Your Resource Guide As the hectic back to school schedule once again resumes, parents welcome it with both relief and apprehension. Yes, the kids are back in school and out of your hair, but with that comes other concerns such as after-school care, safety, and homework. We have simplified things by giving you this issue as a resource guide. You will find websites and phone numbers for homework help, Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS), Family Advocacy and more. We also have resources for those of you who have small children or just need to know more about services for yourself and your Family. As a military Spouse, I understand that it can be intimidating and sometimes even confusing to know where to turn for questions or help. We at MWR are here to help in any way that we can. Take a look at our website, become a fan on Facebook, visit our Public Relations Office, or look us up at the next Newcomers’ Orientation. We are here as your network of services.
Melissa Wells, Editor mwrlifeeditor@fortcampbellmwr.com
Inside this issue
Editor Melissa Wells
3 Step-by-Step Through CYSS
Contributors
Your guide to easy registration.
Alyssa Blakemore CynDe Clack Tara Goodson Keri McPeak Maureen Scott Kevin Smith Sr.
8 Think Safety First Important information about keeping your child safe while home alone.
10 Homework Help
Publisher
Tutor.com, a free resource for Military Families.
Creative ink
Creative Director
14 Family Advocacy
Sears Hallett
Advertising David Loos Creative ink 931-206-4459 sales@creativeinktn.com
Great programs to help you with parenting and relationships.
Photography
Schedules are the tool that we discuss in part 2 in out time management and organization series.
16 Spend your Time Wisely
Paula Hallett Melissa Wells Deborah Young
18 Baby Food Made Easy
Dreamstime Orangeline
cover
Making your own baby food is as easy as 1,2,3!
20 Military One Source Your one stop shop for services.
21 Support for the Toughest Job Around New Parent Support Program will help you navigate through the joys of parenthood.
21 School Support The School Liaison Office can help you make the most of your experience. Disclaimers: Fort Campbell’s MWR Life Magazine is a monthly magazine produced by the Fort Campbell MWR Marketing Department under the authority of AR 215-1. Facilities and activities publicized are open to authorized patrons.The mention or appearance of commercial advertisers, commercial sponsors and/or their logos does not constitute endorsement by the Federal Government. The information in this issue is current at the time of publication; activities and events are subject to change. MWR Marketing is located at 5663 Screaming Eagle Blvd, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. For more information, call 270-798-7535 or log on to www.fortcampbellmwr.com. 24 hr. event line - 270-798-3172 • www.facebook.com/fortcampbellmwr
Step-by-Step with CYSS By Melissa Wells As a parent, my first concern is the safety, health and welfare of my child. In whatever I do, I must first consider how that action will affect her. For Military Families, whether it is moving to a different installation or starting a Family, it starts with Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS). CYSS is a program that offers care and services to children ages 4 weeks to 18 years of age including sports, activities, school support, educational experience, and more. Active Duty Military, Retirees, Department of the Army Civilians, Contractors, and Reserve and National Guard on active duty orders are all eligible to use CYSS. You are eligible even if you live off-post! Don’t miss out on these wonderful
opportunities for your Family. Parents that are new to the military or those who have never registered before may think it is difficult to complete the CYSS registration process; however, it is not if you are prepared and have the information that you need to complete the registration. Here at Fort Cambell, the registration process is made more efficient by the fact that you can pre-register online. This allows parents to “build” their household online by inputting basic contact information. By inputting this information prior to registration, the employees at Parent Central Services have access to that information to better serve your needs when making appointments for registra-
tion. Pre-registration can be completed by visiting www.webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac/campbellcyms. Once you have pre-registered online, the next step is to visit Parent Central Services, located at 5668 Wickham Avenue. Parent Central Services accepts walk-ins and appointments from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday; Fridays are by appointment only from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Listed below are the required documents and items that you will need to bring with you in order to enroll your child in CYSS. ✔ Your ID card. ✔ If your child has never been registered with CYSS, you will need to bring proof of eligibility which can include Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS) enrollment, birth certificate, passport, child’s military ID, or legal guardianship papers. ✔ Proof of income including, a Soldier’s most recent Leave and Earning Statement (LES) as well as the last three pay stubs of a working Spouse. Eligible Civilians must also provide their last three pay stubs. ✔ Current contact information including name, address, email address, phone numbers, and unit information if applicable. ✔ Information about local emergency designees; a friend or Family member who is authorized as a contact if you are unreachable in case of emergency. These designees will also be able to pick up your children in case of emergency. ✔ Shot records and recent physical (within 30 days) for your child. ✔ If your child has special needs or requires specific care, you will need a medical action plan that has been signed by a physician. Parent Central Services staff will review these requirements as needed for each Family’s situation. ✔ If you are a single Soldier or a dual military household, you will also need a copy of DA Form 5840. ✔ Orders if a Soldier is deployed. If you are or have recently completed a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move to
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Fort Campbell and your child was registered at another installation, you can ask to have your file imported from the previous installation. You will still need to register with Parent Central Services, but it will save you from having to completely reenroll in the system. You can register your child in CYSS as young as four weeks old. A common misconception is that if your child will not be using the Child Development Centers (CDCs) for care, they don’t need to be registered with CYSS. Not true! CYSS offers a host of other services and programs for children and youth including youth sports, classes at SKIESUnlimited, the Edge and Hired! programs and much more. Registering for CYSS can also be a big part of your emergency care plan for your children. There are procedures in place that allow CYSS staff and Family Child Care (FCC) providers to assist registered Families during these stressful times. According to Tammie Heath, Parent & Outreach Services, Assistant Director, “You never know when an emergency might come up and you will need childcare. It is wise to be prepared, and registration with CYSS is a very important part of being prepared.” Registering through CYSS
also allows you access to the hourly care program. You can register for these slots online; it is a great resource for appointments. Registering for CYSS also allows Military Children discounted and free services during deployments. With a copy of the Soldier’s orders, eligible children are entitled to $300 per child worth of classes at SKIESUnlimited, and $100 per child at MWR Youth Sports. You will also receive a 20% discount off of regular child care, and free respite care up to
as our partners for quality care and services. The information parents share with the staff about their child’s needs helps to make the experience more unique to their individual needs or interests,” says Heath. A child’s needs sometimes change over the course of a year, and CYSS wants to be sure that your child has the best care available. Additional information is often needed when a child has special needs, and it is important to realize that more registration time will be needed. This process is referred to as SNAP or Special Needs Assessment Process. Through this process, the child’s information is given to the Public Health Nurse and the SNAP team (including parents) work out a care plan for each individual child. This process takes ten working days from the time that all information
three times a month with Friday Night Out and Super Saturdays. Registering with CYSS automatically allows your children participation in all age appropriate programs for one year. *Important note* You must re-register your child for CYSS each year on the anniversary month of enrollment. It is as simple as updating shot records, physicals, health screening tools, and signing a waiver to keep your children eligible for these amazing programs. “CYSS sees parents
has been turned in. Be sure to plan your child care needs accordingly and give yourself plenty of time. I have been through the process of CYSS enrollment and can assure you that it is not hard or difficult. Ms. Heath emphasized to me that “Many parents remember the days of endless forms and long waits and we have really improved enrollment and registration services over the past couple of years.” The most important thing is to be prepared, have the required documentation, and give yourself plenty of time to complete the process. Start your child on the right path and enroll today! For additional questions about the enrollment process, contact Parent Central Services at (270) 798-0674
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T
he school year is getting started and more children are being left at home alone both before and after school. Hopefully you, as a responsible parent, have had several dry runs and set up boundaries and rules for your child to follow in your absence. Neither Tennessee nor Kentucky have regulations or laws with a minimum age requirement; however, both states advise parents to use their best judgment, keeping a child’s maturity level and safety issues in mind. If you reside on Fort Campbell, there is a regulation that states minimum age guidelines. You can get a copy of it at your Community Mayor’s Office, or the Fort Campbell Family Housing Office. As we all know, we can’t put a maturity level on a child based on their age. Most of the state agencies that I spoke with let me know that they would not recommend that children younger than 10 are left home alone, period. Both stated they have had cases where children as young as 5 are regularly left alone after school. CAM Reg 608-3 also follows the age 10 guidelines, with the only age bracket allowed to be left alone overnight is youth ages 16 - 18. It also stresses that the parent is responsible for their children and their children’s actions at all times. A babysitting course is highly recommended and required if the child is in grade 7 and age 11, babysitting non-siblings. The American Red Cross in Clarksville offers classes; please contact them for their current schedule. SKIESUnlimited also offers classes. Call (270) 412-5455 for more information As a parent of two, one of my worst fears when I started letting them stay home for a few hours was, what happens if there is a problem? Both are extremely mature children, but still children. My husband and I created a list of phone numbers to call in case of emergency; with the emphasis that 911 should only be used for a true emergency. They know where all of the safety equipment is located and we created an evacuation plan, to include our Family pets. We also created a list of rules and expectations while we were out of the house. These included a list of chores, if they could play in our backyard (yes), whether they could have friends over (no), if they could cook (no), could they watch tv (yes with parental controls on), use the computer (no) and if they should answer the door (with extreme caution). If it was a stranger, then never, ever disclose that they were alone. We also went over what consequences would happen if they broke those rules. We covered the least (grounding), to the worst (death or injury) and we role played different things that might happen. Maybe it was overboard, but we want them to be able to be as calm and collected as possible in case of an emergency.
www.fortcampbellmwr.com
By Tara Goodson
Luckily, children these days typically learn when to call 911 at a fairly young age. It was easy to take the guidelines they received from the police, firefighter and EMT staff and build from there. Does your child understand that not sharing the remote is not a reason to call 911, or that a fire is an emergency? They need to have access to a phone, and if it’s a cell phone the ability to communicate to the call center the correct address of their location. We do not have a land line in our home, and haven’t for many years. Now that our children are home for a few hours at a time, we keep a reloadable cell phone available and ready for emergency purposes. You also need to spot check the child. Call the phone at the house, or ask an adult neighbor to check on them. Both of my girls know that the back-up plan includes the neighbor and I always let the neighbor know when the girls will be home alone. Leaving your child home alone is a big step, and very different from when we were children. If you have any doubts about leaving your child alone, err on the side of caution. Use available resources to prepare your children. Start small, reassure them that they will be successful and always have a back-up plan.
Home Alone Important Information: Address: _____________________________________________ Mom or Dad Cell Phone: _____________________________________________ Alternative Emergency Contact: _____________________________________________ 2nd Alternative Emergency Contact: _____________________________________________ Emergency Numbers: 911 (all communities) Non-emergency: Fort Campbell: (270) 798-7111 Clarksville: (931) 552-1011 Oak Grove: (270) 439-4602 Hopkinsville: (270) 890-1300 Poison Control: 800-222-1222 American Red Cross: Clarksville: (931) 645-6401 Madisonville: (270) 821-6784 Army Community Service Family Advocacy Program: (270) 412-5500
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Homework Help By Alyssa Blakemore
As a busy working professional, full-time chauffer for kids’ sports activities, or simply a Soldier working your degree around weekend field training exercises, Tutor.com provides an abundance of resources, whatever your academic needs may be. Whether it is homework help or career advice for your kids or yourself, the program is provided at no cost through the Department of Defense (DoD) for eligible military members and their Families. The on-line Skills Center Resource Library provides worksheets and study help on a variety of subjects for students of all ages. Additionally, you have around the clock, live help from professional tutors. Perhaps the most attractive feature of Tutor.com is the accessibility and flexibility of tutors to help students in a variety of subject areas, regardless of time or location. Test prep, career transitions, essay writing, and on-line tutoring comprise just a handful of the free services offered through this website. On-line, one-on-one tutoring serves as a great asset to both Military Families here at home and degree-seeking Soldiers serving abroad. Access to on-line classroom help is available for eligible Service Members and their Families. Also included are Reservists and National Guard Soldiers on active duty status as well as their Families. DoD civilians who are considered to be in a deployed status and their Families members may access Tutor.com as well. After certifying your eligibility,
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you will need to create a Tutor.com account. You must first select you and your sponsor’s branch of service and next follow the on-line prompts to complete your account setup. Once you have signed up, you may log in to access the tutoring services, available 7 days a week 24 hours a day. School age students, grades K-12 can receive homework help in over twenty specific subject areas within math, science, social studies, and english. Tutor.com provides immediate access to a qualified tutor through live chat and availability of an on-line whiteboard to work out math problems with your tutor. Not only can students receive help through the use of the interactive whiteboard, but file sharing also allows for ease of edit and review for writing tasks such as
essays. The tutor’s editing suggestions are made real time, allowing the student and tutor to review the document together. Students and tutors may also simultaneously explore websites for additional resources as suggested by the tutor whether it be for english or social studies assignments. Additionally, students are provided test prep for college entrance exams and Advanced Placement Tests. Students simply select their grade level, subject of interest, and specify what they need assistance with and are immediately connected to a classroom chat session with a tutor. Tutor.com provides help not only for school-age students, but also for working adults. On-line tutoring, college support, resume writing, and GED prep is available to military college students at anytime, anywhere. Soldiers have access to tutors in over twenty different college introductory subjects, including math, science, english, and social studies. College students may utilize tutoring services for proofreading and writing assistance as well as resume help. The services offered by Tutor.com greatly benefit Soldiers whether stationed stateside or deployed. Assistance with resume writing and interview preparation is also offered to Military Family members. Spouses of eligible Service Members may explore various portable career options with the help of a live counselor through Tutor.com. Adult learners going back to school or those simply considering career opportunities as a Military Spouse may wish to work with an online tutor to help with homework assignments or prepare for standardized tests. Military members may also work one-on-one with a career tutor for assistance with career transitions for Service Members seeking civilian jobs. Help with resume writing, cover letters, and job searches are just a few of the services offered to military members and their Spouses. Whether going back to school, or searching for a portable job as a Spouse, or a Soldier nearing end of service, Tutor.com provides free and immediate help with every academic or career need. The services offered through Tutor.com provides accessible homework help and career assistance at no cost anywhere and anytime from a live expert in his/her field. Where else can you obtain real-time tutoring services and career help at no cost? Be sure to visit www.tutor.com/military for additional information and sign up today!
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Child, Youth & School Services 1. **24 Hour Care (opening FY-12) 2. Bastogne (CDC) (270) 412-4485 3. Eagle (CDC) (270) 412-3303/3304 4. Gardner Hills (CDC) 5. Part Day Preschool (CDC) (270) 412-6767 6. Polk (CDC) (270) 412-4471 7. Tennessee (CDC) (270) 412-4477 8. Waters #1 (CDC) (270) 439-7993 9. Waters #2 (CDC) (270) 439-7996 10. *CYSS Directorate (270) 798-6539 11. Family Child Care (FCC) (270) 798-4959 12. *Kids on Site (Estep) 11. Parent Central Services (CYSS Central Registration) (270) 798-0674 14. Billy C. Colwell Center (270) 412-2315 15. *Gardner Hills (SAS) 16. *Werner Park #1 (SAS) 17. *Werner Park #2 (SAS) 11. School Liaison (270) 798-9874 18. SKIESUnlimited Center (270) 412-5455 19. Teen Club 24/7 (270) 956-1033 19. Youth Center (Taylor) (270) 798-3643 19. Youth Sports (270) 798-6355 Community Services 20. Army Community Service (ACS) & ACS Director (270) 798-9322 21. Family Resource Center (FRC) (270) 956-2935 22. Financial Readiness (270) 798-5518 20. Lending Closet (270) 798-6313 23. Soldier & Family Assistance Center (SFAC) (270) 412-6000 24. Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) (270) 798-0277 25. Backdoor Boutique (270) 956-1566 26. Family Center & Co-op Daycare (270) 798-7422 Dining & Entertainment 27. 19th Hole (Cole Park) (270) 798-1822 28. Conference & Catering Center (Joe Swing) (270) 798-2175 27. Community Activities Center (Cole Park) (270) 798-4610 29. Dawg Haus (270) 798-0766 27. Southern Buffet (Cole Park) (270) 798-4610
30. Sportsman’s Lodge (931) 431-4140 Recreation & Leisure 32. Baldanado Pool (270) 798-5207 33. Dolan Pool (270) 798-5350 31. Gardner Indoor Pool (270) 798-6310 34. Singles Pool (270) 798-4247 35. *The Zone 36. BOSS Program (270) 798-7858 37. Bowling Center (Hooper) (270) 798-5887 27. Golf Club (Cole Park) (270) 798-4906 82. Challenge Course (270) 412-7855 39. Adventure Program (270) 412-7854 40. Archery Range (270) 798-2175 41. Dog Park, North (270) 798-2175 42. Dog Park, South (270) 798-2175 43. Hunting & Fishing (270) 798-2175 83. Paintball (270) 956-3118 38. Parks & Pavilions (270) 798-2175 45. Riding Stables (270) 798-2629 46. RV Park (Eagles Rest) (270) 798-2175 47. RV Park (Flechers Fork) (270) 798-2175 48. Skeet Range (270) 412-4015 49. Small Arms Recreational Range (270) 798-3001 36. Recreation Center (Dale Wayrynen) (270) 798-7391 Sports & Fitness 50. Estep Wellness Center (270) 798-4664/4023 51. Fryar Stadium, Sports Admin Office (270) 798-3094 52. Fratellenico PFF (270) 798-9418 53. Freedom Fighter PFF (270) 798-7355 54. Gertsch PFF (270) 798-2753 55. Lozada PFF (270) 798-4306 56. Olive PFF (270) 798-4101 57. Softball Complex, North (270) 798-3320 58. Softball Complex, South (270) 798-3320 Trades & Services 59. Army Education (270) 798-5886 60. Arts & Crafts Center (Guenette) (270) 798-6693 61. Auto Service Center (Air Assault Auto) (270) 956-1101/1100
62. Auto Skills (North) (270) 798-5612 60. Engraving Etc. Specialty Store (270) 798-0171 63. Equipment Rental (Gear-to-Go) (270) 798-6806 64. Library (R.F. Sink) (270) 798-5729 65. Veterinary Services (270) 798-3614 Travel & Lodging 66. Army Lodging (Richardson) (931) 431-4496 67. Army Lodging (Turner) (270) 439-2229 68. Leisure Travel Services Office (270) 798-7436 Miscellaneous Services 69. 101st Airborne Division Headquarters (270) 798-9793 70. Blanchfield Army Hospital (270) 798-8055 71. Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (270) 798-7161 72. Commissary (270) 798-3663 73. Division Parade Field 74. Fisher House (270) 798-8330 75. Gate 4 Visitor Center & Vehicle Registration (270) 798-5047 76. Gate 7 Visitor Center & Vehicle Registration (270) 956-4495 77. In/Out Processing & MWR Public Relations (270) 798-7535 78. MWR Director (270) 798-9953 78. MWR Unit Funds & MWR Collections (270) 798-6818 80. Museum (Don F. Pratt) (270) 798-3215/4986 81. Wilson Theater (931) 431-3636 AAFES 84. Airfield Mini Mall (270) 640-4614 85. Community Town Center Class Six (270) 431-3622 Military Clothing Store (270) 798-4212 Pizza Hut Delivery (270) 439-1113 68. Exchange (270) 439-1841 86. Exchange Administration Office (270) 439-1846 87. Firestone (270) 439-1865 88. Gardner Hills Mini Mal1 (Burger King/Subway) (270) 697-1020 89. Kentucky Shoppette (24hr gas) (270) 439-1914 90. KFC & Taco Bell (270) 439-6353 91. Troop Mini Mall (gas) (270) 431-2410 *Coming Soon
Family Advocacy Helps you Find the Answers By Maureen Scott ACS, FAP Specialist How many of us sat down before having our children and pondered the true meaning of parenting? How many reading this article actually said, “What IS the purpose of parenting?” If I was to make a guess, it would be very few! We look forward to our babies, we have them, we enjoy them and we love them. Then we face the challenges all parents face as we guide them through this life. What comes next? Whether we are raising our children with the help of another parent or going it alone as a single parent, regardless of the makeup of our Family, the basic concepts of parenting remain the same.
The Army Community Service (ACS) Family Advocacy Program (FAP) offers parenting workshops on this very topic. The purpose of parenting is defined in our workshops as: “The purpose of parenting is to protect and teach our children to survive and thrive in the kind of society in which they will live.” Sounds simple enough, right? That is, until you begin the day-to-day efforts to accomplish this feat! No one disputes the importance of parenting, nor do they dispute that it can, at times be challenging and frustrating.
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How many have thought to themselves, “What’s up with this kid? Why can’t he/she just do what I say and make everyone’s life easier?” The parenting workshops look at these types of questions. Why do children do what they do? Why do we as parents do what we do? What works? What doesn’t work? Why does or doesn’t it work? Topics such as preventing problems, discipline, and tantrums are looked at in the 1,2,3,4 Parents workshop which relates to parents who have children ages 1 - 4 years old. The workshop for those with children ages 5 - 12, Active Parenting Now, focuses on topics such as communication and cooperation along with discipline and responsibility among others. Finally, Active Parenting of Teens helps parents navigate through the sometimes trying times of raising an adolescent by looking at responsibility, discipline, communication and reducing the risks of drugs, sexuality and violence. Caring for the caregiver is a large part of the parenting workshops. If parents don’t take the time to make sure that they are happy and healthy, they run the risk of not being the best they can be for their children. This also includes working to keep a healthy and happy relationship between parents. The 5 Love Languages workshop is a wonderful program facilitated by Family Advocacy. Couples learn communication techniques as they learn more about each other and their love languages. As we all know, relationships take work. “The techniques and methods used in this workshop will equip couples with the tools needed to discover the simple way to express their feelings and bring joy into their relationship,”
says Delores Lakes of ACS Family Advocacy. This two-day workshop is a great chance for couples to work together to maintain and build upon the bond that they share. A happy marriage and relationship between parents trickles down to the entire Family. Family Advocacy also offers a class on The 5 Love Languages for Children. In addition to the great information the workshop presents, you will learn from another wonderful resource, other parents in the group. These individuals, like you, are raising great kids and are interested in learning as much as they can to make their job as a parent that much easier! For more information on parenting workshops, The 5 Love Languages, or any other programs available through ACS Family Advocacy, please call (270) 412-5500.
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Developing a Schedule Part 2 in the Time Management and Organization Series By Melissa Wells Typical of someone who struggles with time management and organization, I am behind deadline. I do however, feel a glimmer of hope as I read through and review the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) website that I discussed in July. The first thing that I did was fill out the Time Distribution Assessment. It has spaces for you to fill in how much time you spend doing routine tasks in a week. I will admit that at first, I didn’t feel that much of the information applied to me because most of the assessment was devoted to college courses and time for study. The same seemed true for the proposed schedules. Then I realized that for the most part, the times that were set aside for those things were the same times that I spend at work. Why not use the same schedule and adapt it to my needs? I have never been someone who believed in following a schedule. I prefer to take things as they come, manage the task, and move on. I am usually successful at those tasks, but what else suffers when I am focusing my time on that specific job? The answer is, everything! Because I don’t have a plan for those upcoming tasks and things that I need to take care of routinely, unexpected tasks often put me behind schedule and leave me scrambling at the last minute, or working later than I had planned. Study Hacks, a website developed by an MIT postdoctoral fellow, has a great blog
about developing an “autopilot schedule.” The basic premise is that you have responsibilities that you need to accomplish routinely. If you plan your schedule for them, your work gets accomplished without stress. It also allows you to handle non-routine or additional work and still keep up with those things that need to be managed on a routine basis. Read the blog from Cal Newport (see address below).* I encourage you to explore the entire website as I found many additional articles on procrastination and other relevant topics.
Another tip from the MIT website was to encourage the building of “free time” into your schedule. However, as a busy, working mom, I sometimes feel that this term is as mythical as the fabled unicorn. When I do sit down to read, catch up on my Facebook, or watch a few minutes of television, I end up feeling guilty because I know that there is something that needs to be done. I am going to try this month to use the “autopilot schedule” and see if it helps. The funny thing is I keep my daughter on a pretty regimented routine that allows plenty of time for sleep, eating, and play and she is very happy and well adjusted because of that routine. She sleeps twelve hours a night, has great nutrition, and thoroughly enjoys her play time. So, why can’t I do the same for myself? In addition to the “autopilot schedule,” some other great ideas from MIT were to keep a daily to-do list and prioritize it in order of importance and organizing your workspace. I think it is a great idea to set aside five to ten minutes at the end of the day to make the to-do list for the next day and organize my workspace. Lastly, they suggest the OHIO or Only Handle It Once system. For example, I have stacks of
paper that I constantly shuffle. With this system you immediately sort it into categories that need action (put on the to-do list), future reference, or recycling. You can also do this with email! I am going to apply these organizational techniques this month as well as continue my research. Check back in September as I report the results! I would love to hear from you about your time management struggles and triumphs. Emails are welcome at mwrlifeeditor@fortcampbellmwr.com. *http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/04/07/monday-master-class-how-to-reduce-stress-and-get-more-done-by-building-an-autopilot-schedule/
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Easy as 1, 2, 3 What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of baby food? My guess is that it doesn’t have your mouth watering; however, that doesn’t have to be the case. I decided before Olivia was born, that I was going to attempt to make her baby food. It turns out, it is not difficult at all. It only takes a little bit of time to give your baby fresh, healthy food. The best part is that unlike pre-packaged or jarred baby food, you know exactly what you are feeding your child. I have chosen to use organic ingredients when possible. Even if fresh organics are not readily available or seem beyond your budget, consider frozen. Frozen organic produce is less expensive and picked at peak freshness then flash frozen so it retains all of the valuable vitamins and minerals. The best method for cooking simple fruits and vegetables is steaming because it best preserves all of the nutrients. You can use a microwave steamer, or a baby food cooker. You will also need a blender or food processor to puree the ingredients after steaming. Save the cooking liquid and use that as needed for your puree. Olivia loves all kinds of fruit. She has eaten everything from bananas and strawberries to papaya and hasn’t turned anything down yet! It is also important to me to give her as wide of variety of fruits and vegetables as possible. As we know, different colors of fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients and antioxidants, so I make sure that she has a variety of colors every day. There are many different baby food cook books available. I used Top 100 Baby Purees and First Meals by Annabel Karmel. She breaks all of the foods into age groups which I found extremely helpful when I questioned what foods were appropriate at the time. It is important to introduce foods carefully at first, introducing different foods one at a time and allowing 3-4 days between each one to watch for allergic reactions in your baby. Infants should not have salt added to their food, especially at first. Check with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns about feeding your baby or child. Frozen fruit or vegetable purees Take frozen organic fruit or vegetables and steam them in a microwave steamer or baby food cooker. Puree to desired consistency. Serve it fresh or freeze the puree in ice cube trays to use later. The ice cube trays make a perfect 1 oz. serving size. Some combinations to try are blueberries and peaches, Apples, pears and cinnamon, and broccoli, peas and pears. The pears add a little sweetness to the veggies which babies really like!
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By Melissa Wells
Some other great options are baked sweet potatoes, roasted squash, and avocado. You can pop a sweet potato in your oven while you are cooking dinner. Wrap it in foil and put in a 350 degree oven for 40-50 minutes then simply mash and serve. Cook acorn or butternut squash by cutting in half, removing seeds, and brushing each half with melted unsalted butter. Pour ¼ cup of orange juice in the cavity of the squash and bake at 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours. Scoop out flesh of squash, mash or puree and serve. Avocado can simply be peeled, chopped and eaten or it can be mashed alone or with a banana. Avocado is a great “first” food as solids are being introduced. They are
packed with essential vitamins and minerals such as Folate which promotes healthy cell and tissue development; crucial for infants.
There are numerous books, websites and other resources available for making baby food. To me, it is worth the extra effort to ensure that your baby starts his/her nutritional journey on the right foot. Remember to consult your pediatrician and discuss the specific nutritional needs of your child.
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Military One Source By Kevin Smith Sr.
Military OneSource (MOS) is an extension of your local Army Community Service (ACS). MOS is sponsored by The Department of Defense (DoD) and all active-duty Soldiers and their immediate Family members are eligible users. National Guard and Reserve members and their Families are eligible as well. In addition, anyone who has legal responsibility for a Soldier’s children or personal affairs during deployment or any other duty related to separation from Family may use MOS services on behalf of the Soldier. There are variations on eligibility criteria, please log on to www.militaryonesource.com or call 1-800-342-9647 to get detailed information. MOS provides FREE services and resources to all eligible users 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Family members and Soldiers can expect privacy and confidentiality when contacting MOS, whether by telephone, internet, or face-to-face counseling. However, there are exceptions; MOS consultants have a duty to report Family maltreatment, threats to harm self or others, and any illegal activities.
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MOS provides a broad array of services and resources to Soldiers and their Family members. The services and resources are not related solely to military life. Some of the services provided are: • Community Resources & Referrals Deployment • Financial • Healthy Habits • Relationships Counseling & Crisis • Career & Education • Life Transitions • Relocating • Libraries
As the new school year approaches, Soldiers and Families will be interested to know that MOS provides educational services for children in grades K-12. Educational consultants are available to answer questions referring to subjects such as, early childhood education – how to choose a school, how to help your child with homework, and available resources for parents who wish to home school their children. One great FREE service that MOS offers for Soldiers and Family members is tutor.com, an unlimited service that is available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. It offers you assistance from professional tutors for reading, math and written language skills. I found this program to be very helpful for my child. We utilized the service for homework help, studying, test prep and more. Learn more about this program on page 10. The TumbleBook Library is an online library with access to over 200 books. You can access animated, talking picture books that help kids improve their reading/literacy skills, along with games and quizzes that will help build math skills. High School children can access the prep ACT and SAT tests. Information can also be found on the following topics: Adjusting to College, Alternatives to College, College Search, Financial Aid, Scholarships, Applying to College, and much more. MOS offers a Department of Defense (DoD) online library, which provides a wide variety of resources that are not found in the local library. MOS also offers Info Trac for juniors. This is a periodical database with over 300 titles for students in middle, junior and high school. Teens will have access to a variety of index and full-text magazines, newspapers, and reference books. They can also access information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, people, government, history, sports, and more. MOS is considered a one-stop, self-help website. If your mind can conceive it, then MOS most likely has it. If they do not address an issue on their site, they know who to refer you to for the help that you need. To access MOS, eligible users will need to create a user ID and password at www.militaryonesource.com. MOS ensures that personal information is secure and each user is treated with respect. For more information about Army Community Service (ACS) and the services that they provide, please visit us at 5662 Screaming Eagle Blvd. or call (270) 798-0263.
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SUPPORT FOR ONE TOUGH JOB By Keri McPeak The old adage, “It takes a village to raise a child” rings especially true to Military Families who rely on each for moral support, friendship, and sense of community during times of deployment and beyond. A great resource offered to Army Families who are expecting a child or who have children ages birth to three years of age is the Army Community Service (ACS) New Parent Support Program (NPSP). The NPSP is completely voluntary and the services and programs provided are one hundred percent free. No one ever said parenthood was easy, so why not make the most of it and get help from the experts! For the parent(s)-to-be, the Expectant Parent Workshop is a great place to learn how to get your pregnacy off to a good start. You will learn valuable information about basic infant care, infant massage, parenting skills, safety, community resources and much more. The Expectant Parent Workshops take place at the Family Resource Center (FRC) every third Wednesday of each month from 8:45 a.m. until 11a.m.
If you encounter any issues once you have your new baby home, the professional staff within the NPSP can provide supportive and caring services to help you learn to cope with stress, isolation, pre-deployment questions, post deployment reunions, and everyday demands of parenthood in the privacy of your home through their personalized home visits. Home visits can be scheduled for any child up to three years of age. Other accessible programs include the Thursday morning Play Mornings and the recently added Stroller Walk. The Play Mornings are a wonderful, interactive, fun get together in a playgroup setting that assists parents in teaching their children developmentally appropriate play techniques and help children improve their social, cognitive, and motor skills. NPSP Play Mornings are from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the FRC. The Stroller Walk was a recent program that took place this summer started with the feedback from
parents involved in the program. Specialty classes such as Infant Massage and Just for Dads are scheduled at various times throughout the year and interested participants should call for times and locations. New Parent Support Programs are not only restricted to Families living on post. Services are offered to all Military Families living on and off post. To schedule a home visit, or for more information please call (270) 956-3850 or e-mail the NPSP staff at npsp@fortcampbellmwr.com.
School Support through CYSS By CynDe Clack Children of Military Families change school systems an average of nine times from kindergarten to their senior year in high school. This can result in lost credits for courses taken, dropping grade point averages, and failure to qualify for advanced placement classes. It’s easy to see that schools play a crucial role in the lives
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of Military Families. When your student transfers to a new school system, you will likely have many questions. How can I research the local schools? Where can I get school calendar information and when does school start? What information will I need to enroll my child in school? Are there support groups for home-school Families? Have you ever thought, “I wish there was one place that could help me with my questions”? There is! School Support Services, a department of Child, Youth & School Services (CYSS), offers that very thing. First, you’ll have a person who acts as a communication link between the installation and the surrounding school districts to address educational issues involving Military Children. This person is known as a School Liaison Officer (SLO).
Through partnering with the local and military community, the SLO uses a variety of resources to provide assistance with student transition. In addition to SLOs, School Support Services also offers resources such as: free online tutoring which students can use from their home computer or their CYSS Technology Lab, SOAR (Student Online Achievement Resources) which is designed for Military Families and is easily accessible worldwide, Home School Program which offers many opportunities for youth who receive home-school instruction at Fort Campbell, a checklist for transferring students, contact information for the local schools, and a list of web links for school choices, scholarships, special needs and home-schooling. Don’t try to weave your way through the maze of transferring to a new school system alone. Utilize School Support Services by visiting www.fortcampbellmwr.com/cyss, emailing campcysslo@us.army.mil or calling a School Liaison Officer at (270) 798-9874.
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