The Winter Family Fun Guide
Brave the cold and enjoy one of our many local parks...
Online Education Explained
Is it right for YOUR family?....
Managing Education Challenges
When your child has a learning disability, you really need to know what to expect...
Revealing Flu Facts
Flu season is still in full swing, so arm yourself...
Get Crafty
This cute little looped flower is an easy craft for kids. You can make lots of little flowers to hang around … or turn them into snowflakes in hopes that real ones hit the ground.What You NeedToilet paper or paper towel rolls (empty)Tissue paperScissorsGluePaintRibbonWhat You Do
Take your empty toilet paper or paper towel roll and flatten it by just pressing down on it along the side.
With your scissors, cut one-inch strips off the roll, leaving the sides creased where you flattened it.
One at a time, take a loop that you cut and glue along the edge near the bottom with the point of another one until you have come all the way around and made a flower.
Before you glue in the last loop, however, be sure to glue a strip of ribbon to the point toward the inside of the "flower" to hang it with.
Set aside to dry fully.
Once dry, paint it like a flower or white for a snowflake and let dry completely.
Then, put glue around the edges of it and lay it down on a piece of tissue to glue the tissue to the back of the "flower" to let the light shine through.
Set aside to dry.
Once dry, cut the "flower" out with just a little of a border around the edges.
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Hot Products
Looking for something to nourish your little one's skin? Dolphin Organics has a fragrance free line that will leave Baby squeaky clean. With their labels very clearly marked with the ingredients, it's easy to see that the product is made with organic or natural elements. You will not see anything listed under the artificial ingredients column. This hypoallergenic line includes baby lotion, as well as tear free baby shampoo & bodywash, baby bubble bath and hair conditioner. So, if you're looking for something that will leave baby smelling all pretty like fruit and flowers, you might as well find the ones that have the artificial ingredients and that are most likely not truly organic. I was a little skeptical about it at first, because I like all the smells, but I know it's not good for my little ones. This product leaves them clean and smelling ... well, clean. You can purchase the products online at dolphinorganics.com. Baby Shampoo & Bodywash (8 fl.oz) — $11.49 Hair Conditioner (8 fl.oz) — $11.49 Baby Lotion (8 fl.oz) — $11.49 Baby Bubble Bath (12 fl.oz) — $12.99 Travel Set — $16.49
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Hot Products
As a busy parent, I find myself in the car … A LOT! As do many of you, I'm sure.There are those days that when I pick my daughter up from school, she is starving. So, as a special treat on a random day, I will let her get something to eat at her favorite drive-thru place as we are on our way to pick up her little brother. From then on, it's, "OK, I am ready for my french fries. Here's my drink. Now, can I have my chicken nuggets?" I hand them back one at a time to only trade out for what she had in her hand. Well, there is also a local dad that has come across similar situations. A Nashville, TN father of four, Dave Francis, has come up with a brilliant solution to this: LapFit.LapFit is a uniquely designed tray that lies across your child's lap with a special "leg-hugging" bottom that keeps the tray on your child's lap. The bottom's prongs are angled so that the natural lay of the legs fit right between them.LapFit is also equipped with a cup holder and spaces for food, ketchup and even dipping sauce containers. Now your child has all that is needed for a snack or meal while in the car without you having to hand them back at different times. My daughter was thrilled to have everything squared away in its own spot.Once done eating, place the accompanying EasyFit desktop over LapFit so your child can color or do homework on a flat surface (with a pencil spot so those don't roll off, too).It comes in two different sizes (LapFit Toddler pictured in pink and LapFit Junior pictured in blue) and available in red, pink or blue.LapFit$19.99 eachlapfit.com
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Well Child Tips
According to the National Sleep Foundation, two-thirds of kids in the middle school years aren't getting adequate sleep, which, for these ages, is 10 to 12 hours. Studies have shown over and over again that sleep-deprived children are prone to acting out, inappropriate behavior, inability to focus, depression and even weight gain, because a kid without enough energy reserves in the form of sleep tends to eat more and exercise less.
But why are kids sleeping less? It's not so hard to see.
Today's kids have little down time, experts say, far removed from the endless hours of long-ago childhoods. Now, nearly everyone knows a prepubescent whose days are as packed as most working adults.
Sometimes the solution is clear: make sure your children get more sleep, and be firm about it. Parents must set firm limits on bedtime and stick to it. If your 10-year-old is burning a heavy schedule in sports, have her in bed by 9.
Here are better sleep tips from the National Sleep Foundation:
Establish a regular bed time each night for your child and do not vary from it. Similarly, the wake up time should not differ from weekday to weekend by more than one to one and a half hours.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine, such as giving your child a warm bath or reading a story.
Do not give your child any food or drinks with caffeine less than six hours before bedtime.
Avoid giving your child large meals close to bedtime.
Make after-dinner playtime a relaxing time as too much activity close to bedtime can keep children awake.
There should be no television, radio, or music playing while your child is going to sleep.
Make sure the temperature in your child's bedroom is comfortable and that the bedroom is dark.
Make sure the noise level in the house is low.
Infants and children should be put to bed when they appear tired but still awake (rather than falling asleep in a parent's arms, or in another room). You should avoid getting into bed with your child in order to get them to sleep.
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Snack Attack
Whip up an old-fashioned after-school snack your kids will gobble up fast — your homemade oatmeal raisin cookies and a big, tall icy cold glass of milk. Here's your easy-to-make-from-scratch fail-proof recipe:
Raisin Oatmeal Cookies (makes 3 dozen)
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1/2 Cup Honey
1 Large Egg, room temperature
2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Cup Dried Raisins
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
Place the butter and honey in a bowl or standing mixer and beat for 1 minute.
Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat for another minute on medium speed or until smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix to combine the flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix to incorporate.
Stir in the raisins then drop 1 tbsp of dough for each cookie onto a Silpat or parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 12-14 minutes.
Cool and serve.
— susan day
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Parenting Tip Of The Day
At some point, little kids will inevitably take something from a store that hasn't been paid for. Don't freak out, experts say. Taking a handful of candy from a bin or even a small toy is a no-no, but young children with want in their hearts need to learn the difference between what is their's and what is someone else's.
If this happens to you and your child, after confirming that your child did in fact take an item from a store, the first thing you should do is ask her why. According to The Parent Survival Guide author Dr. Todd Cartmell, kids who take things from stores — shoplift — do so out of sheer desire and not because they are actually stealing.
With your child, Cartmell says, return the item to the store with your young child along. And, if it happens with an older child who should know better, let him do the explaining himself and repeat why stealing is wrong in language he can understand.
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Get Crafty
This craft for kids to do will have them giggling as they trace their hands and create their own work of art with their hands!
What You NeedConstruction paper (all colors)ScissorsGlueMarkers/Paint
What You Do
With the green construction paper, have your child trace his hand six times and cut them out.
Take another piece of construction paper (color of your choice) and glue a row of 3 of your hand prints along the bottom with the fingers facing down.
Next, glue 2 hand prints on the next layer about 2 - 3 inches above it (centered).
Next, glue 1 hand print on the next layer about 2 - 3 inches above it (centered).
Cut out a yellow star for the top and glue it on or paint one on.
Cut out lots of different color and sizes of circles for christmas ornaments and glue them on. Or take your paints/markers and decorate as you wish.
Set aside to dry.
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Hot Products
 With the approaching cold weather, your Baby's skin will need protecting just as it would during the hot weather. The cold weather can do a number on your skin, and we want Baby to be healthy and comfortable. Do this with Dr. Sears Family Essentials.
This line of skin care comes from the renowned Dr. Sears and his family of pediatricians and is made without any harmful chemicals and is 100 percent natural. There is something for each part of Baby's body:Baby Wipes (72 count; $2.99) — pediatrician formulated, biodegradable, soft bamboo fabric caresses Baby's bottom as you clean it.
Healthy Baby Bottom Cream (4 oz.; $5.99) — a preventative measure to keep diaper rashes at bay.
Diaper Rash Cream (2 oz; $6.99) — when diaper rashes occur, cleanse Baby's bottom and use this all-natural cream to clear it up.
Baby Wash & Shampoo (12 oz; $5.99) — a gentle citrus scent shampoo/body wash that will leave Baby's skin clean, smooth and smelling fresh. Safe for use from head to toe. Non-irritating and tear-free, too.
Baby Lotion (6.7 oz; $6.99) — a lotion made to soothe, moisturize and nourish Baby's skin instead of irritating it and allowing it to absorb unwanted chemicals like other lotions.
There's something there for Mom, too. The Stretch Mark Cream (3.4 oz; $19.99) — reduce the appearance of the stretch marks you may have garnered while pregnant. Because it, too, is made without harmful chemicals, it's safe to use during your pregnancy for best results.
Dr. Sears Family Essentialsdrsearsfamilyessentials.com
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Get Crafty
Here's a cute little craft for kids to do while out for winter break. It may take a while, but the end result you will love.
What You NeedToilet paper rollConstruction paper or left over wrapping paperGlueScissorsWhat You Do
Cut 6 strips of construction/wrapping paper for each of the varying lengths: 1-by-3-inches, 1-by-4-inches, 1-by-5-inches, 1-by-6-inches.
Take one of the lengths and gently fold a strip together and glue the ends together (do not crease at the fold). Do this to all the strips from the same length and set them aside to dry.
Do this same step with each of the different lengths (except the 1-by-3-inch, which needs to stay flat) and keep them separated.
Once they are all dry, take your toilet paper roll and stand it upright.
Take the longest strips and start gluing them around the middle of your toilet paper roll with the folded end pointing down. Glue the same length of loops all the way around the base of the roll.
Once you finish the first ring, grab the next size smaller and do the same thing, but placing it just about a half inch above the bottom layer.
Do this to each of the different size loops until you get to the last length (the 1-by-3-inch).
Now take the last smallest length and glue one end right above the last layer and then fold it over and glue it into the inside of the toilet paper roll. This is to cover the edge of end of the roll.
Decorate as you wish by cutting out stars, circles, etc. and gluing them to the tree. You can even take a cotton ball and lightly roll it in glue and then gold glitter to stick in the top of the roll to represent a star.
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