Winter Fun – Get OUT!
Posted by: edukidsinc on: January 16, 2012
Kate Dust, EduKids Education Director
I don’t really consider myself a winter person. I prefer sandals and t-shirts to boots and turtlenecks. Out of necessity I help shovel the driveway but insist I get the parking space in the garage. The only reason I like winter at all is because I have an excuse to drink hot chocolate with sprinkles and whipped cream and not feel guilty!
When my children were little, I used to love the snow. I have photos to prove it. I have grandchildren now that absolutely love to run and jump into snow hills and just play in the snowy yard. So when I join them, I can’t help but find magic in this sparkly cold powder that drifts to the ground. (Even if I know I will eventually have to shovel it!)
Have you watched (I mean really watched) your children in the snow outside? They are wonderful with bright cheeks and misty breath. They move with steady grace (even toddlers once they get the hang of it) and they run with reckless abandon. Children find magic in falling snow. They see wonder in snow-covered playgrounds and they howl and scream when they slip, slide, and sled. Half the time they don’t care if their hat is missing or their gloves are soaked.
You have the real privilege of being able to enjoy winter with children in your own back yard. I know it takes time to dress little ones and help dress “big” ones in all of their outside gear. But..
*Plan ahead in hallways and closets – be sure there is space for everything. Consider where all of that wet, cold gear will go when everyone comes in. Are there dry clothes to change into? Boots in the garage or hall? Set your children up for successful play transitions.
*Have extra gear on hooks and in bags. Consider assignment and thrift shops for extras.
*Winter fun is learning about weather, animals, plants and clouds. It is a chance for friendship, fun, lessons in balance & motion and taking aim or ducking for cover in a snowball fight! Your snowy yard and slushy street is an exciting classroom (ssh… don’t tell the kids).
*Consider taking outside what children enjoy inside. Scoops, shovels, bowls, trucks, balls, plastic toys, blocks & people… Invite friends to climb and dig out snowhills.
*Make sure you have winter gear to play outside with your children. Take an evening winter walk – the world looks different. Everything is peaceful and glittery.
So GET OUT and make time for winter fun!
Then COME IN and share hot chocolate with whipped cream & sprinkles!!
You won’t feel guilty at all!
-Kate Dust, EduKids Education Director
Resolutions
Posted by: edukidsinc on: January 9, 2012
Kate Dust, EduKids Education Director
Resolutions to keep – A list for your fridge…
- Read to your children everyday
- Be a model of health and wellness
- Eat balanced meals
- Eat family meals together at the kitchen table
- Get enough sleep
- Learn a new children’s song to sing in the car
- Unplug, close down and ignore all electronics and hand-held systems when children are with you
- Play everyday
- Be a partner with your child’s teacher
- Help with homework
- Make sure everyone in the car is buckled
- Keep your work at your work
- Laugh out loud
- Keep promises
- Openly and affectionately love your spouse and children
“If it’s on the fridge or marked on my calendar,it’s official in my house.” S.M.S.
-Kate Dust, EduKids Education Director
2012
Posted by: edukidsinc on: January 3, 2012
Kate Dust, EduKids Education Director
These are burning questions to consider as we head into 2012:
- How many ways do we let each of our children and all of our family members know that we are totally on their side? 2012 ways only begins to cover it.
- What is the cost of bringing your child’s favorite book home from a shopping trip? About $7.00. How about a little puppet that goes with the story? Total cost $12.00. Snuggling together and sharing his special story? No cost, just 2012 sighs of happiness.
- Can you count the steps that a new walker takes – when she discovers that everything looks different standing up – that everyone smiles and claps for her with each step she takes – that all of a sudden what was once over there can actually be right here? You can begin with 2012, but don’t stop there because she certainly won’t!
- How many crayons will a preschooler who has discovered that he is, in fact, Picasso go through during the coming year? At least 2012.
- Can you estimate the giggles that a toddler will make thinking that you are the funniest, greatest and coolest friend she will ever have? Yes, 2012 – but that’s a low estimate.
- Are there really 2012 excuses that school-agers can come up with when they don’t want to do something? Yes. They are really something.
- How many dimes do you need to make it through summer ice cream cone season? 2012. But $201.20 only covers one child. If you have multiples, better start saving.
- Do you know how to sing BINGO? If not, have your child teach you. She will want you to sing it with her 2012 times this year! It’s really great.
- Do toddlers have a favorite word? Yes. What is it? No. Will they repeat their favorite word every chance they get? Yes. About how many times? 2012
- I recently counted how many times parents tell their children to “Get ready, now.” That number would be 2012. How many times did children get ready, now? 0
- How many New Year’s 2012 resolutions will be broken by March? 2010. Eating better and sleeping more tend to linger. They are not always successful, but they tend to linger!
- How many days are you wished health, happiness and good fortune in this new year? 2012
Happy New Year 2012! Kate
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: edukidsinc on: December 21, 2011
Kate Dust, EduKids Education Director
M….mistletoe is the best part of Christmas decorating.
E….elves make mischief; they sneak around looking for gifts – not your children.
R….reindeer really do fly.
R….really.
Y….your children’s homemade ornaments should be front & center on the tree.
C….children are Christmas angels bringing joy to the world.
H….happiness is contagious. I hope you come down with a big case of it and spread it around.
R….’round about now everyone – I mean everyone! - is ready for Christmas. It’s almost here.
I….invite a relative or friend to your home that you haven’t seen for a while. Serve eggnog.
S….Believe.
T….trim the tree for our winter friends. String fruit loops & popcorn to feed the birds after the holiday.
M….mixing sugar, flour, butter, chips and eggs together is good for the soul. Give children spoons.
A….another Christmas with family & friends? Another new year ahead? Count your blessings.
S….smiles, hugs, kisses and “I love you.” These are the gifts that really count.
With warmest wishes for a Christmas that is peaceful, joyful and filled with family and friends.
Merry Christmas! Kate
A Few Favorite Things
Posted by: edukidsinc on: December 16, 2011
Kate Dust, EduKids Education Director
A beautiful musical and classic holiday movie is The Sound of Music. I have watched It’s A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, A Christmas Story and countless holiday cartoons a million times over. I never get tired of them – they become part of tradition in so many families. But I keep going back to The Sound of Music. In particular the song “These Are A Few of My Favorite Things.” The song is a collection – a list – of favorite things.
What is on your list of favorite things that keep you warm, make you smile and that you simply can’t do without? What is on your child’s list?
This holiday week in the middle of baking, shopping, wrapping and visiting, take a few minutes with your children and see what is on their list of favorite things. This is not a Santa list, it is a list that will, of course, include favorite toys (you can’t get away from that), but it is also a list that expands to include friends, people, smells, places… A list that is personal. A list that is meaningful and timely. Holidays are the perfect time to make memories and both carry on traditions and create new ones.
Use language that will set the mood and start children thinking of favorites;
- “Did you know that this is my favorite cookie?”
- “mmm I love the way pizza smells – it’s my favorite.”
- “Dempsey is my favorite dog.”
Your children pay attention to everything you do. These are simple, quiet ways to help them consider the many things that matter to you – and to them. This is not a big project. It is a memory to make.
If your children can write, ask them to think about and write their list (spelling doesn’t matter!) Children love to cut and paste. Are there magazines, even books that are tattered – and not favorite reading books – that can have pictures cut out and pasted? If you have a little one, ask them to draw pictures and tell you what to write after their drawings. Babies let you know about their favorite things all of the time. Just watch them. When they smile and coo, when they kick their legs and stretch their arms, when they relax and are calm it is because of one of their favorite things!
Children can write their names, make marks, draw pictures and make their paper personal. Create your baby’s list. You can date their My Favorite Things list, (add a picture of your child!) Make sure you make a list of favorite things too with a signature and date. Bundle the lists up and keep them safe. Each Christmas share the My Favorite Things lists from the year before and add the current collection to them.
Childhood is quick. How much our little ones change each year! Believe me, there will be laughter and tears as each year goes by and these memories are shared.
Holidays are the perfect time to make memories & both carry on traditions & create new ones.
“Grammy Lil’s snicker-doodles are my favorite cookie.” Every year – all of the Scarcello grandchildren.
-Kate Dust, EduKids Education Director
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