Kids

The Importance of Daily Affirmations for Kids

The Importance of Daily Affirmations for Kids

I loved the movie The Help for a variety of reasons, but one of the things that really touched me was every time Aibileen would tell the young girl she cared for, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” What a beautiful sentiment. Every kid is special and deserves to be reminded of what a remarkable person he or she is…every day.

Some people scoff at daily affirmations, thinking they’re just a bunch of nonsense, but if you think about how the human mind works, adult or child, it doesn’t seem so silly. Our minds have two parts: the conscious and subconscious mind. The conscious mind is what we use to think through problems and use reason. The subconscious mind is like a storage box that keeps our beliefs and evidence supporting those beliefs stored away. When the conscious mind is processing a thought like, “I’m pretty,” the subconscious mind looks for evidence to support that. Did people tell you you were pretty, or did they make remarks about what would make you look more attractive (in their opinion)? Those messages get stored in the subconscious from an early age. What you come to believe, based on the supporting evidence, becomes fact in your subconscious mind, no matter how reasonable or unreasonable it is, whether it’s fact or fiction.

That’s why it’s so important to think about the messages you’re sending to your children, through both your actions and words. If you’re constantly staring in the mirror and criticizing yourself for your curly hair or love handles, your kids are tucking that away in their subconscious. Just the same, if you tell your children that he never does anything right or that he can’t do something, that’s being stored as a fact in his subconscious mind, because you’re an important authority in his life. These negative beliefs are damaging and can be very hard to reprogram.

The good news is that the subconscious can be a powerful ally in building a healthy, happy self-esteem for your children. If you compliment them for the things they excel at or you admire, like being a great artist or having a pretty smile, those things become beliefs, too. It’s also key to give your kids the general positive affirmations, like Aibileen. Having those supportive reminders on a regular basis builds a strong foundation for your kids’ outlook on who they are and what makes them great. While you’re making them feel good in the moment, their subconscious minds are taking notes, and once they’re in there, those beliefs are really hard to reprogram, too.

Giving your kids supportive, loving, self-esteem-boosting daily affirmations makes them feel good about themselves as you say them, but also creates a lasting belief that will stay with them forever. Never underestimate the power of your words and actions. Your kids are taking notes.

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5 Ways To Get Your Kids Back In the Routine After Vacation

5 Ways To Get Your Kids Back In the Routine After Vacation

My kids have been off of school for two weeks, and while we’ve tried to keep them to a somewhat normal schedule, they’ve really enjoyed lazing about, playing boardgames in the middle of the day and sleeping in past 7:30. When we broke the news that today was the last day of their vacation, they looked at us like we were some sort of comic book villains. Awkward.

Getting your kids back into a school frame of mind can be a little bit of a chore, especially if you’ve been off too. Heck, it’s hard for us to get back into the routine, too. Right? The trick is getting them pumped about going back, so they have that first day excitement, just like at the beginning of the school year.

1. Remind them they’ll be with their friends again. My kids love being at home with us, but they also enjoy seeing their friends every day. Chat with them about how nice it will be to see their pals again and ask about what games they like to play together at school…even if you already heard the answer a thousand times.

2. Discuss what they can share about their vacation. Talk about all the fun things you did on your vacation. Then segue the conversation into telling their teachers and classmates all about it.

3. Give them pictures of things they’ve done or them playing with new toys. I snapped a few pictures of my boys playing video games and working some new puzzles. Then we talked about sharing them with their teacher to show them what they did. My sons are pretty excited to show them off.

4. Help them pick out a special first day lunch. I let my eldest son, who takes a lunch to school with him, shop around the kitchen and pick some special things to take for his first day back. He liked the idea of finding things to give him extra “smart energy.”

5. Help them choose cool outfits. My kids received quite a few new pieces of clothing for Christmas, so I let them pick out their favorite outfit for their big day back. It’s almost weird how excited they were. I guess even boys like to look stylin’ on their first days back.

Helping to pump your kids up for their first day of school after a long vacation helps them to prepare, and makes the transition easier for you in the morning. If you give them reasons to be excited, they’ll be bright-eyed and bushy tailed…even if you’re not.

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Keep Art Time With The Kids A Little Less Messy

Keep Art Time With The Kids A Little Less Messy

Art time with your kids is fun, but when you’re working with anything more than origami, chances are pretty good that there’s going to be some mess involved. When you bust out the paint or clay, you know your kids aren’t going to keep their area neat, but the opportunity for them to be creative–and have a good time doing it–is worth a little extra cleanup.

That being said, there are ways to keep the messes a little less messy without stifling their inner artist.

1. Never jump without a net…or create without a table liner. Even while most mediums created for young children are usually available in washable varieties, you still don’t want blue paint on your grandma’s antique oak table. Lay down a liner of some sort, preferably plastic. Newspaper works, but when it gets wet, the ink can bleed on everything it’s touching and then the results are just a different type of mess. I like to use cheap plastic tablecloths that are made for parties. If I see them on sale after a holiday, I pick up a bunch for less than a buck a piece, which is awesome. If the mess is minimal, the tablecloth can be wiped off and stored for next time. If the thought of cleaning it up gives you hives, pitch it and use a new one during the next artistic endeavor.

2. Bibs aren’t just for babies…or mealtimes. Call it a bib or a smock; it really doesn’t matter. The bottom line is it’s going to keep your kids’ clothes clean. And, before you go spending a fortune for some expensive, store-bought paint smock with a fancy brand name on it, turn to the closet for some old, stained clothing. I love taking old sweatshirts and cutting away the back and arms (just leaving the front panel and collar). These makeshift smocks are naturally thick and can keep everything from soup to crafty messes off the cherubs’ gear.

3. Paper or plastic? When using paints that need to be poured to be used, use throw away materials, like Styrofoam plates or Dixie Cups as palates or dishes. Then, instead of worrying about cleaning a sink full of dishes, you can just pitch them. After that, all you have to do is clean up the brushes. Easy peasy!

Letting your kids get creative with their art might mean that you’ll have a little extra work to do after their fun is over. The payoff, however, is great for everyone involved. Your children have the chance to express themselves, test new ideas and have some wacky fun while letting their imaginations run wild. And, when all is said and done, you have original, priceless pieces of art that you’ll cherish almost as much as you cherish their creators.

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Decorating The Home In A Winter Theme With The Kids

Decorating The Home In A Winter Theme With The Kids

In an unprecedented move, I took down all of my Christmas decorations yesterday. In years past, I’ve been lousy about waiting until I could decorate for Valentine’s Day–usually mid to late January–before taking down a single thing. Part of it was getting caught up in the hustle and bustle, but really, the biggest reason I’d drag my feet is because the kids and I love the glow of the twinkle lights and the festivity of the decorations. This year, we decided to change things up and fill the gap between the holidays and Valentine’s Day by decorating with a winter-snow theme.

The first thing we did was take down anything that was completely, and without question, Christmas themed. Everything that was red and green or had anything to do with Santa or presents took a trip up to the attic. We kept out snowmen, snowflakes and silvery decorations for a little extra sparkle and shimmer.

Once we chose what we were going to keep downstairs for our winter themed decor, the kids moved the decorations around and spread them out throughout the house. Letting them pick the decorations’ new homes made them feel special and actually added a charm to the decor. They definitely made choices that I wouldn’t have thought of, and yet somehow it all worked.

After placing the basic decorations, we set about making the winter theme staple–lacy paper snowflakes. They’re so simple, yet every one of them is different, like the real thing, and the kids can get really creative. We chose to do ours all in white, but if you’re feeling wild and want some color, you can use any that you’d like to spice things up. You can also leave them plain or jazz them up by gluing on some silver or iridescent glitter. Once our snowflakes were done, we used curling ribbon to hang them from our ceiling. It’s amazing what a difference having these homemade decorations makes when they’re hanging down–instant winter wonderland.

Last, but certainly not least, we wove some clear twinkle lights around picture frames and little knickknacks on a couple shelves and into large plants for an amazing glow. Now we won’t have to be without that familiar warmth that we’ve loved all throughout the holiday season.

For us, letting go of the festive decorations is the hardest part of the holiday season’s passing. Decorating the house in a winter theme with my kids’ will help to keep the house cozy and soften the transition to less decadent decor. And best of all, we can still whip up some hot cocoa and cuddle up on the couch for some cozy winter family time.

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5 Ways For Your Kids To Say Thank You This Christmas

5 Ways For Your Kids To Say Thank You This Christmas

Sending thank you notes is usually a kid’s least favorite part of Christmas, but it’s a necessary one. The folks who bestowed these new treasures upon your children spent a lot of time and effort on choosing the right gifts and deserve a little note of appreciation. It lets them know that your child really enjoyed their gift, while teaching your children to always be thankful for the things that others do for them.

There are several ways you can go about holiday thank yous, depending on your child’s age and ability to write. Here are some of my favorite thank you note ideas.

The basic thank you card. These are nice if your child can read and write well. The simple printed cards are blank inside for your child to write a quick note including the gift giver’s name, a short message of thanks for the specific gift and a signature.

Homemade thank you card: If you and your children enjoy craft projects and don’t have an overwhelming number of cards to send, grab some card stock and scrap book supplies and make the cards yourselves. These cards are extra special and are a little gift back to the original gift giver.

Pictures are worth a thousand thank yous: Often times, once a gift has been given, the giver never gets to see the child enjoying it. Take a picture of your child wearing the new hat and scarf or building a castle with her new blocks. Then slip it into a basic thank you card with a short message. Trust me, you’ll impress grandma and Uncle Sal and they’ll really enjoy the gesture.

Video e-cards: If you’re a digital family, shooting a short video of your child enjoying the gift and saying thank you. This, too, is a thank you gift in itself and will be treasured by the recipient forever.

Puzzle card: At many craft stores, you can find small rectangles of blank, pre-cut puzzle stock. Have your child write or draw a thank you with crayon or marker and break it up. Then the person receiving the puzzle can have the added joy of putting together this personalized thank you treasure.

Thank yous are an important part of any gift giving event. They mean so much to the person who spent the time and money to make a holiday wish come true, and if you get creative, can be a gift and keepsake in themselves.

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Adidas Kids’ Clinic With Ana Ivanovic

Growing up in Serbia, Ana Ivanovic made it her ambition to make it to the top of women’s tennis. Monica Seles, holder of nine Grand Slam singles titles, inspired her to play the game and Ana’s determination to succeed saw her practising in an empty swimming pool when tennis facilities were scarce. However the hard work paid off; a French Open title and a World. No.1 ranking in 2008 are Ana’s most outstanding achievements to date. In this video Ana takes part in a kids’ clinic in Melbourne where she talks about the importance of following our dreams and hopes that she can inspire children to keep playing tennis.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Esther shows you some YOGA exercises to practice when you have your monthly period. This is “yoga for women, menstruation sequence”.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Techie Parents Raise Techie Kids

Techie Parents Raise Techie Kids

To say that kids are more connected to the world around them than ever before is an uber understatement. Everyday kids like yours and mine are carrying everything from handheld game systems and mp3 players to touchscreen laptops and smartphones. It used to seem ridiculous to hand such expensive electronic goodies to kids who haven’t even reached puberty yet, but now, it’s absolutely the norm.

There are a lot of parents who aren’t down with so much technology being around our kids all the time, and to a certain degree, I agree. I do believe that teaching the hands-on methods of everything from reading a map to doing math is absolutely beneficial to our children, but the bottom line is, we–and our children–are living in a digital age.

Not only are old school electronics, like the long forgotten cassette Walkman, completely outdated, they’re simply not even available anymore. And, while just five years ago it seemed ludicrous to give an 8-year-old an iPod, it’s just the way things are now. It’s not just kids’ tastes that are evolving, it’s also the world that we, as parents, are creating throughout our homes, in our cars, pockets and purses.

For instance, when I was a kid, my father always had an atlas in the car. If we were traveling to a destination where we’d never been, he’d sit down with his trusty atlas, a highlighter and his reading glasses. He’d study the necessary map for a while, taking into account all the different routes, their distances and any major cities or known obstacles that would cause problems or delays on the trip.

My kids? My kids have never seen an atlas. What they’ve seen is me letting MapQuest do the preliminary work and then the GPS in our car and on my phone instruct us during our drive. When they think of finding a destination on a map, do they think about grabbing a book? Heck no. They head to the computer or ask for my Android.

Our kids know and expect these top-notch electronic toys, because it’s what they know. There’s no fault in that. I want my kids to be tech savvy, because there is no doubt in my mind that they’ll need to be as they grow older. As adults, we’re growing increasingly reliant on modern conveniences and so are schools, doctors’ offices and even grocery stores. Do I think there’s merit in teaching the old ways of doing things and giving kids the tools to use their minds and imaginations? Of course. But, am I blind to the fact that the world is changing and today’s “new and cutting edge” will be tomorrow’s old school? No way. I think the best we can do is show them how to do things for themselves and teach them how to use the modern devices that are quickly becoming the everyday essentials of daily life. That’s really the only middle ground.

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Have a Winter Fun Day With Kids

Have a Winter Fun Day With Kids

Winter offers the most amazing, unique setting for family fun. Being surrounded by snow can make a family feel claustrophobic, but just because it’s cold and snowy, doesn’t mean you have to be stuck in the house every day until the spring thaw.

Instead of hunkering down for a long winters stay indoors, have a winter fun day with your kids. Snow provides an awesome medium for creativity and family play that the other seasons just don’t provide. Take advantage of the opportunity to act like a kid again while chilling out with your family…literally.

There are so many inexpensive things you can do in the snow, it’s a shame to waste it.

  • Snowball fights
  • Building snowmen
  • Building snow fortes
  • Building an igloo (Yes, I actually have a pal that did this with his daughters)
  • Examining snowflakes
  • Making snow angels
  • Sledding
  • Cross-country skiing

If you’re going to have a winter fun day with your kids, there are some quick guidelines you should follow in the interest of safety.

  1. Check the temperature and weather conditions. The thermometer should be above 40 degrees to avoid frost bite. Also take wind chill and the wind in general into consideration. Fresh powder is fun until it’s whipping in your face — then it’s just painful and far less amusing.
  2. Gear up in appropriate winter attire. Mamas, layer your babies. They should have warm clothing and socks on underneath their coat, snow pants, boots, gloves and hat–the fuzzy dingle ball is the only thing that’s optional.
  3. Set clear rules before walking out the door. If you’re going to be playing out in the snow, there’s a very good chance there will eventually be some snow ball fighting, even if it isn’t planned. Let them know what is unacceptable–like shots to the face–before they even make it outside.
  4. Come in the house and dry off from time to time. Playing outside is fun, but prolonged play without the opportunity to warm up and dry out is asking for trouble. Winter fun days without warming breaks lead to winter sick days with coughs, sneezes and an unthinkable amount of mucus.
  5. Have warm liquids available when you’re done. Not only will warm drinks or soups help your family thaw out, there’s just a comforting happiness that comes with a warm mug and mom’s smile.

Staying inside might be necessary on some winter days, but when the conditions are right, heading outdoors can be a chilly good time. Playing in the snow keeps the cabin fever at bay and makes a sleigh-full of memories, one snowflake at a time.

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