105.3 KISS FM » Back to School

Create a study area for your kids

joel.smith — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:40:50 +0000

Your teens need space to do their homework — here’s a study area that’s cool and compact.

“Paint by Numbers” Teen Desk

Project Colours Wall: Philipsburg Blue HC-159 Desk Base Colour: Decorator’s White CC-20 Desk Accent Colours: Raspberry Glaze 2078-20, Autumn Cover 2170-30, Whipple Blue HC-152, Black 2132-10

Materials

Wooden work desk
Benjamin Moore “Fresh Start” latex primer
Benjamin Moore “Aura” semi-gloss interior latex paint, Decorator’s White CC-20
4 Benjamin Moore “Colour Testers” in the accent colours noted above
Benjamin Moore “Stays Clear” varnish in high gloss
Paint tray
High density foam roller
Fine grit sandpaper
Chalk
Artist’s paint brushes in various sizes

Steps

Lightly sand the entire desk surface that is to be painted and apply one coat of latex “Fresh Start” primer
Using a high density foam roller, apply 2 top coats of “Aura” interior semi-gloss paint over all primed surfaces
Once paint is dry, use chalk to sketch an image or pattern on the desk top
Using a small artist’s brush, paint over the chalk lines with “black” 2132-10 from a colour tester
Allow the outline design to dry to the touch, and then randomly fill in the pattern with the additional colour tester accent colours
Once the entire desk surface is dry, roll on one coat of “Stays Clear” finish in high gloss to protect your pattern and add extra work surface durability

Instructions courtesy Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault

Healthy After-School Snack Recipes

joel.smith — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:42:06 +0000

Spice up snacktime with these healthy, easy, kid-friendly recipes from some of our favourite food bloggers at iVillage.ca!

School Lunch Alert! The Dangerous Mistake Even Smart Parents Make

joel.smith — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:56:45 +0000

Here’s something new to worry about: Kids’ school lunches can — and often do — reach unsafe temperatures well before lunchtime, even when parents pack it along with ice packs or a frozen juice pouch.

When researchers analyzed the lunch bags of hundreds of preschoolers in Texas, the results were somewhat shocking. Less than 2 percent of the food items checked were at a safe temperature 90 minutes before lunch. The rest of the food — even food that had been stowed in a fridge or packed with ice — was warm enough to be considered unsafe for human consumption.

Before you try to make yourself feel better with the I-ate-packed-lunches-for-years-and-I-turned-out-fine argument, consider this: kids under the age of 4 get bacteria-related food infections 4.5 times more often than adults. And bacteria thrive in dark, warm, moist environments, like your kid’s sandwich.

That doesn’t mean that you have to pony up for hot lunch every day, but it’s important to keep food safety in mind when packing your child’s meal. To be safe, food must be kept at less than 39.2 degrees or heated to more than 140 degrees Farenheit. These tips from the University of Washington can help keep your child safe:

Freeze it up. Meat is particularly vulnerable to bacterial growth. Freezing sandwiches prior to packing retards the bacteria. The best part: meat and cheese sandwiches can be frozen in bulk weeks before you need them. (Skip the sandwich veggies, though — they don’t freeze well.)

Plan ahead. It’s best to make lunches the night before you need them and place them in the fridge. That way the lunch has time to chill in the fridge before you send it to school. Also be sure to utilize any available fridges at school or daycare. While most of the refrigerated lunches in the study were still out of the safe zone, researchers suspect that’s because the teachers often didn’t put the lunches in the fridge right away. If possible, put your kid’s lunch in the fridge as soon as you arrive.

Keep it cool. Use a large ice pack or two small ones to keep food cold and use and insulated lunch box or bag rather than a paper bag.

Make safe choices. Nuts, peanut butter, breads, jam, butter, dry cereal, raw veggies, hard cheeses, yogurt, canned foods, dried sausages (pepperoni, jerky, salami) and raw, cooked or dried fruit can all be kept at room temp for up to six hours. (Check with your child’s school before sending nuts or peanut butter.) Handle-with-care food include meat, fish, and poultry, milk and soft cheeses. Cured meats that contain nitrites — such a bologna and ham are somewhat safer than fresh meats because the nitrites inhibit bacterial growth.

Try it hot. Heat soup or stew to boiling, then place in a thermos. It’ll stay hot (and safe) ‘til lunchtime.

12 Strategies for Speeding Up Your Mornings

joel.smith — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:50:41 +0000

No one ever told you that motherhood was synonymous with chronic lateness. But from packing the depleted diaper bag to getting your dawdlers motivated, there are plenty of reasons you probably feel like you haven’t gotten anywhere on time since your was born. Let’s face it: Kids dilly-dally, moms nag — and no one gets out the door any faster. To the rescue: solid strategies from organization experts and real moms like you for getting your kids (and yourself) out the door.

Bribe them with Breakfast

Mom Jennifer W. of Watertown, MA, says her 8-year-old daughter “is the walking definition of ‘not a morning person,’ but when she hears there’s hot chocolate on the table, she moves a lot faster.” Mom Emily P. of Kensington, MD, tells her kids they can eat breakfast by the gas fireplace on cold winter mornings. In other words, entice your late-risers with a special treat that will motivate them to get out of bed!

Make it A Competition

For young kids with a competitive streak, this can work wonders. In our house, the first one down (or up) the stairs is the “superhero.” Playing “Who Can Do it First?” can help speed up everything from getting your tot dressed to getting him to the car — and help you get wherever you need to be on time.

Get Them to Bed On Time

Want a good morning? Start with a good night’s sleep. “I find that getting my daughter to bed early enough — even when it seems insanely early — makes a big difference,” says Hilo, HI, mom Leslie L. “We have to get up at 5:15 a.m., so I put a lot of effort into making sure dinner and homework are done and she’s in bed by 7:00 p.m.”

Give Them Warnings

Many kids, especially little ones, have a hard time stopping what they’e doing and quickly changing course. To help them stay on schedule, Watson recommends giving your kids 10-minute, 5-minute, and 2-minute departure warnings. ‘Set a timer — there are even talking ones on the market that will countdown the minutes for them,’ she says. It’s a trick that Olathe, KS, dad David P. uses on his son. “He doesn’t know time, but it puts the idea in his head that we’re doing something else shortly, and he’ll have to stop whatever it is that he’s doing now.”

Make Breakfast Portable - and Healthy

Chef Jennifer Carden, author of The Toddler Café, says the key to helping your kids focus in class is feeding them protein and liquids in the morning. How do you do this fast and easily? Serve up healthy, portable breakfast burritos and smoothies. Scramble eggs, deli turkey and avocado or thawed spinach together and wrap in a whole-wheat tortilla (you can make it the night before and reheat in the morning). Or whip up a smoothie with frozen fruit, protein powder and milk. Another quick option: Dress up thick, creamy Greek yogurt with fruit, granola and a drizzle of honey. Yum!

Let Them Miss The Bus

If your kids are older, let them experience the consequences of their dawdling, says Janet Schiesl, owner of Basic Organization and the co-author of Experts-Strategies Get Organized Today. That could mean accepting an “F” on an assignment that gets left at home, having to buy school lunch if they’re too rushed to make their own, or yes, missing the bus. Schiesl used to charge her high school-age son $1 for a ride to school on days he lingered too long to catch the bus. Emily P. also used a tough-love tactic when her son missed the bus one day after numerous close calls. She couldn’t drive him that day, so she says, “I had him call the school to tell them why he wasn’t there and ask the teacher [for] assignments he could do at home that day,” she says. “He never missed the bus again.”

Establish a Morning Routine

With three boys in school, a morning routine is essential for getting to class on time for San Anselmo, CA, mom Amy C. “When I tell them it’s breakfast time, they know they have to eat, brush their teeth and get dressed with no breaks in between,” she says. Watson applauds this technique. By doing the same things in the same order, kids know what they need to do next — and it becomes automatic for them, she says. Another tip: Time your kids to see how long it takes to get out the door from the moment you say it’s time to go. What you think should take 5 minutes might actually take 15, Watson says. “Allowing yourself enough time to get out the door will help you make a stress-free exit.”

Make Note of Your Child’s Challenges

Depending on your kid’s age, there are some tasks she just may not be able to do herself. So Watson recommends figuring out what duties trip her up. If tying her shoelaces takes her a long time, consider helping her in the morning instead of repeatedly nagging her to do it herself. (Later, of course, help her practice so that she eventually gets it!) If your son spills every time he pours milk from the carton into his cereal bowl, transfer the amount he needs into a small, easier-to-handle cup so he can still pour it himself, but without the mess.

Turn Off and Tune Out

If you’re addicted to your iPhone or Blackberry, it can be hard to imagine starting the day unplugged. But Watson recommends that parents avoid checking emails and surfing the Internet before dropping off their kids at school in the morning. “These create a huge black hole when it comes to time, because it’s hard to just ‘check one thing really quickly!” she says. “Inevitably, you’ll spend way more time online than you plan.” Schiesl recommends keeping the TV off, too, especially if it distracts your kids (or you!) from getting going. Listen to the radio instead.

Use a Family Calendar

Keep everyone’s schedule straight with one calendar that all family members can consult, Schiesl says. (Her pick: a big, laminated monthly version that can be put on a wall or the fridge.) “Band practice after school tomorrow? The calendar will remind you to pack your music in your backpack,” she says. “It’s a great visual way to consult your schedule.” And knowing what your kid needs on what day can keep you organized in the morning — no last-minute rushing around for the clarinet case or softball glove because you just remembered it.

Wake Up First

We know you’re tired. (We are, too!) But being the first one out of bed can eliminate a big source of morning stress: getting your kids and yourself ready at the same time. East Orange, NJ, mom Anna H. wakes up an hour early on days she has to take her son to daycare in order to get herself ready and get organized for the day. What makes up for the lost sleep: having extra time to snuggle with her slow-to-get-going son. Another tip: Take a shower at night, after your kids are in bed, so it’ll take you less time to get ready the next morning.

How to Teach Colours and Counting (There’s a Formula!)

joel.smith — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:46:17 +0000

We are always surrounded by numbers whether we realize it or not, and most of us don’t think twice when we talk using numbers, like gee, I wish I was 20 again so that those 2 lattes that I just drank will not immediately add 10 lbs on me…

Well, at least for me, I didn’t consciously think much about numbers until I started to teach my little one to count.

Researchers from Stanford University have formed a cognitive model of how we think about counting and numbers, and more importantly, determined how we can most effectively help our kids to learn to count.

The study, published in PLoS One, suggests one of the problems with learning numbers is that we never encounter just numbers; that is we hardly ever just see three, we usually see three of something, like bears or flowers. So when we say to a young child to ‘look at the three bears’, he or she must figure out which part of the phrase is the number and which is the object.

The researchers found that to help children focus on the number instead of the object, it’s better to phrase the sentence by saying the object first – instead of “three bears” say “look at the bears, there are three!”

This technique works better because learning is based on expectation, and trial and error, and some guessing. When the number comes before the object “three bears” the child is using “three” to expect “bears”, or think of “three” as a label or name for the bear and not a property. By flipping the sentence and putting the number after the object “look at the bears, there are three”, the child will start to think of “three” as a property.

So to teach the difference between two numbers, like two and three, your toddler will eventually learn that the object (bear) doesn’t offer any additional information when trying to tell the difference between ‘two’ and ‘three’. The words ‘two’ and ‘three’ are the important ones in the statement.

The researchers trained one group of children using the “look, there are three bears” method of teaching numbers, while trained another group using the “look at the bears, there are three!” method. The former showed little change in their number sense, while the latter showed a 30% improvement after just one session.

The training and results are similar to the group’s earlier research on teaching young children colour. The kids who were taught “the balloon is red” improved significantly over their original scores compared to the kids who were taught “the red balloon”.

My daughter is four now, and her counting is getting better. I think we taught her using lots and lots of repetition (we counted everything in sight). But no matter how you want to help your children to count, teaching basic math skills is very important. In another recent study, published in the Journal Developmental Psychology, researchers found that kids who has a good grasp of numbers at Grade 1 will do better in learning mathematics at Grade 5, and even maybe the rest of their lives.

What to do when your child is being bullied

joel.smith — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:39:22 +0000

Are you noticing that your child, who’s normally enthusiastic about school, suddenly doesn’t want to go? It may be because they’re being bullied by one of their classmates. It’s a serious issue and one that you, as a parent, need to deal with in the appropriate way before the situation gets out of control.

Sandra Martin, executive editor at Today’s Parent, spoke with Citytv digital correspondent Graeme O’Neil about the issue and what steps to take if you find that your child is being affected by it.

Click here to watch the video on CityLine.ca

Wish We’d Known: Things No One Told Us About Starting Kindergarten

joel.smith — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:35:54 +0000

I’ll be honest: I’m kinda petrified about my son starting junior kindergarten. With D-Day just a few weeks away, I’m already panicked about the first day, if he’ll fit in, how he’ll do riding solo on the school bus, and if his teacher will judge me based on the contents of his lunch box. And I’m not the only one. Turns out all moms feel angst about sending their little one to school.

Here are some tidbits from moms who’ve been there, done that, and wish they’d acted differently:

“I wish I wasn’t such a worry wart. I was so stressed about whether or not he’d put up a fuss on the bus, if he would have tears, and if he was going to enjoy the first day that it overshadowed what a big moment it was in our lives. Turns out that he did incredibly well in all areas and to this day LOVES everything to do with school. Such a relief!” – Teresa

“I wish I could have prepared my son for mean kids. He came home from his first day saying his best friend was teasing him, but that it was okay because his friend was just joking. When I asked what happened and found out what the boy had done and said, it was obvious that he wasn’t someone I wanted my son to be around. The problem is, how do you explain that to a four-year-old? To this day, he still talks about the boy as his ‘best friend’.” – Laura

“I wish I’d kept my anxious feelings to myself. When the bus rolled up my daughter and I were both nervous and excited, and while I did my best to contain my tears, I choked up at the end. Her face went from an ear-to-ear grin to a full out wail when she saw me bawling. It set a sad tone for the day and was definitely not the way I’d envisioned it going.” – Wanda

“It’s easy to get caught up in believing your opinions count and that teachers will do whatever it takes to satisfy you and your child. The truth is, unlike pre-schools or daycares where you pay the teacher’s salary, when you graduate to the big leagues (read: mainstream schools), your kid is really just one of many. I wish I’d known that going in.” – Dana

“How hard it would be to leave his class. My son was very clingy in the months leading up to his first day, and after I hugged and kissed him goodbye, he held on to my arm for dear life. Nothing I said would convince him to let go until I thought to give him my necklace to hold onto. It convinced him that I wasn’t leaving him forever, and would be back for him later.” – Megan

“I wish someone had prepared me for how much she’d like it. I was ready for meltdowns, I was ready for tears, but there were neither – in the morning, at least. When I came to pick her up and she realized the day was over, she freaked out, screamed at the top of her lungs that she didn’t want to go home, and weaved her tiny four-year-old hands around the monkey bars in outright refusal to leave. It was nowhere near the reaction I’d expected.” – Jennifer

“During my daughter’s first day, a little boy decided he wanted all the girls off the swings during recess and threw sand at them to keep them away. When I picked her up that afternoon, she mentioned her eye was hurting and when I checked it, saw dirt was lodged in her lid. Looking back, I would have made sure she knew she could talk to her teacher about those kinds of issues, and that she didn’t have to wait to tell me when the day was over.” – Amanda

“I wish I’d known to keep my eyes on my own kid. I did the drop-off, gave my son a hug and kiss and was on my way out the door when I spotted another mom and son crying. That set me off and I started blubbering like a baby.” – Carolyn

School Supplies: What Do Your Kids Need?

joel.smith — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:26:44 +0000

Parents want their children to be ready for the first day back at school – but are we overdoing it? As far as school supplies go, it’s wise to wait on some things, notes Sandra Martin of Today’s Parent.

“I think the feeling is that you have to be completely prepared,” Martin tells CityLine.ca. “That’s really not necessary. You can end up overspending because you bought too much of one thing and not the things your child actually needs.”

The parenting expert recommends buying the basics that they’ll need for the first day – a backpack, lunch bag, perhaps a new pair of shoes if they need them. You’ll get an idea of the more specific items needed after they’ve been back a few days.

“What I would recommend is waiting until the end of the first week of school. Often teachers will send home a list of what your child will need. Some schools are ahead of the ball and they’ll actually post online a list of what kids need. But most aren’t there yet,” she says. “So by the end of the first week you’ll have a good idea whether you need 24 coloured pencils, what kind of other supplies are necessary, what projects are coming up.”

Another factor is what grade your child is going into. And keep in mind that gone are the days when schools provide notebooks, pencils, and markers.

“My older daughter is going into Grade 3 and when she started Grade 1 I was really surprised by how many things we had to supply,” Martin recalls. “It’s no longer all supplied by the school. That’ll vary from board to board, but most parents are telling us at the magazine that they’re responsible for a lot of the school supplies.”

“You’re probably not going to get the best deals out there if you load up on everything right away,” Martin says. “If you have multiple kids you can also go to a warehouse [store] and pick up the big multi-packs of pens, pencils and markers and all the stuff they need.”

Back-to-school shopping can help get your kids in the right frame of mind for what’s to come in September, Martin remarks.

“It is important to get kids excited for school by involving them in the process,” she says. “But you don’t have to do it in a way that’s onerous to you in terms of time commitment or that’s going to cost you a lot of money, all at once.”