Educational Weekend Activities for Kids

March 1, 2012 by 3 Comments

School may be five days a week, but when it comes to learning, no one should ever take a vacation. Even
on the weekends, when you’re home with your kids, there are fun and educational activities that you can
do. You don’t need a lesson plan, just a little bit of inspiration to point you into the right direction.

Take a Day Trip

Zoology is the study of animals. Why not take the kids to the zoo? If they’re in a science class, it’s always a
winner to visit a science museum. Maybe their teacher is educating them on botany (the study of plants).
If so, there are more and more places that are erecting community gardens. Or maybe they’re in an art
class. If so, when’s the last time that you checked out an art exhibit at a local gallery? The fun thing about
options like these is that while in a school setting, kids are often sitting at a desk and reading about
various subjects, an educational outing with the family, gives them more of a hands on experience in more
of relaxed setting.

Create Your Own Card Games

A little bit of construction paper can go a really long way. If you want to help develop a child’s memory,
get some magazines, cut out some pictures and glue them to some 5×7 index cards or cut some pieces
of paper down to that size. Turn the pictures over one at a time and then flip them back. See who can
remember which pictures were where. Another idea is if you want to help them learn how to read better,
another set of cards can be made with words on them that teach spelling, enunciation and the definitions.
For each word said and defined correctly, give a point and at the end of the game; to whomever has the
most points, give a prize. Another cool way to use handmade cards is to create your own scavenger hunt
that has instructions on the front like “Look in the hallway closet” or “Check underneath the kitchen table”
for items. What are your kids learning? How to follow directions.

Check Out Some Sports

OK, Dad will probably love this option, but there is a greater [Read more…]

Filed Under: education, family, kids

Fiddler on the Roof– an amazing show

February 27, 2012 by 12 Comments

Fiddler on the Roof was all that it promised to be. This classic piece of theater was a pleasure to watch and was thoroughly enjoyed. The music of Jerry Bock’s and Sheldon Harnick’s lyrics, along with Joseph Stein’s book (based on “Tevye and his Daughters” by Sholem Aleichem) are joined together to create one of the most enduring and well known works of theater to date.

The leading character, milkman Tevye, struggles with himself, talks to God, and tries to deal with the changes in the world around him. A kind-hearted man, he wants to do well by those around him and be an honest person. Living in the Russian village of Anatevka with his wife and five daughters, Tevye (please read the rest of my article below)
[Read more…]

Filed Under: entertainment, family, review, theater

Fun Family Activities for the Weekend

February 24, 2012 by 3 Comments

When it comes to raising a family, life is already pretty full. There’s work and school. There’s
extracurricular activities and shopping. And somehow, you still have to fit in time to sleep, shower and
eat. So when the weekend rolls around, sometimes rest is all that you want to have on your to-do list.

Oh, but youth tends to have other things in mind. Kids are not thinking about all that they did on
yesterday or all that they’ll have to do tomorrow. They are just focused on what can be done today—
things that will keep them happy, active and entertained. Sure, fun to you may be doing a little gardening
or checking out the best that Bakersfield garage sales have to offer, but you’re probably going to be out
voted. The good news is that when it comes to finding fun family activities, there are many that don’t have
to feel like excruciating work for you to do. There are things that can be amusing for the children and,
surprisingly enough, inspiring for you as well.

Bake Something

What child doesn’t like desert? Take your kids into the kitchen to learn how to bake cookies, homemade
ice cream or even candy. If they are older, maybe expand that list to baking bread, homemade jams or
cooking entrees. You can even have a cooking contest where everyone in the family makes something from
scratch and whomever the family votes made the best-tasting dish, they win a prize. The extra plus for
you? Your children are learning their way around the kitchen.

Host Your Own Field Day

Remember when you were in elementary school and there was Field Day? A day when there was nothing
but outdoor activities and first, second and third place ribbons? Consider planning one with your child
with things that they like to do. It could be the traditional running races and obstacle courses or it could
be applying traditional outside games like kick ball and four square. Award ribbons can be found at stores
like Wal-Mart and Target and to heighten the excitement, invite some of their classmates or neighborhood
friends. Let them take turns being judges or referees for different events. This will give you a few minutes
to enjoy a glass of lemonade while cheering them on from the back porch.

Teach and Learn a New Thing

One [Read more…]

Filed Under: family

How to Build a Good Parent Teacher Relationship

February 23, 2012 by 8 Comments

Sure you love your kids and you enjoy spending as much time with them as possible, but the reality is that
if they’re school-aged, the one who shares most of their (weekly) waking hours with them is their teacher.
That reason alone should be a strong enough motivator to want to do all that you can to cultivate a healthy
parent-teacher relationship. Not only will it put you more at ease when it comes to your child’s well-being,
but it can also help the teacher to be a more effective educator. Being that each child is different, it can
never hurt for their teacher to have as much relevant information from you that will assist in your son or
daughter’s academic development.

It’s rare that a child has the same teacher (or set of teachers) for more than one school year and so this
means that it’s a good idea to be proactive in introducing yourself. If there’s not some kind of formal open
house at your child’s school (or you’re not able to make it), most administrative offices provide a list of
each teacher’s name, phone numbers and email address. Don’t hesitate to contact them to request a time
for the both of you to get better acquainted.

Once the two of you have met, be sure to state some of your desires for your child for that school year. If
they’re older children, ask the teacher if there’s a weekly lesson plan available that gives you an idea of
what your son or daughter will be studying and when tests are scheduled. Also be sure to ask the teacher if
there is anything that you can do to help your child excel in their class. Most educators are quite relieved
to know that they have a parent’s support when it comes to classwork assignments.

While it shows great initiative and responsibility to attend every prescheduled parent-teacher conference,
should problems arise, either [Read more…]

Filed Under: education, family, kids

Helping Your Teen Get over a Bad Breakup

February 22, 2012 by 11 Comments

You don’t want your kids to suffer. And breaking up, as the old song goes, really is hard to do. No matter
what age you are, it’s never fun, but it may be even more difficult for teenagers, who have heightened
emotions at even the best of times. So even though as parents you know that your children are going to
have go through this painful process – and even though you know you don’t have to like it, necessary as it
is – you still want to be able to help your teen through the less than enjoyable experience of having their
heart broken. Here are a few tips on how to do it:

Listen up. The first thing you should do is to listen without judging. When your teen comes to you, focus
all your attention on them. You want them to keep talking, so ask questions that will allow your teen to
supply the details so that a) you can begin to see the big picture, and, more importantly, b) they can begin
to get it out of their system. Be as supportive as you can with your body and your words: remain open
physically (you should especially never cross your arms over your chest, as this closes you off and makes
you look stand-offish or judgmental) and tell your child that you love them and will be there for them no
matter what.

Be understanding. Though you’ve probably gone through this – or something like this – before,
remember that your teenager probably hasn’t, or hasn’t [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, kids

How Can I Get My Family to Live Healthier?

February 20, 2012 by 11 Comments

So you’ve tried to let things work themselves out, at least as far as your family’s health and lifestyle choices
are concerned. But you’ve come to realize that it’s not going to change on its own, and those small fears
are starting to become big time worries. Whether its cancer or heart disease, childhood obesity or early
onset diabetes, our modern medical understand has made a ton of progress. But many of the warning
signs of these troubling conditions point to lifestyle, and whether a person consistently makes a healthy
choice. And it’s never too early to start. How can you get your family to adopt a healthy lifestyle?

There’s nothing wrong with trickery. You’ve tried everything, and the kids just will not eat the asparagus
you cook. The idea of salmon or tofu revolts them, and if it’s not in nugget form, it just can’t be on the
plate. If health and wellness are your end goals, there’s no harm in trying to sneak some vegetables or
fruits into their favorite foods. There are ways to subtly sneak these underrepresented food groups in
breakfast, lunch and dinner. You’ll even find amazing dessert recipes that involve veggies. Or ‘disguise’
that fruit by cooking it in a way your kids haven’t seen before.

Use your influence. You know your family. You know what makes them tick, how to press their buttons
and what makes them happy. So play to their strengths. If your children won’t eat the healthiest range
of fruits, vegetables and grains, maybe they love sports. Encourage that, but not just from the sidelines.
Find opportunities to play along. Get involved in adult leagues. Most towns have club leagues for soccer,
softball, and basketball, or find [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, food, health

#CokeFamilyNight #WIN Handheld Camcorder and Prize Pack @Cocacola

February 17, 2012 by 1 Comment

I would like to introduce you to the new Coke Family Game Night. This is a special section of My Coke Rewards. Not only does this portion of the site have different rewards, but also it has new contest to see the American Idol finale in person. It looks like a good deal to me, new prizes and contests. A trip to see a live show could be a lot of fun for a big fan of the show. Even the daily prizes are pretty sweet- free Coke Zero for life would be awesome.

Just log in and enter a contest- you never know, someone has to win right? And you get a nice little site with tips for family game night, so go enjoy.

In regard to Family Game Night, this is the coveted night of the week where we all huddle around the board games, fighting over which gets played every Thurs. night. This battle continues into whatever game [Read more…]

Filed Under: family

Simple Ways to Teach Your Kids to Ski

February 16, 2012 by 3 Comments

Skiing can be fantastic exercise, a relaxing winter break, or a heart-pounding extreme sport. The basics
are simple, though it can take a lifetime to master. And the earlier you start your children on the slopes,
the easier they’ll find moving from the beginner’s slope to the black diamonds. There are a few, simple
lessons that can start your children on the skier’s path, insuring they have a fun first day on the ski slopes,
while laying the groundwork for years of skiing enjoyment.

Before your children even strap on their skis, make sure you emphasize the importance of safety. It may
seem boring, or unnecessary, to start so slowly on the ski slope, but it’s hugely important for your children
to pace themselves. Don’t push your kids into attempting things they are afraid of, or uncomfortable
doing. Successful skiing is all about preparation and staying in control, and your child should understand
that from the beginning. Not pushing your children outside of their comfort zone will actually speed up
the learning process, and minimize the chances of injury. Here’s some simple lessons you can start them
off with, before they attempt their first downhill.

Boot drills – Prior to locking on skis, have your child perfect a series of boot drills. Simply walking in
boots (working heel-to-toe) should be the first step. Next you can have your child attempt boot ties, which
involve pushing their heel and toe from side to side while keeping the center of the boot in the [Read more…]

Filed Under: family