Start young. I let my 2 year old choose her clothes. I would put out 2 outfits on her bed to choose from. As she got a little older, she would pick out her own outfits. Some days I might say, “Ok. You can keep the top or the pants on.” Then she would run back to her room and change either the top or … Continue reading Teaching Children the Art of Making Decisions
Show some green around your house on St. Patrick’s day with very little effort. Make Green pancakes- just add green dye to the pancake batter Make Green Mashed potatoes- just add green dye to the potatoes (or better yet make mashed cauliflower) Sandwich shaped like a clover: use a cookie cutter to cut out the bread into the shape Have Green Milk: just add green … Continue reading Little Ways to add Green to St Patrick’s Day
Does your child love to touch? Wiggle? Doodle? They may be kinesthetic! I LOVE to touch different textures. I walk through the fabric store running my hands over all the lovely materials. Touching is one of our main senses. Hard, soft, feathery, silky, rough, cool. Children learn by touching. Your child may be tactile learner. Tactile and kinesthetic children learn through the use of their … Continue reading Does your child love to touch? Wiggle? Doodle? They may be kinesthetic!
When my son looks up at me when I get home from work with a huge smile on his face! He lifts up his arms waiting for me to hug and kiss him hello. It is the first thing I do once my hands are free. When my son crawls to my feet and uses me to help him stand up to say hi. Hearing … Continue reading Heartwarmers
A child experiences stress in everyday situations and because he can not verbalize what he is feeling, he may “act-up”. Tantrums, fighting, and withdrawl may all be a child’s cry for relief from stress. The following lists some everyday stresses children may go throguh as well as some “do-able” solutions which can relieve the children’s tension and frustration. Habutually Being Late: Emotion: Embarrassment, Shyness when … Continue reading Childhood Stress
Aside from daily survival, I think the greatest stressors for children and parents is sibling fighting. For the younger ones I will change the focus b stopping what I’m doing to cuddle up and read a few books to them. They calm down and then resume playing. Older children are given 5 minutes to work out a solution on their own. If they are unsuccessful, I … Continue reading Moms to Moms on Stress
When disciplining children because they’ve said something hurtful or mistreated their siblings or friends–tell them the next two things they do or say must be something NICE towards that person. Run out of BUBBLEBATH? Try baby shampoo Another bathtime idea–let children ear bathing suits and blow bubbles in the bathtubs for DAYTIME BATH FUN. To sort various family activities on the calendar, us a DIFFERENT COLOR PEN for … Continue reading This Works for Me!
Having trouble with children eating vegetables? Try blending squash/zucchini/carrots in with spaghetti sauce (use less water, add veggies after browning meat). Another Vegetable idea for carrots is to cut them with a crinkle cutter–makes children think they were made especially for them! Add a little Spice to your coffee! Try adding 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of cinnamon/nutmeg/vanilla directly into auto-drip coffee basket for some “spice-au-lait.” Save on gourmet coffee … Continue reading Kitchen Kapers
Some years it is great to sit back and relax at home with the children. Then you think to yourself, “What am I going to do until midnight?”. Well here is are some fun activities that you can do with the family. Play News Anchor: Set up the video camera and have each person give a report of what they did that year. Over the … Continue reading New Year’s Eve at Home
Thanks to Kaboose.com for the fun winter crafts for children! Craft Stick Sled By: Amanda Formaro Difficulty: Average Age: 8 and up Make this fun replica of an old wooden sled. The starburst design and beautiful colors make this little sled an adorable winter activity. What you’ll need: 5 jumbo craft sticks 2 craft sticks 2 miniature craft sticks White craft glue Yarn Light blue and … Continue reading Kids Korner: Winter Crafts
ART with Angela DiCicco, The Italian Grandmama's Guide 