Four Ideas to Teach Kids about Service

It can be difficult to teach young kids to look outside themselves and give to others, especially when they are just learning to share toys or get along with their siblings. However, I had an experience while living in Mexico that taught me that it is possible. Two kids, from a family that I was friends with, gave me one of their toys because they thought I would enjoy it (a plate and bowl about the size of my thumbnail). I was touched because the family lived a very humble life and didn’t seem to have much to give. The parents of the family were also very generous, and I’m sure their kids learned from example. My mother is also an incredible example of generosity; she spends her days thinking of ways to serve others.

Though it may be a little rough to start teaching kids about service while they are little, your children’s generous attitude and habit of serving will benefit countless people. Here are some ideas to get started:

Imagination Play: Abracadabra

Recently my 3 year old nephew came to visit.  He had a magic wand that he wanted me to play with with him. I'm pretty sure if we had the time, he would have spent hours with me playing with it.  His favorite was to turn me into a kitty and then back into myself while chasing me around the house.  How fun it is to see the imagination of young children. 

Encouraging Kids to Play Outside

It can be hard to get kids excited to play outside, especially with all the fun toys and screens we have indoors for them to play with. Previous generations spent their playtime almost exclusively outdoors, but that has changed dramatically in recent years. Today, only 1 in 4 kids plays outside on a daily basis, compared to 3 in 4 children one generation ago1. There are significant benefits to playing outside, so encouraging your kids to get outdoors can be a great way to support their development!

Service Ideas for the Whole Family

The holiday season is a popular time of year for people to look for ways to serve in their community. If you have children, you know that it can be difficult to find time to volunteer on your own, and that it is also difficult to find service opportunities that you can involve your kids in. Below is a list of service project ideas that the whole family can participate in this holiday season.

Music in the Home

Music has always been essential to my life. Growing up my family would sing together every morning before school. And I’ve continued to learn new instruments (just the basics) and love almost all forms of music. I’m so grateful that my parents incorporated so much music into my life. Maybe you had a similar experience, maybe you didn’t. Either way, you can make music something special and important in your child’s learning and here’s why you would want to.

The Fundamentals of 'fun' in Parenting

Parenting is not easy – but it can be fun! Amidst the sleepless nights, the tears and tantrums, and so many other demands, we can still infuse humor, joy, and playfulness. In fact, play and silliness can make those challenging moments lighter!

Make Service a Part of Your Family Heritage

In an earlier blog post where I introduced myself, I shared that I had learned to serve at a young age. The exact age cannot be determined because service was instilled in me from birth. I’m sure I accompanied my family as a baby and it’s questionable how much I helped as a toddler, but I was there. As children, we didn’t choose if we wanted to help. My siblings and I learned to embrace service and love it as it became part of who we are. In fact, all of us continue to serve as adults. It’s just what we did in our family. It is part of my family’s heritage.

Summer Activity Guide

Summer is right around the corner! Do you need more ideas to keep the kids busy all summer long? Luckily Care About Childcare has you covered with their Summer Activity Guide.

The Ultimate Guide to Surviving (and Enjoying) Winter with Your Kids

As the daylight hours shorten and the weather gets colder, it can become increasingly more difficult for your entire family to enjoy winter (especially when it can seem to last forever!). The change of season signals less time children play outside and more time indoors, which can add pressure to parents. Unfortunately, many of the go-to indoor activities are watching TV or playing video games. While fun in moderation, being cooped up in the house can make you and your children go nuts! Here are five tips and activities to help you and your family enjoy winter:

"Red Hots Slime": Sensory Motor Fun!

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Looking for a cool indoor activity for a hot summer day? Try mixing up a batch of "Red Hots" Slime!  This colorful and fragrant slime is not only fun for kids to make and play with, but a great activity for developing a variety of skills.  Language skills grow as children are able to feel the meaning behind words such as "slimy" or "gooey". Cognitive and problem solving skills strengthen as children mix, measure, and help clean up. Lastly, this hands-on activity promotes fine motor skills by strengthening small muscles and hand-eye coordination. 

Firework Safety Tips

Here in Utah, with the 4th of July and Pioneer Day, July means fireworks! Fireworks are a great activity for the whole family! However, it's important to know how to ensure that you and your kids stay safe when using fireworks. Check out these 10 tips to make sure your firework fun is safe and injury free!

Let’s Have a Ball!

Some of the simplest toys can bring the greatest growth. At Help Me Grow Utah, some of our favorite toys are books, balls, and blocks. Most everyone has them and everyone loves them! Some of my personal favorites are balls. As a kid, my brothers and I always seemed to have a ball within arms reach.

National Trails Day

On the first Saturday of June each year, we celebrate National Trails Day!  We are privileged to live in a state covered by them!  These trails could include hiking, biking, horseback riding, and more.   You can celebrate with your family by helping clean up a trail close to your home and/or going on a trail with your family.

Love You Forever

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My favorite book from my childhood is Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.  I remember reading it over and over as a child. My siblings and I loved snuggling up next to mom as she read to us in bed. Once we had read it enough to memorize it, mom and dad would sing the chorus to us as we were falling asleep. Now when I think about this book, I reflect back on the little melody my mom made up to the chorus:

I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
As long as I’m living,
My baby you’ll be

Ice Play - Sensory Activity

Children are naturally curious and love to explore. Sensory activities are great for children because it gives them the opportunity to explore. Sensory activities are also a way for children to play and create, while stimulating all five of their senses: vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

Happy National Nutrition Month

Happy National Nutrition Month!

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The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has dedicated March as National Nutrition Month!

Their theme for this year is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right”. The main goal of this campaign is to help everyone develop good eating and physical activity habits. The theme is meant to encourage everyone to enjoy and appreciate flavors and social experiences that comes with the food we eat.

A whole month dedicated to celebrating the yummy food I eat? Yes Please!

Gather Around the Dinner Table

Tea time with siblings

My aunt and uncle created a great tradition for their family. Each night as they gather around the dinner table, each family member is invited to share the following:
1. A moment they felt good about during their day (high of the day)
2. A moment in their day that didn't go so well (low of the day)
3. Something they are grateful for

2016: Collect Moments

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As we all know the start of the New Year generally means new goals, new experiences, and a new sense of determination. For me and my family, it’s also a time to reflect on the past year and dream big for the year to come. We love to reminisce about the happy times, talk about how much we’ve grown because of the hard times, and smile at all the times that brought laughter to our lives.

The Gift of Christmas Presence

The countdown to Christmas has begun. It’s likely we all remember the memories associated with Christmas more than we remember the actual gifts we received. Help the season be magical by giving gifts of spending time together and creating memories throughout the year. Here are a few gift “presence” ideas I love:

Happy Recycling Day!

Happy Recycling Day!

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Here at Help Me Grow we LOVE the world we live in and we want to help make it a better place!

We all can do this by recycling; however, recycling is just a part of how we can help our environment. Today we are going to focus on the REUSING part of recycling. We have three fun craft ideas that you can do at home with your family with extra plastic bottles you might have.
(Idea found at this link)