Halloween activities for preschoolers

Posted on September 22, 2010 by viviankirkfield

Building self-esteem in young children is a cause which resonates deep within me. I have found that picture book stories are an amazing vehicle for parents and teachers to use, not only for entertainment and enjoyment, but also to help preschoolers deal with the many issues they face as they grow up.

Halloween is a perfect time to read, “A TIGER CALLED THOMAS“, by Charlotte Zolotow. Every young child will enjoy the story about the little boy who moves into a new neighborhood and feels that no one will like him. He is too afraid to connect with the children he sees playing outside. But on Halloween, even though he hides behind a tiger mask, the children and adults in his neighborhood welcome him and show him that they want to be his friend. For other books that address a similar theme of young children who are hesitant about moving to a new place and making new friends, check out “ALEXANDER WHO’S NOT (DO YOU HEAR ME? I MEAN IT!) GOING TO MOVE” by Judith Voirst and “GILA MONSTERS MEET YOU AT THE AIRPORT” by Marjorie Weiman Sharmat.

Halloween is also a perfect time for dress-up and role-playing, although these activities can be enjoyed by young children all year long. In fact, dress-up and role-playing are wonderful ways for children to express feelings and concerns that they might be hesitant to express as themselves. You can use a sturdy cardboard box to store dress-up items…your child can help decorate the outside of the box and you can shop at Goodwill or consignment stores to find inexpensive items to supply the box. If you do go out to buy a premade costume, make sure it will be safe and comfortable for your young child to wear. Most little ones will be thrilled with a homemade costume that they have helped put together. We often get caught up in the commercialism of many holidays…but with young children…simple is often the best choice.

Over the years, we had many Halloween parties for our children. We also went trick or treating countless times. But the best Halloween ever was the one we spent at a church-organized “Trick or Treat” where the children and adults all dressed up in costumes. Each Suncay school classroom was manned by an adult (in costume) and the children walked down the halls, knocking on each door that was opened by the adult who was ready with a bowl of treats. When all of the children had gone “trick or treating”, everyone assembled in the main dining room which was festively decorated. In each corner, games had been set up…dunking for apples, donuts on a string, beanbag toss, etc…and there were small prizes awarded to each child. There were also tables with juice, cupcakes and other things to eat and drink. Finally, there was a costume parade and each child won a blue ribbon for the best costume in different categories: scariest costume, most colorful costume, shiniest costume, etc. It was a safe, fun-filled evening for everyone. Perhaps your church, temple or neighborhood group can organize a similar event. It’s not too eary to start planning!

For more information on all things Halloween, go to;

http://familycrafts.about.com/b/2010/10/05/all-about-parenting-halloween-blog-carnival.htm

where Sherri Osborn is hosting a Halloween Blog Carnival. You’ll find tips on costumes, food, party ideas and more for the youngest trick or treaters and lots of ideas for older children and teenagers, as well.

Great ideas for end-of-summer fun!

Posted on August 22, 2010 by viviankirkfield

We just got back from a five-day vacation in the mountains of Colorado. The weather was perfect. The fishing was great. The cabin was outfitted with everything you could need…even a flat-screen TV which we never turned on because we were too busy during the day having fun outdoors and too tired at night to even want to watch anything. Cell phones don’t work there and we didn’t bring the computer. And I began to realize how life was like in the days before TV and computers and phones. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the technology that allows each of us to know what is going on in the world the moment it happens. But it made me more aware of how much closer a family could be if they were more isolated from all that is happening out there or if they made an effort to spend time together without the distractions that usually keep us going in different directions.

So here’s a list of a few great ideas for end-of-summer fun that might possibly bring your family closer together and won’t cost a fortune:

Go camping…even for the day…but overnight, if possible. Rent equipment or borrow it from friends if you don’t already have what you would need.
Check out local parks, museums and art galleries. Some are free and many have special deals for families. You might even purchase a museum membership that entitles your family to special museum privileges during the year.
Have an end-of-summer get-together. If your child is going to school (or nursery school or daycare) this year, see if you can find out who will be in his/her class or group. Invite the children and their parents…what an awesome way to help your child start the year already knowing some of his classmates. The get-together can be a pot-luck with everyone bringing something to eat so that the burden of food is not all on you. Also, have each family bring a favorite game…there will certainly be plenty to do. Take lots of pictures and have your child help you make a collage or album of this special day. He/she can bring it to school for show-and-tell…great for a child who is anxious about the first day of school…something like BILLY AND THE BIG NEW SCHOOL by Laurence and Catherine Anholt.
Plan to have dinner together as a family, if possible. And please, turn the TV off and don’t answer the phone if it rings 🙂

That’s it…just a few simple suggestions…hope they help you end the summer on a high note and begin the school year in a positive way.

Tips to keep your child healthy when school starts

Posted on August 3, 2010 by viviankirkfield

The start of school usually brings hurried shopping trips to purchase needed school supplies and new outfits. It also has generated lots of blogs and columns with advice about school anxieties. But another big issue that arrives with the start of school is the increase of colds, sore throats, pink eye and other infectious diseases that sometimes run rampant through classrooms.

How can we help keep our children as healthy as possible? Here are several simple tips:

Provide your child with healthful balanced meals and snacks.
Encourage your child to wash his hands frequently (or wash them for him if he is too young).
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep – older children with cell phones, TV’s and computers in their own rooms can often stay up half the night while their parents think they are sleeping.
If your child does get sick, please keep her home, even though this may be inconvenient (if you work) or she begs to go because she will “miss” something. You will be doing your child no favors if you send her when she is ill, and the teacher and the other children will not be exposed to whatever she has – also, if she is sick, her resisitance will be lowered and she might catch something even worse from another child.

It is definitely difficult to keep preschoolers doing quiet activities indoors when they are sick, especially when they start to feel a little better. We always had a special box which contained small toys and games, stickers, small boxes of crayons, small pads of paper – all brightly wrapped and beribboned. When all else failed, out came the box and the sick child was able to choose something from the box. The eager anticipation while unwrapping the package was beautifully distracting – make sure there is lots of wrapping and ribbon on each. We also had a special, ornate spoon which was the medicine dispensing spoon.

Need some quiet activities to help pass the time? My new book contains several picture story suggestions, with related craft and cooking projects, that focus on sick children. Here is one of them.

For a story to help your young child feel he is not the only one who doesn’t like being sick – read JOHNNY LION’S BAD DAY by Edith Hurd.

Then make paper plate lions: You will need: 1 paper plate, 1 piece of brown or yellow construction paper, markers or crayons, paste and scissors.

Cut the paper into one-inch wide strips and roll each strip around a marker or crayon to create the curl.
Paste one end of one strip to the edge of the plate. Continue with the rest of the strips all around the edge of the plate to form the lion’s mane.
Using markers or crayons, draw the lion’s features.

For a yummy, healthful, child-friendly alphabet chicken soup (studies have shown it really DOES help make you feel better): You will need: 1 quart chicken broth, 2 Tb diced onion, 1/4 cup alphabet noodles, 1 cup diced cooked chicken, 1/2 cup sliced carrots, 1/2 cup cut green beans, 1/4 cup corn kernels, fresh parsley (optional), and a large pot with a cover.

In a large pot, mix broth, onion and noodles and bring to a boil.
Lower the heat to simmer and add the chicken, carrots, beans and corn. Simmer with the cover on for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Garnish each serving with parsley, if you like.
Makes about 4 to 5 cups of soup – refrigerate or freeze what you don’t use.
You can substitute other vegetables if you like – peas, lima beans, zucchini – use your imagination!