Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tuesday Toddler Tip: Dance


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Toddlers feel music in a whole different way than we do as adults.  Through dance they learn to use their body and test their own abilities.  They can also express emotion and let out energy.    

Try out different styles and rhythms of music to help your child create the feelings that go along with them.  For example, slow swaying music is calmer and sadder, while loud upbeat music is happier and more animated.

Dancing is not only good for exposing your children to different music but it is great exercise!  Get them to bounce, jump, skip, twirl, etc. It is also great bonding time to spend as a parent and child just having fun! So put on some tunes and dance your little hearts out.


Friday, July 27, 2012

Look Mom, I'm Walking!



Walking and talking are the two most exciting milestones that parents look forward to because this is when their baby is developing more human-like behavior. 
Most babies start walking around 12 months, but some 7 month old babies have been known to skip crawling and go straight to walking!

Have you ever thought about the many muscles, nerves, and skill that go into walking? It's amazing! Before a baby can walk he needs to first develop enough strength to pull himself up, and then he needs to develop balance to stay standing. Once he has mastered those two steps, he needs to learn how to coordinate movement in both legs to start taking steps.

10 Months
At this age you should be able to hold onto your baby's hands to help him gain muscle strength, this also helps him learn how to put his weight on his feet.

You should also see your baby grabbing onto her crib rails or other furniture as she learns how to balance. She is also building strength in her little muscles, preparing to take her first step!

You can help her master the skill of muscle and balance by offering toys to him and encourage him to hold on to furniture with one hand and reach for the toy with the other. This gives him confidence and balance, which he'll need a lot of for the next big 'step.'


12 Months
By now, your baby should be able to hold onto furniture and walk alongside. She should also be able to hold on with one hand and reach down to pick up toys that may be in her way. 

She should also be able to step forward while you hold onto her hands. She may even be able to walk easily with a little help from you. 

When you baby is holding onto furniture, try standing a couple feet away and encouraging them to walk towards you. You can also give them boxes to push around. This helps give them support while they walk without relying solely on you. Babies also love to push around chairs, toy shopping carts, and pretty much anything that will move. 


14 Months
By this age you can expect your baby to stand up all by himself and he may even be walking all by himself! You can expect to see him become more adventurous by trying to climb onto furniture or intentionally walk over a variety of surfaces.
You can have some fun by taking him to the park and letting him feel the grass, cement, and other fun surfaces. Continue to encourage him to walk if he hasn't quite developed the courage yet, and give him lots of opportunities to stand, push, walk and explore!


Remember, walking can start anywhere between 7 months and 14 months. Each baby is unique and will start when he/she is ready. Remember to baby proof your house before  they become mobile, and to provide support and opportunities for practicing their emerging skill.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Veggie Heros




When I see a kiddo chomping happily on a carrot or another veggie, I automatically think, whoa. 
Your mother is a hero. 
Getting kids to choose a carrot over a candy bar is impressive. Actually, more like miraculous. Kids are all so very different and some just like veggies more than others. If your little one is not a huge fan of veggies, don't give up!

Here are some tips to make your kids and yourself a veggie hero:

1. Keep them around.
Veggies get quite the bad rap. Whether they pick it up on TV shows or from an older sibling, most kids seem ingrained with the thought that veggies are gross--and that makes it tough. Keep vegetables around and show your kids you snack on them too! 

One tip is to cut up the veggies right when you buy them. This makes them easily accessible. Kids complaining they're hungry? Pre-cut veggies means you can open up the fridge and grab something easily. You could also have out the veggies for the kids to munch on while you finish up dinner, or while they're telling you about their day. Make veggies a daily part of every day--not just the occasional dinner guest.

2. Dip it!
Kids are very hands on. Dipping veggies is a fun way to eat vegetables. Cut the veggies small enough so they're not overwhelming and get some dips out. Give your children choices for dips as well. Kids love choices. Try ranch, barbecue, soy sauce, honey, humus, sour cream, plain yogurt--anything your kids love! What are some other things you dip in?
familyfun.go.com
3. Sneak it in!
You should always keep veggies around for snacking--but to get in a little extra nutrition, don't be afraid to sneak it in!

Chop things really small and throw it into eggs, soups, casseroles, pizza, pasta, etc. Spinach is a good veggie you can chop really small and doesn't have an overwhelming veggie taste.

The Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious are two cookbooks that have some great ideas.

I just ran to our local library and checked them out and wow! Lots of healthy options without having to do the veggie fight. Both books give the idea of making veggie purees--and then adding those into almost any recipe!  
And we're talking chicken nuggets, spaghetti, and tuna sandwiches--very kid-friendly foods.

From what I gathered from these, carrot, butternut squash, and red pepper purees go well into any red sauce--spaghetti, lasagna, sloppy joes, and chilli. Cauliflower puree works well in a white sauce--things like mac and cheese, eggs, mashed potatoes, tuna salad.
They even have things with purees from sweet potatoes, avocados, beets, brocoli, peas, zucchini, and white beans. Seriously, check them out at the library or check out their sites here and here.




4. Give them choices.
Kids love to make their own choices. Have lots of different options--and lots of color. One idea is to cut up lots of veggies and put them in a ice tray or muffin tin and let the kids go at it. Don't get on the kids for not eating the entire tray--be really positive about the ones they did choose and the ones they ate!


houzz.com

cdn.indulgy.com
5. It's all about presentation.
In one of my public health classes, we talked about how toddlers picked a rock covered in stickers for breakfast over a banana in a little study done by NBC News. Not kidding. Watch that funny clip here.
Solution? Make them look more exciting! Here are some ideas:

Put veggies in a cute bucket with their favorite stickers!


6. Get them involved.
Kids love to be involved. Let them help you prepare vegetables. And give them a say in what you prepare for the night. Ownership can do greats things. 



And Moms, don't get discouraged--you are doing great! Getting your kids to enjoy veggies or even to eat them can be quite the feat. Remember to be consistent. Have vegetables often in your meals--sneak it in, on the side, in a drink, etc. The more your kids are around veggies and seeing you eat them, the more likely they are to gobble them up.

What are some ways you've been successful in getting your kids to eat vegetables?

You got it moms! Go fight win! 

Friday, July 20, 2012

On the road with the kiddos!

My husband and I have been busy planning our real honeymoon in a few weeks (Alaskan Cruise…woo!). We don’t have kids yet, but you know when you’re on an air plane and you hear that frantic mom or family with the really fussy baby? I think we all do.


When I was traveling with my brother and his 8 month old son this was particularly hard for them. One time our flights had been first cancelled, rescheduled for 8 hours later (!) and then delayed on a trip from Florida to Kansas (yes Kansas, I’m from there!). Inevitably because of our long, long, LONG time in the terminals, we ran out of diapers and really exacerbated the horror of travel for an 8 month old!

Someone needs to seriously jump on that selling baby items in airport terminals thing, you could make a killing!

Anyways, here are a few tips for traveling with your child (I got a lot of these from Alice at the Science of Mom blog, but I came up with a few from my travel experiences with my nephew and consulted with the mothers that work on our Help Me Grow team).
  1. Pack way more diapers and snacks than you think you’ll need. Layovers, delays….oh dear it can get bad. Traveling can also just be hard on a kids body, and you never know if that could mean a case of the runs.
  2. Try to avoid giving your kid a natural diuretic during a flight (like apple juice). We made the mistake of giving that to my nephew…it. was. HORRIBLE!
  3. Pack a few toys your kid has never played with before, or may have not seen for a long time. The novelty could entertain them for a while.
  4. Also, let your child take their favorite toy if they want. This will help comfort them when their world is changing so much around them (remember, travel is really new and hard for kids!).  
  5. Go with the flow of what your child wants to do, especially during a layover. If you and a travel partner are standing on either end of an isle while your kid runs back and forth, hey, they’re happy! That, and maybe you’ll wear them out enough that they’ll sleep during the flight!
  6. Longer layovers are your friend. Moving around on a flight is kind of hard, but you’ll have time to let your kid eat, have a diaper change, play, etc. when you have an hour rather than 20 minutes.
  7. Having said #6, avoid multiple stops unless you’re going really far. Then you’ll only have to do the altitude change once, and it gets over with quickly!
  8. Use one of those baby carriers that straps your baby to you instead of trying to manage a bulky stroller.
  9. I thought this was a genius idea: Get a small travel crib (Science of Mom suggests KidCo's PeaPod). Hotel cribs are sometimes sketchy. I want one of these for when we go camping (when we have kids, that is)!
  10. With a kid, I think it's worth it to pay a little more for the seats with the extra leg room. We were passing my nephew from one to the other and knocked his head really hard because of the lack of space.
  11. Travel at the best time for your kids! If they sleep in later, then take a flight in the afternoon rather than the morning. The day will be easier for you and your child if you work around their typical schedule.
  12. If you’re traveling in a car make the time to allow yourself frequent stops. Your kid/s will make it through easier if you let them get their wiggles out!
  13. Last, if your child is screaming their head off on a plane, don’t let the other people around you make you feel bad. Often you try your best to do everything right, and it just won’t work. Listen to their needs, but know that sometimes it’s just hard for them and they need to cry.

I hope these tips help you on your next trip, and good luck!

What has worked for you when you travel with your kids?



Thursday, July 19, 2012

Children's Book Spotlight: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie


I recently found a wonderful online resource: Children's Books Guide.

They have most children's books organized by theme, plus a review for each book! If you are looking for a book about food, alphabets, or just some of the classics, you can find them all at their website.

The book I will spotlight today is...


This story is about a boy who gives a mouse a cookie, and then some milk, and then maybe a straw... The list of demands go on and on! Kids will love guessing what the mouse will ask for next and wondering how far the boy will go to please the little .
After reading the book, make some chocolate chip cookies and just be glad that you don't have to share them with a mouse!



Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Tuesday Toddler Tip: Movement

Does it seem like your toddler is constantly on the move? As adults we naturally want them to learn self-control, and to sit still and be quiet (usually for a little peace of mind). But did you know that if you give them opportunities to run around, jump, and touch lots of different types of things that they will naturally start to slow down because their brains are trying to process all the different sensations and information that is coming in (it is exhausting work, figuring out the world). Try to give them a couple 30-minute blocks full of sensory experiences, as well as large and small motor activities, throughout the day and you will find that not only are they learning a lot, but they seem to have larger periods of time where they are able to be a little less wild (you will have to establish and re-establish your expectations because their long-term memories aren't anywhere near developed yet, but they'll be more capable of self-control), all because they had the opportunity to do what toddlers do best: EXPLORE!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Home Safe Home


So, we missed Safe Kids Week in April, and Poison Awareness Week in March, so here's for a late celebration! Or rather, an terrifically exciting informational blog post :).


When we think child safety, a couple words may pop into our minds:
Seat belts. Helmets. Sunscreen. Strangers.


See the common theme? Outside the home. Most of the things parents are most cautious about are threats outside the home. But what about the dangers that may exist in the home? Here are some tips for keeping your home sweet home a safe one!


Center for Disease Control and Prevention


The leading cause of child poisonings is medications. Every day, about 65 young children go to the emergency room after getting into medications when a parent or caregiver wasn't looking. 


The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has started a pretty awesome campaign called Up and Away and Out of Sight. They give 6 suggestions to keep medications safely away from your child.

1. Pick a place your children cannot reach.
Find a place in your house that is too high for your children to reach or see. Take into account that children can be pretty creative with climbing chairs, and counters.






















2. Put medicines away every time.
Even if you'll need to give it to them again in a couple hours, put it away. Never leave it on the counter or on a bedside table.


3. Make sure the safety cap is locked.
Hear the click!


4. Teach your children about medicine safety.
Explain why you have to be the one to give them medication. Never tell your child that medicine is like candy to get them to take it.


5. Tell your guests about medicine safety.
Children always seem to find and get into purses and coat pockets. Ask guests to put purses, bags, and coats up and away when they're in your home.


6. Be prepared in case of an emergency.
Despite your efforts, things can happen. Have the number for poison control handy. Program it into your phone today! 800-222-1222

You can even join the pledge here. I just pledged to follow those 6 tips in my own home :)


And here's a short video from SafeKids USA.




Cleaning Supplies can also be a threat in the home.

Up and away is also a good protocol for keeping those cleaning supplies off those little fingers and out of those little mouths. If you decide to keep your cleaning supplies down low, say under the kitchen sink, locks can do magic.


Use cabinet locks to safely keep children out of cleaning supplies.

Keep in mind that cleaning supplies can leave residue in the home and be dangerous even if your child doesn't get into the bottle. Pregnant women and young children are especially vulnerable to these chemicals.

So--why not try green cleaning?


There are some household items that have no chemical risk and are already in your cupboards. Here are some safer cleaners to use in your household:
Vinegar
Works as multi-purpose cleaner when you mix it with warm water. Use it to clean surfaces, the floor, and with newspaper to clean windows. Vinegar cuts grease and mildew.
Baking Soda
Mix a little warm water with baking soda and scrub it into cracks and build up.
Baking soda is also a natural deodorizer so sprinkle it on the carpet, let it sit, and vacuum it up!
Olive Oil
Can be used to polish wooden or metal surfaces.
Lemons/Lemon Juice
Lemons are great degreasers and deodorizers. Stick a half of a lemon in the fridge when trying to get rid of a stinky smell. 
Flour and Vinegar
I tried this one out and it works like magic! Mix flour and vinegar together in a 1:1 ratio until it is like a paste. Then rub it onto stains in the tub, sink, or bathroom sink. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rub it off. It takes off stains better than any heavy duty cleaner and has no dangerous fumes or chemicals.

What are some other safe cleaners you use?

So give it a try! Lock up those cleaning supplies or try using some less hazardous cleaners. To get rid of old cleaning products, contact your local county health department for their Household Hazard Waste Day. (Utah County's is in April!)



More RESOURCES about making a safe home:
Good luck making your home sweet home a safe one!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Homemade Popsicles


Oh summer. How lovely you are.

One thing that I love about summer is popsicles. When I was little my mom found a popsicle mold at the store and brought it home for us to try. That was one of the best summers ever!

Homemade popsicles are actually a great idea; they are usually cheaper and healthier than store bought versions. Making popsicles is a great way to teach a little science and have fun while doing it. Here are some simple, yet delicious popsicle recipes.

fruit popsicles

Fruit Salad Pops
1 peach, cut into 1/2-inch slices (1/2 cup)
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
3/4 cup strawberries, finely chopped
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup raspberries
1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit punch or 100 percent white-grape juice


1. Combine fruit in a mixing bowl and arrange the mixture into eight 3-ounce popsicle molds.
2. Pour enough juice into each mold to just cover fruit.
3. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze until solid (about six hours).

Chocolate Pudding Pops
Pudding Pops

1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1/3 cup sugar
3 cups milk

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine pudding, sugar, and milk. Pour mixture into popsicle molds and freeze. When set, place a wooden craft sticks into them if you are using plastic cups. Serve when frozen.
Rainbow Fruit Juice Pops

Layered Fruit Juice Pops

1 pack of strawberry jello – regular
1 cups of apple juice
1 cup of orange juice
1 - 1.5 cups of strawberry puree*

Stir all liquids together in a blender with the jello and pour into popsicle trays or cups. Put into freezer, add popsicle sticks, & freeze until ready to enjoy!

Variations:
You can add real fresh fruit bits before freezing.
You can try a variety of fruit combos.
Try freezing 1 layer at a time with differnt fruit flavors to get a rainbow popsicle


*To make strawberry puree:
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries + 1/4 cup of honey.

Heathier popsicle recipes:





Strawberry Coconut Popsicle Recipe


1 cup strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1 can light coconut milk
1 cups water
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup honey

Add strawberries, blueberries, coconut milk, water, apple juice and honey in a blender. Carefully pour mixture into your pop molds, filling 2/3 of the way.
Place in the freezer for 30 minutes (set your timer), insert your wooden sticks, and continue to freeze until the popsicles are completely frozen, about 6 hours.



Avocado Ice Pops


1 cup water
½ cup sugar
2 small ripe avocados
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar has dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.

Cut the avocados in half lengthwise. Remove the pit and scoop the flesh into a bowl, along with the cooled syrup and salt. Mash and stir until smooth. (You can also do this in a blender, but we just stirred by hand.) Add the lime juice and stir just until combined.

Divide the mixture among your popsicle molds, snap on the lid and freeze until solid, about 5 hours.


Greek Yogurt Pops with Berries

1 lemon (you just need the peel)
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
1½ cups plain unsweetened Greek-style yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
2 cups fresh blackberries, or the berry of your choice

Rinse the lemon, then peel it. Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar has dissolved. Add the lemon peel, lower the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve, then refrigerate until chilled.

Put the yogurt and honey in a bowl, add the chilled syrup and stir well. (You can also do this in a blender, but we just stirred by hand.) Pour a bit of the yogurt mixture into each of the popsicle molds, to a height of about ¾ inch.  Freeze until the mixture begins to set, about 40 minutes.

Next divide the blackberries among the popsicle molds, then pour in the remaining yogurt mixture, dividing it evenly among the molds. Snap on the lid of the molds and freeze until solid, 3 to 4 hours.


If you don't have popsicle molds, try these:

IMG_2719
Plastic Easter eggs with sucker stick

http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/popsicles-12.jpg
Dixie cups with wooden popsicle sticks
Here are some tips to making great popsicles:

  • The secret recipe to a crunchy, flakey popsicle is the jello. Freezing juice by itself will create a ice-hard popsicle that will be hard to eat. If the popsicle turns out too hard, try less water when making the jello.
  • To insert the popsicle stick so that it doesn’t fall over, insert when popiscles are half way frozen so that the top layer (which will freeze first) can hold the sticks in place

Sources:
Best of Kids Sites 
A Cup of Jo
Lil Sugar
All Recipes

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Tuesday Toddler Tip: Tantrums

Tantrums. Ugh.

Every toddler has had at least a couple big tantrums in their life--and most probably a lot more! Parents should not worry when they see their child throwing a fit, it simply means that their little brain is growing and maturing! Infants function at a lower brain level (the brain stem), but toddlerhood marks the time that a child's brain moves to the area that controls emotions. You will notice their roller coaster of emotions as they learn how to use--and control--this part of the brain.

The best way you can help your child gain self-control is to remain calm and patient yourself; do not overreact to their tantrums. You should also let your toddler know that you understand what they are saying and how they are feeling: "You are mad because you want to go outside, but we are going to play inside until it stops raining." Also, show them alternative ways to let out steam, and remember that harsh punishment is not the answer to a developing toddler.


Monday, July 9, 2012

Traveling With The Kiddos


It’s summer (as if you don’t already know) and that means 3 things:

1.  No school
2.  Popsicles
3.  VACATIONS!

Most of us go on some kind of trip during the summer months so I figured a few words of wisdom on how to best travel with kids could be helpful.

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Airline Travel:

•Have the kids carry their own bag.  Have each child carry their own back pack with goodies, activities, and markers for the plane.  That way it is easily accessible to them and they can fill it with whatever they decide they might want to do on the plane ride.
•Ditch the diaper bag.  Use a back pack instead of a diaper bag.  It’s much easier to carry around and you don’t have to worry about it sliding down your arm or knocking into people as you walk through the aisle.
•Don’t let people get to you.  If things are piling up behind you in line because you have 4 children to get through security so what?  It will be when  you feel rushed that things get misplaced and tempers will get high.
•Bring a fold up umbrella stroller for toddlers. Kids will get tired from all the walking around the airport and if they don’t end up using it then put use it to tote around your carry-on bag.
•I know most airlines let people with children board first but DON’T DO IT!  Unless you don’t have assigned seating (in which case get on first) then wait as long as possible to get on the plane.  It takes at least 20-30 mins to board everyone on a plane and that is just that much longer your kids will be stuck in an uncomfortable confined area.
•Planes can be freezing sometimes so make sure to bring a sweatshirt for each child and don’t wear sandals.
•Bring a sippy cup or pacifier for takeoff and landing.  The sucking action will help save their ears from hurting with the pressure change.
•Bring your own snacks and an empty sippy cup that the airline can fill up for you. You know they will get hungry and the tiny peanut bag will probably not cut it.
•Make sure to have your toiletries, a first aid kit, and an extra set of clothes for each child in your carry-on.  If you don’t you will regret it when your 5 year old spills chocolate milk on his pants and has to sit in it the whole plane ride.
•Be sure to explain your safety procedure of what the kids are supposed to do in case you get split up.

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Road Trip:

•Make a trip to the library beforehand and have each kid pick out a couple of books especially for the trip.
•Have premade and prepared snacks ready to go.  Put them in individual zip lock bags so you can just grab one for each kid and they won’t fight over sharing one bag.
•Wipes, wipes and more wipes! You can never have too many for car travel.  They are great for cleaning sticky hands and wiping up spilled orange juice.
•If taking handhelds (DS, ipad, ipod, cd player, etc) then make sure they are fully charged and have head phones for each child so they aren’t bothering their neighboring siblings.
•Frequent stops.  Little legs need to move! Take advantage of rest stops and parks that you find along the way to let them run around and get out some energy.
•For arguments have one parent (not the driver) deal with involved kids.  If you can’t do this then pull over and deal with the situation.  Don’t lose your cool.
•Use the car windows as a drawing board.   Give the kids a dry erase marker and letting them draw pictures or play tic-tac-toe.  It’s easy to clean up with a baby wipe.
•Prepare small surprises for along the way.  Let them know that they get a small surprise if they behave until the next stop.
•Car games (liscense game, I spy, twenty questions, etc).  Brush up on some car games and have fun bonding as a family.  Isn’t that what a family trip is supposed to be about?

Photo

Sources:
All Ears
Moms Mini Van
Four Seasons

Monday, July 2, 2012

Fourth of July: Activities and History Lessons for Kids

The Fourth of July has to be one of my favorite holidays; I love the the mid-morning parades, the afternoon barbecues, and the late night fireworks.
When I was a young child I knew that the holiday had something to do with America (because of all the flags and such), but I wasn't sure exactly why.
I believe it is very important for kids to know why we celebrate the holiday and the significance behind our country's history, otherwise it is just another holiday! 
To help your children understand the significance of this holiday, try holding activities and short lessons every night for a few days leading up to the Fourth. By giving short lessons about the events that happened on July 4th, there will be more anticipation and excitement when the day comes.
The following lesson ideas can be adapted to fit different age groups and, consequently, attention spans.

How did the United States become an independent country?
Imagine how you would feel if someone older than you (maybe an older sister or brother) kept telling you what to do all of the time and kept taking more and more of your allowance. That is how the colonists felt in the years leading up to 1776. Great Britain kept trying to make the colonists follow more rules and pay higher taxes. People started getting mad and began making plans to be able to make their own rules. They no longer wanted Great Britain to be able to tell them what to do, so they decided to tell Great Britain that they were becoming an independent country. (To be independent means to take care of yourself, making your own rules and providing for your own needs.)
The Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and they appointed a committee (a group of people working together to do a specific job) to write a formal document that would tell Great Britain that the Americans had decided to govern themselves. The committee asked Thomas Jefferson to write a draft (first try) of the document, so he worked for days, in absolute secret, until he had written a document that he thought said everything important that the committee had discussed. On June 28, 1776, the committee met to read Jefferson's "fair" copy (he put his best ideas together and wrote them neatly.) They revised (made some changes) the document and declared their independence on July 2, 1776. They officially adopted it (made it theirs) on July 4, 1776. That is why we call it "Independence Day." Congress ordered that all members must sign the Declaration of Independence and they all began signing the "official" copy on August 2, 1776. In January of the next year, Congress sent signed copies to all of the states.
The Declaration of Independence is more than just a piece of paper. It is a symbol of our country's independence and commitment to certain ideas. A symbol is something that stands for something else. Most people can look at a certain little "swoosh" and know that it stands for "Nike." Well, the signers of the Declaration of Independence wanted the citizens of the United States to have a document that spelled out what was important to our leaders and citizens. They wanted us to be able to look at the Declaration of Independence and immediately think of the goals we should always be working for, and about the people who have fought so hard to make these ideas possible. The people who signed the Declaration risked being hanged for treason by the leaders in Great Britain. They had to be very brave to sign something that would be considered a crime! So every time we look at the Declaration of Independence, we should think about all of the effort and ideas that went into the document, and about the courage it took for these people to stand up for what they knew was right -- independence!
Activity Idea: Make your own "Freedom Rap"!
What is the Fourth of July ( AKA Independence Day)?
Independence Day is the birthday of the United States of America and is celebrated on the Fourth of July each year. Independence Day is the anniversary of the day on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
Activity Idea: Make birthday cards to America and explain what you most love about living here. 

Why did we make the day of independence a holiday, and why do we have fireworks, parades, etc.?
John Adams, one of the founders of our new nation, said, "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore."
By the time of the American Revolution, fireworks had long played a part in celebrating important events. It was natural, then, that not only John Adams but also many of his countrymen should think of fireworks when independence was declared. The very first celebration of Independence Day was in 1777, six years before Americans knew whether the new nation would even survive the war, and fireworks were a part of the revels.
Activity Idea: Try buying some small fireworks (if legal in your state) or go watch the city fireworks on the Fourth!

Why is the American flag red, white, and blue? And why is it made up of stars and stripes?
In May of 1776, Betsy Ross reported that she sewed the first American flag. 

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." 

Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts that changed the shape, design and arrangement of the flag and allowed for additional stars and stripes to be added to reflect the admission of each new state.

Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.

Do you have any family traditions for the Fourth of July? What do you love about living in the United States?

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