Small Investment = Big Rewards

Posted on July 23, 2011 by viviankirkfield

I just finished reading a classic in self-help literature – One Minute for Myself – by Dr. Spencer Johnson.

The book was published in 1985, but the simple underlying truths put forth are as relevant today as they were then.

According to Dr. Johnson, the one minute you spend taking care of yourself is a small investment with a big reward.

In the same way, the 15 minutes a day you spend participating positively with your child is also a small investment with very big rewards.

THE INVESTMENT

Read a picture book story with your child.
Do an arts and crafts project with your child.
Prepare a recipe together.

THE REWARDS

Build your child’s self-esteem.
Develop your child’s pre-literacy skills.
Improve your child’s school readiness.
Create a life-long parent-child bond.

Do you feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of parenthood?

Take a minute (or a few minutes) for yourself – refresh, rejuvenate, relax.

And then spend 15 minutes with your child – reading, crafting or cooking.

Visit my website to find out more about Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. Buying a copy of this award-winning book is a very small investment with a very big reward. If you have a Kindle, you can make an even smaller investment…just $9.99 at Amazon’s Kindle Store.

Just 15 minutes is enough time to read a classic picture book story.

Just 15 minutes is enough time to make one of the easy craft projects.

Just 15 minutes is enough time to prepare one of the simple recipes together.

Looking for something to do with your young children on Saturday, August 6^th?

If you are local to Colorado Springs, please stop by the Family Christian Store at 7560 N. Academy. I’ll be there from 11am to 1:30pm and there will be two identical presentations for parents and children. From 11:30 to 12 and from 12:30 to 1pm, I’ll be reading a picture book story that will help young children deal with school anxieties. Then we will be doing a simple craft that each child will be able to take home. There will also be a free hand-out for parents on Five Steps to a Smoother School Year. Parents will also have the opportunity to fill out an entry form to win a craft kit for their preschoolers.

We all want our children to have the best school year ever…whether they are in daycare, nursery or preschool, kindergarten or first grade. This will be a fun-filled experience for all! Please spread the word!!

Watch The Sweets This Summer: What Are The Alternatives?

Posted on July 7, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Image via Wikipedia

We are a nation that loves sweet things.

If you read the ingredient label of almost every boxed or packaged food (we’re all reading the labels, aren’t we?), you’ll find that sugar, or some sugar substitute, has been added.

Cereals, breads, macaroni and cheese, beverages, frozen dinners…the list is endless and I’m not even talking about “sweet” treats like cookies, candies and ice cream.

“Today, (beet and cane) sugar has become a devastating American habit; it is quite impossible to find a commercial or canned food of any kind that does not contain it. In a lifetime, the average American eats three tons of sugar. Sugar injures the heart, causes overweight, decays teeth and creates diabetes, yet once upon a time it had no place at all in the American diet. When sweetening was confined to honey and maple syrup, the American was indeed a healthier being.”

This quote is from Eric Sloane’s Once Upon A Time: The Way America Was. It was published in 1982 and the sugar situation has not gotten better…it has gotten worse and many of the artificial sugar substitutes turned out to be worse than the product they were replacing.

Parents have an obligation to “raise up their children as they would have them go on” in life. The time to set the parameters of what is good to eat and what is not is when children are young.

How can we help our children avoid too much sugar and develop good eating habits?

Read the ingredient labels and put back a product that has unnecessary sugar.
Know that “sugar” comes in many forms and is called by many different names: glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, maltose, crystalline fructose, polysaccharide, monosaccharide, galactose, dextrose, corn syrup…you get the picture.
Try making at least some of your menu items from “scratch” because then you will know exactly what you are putting into the food your family is eating.
Get into the habit of offering water when children are thirsty…flavored beverages and soda are FULL of sugar…empty calories and no nutrition. 100% juice has lots of “natural” sugar as well…try using ½ juice with ½ water…you will have a healthier, cheaper and more thirst-quenching drink. Pour this mixture into ice-pop molds and you will have inexpensive and refreshing pops.
Put a limit on the number of “sweet” treats…keep cut up carrot and cucumber sticks in the fridge.
Be a good role model…does your child see you having a donut with your coffee, spooning sugar on your morning cereal, eating a chocolate covered ice-cream pop after lunch and then sitting down with a piece of cake after dinner?

If you are looking for some simple healthful recipes that your child can help you prepare in the kitchen, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking provides 100 of them. Head over to my website and buy a copy of this award-winning book at 50% off the cover price. You won’t be wondering what to do with your little ones this summer because there are also 100 arts and crafts activities and summaries of the 100 picture books every young child should hear.

The Scoop on Sugar and Sugar Substitutes (everydayhealth.com)
High-Fructose Corn Syrup and Type 2 Diabetes (everydayhealth.com)

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue: A 4th of July Dessert

Posted on July 4, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Image via Wikipedia

Happy Birthday, America…and Happy July 4^th to all!

Whether you are on the road or close to home, enjoy the day and stay safe!

I looked through Show Me How! and found the perfect dessert to serve on this auspicious day…it’s quick, easy, healthy and…RED, WHITE and BLUE!

CHILD-FRIENDLY RAINBOW FRUIT AND RICE PUDDING PARFAITS

Color does lift one’s mood…help your child create a multi-colored dessert for the entire family to enjoy…when everyone compliments this delicious and beautiful treat, your child’s self-esteem will be lifted also.

You will need: 1½ cups cooked white rice (you can use brown rice for more nutrition another time…we want the white for the red, white and blue), ¼ cup honey, ½ cup coconut flakes, ½ cup sliced strawberries, ½ cup blueberries, 1 sliced banana, 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt, a large bowl and 4 parfait glasses.

1. Mix the rice, honey, yogurt and coconut in a large bowl.

2. Drop a spoonful of this mixture into each parfait glass.

3. Now spoon in some sliced bananas and cover with another spoonful of the rice mixture.

4. Add a spoonful of sliced strawberries and cover with the remaining rice mixture.

5. Top with blueberries.

6. Makes 4 servings…refrigerate any leftovers.

7. Creative tip: you can substitute other fruits and or yogurt flavors.

If this is the type of recipe you enjoy preparing, treat yourself to a copy of my award-winning book, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. There are 100 simple child-friendly healthful cooking activities AND 100 easy eco-friendly craft projects. And that’s not all…you’ll find picture book summaries of the 100 books every young child should hear! You deserve a hassle-free summer with your kids…be good to yourself and them and grab a copy at 50% off the cover price and you will have fresh ideas and activities for the entire summer and beyond! Click on this link.