Friday, May 31, 2013

Fun for the Thrifty Family!


While there are many things to enjoy about the summer months, as parents summer also brings with it the challenge of finding activities that our children will enjoy. I have a ten-month-old son, and he is active! I have found myself wishing on more than one occasion for ideas of simple activities to do with him. When I think of the ideal activity to do with my son, I want it to be:
  • something he will enjoy,
  • something flexible that we can do at almost any time,
  • something that will help him learn,
  • and something that will not dig too deeply into our limited college-student funds :).

Here are some ideas that will help launch your plans for fun summer activities with your kids! While some are geared towards older kids, most of these ideas can be used with or adapted to younger children as well.

1. Treasure Hunt - Make a list of things that your child can find in your house, yard, neighborhood, etc. and go on a treasure hunt to find them all! Try making a picture list or bingo board so your kids can cross of the things they find (better yet, let them draw the pictures themselves!). Here's an example:                                                         
Photo Credit     

2. Take Advantage of the Outdoors - With the nicer weather that summer brings, plan more outdoor activities to do with your kids! Here are some of my favorite outdoor summer ideas. For more outdoor activity ideas, click here.
    Photo Credit
* Build Your Own Nest - For this, you just need a small box or container of some sort and (depending on how artsy you want to make it) maybe some Easter eggs or small balls. You could also help your child to draw eggs and/or birds and put them in their nest after they finish collecting grass, twigs, and other outdoor materials to help their guests be comfy :). To learn more about this activity, click here.


Photo Credit

* Nature Color Hunt - Use an egg carton, ice cube tray, or other similar container to start this activity. Place small, different-colored pieces of construction paper in the bottom of each section (or color with markers if you're using an egg carton), then go on a walk with your child and see what colors you can find! To learn more about this activity, click here.

outdoor sensory play
Photo Credit

* Mud Soup - Let your kids cook up culinary masterpieces in the backyard! All you need   are some bowls or plates, shovels or spoons, water, and dirt! To learn more about this activity, click here.


3. Theme Days - One thing that my son and I both enjoy is having a theme for each day of the week. I love this approach because it is flexible enough to mold to your daily needs and wants (let's face it, some days you just have more energy than others!) but structured enough so that you don't have to start from scratch every day. For example, Mondays for us are Music Mondays. This could involve listening to a song, dancing together to a funky beat, watching a music video, learning a new child's song together, making our own music on homemade drums, etc. Another variation of this same idea would be to do a letter of the alphabet for each day or week and do, make, eat, learn about, or play with things that start with that letter!
Photo Credit

4. 
Simple Crafts - I have to admit that sometimes when I hear the word "craft" I cringe, especially with a very active 10-month-old and a house I already struggle to keep clean! But crafts don't have to equal mess and stress! Keep it simple with fun ideas like these:

* Easter Egg Maracas - These are simple and good even for younger kids. You need (unpopped) popcorn kernels or some form of small dry pasta, plastic spoons, plastic Easter eggs, tape (any kind would probably work, but masking tape would lend best to coloring), and markers. To learn more about this craft, click here.

* Paper Boats - All you need is a piece of paper and somewhere to float your boat. Your supply list doesn't get any shorter than this! You could also help your child color the top of the boat or place small pebbles, leaves, etc. in the boat as "passengers." This craft would be a great follow-up to a discussion about different types of boats and what they are used for! To learn how to make these, click here.

* Homemade Play Dough - Okay, so this one requires a little more prep and is probably a little more messy than some crafts, but it's a classic and most kids love it, so I had to    include it! For this version you need flour, water, cream of tartar, oil, salt, and food coloring. To learn how to make this, click here.

 If you're craving even more ideas, check out Help Me Grow's community calendars for both Salt Lake and Utah County here or this collection of blogs that has tons of other ideas for fun activities to do with your kids! Enjoy the summer with your kids, not in spite of them!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Freedom Festival Family Event



More info on Baby Contest here.

In conjunction with the Freedom Festival Baby Contest, United Way of Utah County will be hosting a Family Event this Saturday, June 1st!

Date: Saturday, June 1st 
Time: 10:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Utah Valley University Sorensen Student Center, Hall of Flags, 800 West University Pkwy, Orem
Families with children 0-12 are welcome!

(Participation in the Baby Contest is not required.)

Photo Credit

Some of the activities include:



  • Reading Fort
  • Puppet Fort
  • Obstacle Course
  • Parachute Play
  • Weights and Scales
  • Foam Blocks
  • Balls and Baskets
  • ASQ Table



There will also be presentations from various community organizations including: Kids on the Move,  Easter Seals-Goodwill Provo Early Intervention Program, Help Me Grow, Welcome Baby and Mountainland HeadStart.

Come learn how Books, Balls and Blocks stimulate your child's development and how you can turn EveryDay activities into learning opportunities!






Friday, May 24, 2013

Here comes the Sun, now what?



Finally, we are coming up on those hot, dry summer months! Summer is definitely the time of the year when families are playing at the park, cooking out, swimming and boating, and soaking up the sun. The sun has the potential to be harmful and cause sunburns and skin cancer. What better way to start off the summer knowing the best ways to protect your family in the sun?




Here are 8 useful ways for optimal protection against the sun from healthychildren.org:

1) Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, umbrella, or the stroller canopy.

2) When possible, dress yourself and your kids in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body, like lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats.  

3) Select clothes made with a tight weave - they protect better than clothes with a looser weave. If you’re not sure how tight a fabric’s weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better

4) Wear a hat or cap with a brim that faces forward to shield the face.

5 )Limit your sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, when UV rays are strongest.

6) Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection (look for child-sized sunglasses with UV protection for your child).

7) Use sunscreen. When applying sunscreen, you need to make sure to use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas including the face, nose, ears, feet, hands, and even the backs of the knees. Make sure to rub it in well and apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors to give time for the sunscreen to absorb into the skin. To prevent sunburns, make sure you are reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours because sunscreen wears off after swimming, sweating, or just from soaking into the skin. 

8) Set a good example.You can be the best teacher by practicing sun protection yourself. Teach all members of your family how to protect their skin and eyes.







Now that you know the top ways to stay safe in the sun, go have fun!
CityDeals is offering multiple discounted Pass of all Passes and Seven Peak Passes currently, so hurry over to purchase yours! 

PROVO SEVEN PEAKS PARK!



Wednesday, May 22, 2013

We are the champions, my friends! Janae Moss wins $16,000 social media competition!


Our Parent Champion, Janae Moss, was in a recent Utah Business Magazine competition and won $16,000 for Help Me Grow! Here is a short post, written by her. Thank you for all your support and votes!

Help Me Grow Utah



Recently I was nominated, and selected by Utah Business Magazine, for "30 Women to Watch" in the May edition.  It was an honor, and such a surprise.  In conjunction with this award, they held a social media contest where each of the 30 women had the chance to win $1,000 cash, and a $15,000 ad campaign for the charity of their choice, by getting the most votes.  Of course, I chose Help Me Grow for my charity - as we have needed funding and support in the state of Utah for several years now.  

I am happy to say, that after two weeks of campaigning and begging for votes, I won.  Not only did I win, WE won over 800 votes above the next contestant closest to me.  I attribute this to that fact that Help Me Grow, and United Way of Utah county is relationship based.  Everyone that supports me in my businesses, non-profit work, and friends on Facebook, want to see this program expand.  

I am really excited about the cash and ad campaign, but more importantly, about the awareness that this award will generate.  I could not have done it alone, but together with so many amazing people seeing the vision, we have done something great!  

Thanks for voting, and have a great day!

Janae Moss

Friday, May 17, 2013

Camping with your Baby!


Camping With Your Baby


I love to camp. I have fond memories as a child sitting around the campfire with my family cooking hot dogs and s'mores. This last weekend, my husband and I took our 6 month old daughter camping with us for two nights at Goblin Valley State Park. When we were first planning this trip, I have to say I was very hesitant. I was nervous about how was I going to take care of our daughter with ease when we’re camping in the desert. Despite my concerns, the trip went really well. I also learned from my mistakes and learned how I can improve for our next camping trip. Here a some tips and ideas you can use when you’re planning your summer camping trip with your little ones:


Bring your playpen

Whether you’re camping in the woods or the desert, it is not ideal for your baby to play on the ground. A playpen allows your baby to have somewhere to play. It is also a place for them to sleep, especially if it is a playpen with a bassinet feature.


Bring your Bumbo, portable high chair, or jumper seat

Even if your child can already sit up, a Bumbo (or the like) is a great place for them to stay put while you’re setting up camp or starting dinner. It’s also great for meal time!


Don’t forget the sunscreen!
Babies have very sensitive skin. The sun is an excellent source of vitamin D, but it comes with a price. I recommend lathering on the baby sunscreen every couple of hours. Also, make sure to bring hats! Bring beanies for when it is cold at night, and sun hats for the daytime. Also, provide shade as much as possible for your baby, whether it is a canopy or a tree.














Stick to your baby’s diet
If feeding your baby is a concern for going camping, don’t fret! If your baby is breastfed, there isn’t much to worry about. If you’re baby is on formula, it may be a good idea to make bottles ahead of time and put them in your cooler. When it is time to feed your baby, heat up a cup of water in the fire or portable stove and use it to heat up the bottle. If your baby is on solids, bring more food that you know they will eat. Knowing your baby is fed and happy will ease your mind.




















Don’t skimp on the diapers and wipes
The last thing you want is to run out of diapers when you’re 30+ miles from the nearest convenience store. If you think you have enough diapers, pack more. Stash them in your glove compartment or other places in your car that doesn't take up a lot of space. You won’t regret it.

Help your child feel comfortable
Your child doesn’t know why they aren’t at home, and that may be stressful for them. If they have a binky, security blanket, or toy, make sure to bring it. My daughter has a stuffed moose she sleeps with. When it was time for bed, her moose helped calm and comfort her to sleep.

Bring a carrier
If you plan a hike on your trip, you need to bring a carrier! Whether it is a front carrier or a fancy backpack one with a shade, you’ll be happy you brought it.





















Here's a glimpse of Goblin Valley State Park. I highly recommend going there to see it yourself!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Help Me Grow Community Calendar!

Spring is here and school will soon be out for the summer!  Need some ideas of what to do with your little ones all summer long?? Do you have children with disabilities?  Are you looking for a parent support group?

Our community calendar is a great way to find resources throughout the Salt Lake and Utah counties!
Help Me Grow's Community Calendar is located on our website www.helpmegrowutah.org under the Events tab.


The calendar includes various activities such as community wide events, events specific for children with disabilities, educational events, parenting classes, playgroups, and more! 

Some events going on now include
Ready to Learn Workshop
Mommy and Me Playgroup
Welcome Baby Playgroup
Siblings Helping Siblings Support Group for children with Autism and siblings.


Events coming soon:
Freedom Festival Baby Contest, June 1st
Handwriting Classes, beginning June 18th
Summer Social Skills Groups for children with Autism, beginning June 10th.
& more.
Check out the calendar for more details.

Here's a snapshot of what the calendar looks like... 
Click here to access calendar.


What other events have you heard about?

If you would like your program's event to be included, please contact us

Friday, May 3, 2013

Wait! Those Aren't Trash! 7 Ways to Reuse Baby Food Jars!


When a baby begins to eat solids, it is a big step in their life. Recently, my baby has begun to eat solid foods. With this enormous accomplishment came lots of trash. Or, so I thought. I hated to throw out perfectly good glass jars, so I started to keep them. I couldn't help but wonder if there were things I could be doing with these jars. Turns out there are many crafts where baby food jars come in handy. Here are just a few ideas:


1. Baby Food Jar Cupcakes
           Mix up your favorite cupcake recipe and fill up a clean, empty baby jar only HALF WAY. This will allow the cupcake to rise as it is baked. Top with a delicious frosting and even add sprinkles! Tie a cute ribbon on the jars when you're done and serve them at your next party with some plastic spoons.


2. Jar Lids Memory Game
Boost your child's memory! Use letters, shapes, or pictures on the inside of baby jar kids, then turn them over and let your child match them.

3. Spice Containers (Click here to find out how to make your own)
            Get rid of misshapen spice containers and use baby food jars for a creative, uniform look!

                             Photo Credit



4. Jar Advent Calendar
       Christmas is closer than you think! Use those baby food jars to make an advent calender! Put a little prize, candy, or quote into each jar for your child to open each day!

                          Photo Credit



5. Baby Food Jar Kid Lanterns (Click here to find out how to make on your own)
            Great for backyard camp-outs! Buy battery operated tea lights for kids' safety!

                  Photo Credit



6. Decorate and Fill with Party Favors or Candy
          Fill them with M&M's or Hershey's Kisses! Paint the outside or add a ribbon and hand them out at your next party.

7. Decorated Tea Candle Holders (Click here to find out how to make your own)
Spice up your decorations with unique candle holders.
          
                            Photo Credit


The possibilities are endless! Just use a little creativity, and your old baby food jars will turn into anything you choose! Now, if I can just figure out what to do with all of my saved up toilet paper rolls....