How to stay cool with kids

Posted on July 15, 2010 by viviankirkfield

Here in Colorado, and in most of the country, it is pretty hot.

How to stay cool, especially with young children, is the question.

Turn on the a/c (uses a lot of energy), or open windows for some cross ventilation if possible, or spend part of the day at a place like your local library or a play area at a local mall where the temperature is usually controlled for customer comfort.
Dress yourself and your children in appropriate clothing…loose, light, cotton is great. Add a sun hat for everyone when you go out and make sure you apply sunscreen.
Plan some water activities…a local pool if available, your own small kiddie pool, even a plastic bowl of water with some plastic cups and spoons can provide a refreshing hour of fun. Please use great caution with little ones and water.
Make sure everyone stays hydrated…in a previous post I suggested freezing cubes of juice to lightly flavor and add a little fun for the drinking water in your child’s cup.
Think cool with your kids…read them a children’s picture book about the wintertime…how about THE MITTEN by Alvin Tresselt or THE SNOWY DAY by Ezra Jack Keats.
Start your day with an organized plan of what you’d like to accomplish (make sure your goals are reachable…trying to do too much, especially with little ones, only increases your tension…and, as Scarlett O’Hara once said, “Tomorrow is another day”)…this makes the day less stressful, your nerves less frazzled and contributes to keeping tempers cool, even when the temperature is soaring.
Great tip for next winter: if you live in an area where it snows, collect some newly fallen snow and pack it into some plastic containers. Next summer, on a really hot day, take out the containers of snow…go outside and make snowballs or just have fun watching how quickly the snow will melt.

Living in the moment

Posted on July 15, 2010 by viviankirkfield

They say we should live in the moment.

I think this is true…but it is certainly hard to do.

Especially when you are raising children.

When your newborn baby is lying in his crib, you wonder…when will he start to smile at me?

As your baby girl kicks her feet in the air, you think…when will she turn over?

When will he crawl, stand up, walk on his own?

When will she talk, write her name, ride a bike?

Perhaps this is part of the human condition…this almost constant quest for the next stage of development. Maybe this characteristic of ours is what drives civilization to newer technologies and what causes yesterday’s inventions to become obsolete.

Take a breath…look around you…this moment will never be experienced again.

Be in this moment with your child…share a story and participate together in an activity…you will be creating a life-long bond.

Here’s a suggestion for a story to read to your preschooler (but any story will do):

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE YOU: written by Lisa Baker, illustrated by David McPhail: Story summary:

Mother Fox tells her son that she loves him when he is happy as well as when he is angry, when he is sick in bed as well as when he is running around, when he is shouting as well as when he is quiet. Little Fox is very comforted by the fact that his mother loves him just as he is.

LOVE COLLAGE CRAFT PROJECT: You will need: A piece of construction paper, old magazines, scissors, paste and crayons.

Talk to your child about the things she loves…her family, pets, playing ball, eating ice cream, the color blue, etc.
Look through the magazines and help your child cut out pictures that illustrate what she loves.
Paste the pictures onto the paper…let your child use the crayons to draw additional things (or people) she loves that she couldn’t find pictures of, such as herself and you!
Hang the picture up in a place of honor in your home…what a boost to your child’s self-esteem!

One of the Best Things in Life is FREE

Posted on July 9, 2010 by viviankirkfield

This past week I talked about safety tips for the summer and helpful hints for traveling with preschoolers. But, summertime vacations and activities can put a strain on anyone’s budget. Did you know that one of the best places you can take your child to this summer is FREE?

It’s your local LIBRARY!

If you are not a regular visitor there, check it out. Most libraries have all kinds of programs for children of all ages. The shelves are filled with books that will open up a whole new world for your little ones.

One of my children’s favorite picture books was A GIFT BEAR FOR THE KING, written by Carl Memling and illustrated by Lillian Hoban. A very talented bear-cub is sent as a birthday gift for the king by a loving old couple. As the bear-cub journeys to reach the king, he meets and helps many people. However, when he finally arrives at the palace, the king’s birthday has passed and the guards lock him up in the dungeon because he is so late. What will happen? Will he be rescued? Who can help him? All these questions will be answered if you get the book and read it to your child.

For a simple craft activity after reading the story: help your child make a king or queen for a day crown. All you need is some paper (a grocery bag will do if you don’t have construction or copy paper), crayons or markers, sticky stars (optional), scissors and tape or paste.

Cut several strips of paper and use tape or paste to attach the strips together so they fit to the size of your child’s head.
Decorate with crayons or markers. Add the sticky stars if you have them.
Cut along the top to make points.
We can all help our children feel special…perhaps today, when your child is wearing the crown, he gets to choose the dinner menu or the story that will be read at bedtime.