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Back to School: Bullying 101 (INFOGRAPHIC)

Posted on September 19, 2014

With bullying always an ongoing concern for parents, school administrators and educators, we thought we would share Mom.me’s newest infographic that offers stats on the current state of bullying, top bullying myths and facts, signs your child is being bullied, and offers suggestions and tips on what parents can do to stop such behavior.

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Help a poor kid get life-saving vaccines with Walgreen’s ‘Get a Shot. Give a Shot’ campaign

Posted on September 18, 2014

A new charity campaign lets you potentially save a child’s life in a poor nation when you get a flu shot.

Now thru October 13, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, Walgreens will donate vaccines for polio and measles to a child in an underdeveloped country every time someone gets a flu shot or other immunization at one of Walgreen’s pharmacies or clinics nationwide.

Currently, 1 in 5 children worldwide are without access to life-saving immunizations, and a child dies every 20 seconds from a vaccine-preventable disease.

This is the second year of the life-saving operation and Walgreens says it hopes to double its reach from the 3 million vaccines donated last season to 6 million this year.

Get a shot, check out the Walgreens.com/GetAShot page for more information and on how to find a local clinic. Sign the pledge to help save children’s lives and to share what you know with family and friends.

These days, it can be hard to give back, but these little ways can and do make a difference. I pledged! Going to get my shot this weekend! You can too!

Very cool! We know you anti-Vaxxers will be sitting this one out.

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5 ways to teach sportsmanship to children

Posted on September 17, 2014

There is a little 8-year old boy on my son’s soccer team who throws a tantrum each time the team loses or he doesn’t get a chance to play as long as he wants. Another boy in that same son’s basketball team would throw a fit and cry if he got taken out of the game.

Teaching a child to be a good sport can be challenging especially for younger children. Take a look at these tips Supernanny.com asked us to share to give you ideas on how to handle it:

Teach him that there is no I in TEAM. This saying is still popular among coaches because it’s so true. Kids, by nature, are self-focused. It’s natural, especially at a young age, for them to think about themselves more than their teammates. They want to be the one to kick the ball in for a goal or hit the home run and win the game. Teach your child that no matter how great he is, he’s part of a team, and everyone on that team is a valuable player. Talk about how each person has something to contribute and should be given the chance to play. These ideas can be especially hard to get across to your child if he’s skilled and is considered a star of the team. When others set him apart because of his talent, it’s easy for him to fall into the trap of feeling like he can get things done all by himself. But he can’t. Even the star needs the support and help of his teammates to shine.
Let him know mistakes are a part of everything in life. No one is perfect, and mistakes are just part of the game in sports. That’s easy to say, but often kids don’t take mistakes with a great attitude. A missed ball or an out of bounds throw can cause anything from a few minutes of pouting to a full-blown meltdown. Take those opportunities to talk with your child about his feelings about the mistake. Remind him that no one on the team, not even the star player, gets it right every time. Help him remember a time when other team members made mistakes and it turned out OK. Helping him realize that his mistake isn’t fatal will help put things in perspective. Off the field or court, give your child lots of opportunities to try new things. Learning how to bounce back from mistakes in everyday life will help him do the same in the game.
Show her how to win. One of the hardest things to teach your child is the lesson of humility. It’s her natural instinct to enthusiastically celebrate her team’s wins, and there’s nothing wrong with that. She and her teammates worked hard and they deserve to celebrate! They should be proud of themselves and enjoy the payoff of all their hard work and dedication. The key is to show kindness and respect to the other team while enjoying the win. That balance is hard to achieve, even for some adults. Remind your child what’s it’s like to be on the losing team. How would she like the winning team to treat her in those situations? What could they do or say that would make the loss easier to handle? By helping her see things from the losing team’s perspective, she’ll be much better prepared to show humility when she wins.
Show him how to lose. The old adage “there’s nothing worse than a sore loser” still rings true today. Teaching your child to show humility when he wins is hard. Teaching him to show grace when he loses is even harder. His natural reaction is more likely to be anger and resentment towards the other team. Use these opportunities to talk about the importance of being proud of his efforts, even when they don’t result in a win. Books and films are filled with examples of good sportsmanship and can be discussion starters for you.
Give her practice in being part of a team outside of sports. There are lots of opportunities in your child’s everyday life for her to learn and practice good team skills. Anytime she has to work with another person to accomplish a task will help her build up the skill set she needs to be a great team player. This can happen in free play with neighborhood kids when they come together to build a backyard fort or develop a new game. It can happen when she’s working with her siblings to get the Saturday chores done. Allow your child to learn from those situations and she’ll reap the rewards both on and off the field.

Good luck parents and caregivers!

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How rich parents can be friendlier than middle class ones

Posted on September 16, 2014

I had the fortunate privilege of attending the US Open

Finals this year (and last) riding the coat tails of one of my friends who is

an avid tennis fan and who secures plum tickets each year.

After this year’s tournament, I was having an online conversation with

friends, and one pal mentioned how she will be taking her daughter there

regularly, taking note at how friendly everyone was there.

I agreed. If you were

to guage by all the anti-rich sentiments that circulate in progressive political

circles, you’d think wealthy people were the worst type of people on earth.

But those attending the US Open were/ are usually overwhelmingly

affluent and with sponsors like Rolex, Mercedes Benz, and Ralph Lauren‘s Polo it’s no wonder

as those brands have studied and know the demographic.

The online exchange reminded me of the time I realized that

I sometimes prefer meeting new rich friends than middle class and upper middle class

ones.

I know it sounds

shallow but if you think about it, rich people are stereotyped to be snooty,

snobby and perceived to always be looking down on others.

Those in the lower and middle socioeconomic class are thought

by many to be more compassionate and caring for their fellow man.

My experience has in at least one social experience was the opposite.

After I had my first child in 2002, I was working at an

international law firm at the time and was blessed to have had 6 months paid maternity

leave – virtually unheard of in the US.

I had loads of time on my hands. Back then, the national play

and learn centers Gymboree gave away one free visit for each location.

So each week, I would schedule first time visits and would pack

up my newborn and go visit all the

Gymboree centers around the DC Metropolitan area to see which one was the best

fit. There were about 4 or 5 of them.

At each center, my baby boy and I would be joining an

already existing class session or one that had just started. We would have to reach out to friend other

parents and babies there. Each session

started with a few minutes of free unstructured play, then parents got a chance to formally introduce

themselves and their baby during the formal circle play time. After it, we’d

have a few moments of free play again during the hour to 2 hour play sessions. This is when you’d schedule play dates outside

of class or just try to make new friends, generally.

I immediately noticed a pattern.

At the centers that were located in middle to upper middle

class neighborhoods , I found the moms (and dads sometimes) weren’t too open

and friendly. They would look at me and turn their heads and not necessarily

respond to my friendly hand or smile to connect. They’d stick to chatting with

the friends they already knew. Bummer.

Only during the formal circle times, if we were asked to

share where we worked or what we did for a living, I discovered that once some

of these parents learned I was an attorney and then working at a major law

firm, that only then would they start speaking and would gravitate over to me

and my baby. Curious.

That was not the case in the super affluent areas, at the centers

where every SUV parked out front was of some supreme luxury brand. My experience was that the moms were generous

and open and welcoming from the beginning. I didn’t get a feeling of judgment

or sizing up to determine if I was worthy of getting to know better.

I figured it out quickly.

They simply could afford to be friendly. Many of the moms

were married to very rich men and therefore, in some respects, had reached the pinnacle

of financial success anyway and therefore were done their social climbing. They

didn’t need to feel that adding you as a friend would be adding a new person to

compete with.

They also no longer had to only socialize with those who were

worthy of being in the same circle or could be an asset or connection to the

next rung in the socio economic ladder they were clawing ferociously to the top to summit.

Further, if race was a factor, they, more likely, had

wealthy friends of various races and therefore did not assume that a black

woman, for example wouldn’t have access

to a network they could tap into and therefore not worth getting to know more.

Certainly, these are broad generalizations and do not apply

to all wealthy or all middle class people as I

know the opposite can be said from members of each class.

Just in my casual observation and experience the social

climbers are more likely to have tight cliques and circles and are not keen on letting

new friends penetrate through.

Like one of my favorite rappers, Drake, sings, “No new

friends.”

photo: courtesy Coursehorse

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World’s Best Father: 8 Funny Creative photoshop magic Images

Posted on September 16, 2014

In 2010, photographer Jason Lee used photography editing magic to create some really creative photos of his daughter. We blogged about it two years later in 2012.

That same year in 2012, Dave Engledow followed suit and used his own photoshop and graphic editing skills to create similar awesome memories of his daughter with the “World’s Best Father” mug in each image.

Here are 8 of our favorite from the series, um that we are sharing again two years after it first went viral! Better late than never, right? ha!

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Does your kids’ school have these 5 Safety Elements?

Posted on September 14, 2014

As students world wide return to school, some parents, administrators and community members may also have their mind towards safety and the rash of violence that affect some schools each year. Did you know there are some elements of architectural design that makes some schools more safe than others?

Brian P. Whitmore, AIA, LEED® AP, Vice President of Design at BCA Architects, provides these 5 elements to consider:

1. Engage the Community – Nobody knows better the safety or security of a particular environment than that community. By engaging the stakeholders in conceptualization, a design team can learn a tremendous amount about what that community needs to protect itself, and what level of security is appropriate for its design. Additionally, by involving the community in the design effort, that design becomes more valuable to the community, hopefully raising the awareness to preserve that value long term.

2. Position Administration Front and Center – If a building or campus design houses an administration component, it’s important to locate that administration element adjacent to the primary entrance and with good visual access to that entrance. More than likely, an administrator will be occupying that space at all times so as to have eyes on the entrance.

3. Provide Door and Window Hardware with the ability to “Lock Down” – In an emergency, it’s important that occupants in a building have the ability to escape. On the other hand, the ability to protect occupants inside a building may also be a strategy for safety. Providing door and window hardware that has the ability to remain open, or be automatically or manually locked from the inside is of particular importance when a lock down scenario occurs.

4. Consider the overall placement of Security Systems – Nobody wants a building or campus to look like an institution, unless that is the intent of the design. Careful consideration of the placement of lighting, fencing, gates and camera systems can complement the architectural design and also maintain security. Buildings, other structures and landscape can provide good “barriers” to access and provide safety and refuge where necessary. They can also create blind spots and dark corners when not designed properly.

5. Develop an “inward focus” design – Access to natural light is critical to the design of educational, corporate and residential spaces, but can also weaken the line of defense. Consider the placement of glazing facing inward, or toward a safe environment. If glazing must be placed adjacent to the exterior or public way, consider locating it above reach, or with enough strength and the ability to be obscured in case of an unsafe situation.

Is your kids’ schools designed with these tips in mind? If not, these are things to consider and think about and perhaps bring up if there is an opportunity to redesign or retrofit the school.

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Self Improvement Month: 6 Ways to be a Better Parent

Posted on September 14, 2014

With September being Self-Improvement Month, parents can use the opportunity to work on being better at parenting and working on themselves too.

Given all the different things that we have to do each week, schedules and other obligations, we sometimes move on auto pilot.

Take this month to learn some valuable tips about how you can simplify your life and become the best parent and role model possible. Gregg Murset, a busy CEO of MyJobChart and father of six, offers 6 tips to help you accomplish that:

1. Make The Time – Sure it’s a busy world and we all have commitments as adults but your kids need you too. Make the time each day to hear about what’s going on with them, what’s new in their world or what struggles they are having. They also don’t mind hearing about what’s going on in your world either.

2. Keep Your Word – Kids need to know that they can count on their parents. If you promise something to your child or make a comitment, do everything you can to keep it.

3. Don’t Bribe Your Kids – A recent survey showed that 61% of parents bride their children in order to achieve good behavior on a regular basis. While bribes could solve the problem at that moment, long-term bribing could develop a child who will only do something for certain payback or incentives.

4. Try Saying “No” More Often… You don’t need to crush every dream your child has for spending money, but the next time your child wants another Lego, video game, ice cream cone or piece of candy from the rack at the store check-out, try saying no. In the long run, you both will be better off for doing so.

5. Talk To Your Kids – No topic should ever be uncomfortable for a parent to discuss with their child. Not money, not drugs, not sex, not what they do on the Internet, not religion and certainly not what’s happening in their lives. However, study after study and survey after survey reveal that parents have issues discussing these topics (any more) with their kids.

6. Get Involved In Community – Show your kids that you are willing to be active in the community to help others. Any time you get the chance to demonstrate the willingness to help others without something in return, you have earned a gold star.

Good luck, parents!

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18 Kids Bento Box Lunch Ideas (PHOTOS)

Posted on September 12, 2014

I am trying to come up with some healthy and yummy lunch options for my children for school. I discovered recently that Bento Boxes are the perfect solution for providing many options and keeping them neat and tidy for little hands,

These days retailers like Pottery Barn and Target sell them starting at around $10 each, and upwards. More complex ones like Omie Box‘s have hot attachment options so you can provide soup too.

Check out these creative lunch options I spotted that some have already created. I’m making my grocery shopping list now to accommodate some of these ideas.

Amazon.com Widgets

source: http://www.omielife.com/, http://www.handmadecharlotte.com/ http://www.blessthismessplease.com/, http://greatist.com/, http://greatist.com/, http://www.potterybarnkids.com/. http://www.sandraseasycooking.com/

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5 Tips for teaching School/Life balance to kids

Posted on September 10, 2014

From first-hand knowledge, I know that a child can struggle in class, lose assignment sheets and notes, miss assignments and forget to bring home books needed to complete homework if he or she is not organized. My husband and I are working through this problem with our eldest two.

That is why I was elated to recently learn about the benefits of teaching children “executive functioning skills.” They are the type of skills top or mid level execs use to succeed in work but certainly can apply to kids as well.

Organization and focus are key qualities for many successful adults, but these skills do not come naturally to grown ups, imagine if you were taught it at a young age and grew with those skills.

The Glenholme School in Washington, Connecticut actually has a program called “Executive Functioning Skills” which helps its students focus on tasks at hand, prioritize and organize in a way that will help them throughout their lives even after leaving school.

Here are 5 tips that Maryann Campbell, Executive Director of The Glenholme School, offers to assist all parents and children:

1. Stash and trash – Prevent mountains of papers from accumulating by learning what to keep and what to toss. This is a very important skill, even for the most organized adults! Teach children at a young age what types of documents to keep and throw away as well as how to best organize the materials they are keeping. Your future storage bins will thank you!

2. Balancing work and fun – It is important to teach children that there is a time for work and a time for play, and that they are both important for a well-balanced life! Make time for studying, afterschool activities and dinner with the family.

3. Manage the day – Parents have planners, and so should children! Teach your child to use a day planner or calendar, where they can record their school work, after-school activities, social events and family time. Whether it is paper or digital, it doesn’t matter. The point is that the child learns to manage their time and sets realistic expectations for each day.

4. Organize assignments – Parents can help their children stay organized with color-coded folders and a desk-top storage system for their school work. Children also really enjoy label makers. Divide the folders and storage containers by subject, and teach children how to label accordingly.

5. Lightening the backpack without losing the work – We’ve all witnessed the tiny child with the gigantic backpack that weighs nearly as much as they do, as well as the extreme opposite of the student who shows up to class without a pen or paper. Teaching children to carry what is important for the day will help them be better prepared for class. Go over the day’s activities the night before, make a list of what classes and activities the child has and pack accordingly.

This solid advice should help parents have a basis and foundation for passing on these critical skills to their children.

photos: courtesy Ikea, The Glenholme School

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5 Reasons why kids are hyper

Posted on September 9, 2014

Do you have hyperactive kids? Sometimes kids are just being kids and people are too quick to label them as hyper or having ADD or ADHD. There’s a lot more to the ADD and ADHD than being hyper. There are many reasons why kids can become hyper. Check out 10 reasons your child is always hyper.

1. Food dyes: There’s been a recent study in the UK where food dyes in drinks and snacks have been linked to a higher likelihood of hyperactivity. Specific dyes mentions were FD&C Blue 1 and 2, FD&C Green 3, Orange B, FD&C Red 3, FD&C Red 40, FD&C Yellow 5 and 6. Avoiding artificial colors in your child’s foods may decrease the occurrences of hyperactivity.

2. Preservatives: Food preservatives were looked at in combination with the artificial colors so studies say it’s hard to determine if preservatives alone cause hyperactivity in children, but recommendations have been made to reduce or try to eliminate preservatives from your child’s diet if they are always hyper.

3. Sugar: While studies cannot confirm a solid link between the consumption of sugar and hyperactivity the average teacher can. If kids are given sugary snacks in the morning to celebrate a birthday they are louder and less focused for the rest of the day. The body turns sugars into carbs which fuel the body and give us energy. Certain kids are more sensitive to the effects of sugar than others.

4. Overstimulation: In babies we know that overstimulation may cause them to cry inconsolably. In older children overstimulation comes out in tantrums, aggressive behavior toward others and hyperactivity. Hyperactive children tend to get into more fights with their peers and have trouble coping with situations on the playground.

5. Excessive television watching: It seems like television watching gets blamed for everything. Teens go on killing rampages because they watched too much violence on TV; we have a generation of overweight kids now because of too much television, etc. Now hyperactivity is also being linked. Watching TV is a sedentary activity and children that are prone to hyperactivity should have an active lifestyle in order to help get rid of their extra energy. Watching TV is not active and therefore should be limited to an hour a day according to experts for those children that are prone to hyperactivity.

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