Spring Time Learning Games

Now that the sun is out, why not take learning outside?!?  The following fun ideas from Family Fun Magazine, get kids thinking, exploring and learning without any idea education is involved!

1. Backyard Scrabble: Turn some cardstock or light cardboard into a back yard spelling adventure!

2. Watch it Grow: Plant some of your favorite bulbs and race to see how fast they grow!

3. Sight-Word Twister: Grab some sidewalk chalk and practice those sight words with a twister or hopscotch game!

A New Way to Feed the Birds

For a quick and simple spring craft, just grab some wire and some leftover popcorn!  This fun new way to feed the birds, provides endless possibilities for shapes and design.  Caution: The edge of the wire may be sharp, so younger children may require a bit of help stringing on the popcorn.
Once you have strung your popcorn and created your shape, simply twist off, snip the wire and hang to a tree!

Mistakes.....A Wonderful Opportunity to Learn

While mistakes may be hard for parents and children, they are an important part of learning and becoming independent.  The experts at Positive Discipline shared this valuable short article in a recent blog posting:

Close your eyes and remember the messages you received from parents and teachers about mistakes when you were a child.  When you made a mistake, did you receive the message that you were stupid, inadequate, bad, a disappointment, a klutz?  When hearing these messages, what did you decide about yourself and about what to do in the future?

Remember, you were not aware that you were making a decision at the time; but when you look back it is usually obvious what decisions you made based on what you now believe and what you now do. Some people decided they were bad or inadequate.  Others decided they should not take risks for fear of humiliation if their efforts fell short of perfection. Many decided to become approval junkies and try to please adults at great cost to their self-esteem. Some are obsessed with the need to prove their worth. And some decided they would be sneaky about their mistakes and do everything they could to avoid getting caught.

When parents and teachers give children negative messages about mistakes, they usually mean well.  They are trying to motivate children to do better for their own good.  They haven’t taken time to think about the long-term results of their methods and how the decisions children make stay with them for the rest of their lives.

So much parenting and teaching is based on fear. Adults fear they aren’t doing a good job if they don’t make children do better. Too many are more concerned about what the neighbors will think than about what their children are learning.  Others are afraid that children will never learn to do better if they don’t instill them with fear and humiliation.  Most are afraid because they don’t know what else to do—and fear that if they don’t inflict blame, shame and pain, they will be acting permissively.

There is another way.  It is not permissive, and it truly motivates children to do better without paying the price of a lowered sense of self-worth. Teach children to be excited about mistakes as opportunities to learn.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear an adult say to a child, “You made a mistake. That is fantastic. What can we learn from it?” And I do mean “we.” Many mistakes are made because we haven’t taken time for training and encouragement. We often provoke rebellion instead of inspiring improvement.

Children need daily exposure to the value of mistakes—and learning from them in a safe environment. Many families have found it helpful to invite everyone to share a mistake of the day and what they learned from it during dinnertime. Children can truly learn the courage to be imperfect when they can laugh and learn from mistakes. - See more at: http://blog.positivediscipline.com/#sthash.r5t0w6A4.dpuf

Close your eyes and remember the messages you received from parents and teachers about mistakes when you were a child.  When you made a mistake, did you receive the message that you were stupid, inadequate, bad, a disappointment, a klutz?  When hearing these messages, what did you decide about yourself and about what to do in the future?

Remember, you were not aware that you were making a decision at the time; but when you look back it is usually obvious what decisions you made based on what you now believe and what you now do. Some people decided they were bad or inadequate.  Others decided they should not take risks for fear of humiliation if their efforts fell short of perfection. Many decided to become approval junkies and try to please adults at great cost to their self-esteem. Some are obsessed with the need to prove their worth. And some decided they would be sneaky about their mistakes and do everything they could to avoid getting caught.

When parents and teachers give children negative messages about mistakes, they usually mean well.  They are trying to motivate children to do better for their own good.  They haven’t taken time to think about the long-term results of their methods and how the decisions children make stay with them for the rest of their lives.

So much parenting and teaching is based on fear. Adults fear they aren’t doing a good job if they don’t make children do better. Too many are more concerned about what the neighbors will think than about what their children are learning.  Others are afraid that children will never learn to do better if they don’t instill them with fear and humiliation.  Most are afraid because they don’t know what else to do—and fear that if they don’t inflict blame, shame and pain, they will be acting permissively.

There is another way.  It is not permissive, and it truly motivates children to do better without paying the price of a lowered sense of self-worth. Teach children to be excited about mistakes as opportunities to learn.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear an adult say to a child, “You made a mistake. That is fantastic. What can we learn from it?” And I do mean “we.” Many mistakes are made because we haven’t taken time for training and encouragement. We often provoke rebellion instead of inspiring improvement.

Children need daily exposure to the value of mistakes—and learning from them in a safe environment. Many families have found it helpful to invite everyone to share a mistake of the day and what they learned from it during dinnertime. Children can truly learn the courage to be imperfect when they can laugh and learn from mistakes. - See more at: http://blog.positivediscipline.com/#sthash.r5t0w6A4.dpuf

Spring Break....Have fun, Stay active, Be healthy

Spring Break is here… excitement reigns, but for many parents, the reaction might be more mixed.

Maybe Spring Break means a reprieve from typical busy week of homework and shuttling between school and activities.  For non-vacationing families—for parents who will clock in at work during Spring Break—kids’ time off can present challenges about how to keep them active, safe, and having fun.

Fear not parents… opportunities abound.  Here are a few ideas:

• · Organize a neighborhood soccer, basketball, or baseball game
• · Catch a movie, or have a “movie night” at your home
• · Explore an area park or hiking trail you’ve never visited
• · Get a jump on Earth Day… invite friends to help clean up a nearby park, then have a picnic there
• · Volunteer at a local charity or help your child organize their own community service project
• · Check out a local historic site or building
• · Plan a meal or barbecue, shop for groceries, and prepare the food together.  Make it a family dinner or    invite the neighbors
• · Head to the mountain to sled, ski, or snowboard
• · Look for fun craft ideas you can do at home

How can you ensure a fun and safe Spring Break for your kids amid your busy workweek?  Consider connecting with the parents of your child’s friends and share responsibilities for dropping off and picking up kids from activities.  If possible, also consider taking turns taking one day off of work during the week and “chaperoning” a group of kids.  It will help spread the carpooling duties, add a little fun to your week, and help you better connect with other parents and your child’s friends.

Whether it’s sports, spending time outdoors, volunteering, or other interests, busy kids have great opportunities to learn and grow.  They are less likely to get involved in risky behaviors too.  Research backs this up.  The more activities kids are involved with, the less likely they are to use alcohol and other drugs as they get older.

And remember:  keeping kids busy doesn’t have to mean spendy… the value of staying busy is effective regardless of whether an activity carries a price tag.  Many activities have low or now cost, such as volunteering,  participating in a church youth group or helping organize a neighborhood movie or book review club.

A New Spin on Chores

The March issue of Focus on the Family offered this unique idea for sharing chores as a family.  We thought it was well-worth the read.

"I wanted to motivate my children to help with the housework, so I decided to make a game of it.  I wrote chores on index cards, one per card, and spread them upside down on the kitchen table.  All chores were within my children's abilities, and none took more than three or four minutes to complete.

One chore card read, "Put old socks on your hands and dust living room furniture."  I was careful not to include extensive chores like, "Vacuum the whole upstairs."  I also included fun tasks, such as: "Sing a song to the baby"; "Set the timer for three minutes and draw a picture";  "Hug someone"; "Do a somersault"; "Ask Mommy for a treat."  The children were eager to draw a card, do the chore and hurry back for another card in hopes of getting a fun assignment.

While my children "played" this game, I did the chores that required adult attention.  When all the cards were done, we rewarded ourselves with homemade smoothies. 

The next time I announced, "It's time to clean the house," my children asked, "Can we use the chore game?"

Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day

Spend some positive, educational time with your children, while helping them get in the St. Patty's Day spirit!  Try one of these simple ideas from Pinterest to get you started.

1. Get Graphing:  Even though sugar cereals may not be the healthiest, a box of Lucky Charms can create a fun, math-themed graphing activity.


 

2. Grab a dice and practice easy addition skills.  Simply toss he dice and cover the number  you roll.  A printable board can be found at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Shamrock-Roll-and-Cover-591863

 

3. Foster some creativity and give your kids of building a leprechaun trap.  Make it even more fun by placing a small treat or note in the trap on St. Patrick's Day morning.

 

Winter Fitness Ideas for Kids

If your kids are getting restless during the long winter months, try these creative fitness ideas from Kids Health and The American Heart Association.

Exercise is important for children because it helps to reduce the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Regular physical activity also improves mental acuity, reduces the risk of depression, improves energy levels, strengthens muscles, improves sleep, boosts the immune system, and keeps the bones and joints healthy.

For optimum health, the American Heart Association recommends children get at least one hour of moderate to rigorous physical activity each day. Since kids spend more time indoors during the winter, it can be hard for them to get the recommended amount of exercise.
Don’t let your kids sit around like lumps just because it’s cold outside. These winter fitness ideas will help keep them active and fit all year long.

Freestyle Dancing Helps Children Stay Fit During Winter

No need to spend hundreds of dollars on dance classes just to keep children active during the winter. Simply pop some upbeat music into the CD player and let your kids boogie on down. When children freestyle dance, they may pump their arms, move their legs, twirl around, and sway back and forth.
These types of movements activate the core muscles, and work large muscle groups to help condition and tone the body. The fast-paced movements of dancing to upbeat tunes also revs up the metabolism and makes it easier for kids to maintain a healthy weight.

Yoga is a Great Winter Fitness Idea for Kids

Yoga is a low impact way for kids to burn calories and improve their flexibility. This winter fitness idea not only helps youngsters stay in shape, it relaxes them, improves their concentration, and teaches them self-awareness. Yoga DVDS are readily available, so kids can practice in the comforts of their own homes.

Portable Play Equipment Can Keep Kids Physically Active in Winter

Hula hoops, jump ropes and tumble mats can be used indoors during the winter months to help kids stay fit. When children jump rope, hula hoop and flip and roll on mats, they work many different muscle groups to help tone and condition their bodies. The portable play equipment can be easily tossed in the closet when kids are finished.
Active Video Games Help Kids Stay Fit in Winter
If kids are going to stay inside and play video games, they might as well work up a sweat while they’re doing it. Active video games such as the Nintendo Wii requires kids to get up off the couch and move their bodies to play. Of course, these games can't replace real sports activities, but they do give kids a good workout every time they play.