6
Aug/Sep
2014
FRUGAL LESSONS TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN
Lady
ACCOMMODATING IMAGINARY FRIENDS
ONE DAD PASSES HIS LOVE OF FANTASY TO HIS DAUGHTER
CURING SUMMERTIME BLUES
of the
RingS
STRANGERS AMONG US:
ON THE COVER
Lady of the Rings One dad passes his love of fantasy to his daughter and reflects on the importance of diversity in entertainment.
6 Frugal Lessons to Teach Your Children Saving skills and financial savvy starts early!
Curing Summertime Blues Tammy Spodek lets you in on her five secrets to wrapping up the summer with style.
Strangers Among Us: Accommodating Imaginary Friends Do imaginary beings live in your house? Embrace them.
FEATURES Childhood Self-Esteem: Stretching that Emotional Muscle 5 tips on how YOU can foster healthy and positive selfesteem
Back-to-School To Do Back to school means getting back in the habit! Follow these simple tips to transition successfully from summertime to schooltime.
Snapology Builds Dreams Two enterprising sisters convert their love of family, learning, and Legos into a nationwide operation.
Socially Savvy: Take Your Best Shot! Make photos of your summer trips and first-day-of-school photos stand out with these tips.
AND MORE… Gimme the Dough! You can make a fun, nontoxic play dough using simple kitchen ingredients!
“A” Is For Advice – Angry Emails Ahoy! Sent an email you regret? Don’t worry—we’ve got advice to help you make amends.
Hitting the Road with a Teen in Tow Four tips for facing a long car ride with a bored teenager.
Daddy’s Little Girl and The Talk Unsure of what to tell your daughter about puberty and sex? Relax, and give her the facts.
Homework Help for Parents Five steps to help you and your kids manage homework expectations.
Dealing with Picky Eaters Mealtime doesn’t have to be a battle.
Hazelnut White Chocolate Chip Apple Rings These chocolatey-hazelnut apple rings are almost as much fun to make as they are to eat.
What is Your Child’s Learning Style? Discovering your child’s learning style can give you the tools necessary to help them develop positive learning habits and get the most out of their education.
COVER PHOTO: COMSTOCK IMAGES/THINKSTOCK
contents Contents
{Tap any title to jump to an article!}
Carissa Pelletier PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Jennifer Anderson SOCIAL CONTENT MANAGER
Prerna Malik GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Alvaro Beleza Livia Beleza CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Crystal Plante CONTRIBUTORS
Angela Todd Ian Williams Jason Meller Robyn Spodek-Schindler Sadie Lankford Tammy Spodek Tara Ross
Connect With Us! http://grownupsmag.com
Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/grownupsmag
Follow our Tweets at http://twitter.com/grownupsmag
Pin us on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/grownupsmag
PHOTO: JANI BRYSON/THINKSTOCK
Comment on articles online at
When I Grow Up Though many of us self-identify with the country in which we live, we also have a tendency to let our minds wander. Where are my ancestors from? Do they have any special cultural traditions? Am I a part of a big, international-extended family? These questions often become more pointed as we grow our own families and seek to broaden our children’s cultural heritage. My interest and pride in my nationality began when I was a tween. I was curious about my ancestral country’s history, language, people, food, and traditions. I didn’t have the opportunity to visit Ukraine until adulthood and only saw my Ukrainian relatives here in the States once a year. But despite those challenges, my interest never wavered. The scarcity of information only made me more passionate about exploring my roots. I recently wrote an article about exploring family heritage, but I’m curious how others choose to introduce family history to their children. (Or, if you even choose to do so at all.) What helps you determine the traditions or folklore you pass on? Is your heritage something you’ve decided to honor in your family’s daily life? We asked readers to weigh in, and we hope you’ll share your own experiences and expectations.
Carissa Pelletier Editor-In-Chief
PHOTO: CAMARIE CALLARI
In this issue we explore one family’s approach to shaping literature for a new generation; get inspired by two sisters who build an inclusive, educational business; and remember the carefree summers of our youth (along with how you can finish out your summer vacations in style). Our experts give you tested advice on cultivating healthy selfesteem, and we even bring you on-the-go tips for making your family photos rock! Just keep reading.
We Asked...
We come from a huge background. We’re Puerto Rican, Irish, and Italian. Though, we’ve been able to infuse a little bit of our background into everything we do. We started off by learning about our Puerto Rican Heritage, learning to speak Spanish, and we taught our younger generations Spanish. We then started introducing Italian traditional food and family time. As far as the Irish portion? We have the last name and can drink like a true Irish! lol. Our biggest area that we’ve always tried to encourage is learning about all of heritage that makes us complete and unique, and it was a great learning process in raising my nieces and nephews in the acceptance of others and their cultures...and to know that everyone is unique! – DAVID MURPHY
Usually around a big dinner with the whole family. Good food and good conversation. – TATANISHA PITTS-WORTHEY
The Christmas tradition of waking up and going to the designated house for family celebrations after the youngest child of the family wakes up is something we are carrying on with our daughter!. – TAYLOR SPEIKERS
Frequent family dinners with all of the cousins and lots of stories. – WENDY FROM WENDY’S HAT
Add Your Thoughts!
PHOTO: JACK HOLLINGSWORTH/THINKSTOCK
How have you introduced your family heritage and traditions to your children?
GIMME THE DOUGH!
W
With a little salt dough, the sky’s the limit! You can use it to make ornaments, jewelry, sculptures, or even handprint plaques! To make salt dough, mix 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl. Knead the mixture until the dough forms.
Add Your Thoughts!
PHOTO: OLEG KRUGLOV/THINKSTOCK
When your kids (or you) are finished molding their creations, bake the sculptures at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius) for three hours or until hardened. Paint and seal!
“A”is for Advice
BY CRYSTAL PL ANTE
yesterday and told me that she got in trouble for pinching a boy who has been teasing her each day during recess. In a fit of rage, I sent an email lambasting the teacher’s handling of the situation. It wasn’t until later that I found out what really happened. Long story short, my daughter is actually the one causing problems. I can’t undo the horrible email that I sent to the teacher, but I want to let the teacher know that I now understand the situation. How do I do this without looking like an idiot?
A: First, take a deep breath and give
yourself a break. Kids are great at telling their side of the story, and parents are primed to believe them. You are neither the first nor will you be the last parent to fire off an email without knowing the full extent of the situation. You’re not excused, though, either. Your best recourse is to visit the teacher before or after school to discuss the situation— he or she might be reluctant to return a phone call if your email was as heated as you suggest. Offer a sincere apology
PHOTO: FUSE/THINKSTOCK
Q: My child came home from school
It’s also important that you talk to your daughter. Let her know that you discussed the situation with her teacher and that you’ll be working with her teacher to solve the problem. Remind your daughter that her teacher is an authority figure she needs to listen to and respect. Parents who are mad at teachers may inadvertently undermine the teachers’ authority, all but guaranteeing that problems will recur. If children have tacit
permission to misbehave without any danger of home consequences, they can impede learning for other students in the classroom. Insist your child write a letter of apology to the teacher for her part in the incident. Once your daughter understands that you support the teacher and will communicate regularly to make sure there are no more issues, she will be more likely to toe the line to avoid getting in trouble again. Want to ask any of our experts for advice? Visit our Ask a Question page to submit your dilemma!
Add Your Thoughts!
PHOTO: JACK HOLLINGSWORTH/THINKSTOCK
for jumping to conclusions, ask for a full description of what happened, and listen to what the teacher says. Admit you overreacted, and ask what you can do to help the teacher solve the problem. Work with the teacher to come up with a plan, and be sure to follow through.
PHOTO: KATY MCDONNELL/THINKSTOCK
You’rInvi e ted COME PARTY WITH US!
Want to grow your blog following and traffic to your site? Want to meet other bloggers in the kids & parenting niche? Want the chance to be featured in our e-newsletter and website?
Join Grown Ups
LOVE IT & LINK IT Linky Party
Visit our main Linky Party page for more details!
PHOTO: MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES/THINKSTOCK
CHILDHOOD SELF-ESTEEM: BY ROBYN SPODEK-SCHINDLER
W
With the media focused on bullying, school shootings, anti-drug movements, and mental health issues, it’s no wonder that we hear a lot about self-esteem. What many parents may not realize is that they can help build healthy self-esteem with small changes to their everyday routines. ∞∞ Allow them to lose, to not get their way, and to hear the word no. Contrary to what you may think or even feel, saying no to your child will not scar
them for life. In fact, saying no teaches your child that they cannot always do or get what they want. If you always focus on reaching yes, you are crippling their present and future self-esteem. These children become so accustomed to winning/hearing yes that when they finally hear the opposite (which will happen) it becomes an overwhelming and crushing blow to their confidence. By showing your children that you can lose gracefully, be happy for others, and
positively deal with disappointment you are creating wonderful building blocks for positive self-esteem. ∞∞ Find teachable moments. All parents are busy—like, really busy! But it’s important to take advantage of teachable moments. If your child is talking about something that happened at school, even if they weren’t involved, ask them about it directly: “What would you do if that had happened to you?” Ask questions and spark conversations. As a therapist, I always recommend family dinner as the perfect teachablemoment time. ∞∞ Encourage socialization. Not every child is born with the innate desire to make and keep friends. Sometimes it is a struggle. While school and extracurricular activities tend to foster healthy socialization, it doesn’t always help everyone. If your child tends toward introversion, help them take baby steps to being more outgoing. Dinner, again, is a great time to get started. Try doing some fun role playing at the dinner table. Let’s pretend we are in a foreign place where we don’t know anyone—how would we get around? What would we say or ask the locals? You also can create daily dinner topics. Every person at the table shares something related to the topic. Today’s topic is summer activities. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer and why? This method will help your children relax more and associate speaking with a sense of ease. Continue with this process, even with company visiting! Public speaking is a very essential part of positive self-esteem.
∞∞ Watch what you, the parent, are saying. Sometimes what may appear to be a harmless statement to you could be devastating to a child. While you shouldn’t unnecessarily shield your children (going along with point number one), you can be mindful of certain topics. For example, try your best not to compare. Your child may already compare themselves to a sibling or friend. What you may think is benign—You know, Joey has a lot of fun at soccer; why don’t we sign you up?—may lead to them thinking that they’ll never be as good as Joey. Rephrase the same thought: I was trying to think of something fun you could do after school. Do you have any ideas? No leading, no directing— just a standard question. If you have to, offer suggestions: soccer, art class, piano lessons, etc. By rephrasing the question, you can potentially lessen the threat of comparison. This method applies to academics, too. When one of your children thrives academically while the other struggles, it can be a real challenge watching your language. Try incorporating friendly reminders that everyone is different and that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Use yourself as an example. You know, I wasn’t great at math when I was in school, but I was great at English. It’s really hard to be good at everything! You can teach older siblings to do the same. You also will want to have a good understanding of who YOU are. Kids can sense when you are not happy about yourself and this can trickle down and affect their own selfesteem. Lead by example.
what they love, what they hate, and what they feel. This can be a great coffee-table book that your family can use as a reminder of how every single person is special in their own way. Try using these helpful tips even when your children are toddlers. Just like keeping a muscle healthy and in shape, self-esteem requires hard work, consistency, and discipline. Start early and continue to work on this very important “emotional muscle” as your child continues to grow. Many childhood mental and emotional diagnoses stem from poor self-esteem. If you believe your child’s selfesteem is deficient or you Add Your have any concerns, reach Thoughts! out to your local therapist or school counselor for assistance.
PHOTO: PURESTOCK/THINKSTOCK
∞∞ Get creative! As your friendly Creative Art Therapist I know firsthand just how empowering the creative arts can be. Using music, dance, drama, and art is a fantastic way to build and sustain healthy self-esteem. Getting creative allows for a judgment-free zone, something our kids rarely get! This is because art is truly in the eye of the beholder. What you see as a big ol’ painting mess could be a self-expression of feelings. That loud rap music that you just don’t get could be your child working on problem solving. Dancing until bedtime, making tons of noise—well, maybe he or she is relieving some stress. Encourage any type of creativity that your child gravitates toward. And whenever possible, get creative with them! I like to recommend family scrapbooking: everyone gets to create their own page about who they are,
l o o h c s o t k c a B o D S
BY CRYSTAL PL ANTE
School signals the end of summer and the reemergence of routines. Starting early will help make a smooth transition for everyone involved!
PHOTO: LUMINASTOCK/THINKSTOCK
To
Get Back in the Routine
Shop
Staying up late is fine during the lazy days of summer, but school necessitates a firm bedtime. Ease into the change a few weeks before the big day by adjusting bedtimes by 15 minutes every few days. For example, if bedtime is normally 9:00 p.m. and your child is used to staying up until 10:30 p.m., send him or her to bed at 10:15 p.m. for a few nights, then 10:00 p.m., and so on until he or she reaches the 9:00 p.m. lights out.
Scavenge through last year’s supplies to see what will still work this year. Many students bring home gently used supplies, like scissors or rulers that can be reused. Take advantage of the great prices and stock up now on back-to-school supplies so that you won’t have to pay full price when your daughter needs a new notebook in February. Unless you find a great bargain on clothes, go easy on the back to school wardrobe. The weather will change soon, so two or three new outfits should suffice. Remember that they’re still growing, too!
It’s also important to wake up at a consistent time. Again, start a few weeks before the first day of school. Set the alarm and make sure the kids are up, dressed, and eating breakfast by a certain time. Adjust the time as necessary to reflect what the morning schedule will look like. Any routine that was neglected during summer, like making the bed or reading before bedtime, should be started again.
Look at the Calendar Start now and organize the calendar. Mark important days like enrollment, open house, PTA meetings, and other upcoming events. Go to the school website to get a calendar for the upcoming year and write down all dates that pertain to your child so that you don’t have to juggle and reschedule later on. Similarly, make appointments for physicals, dental appointments, vaccinations, eye checkups, and haircuts now. They’ll be off your to do list and your child won’t have to miss school to go to appointments.
Practice If your child is attending a new school or is riding a new bus route, have a dress rehearsal. Walk or drive the new route and point out all landmarks to help get his or her bearings. Without going overboard, talk through scenarios to make sure he or she remembers safety tips. It’s also a good idea to brush up on some skills that may have become rusty over the summer months. Reading a few books, practicing writing, and running through some math problems can help refresh your child’s memory ahead of time.
Have fun It’s still summer after all! Schedule some play dates or host a back to school party for your child’s friends so they can get reacquainted before school starts again. Squeeze in a few more activities that didn’t get marked off the summer wish list before school Add Your makes it more difficult. Thoughts! Above all, make the last few days of summer count!
PHOTO: RL PRODUCTIONS/THINKSTOCK
6
BY SADIE L ANKFORD
Frugal Lessons
Teach Your Children
to
1
5
2 3
Teach your children to engage with their creativity and imagination rather than focusing on material objects. Studies have shown that shared experiences make us happier anyway. Instead of buying the latest video game, take them to a play or cultural event. Visit a park or a museum. Don’t be wasteful. Teach your children how to reduce, re-use, and recycle. You can even learn how to compost together! Set savings goals and help your children achieve them—even if it’s for a new toy. You can use sticker charts or phone and computer applications to track saving and spending.
6
Show your children how money works in the real world. Don’t just swipe your credit card; explain how money is earned and spent. If your children are old enough, you can talk about bank accounts, fees, and balancing checkbooks. Shop used. Visit thrift or secondhand stores to pick out great, gently used clothes. Or— Shop around. Show your kids that searching for the best deal can save them money. While a pair of shorts may cost $20 at one store, they might be $15 somewhere else. If they keep shopping around, they might find a coupon or a sale that makes those shorts $10! They will be excited to spend that extra $10 on something fun.
Do you teach your children to be frugal? What’s your best lesson?
Add Your Thoughts!
ILLUSTRATION: ALIAS-CHING/THINKSTOCK
F
4
Frugal doesn’t mean cheap, it just means being wise with the money you have. Teaching your children to manage their money now will help them become better money-managers when they’re all grown up!
Lady of the
RingS PHOTO: NOAM ARMONN/THINKSTOCK
BY IAN WILLIAMS
M
My father gave me his old copies of The Lord of the Rings about twenty-five years ago. I still have them displayed prominently on my bookshelf. I’m looking at them as I write this, all yellowing pages and musty smells. To say that the gift of these books changed my life is both understated and unfashionable. For all the Hollywood glitz layered onto the franchise in the past fifteen years, The Lord of the Rings is a deeply old-fashioned trilogy. The narrative doesn’t so much proceed as sprawl, lingering on the colors of leaves while painting a world of monochrome men marching to war. It’s a wonderful, majestic, problematic work. These books have come to define my tastes. I instinctively compare any fiction I read to them, even if I really shouldn’t be comparing Faulkner to Tolkien. I’ve sought the elusive feel of Tolkien’s world through video games, roleplaying games, card games, board games, television shows, novels, and movies. I watched the old Rankin-Bass cartoon version of The Hobbit as a three-year-old child, before my first reading of the books. I scowl when people don’t find The Silmarillion, Middle-earth’s infinitely dry combination of bible and history book, an enjoyable read. I reread the trilogy every couple of years. I am every bit the consummate Middle-earth nerd, stopping just short at teaching myself Elvish. When my daughter, Iris, was about three and a half, I decided it was a nobrainer to introduce her to Middle-earth. Bequeathing my love of the stories to her was every bit as important to me as my father’s enthusiastic gift undoubtedly was to him.
When my daughter, Iris, was about three and a half, I decided it was a no-brainer to introduce her to Middle-earth.
We started with the music-filled RankinBass version of The Hobbit, just as I did, before moving on to their mediocre version of The Return of the King. She devoured the stories of Bilbo, Frodo, and Gandalf, and asked to rewatch the cartoons again and again. We eventually considered Peter Jackson’s more adult version of the trilogy. After discussing it with my wife, we gave Iris a supervised, heavily-curated, viewing. The violent bits that bring the movies from a PG to a PG-13 rating were excised. She loved them. The vibrancy of Jackson’s Shire had her asking where her hobbit hole was, until she decided to make one for herself under the kitchen table. As if to prove she was her father’s daughter, she latched onto the fellowship’s journey through Moria: the descent through the mines, the hordes of orcs, Pippin’s mistake at the well, and, finally, the spectacle of the Balrog merging from the darkness. All of it thrilled and delighted her. When a friend bought her an antique walking
PHOTO: BRENT307/THINKSTOCK
stick—a full-fledged wizard staff in a fouryear-old’s hands— she would periodically become Gandalf, slamming it on the floor and yelling, “You shall not pass!” But more than anything or anyone, she loved Arwen, immediately and fervently. For Iris, Arwen was the real hero. She saved Frodo in arguably the most dangerous moment in the movies, when the ring was within the grasp of Sauron’s servants. She was the catalyst for obtaining Aragorn’s sword. Arwen fought and wept and loved and bled like nobody else in the movies for Iris. I quickly realized that Iris was not pretending to be the Arwen I grew up
with, Tolkien’s Arwen, the passive Arwen, in her play. Instead, she was playacting at being Jackson’s Arwen, the horse-riding, spell-casting, sword-wielding, floodsummoning, elven-warrior woman. A year from her first viewing, Iris still comes upstairs to get dressed every morning as Arwen, demanding that I pretend to be Elrond and that I place my hands on either side of the stairwell in order for her to go through Rivendell’s gates. There’s always an unhappy buzz from certain quarters when changes are made to beloved properties in the name of diversity. Arwen’s beefed-up role in The Fellowship of the Ring was no exception. Jackson’s films sought to increase the
universality of Tolkien’s story by turning Arwen into a fully realized character, one meant to be as active as the men. In fact, it may have been the first major such instance I can recall of such a large change to increase the appeal of a story via greater gender representation. Many fans cringed.
Myths change based
If I’m honest, a far younger me was among those uncomfortable with the changes to The Fellowship of the Ring. I had that luxury, though. As a man, I was already represented throughout Tolkien’s stories. I was Aragorn. I was Frodo. I was Gimli, Legolas, Bilbo, and even Sauron. I was a nameless soldier. I was an orc. I was an ent. Had I been a woman, I would’ve been left with the austerely passive Arwen, or the brief, ferocious flash of Eowyn (I dearly love Eowyn).
of the lesson than
I ended up “getting it” on my own as I grew older. But there’s a difference between understanding diversity and representation on an intellectual level and fully absorbing the impact inclusivity has on those who may not otherwise see themselves represented. Watching what Iris picked up from the films bridged that small gap for me. During a viewing of The Hobbit cartoon, Iris asked why there were no girls in the movie. We didn’t have a good answer. While saying, “It was written long ago” is true, it doesn’t fix the now, especially when, with very little effort, we all can do the fixing. As a parent, particularly if your child is a daughter, it’s vital to find relatable role models in a world that relentlessly genders everything from glue to yogurt. A quick trip to a department store’s clothing or toy department reveals just how crass the gender lines for little girls really are. We should embrace the slow but sure trend of expanding entertainment
on the teller and the listener, taking on lives of their own. It’s more about the spirit the specific details.
to be more inclusive, but there’s still a long way to go. Diversity in entertainment is even more crucial when stories reach the status of modern myth, as properties like The Lord of the Rings do. Myths change based on the teller and the listener, taking on lives of their own. It’s more about the spirit of the lesson than the specific details. We should want our myths to be living, changing things; without that, they’re just stories. By necessity, the Arwen of the twenty-first century is more dynamic than she was in the initial, 1954 telling. We need different myths now. I can’t speak to what Tolkien would think of all this. I’d venture that Tolkien, as a mythologist of Edwardian mores, would be delighted in the living quality of his life’s work while also wary of the increased role of women in Jackson’s films. I can only speak for myself, and when I see my daughter, already a smart and vibrant little girl, summoning the Bruinen or rescuing Frodo, I know that she’s gained Add Your immeasurably from Thoughts! the modern changes to an old tale.
PHOTO: FUSE/THINKSTOCK
HITTING THE ROAD WITH A TEEN IN TOW
H
Hitting the road with a teenager can be challenging, especially if you have to convince them to go on a family trip in the first place. GIVE ‘EM SPACE – Kids pushing your buttons? Before you blow your lid, remember that all children, especially teenagers, need their own space. If your destination allows, let them have some time on their own. Set up strict check-in parameters and a meet-up location. SMARTEN UP – With a smart phone or tablet, that is. Make sure your kid’s electronic devices are charged and ready. They can listen to music, watch TV or movies, or keep up with their friends.
BRING THE HEADPHONES – Even if your teenager isn’t into music, he or she probably wants a little peace and quiet. Bring a pair of noise canceling headphones. They can listen to their own music (or any other multimedia) without bothering anyone else. BRING A FRIEND – If you can afford it, offer to bring one of your kid’s friends along. Having a friend gives them someone Add Your to socialize with when Thoughts! they’re less interested in hanging with the family.
SNAPOLOGY BUILDS DREAMS
S
Snapology classes and discovery centers use Lego® bricks, K’NEX®, and Mega Bloks® to teach children about math, science, technology, engineering, and literacy—all in a fun, nonjudgmental environment. Building “gives kids who are not going to be a star quarterback a way to be a star, learn skills that will help them the rest of their lives. Not all kids are athletes. I was a mathlete. I loved Legos® when I was a kid—when I buy my son a new Lego kit, I’m as excited as he is to build it!” says Laura Coe, Snapology founder.
Before the Coe sisters became business partners, they were best friends and neighbors. Eventually, Laura wanted to create a business that could involve her children. More importantly, Laura wanted that business to be educational. When she started researching robotics classes in 2009, there wasn’t much available. She found one franchise that offered kids’ building classes, but it was a franchise—every cup, paper plate, and napkin had to be purchased from the franchisor. She wasn’t interested in entering into that strict business relationship, but
PHOTO: PIALHOVIK/THINKSTOCK
BY ANGEL A TODD
To get started, Laura and her sister Lisa piloted their robotics classes in local schools for children between the ages of six and twelve. These classes were so popular that the Coe sisters quickly formed wait lists and hired educators to teach and consult. “You do one school, then other schools in that district want you to bring your programming to their school. It just kept building, like a snowball,” Laura explains. Their growth was natural, but fast. As for the catchy name? “My sister and I and my boys were in the family room brainstorming with terms like brick, click, and snap, and the six year old says ‘Snapology!’” The name stuck. In Pennsylvania, their competition in children’s programming focused solely on robotics, animation, or birthday parties. Laura knew they needed to go farther. “We had the name, classes, supplies in the garage— we at least had to have an office... and…if we’re going to have an office, we should at least have a discovery center. Birthday parties, classes. In two months we were booked solid for birthday parties! By the winter we were booked solid for two years.” The Coe sisters developed curriculum and Scout programs, and looked for a place to rent. Their first Discovery Center offered open play with a plethora of building blocks that no single family could afford—all for a
reasonable hourly rate. After the first three to four months they realized that they needed to develop a better business model. “Early on we started talking about franchising. I had owned a franchise, but didn’t like the ‘dictatorship’ model. Then mom said, ‘Why not do licensing like dad and I did?’ That sounded good! We started documenting everything: business model, name, logo, curriculum, forms— employee application, parent waiver; class packet—methods, procedures,” Laura reports. Other licensed Snapology businesses soon sprouted across the country. Because the businesses are licensed—the Coes don’t take ten cents on every dollar or require a specific attention to detail—
PHOTO: ANGELA TOOD/PIALHOVIK/THINKSTOCK
teaching kids about robotics and engineering sounded exciting.
The sisters’ business model is flexible. Laura calls it modular. “You don’t need a discovery center. Most start just offering classes—and that’s ok. We talk through goals and challenges and help them develop their own plans. We work in ways like a partnership. One licensee developed a class called ‘Monster Mania’ and now we are all using it. Our first annual convention for all licensees is on the horizon.” The business branched out geographically, and currently has thirteen regional licensees. The original Snapology recently expanded into a new 5,000-squarefoot Discovery Center around the corner from the first wee space (1,500 square feet). They offer birthday parties, free play, homeschool classes, and thirty programs including stopgap animation; themed camps and
classes that revolve around amusement parks; mosaic techniques; castles, wizards and princesses; Angry Birds®; Minecraft®; and Star Wars®. Their programs are used in forty to fifty different schools, recreational centers, and libraries. They even have a new trading area where students can trade their Lego minifigures! As a mom, I appreciate the insider info that two moms bring to the business. On an unexpected snow day, there they are in my Facebook feed reminding me that they’re open. Snapology offers special programs for your child on almost every obscure holiday. The Coe sisters even use the restrooms as an opportunity to provide superior customer service. There are different-height stools for reaching the sinks, and a padded, clean potty adapter for small bottoms. I asked the delicate question I’d wondered about: what’s the story on girls and Legos? “We do Girl Scout
PHOTO: ANGELA TOOD/PIALHOVIK/THINKSTOCK
the programs are affordable. Licensees email each other.
needs,” but as we talk, the real diversity of that term reveals itself. “Most kids like playing with Lego bricks, but for some children, that play takes on a greater importance: It helps them learn how to get along with other kids.” Parents and therapists love Snapology, and Laura shares that “some programs are paid by insurance, especially for our summer programs.”
programs. Girls like Legos. Girls don’t want to play with pink bricks—they just want to build and play. Period. In the animation classes you see a difference. Girls usually have plots in their movies, while boys usually have crashing.” After years of watching her brother head off to Snapology, my daughter went to a week-long camp this summer. She had a great time and made friends with other girls at the camp, too! I also wanted to know what The Lego Group thought about their business. “I contacted them and said ‘I want to make sure you’re OK with this,’ and followed the Play Well rules. Lego doesn’t want us to compete with LegoLand,” Laura laughs. “Basically, as long as you’re not strictly Lego, you’re OK. We use their product and follow their rules.” I ask Laura about special needs kids. Laura estimates that 20–30% of their clientele falls under the term “special
Autistic children suffer from a limited ability to interact with other children; it’s a handicap that can’t be overcome by forcing the child into social situations. Autistic kids must be coaxed into these critical interactions, lured into building the social skills most kids learn automatically. And what better way to challenge a kid’s critical weakness than to involve them in an activity that appeals to their strongest suit?....The surprising effectiveness of LEGO therapy has not gone unnoticed in more traditional settings. At the Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health (CNNH) in Voorhees, New Jersey, an organization devoted to helping patients conquer brain disorders, doctors and therapists have been offering LEGO therapy for autistic children for more than 15 years.
PHOTO: ANGELA TOOD/PIALHOVIK/THINKSTOCK
There is increasing documentation of building’s therapeutic impact. According to John Baichtal and Joe Meno in The Cult of LEGO:
Snapology has also worked with Reading is Fundamental, which brings books to “underserved children from birth to age eight.” Some of those kids have never seen Lego bricks. So that whole exposure to building
is new. I also recently learned that Snapology is in dialogue with Beverly’s Birthdays, a service organization that throws birthday parties for kids in homeless shelters. Miss Megs, founder of Beverly’s Birthdays - Spreading Birthday Cheer for At-Risk Youth, says that while homeless kids may not have the luxury of collecting Legos, they absolutely lose themselves in the process of creative building. Snapology works so well because it is flexible, and because the goal is to keep kids happy and engaged. “Kids do not need to be partnered off. Put on a team or right there beside each other, kids who build in proximity are also learning. Kids with autism are presenting their work to the class— Add Your kids get a chance Thoughts! to break out of their issues,” Laura says.
PHOTO: PIALHOVIK/JOHN_99/THINKSTOCK
Kids with sensory processing disorder also learn well with Legos, exerting control over the colors and sounds of their own play. Eventually most kids join in and build those skills. Legos are leveling the playing field. “We had a class of 18-year-old non-verbal special needs men who came to do a handover-hand project building pinwheels. They were delighted! Laughing and grinning and taking the pinwheels over to the fans,” Laura says.
Daddy’s Little Girl
and
THE TALK
PHOTO: JUPITERIMAGES/THINKSTOCK
I
It’s tough being a dad, especially if you’re trying to be open and honest with your daughter during the tween and teen years—particularly when it comes to sex and puberty. Even if those topics makes you (or your daughter) feel uncomfortable, it’s important to make time to talk. If you don’t make the time, your daughter may not know she can come to you to talk about sensitive issues. Plus, arming your daughter with accurate, sex-positive information will help her make better decisions as she navigates the difficult paths of puberty and dating.
What you should tell your daughter about puberty? You should tell your daughter that puberty is when her body starts going through the changes that transform her from a kid into an adult: it’s a perfectly natural process. You can explain that the changes are a normal part of growing up, and even though they might be confusing, there’s nothing to be scared of. Because menstruation can happen at any time between the ages of eight and thirteen (and sometimes earlier or later), it’s best to tell your daughter as much as you can as early as she can understand it to help alleviate concerns or anxieties.
How does it work? When a girl’s body is ready to develop into an adult body, the pituitary gland (which is a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain), releases hormones that start to trigger changes, like growth spurts, breast development, and hair in previously bare places. These hormones also tell the ovaries to start producing estrogen, which in turn stimulates growth of the uterus and
thickening of the lining of the uterus. During this process, some of the uterine lining may die and slough off, triggering your daughter’s first period. It’s important to note that ovulation may not have occurred.
What can you do to support her? Remind your daughter that you’re always available to talk to her, and that you’re not going to judge her. If you think it will help, take her out for a special day where you can have fun, break the tension, and open up to one another. When girls start going through puberty, there are a number of emotional changes that accompany the physical changes. Giving her sanitary pads, tampons, or a moon cup may help her cope initially, but you need to be there for her to lean on when she starts feeling weird, or like she’s different from her friends. You need to tell her that the acne doesn’t matter, that it’s okay to be angry sometimes, and that she’s simply going through a time in which her body needs to grow into herself.
What you should tell your daughter about sex? If she’s attending a middle school or high school, she may have already gone through a sexual education class (or talked about it with her friends). Give your daughter the highlights, taking care to explain that sex can have emotional and physical consequences (especially with regards to sexually-transmitted infections and pregnancy). Emphasize the importance of practicing safe sex, and give her the opportunity to seek out the method of birth control that will be best for her. (And if she is interested in seeking
hormonal birth control, give her your support by helping her make an appointment with her doctor or an OBGYN.) Explain to her that sex is something that happens between enthusiastic, consenting adults and that if she truly thinks she’s ready, she should make sure she’s with someone who respects her. It’s crucial to remind young women that they should never feel pressured to engage in any sort of sexual encounter, and that they always has the right to say no. Stress that partners who don’t honor those wishes are people who aren’t really looking out for her best interests.
What if she has questions I can’t answer?
You might not be able to convince your daughter that she’s perfect just the way she is, or that she’ll grow into her body someday. But regular reassurance and the benefit of your own experience will help Add Your her to appreciate Thoughts! that she’s not the only one going through it.
PHOTO: SHALAMOV/THINKSTOCK
Fortunately, the internet boasts a wealth of resources that can help you give your daughter the information necessary to empower her (and maybe even make you feel a little better). You can also refer her to a trusted female friend or family member, and you can always make an appointment with the family doctor.
CURING SUMMERTIME BLUES BY TAMMY SPODEK
Then, before you can blink, most of your summer is behind you. With only a few fleeting weeks before school starts, that old Sunday-blues feeling kicks in to overdrive. You and your kids
Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. — Henry James start to feel the weight of the first day of school sitting on your shoulders. You go shopping, and school supplies everywhere—a visceral reminder of summer’s imminent demise. If you’re like me your first impulse may be to recapture summer joy by kicking back and showing your kids what an old-school,
PHOTO: IPGGUTENBERGUKLTD/THINKSTOCK
T
The anticipation leading up to summer is palpable. The last two weeks of school involve daydreaming about freedom: no early morning wake-up calls, no schedules, no packed lunches, and no homework. And that’s just what the parents are thinking. Children across the country spend those last precious days bubbling with eager excitement for the fun-filled summer that awaits.
If you’re like many families these days, your street isn’t alive with the laughter and mischief of children frolicking outside from morning till sunset, designing new games and creating whole new worlds in their imaginations. Your street may be so quiet that all you can hear is the sound of your children’s enthusiasm waning. Fear not. You can create some lastminute summer joy without sacrificing your nostalgia.
1) VISIT PINTEREST Pinterest is not for the faint of heart; many pins can simultaneously inspire creativity or inadequacy. Should you choose to brave the craft-loving, make-your-own-cheese world of Pinterest, you must be wise and dig into only those pins that fit your lifestyle! I was able to find a pin that beautifully articulated a roadmap for easy, semi-planned, kid-friendly activities. From this pin I created a loose summer “schedule.” Each day of the week my kids have some general idea of what our main activity will be: crafts (Make It Monday), trips (Take a Trip Tuesday), boredom (Wing-It Wednesday), learning (Thinking Thursday), and play dates (Friendly Fridays). Our weekends remain completely unplanned— unless, of course, we are invited to an amazing party. Always have time for parties.
2) CRAFTS You don’t need to be Martha Stewart to craft with your kids. I am frequently amazed at what my kids can create using Dixie® cups, toilet paper rolls, straws, and coffee filters. No matter what they create—a parachute, a building, a futuristic flying car—it’s almost always better than what they come up with when using store-bought materials. The more primitive the materials, the better. Their neurons start firing, they brainstorm with each other, and they look for other great crafting “finds” around the house or backyard. All you need are some basic staples like pencils, crayons, markers, glue, tape, and scissors. Voila. Instant fun.
PHOTO: ZAKHAROVA_NATALIA/THINKSTOCK
relaxed, unplanned summer vacation means. But then you have that terrifying moment when you realize that other kids are still busy with camps, lessons, or vacations. The only reason your old-school laid-back summer worked was because all the other kids in your neighborhood were doing the same thing you were.
3) FUN WITH FRIENDS
5) EMBRACE THE BOREDOM
As a mom of four, I’m often convinced that my kids can entertain each other. It’s a poor assumption. Kids need time with their peers to create lasting memories— especially as they get closer to their structured school year. I appreciate how hard it can be to find the time to make these play dates happen, but try to pick one day a week to plan play dates for your kids. They will thank you for it, and on occasion, it will bring you the added bonus of having a house that is child-free.
At least one day a week, let the kids fend for themselves. These are the days that build character. Sometimes your kids simply need to have a day without someone handing them an itinerary. I have found that the “Embrace your Boredom” days are those when creativity and giggles come out in droves. So far, my kids have used this day to write and illustrate their own comic books; create items to sell in their own economics fair; and play board games—they seem to have rediscovered a love of Monopoly.
OF THE DAY TRIP
Never underestimate the memory-making wonder of a quick family excursion. You don’t need to plan in advance, and you don’t need an elegant picnic. Just be spontaneous—check the weather and hit the appropriate spot, whether it’s your local zoo, splash park, museum, movie theater, or bowling alley. Many local attractions will offer free events or admission over the summer. It’s worth your while to do some online research to find out when/where and make those your “Take a Trip” days.
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. — John Lubbock As summer winds down and you and your kids start having those intense endof-summer blues, try to make those last days even more special. Tack on a few more friend play dates. Plan some special nighttime swims or unplanned family outings. Squeeze in as much lastminute fun as you can to avoid the end of summer slump. Most of all, be sure to find time for yourself to kick back and enjoy your kids on those lazy summer days. You’ll be back to early morning Add Your wake-ups, packed Thoughts! lunches, and homework before you know it.
PHOTO: FUSE/THINKSTOCK
4) B RING BACK THE JOY
Take Your Best Shot!
F
BY TARA ROSS
For many of you, summer vacation is winding down and the kids are getting ready for school. Now’s the time to document your last-minute trips and take your annual firstday-of-school photos and share them on your favorite social media platform. Before you hit that post, share, or tweet button, think about this—Facebook users upload 300 million photos per day. How can you make your photos stand out in the newsfeeds of your family, friends, customers, and colleagues?
PHOTO: BEVANGOLDSWAIN/THINKSTOCK
SOCIALLY SAVVY:
Taking the Photo FIRST, ask yourself why you’re snapping photos. Taking 300 pictures at Johnny’s orchestra concert will likely yield few photos worth keeping—no offense to Johnny. Instead, consider taking a picture of him with his cello before or after the concert, with his band teacher, or with some friends. By strategically staging your shot, you can enjoy the concert rather than spending the entire event occupied with a camera.
PHOTOS: TARA ROSS
SECOND, use the rule of thirds. Instead of placing your subject exactly in the middle of your frame, put it to the side (the third of the frame to the left or right) for added interest.
FOURTH, consider the medium. If you’re using your smartphone, you can use fun apps like Instagram to add effects as you take the picture.
Editing the Photo Whether you are using a digital SLR camera, a point and shoot, or your smartphone, almost all images need a little editing. Your smartphone probably has basic editing features, but simple programs like Instagram (a social networking site on its own) and PicMonkey can let you alter saturation or add filters, black and white effects, and borders. PicMonkey gives you more editing options, including text overlay, blurred backgrounds, textures, and lighting effects.
PHOTOS: TARA ROSS
THIRD, consider the composition of your photo. Get close and personal— closer than you might think. Everyone takes photos of the Eiffel Tower from a distance. Why not snap a picture of the tower from the base looking up?
You can also use your computer to edit your photos. Free programs such as Picasa provide tools for making your pictures come to life. However, Picasa is a photo viewing and editing program; it does not store your photos. Be aware that if you delete an image in Picasa, you are deleting it from your hard drive. (Trust me—I speak from experience.) Mac users have iPhoto at their disposal. While importing and exporting photos to and from iPhoto can be clunky, it provides a variety of straightforward editing tools to make your photos shine. If you’re looking for a more robust photo-editing solution, you can also pick up Photoshop or Lightroom by Adobe. The key is to pick a program and see if you like it. For most snappers, Instagram and PicMonkey will provide the easiest on-the-go solutions.
Sharing your Photos The key to gaining traction with your photos on Facebook is not to upload fifty photos at a time and hope that your friends are devoted enough to look through all of them. Pick one or two favorites to share each day or each
PHOTOS: TARA ROSS
Another fun, easy-to-use app is WordSwag. Their preset text designs allow the user to select the design they like, add the preferred color, and input the wording.
week. Include funny captions or questions for your friends to answer, like “Spin the globe and guess where we are in this photo!” If you have your own website, you can even direct your friends to there for the full gallery of pictures. Many applications or social networking platforms let you share your photos right after you’ve edited them. Besides sharing to Facebook, consider sharing to Instagram, Flickr, and Pinterest. Instagram is a great alternative to Facebook that focuses on photography rather than the latest cat meme. Flickr is a photo-sharing site where professional and amateur photographers alike share their images. Pinterest allows users to create pinboards where they share favorite images along with a description and a link back to where the image is posted. That link could be to your blog or to your Flickr account. As you work with your photos, remember the basics of composition and editing. Share selectively to encourage more Add Your engagement with your Thoughts! pictures. As you post, ask questions to encourage others to respond.
PHOTO: MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES/THINKSTOCK
Homework Help F O R
P A R E N T S
B
Back to school means back to homework. Let these tips make the job a little easier:
Designate a Spot ! A designated homework spot can help your child get back into the homework routine. Try to make it a location in the house that’s free from distractions and
away from the TV. While you’re at it, take advantage of the back-to-school sales to stock up on basic supplies to create a homework basket. Fill it with sharpened pencils, crayons, a ruler, scissors, extra paper, and any other items that might help. Your kiddo will spend less time searching for an eraser and more time learning if everything is in one convenient location.
Know the Expectations ! Different teachers have different homework expectations, especially when your child moves from a self-contained classroom to a middle school schedule with multiple teachers. While one teacher may insist on homework every night, another may only require homework during test times. Other teachers may believe that nightly homework is essential to the next day’s lesson. Don’t assume that this year’s teacher will stick to last year’s homework model. Be sure to ask.
Talk to the Teacher ! Is your kid insisting that he doesn’t have homework this year? Before talking to other classroom parents about it, talk to the teacher. He may be getting his work done in class, but he also might be hiding the homework. Call and schedule a time to talk the teacher early in the year to make sure. You may find that the teacher has a dedicated website or Twitter account to help parents keep track of homework assignments and special dates. Along those same lines, talk to the teacher if you feel your child has too much homework. A good rule of thumb is 10 minutes of homework for every year in school. This means, for example, that a second grader should have no more than 20 minute of homework per night, while a fifth grader should be able to handle
up to 50 minutes each evening. Anything beyond that may indicate a problem with student understanding, comprehension, or time management skills.
Recognize the Responsibility ! While parents want their children to do well, they need to recognize that the homework belongs to the child, not the parent. You’ve passed fourth grade, or sixth grade, or whatever grade your child is in, and now it’s their turn. Be supportive, but don’t enable your child by doing the work for them. Don’t be afraid to let your child fail. We often learn more from our mistakes than our successes, and it’s crucial that you don’t take that opportunity away. Your child won’t be denied college admission because of a D on a fourth grade science report that he threw together on the bus; in fact, he may become a better student because of it.
Make it Fun ! Homework doesn’t have to be tedious. Mix it up! Some homework tasks can’t be enhanced, but many can. Try singing the multiplication tables, creating funny memory aids for study guides, using spelling games to study the weekly spelling list, using snacks or toys to illustrate math problems, or reading books and assignments together. Add Your Adding elements of fun Thoughts! into the lessons can help the information stick.
PHOTO: NADEZHDA1906/THINKSTOCK PHOTO: NADEZHDA1906Y/THINKSTOCK
STRANGERS AMONG US:
Accommodating imaginary friends BY CRYSTAL PL ANTE
D
Do you have an extra being living in your house? An extra child, perhaps, who spills the milk when no one is looking? An alligator that insists on sleeping on a particular couch cushion? Does a fantastical creature provide entertainment to your child while offering protection and transportation to your entire family? If you can relate, congratulations: your child is normal.
IMAGINARY CREATURES WALK AMONG US Up to sixty-five percent of children between the ages of two and five have at least one imaginary friend. While these invisible companions are more likely to appear during the preschool years, they don’t necessarily disappear once the child enters school. Approximately thirty-seven percent of kids continue a relationship with an imaginary buddy through the age of seven. They may even stick around a lot longer. Some teenagers and well-adjusted
adults confess to having imaginary confidants. Most researchers maintain that these relationships are not problematic when the people claiming imaginary friends acknowledge their friends’ madeup status.
IMAGINARY FRIENDS WITH REAL-WORLD BENEFITS In the past prominent physicians, including renowned pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock, viewed a child’s relationship with an imaginary friend as
cause for alarm. Previous beliefs held that children who needed imaginary companionship were lonely or shy. They felt that the presence of imaginary friends indicated some form of psychological trauma had occurred. To combat the perceived trauma or insecurities, physicians recommended encouraging more social interaction and discouraging imaginary friendships. Recent research thoroughly debunks these beliefs. In fact, researchers have found a host of benefits in children who hold company with imaginary friends. These kids are well-adjusted and exhibit more resiliency than those without imaginary friends. They are often more imaginative, have richer vocabularies, are better able to entertain themselves, and demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the way others think and feel. Moreover, children with invisible pals tend to laugh and smile more when playing with peers, and interact better with others. The benefits don’t end in childhood either. Adults who report having imaginary friends as children demonstrate better problem-solving and social skills than those who did not. Although two out of three children report having an imaginary friend at some point, research shows that certain traits make the presence of a friend more likely. Oldest children and only children are more likely to have an imaginary friend, as are children who don’t watch much television. In the absence of playmates and electronic stimulation, these children might have more opportunities to engage their creative sides. In some cases, close siblings may have joint-ownership of an imaginary friend.
Imaginary friends can help children process events, express strange new feelings, or cope with new experiences.
A FRIEND TO GUIDE YOU Sometimes imaginary friends pop up at just the right moment. It’s not uncommon for children to create imaginary friends during times of transition or change. A new friend might appear during a family move or after the birth of a new sibling. Some imaginary friends manifest after death or divorce. It’s not a coincidence. Imaginary friends can help children process events, express strange new feelings, or cope with new experiences. The friend becomes an outlet for the child’s complex emotions that his or her limited experiences and vocabularies may make difficult to express otherwise. Many imaginary friends are super beings that can do it all. A child who cannot tie his shoe or ride his bike may proclaim his imaginary friend an expert. Other imaginary friends often take the blame for naughtiness or misbehavior. This fiendish friend may be a manifestation of a child’s desire to find out what it would feel like to disobey the rules.
PHOTO: RAYES/THINKSTOCK
WHEN A FRIEND MOVES IN Imaginary friends often arrive suddenly, and their stays are unpredictable. Some imaginary friends show up for a day and never return again. Others move in for weeks, months, or years at a time. Parents may even find themselves hosting what feels like a revolving door of imaginary friends; one friend may leave unexpectedly only to be replaced the next day. What’s important to remember is that the imaginary friend belongs to the child, not the family. Parents and caregivers should let the child take the lead rather than try to guide the friend’s storyline. Wait to be included in conversations or activities with the imaginary friend. Indulge the child as much as you feel comfortable. If the friend wants to “eat dinner” with the family, include an extra place setting. If, however, the child insists that Grandma sit in the backseat so the imaginary friend can sit in front, firmly tell him that his friend must sit in the backseat.
It’s also important to let your child know that they cannot blame mistakes on their imaginary friends. Hold the child accountable for whatever breach of rules or procedure occurred even if he or she insists that it’s the friend’s fault. If your child still maintains that the imaginary friend is responsible, insist on apologies from both your child and the friend. Be wary of ongoing misbehavior or destructive acts—this may be a sign of a deeper issue. If this happens consult a therapist or counselor. Like every other stage of child development, your child’s fascination with his or her imaginary friend is limited to a few short years. Though they can be confusing, demanding, and sometimes a little Add Your naughty, imaginary Thoughts! friends are a magical part of childhood. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Picky Eaters
H
Has your first grader refused to eat anything other than peanut butter and jelly for the past month? Can’t get your toddler to finish anything on her plate? Don’t worry—you’re not the only parent who’s had to deal with a picky eater. Ensure your meals are stressfree and nutritious by following our parent-tested tips below.
✓✓Don’t offer alternatives – If you prepare a separate meal for your child every time he or she rejects your planned meal, you may be encouraging picky eating. Don’t force your child to eat what you’ve prepared, but do make sure your child stays at the table.
✓✓Eliminate distractions – Do you normally listen to the radio or TV during dinner? Does your family actively use their electronic gadgets at the table? Stop. By eliminating electronic distractions, your child will be more likely to focus on eating.
PHOTO: JANI BRYSON/THINKSTOCK
Dealing with
fruits and vegetables to pasta sauces, soups, and casseroles.
✓✓Evaluate your dinner – What are you serving? If you’re not eating a variety of healthy, nutritious foods, your kid isn’t going to want to eat those either. Make sure you’re setting a positive example.
✓✓Shop together – Bring your kids grocery shopping and allow them to pick out a new fruit or vegetable each week. When you pick out and cook food together, your kids are more likely to eat it.
✓✓Be consistent – With scheduled meals, not food. Serve meals at the same time every day and don’t allow your kids to fill up on snacks.
✓✓Compromise – Serve new foods on the same plate with your child’s favorite foods. Talk about colors, textures, and smells rather than taste to encourage exploration. Still picky? It might just be a phase. If you have any concerns about your child’s nutrition or eating habits, Add Your Thoughts! make sure you talk to your pediatrician.
PHOTO: FUSE/THINKSTOCK
✓✓Be sneaky – Add chopped or pureed
T eac herConf i dent i al T el l YourT al e Wewa n t y o ut os h a r ey o u rs t o r i e swi t ht h ewo r l d , b ei t f u n n y , s a d , i n s p i r a t i o n a l , o rt h o u g h t p r o v o k i n g ;wewa n t t oh e a ri t a l l !
www. T eac her Conf i dent i al . net
Hazelnut White Chocolate Chip Apple Rings
PHOTO: JASON MELLER
BY JASON MELLER
L
Looking for a fun afternoon treat? These chocolatey-hazelnut apple rings are almost as much fun to make as they are to eat. Little hands can easily smear each slice with a spatula and press the chips in cute patterns. And hey, there’s even fruit involved!
Ingredients • • • • •
2 medium apples 1 cup water 2 teaspoons lemon juice ½ cup hazelnut spread (like Nutella) ½ cup white chocolate chips
Instructions Wash, peel, and core your apples; slice into ¼-inch thick rings. If you’re concerned about browning, dunk each slice into a lemon-juice solution (1 cup water, 2 teaspoons lemon juice). Gently pat each slice with a paper towel to eliminate excess moisture. This will make it easier for the hazelnut spread to stick to the fruit!
Dot the surface of the hazelnut-smeared slices with the white chocolate chips. Make sure you press them down enough so that they stick. Not eating them right away? Seal the slices in an air-tight container and refrigerate.
Add Your Thoughts!
PHOTOS: JASON MELLER
Use a butter knife to smear the hazelnut spread across the surface of each apple slice. Cover the entire surface of the ring.
What is Your Child’s
Learning Style?
T
PHOTO: JULI ßN ROVAGNATI/THINKSTOCK
Teachers are trained to recognize distinct learning styles in students, but it can be helpful for parents and caregivers to be aware of children’s learning styles when helping with homework and other tasks. Below are seven recognized learning preferences based on Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences:
Visual-Spatial:
Linguistic:
Bodily-Kinesthetic:
Logical-Mathematical:
Dancers, surgeons, and athletes tend to fall into this category. These students thrive on movement, touching, body language, and hands-on creating. They learn best with physical activities, tools, real objects, and role playing.
Musical:
Musical students are sensitive to sounds and rhythms. They learn by turning material into songs, chants, jingles, or by putting information into rhythms. They may prefer to study with music in the background.
Interpersonal:
These students learn best in group settings and through interaction with others. They like time and attention from the teacher, conferencing, and email. Group study sessions are great for interpersonal learners.
Linguistic learners think in words and have excellent auditory skills. Reading, word games, poetry, and stories are interesting to linguistic learners. They learn well with books, lectures, and games.
These students are often logical and apply calculations and reasoning to many situations or problems. They easily see patterns and like to solve puzzles. They are very concrete thinkers and should be given clear examples and concepts before moving on to details. Most learners have more than one learning preference, and all areas should be encouraged. Finding the dominant area and helping your child learn through those particular set of strengths, however, can help him or her learn more successfully.
Intrapersonal:
Intrapersonal learners are independent and learn best when left to their own devices. They understand their own interests, goals, needs, and feelings. These students enjoy privacy and like to read and keep diaries. They can often learn a lot through independent study.
Add Your Thoughts!
ILLUSTRATION: ALEX-MIT/THINKSTOCK
These students think in terms of space and learn best through visual representations. They like to use models, graphics, charts, photos, and videos to learn new material. Visual-spatial learners like to do puzzles, draw, and read maps.
PHOTO: MIHAILOMILOVANOVIC/THINKSTOCK
“Laugh at yourself, but don’t ever aim your doubt at yourself. BE BOLD. When you embark for strange places, don’t leave any of yourself safely on shore. Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory.” – Alan Alda, author of Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I’ve Learned