September 2011 Archives

There are a few new students in Kellan's preschool class so I asked him if he knew their names. He was noncommittal, so I told him it was important to be kind and welcoming to the new kids, especially since they were still learning the ropes in class. I also added that showing kindness to people you don't know very well makes them feel good, and he could end up with a new friend.

Kellan thought about what I said and asked, "If Blackbeard was falling off a ship, do I have to be kind and save him?" Right now Kellan is obsessed with Blackbeard the pirate and all his frightening deeds. In his mind, Blackbeard is the worst person he could think of and wondered if we needed to be kind even to someone like him. 

I said maybe if more people were nice to Blackbeard, he would not have ended up so scary. So yes, we should save Blackbeard if he was falling off a ship. I wasn't actually trying to teach him a lesson other than reaching out to some of the new kids in his class, but children have a way of really getting the deeper meaning of things. It's pretty amazing.

How do you teach your kids to be kind?

Does anyone like feeling lost? Definitely not me! So when Kellan insisted on walking through a corn maze at a local farm I wasn't all that enthused. But I also figured we could take "the short way" and get through it quickly.

How silly of me! Corn mazes aren't designed to let you run through in a couple of minutes. You're supposed to enjoy feeling lost. Erik and Kellan loved it, calling out to each other and hiding around corners to jump out at me. I marched through the lanes, trying to find the fastest way out.

There's usually a platform to help you get reoriented with a bird's eye view of the whole maze. We stood on the platform and did just that. Then I had one of those moments. Even though life is full of twists and turns, and you can't always see where you're going, it's important to take a look at where you've been and look forward to what's ahead. Yes, was a cheesy thought, but it was authentic. It ended up being a really fun morning.

I remember when I worked in a newsroom, I'd try to pack a healthy lunch everyday. I wasn't always successful and ended up buying takeout.  Try making enticing lunches for a preschooler who may or may not eat what you've packed.

This school year I've taken a new approach to lunches. I'm making them fun and unexpected. Yes, it's going to require more work that making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but it will be worth it. That's what I keep telling myself. It WILL be worth it!

We have colorful bento boxes. We have sandwich molds and sushi rice molds in different shapes. I've been reading up on making creative bento meals for kids. Yes, it's a bit of a gimmick but if my son will open up his lunch and get excited about a vegetable, then it's worth the extra time and preparation.

How do you prepare fun, healthy lunches? If you have to prepare more than one lunch, please share your tips in the comments.

 

Here's my frustration lately. When I ask Kellan to clean up his toys or tell him it's time to leave the park he responds, "No, just one more minute. One LONG minute."

When he first started saying that, I admit that I found it funny. This probably encouraged him to keep saying it. Now I can't ask him anything without him putting up his index finger and asking for "one long minute."

I know it's too much to expect a four year old to immediately comply with every request, but just once I'd like for him to say "Okay!" and snap to it. Why does everything require so much effort? Can you tell I'm having a moment here?

Do you have ways to make your child a better listener? Share in the comments! I need the advice!

I have never been successful growing basil. For some reason, basil is just not happy around me for long. This summer I was able to have a plant that stayed healthy and I was feeling pretty good about myself... until I noticed aphids gorging on my basil!

I suppose I could bring the basil inside after picking off the aphids one by one - ew. I definitely don't want to use a pesticide spray so I started reading up on what I can do. Something as simple as a few drops of dish soap mixed with water in a spray bottle can get rid of aphids. I also know I can buy ladybugs at our plant nursery to gobble up those pesky pests.

Do you have any "green" methods to get rid of aphids?

If there's one thing I really look forward to on weekends, it's breakfast. It's my favorite meal and weekend breakfasts are the best! It means I can stay in my pajamas and sip my coffee. It also means bacon! I love a good plate of bacon. It should be it's own food group since I've now seen bacon in everything from soups to ice cream.

But I digress. Weekend breakfast is easily the most relaxed meal we have at home. No one is in a rush to get out the door. My husband and I can finish a cup of coffee before it gets cold. Kellan can leave the table with sticky hands to go play with his Legos because I can't be bothered reminding him to wash up. Everybody gets to relax on weekends!

I sometimes make homemade muffins or pancakes, but my very favorite thing to do is to send Erik to our neighborhood bakery and bring back our favorite pastries. When he returns with the little cardboard box, Kellan greets him like he's Santa at Christmas, jumping up and down with excitement. Too bad I'm too old to do that. Okay, maybe I've done it one time...

Does your family have any fun weekend rituals?

I recently read about a study that found siblings have a big impact on a child's social development. It was of interest to me because as the parent of a single child, I often wonder if he's missing out.

 

The study by a University of Illinois researcher found parents teach children the formalities of how to behave around others. Siblings are better role models for informal social behaviors, like how to act cool in front of your friends. In other words, you teach your child how to say "please" and "thank you" while his brother teaches him how to talk to girls.

The study found single children are more likely to develop social skills through friends. So preschool and play dates go a long way to help only children develop social skills.

We can see Kellan's social world opening up more and more. He is less shy about approaching kids he doesn't know. He's also more willing to initiate play or conversation. While we were on vacation, Kellan found two kids he liked and played near them. Soon they were running around the beach together.

How do your children relate to each other? If you have a single child, how does he socialize with other kids?

It's finally here! The first day of school! We have one happy preschooler and one ecstatic mom. I woke up extra early to ensure a smooth transition from our haphazard summer routine to our efficient fall routine.

Kellan was a bit shy once we walked into the classroom. But he got right back into the swing of things, doing the maze worksheet his teachers put on the table and writing his name at the top of the page. Then he jumped up, put his worksheet in his cubby and ran off to play with his friends. He did manage to blow me a kiss before I left. I'll take anything I can get these days!

How did the first day of school go for your preschooler?

We are having an end of summer vacation in British Columbia, Canada. The long drive plus two hour ferry ride to Vancouver Island was well worth it! Kellan is absolutely giddy when he's on the beach and we got to meet some locals - even the four-legged variety - in the town of Tofino, where we are staying.

Kellan and I were at a local park today and a little boy playing near us was stung by a bee. Judging from the boy's reaction, it was painful! Other parents were giving the boy's mom advice about what to do - ice seemed to be the favorite remedy - but I've never been stung by a bee so I didn't have a clue. After today's incident though, I realized I needed first aid knowledge.

The most important thing is to remove the stinger right away. I've read that using your nail or a credit card to scrape the stinger off is the best method. Washing the area with soap and water is the next step. Ice can offer pain relief or you can make a paste with baking soda and water to cover the affected area. You can also contact your pediatrician to find out if an over-the-counter antihistamine will work for your child. 

If your child has an allergic reaction, like dizziness and trouble breathing, seek medical attention right away. You can read more about bee stings and how to treat them here.

I came to a conclusion about my son and our vegetable garden. He will try almost anything if he can pick it off the plant. We are growing green chili peppers this summer. (I realize peppers are technically a fruit but for my purposes, they are a veggie.) Earlier this week, Kellan picked a pepper off the plant and took a big bite. These peppers have barely any heat, but I was pretty confident that first bite would be his last. I was wrong! He ended up picking three peppers and eating every bit but the stem. 

Kellan also picks and eats flat leaf parsley and basil leaves, but will get upset if I put chopped parsley or basil on his pasta. Cherry tomatoes are also apparently much tastier off the plant than off his plate. What is the deal?

While I can't really get a straight answer from him, I've decided to plant a salad garden next year. This way I can expand my gardening skills and get him to eat more greens!

What kinds of foods do your kids like straight from your garden?