Tuesday, December 27, 2011

"Who" Questions

Who? You!

Round #1

Q: Who is that?
A: Duh...it's Grandma!

Round #2

Q: Okay, its grandma. But WHO is grandma?
A: Um...mom's mom?

Round #3
Q: thats true. She's a relative. Who is grandma?

Asking "Who" questions can be really helpful for children to define relationships, roles and identity. It helps to identify how people work in the story. It will often lead to the usage of other follow-up questions, such as What or Why.

While reading a story like Goldilocks and the Three Bears:
  • Who is that little girl?
  • Who are those bears?
  • Who is the Papa bear?
  • Who's house is she in?
In other situations you can ask the who questions and follow up questions:

  • Who did you draw this for?
  • Why did you draw this picture for him?
  • What is your picture about?
  • Why will he like it?
Just remember that asking questions and getting the child to talk and explain and describe and develop answers is the most important part of learning.

Questions, Questions and more Questions!

Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem about the power of asking questions: 

file_151174.jpgI keep six honest serving-men
 (They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When 
 And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
 I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
 I give them all a rest.

let them rest from nine till five,
 For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
 For they are hungry men.
But different folk have different views; 
I know a person small—
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!

She sends'em abroad on her own affairs,
 From the second she opens her eyes—
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!

When he starts to talk about "a person small" he is referring to his curious little daughter. I'm sure you've seen this especially during this winter season! 

Mom, why that puddles so big?
What's an umberrella?
Why don't it snow? 
When does Santa come?

The questions are endless and sometimes very difficult to explain. (Where do babies come from?) Asking questions is essential to learning. Its important for kids to ask questions and for YOU to ask your children questions of what they think and already know instead of just telling them the answer. Asking questions teaches curiosity and resourcefulness which are important life skills. 

I've seen how easy it is for parents to dismiss a teaching opportunity by just telling their child the answer and not allowing them to discover the answer. In the next few weeks I'm going to do a series of posts about asking questions and hopefully as your children grow you'll be able to encourage their learning by asking them what they think, what they feel, what they want and then have the patience and courage to let them try out those thoughts, feelings and choices and help them become independent little people. 

Watch this videos to see how asking questions helps these children to create a building on their own!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Sub for Santa

The United Way of Utah County Sub for Santa program  was able to provide Christmas assistance for children between 18 months and 14 years of age in Utah County again! 

We are excited to announce that we have been able to help about 5,100 children in UTAH COUNTY!  

The BYU Smith Field House holds 5,000 people so try imagine that filled with children receiving Christmas assistance.  


This temporary assistance program was also able teach applicants how to manage their time, money and talents.  We were also able to connect applicants to other programs like VITA, a free tax assistance program, and of course, HELP ME GROW!  

Thursday, December 22, 2011

My Favorite Christmas


When I was seventeen or so, my parents were really struggling financially. My sister was progressively getting sicker, which meant an even higher mountain of medical bills. Because of this, my parents could not afford to do a lot for Christmas that year. So instead of getting the standard load of presents, we each got one special, but still really cheap, present to enjoy. My parents thought for a while about how to make Christmas fun without all of the wrapping paper, and found something that has turned into one of my absolute fondest memories. Instead of keeping all of our presents under the tree, we had a scavenger hunt!



Inside our stockings was our first clue, and each of my five siblings and I took turns going through our scavenger hunt to find our present. My parents put a lot of thought into how they were going to send us around the house. Each clue had something to do with our personality, what we liked, or common practices in our family. My older sister would often go and sort the HUMONGEOUS pile of clean laundry all by herself (one handed, mind you!) so my parents eventually led her to her present which was buried on the folding table. My present was hidden inside the car that I had just bought with the money from my after-school job.



Even though I didn’t get a lot that year, and I don’t think I even wore the outfit I got very much (remember – I was 17 and teenagers can be punks.  I was the definition), I now think that Christmas was the absolute best I have ever had. Our family had a good time razzing each other about figuring out their clues, and my parents put a lot of thought, instead of money, into our presents. That memory became even fonder because it was the last Christmas we had with my sister, she died the following summer. I’m incredibly grateful that my parents worked so hard to make Christmas special for us despite a lack of funds. 

So what are some of your favorite Christmas or holiday memories?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Stepfamily Relationships!

Kids On The Move are sponsoring a FREE educational program centered around stepfamily relationships! There will be concurrent classes for adults and youth 6-18 years old. There will also be free child care for children 5 and under with dinner included. 
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The next six week session starts January 26th and will be held each Thursday from 6:00-8:30 pm at Kids On The Move, 475 W. 260 N. Orem.

*For more information please contact MaryAnne at 801.224.9930 or mfinch@kotm.org

Monday, December 12, 2011

Toddler Time

101 Things to Do With Your Toddler

Counting on Me is an adorable blog with plenty of ideas to keep toddlers busy and learning. Looking for some new ideas? Check out the 101 Things to Do With Your Toddler post! It is a great list of simple, fun ideas. Some are more common than others, but is always helpful to see a list of ideas to keep things fresh.

For example, I love the idea to "plant a flower or vegetable plant together." Kids get to learn how things grow and can also learn responsibility. Grass is always a good choice to use as an example. It grows pretty easily and fast so they can see the results quickly.

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For a more unique example, "make a temporary slide out of a table leaf and your couch." How fun is that? Obviously there needs to be adult supervision. But it could be a super fun way to encourage the imagination!

I am a big fan of finger painting. That is my go-to activity with toddlers, so it is great to see all of these new ideas! What are your go-to toddler activities?

Friday, December 9, 2011

Strengthening Families Program (SFP)

What is your Christmas Wish?  
Go on Make a Wish!

produced a Home-Use DVD version of the internationally acclaimed 
that can maybe help your Christmas wish come true!


 It is a 10-part series that teaches parenting and youth skills and has been proven
to work by theFederal Government, World Health Organization and
United Nations.

Try it! What do you have to lose? 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Adapting to a New Sibling!

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Many children have a hard time adjusting to a new sibling. It is important to help prepare your children for a new child. Usually children will have a more smooth transition if they have been included in the preparations for the little one. Your child needs to have the chance to explore their feelings and anxieties.

The University of Michigan HealthSystem shared some great ideas on how to do this. Here are some of their tips and advice: 

* Tell your child about your pregnancy when you tell your friends. Your child needs to hear about if from you, not from someone else. 

* If you plan to move your child to a new bed and/or bedroom, do so well before the baby arrives, so your older child doesn't feel displaced by the baby. This also goes for any other major changes, like weaning, toilet training, and starting preschool or child care. 

* Check your hospital about sibling preparation classes and hospital tours.

*Give them a realistic idea of what to expect when the baby first arrives. You will be tired, and the baby will take lots of your time. The baby will not be able to do much at first, except eat, sleep, poop, pee and cry. The baby will not be a playmate. 

*Read books about pregnancy, birth, newborns, and baby siblings with your child. Give them a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and vent feelings inspired by the books. 

* Have your child practice holding a doll and supporting the head. Teach them how to touch and hold a baby very gently. 

* Let them participate in preparations in any way possible. Give them choices, such as choosing the baby's come home outfit from two acceptable options. 

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Aggression Prevention


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Being aggressive may be a good thing in sports, but aggressive behavior is not something we want to encourage in our children. This behavior includes hitting, biting, and screaming are some examples of aggressive behavior we want to control. But how do we do this?! Kids can get a little crazy, right?
The American Academy of Pedriatics posted some great information on preventing and controling aggressive behavior in your children. It says, "the best way to prevent aggressive behavior is to give your child a stabel, secure home life with firm, loving discipline and full-time supervision during the toddler and preschool years." This can be hard to do! We aren't perfect and we will probably never have that perfect situation to be able to raise our children perfectly, but there are little steps we can take to help ourselves and our children be successful!
1. Set Rules
First of all, rules and consequences should be agreed on by everyone who cares for the children. Also, when the rules are broken, the consequence should come immediately so the child knows exactly what they did wrong and why they are being punished. This will help teach them what is wrong and what is right. 
Discipline should continue on an ongoing basis both when the child behaves and misbehaves. Smiles and praise when your child is being good will encourage them to continue their positive and appropriate behaviors. It is very effective to reinforce positive behaviors! Also remember that children do not have much self-control. Children need to be taught how to react in different situations, which leads us to the next step!
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2. Teach your Child How to Express Emotions
Teach your child to say “no” in a firm tone of voice, to turn his back, or to find compromises instead of fighting and acting out with his body. Praise him on his appropriate behavior and help explain to him how “grown-up” he is acting whenever he doesn't choose hitting, kicking, or biting as his answer. And always reinforce and praise his behavior when he is demonstrating kindness and gentleness.
Teach your child that setting problems with words will get better results than violence would. Your own behavior and example is also very important and part of the next step!
3. Watch your Own Behavior
One of the best ways to teach your children appropriate behavior is to control your own temper. If you express your anger in quiet, peaceful ways, he probably will follow your example. This doesn’t mean you can’t discipline your child! Discipline is necessary because children need to learn when they are wrong so they can learn to take responsibility for their actions and accept the consequences.

There you have it! Three steps to help prevent aggressive behavior in your children! Do you think these will help? What steps do you take to help control your children when they get angry?

For the whole article, click here.

Friday, December 2, 2011

What is WIC?

Women, Infants and Children, WIC, is a nutrition program for low-income women who are pregnant, recently had a baby, or breastfeeding, and for children up to age five. WIC helps children when they are growing the most and can help families develop life-long health habits.  WIC can help women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, children under the age of five, have suffered from postpartum for six months, nutritionally or medically at risk, Utah county resident, and of low income.  General Information about Breastfeeding and health for the whole family can be found on www.breastfeeding.com, www.utahcountywic.org or call the Pregnancy Risk Line 1-800-822-2229. 
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Call for an appointment: (801) 851-7310
Office hours: M/T/Th/F: 8am - 5pm and W: 10am - 7pm
Address: 151 S University Ave.
              ProvoUT 84601