 2018

Since my post about Egyptian vacations did so well and was well received, I’m going to explore another exotic vactoin

Morocco is one of the most beautiful countries in northern Africa, with a rich history and a fascinating culture it’s a great place to visit as a family and have something to share regardless of the age difference.

If you’re going to visit Morocco, the best place to land and stay would be Marrakech, the economic and tourist hub of the Kingdom and perhaps of all northern Africa.

In this article, you’ll find 9 tips that will make your stay at Marrakech more enjoyable, from important aspects like where and how to find Marrakech rentals, to smaller things that will make the travel more comfortable, like knowing the language and what gear to bring.

Find a Place to Stay Before Arriving

Although Marrakech expanded significantly in the tourism sector, during the seasons, it can get tricky to find a good hotel or a rental home due to the massive influx of tourists.

If you want a luxurious retreat with high-quality services, you might want to take a look online at Marrakech rentals before arriving so you can find a villa or a vacation rental home that’s to your liking and can accommodate your family without any issues.

Mind the Language

The official languages of Morocco are Standard Arabic and Berber, but that doesn’t mean you have to take classes of these languages to communicate.

Most Moroccans take French as a second language as it’s the primary language for business in the country.

In Marrakech, it’ll greatly benefit you to speak at least French, but most people in the tourism industry will know English or Spanish since it’s the most common language of tourists that visit the city.

Travel Light and With Comfortable Clothing

Temperatures in Marrakech are mostly on the comfortable range, leaning towards heat. However, in the summer the temperature can reach as high as 40 C so you might want to find some shade, cool up in your hotel or villa’s pool, and stay hydrated.

Depending on where you come from it might be a drastic change but if you compare it to other African countries and cities, the climate is much more bearable.

Moreover, besides light clothing make sure to pack comfortable exercising garments if you’re going to participate in some of the dozens of activities available in the city, like camel riding, hiking the Atlas Mountains, or a leisure stroll through the Medinas.

Get a Guide

The Medinas are fascinating cities, with beautiful architecture and busy streets, but you’ll probably get lost without an experienced and trustworthy guide.

Not only will it help you not to get lost in the maze-like streets, but they’ll also gladly take you to the cultural landmarks and the hidden beauties of the Medinas, and serve as a deterrent of possible pickpockets and off-track guides trying to lead you into their stores.

Be Mindful of Their Traditions

Morocco and Marrakech opened up to tourism and are looking forward to increasing the number of tourists they receive every year, however, this doesn’t mean they have forgotten their ancient traditions and religion.

They might be more flexible than other Muslims countries, but you might cause a frown or get unwanted attention if you’re not cautious with what you say or do.

Especially for women, who although they don’t have to comply with Muslim traditions, should at least try to wear clothes that cover most of their bodies to not draw any unpleasant looks from other women.

Get Ready to Make New Friends

Moroccans are a welcoming society with friendly smiles everywhere. You’ll feel comfortable wherever you go as people greet you with kind gestures and invite you to join them in their day to day activities.

Whether it’s your children or yourself, you’re bound to make some new friends in Marrakech as you tour through the Medinas with a guide, or stop by to have food in the local markets.

Open up to New Experiences

Marrakech has hundreds of different events and experiences going up at all times, especially during the night when the markets fill up with entertainers, snake charmers, and food stalls.

Don’t be afraid to try something new and enjoy this new experiences from a different culture, you’ll quickly learn why people love Marrakech and tourism is growing so fast.

Take for example Moroccan cuisine, their dishes are delicious, from the Couscous to the Tajine, or the dozens of other delicacies you can find in the markets are exquisite, but if you’re not familiar with their dishes or you’re traveling with picky eaters, like children, dinner time could get hard.

Open up to new flavors and try out traditional Moroccan dishes, you’ll quickly fall in love with the scents and flavors of their gastronomy

Take a Trip Through the Desert

If you go to Marrakech, you have to take a tour through the Sahara. You can’t miss sighting the beautiful dunes of the Sahara and taking a picture of you and your family with the everlasting sea of sand.

You can also take a more extended tour through the Sahara by seeking a local guide. It will have you ride atop of camels and enjoy their traditions. Alternatively, you can have an extreme take on the same trip and ride an all-terrain vehicle across the dunes.

Learn the Art of Trading

When you get to the markets, you’ll notice that most items and services don’t have a fixed price, that’s because Marrakech store owners are used to haggling prices with everyone.

You better get ready to start negotiating since most prices will go higher than what they usually are, and this goes for both items and services, so expect to haggle with mostly everyone.

Enjoy the Marrakech Experience

Tourism is proliferating in Morocco, and it’s very simple to see why, they have a marvelous culture, beautiful sights and a friendly community that loves having tourists.

You’ll find dozens of activities to experience everywhere, events of every kind going on in the squares, and hundreds of food stalls with amazing cuisine to indulge. Moreover, you can stay in a luxurious villa or a traditional Riad and relax to your fullest in this marvelous city.

Hopefully, this tips will become useful in the next trip you have to Marrakech, and you’ll enjoy your journey much more by having this little tips of information at hand before arriving.

 

 

 

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Tips for Breastfeeding While Working

Posted on November 4, 2018

Women have always worked and breastfed. The pioneer mother on the prairie had lots to do besides nurse her babies, and even modern mothers who are at home during the day struggle with the work of running busy households while responding to the needs of their infants. Combining working and breastfeeding is not really a new concept.

Here are tips excerpted from Dr. Sears’ website to help you continue to give your baby the very best in nutrition after you return to your job.

YOUR WEEKS AT HOME

Make a commitment. Juggling breastfeeding and working is not easy. There will be days when you wonder if it’s all worth it. You’ll develop a love-hate relationship with your pump. You’ll leak at embarrassing moments, and you may be on the receiving end of less than supportive comments from ignorant co-workers. There will be days when you’re ready to toss in the pump and reach for the formula. Yet, once you make a commitment to continuing to breastfeed, you’ll find a way to do it. If you believe that breastfeeding is important for your baby and for yourself, doing what it takes to continue this beautiful relationship will not seem as difficult. And you’ll enjoy all the practical benefits of nursing your baby full-time when you are together after work and on weekends. You may be worried that nursing and working will be a lot of bother, or friends may have told you about their own difficulties with pumping milk or arranging feeding schedules. Working and caring for a small baby is a juggling act, so you need to think carefully about this choice and how you will manage. If you’re not sure that you want to continue breastfeeding after you return to your job, give it at least a 30-day trial period. This will give you a chance to work out any problems and settle into a mutually-rewarding experience for you and baby. Have confidence in yourself. You can do this!

Get connected. To build a solid relationship with your baby, you must banish the “what if’s.” “What if he won’t take a bottle?” “What if she won’t settle down without nursing?” “When I pump milk at home I can pump only a little bit. What if I can’t pump enough milk when I’m back at work?” Don’t let these worries about the future intrude on your enjoyment of your first weeks with your baby. These are legitimate concerns, but at the same time, they are all problems that can be solved. It’s good to plan ahead–but not too much. Don’t let your preoccupation with the day you need to return to work (“W” day) rob you of the joy of those weeks of being a full-time mother. So even if your maternity leave is only a few short weeks, use this time to allow yourself to be completely absorbed by your baby. Think of this time as a “babymoon”-like a honeymoon, with emphasis on establishing a relationship with minimal intrusions. This season of your life will never come again; treasure it while it’s here. (You can organize those closets next year–or five years from now.) Mothering a newborn will absorb all your time. It should. These weeks after birth are when mothers fall in love with their babies. And, as with any love affair, the two of you need time to get to know one another.

Will focusing on just being a mother now make it more difficult to leave your baby later? It might. We’ve seen many mothers who had thought they would return to the workplace move heaven and earth in order to stay home longer with their babies. We’ve also seen the payoff for mothers who take the time to really get attached to their babies but who do return to their jobs: they work very hard at maintaining the close relationship with their child. They enjoy their babies more, and the benefits to their children are lifelong.

Get breastfeeding off to a good start. Doing everything you can to make breastfeeding work well in the early weeks is important to breastfeeding success after you return to work. You need to breastfeed early and often to encourage your breasts to produce lots of milk. Feeding your baby on cue will get your milk supply in line with your baby’s needs. And your baby needs lots of practice at the breast so that she has good sucking skills that will not be affected by artificial nipples later on. The more you can learn about breastfeeding at this stage, the more easily you will be able to solve any problems that might occur later on.

Plan to take as much maternity leave as you can. The longer you can enjoy this exclusive breastfeeding relationship, the easier it will be to continue when you are back on the job. Use vacation time, or any other time off that is available to you.

Consider taking an unpaid leave to stay home longer with your baby, if that is financially possible. (Sacrificing some income at this point in your life could turn out to be the one of the best investments you’ll ever make.)

Working only part-time will also simplify breastfeeding. If there is a compelling reason why your baby must receive breastmilk, perhaps because of prematurity or allergies, you may be able to prolong your leave time by getting a letter from your doctor.

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You Think Your Child is Gifted & Want  Test It Out: Here’s What to Do Next

Posted on November 3, 2018

Learning experts agree that simple prep work, which deals primarily with skill building and familiarizing a child with the testing format, is most effective.

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know that I have long been an advocate for growing the best, most conscientious, socially and culturally aware, well-rounded humans and have frequently shared posts, studies, reports and other resources for parents who are interested in raising great humans.

There are endless opportunities in daily life to enrich, enlighten and essentially set up your child to have the best possible successful and happy life and future once you, as a parent, are ready to invest the time and effort.

It doesn’t even cost a penny or much either. Puzzles, online games and tools are plenty online.  There are ways you can incorporate brain development in play, and through several of the methods I’ve blogged about here before.

I’ve shared insights, tips and suggestions about what the families that grow entrepreneurs and free-thinkers do differently, how to encourage your children to read more, tips to help your child who is struggling with homework do better, how to set up a boss homework station that gets things done, reviewed books on what Asian parents do differently, and my most popular post with a guide for helping a children go from a C to an A honor’s student.

Many wealthy families invest in paying hundreds and thousands of dollars annually to get tutors for their children.

And as I said before, you don’t have to be affluent either to make this happen even after you personally determine that you have a gifted child but before you have your child officially tested.

If you don’t have the resources of the super rich, you can invest in one of the many books out there that train and prepare children for taking the tests that the best and most elite and exclusive schools use to ascertain which children to admit.

One such tool is the series of test prep books offered by Reston, Virginia-based The Test Tutor. Among the bank of tests its books help students prep for are:

The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT®2) is a tool used to assess the general intellectual ability of children in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. While the  NNAT-2 does not require reading, writing, or speaking to complete, the question types may be very different from any other test or schoolwork your child has experienced. Prep books start at $19.99

Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) is used to assess a student’s knowledge of basic algebraic concepts, as well as other math principles such as geometry and statistics. The purpose of the test is to assess how well a student understands these concepts, which are considered key for moving through grade levels. The test is administered in a group setting by school administrators/teachers. It contains 60 questions divided into four parts.

The Kaufman Brief Intelligent Test (KBIT) measures verbal and non-verbal intelligence in individuals from ages 4 through 90 years.  It is commonly used as a guide for teachers, parents and students when quick assessment of intelligence is needed for gifted program placement.

The Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) is used to assess intelligence in children between the ages of 6 to 16 years old. IQ tests don’t assess learned knowledge such as reading and math. Instead, they measure a child’s learning capabilities through verbal and non-verbal exercises. For this reason, they are a far better predictor of future academic success, especially in children who are not traditionally exceptional students.

The Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement are long-standing tests used to determine how well a student is retaining and understanding certain subjects. The subjects tested are specifically selected to reflect a student’s knowledge of “core” or very important topics. Information covered includes reading, writing, vocabulary, comprehension, editing and different types of math. The subtests have variations which make them applicable to students of any age, from kindergarten through college. In fact, the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement has norms that make it applicable to adults up to the age of 90. For this reason, it is also commonly used outside of academic institutions to assess the learned knowledge of adults.

Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) is a test given to children 2-7 years of age to assess general IQ as well as verbal abilities, reasoning and processing skills, visual-motor skills, and comprehension of both verbal and visual information. The results from these tests are compared to averages and peer norms then analyzed for areas of weakness or strength. These results then aid parents, teachers, and other professionals in placing them in educational programs best suited to their needs and learning abilities. Although grouped as a single test, the WPPSI actually includes many subtests. Depending on the child’s age and on administrator choices, children may only be tested in certain areas.

Because a lot of these tests are not necessarily correlated to the what children learn in school, it is essential to get prepared and Test-Tutors books are boss for preparing your child to perform well on these tests. If f you want your child to perform at his best, you must expose him to the types of questions he will encounter.

Test-Tutor also sells some tools I used on my straight A. Deans list and honor roll kids to give them a boost. Tools like BrainQuest cards and more starting about $9!

There is support that their prep books get results too! The company gets loads of positive comments and reviews from parents who have purchased the books, use them and recommend them to others. I’ve gone through them and am impressed and excited to delve into them myself and start testing them out on my brood.

They too will be applying to limited enrollment academic programs and schools in coming months and years. I’m hopeful and optimistic that the Test-Tutor will get them properly trained to excel and crush these tests.

 

The price range is reasonable and significantly more cost effective than going with a $150 per hour tutor. That’s the going price range around where I live and I’ve actually paid for an expensive tutor before and did not get much results. It was a total waste of money. So I’m hopeful that Test-Tutor will be a wise cost-effective investment that will pay off!

I’ll keep you updated.

If you want to check them out yourself, check out the website at Theor follow them on social

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Overnight Oats Are Solution to Quick Healthy Family Breakfast

Posted on November 1, 2018

If you can barely function before your morning cup of joe, let alone make breakfast, you need to add overnight oats to your routine! This easy and tasty breakfast food trend is an unexpected, healthy twist on oatmeal. It is the perfect breakfast for people who need to get to school or work early in the morning and tend to skip the most important meal of the day to be there on time. Overnight oats are versatile, nutritious, delicious and very convenient.

What Are Overnight Oats?

Overnight oats are oats that are soaked overnight in water or milk and ‒ optionally ‒ topped off with fruit or nuts. Aside from being time-efficient and delicious, they have several health benefits.

Oats are carbohydrates and can be very filling, so you don’t need to eat a large serving. They are a great source of resistant starch, which is one of the carbs you can eat when you’re trying to lose weight. Soaking them overnight helps your body absorb nutrients from them. Additionally, oats are cholesterol fighters, and so lead to better heart health.

Make them in a jar for breakfast on-the-go!

PICK UP A SET OF 10 jars for $16 on AMAZON

How to Make Overnight Oats

Making basic overnight oats is surprisingly easy. You can divide every recipe into four main sections: the base, the liquid, the mix-ins and the toppings.

Ingredients

This will make a single-serving of overnight oats.

  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup liquid
  • Mix-ins of your choice
  • Toppings of your choice

Note: You can use steel-cut oats if you like a crunchier texture, but avoid using quick oats at all costs.

Directions

  1. Mix the oats and liquid together, maintaining a 1:1 ratio. If you are using yogurt, a 1:1:1 ratio of oats, milk and yogurt will do.
  2. Add mix-ins like fruit, nuts, seeds, spices or vanilla extract. Stir ingredients together and refrigerate for 4-8 hours.
  3. Add toppings and enjoy!

Tips:

  • Making your overnight oats in a mason jar can help with portion control.
  • Adding dry ingredients can make the overall texture drier, so adjust the wet ingredients accordingly.
  • The oats should usually should be soaked for 8 hours, but 4 hours should also be fine.
  • This mixture keeps for 2 days (or 4 days if you don’t use bananas).

10 Overnight Oats Recipes

Overnight oats are very versatile, and you can use many different kinds of ingredients to keep things fresh! Use these recipes to make one serving of overnight oats. The mixing instructions for all of them are the same: mix the base, add the liquid and then add the mix-ins before letting the oats sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Make sure to add toppings of your choice before you dig in!

Fantastic Fruits

If you prefer to keep your breakfast sweet and healthy, make fruit the stars of your overnight oats. Not only is fruit diverse and delicious, it is also very healthy for you.

1. Berry Chia Seed

This overnight oats recipe is very versatile because you can customize it to your favorite berry flavor by changing the jam you use! If you’re a sweet tooth, substitute the jam and honey for a dash of your favorite fruit syrup.

2. Blueberry Banana

If the texture of oatmeal isn’t your favorite, use chia seeds or flaxseed to add some crunch (and nutrition). The mashed banana is a great way to add natural sweetness.

Nifty Nuts

A perfect way to integrate protein into a vegan or vegetarian diet is by adding nuts to your overnight oats. They also provide more texture and contrasting flavors!

 

3. Blueberry Almond

Can’t get enough almond butter? Mix it in to your overnight oats for a sweet treat. The base of this recipe goes with nearly any fruit or topping, not just blueberries!

4. Banana Nut

Craving a banana nut muffin? Try this healthy recipe instead! Experiment with different milks, like coconut or almond milk, for a twist.

Brilliant Breakfast

If you want to inject some traditional breakfast spirit into your overnight oats, these are the perfect recipes for you!

 

5. Maple French Toast

This overnight oats recipe is great on the go because you don’t have to worry about adding toppings. Grab it from the fridge, and take it to the the office to start your morning right.

6. Peanut Butter Banana

This simple combination is a crowd-pleaser! If you’re trying to cut calories, try using peanut butter powder instead of regular peanut butter.

Very Vanilla

Vanilla has an unfair reputation of being bland, when it’s actually a really great flavor when paired with the right things. If you love your vanilla, add some vanilla extract to your overnight oats!

 

7. Cherry Vanilla

Cherries may remind you of summer, but you can make this overnight oats recipe year-round by substituting fresh cherries for frozen ones.

8. Strawberry Vanilla

Similar to strawberry shortcake, this recipe is sweet and refreshing. If you feel like treating yourself, top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Cheerful Chocolate

Even the most picky eaters love their chocolate. Use these chocolatey overnight oats recipes on special days when you want your breakfast to be a celebration!

 

9. Chocolate Coconut

Calling all chocolate lovers! This overnight oats recipe makes it feel like you’re having dessert for breakfast without the guilt.

10. Chocolate Strawberry

This recipe is reminiscent of the Neapolitan ice cream you loved as a kid. Try substituting Greek yogurt for vanilla yogurt or adding vanilla extract!

 

Overnight oats are very popular, and you can see why. The sky’s the limit! Grab your favorite bowl or container and create a fruity and refreshing mixture, or opt for a sweet treat inspired by your favorite dessert. Try experimenting with different bases, mix-ins and toppings and create your own overnight oats recipes!

 

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