Winter Issue 2010

Family Lehigh Valley

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Winter Issue 2010

10 Ways to Instill Good Character In Your Kids Should I Send Them to School?

Fabulous Holiday FASHION 4 Steps to Closet Organization Perfection!

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Family Lehigh Valley

A Thrive, LLC Publication P.O. Box 414 • Macungie 18062 610-762-9011 editor@lehighvalleyfamily.com

www.LehighValleyFamily.com

WINTER 2010 OUR TEAM Publisher Jeff Tintle, II

Editor

Laura Putt editor@lehighvalleyfamily.com

Copy Editor Vicki Bezems

Contributors:

Copyright© 2009 by Thrive, LLC. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher. Thrive, LLC assumes no responsibility for damages arising from errors or omissions. Thrive Media, PO Box 414, Macungie 18062, www. lehighvalleyfamily.com.

Lehigh Valley Family’s monthly issues are available online at www.lehighvalleyfamily.com. Print issues are published quarterly (fall, winter, spring and summer issues) and are available at libraries, churches, health clubs, medical facilities, child care centers, preschools, educational centers and other locations where publications are generally found. Print subscriptions are available for $10 (4 issues).

Art Villafane Zeni Jackson

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Cover Photo by Chuck Collier Photography

contact 484-824-5101 or sales@lehighvalleyfamily.com

From the Editor I’ll be the first to admit that I look upon the holidays with disdain. I am disgusted with the superficial spending spree the season has turned into. Perhaps I’m a Grinch, but it is not what the holidays symbolize that I dislike. What I don’t like is that people act generously and lovingly for a few weeks, and change their attitudes after the celebrations are over. To me, it feels insincere.

My intention in telling you this isn’t to turn you off to the holidays and spread my Grinchiness far and wide, rather to encourage that we all have a ‘holiday spirit’ throughout the entire year. Why we can’t live as though each day is a holiday? Celebrate all the people and things we have to be grateful for, rejoice in our religion, start each day as a fresh beginning, give to charity, and show

each other we love them every single day, no excuses.

Isn’t that the message of the season? Doesn’t that sound like a lovely way to live? What is stopping us?

This year, my New Year’s Resolution will be to try to keep the holiday spirit alive in me for all of 2010.

Furthermore, I will strive to live in such a way that teaches my child to grow up with a heart and attitude filled with holiday spirit, even in August.

I wish you a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy New Year, and Valentine’s Day too. I can truly say that my cup runneth over, and when I think about the goodness that flows into my life, it fills my heart with overwhelming joy and gratitude. I wish you and your family the same.

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

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WINTER 2010

Family

What's Inside

Lehigh Valley

ONLINE!

Lehigh Valley Family offers a monthly online magazine with fresh content, articles, listings, calendar of events, videos, links and more!

Its all free and available online. Also sign up on the web site for a free email subscription to Lehigh Valley Family’s news and updates.

On The Cover: 10 Ways to Instill Character in Your Kids page 10

www.LehighValleyFamily.com

Should I Send Them to School? page 12 Fabulous Holiday Fashion page 20 4 Steps to Closet Organization Perfection! page 20

More Good Reads: The Power of Grace page 16 Manage Stress page 18 Alternatives to Public School page 22 The Reading Corner page 14 Does My Baby’s Head Look Flat? page 8

Calendar of Events & Fun Stuff pages 26-31

FUN FACTS • Murphy’s Oil Soap is the chemical most commonly used to clean elephants.

• Did you know that there are coffee-flavored PEZ? • A black cow is a chocolate soda with chocolate ice cream. The term dates from the Roaring Twenties, although it also came to be used to describe a root beer float. Another term for a black cow was a mud fizz.

• In South Africa, termites are often roasted and eaten by the handful, like pretzels or popcorn.

• The average McDonald’s Big Mac bun has 198 sesame seeds on it.

• Rice is the main food for half of the people of the world.

• Dairy products account for about 29% of all food consumed in the U.S. • A hard-boiled egg will spin. An uncooked or soft-boiled egg will not.

• The five favorite U.S. school lunches nationwide, according to the American School Food Service Association, are, in order, pizza, chicken nuggets, tacos, burritos, and hamburgers.

• “0 & Wine” magazine reported that in Japan, squid is the most popular topping for Domino’s pizza. In Australia, the Number 1 topping for pizza is eggs. In Chile, the favorite topping is mussels and clams. In the United States, it’s pepperoni.

• Milk delivered to the store today was in the cow two days ago.

• The wheat that produces a one-pound loaf of bread requires 2 tons of water to grow • Ketchup was sold in the 1830’s as medicine.

• Thin-skinned lemons are the juiciest.

• When kids were asked what they would like on their hot dogs if their moms weren’t watching, 25 % said they would prefer chocolate sauce.

• It takes more than 500 peanuts to make one 12 ounce jar of peanut butter.

• Beetles taste like apples, wasps like pine nuts, and worms like fried bacon.

• More people are allergic to cow’s milk than any other food.

• It’s against the law to burp or sneeze in a church in Nebraska.

• Some worms will eat themselves if they can’t find any food!

www.LehighValleyFamily.com

• Lehigh Valley Family

Considering Adopting a Child?

By Precious Angels Adoption Joan and Dave Benner are the proud parents of two adoptive children. It took them five years to navigate the adoption system and find their two precious angels. They understand the yearning for parents to adopt children, and they have seen first hand the number of children who are in desperate need of good homes. For these reasons, the Benners launched Precious Angels Adoption and made it their personal mission to leverage their failures and triumphs in the adoption system to help others. Below are the questions that are most commonly asked by prospective adoptive.

If you are considering adoption, congratulations! You are taking the How do I start first step. Every year, hundreds of the adoption thousands of people around the process? world choose to pursue adoption for a variety of reasons. Learn as much as you can about adoption, both as a legal process and a lifelong family commitment. Then contact local adoption professionals in your area.

No, this is a common misperception.

Looking abroad to adopt requires Is international additional steps, paperwork and adoption easier approvals that add up to more and cheaper? time, money and uncertainties.

There are thousands of children here in the U.S. in need of good homes.

Yes, there are babies but adoptive parents must realize that depending on their preferences in Are there Babies children they may be very difficult to Adopt? or impossible to find. Adopting

babies requires networking or advertising to birth mothers.

All states require a “homestudy.”

Homestudies evaluate your desire and What is an commitment to adopt, to explore the adoption reasons why you want to adopt, to homestudy? evaluate you as a prospective parent, and to provide education about adoption. The homestudy itself is a written report of the findings of the social worker who has met with the applicants on several occasions, both individually and together. At least one meeting will occur in the applicant’s home. If there are other people living in the home, they also will be interviewed by the social worker.

Once an adoption has been finalized according to law, the placement is considered Can a birth permanent. In some states, signing mother get voluntary relinquishment papers is her baby followed by a period of time during back after the which the birthmother can change her adoption? mind. Once that period has expired, her parental rights are terminated.

Exceptions arise when all legalities have not been observed, or if coercion or fraud can be proved. In these cases, even after finalization, the adoption could be reversed. This is one reason why all parties to the adoption should make it their business to understand the law, know the professionals with whom they are working, and be sure to their satisfaction that

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

the entire process is being done with close attention to legal details.

The agency you select will depend on the type of adoption you are pursuing (domestic, international, etc.) and other details specific to your family’s adoption plans which may include your age, faith, marital status, costs, etc.

Researching an agency is an important step in the process and includes Finding an asking questions, talking Adoption with references, and Agency gathering information.

Also the agency should be ethical, open and forthright.

Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with the professionals who will be working for you.

Adoption costs range from little or nothing (adoption of children in the U.S. How much does it foster care system cost to adopt? through public agencies) to $30,000 and more, depending on the type of adoption you choose.

Open adoption is an adoption that allows for an ongoing relationship among the birth family, What is open adoptive family, and adoption? adoptee. Fully open adoptions can often include extended family members such as birth grandparents and siblings.

There are several degrees of openness so it is important that placing and adopting parents and family have the same understanding of what “open” means and that they remain committed to meeting the needs of the child throughout the child’s life.

Precious Angels Adoption is based in Bethlehem, PA and can be contacted at 610-419-8747 or visit www.preciousangelsadoption.com. All information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and shall not substitute for personal, professional, legal or other advice. www.LehighValleyFamily.com

• Lehigh Valley Family

Does My Baby’s Head Look Flat?

By Steven Chu, Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist, Valley Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. Most parents have heard about the “Back to Sleep” program which was widely started in 1992. This program was started in an effort to decrease the number of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) cases. While SIDS rates have dropped in half, the incidence of “Positional Skull Deformities” or “Positional Plagiocephaly” have increased from roughly 1 in 300 in 1992 to 1 in 60 births currently.

Positional Skull Deformities vary widely in severity and treatment. Baby’s skulls are very soft and pliable during their first year of life. Parents frequently notice the misshaping around the 3-4 months of age mark. The skull shapes seen most are a flattening of the back of the skull or of one side (egg shaped).

So what can you do as a parent if you think your baby has the beginnings of misshaping?

Schedule an appointment with your Pediatrician to discuss this. Treatments are most effective if begun before 6 months.

Increase supervised “Tummy Time”. Make awake

activities on their stomach more frequent. This decreases pressure on the back of the skull and increases their head and neck control.

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Rotate their sleeping positions. Put them down on their sides, not just flat on their back unless their doctor recommends otherwise.

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Try to limit their time in car seats, swings, strollers and cribs. All of these

are noted for keeping them in a position which applies a lot of pressure to the back of their head.

Get a Physical Therapy referral. For children who might have some tightness of their neck (Torticollis), a stretching program may be beneficial.

Obtain a Cranial Remolding Helmet.

These are those cute baby helmets some of you might have seen. Cranial Remolding Helmets are custom made devices which utilize specific principles to treat the skull to grow in a more even shape. They require regular monitoring to insure the proper shaped outcome. This mainstream treatment is reserved for the moderate to severe cases. This treatment can be highly effective when properly utilized.

There are other causes of Skull Deformities besides just positioning. This is why discussing your observations with your Pediatrician is important. Your Pediatrician may recommend a referral to a specialist if needed in order to rule out other conditions. The thing to realize is time is critical when beginning whatever treatment plan. The 4-6 month window is optimal in allowing enough corrective treatment time prior to 12 months old (this is when the skull becomes much harder to reshape).

Remember, mild flattening is completely normal and normally resolves by 12 month but when in doubt, listen to that voice saying “We should ask about this”.

You can contact Valley Prosthetics & Orthotics by calling them at 610-770-1515 or visiting their website www.valleypo.com.

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

Did You Know?

There is an overnight summer camp experience for special needs kids of the Lehigh Valley!

Headed up by Easter Seals Eastern Pennsylvania, Growing Green is a unique residential summer camp that blends occupational, educational and recreational experiences located in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. The goal is to teach campers with special needs green occupational skills and an appreciation of outdoor recreational experiences.

The primary focus of Growing Green is to teach organic gardening and green landscaping to our campers in a designed vegetable and herb garden.

Not only will campers be able to hike along our many beautiful trails, but they will have the opportunity to

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maintain them as well. Additionally, our campers will enjoy great recreational activities like canoeing, nature studies, sports, music, drama and many other traditional camp experiences.

This special experience will help your special kids learn new skills while they build greater self-esteem, develop new friendships, improved fitness and nutritional awareness.

We’ll take a more in depth look at the Growing Green program in the spring issue of Lehigh Valley Family.

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• Lehigh Valley Family

T

10 Ways to Instill Character In Your Kids

By Gwen Pongracz, Kids of Character 10

“ o educate a man in mind and not in morals is to create a menace to society.” These words were spoken by Teddy Roosevelt more than one hundred years ago but his philosophy is still valid today. Is it enough to raise smart children?

Or do we also need to teach them to be good?

Surely someone like Bernie Madoff is very welleducated in mind but appears to be lacking an education in morals. Madoff is a perfect example of Roosevelt’s claim that one without the other creates a menace to society as witnessed by the many lives that have been adversely affected by this one person’s lack of character.

Character education is what we do to teach our kids to be good. People are not born with good character. Character, like competence must be taught and developed – continuously.

One of the most important responsibilities of parents to their children and to society is to instill positive values, teach responsibility and promote good character. In a paper titled “Competence without Character is Our Biggest Threat” from the Center for Leadership and Ethics, the authors state that, “Children will never learn to be people of character unless they learn about character. They cannot be ethical if they do not understand ethics.”

If we want our children to grow up to become ethical, responsible citizens who will make good decisions in their personal lives, family lives and future work lives, we need to ensure that we teach them about good character and give them opportunities to practice and develop it. Children need to learn about core values or character traits – basic virtues that any socioeconomic, ethnic or religious group would hold dear. Among these would be values like compassion, courage, courtesy, fairness, honesty, kindness, loyalty, perseverance, respect and responsibility. If we all base our decisions on these values, we will be acting for the greater good, and society as a whole. As the great philosopher, Cicero, stated in the 1st century B.C., “Within the character of the citizen lies the welfare of the state.”

As children enter school, there are even more opportunities for them to learn good character. Children spend a good part of their day in school and character education is easily taught in social settings like the classroom, gym class, the lunchroom and organized clubs and sports. Character education is actually one

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

of the items mandated by No Child Left Behind. And yet many schools do not focus on this matter. The irony is that they forego this area because they are so busy teaching so that students pass the math and reading tests also mandated by No Child Left Behind. Teachers have so much on their plates these days. But character education should be on the plate as well. Studies report that schools that have implemented effective character education programs have resulted in reduced office referrals, improved attendance and test scores, increased skills for conflict resolution, lessening of risky behavior and overall improved school climate.

Research shows that effective character education programs go hand-in-hand with academic success.

When it is time for our youth to move into the workforce, they are lacking in many of the skills that employers require.

This is evidenced by studies such as “The Ill-Prepared U.S. Workforce: Exploring the Challenges of Employer-Provided Workforce Readiness Training” by Corporate Voices, The Conference Board, The Society for Human Resource Management and the American Society for Training and Development. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a leading advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education. The Partnership breaks down 21st century skills into various areas, one being Life and Career Skills which include: flexibility and adaptability, initiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural skills, productivity and accountability, and leadership and responsibility. These are also considered good character traits. So it would appear that the business community also needs to become involved in providing character education for our youth.

In fact it is up to all adults in the community to play a role in character education. Kids are our future. They will someday be our doctors, lawyers, politicians, neighbors and employees. We are all stakeholders in our youth developing good character. So we all need to take some responsibility for teaching them good character. Whether we like it or not, we are all role models, so we need to be sure we are GOOD role models. Kids are like sponges. You might not think they are paying attention to what you do and say, but they are. Kids can spot a hypocrite very quickly. So we can’t have a “Do as I say, not as I do” attitude.

We need to begin with ourselves and see if we are setting good examples for the young people who are watching and waiting for us to show them the right way.

As a parent, here are simple things you can do to develop good character in your children:

1 – Be a good role model – Don’t just talk the talk – walk the walk.

2 – Take time to talk to your kids about what good character is, why it is important and what it looks like.

3. – Read to your children. Choose books in which a www.LehighValleyFamily.com

good character trait or value is portrayed. Many children’s books focus on these traits. After reading the book, talk to them about the characters in the story and ask them which character they liked and why. Give them a definition for the character trait.

Ask them how they could demonstrate that trait.

4 – Take advantage of “teachable moments.”

When an incident in the news or in their personal lives takes place that involves character, strike up a discussion with them about what their thoughts were on the incident. Let them know they can talk to you when they have questions about what is the right thing to do. And often, they might know what is right and what is wrong but they also need to have the moral courage to do what they know is right.

5 – Use recognition rather than rewards.

Praise your kids when you see them demonstrating good character. Do not reward them with material items. They need to learn that you do good for the sake of being good, not to gain a reward.

6 – Know your kids’ friends and their parents.

7 – Hold your children accountable for their decisions and actions.

8 – Monitor your child’s TV shows, music, texting and social media pages like Facebook and MySpace. Talk to them about what types of personal information and photos are appropriate and inappropriate.

9 – Get involved with your children’s school.

Find out what type of character education program they have.

If your child’s school doesn’t seem to put much focus on it, let them know that you feel it is important for the school to teach these traits.

10 – Remember that even the best kids struggle occasionally with basing their decisions on good values. They are facing peer

pressure and the pressure to succeed. Character needs to be taught and practiced continuously.

In the words of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Don’t assume that your children will grow up to be good people just by chance. They are influenced by so many outside forces every day. Take an active role in teaching your children about good character and giving them opportunities to develop it.

Kids of Character is a local non-profit with a mission to promote character education and development for children and youth in the Lehigh Valley. Contact Gwen Pongracz at gwen. pongracz@gmail.com or 610-285-2613 or find us on the web at www.kids-of-character.org to learn how we can help you build character in youth.

• Lehigh Valley Family

11

Should I Send Them to School?

Surefire signs to determine if your kid is really sick

By Carsa Kruppenbach, PSA HealthCare It’s 7:00am, the bus comes in 20 minutes, and your child is sick. You have an 8:30am meeting; others are depending on you to be at work. Not only will it cause problems for you, but your child will be missing lessons, assignments, and extracurricular activities....

What do you do? Keep your child home or send him to school anyway? Here are some recommendations to help you make the right decision: Keep your child home from school if he is having any of he following symptoms: • Fever (temperature above 100 degrees) • Vomiting • Diarrhea • Trouble breathing • Frequent coughing • Constant sniffles • Itchy, scaly, spreading rash • Moderate or severe pain (as from an ear infection) • Eye redness and drainage • Flu symptoms: fever, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea • Generally feeling or looking badly.

• Has taken antibiotics for 48 hours • Is feeling well enough to last through the day • Physician has rendered him safe to return to school.

Teach your children to wash their hands with soap and water before and after eating and before touching their face; not to share cups or utensils; and to cough or sneeze into a tissue or bent elbow if a tissue is not available. When sickness occurs, it is never a convenient time. Sending a child to school when they need to stay home can delay their recovery and increase the time they (and you) need to be out.

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If your child is experiencing symptoms mentioned above he may not feel well enough to learn or participate, and he may infect other students. If the above symptoms last more than 24 hours or are severe, call your child’s physician. If your child is having unusual symptoms, contact the school nurse to see if something is going around and to alert the school of any contagious conditions.

Allow your child to return to school when he: • Is fever free for 24 hours • Has no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours • Is no longer contagious 12

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Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

Did You Know These?

Dirty Little Facts About Germs • We have between 2 and 10 million bacteria between fingertip and elbow

• Typically there are between 10,000 and 10 million bacteria on each hand.

• Germs can stay alive on hands for up to 3 hours.

• Damp hands spread 1,000 times more germs than dry hands.

• Millions of germs hide under watches and bracelets and there could be as many germs under your ring as there are people in Europe.

• 80 percent of all infectious diseases are passed by human contact, either direct or indirect • It’s estimated that fewer than 50 percent of people wash their hands after using the facilities.

• The rubbing action with the towel actually removes germs from your hands.

• The number of germs on your fingertips doubles after you use the toilet.

• Bacteria double their number every 20 minutes.

• There are roughly 25,127 germs per square inch on the average phone receiver.

• Each time a toilet is flushed, unseen water droplets explode from the bowl, carrying a half million bacteria and over 25,000 virus particles. They can land up to six feet away!

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• Lehigh Valley Family

13

The Reading Corner Essential Words by Grade Level

Learning and Education through the Advancement of Reading

By Patricia J. Lear, M.Ed., Lear Educational Center

Welcome to The Reading Corner. We are already halfway through the first quarter of the 2009-10 school year.

Where does time go? My center has heard from you, and the stories are full of excitement about new grades, teachers, and the new curricula being introduced across the Lehigh Valley. Children have made new friends; and in the beginning, the first quarter appeared to be going well.

What I heard loud and clear, particularly in the last two weeks, was that you had high hopes for your children and believed that they would have a better year than the last in reading and spelling.

Well, the hope appears to have faded, and you are telling me that your children are still reading at the same level as in June. If you are feeling concerned, I urge you to go back to the earlier issues of The Reading Corner, beginning with January 2009. The earlier issues will help guide you through the process to determine why your child is having difficulty in reading, and what to do as a parent. You are welcome to call me with any questions you have about previous issues of The Reading Corner.

This month, I would like to offer a method for easing tension in the life of the kindergartner and first grader. A new publication, List of Essential Words by Grade Level, researched and authored by Robert J. Marzano, John S. Kendall, and Diane E. Paynter, has been made available through the research of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), Department of Education: 977845 Appendix.1, 4/6/05. The lists were first drawn from over five million words of running text in material encountered by students. The final word lists were reviewed by raters and grade level educators.

If your child is experiencing difficulty reading, I recommend that you use these words as a teaching tool only in the indicated grade levels, while you continue to determine why they are having difficulty. Don’t wait. Be proactive.

14

The earlier you can resolve your child’s difficulties the better. Go to the library for the book and make flash cards and make up as many games as you can.

Most importantly, have fun!

Reading is the most important subject in school. All other subjects are dependent on reading; even a math grade can be largely dependent on

reading ability. All other subjects can be learned after the child learns to read. Protect your child from stress and low self esteem. If you are not sure how to approach the school, you should consult a private learning specialist for guidance. The learning specialist will help you work with the school to make sure your child receives every resource possible early in their school experience. The earlier reading problems can be addressed, the more successful your child will be.

If you have additional questions about the content of this month’s The Reading Corner, please contact me at leareducationalcenter@juno.com or call me at the Lear Educational Center at 610-252-0965. We will make every attempt to answer all questions submitted. Look for more information about reading and related subjects in the next issue of The Reading Corner or visit online for information and links about reading issues at www. leareducationalcenter.com. Thank you so much for your interest in your child’s reading development. Reading is the primary means to learning and education. Let’s all help to see all children reach their full potential while supporting learning and education through advancement in reading.

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The Power of Grace

By Zenddy Etiquette and Fashions Clothes can be bought, but manners must be learned and practiced. Etiquette is not just for the wealthy or older generations but for all. In the busyness of our lives, we have lost some of our social graces. For the upcoming holiday gatherings, here are tips for adults that should to be exemplified and taught to children.

Etiquette and Manners • Circulate at a party or social gathering -- whether hostess or guest, the people, not the food or drink, should be your main focus.

• Make eye contact and offer a warm smile -- in every situation.

• Excuse yourself from the table if you need to sneeze or blow your nose.

• Never apply lipstick or makeup at the dinner table.

• When someone says something positive about you, don’t deny or refute it. Instead, thank them for the compliment and enjoy their praise.

• Wait until all passengers have exited an elevator before trying to enter the elevator.

• Do not stare at people or engage in gossip. Nothing positive arises from such talk.

Image • Take time for your inner beauty by praying, meditating and/or reading a positive quote every morning before you start your day.

Feeling good inside makes you look better outside.

• The use of accessories that you love (necklace, bracelet, earrings, scarf, belt, etc.) will give you a unique style.

• The proper skin care, makeup, hair and clean clothing = an elegant lady.

• Not all fashion trends are for everyone. Pick one or two that you like and feel good about.

• Wear clothes that fit well. Just because you can physically squeeze your body into something doesn’t mean it flatters you or fits properly.

• Cleanliness is key. Make sure your shoes are not dirty or scuffed and your clothes are ironed and have no stains.

Zenddy Etiquette & Fashions will start classes for girls and ladies who want to learn more about social graces and enhance inner beauty. There Learning and Education through will be a free open Advancement in Reading house February 20, 2010 in Bethlehem.

For more information call 610-762-6535 or visit www.zenddy.com.

P.R.E.P. for SUCCESS LLC

• Certified Wilson Reading Specialists • Wilson Fundation Program • Linda Mood-Bell Programs • PSSA Coach Programs • FAST Forward Programs • Kindergarten Readiness • Group Sessions Available • Excellent Study Skill and General Tutoring Available

Pennsylvania Renaissance Educational Programs

Tutoring by experienced, certified PA teachers, in your home, for all ages and for all subjects • All Ages and All Subjects, K-12th grade and adults • Flexible Tutoring (any day & any time to fit your schedule)

610-967-2670 • www.prepforsuccess.com www.LehighValleyFamily.com

Patricia J. Lear, M.Ed. Learning Specialist/Diagnostician

2031 Hay Terrace, Suite 300 Easton, PA 18042

610-252-0965

www.leareducationalcenter.com

• Lehigh Valley Family

15

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN The 14 Member School Districts of the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 Provide Special Education Programs for Special Needs Children Allentown School District Catasauqua Area School District East Penn School District Jim Thorpe Area School District Lehighton Area School District Northern Lehigh School District Northwestern Lehigh School District Palmerton Area School District

Panther Valley School District Parkland School District Salisbury Township School District Southern Lehigh School District Weatherly Area School District Whitehall-Coplay School District Camp Adams Programs Carbon Career and Technical Institute

The School Districts listed above, either directly or through various other education agencies including CLIU #21 provide special education services which may be required by children with special needs.

Types of programs and services are: (1) Academic Support (a) Gifted Support for students identified as mentally gifted. The focus is to provide instruction beyond the regular curriculum. (b) Learning Support for students whose primary identified need is academic learning.

(2) Life Skill Support For students where the focus is primarily on the needs of students for independent living as well as general daily living skills.

(3) Emotional Support For students whose primary identified need is for emotional support.

The focus is primarily on behavior management.

(4) Sensory Support (a) Deaf or Hearing Impaired for students who are deaf or hearing impaired. (b) Blind or Visually Impaired for students who are blind or visually impaired.

(5) Speech and Language Support For students who are speech and language impaired.

(6) Physical Support For students where the program is modified primarily to meet the need of the physically disabled student.

(7) Autistic Support For students who are autistic. The focus is primarily to develop daily living skills.

(8) Multidisabilities Support For students who are multihandicapped. The focus is on daily living, self help, and independent living.

Screening Kindergarten screening activities include a review of informal social and health history, developmental areas, functional vision and hearing, and speech and language. Kindergarten screenings are held during the spring at the school district. Further screenings are conducted through the Instructional Support Teams in each school throughout the year for any student that may be in need of special education services.

Parents who wish to request screening and evaluation for their child may do so by contacting the principal or counselor in their child’s school building.

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Lehigh County Detention Center Lehigh Valley Hospital Transitions Program Liberty Lehigh Valley Secure Treatment for Adolescents in Transition Nonpublic/Private Schools Preschool Youth Forestry Camp #2

Evaluations If you believe your child needs special education services, an evaluation will be conducted by a team. The team shall be composed of the parents, persons familiar with the child’s development, persons knowledgeable in such areas of suspected disability, persons trained in the appropriate evaluation techniques and, if possible, persons familiar with the child’s cultural background. All information gathered through the screening and/or reevaluation process is considered confidential under Section 438 of the General Education Provisions Act. Questions regarding services for special needs children can be addressed to:

Allentown, Ms. Deb Hartman (484) 765-5000 4000 Catasauqua, Mr. Robert Spengler (610) 264-5571 8300 East Penn, Dr. Michael Murphy (610) 966-8314 Jim Thorpe, Mr. Vaughn Shappell (570) 325-3691 Lehighton, Mr. Shaun McElmoyle (610) 377-4490 Northern Lehigh, Ms. Mary Kay Williamson (610) 767-9858 8661 Northwestern Lehigh, Dr. Mark Scott (610) 298-2121 Palmerton, Mr. Robert Dailey (610) 826-7101 Panther Valley, Mr. Dan Borden (570) 645-0386 Parkland, Mr. Robert Thornburg (610) 351-5555 Salisbury Township, Ms. Nora Perron-Jones (610) 797-2206 Southern Lehigh, Mr. Scot Engler (610) 282-3121 Weatherly, Ms. Dawn Stanley (570) 427-8687 Whitehall-Coplay, Ms. Donna Viglianti (610) 439-1431 Camp Adams Programs, Mr. Thomas Lindeman (610) 769-4111 Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Mr. Dan Borden (570) 325-3682 Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Ms. Deb Handshue (610) 799-1326 Lehigh County Detention Center, Mr. Thomas Mullen (610) 769-4111 Lehigh Valley Hospital Transitions Programs, Mr. Thomas Mullen (610) 769-4111 Liberty Lehigh Valley (STAT) Mr. Thomas Mullen (610) 769-4111 Nonpublic/Private Schools, Ms. Deb Dendas (610) 769-4111 Preschool, Ms. Bonnie Evans (610) 769-4111 Youth Forestry Camp #2, Mr. Tom Lindeman (610) 769-4111

Preschool Children with Special Needs Parents who have questions regarding their child’s seeing, hearing, learning, talking, moving about, manipulating objects, understanding, showing emotions, getting along with others, playing with toys, taking care of himself/herself should phone CLIU #21, which offers Project Connect, a preschool program for children with special needs. Project Connect can provide information, screening, evaluation, programs, therapy, parent involvement, and referral to community agencies at no cost to the parent.

For further information phone the CLIU #21 at 1-800-223-4821 or 610-769-4111.

Nonpublic Schools/Private Schools Duties owed to students with disabilities enrolled in private schools by their parents are limited to child find activities and a genuine offer of a Free Appropriate Program of Education (FAPE) from the school district of residence. Students unilaterally enrolled in private schools by their parents have a right to participate in services, however, no private school child with a disability is entitled to any particular service or to any amount of service.

(300.455(2))

Admin-Keegan-Word Doc-Child find – SEART 11 x 17 w 2 columns w spacing

Laughter Is The Best Medicine Accident Reports

No accident is funny, but some of the justifications for them sure are! Accident insurance claim forms ask for a short statement about how the accident occurred. Pair finger pointing instinct and small spaces on the forms and you get some head scratching explanations: "I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment."

“I saw the slow-moving, sad-faced old gentleman as he bounced off the hood of my car.”

"The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him."

“I had been driving for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.”

"An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle, and vanished."

“I was taking my canary to the hospital. It got loose in the car and flew out the window. The next thing I saw was his rear end, and there was a crash.”

“To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front, I struck the pedestrian.”

“The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.”

“A pedestrian hit me and went under my car."

“The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention."

"I had been learning to drive with power steering. I turned the wheel to what I thought was enough and found myself in a different direction going the opposite way."

"Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don't have."

“The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.”

“The accident happened when the right door of a car came around the corner without giving a signal.”

“I was thrown from my car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows.”

“I was on the way to the doctor with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident.”

“The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.”

"I thought my window was down; but found it was up when I put my hand through it." www.LehighValleyFamily.com

• Lehigh Valley Family

17

Manage Your Stress

By Family Features

Stress is taking its toll on a lot of people. In the

newest “Stress in America” survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), almost half of Americans say they are increasingly stressed about their ability to provide for their family’s basic needs. Eighty percent say that the economy is a significant cause of stress.

Stress is the body’s response to the demands of the world. There are two basic kinds of stress, acute and chronic. According to the Mayo Clinic, acute stress is your body’s immediate reaction to a significant threat, challenge or scare. It’s the classic fight-or-flight reaction.

Job interviews and fender-benders are examples of stressors that can cause acute stress.

Life Doesn’t Come With Directions Primerica Can Help You Write Your Own. To discuss your personal financial goals, call your local Primerica Representative.

Gina M. Bonisese 7310 Tilghman Street Allentown, Pa. (610) 393-4462

Visit us online at www.Primerica.com/teambonisese

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Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

Chronic stress results from long-term exposure to acute stress. Stressors that can lead to chronic stress are often the day-to-day pressures that don’t seem to let up – work problems, relationship issues and financial troubles.

Chronic stress can lead to physical problems such as headaches, fatigue, back pain, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, sleep problems, stomach upset and decreased immunity.

It can also affect your behavior, resulting in angry outbursts, over- or under eating, difficulty concentrating, social withdrawal, relational conflicts and drug or alcohol abuse.

According to the APA, the health consequences of extreme stress are most severe when people ignore symptoms and fail to manage their stress well.

Here are some ways that you can manage your stress:

• Physical activity: Exercise releases endorphins, which promote good moods and positive thinking. It also increases blood flow to the brain and body, helping you feel better and think more clearly.

• Relaxation: Music, meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques help calm the body and the mind.

• Reaching out: Interacting with others lets you get your mind off your troubles and lift your spirits. It also keeps you from feeling alone. Talking with friends or professional counselors can be a good emotional outlet and a healthy way to work out problems.

• Taking care of yourself: Good nutrition and adequate rest go a long way toward giving your body what it needs to deal with stress. Junk food may feel good for a few minutes, but healthy food will help you feel good for a lot longer.

Stress is normal and something everyone experiences.

But if you’re undergoing chronic stress, you can take steps to deal with it in healthy, positive ways.

Identify how you experience stress. Everyone experiences stress differently. You might get irritable, or have a hard time concentrating. Perhaps you get headaches or muscle tension. Keep track of your stress symptoms for several days to give you a better idea of how you respond.

Know your stress triggers. It’s important to know where your stress comes from. If you know, you can take steps to deal with the cause and not just the symptoms.

Find healthy ways to manage stress. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends putting together a stress management plan that includes:

Caring for Aging Parents?

Find resources, information and assistance at www.lifestylesover50.com or pick up our print magazine monthly at a community location near you.

4787 Tilghman St Allentown Pa 18104 Across from Bennett Infiniti (610) 295-5084 • shoptheshoebox.net

www.LehighValleyFamily.com

• Lehigh Valley Family

19

a

Your Style Holiday Fabulous Fashion!

...For REAL Women. By Nina Weiss, The Shoe Box

Every year, I get a little sidetracked, thanks to Halloween, and usually don’t end up flipping my Tuscan countryside or turquoise sandy beach until several days into the month. Suddenly, kneedeep into November, an entire spectrum of emotions rage. Maybe it’s subliminal, this reaction to a calendar, because I can’t reconcile my happy anticipation with utter dread. Hang on, here come the Holidays.

Like it or not, here they come, with highs and lows – and invites aplenty. If your holidays promise to be more sober and slightly more restrained than years past, you are not alone. But your wardrobe needn’t be any less festive. Go ahead, shop your closet, and choose from these fresh details to kick up your look – without going overboard – for the season’s special occasions.

Twinkle Twinkle I am instantly attracted to sparkly things – want to touch them – and there are many shimmery options for the holidays and beyond.

Sequins and paillettes are everywhere. Unfussy styles like a simply cut tank or tee, or even a skirt, offer a shiny tease of glam. The shimmer of smaller and delicately shaped paillettes in metallic hues makes sequins less Golden Girls and more Gossip Girl. Plus they flutter with a hushed whisper when you move; it’s like a feast for your senses, a tactile soundtrack. How fun is that?

Faux Fur It’s not exactly the moment for a full-length sable. (In fact, economy aside, I’m not really sure when it is the time for real fur). Alas, for now, pretentiousness is out and coziness is in.

A touch of fur offers just enough warmth, fuzziness, and fun.

As with shimmer, one piece at a time will suffice. My favorite accents are shawls and vests. Real or faux, touches of plush will add texture and style to any cold-weather look.

Long and short vests co-exist on the racks now; and if you’re confused about how to wear which, consider what you’re pairing

it with underneath, and do the opposite. If your under layer is long, go with a short vest; and if your under layer is short, try a long vest. Layering is great, but don’t be afraid to mix it up.

Asymmetrical Asymmetrical tops and dresses make a dramatic impact with a minimal, less-is-more (or is it moreis-less?) approach. Many of these one-shoulder wonders feature exquisite draping that flatters all figures. Choose a vibrant color, couple it with a neutral or gray suede booty, and you’re ready to ring in the New Year.

Keep these ideas in mind so when the invites arrive; you won’t have to hesitate to RSVP ‘yes’ and call a sitter. Dressing for the revelry just got easier.

For Everyday…

• The trend in loose, rolled-cuff boyfriend jeans has yielded another classic in the Boyfriend Jacket. In basic black, it can go from casual to evening in a flash.

• Chunky sweaters are making a statement this fall. Comfort is the ultimate luxury and makes a long cozy cardigan just right for the chilly weather.

• Fashion-rule-that-was-always-a-rule-but-can-now-bebroken-and-I-can’t-wait-to-try-it: Tights with open-toe shoes. If this works, it nearly doubles my winter shoe wardrobe! Love the choices in patterned tights, like the ones by SPANX – they go great with open-toe booties, especially the All Black belted bootie – come in and see!

Visit The Shoe Box at 4787 Tilghman Street, Allentown. (Across from Bennett Infiniti) or shop online at www.theshoebox.net.

Photos compliments of www.shoptheshoebox.net and www.oldnavy.com.

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Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

4 Steps to Closet Organization Perfection!

By Lauren Wuscher, IMAGEine U The first step in transforming your style and personal image is to clean out all of the junk in your closet that is not working for you. A clean closet clears and unclutters your head, allowing you to concentrate on other more important matters in your life (such as that big promotion you want, the marathon you’ve been training for, or your family.)

Why you need to clean out your closet: It is important to always know what you have

available. It would not make sense and would be a waste of money to go out and purchase something you already have. If you know what you have, you can focus on finding what you need. I have broken this down into 4 easy steps so that this does not become more difficult than it needs to be.

Images compliments of Nicole Balch www.makingitlovely.com

How you should clean your closet:

Step 1. Create 4 piles: keep, needs to be altered or mended, giveaway to charity, and trash.

Step 2. Try on every item in your closet/dresser and

immediately decide which pile it belongs in before you try on another item. If you are not sure which pile the garment goes in, do not keep it. If you can’t make a decision right away, it’s not for you (keep this in mind when shopping as well).

NOTE: Make sure to try on outfits with the appropriate undergarments and pants with the appropriate shoes.

Only keep the items that fit properly, are not irreparably damaged, have not faded, and that express your personal style.

If you have not worn an item in over a year, it should go directly to the donate pile or trash pile. If you haven’t needed it in a year, you won’t need it in the next year.

Step 3. After you have gotten rid of the trash pile

and dropped the giveaway pile off at your local charity, begin rearranging your closet by clothing category (tees, jackets, long sleeved tops, pants, jeans, and so on). Keep like categories together and arrange each from light to dark. Each item should have its own hanger; no doubling up. www.LehighValleyFamily.com

The cleaner your closet is, the easier it will be for you to mix and match your items. Never use wire hangers because they bend easily and will leave marks and put holes in your tops. You do not have to use anything particularly expensive, just something stable and sturdy.

If you do not have a built in closet, purchase organizers at your local home store or supercenter. These are great tools to be able to organize your closet and there are many different types to fit your changing needs.

Repeat! Clean your closet with the changing of every

season to prepare yourself for the new styles. Put all items that are not in season into storage until the next year, and arrange your existing items so that you can easily find them, cutting down the time that it will take for you to get ready in the morning.

Good Luck & Good Style.

IMAGEine U. is an image consulting company in the Philadelphia area. For more information or to sign up for their FREE weekly newsletter full of style secrets and image tips visit www.imageineu.com.

• Lehigh Valley Family

21

Alternatives to Public Schooling:

A closer Look at Cyber School

by Kathy Purcell, as told to Laura Putt Many parents and students are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the public school system. This dissatisfaction has given rise to countless alternatives to public school. Being the mother of a toddler, I began to wonder why these families made the choices they did, and how it is working out for them. This article will be the first of a four part series taking an inside look at families of the Lehigh Valley who have chosen to educate their children unconventionally.

I came across Kathy Purcell, a local business owner and mother of two teenage boys. Together, her family decided to try cyber schooling to meet the needs of her family. Here is their story: LVF:What made you and your husband initially consider placing your boys in an alternative to public schooling?

Kathy: We desired more flexibility and less regimentation. By the time Corey and Connor were in 4th and 3rd grades respectively, my husband and I felt that they were not being challenged in their current school setting (local public school). Both boys were functioning academically above grade level and were losing interest in school. Also, at the time, they were both involved in music and Irish Step dancing and we wanted to afford them more time to work on their arts education.

LVF: How did you ultimately decide on cyber school?

Kathy: We did some exploratory research into home schooling by attending the CHAP convention in Harrisburg and were impressed with the home school resources available. We also became aware of the intense level of commitment on the part of the home educator parent.

Since I also operated my own business, I was concerned about having the necessary amount of time required to home school. In researching more about home schooling, we heard about cyber schools. They are public schools, paid for by tax dollars from the state and the students’ local school district but the students “attend” school from home. Depending on the type of curriculum the family chooses, classes may be completely correspondence courses, delivered over the Internet at any time the student wishes to complete their course or in “real time” over the Internet where the student must log in and “attend” their classes in real time. We began with correspondence classes and through the eight years the boys participated in a variety of delivery options. Cyber school offered my children an opportunity to take challenging academic classes without being in social situations with much older students.

Last year, Connor stopped cyber education and attended the local public high school. He greatly missed time working on his music but liked the social aspect of school away from home. He auditioned for and was accepted at the Lehigh Valley High School for the Performing Arts. LVPA offers a variety of

22

challenging academic courses while allowing students to work in their chosen discipline for a portion of the school day.

LVF: Can you describe a typical Connor and Corey on the first day of the day for your family?

2002-2003 school year.

Kathy: Currently, the term routine hardly applies to our educational situation.

A typical day may have the boys dressing in their Civil War uniforms and working on their educational assignments while en route to Philadelphia to perform fife and drum for the Union League’s annual Lincoln’s birthday ceremony - Or adjusting scholastic schedules to accommodate Irish step dance performances during St. Patrick ’s Day observances. Or, sleeping until ten in the morning due to a late night recording session at WVIA public radio station. A “typical’ day for us has certainly changed over the past eight years!

When we started, we tried to be very regimented, awaking at 7:00 each morning and the boys would practice dance and music for an hour or so, and then we would start book schoolwork with the Pledge Of Allegiance and a patriotic song. When we would break for lunch, the boys would eat while I read a “together book”. These were fun books that we choose and I would read during lunch and the boys would take turns reading when we were in the car. We would try to finish schoolwork by the time my husband arrived home at 4 pm. Gradually, our schedule changed as the boys became more independent in their work and when they had virtual classes (real time classes).

On Tuesday and Thursdays, Corey still breaks up his schoolwork with practicing the accordion and Irish Step dancing.

Currently, he is taking 5 classes at Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. He has been accepted into a program called the PA Academy at LCCC which is for high school students who are excelling at college courses. He will be graduating in the spring of 2010 from high school at PA Cyber and from LCCC with an Associates degree in Business Administration! He also hosts Celtic Classics, an online radio show at LCCC’s radio studio on Friday afternoons.

After the “school day” is over, we strive to eat dinner together each night as a family, which is a challenge due to the boys’ busy schedules.

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

LVF: What would say the pros and cons are of cyber schooling?

Kathy: Pros: • Flexibility has certainly given us the opportunity to take advantage of cultural opportunities such as Tuesday noon Bach Choir concerts at Moravian Central Church, extending our weekends to travel to New England to participate in fife and drum events and to take vacations at non-peak times.

• The boys had many opportunities to accompany me to my job at Music Therapy Associates, and they frequently contributed by providing live music and interaction to my student/clients. This gave the boys sensitivity toward the people that I work with and provided my clients with interesting additions to my program.

• Another perk is that this type of schooling has given both boys an opportunity to advance academically without necessarily being in social situations with older students.

• These educational choices have given us more time as a family since we could be flexible with when we do school work (making vacation times more available).

• In terms of their health and nutrition, I feel that the boys were able to eat more healthfully when at home and I could allow them to sleep late if they had performance or rehearsal late the night before or if they were fighting a cold or illness.

• My husband and I also liked the sense of safety-we felt that the boys were safer at home and this was reinforced when our first day of cyber schooling was 9/11/01.

• Socially, we had the opportunity to choose specific social situations that would be most beneficial for our children and our family. Because we chose cyber as opposed to traditional home

Corey, father Ken, and Connor performing historic maritime music at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

schooling, the boys were permitted to participate in music at the local school district during the school day. They played in the concert, jazz, and marching bands, sang in the chorus, and participated in the indoor percussion ensembles for several years.

Corey also participated in sports such as cross country and the tennis team.

• Because we chose cyber as opposed to traditional home schooling, the boys had specific teachers for each subject which allowed me to say, “We’ll have to ask your teacher about that….”. It was nice to not have to the final say in everything!

Corey completes his school work, accompanied by his classmate, Sydney.

Cons: • If we are not diligent, assignment deadlines can creep up and cause emergencies.

• When we chose “real time” classes, it made our schedule less flexible for appointments and other activities.

• The boys and I were with each other almost all the time which led to some tension!

• Socially we had to make an effort to provide the boys with opportunities to be with other children their ages.

• Sometimes, it seemed like it was all school, all the time.

• I often felt like I was always telling them what to do….school, chores, practice, etc.

• It is important to have the space set aside to have “school” so it doesn’t take over the whole house!

LVF: Do you have any words of wisdom for other parents who might consider going down this path?

Kathy: Yes! If anyone chooses this road, don’t expect to be appreciated….at least not right away! It takes a lot of time, patience and organization to work with your kids as well as the school. And for the parent who is home supervising the children, be aware that it’s extremely difficult to focus on your agenda when you are constantly needed to serve as a resource for the students.

In our situation, owning my own business gave me the opportunity to flex my client’s schedules and directorial duties around the needs of my children. Also, since I was able to add six additional therapists to my practice, Music Therapy Associates is able to serve more individuals and groups with special needs throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Working for myself gave us the additional flexibility needed to make this a perfect fit for our family.

Lastly, extended family or friends may not understand a family choice for alternative schooling. Ultimately, after you’ve discussed and weighed your options, trust your instincts and judgement. I also think its important to remember that what is right for your family this school year may change the next, so be open and willing to adjust as necessary.

Thank you to the Purcell Family for sharing their story with us. We appreciate their willingness to give an in depth look at the ins and outs of choosing this type of education. We wish the Purcell boys great success in life, it seems they are off to a solid start!

In the Spring Issue of Lehigh Valley Family, we’ll sit down with a family who choose private schooling as their educational choice.

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds, or other restrictions to public areas.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and then discard it immediately. (Sneeze into your sleeve if a tissue is

By Heather Fotopoulos, Director of Bayada not handy.)

Nurses, Allentown • Avoid contact with others as much as possible while you have a fever or other flu symptoms.

• Keep surfaces clean with a household disinfectant.

Bayada Nurses has a special purpose—to help people have a Respiratory droplets can travel up to 6 feet and can live on safe home life with comfort, independence, and dignity. Part surfaces where they land for 2 to 8 hours. of our mission is to provide the communities we serve with education to keep you safe.

What you need to know about the H1N1 Flu

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers concerning H1N1 flu, including how to recognize symptoms and protect yourself from getting the flu, measures to take if you contract it, and where to get more information.

Your local Bayada Nurses professionals are here to help and support you, so please contact us at 610-776-7000 with any questions.

Q What is the H1N1 flu?

A H1N1 is a new flu virus that was first detected in the

US in April 2009, causing illness in many people. It was originally called Swine Flu because it was similar to a virus found in pigs. Because it is a new virus, many people, especially those 24 years old and younger, do not have immunity to this virus so it has spread very quickly from person to person worldwide.

Q How is it spread?

A H1N1 is easily spread when a person coughs or sneezes.

It is also spread by touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands with soap and water or using hand gel, and after contact with items contaminated from an infected person.

Q What are the symptoms of the H1N1 flu?

A The symptoms of H1N1 are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and may include: • Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C) • Headache and body aches • Chills • Sore throat • Cough • Runny or stuffy nose • Fatigue (extreme tiredness) • Diarrhea and vomiting

Q What if I think I have the flu or have been exposed to someone with the flu?

A Contact your physician. They will determine if it is

appropriate for you to take antiviral medications such as Tamiflu and Relenza, which can reduce the severity of the virus when taken within the first 48 hours of symptoms for some people.

• Special care may be needed to prevent complications from the flu if you have other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, emphysema, or any other respiratory problem.

Improving Quality of Life for Children

Q What can I do to avoid contracting the flu

2200 W. Hamilton St., Ste. 201 Allentown, PA 18104

and spreading it to others?

A There are many preventative measures you can take:

• You and any other household members or visitors should wash your hands often with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds or use hand gel.

• Avoid close contact with someone who has the flu and ask sick visitors to avoid coming to your home.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

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610.770.1515

Steven Chu, CPO Owner-Practitioner

• Experienced Pediatric Practitioner • Lower & Upper Limb Prosthetics • Scoliosis/Spinal Bracing Treatments • Cranial Remolding Helmets • Advanced Pediatric Orthotics • Free House Calls with Referral

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

www.valleypo.com

Q Should I be vaccinated?

A Vaccination is the number one way to prevent getting the H1N1 flu. Please contact your physician to discuss getting both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccination.

Q When is a person with H1N1 contagious?

A The contagious period begins 1 day before symptoms

begin and continues up to 7 days after the onset of symptoms or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longer.

Persons are most contagious while fever is present.

Q What are the H1N1 flu emergency warning signs?

A Anyone with the following symptoms should seek

immediate medical attention.

In children: • Fast breathing or trouble breathing • Bluish or gray skin color • Not drinking enough fluids • Not waking up or not interacting • Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held • Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough • Fever with a rash

www.LehighValleyFamily.com

In adults: • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion • Severe or persistent vomiting Note: Never give children or teenagers Aspirin when they have the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.

Where to Get More Information There are a number of resources where you can get more information about safe practices and standards to protect yourself from the H1N1virus. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your local office. We are here to help!

Flu.gov website www.flu.gov Flu.gov is a government site that provides helpful information and resources on the flu.

CDC website www.cdc.gove/h1n1flu/freerescources. htm. This area of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides tools and information on the H1N1 virus.

• Lehigh Valley Family

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DECEMBER

A Reason To Celebrate Monthly Observances: Rising Star Month; Write a Business Plan Month; Safe Toys and Gifts Month; Bingo’s Birthday Month.

Weekly Observances: Cookie Cutter Week (1-7); Tolerance Week (1-7); National Hand Washing Awareness Week (6-12); Its About Time Week (25-31).

December’s Tasty Treat: Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Cookies Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour • 1 cup oats • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/2 cup butter, softened • 1/2 cup granulated sugar • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar • 1/2 cup peanut butter • 1 egg • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla • 8 oz bag of chocolate chips

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Special “Holidays”: 4- National Dice Day 5- Bathtub Party Day 7- Cotton Candy Day 16- Barney & Barbie Backlash Day 21- Humbug Day 26- National Candy Cane Day 26- Thank You Note Day 26- National Whiner’s Day 28- National Chocolate Day 31- Make Up Your Mind Day 31- No Interruptions Day 21- Winter begins 22- Hanukkah begins 25- Christmas 26- Kwanza begins 31- New Year’s Eve!

Directions

- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. - Mix flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.

- Beat butter, sugars and peanut butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

- Add egg and vanilla; mix well.

- Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until well blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate.

- Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets.

- Bake 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 1 min.; remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely.

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

Top Things To Do For December • Visit the Crayola Factory and participate in Where in the World is the Gingerbread Man? He’s in the Caribbean! Enjoy Caribbean holiday traditions and celebrations through hands-on projects.

Islands that will be highlighted include Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St. Martin, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Dominica.

• Take a train ride with Santa! Join Frosty the Snowman, Santa & his Elves at the WK&S! Free gifts for the children as Santa walks through the train. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED! There are 5 trips each day (hourly) starting at 10 AM. Kempton.

• Parent’s Night Out! Dec 11. 6-11pm. Parents have an evening out on the town. Kids enjoy an entertaining and educational animal experience exploring the zoo and surrounding Trexler Nature Preserve. The Zoo will provide pizza, refreshments, and all the fun.

• Enjoy the music at Banana Factory’s KidTunes. 10 am on the 12th.

• Take a time out with your sweetie and enjoy the Christmas Horse-drawn Holiday Rides in the Country. Ironton Livery and Coach info@irontonlivery.com • Friday, December 18th- Grand Person’s Luncheon! For the young child and their favorite person! Lunch, make your own Sundae and story time round out this wonderful afternoon. 11:30 to 1 pm. Hanover Township Community Center.

• Enjoy Old Fashioned horse-drawn carriage rides and strolling carolers throughout downtown Easton on Friday evenings during the holiday season. Carriage rides depart from Valenca Restaurant

at Northampton Street & Centre Square.

• Enjoy Breakfast with Santa on December 5, 12, 13, 19, or 20.

At The Crayola FACTORY at Two Rivers Landing. For advance reservations call 610-515-8000.

• Make presents together to give to extended family. A variety of thoughtful and fun crafts can be found on the Internet or by browsing through your local craft store. Save money and give a personalized gift, it is a win-win situation!

• December 12 - 19: Celebrate Hanukkah and decorate a dreidel at The Crayola FACTORY. • Visit a senior living facility. Many older folks are lonely around the holidays. Visit with a few persons or go caroling outsides the rooms of the bed-bound. Brighten their spirits and yours!

• Ring In the Zoo Year! New Year’s Eve, 11 am-1pm. For adults and children of all ages, kick up your heels and groove to the beat with the animals at the Zoo! Join us for a wild good time with music, dance, animal encounters, crafts, pizza, and more.

• Kick start your resolution by running the First Night Bethlehem 2nd Annual 5K Race. 1 pm New Years Eve, Historic Bethlehm.

December 31.

• Enjoy a family friendly New Years Eve party at one many of the celebrations happening at locations such as the Crayola Factory, Historic Behthlehem, or DaVinci Science Center. Visit each respective site for details.

Be Crafty: Make Christmas Poinsettia Wreaths Directions:

Supplies Needed: • • • •

Colored Pencils Ruler Scissors Construction Paper

• • • • •

Markers Tape Glitter Glue Hole Punch String or Yarn

1. Using Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils, draw five or more large (at least 5-inch or 13 cm) squares on white paper. Cut them out. Save the end pieces. Color the squares on both sides with colored pencils and/or markers. These are your leaves.

2. For each square: Fold in half to form a triangle. Fold in half again.

Hold the double-folded triangle point in one hand. Cut two lines, evenly spaced in the triangle, starting at the two folds. (Cut at the same angle as the unfolded side of the triangle.)

STOP cutting about 1/2 inch before you get to the single fold. (On larger leaves, make three or more cuts.)

3. Open the square. Roll up the two inside points and tape them together.

Flip the square over and tape the middle points together. Flip the square over again and tape the outer points.

Repeat these steps for the other four squares.

4. To form the wreath, tape the tips of all pieces together in the center.

Punch a hole at the top of one of the points. Thread string or ribbon through to hang.

5. On the leftover paper, draw and cut out two small circles for the flowers.

Color them. Tape them to the center of the leaves. Add Crayola Glitter Glue to embellish. Air-dry the glitter glue.

Thanks to Crayola for this craft. For more crafts, visit www.crayola.com/crafts, or visit the Crayola FACTORY to participate in one of their hands on experiences.

www.LehighValleyFamily.com

• Lehigh Valley Family

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JANUARY

A Reason To Celebrate Monthly Observances:

Family Fit Lifestyle Month; Get Organized Month, Creativity Month; Book Blitz Month; National MailOrder Gardening Month.

Weekly Observances:

Celebration of Life Week (1-7); Someday We’ll Laugh About this Week (2-5); Hunt for Happiness Week (812); Letter Writing Week (8-14) National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week (18-23); No Name Calling Week (21-25).

Special “Holidays”:

2- Happy Mew Year for Cats Day 3-Fruitcake Toss Day 3- National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day 7- I’m Not Gonna Take It Anymore Day 8- Show and Tell at Work Day 10- National Cut Energy Costs Day 16- Appreciate a Dragon Day 17 Hot Heads Chili Day 20- Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day 26- Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day 27- National Speak Up and Succeed Day 31- Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

Top Things To Do For January • Go roller-skating at the Independence Fun Center in Schnecksville.

• Grab some chewing gum and see who can blow the biggest bubbles.

• Get messy, it’s okay. Yes, certain crafts are a pain to clean up, but the kids love them. Throw caution to the wind and let the kids play with their favorite messy crafts such as finger paints, play dough or goo-yuck.

• Get outside and play. No snow? Get warm by playing tag or hula hooping.

• Did it snow? Paint your snowman by putting water and food coloring in a spray bottle.

• Dance party! This is sure to help ward off cabin fever.

Crank up the music and dance around with the kids. Yes you will look silly if the neighbors see you, but isn’t the whole point to have fun? Just move any breakables and don’t try this before bedtime.

• Go swimming. Visit one of the many indoor pools during family swim.

• Dress up and put on a play, or make sock puppets and have a puppet show.

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• Play a game that usually stays in the game closet, such as twister.

• Have a picnic on the floor. Use cups with lids.

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

January’s Tasty Treat: Super Bowl Potato Wedges

Ingredients: • 6 large baking potatoes • Canola oil • Bacon • Sour Cream • Chives • Cheddar Cheese • Salt and Pepper

The nice thing about this recipe is that you simply use as much or little of the ingredients as you prefer (or have on hand).

Directions: Scrub potatoes well. Cut each potato into 8 wedges. Coat with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 375.

Meanwhile, cook bacon and crumble.

Once potato wedges are cooked thoroughly, remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese and bacon. Place back into oven until well melted.

Remove from oven, top with sour cream and chives, and enjoy!

Be Crafty: Make a Resolution Box! A Resolution Box is a great idea for the month of January. The idea is for the family to come up with some resolutions together. Write each resolution down on a piece of paper and fold the papers, placing them in the completed box. On each Saturday in January, pick one resolution from the jar. Work together to learn the new habit for the remainder of the week. The trick is to keep the learned habit while picking up the new resolution! This is a time to work together as a team and choose both fun ideas and things that would make life easier for all. Ideas may include: Begin weekly family game night; Make our beds everyday before school or work, Floss before bedtime, Take a walk together 3 nights a week, etc. Have fun and good luck!

To make the box, allow the kids to use any available craft supplies to decorate a shoe box, gift box, or even a mason jar or large used yogurt container. www.LehighValleyFamily.com

! s n o i t u l Reso

• Lehigh Valley Family

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FEBRUARY

A Reason To Celebrate Monthly Observances: Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month; Bake for Family Fun Month; Boost Self-Esteem Month; Care About Your Indoor Air Month; Cherry Pie Month; Laugh Friendly Month; Pet’s Dental Health Month; Spunky Old Broads Month; Sweet Potato Month; Youth Leadership Month.

Weekly Observances: Snow Sculpting Week (4-8); Jell-O Week (8-14); Celebration of Love Week (10-16); Random Acts of Kindness Week (10-17); National Pancake Week (22-28).

Special “Holidays”: 1- G.I. Joe Day, Give Kids a Smile Day 6- Wear Red Day, Bubble Gum Day 7- Ballet Day 9- Read in the Bathtub Day 11- White Shirt Day 19- Chocolate Mint Day 24- Fastnachts Day and Pancake Day 28- National Tooth Fairy Day

Top Things To Do For February • Write secret messages using a toothpick or Q-tip dipped in lemon juice. Hold the paper over heat such as a light bulb or toaster to make the writing appear.

• Find riddles on the Internet and try to solve them together.

• Hot chocolate Party!

• Make bead or string friendship bracelets or necklaces.

• Play slow motion freeze tag. Each step taken must last 2 seconds. This way nothing in the house will get broken during the game.

• Have a beach party. Put on your swimsuits and spread a blanket on the floor (an electric blanket would be perfect) put on some beachy music and have a picnic.

• Make homework fun by creating flashcards and coming up with silly acronyms to help your child

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remember facts.

• When you get a package, save the bubble wrap until you have enough to cover the kitchen floor. Hop around on it!

• Volunteer to walk dogs at the Humane Society.

• Teach the kids to play your favorite games from when you were a kid, such as Parcheesi and Memory.

• Have an indoor snowball fight. Make sock balls and put them lamps away.

• Build a fort in the living room.

• Make your own snacks for movie night. Ideas include puppy chow, ranch flavored pretzels, brownies with special additions such as peanut butter or caramel chips.

• Have a Valentines Day treasure hunt. Hide clues throughout the house leading the kids to their Valentine from Mom and Dad.

Winter 2010 • www.LehighValleyFamily.com

BE CRAFTY: MAKE A JEWELRY ORGANIZER!

This craft is a great idea for dad and kids to make together to present to mom on Valentine’s Day! It requires some tools and painting, so adult supervision is required for this project.

Supplies: • 8 x 8 piece of metal, such as those used to make radiator covers • Old picture frame with glass removed • 2 colors of spray paint • Tack nails

Directions: First, go shopping to a thrift store for an inexpensive or antique picture frame. Next, take a trip to the hardware store to pick out 2 complimentary colors of spray paint and metal to fit in the size frame you chose. Don’t forget the nails! Once at home, have an adult carefully remove the glass and backing from picture frame. Paint the frame and metal, using a different color for each. After drying, have an adult fasten the metal to the back of the frame. Wrap and present to mom to hang her costume jewelry on. *Hint, add some new jewelry to make the gift even better!

Ingredients • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/3 cup water • 3 1/2 cups milk • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/2 cup half-and-half • Whipped Cream • Chocolate Bar

February’s Tasty Treat: Homemade Hot Coccoa

Directions Combine the cocoa, sugar and water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir.

Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Stir in milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla and cream. Meanwhile, use a cheese or veggie grater with the chocolate bar to make shavings. Top with whipped cream chocolate shavings. Enjoy! www.LehighValleyFamily.com

• Lehigh Valley Family

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Looking to Adopt?

Make your dreams a reality and enjoy the magical world of parenthood! “Having personally traveled through adoption ourselves, we understand the fears and anxieties that most individuals have when confronted with locating an infant to adopt.�

- Joan and Dave Benner, owners

s l e g n A s u o i c e r P n o i t p o Ad

CALL

for a free consultation Precious Angels Adoption PO Box 4238 - Bethlehem PA 18018

610-419-8747

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