Like many in the area, Florida State is what initially brought me to Tallahassee. Like many college students, it was my first time living away from home. And I was surprised to find I was the only one on my entire dormitory floor who knew how to cook anything beyond Easy Mac.
Cooking with your kids does more than help them learn their way around the kitchen. We've long known that following a recipe strengthens a child's ability to follow directions, builds their understanding of math and chemistry, and boosts their self-confidence and self-reliance.
And you don't need to wait until they're older to start.
- Take your picky eater to the grocery store with you. Have them identify and choose any three fruits in the produce department they want, bring them home, and make a fruit salad together.
- Instead of leaving cookie dough for your babysitter to bake with the kids, leave all the basic ingredients (flour, sugar, eggs, chocolate chips) and let the kids follow a recipe with her from scratch.
- Believe it or not, a well-sharpened knife is safer than a dull butter knife. While we want to guard those little fingers, your watchful eye and helping hand will do more to protect than a sharp knife will hurt. Dull knives require more force, and that increases the likelihood that the knife will slip and cause harm. If you teach safe habits, they'll remember them.
- Remember: mess is fun! As long as the kids know that clean-up is part of the process, don't sweat the small stuff and they'll always think of cooking as enjoyable.
I'm not a cookbook connoisseur, but Annabel Karmel is my all-time favorite author of books of recipes and nutrition for infants, toddlers, and children. Her website is packed with information and ideas, too.
Next time you're in the kitchen, invite the kids to join you. They'll enjoy the attention, and your next surprise "breakfast in bed" might taste a little better!
If you have a child in preschool or older, have you started to notice that they indirectly choose your friends for you?
It's the cutest thing: they hit it off with a classmate, and everyday you hear about how they did this together, or they did that together...and soon you're setting up a playdate so they can do the same outside of class. You hope you'll "click" just as easily with the new playmate's parents - but there's no guarantees.
Studies have shown that parents who build strong relationships with others who have children of the same age are healthier - emotionally as well as physically. And you've gotta be healthy to keep up with your kids!
Take the lead and make it a point to meet others in your neighborhood, or even strike up a conversation while in line at Publix. You never know where a new friendship will bloom, and even a shy child will eventually follow your example in seeking out new friends.
A Few Local Resources
- Capital City Moms Club Formerly the Best Beginnings Moms Club and currently boasting over 300 members, they have a calendar of events to encourage moms (and dads!) to meet each other and socialize while their kids do the same. The website is hosted on MeetUp.com, where you'll find a handful of other groups for parents, as well as other interests.
- MomsLikeMe local forums The Tallahassee Democrat sponsors the local facet of a nationwide network of online forums for parents. You're able to post and answer questions, join debates and discussions, and just share the parenting experience with others from the comfort of your keyboard.
- Our Kids' Calendar We recently added an events calendar to our website, which has kid-friendly ongoings throughout the week. Many of these are great places to meet other parents, and get plugged in to the community! (You'll also find at the bottom a list of weekly Kids' Nights at local restaurants, when kids eat free!)
I've seen dads participating in each of the suggested resources above - and it's encouraged. So don't be deceived by the names! An involved dad is always a celebrated and welcomed participant. I highly recommend this article to dads who know they need some "parental playdates," as it has so many awesome dad-focused ideas and websites: Connecting with Other Parents: Help for Dads with Cold Feet
Last week, the Tallahassee Democrat rolled out a series of articles focused around children. One in particular stood out to me, entitled "Health woes mount for kids" by Angeline Taylor, addressing childhood obesity in Leon County and all of Florida.
Nationwide and internationally, many celebrities - from the First Lady's campaign to Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - are highlighting childhood obesity as a growing problem. It's time we took the torch.
Fat Facts
- Obesity is now the most prevalent nutritional disease of children and adolescents in the United States.
- Obese children and teens have been found to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and abnormal glucose tolerance.
- Less common health conditions associated with increased weight include asthma, hepatic steatosis, sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes.
- We've long known that overweight children are often the target of bullying, and this is considered a psychosocial consequence of childhood obesity. Low self-esteem could hinder academic and social success, and can carry on into adulthood.
A combination of healthy foods and an active lifestyle is obviously the solution. But if children don't see these healthy choices encouraged and modeled by their parents, they don't see the value in it. Keep that New Years Resolution to eat better and get more exercise - it's good for your own body, and your kids' bodies, too.
This Saturday morning, seven of the Seminole Sitters are volunteering their time to man the kids' station at the American Lung Association in Florida's annual Fight for Air Walk. This is a great opportunity to meet some of our staff, while they help the kids on the free bounce house, offer face painting, and more! Enjoy the day, support a great cause, and come out to meet:
The Fight for Air Walk is an event where families, friends, businesses, schools or individuals walk to help make a difference in the millions of lives affected by lung disease. Whether you are on a team or walking by yourself, this is a great way to show your community that you are fighting for air. When you finish the walk, we hope you will walk away with a new-found respect for your lungs.
As you're walking out the door, it's heartbreaking to see the tears and sometimes even hear the shrieks of your child. You tell your sitter, "Text me as soon as he calms down, just so I know he's okay!"
Separation anxiety is a normal developmental stage, especially for children 8 months - 35 months. Prior to 8 months, infants are still familiarizing themselves with the world and don't yet have a feel for what might be dangerous or unusual. The onset of separation anxiety means your child's reached a new level of awareness, and the departure of mom or dad can be alarming.
While your last image as you leave is a panicked child, on our end, we find that the tears typically don't last more than 5-7 minutes. Separation anxiety is replaced by an understanding that while you're out-of-sight now, you'll return later. This, of course, leads to a curiosity and desire to explore the limits of their newfound independence....
Tips for Reducing Separation Anxiety
- Make your departure succinct, but known. Sneaking out the door will mean a delayed, more intense moment of anxiety for your child when they do realize you're gone. Say good-bye, let them know you'll be back soon, and head out the door.
- Set aside a special activity that is only done when your Seminole Sitter is there. Even if it's something as simple as bubbles, your child will soon learn that when the Sitter arrives, they'll get to do that special activity. It will give them something to look forward to.
- Be strong! Your kids can read you long before they can read a book! If they see on your face or body language that you're worried or stressed, they'll think there's reason for them to feel the same. Reassure them in a calm voice that it's okay that you're leaving, and again, make sure to say, "I'll be back - I always come back."
Toys donated to the Guardian ad Litem program
The Seminole Sitters sponsored a dozen children this year through the Guardian ad Litem program, aged 14 months to 16 years. Eleven of the children were boys, as the program's contact informed us that there was a deep need for little boys to be "adopted" this Christmas.
The Florida Guardian ad Litem program speaks for abused and neglected children in court. It's difficult for children to testify against their own parents, especially when the parent-in-question is in the same courtroom. An advocate from the GaL program is granted time alone with the child to hear their story, and then speaks in their place during the hearing.
Seminole Sitter Lisa-Marie is a former Guardian ad Litem, and encouraged the others, writing "You guys have no idea how much this makes these kids' day - their year. My child was crying; he was so happy with the gifts he got." Without these gifts, many of the children being assisted by GaL would have a very lonely and empty Christmas.
If you are interested in getting involved with the local Guardian ad Litem program, they are always seeking volunteers.
Ms. Lindsey E. received word last weekend that she'd been accepted into the nursing program at Southwest Georgia Technical College, in Thomasville! She'll be pursuing her Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, slotted to graduate in July 2011. Ironically, this means we now have two Lindseys on staff that are nursing students; Ms. Lindsey B. is also going to nursing school!
A week from today, on December 12th, she'll graduate from Florida State with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology.
Congrats, Lindsey!
There have been three suspicious incidents in the area in the past 72 hours - please be on high alert, and ensure your children know what to do if approached by a stranger.
The following are some recommendations from the Leon County Sheriff's Office about child safety:
Parents are urged to teach your children not to talk with strangers.
Children should not approach a motor vehicle for someone asking directions, or asking if they need a ride.
If a stranger does approach your child, tell them to remember the description of the motor vehicle and to report this information immediately to a trusted adult.
Parents should talk to their children about dangerous situations, and give them these easy-to-remember safety instructions:
- If a stranger asks you or help or to keep a "secret," it could be a dangerous situation. Say no and tell a parent or trusted adult.
- Trust your instincts. If you feel scared or uncomfortable, get away from the situation. Make an excuse or just run away, and go to a safe place.
- Know what to do. Think "No, Go, Yell, Tell." If you're in a dangerous situation, say no, run away, yell as loud as you can, and tell a trusted adult.
- Ask your parents first. If a stranger invites you to go somewhere, offers you a gift, or just wants to talk, say you need to ask your parents' permission first.
- Stick with friends. It's always safer to play in a group. Don't let your friends go into a dangerous situation either - no, go, yell, tell!
Suspicious Incident Raises Awareness
Yesterday, just before 7:00PM, the Tallahassee Police Department received a phone call in reference to a suspicious incident that occurred after a local peewee football practice. The caller, identified as the football coach, indicated that one of his ten-year-old players was leaving practice (Gilchrist Elementary School), when a white male stranger offered the boy a ride home. The boy refused and the stranger fled as the coach neared the vehicle. Accompanying the man inside the vehicle was a white female, who appeared to be approximately 5 years of age. The girl has blue eyes and was wearing a pink dress. Based on information received, the girl did not appear to be distressed. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the above event to contact the Tallahassee Police Department at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS (8477).
Suspect Description: White male, 25-30 years of age, brown or black 'spiked' hair, and wearing reading type glasses.
Vehicle Description: Large white pickup truck, possibly a Ford F-250 type vehicle.
Contact: David McCranie, Public Information Office, (850) 891-4255
A good friend of ours, Angie Pichard, works with the Guardian Ad Litem program. She says they have over 500 children this year, and deeply need individuals and businesses to step up and sponsor a child for the holidays.
The Sitters are stepping up one-by-one to sponsor children, and we want to encourage you to do the same. It's very simple, and inexpensive:
- Pick a boy or a girl (they have a large need for boys to be sponsored).
- Pick an age group: 0-5, 6-9, 10-12, or 13-17.
- Angie has a "wish list" for each child, and you'd be asked to help put something together for them in time for the holidays.
It's such a small thing to do for a little one in need. Please E-mail Angie at alpichard@hotmail.com and let her know we sent you.
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