Fourth of July Crafts and Treats

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, we wanted to share some fun craft and yummy treat ideas. 

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For more fun Fourth of July ideas check out our board on Pinterest!

Good Touch vs Bad Touch: The Communication Skill That Is Sometimes Overlooked

This is a subject that although makes me nervous to think about especially happening to my own child, It makes me even more nervous no to teach my children how to keep their bodies safe. 

How do you do it? 

Its way awkward when you think of having "the talk" with young teens. But a child under the age of 5? How do you even start, so that it doesn't go over their head but also your not terrifying them of the world you want them to explore. 

An article published on KSL titled "A child-friendly way for parents to teach good vs bad touching" talked about a way to approach a child under the age of 5. 

Books are a great way for children to learn, espcially about emiltions. Combine that with coloring and it gives the child an opportunity to learn at their level and also one that gives the parent a way to approach a child in a non-terrifying way. 

Ana Perez a clincal social worker from the Family Support and Treament Center in Taylorsville suggests  parents with younger children (5 and under), utilize a coloring book called "Good Touch Bad Touch,” which is available on the Channing Bete Company's website.

The coloring book walks you and your child through the steps of what to do, what to say and who to tell if they are put in an uncomfortable situation. “It’s important for kids to know police officers are their friends.” 

Perez said. It’s never too early to start the conversation.

“It can be a very intimidating conversation for some, but it is important that their children are and that they start building their communication with their children at a young age.”

Its a precious gift when we gain the trust of the tiniest persons in this world and it is our job as adults to not only be aware of our surroundings but help teach our children this communication skill. 

How do I find a Good Touch/Bad Touch program?
The Family Support and Treatment Center in Cache County offers the Good-Touch/Bad-Touch nationally acclaimed body safety program. 

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What are ways that you as a parent/caregiver helped a young child start the conversation ? 

Container Gardens

Growing an edible garden can be a great activity for kids this summer! A home garden lets your family eat local, know where your food is coming from, eat healthy, and save money. Plus, kids are more likely to eat vegetables if they come from their own garden! Not all families have the space, time, or soil quality to create a large garden in the backyard. Container gardening is a great alternative that allows kids to have their own small space to care for.

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Containers

Barrels, buckets, hanging baskets, clay pots...choose a fun container! Decide on a container that will match the amount of depth and soil needed for the plants you'll be growing. Avoid containers that could have previously held harmful chemicals. Find containers that have holes for drainage or make a few holes near the bottom to allow water to run out. You can put a saucer under the container to catch water, just empty it regularly.

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Planting seeds

Let your child choose what to grow and what they will eat! Sugar snap peas, sweet cherry tomatoes, potatoes, and carrots are usually easy to grow, but you can try any vegetable your child wants to grow. Look at seed packets to learn the best times to plant different crops.

Caring for the garden

Start with a mixed blend of potting soil. Add nutrients to your container garden with commercial fertilizer or compost materials. Teach kids to keep the soil evenly moist by watering frequently. Let them pinch off dry leaves to make room for healthy buds. Kids love to track the progress of their growing plants by measuring plant height and counting new leaves.

Enjoy harvesting and eating your edible garden!

For more ideas about involving kids in gardening, try these resources:

Start a Container Garden with your Family
Easy Foods Kids Can Grow in the Garden
Growing Edibles in Containers
Gardening with Kids
Create an Edible Container Garden with Kids

Thank You Dads

Let's be honest, being a father is no part-time job, it requires love, attention, and work 24-hours a day 7-days a week. Dads don't get enough credit for all that they do (I don't think any parent does). Our team recently came across a great site called The Daily Dad  that recognizes dads for all the good work they do. They have dadvice, a blog dedicated to dads, and a page featuring dads for a job well done. I would like to join them in recognizing all the good that dads do.

I may be biased, but I have one of the greatest dads out there.  For twenty-one years he's been my daddy. He's coached my soccer teams, read me stories, and cleaned up when I've been sick no matter the time of day. He has taught me everything, from how to ride a bike to how to write a resume. He has loved and served unconditionally, and for that I am grateful. He has been so patient (and still is) even through the dramatic outbursts of his four daughters. Whether it was bringing me a drink the middle of the night or driving down to my freshman apartment to bring me pint of Ben & Jerry's during a rough week, he's always been there for me.

Being a dad is tough, and I know I haven't made it easier, but I'm so grateful that he continued to give it his best because it has meant the world to me. Thank you dad for all that you've done!

And thank you to all of the father's out their who do their best to give their families the security and love they need! Keep doing what you are doing and know that you have one of the greatest responsibilities in the world, being a daddy.

Happy Father’s Day!

The Difference a Good Dad Makes

What does it mean to be a father? What distinctive contributions does a father make to their children's lives that are different from a mother's contributions? The idea of "fathering" is quite different from "mothering" and includes important elements such as:

-Roughhousing and other physical activity,
-An interest in having children encounter the world outside of the mother's enclosure, not in spite of it but in addition to it,
-The use of play as a form of teaching as well as entertainment,
-A willingness to allow frustration to build a little bit more than a lot of mothers are comfortable with, in order to teach some life lessons (Kyle Pruett on Fatherhood).

Dad's style of rough-and-tumble play and encouraging risk often can make moms nervous, but research shows that exposure to this paternal parenting style helps children learn how to: be independent, face challenges, and avoid reacting with physical violence (Distinct, Positive Impact).

As I look at my friends and siblings becoming fathers, I am excited for the things they will be able to teach their children. As I reflect back on the things I've learned from my own father, a few important lessons stand out:

• You're not always going to get what you want in life, but if you keep persevering you will find joy and enjoyment in the results of your hard work. 
• You can do hard things. Don't be afraid of taking the more difficult path, because it has greater rewards!
• Always remember the things that are most important. Be firm in what anchors you, especially when the storms of life come.  
• Never stop learning. Always keep a habit of reading and studying to gain knowledge that will benefit yourself and your family.

Thank you to all the dads who are positive influences in their children's lives! It's not always immediately evident, but your example and teaching makes a huge difference!

Happy Father's Day!

Summer Survival Guide for Parents

Hey Parents!

Your kids are out of school for the summer.  That means you’ve got to keep them busy, right?  Here’s an idea that may help, I know it was a LIFESAVER for me when raising my kids!

Get your kids on a weekly schedule, or “day of the week” activity!

They have been on a weekly schedule all school year, (ex:  art on Monday, PE on Tuesday, etc.) so this feels natural to them.  Each day of the week has a designated purpose, and you establish what activity fits your family best.  Maybe even let your kids help plan it out!  Do what works for you!  

Here’s an example to get you started: 

   

Monday:  Library Day.  Go to your local library.  Let your kids each get their own library card.  Sign up for the summer reading program, if they have one.  Many libraries also have story time for young children.  I would let my kids check out a certain number of books each week, so we could keep track of them better.

Tuesday:  Park Day.  Go to a local park, a different one each week.  Bring snacks and water, or have a picnic.  Bring your kickballs and Frisbees, and don’t forget to have fun with your kids!  Get creative.  One of my best memories with my kids is when we went “sledding” down a dirt hill on cardboard boxes!

Wednesday:  Water Day.

Take them to your local pool or splash pad, or try out other ones in the valley.  Or, just turn on the sprinklers in your own backyard.  How about a water fight? Buy some squirt guns and water balloons from the dollar store and have a water shootout!

Thursday:  Movie Day.  Provo has Dollar Theater, but Pleasant Grove and Spanish Fork both have Kids Summer Movies at Water Gardens Theater!  Tickets are only $1 each, and they show kids movies from June 2- Aug. 19 every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with shows at 11:00 am and 1:15 pm.   Popcorn, drinks, and candy start at $1.  See www.watergardenstheaters.com for more info.

  

Friday:  Provo Day.  Provo offers a host of kid-friendly destinations, such as Classic Skating, Fat Cats, BYU Bean Museum, BYU Dinosaur Museum, Provo Town Center/University Mall, Bridal Veil Falls, etc.  If you already live in Provo, then lucky you!  Maybe you could explore a different town each week.

The ideas are endless, I’m sure you can come up with some of your own!  The great thing about this schedule is that you can adapt it to your own interests and your own kids.  Each outing only needs to be 1-2 hours long, just enough to break up the daily routine and give them something to look forward to.  Kids do better with some structure to their day, which this provides, and gives you plenty of free time too.

Enjoy your summer!

Safety Tip: Preventing Vehicular Heatstroke

Temperatures outside are rising, meaning busy hot summer days are well on their way! Along with the summer heat comes extra safety precautions, wearing sunscreen, drinking lots of water, pool safety, and car safety.

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The news is often filled with stories of young children being forgotten in the car. The latest story had a happier ending when the dad was able to call 9-1-1 as soon as he realized he had forgotten his little one in the car. Sadly, not every story ends happily. Every 8 days a child dies from vehicular heatstroke after being left in a car. In hopes of reducing this number, we would like to share the Safe Kids Campaign to ACT. 

A: Avoid heatstroke by never leaving your child alone in the car, not even for a minute. Interior temperatures can reach 131-172° F when it is 80-100° F outside. Parking in the shade and cracking a window do not protect children from heatstroke.  It is also important to keep your doors locked when you are not in it, so that children don’t climb in on their own.

C: Create reminders by putting something in the backseat next to your child such as a purse, cell phone, or briefcase. This is especially important when you are not following your routine.

T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. One call could save a life.

Here are some creative tips we found to help you to remember to beat the heat and check the back seat.

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• Put your left shoe next to your child. Chances are you won’t get very far without it.
• One mom in Kansas tied a tag to a stuffed puppy that says “Got Ethan?”. Every time she put her toddler in the car, the stuffed puppy moved from the empty car seat to the front seat where she will see it. 
• Create a “check the car seat” card. You can store the card in the empty car seat and then move it to hang from your rear-view mirror or to sit on your lap while driving with your child.
• Follow the “Look Before you Lock” campaign by making it a habit to always open the back door before leaving your parked car. 
• Make your own E-Z baby saver. 
• Check cars and trunks immediately if a child is missing.

Additional resources:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/enforce/ChildrenAndCars/pages/Unattend-HotCars.htm

http://www.kidsandcars.org/userfiles/dangers/heat-stroke/heat-stroke-fact-sheet.pdf

Ready, Set, Read!

Summer. This one simple word often has the ability to bring joy to people young and old. For children especially, summer brings the promise of freedom, fun and adventure. While parents enjoy summer as well, it can sometimes be accompanied by thoughts, "how do I keep my kids busy for three longs months!?" and "what will I do to keep them from forgetting everything they've learned this past school year?"

With summer at our doorstep and these questions on our mind, I wanted to share one of my favorite summer activities growing up. The library's summer reading program! Now you may remember this from when you were young and hopefully you've already taken part with your child. The more Help Me Grow works with local libraries the more I realize that these awesome programs have changed a lot from when I was young and have more to offer than ever before. Here are three things to look forward to:

1. Summer reading programs aren't just for kids. Libraries have always encouraged parents to make reading a family affair, and participating in a summer reading program will help you do just that! Libraries across the state offer different summer reading programs for children, teens, and adults. Some have even developed a toddler programs. This summer encourage everyone in your family, including yourself, to sign up!

2. Not all programs are just about reading. Some libraries have expanded their summer reading programs to include other activities as well. For example Salt Lake City Libraries have come up with a Super Summer Challenge. Not only do families read as part of the challenge, they can also accomplish other goals to better themselves and their community. Even if your library hasn't expanded their summer reading program, they usually have other fun events and opportunities available throughout the summer. 

3. There are great rewards! Yes, many of the libraries are offering incentives for following the summer reading program, but that's not the reward I'm referring to. Reading together is one of the best things you can do for the development of a child and yourself! The National Education Association has said that "children who are read to, and who read for pleasure, are significantly more successful in school than children who do not." Reading improves brain development, communication skills, school performance, and so much more. 

Summer Reading Programs are starting soon so check out your local library today and get your entire family signed up today! You can find the library nearest you by clicking here. You can also find more reading resources by visiting utahkidsreadytoread.org

Blogs by Inspiring Moms

Need a little boost in your day? Check out these blogs by moms who inspire us - doing their best while proving that not everything has to go perfectly for life to be perfect!

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