Dear Readers,
Check out your local library to see if they have a baby story hour. This would be an excellent activity for you, baby and siblings during the holiday season. Holidays are not just about shopping, eating and gift giving.
Attend the story hour with baby, your favorite Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah book may be on the list to be read.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Reinforce learning during hollidays
Dear Readers,
This is a great way to reinforce learning for your child during the holidays. While planning your holiday dinner party. Let your child help you by Sorting and Stacking items.
This activity will help you teach your child how to classify dinnerware items (plates, cups, forks, spoons, napkins).
Your child can learn while helping you in the kitchen by sorting dishes and other items. Have your child sort and match dishes of similar sizes and shapes. While preparing for dinner have your child sort the forks and spoons. Your child is learning while helping you to prepare for dinner.
Always be careful and be safe while in the kitchen with children.
Note: These home learning "recipes" have been tested and developed by Dr. Dorothy Rich, author of MEGASKILLS
This is a great way to reinforce learning for your child during the holidays. While planning your holiday dinner party. Let your child help you by Sorting and Stacking items.
This activity will help you teach your child how to classify dinnerware items (plates, cups, forks, spoons, napkins).
Your child can learn while helping you in the kitchen by sorting dishes and other items. Have your child sort and match dishes of similar sizes and shapes. While preparing for dinner have your child sort the forks and spoons. Your child is learning while helping you to prepare for dinner.
Always be careful and be safe while in the kitchen with children.
Note: These home learning "recipes" have been tested and developed by Dr. Dorothy Rich, author of MEGASKILLS
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Kitchen Safety Duties by Age
Dear Readers,
Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays are a favorite of mine because of the food and family!
I remember Mom being in the kitchen at least 2 days before the Thanksgiving holidays. I know because I would be in there with her, my assignment was to clean the many bunches of greens that she had purchased. I did not mind picking the greens because greens are one of my favorite dishes. I also liked being in the kitchen because I would get to taste and sample whatever she was preparing. My favorites were samples of the stuffing for the turkey and cake mixes (Chocolate - Yum, Yum).
At the age of 9 I was the oldest girl, which meant I was the one who had to help mom in the kitchen. My younger brothers and sister were not allowed to help because of their age. I know we practiced Kitchen Safety as a child because I did not get any major injuries while in the kitchen with Mom.
I don't remember her telling me a lot of rules, I just watched her, and knew how to handle hot pots and pans going in and out of the oven. I watched her keep the handles or pots turned to the inside of the stove. I watched her carefully place food in boiling water or hot cooking oil and quickly move back out of the away to avoid injury.
Listed below are some Kitchen Safety duties by age to use if your child(ren) will be in the kitchen with you during the holidays or at anytime.
Children between 3-5 years of age and do the following:
Get ingredients out of the refrigerator and cupboards.
Stir ingredients together in a bowl.
Pour cool liquids into a bowl.
Rinse foods under cold water.
Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes in dough.
Children between 6-8 years can do the following:
Use a butter knife to spread frosting, peanut butter or soft cheese.
Peel vegetables with a peeler.
Measure ingredients.
Set the table.
Children between 9-12 years can do the following:
Begin to follow recipes.
Help plan the meals.
Use electrical kitchen appliances such as blenders, food processors, electric mixers and microwaves.
Open cans.
Squeeze garlic from a garlic press and use a grater to shred cheese and vegetables.
Turn stove burners on and off and select oven temperature when an adult is present.
Children above age 13 can do the following:
Operate the stove top without adult supervision.
Drain cooked pasta into a colander.
Remove a tray of cookies from the oven.
Heat food in the microwave without adult supervision.
Source: http://firstaid.about.com/od/injuriesathome/qt/07_CookingSafe.htm
Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays are a favorite of mine because of the food and family!
I remember Mom being in the kitchen at least 2 days before the Thanksgiving holidays. I know because I would be in there with her, my assignment was to clean the many bunches of greens that she had purchased. I did not mind picking the greens because greens are one of my favorite dishes. I also liked being in the kitchen because I would get to taste and sample whatever she was preparing. My favorites were samples of the stuffing for the turkey and cake mixes (Chocolate - Yum, Yum).
At the age of 9 I was the oldest girl, which meant I was the one who had to help mom in the kitchen. My younger brothers and sister were not allowed to help because of their age. I know we practiced Kitchen Safety as a child because I did not get any major injuries while in the kitchen with Mom.
I don't remember her telling me a lot of rules, I just watched her, and knew how to handle hot pots and pans going in and out of the oven. I watched her keep the handles or pots turned to the inside of the stove. I watched her carefully place food in boiling water or hot cooking oil and quickly move back out of the away to avoid injury.
Listed below are some Kitchen Safety duties by age to use if your child(ren) will be in the kitchen with you during the holidays or at anytime.
Children between 3-5 years of age and do the following:
Get ingredients out of the refrigerator and cupboards.
Stir ingredients together in a bowl.
Pour cool liquids into a bowl.
Rinse foods under cold water.
Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes in dough.
Children between 6-8 years can do the following:
Use a butter knife to spread frosting, peanut butter or soft cheese.
Peel vegetables with a peeler.
Measure ingredients.
Set the table.
Children between 9-12 years can do the following:
Begin to follow recipes.
Help plan the meals.
Use electrical kitchen appliances such as blenders, food processors, electric mixers and microwaves.
Open cans.
Squeeze garlic from a garlic press and use a grater to shred cheese and vegetables.
Turn stove burners on and off and select oven temperature when an adult is present.
Children above age 13 can do the following:
Operate the stove top without adult supervision.
Drain cooked pasta into a colander.
Remove a tray of cookies from the oven.
Heat food in the microwave without adult supervision.
Source: http://firstaid.about.com/od/injuriesathome/qt/07_CookingSafe.htm
Friday, November 20, 2009
Today Kid Reporter - Deidra Shores
Dear Readers,
B4 Literacy congratulates Deidra Shores, the Today Show winner for the Kid Reporter contest.
I enjoyed watching Deidra's submission tape to the Today Show which showed her darting out and reappearing in different places in the city of Memphis. You did not know what backdrop scene Deidra would appear in next. If you are familiar with Memphis, you were knew approximately where Deidra was standing in order to get the view of the Memphis Bridge in the background. Did you hear the Trolley whistle signal her exit to go to the next scene? This was very clever Deidra using a technique that is commonly used in children's books when children are learning to read. The music will let the child know to turn the page.
Her submission tape coupled with her bubbly personality was definitely a winner!
And congratulations to all of the kids who submitted tapes to the Today Show "Today Kid Reporter Contest", I reviewed some of the submission tapes and they were very creative and clever. You are all winners in my book and much success to all of you.
Quote: “To dream anything that you want to dream. That's the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed.” Bernard Edmonds
Copy and past this link into your browser to view the Today Show of Deidra's submission tape and her journey:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33213732/ns/today-todays_kid_reporter/
Photo source: http://www.commercialappeal.com/photos/2009/nov/12/139354/
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Holiday Safety Tips for Children
Children always like to help in the kitchen at any time but especially during holidays.
I am posting this post because accidents happen and parents should watch children carefully while they are in the kitchen.
My son burned his arm while he was a toddler in the kitchen. I was in the kitchen with him at the time, but was not watching him carefully enough because a minor injury occurred. My son always liked to play with the pots and pans that were kept under the bottom of the stove. Normally while playing with them, I would leave the bottom drawer where the pots and pans were kept open wide so he could bang away with the pots and pans. Boys love to make noise. All the other times when he was playing in the kitchen, the oven would not have been turned on. This time however the oven had been on because I was baking, but it was turned off but had not cooled enough for an injury not to occur.
My son did not know the oven was still hot, so he must have pulled the bottom drawer open slightly as far as he could and stuck his arm in the open drawer. He was able to open the drawer about 2 inches, but this provided enough room for him to slide his arm inside. I realized his arm was stuck when I heard him crying. I quickly reached down and grabbed him and pulled his arm out of the drawer. I administered first aid as best as I could on his arm before taking him to the emergency room. He received a second degree burn on his forearm because the skin blistered. Thankfully, his arm healed eventually with care.
So parents, please be careful if are going to allow your children in the kitchen while preparing the holiday dinner this year. Be careful and safe in the kitchen at all times.
Watch for my next post Kitchen Safety for children - ages 3-5 years old, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, 9-12 years, over 13 years old.
I am posting this post because accidents happen and parents should watch children carefully while they are in the kitchen.
My son burned his arm while he was a toddler in the kitchen. I was in the kitchen with him at the time, but was not watching him carefully enough because a minor injury occurred. My son always liked to play with the pots and pans that were kept under the bottom of the stove. Normally while playing with them, I would leave the bottom drawer where the pots and pans were kept open wide so he could bang away with the pots and pans. Boys love to make noise. All the other times when he was playing in the kitchen, the oven would not have been turned on. This time however the oven had been on because I was baking, but it was turned off but had not cooled enough for an injury not to occur.
My son did not know the oven was still hot, so he must have pulled the bottom drawer open slightly as far as he could and stuck his arm in the open drawer. He was able to open the drawer about 2 inches, but this provided enough room for him to slide his arm inside. I realized his arm was stuck when I heard him crying. I quickly reached down and grabbed him and pulled his arm out of the drawer. I administered first aid as best as I could on his arm before taking him to the emergency room. He received a second degree burn on his forearm because the skin blistered. Thankfully, his arm healed eventually with care.
So parents, please be careful if are going to allow your children in the kitchen while preparing the holiday dinner this year. Be careful and safe in the kitchen at all times.
Watch for my next post Kitchen Safety for children - ages 3-5 years old, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, 9-12 years, over 13 years old.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Explaining a recession to your child
Dear Readers,
Life happens. Many of us are experiencing the effects of the recession first hand with the loss of an income from yourself or spouse. Look at life like it is a series of math problems.
Like a math problem,first evaluate the situation. You will now be a one income family, therefore adjustments will have to be made until the income(s) can be replaced.
Second, make adjustments, in a math problem this would be where you would set the problem up in order to determine which method to use to work it out.
You may have to cook more often instead of eating out.
You may have to learn to live without some of the finer things in life that you thought you could not live without.
You may have to start clipping coupons to save money on groceries and other items.
You may have to become a one car family because there is not enough money for maintenance for the second car.
Third, explain the problem, in a recession, the child(ren) will also feel and see the effects. What do you tell a child when they notice that Mom or Dad does not get up for work anymore? How do you explain the loss of a job to your child? They will see the effects when they do not see the refrigerator full of food anymore. How will the child adjust to moving from their home in case of a foreclosure? How will the child adjust moving from the neighborhood and friends?
Explain to the child that things will have to change because there may not be enough money for movie night at the neighborhood theater. There may not be enough money for your all of your favorite items that you are allowed to purchase at the department or grocery store.
Your child will probably express saddness but give them a big hug and let them know you that you love them. And lastly, try to buy at least one item for them if possible. Even if it is something for a quarter out of the bubble gum machines.
Life happens. Many of us are experiencing the effects of the recession first hand with the loss of an income from yourself or spouse. Look at life like it is a series of math problems.
Like a math problem,first evaluate the situation. You will now be a one income family, therefore adjustments will have to be made until the income(s) can be replaced.
Second, make adjustments, in a math problem this would be where you would set the problem up in order to determine which method to use to work it out.
You may have to cook more often instead of eating out.
You may have to learn to live without some of the finer things in life that you thought you could not live without.
You may have to start clipping coupons to save money on groceries and other items.
You may have to become a one car family because there is not enough money for maintenance for the second car.
Third, explain the problem, in a recession, the child(ren) will also feel and see the effects. What do you tell a child when they notice that Mom or Dad does not get up for work anymore? How do you explain the loss of a job to your child? They will see the effects when they do not see the refrigerator full of food anymore. How will the child adjust to moving from their home in case of a foreclosure? How will the child adjust moving from the neighborhood and friends?
Explain to the child that things will have to change because there may not be enough money for movie night at the neighborhood theater. There may not be enough money for your all of your favorite items that you are allowed to purchase at the department or grocery store.
Your child will probably express saddness but give them a big hug and let them know you that you love them. And lastly, try to buy at least one item for them if possible. Even if it is something for a quarter out of the bubble gum machines.
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