Photo Update - Wrapping Up 2012

My husband designed the new train seats in the Children's area at the county library:

Below are some final random photos for the year, including the first day of school for our older elementary students and a field trip to Old Man's Cave to see a program by Naturalist Pat Quackenbush.

I was impressed to learn that three children from our group had all been honored by their elementary school teachers as "Students of the Month" - so proud of them!

Group Literacy Project

In conjunction with an assignment for a course that I am taking on Intentional Teaching, the "big kids" recently completed a group literacy project.  First, the children chose a book.  They selected The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri.  We read the book several times.

Next came the planning phase.

They assigned characters,



designed the set,







and found items to create costumes.




Then came rehearsal:



And the final production:

Great work, everyone. Take a bow!




There are two copies of this book at the Logan-Hocking County District Library. The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri may also be purchased through Amazon (affiliate link):

Our Annual Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

We had another wonderful visit to Walker Farm.  This has become a yearly tradition for our group each fall.  The children enjoy pulling wagons and pushing wheelbarrows into the field to choose the perfect pumpkins, exploring along the way.



Click to enlarge the photo below, and look closely.  While we were at the pumpkin patch, Air Force One, carrying President Obama, flew over on the way to Athens.  What an exciting moment!



As always, I am so grateful for the involved parents that we have here at Kinder Beginnings.  The children were excited to share this experience with their families.

STEM Work

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills are important.  We learn them best through fun experiences!  Our group had a competition to see who could build the largest structure.  After time was up, we measured the creations and discovered that one was longest, and another used the largest amount of supplies.  Most of the group agreed that the DE-construction was the best (tastiest!) part.

Article: dear sweet mom who feels like she is failing.

This is a wonderful reminder for all parents of young children:

http://findingjoy.net/dear-sweet-mom-who-feels-like-she-is/ 
BY RACHEL MARIE MARTIN


dear sweet mom who feels like she is failing.

You’re not.

If you and I were sitting in Starbucks and you had your fave drink and I had my Caramel Macchiato I’d look at you, and I’d tell you the truth – you’re not failing.

I know. I’m guessing, you’d wipe away the tears, and look up, and try to nod your head, but inside, inside well, you’d think that those are nice words but seriously she has no idea. You know why I know? Because I’ve sat in a coffee shop, across from a friend, a friend who looked me smack in the face and told me that I wasn’t failing and that I was doing a great job.

I wanted to tell her about the dishes from yesterday sitting on my counter. And how the pile of storybooks wasn’t read again. And that I’m a week behind in laundry. And that I got really really irritated at the mixture of 13 toys all dumped in a pile that two days ago was sorted into 13 labeled boxes. I wondered if she knew that some days, some days I get up and just go through the mom motions without even really finding much joy. It felt like drudgery.

How could she tell me I wasn’t failing?

Somehow in the mixed up media world we’ve got these thoughts of moms being perfect. Society doesn’t give us a break. I mean read this article in the New York Times about the pressure on moms to look a certain way after they give birth. And then? Then we’re to be ultra creative, crafty, humorous, happy, chipper, up before dawn, to sleep after dark, with our sinks shined, and the laundry folded, and tomorrow’s breakfast in the crockpot, with tomorrow’s dinner – pulled from our once-a-month cooking thawing in the fridge, while we work out for 20 minutes on odd days and 40 minutes on even days, and our hair is always done, we’re makeup ready, our fridges are stocked, and the craft closet bursting with ideas for that quick perfect afternoon art project that we’ll place on our recycled wood and mod podged adorned hand painted chalkboard.

And, in reality, it’s 8am and we’re just getting up. The baby was up all night, or the toddler sick, or honestly, we were just tired. We get our coffee and flip on facebook and our stream is flooded with stuff people have already done {I always tell myself — different time zones} and we’re racing to catch up with this never before except for the last hundred years perfect never feel like you’re failing mom ideal that is exhausting.

You know what my friend told me? She told me to slow down. Slow down? How in the world when I felt like I was failing was I to slow down? I had way way way too much to do and I needed to read that parenting book to work on my attitude and and and…and. And she told me enough. And that I was a good mom.

You know, you’re not failing.

You need to start to see all you do accomplish in a day. All the smiles of encouragement, meals made, clothes changed, books read, and more. Just like I wrote yesterday – we make mistakes {ten things moms need to remember} – we just need to learn from them. We’re out of breath, racing, and exhausted, but truly not failing. Failing means stopping. Not getting up, not trying, not giving. That’s not you.

I want you to stop telling yourself you’re failing. Instead I want you to replace it with I can do this.

You can do this.

Those soundtrack words and feeling about failing are just feelings. Don’t let them define you anymore. If you hear I’m failing replace it immediately with I can do this.

If you were across the table from me that is what I would tell you.

And, of course, I’d tell you  do one thing. I’m going to write and say it again and again and again. Write your list of things you want to do, need to do, and would love to do today with your family. And then, do one thing from each list. If you stumble, brush yourself off, and start again. Don’t worry that the neighbor across the street seems to be doing twenty or the pinterest pin tells you that the perfect home can be achieved in 6 Easy Steps. This is your life – and you – you are the perfect mother for those children. God knew when he blessed those kids to you.

Remember that.

You are a good mom. You matter. You are making a difference.

You can do this. One step, one day, at a time.

From me, one mom in the midst of motherhood, to you.

Friday Funny

Parents Rap Video

Article: Ten ways to build your child's self-esteem

Ten ways to build your child's self-esteem

by Sarah Henry 
Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board

Nurturing your child's self-esteem may seem like a hefty responsibility. After all, a feeling of self-worth lays the foundation for your child's future as he sets out to try new things on his own.

"Self-esteem comes from having a sense of belonging, believing that we're capable, and knowing our contributions are valued and worthwhile," says family therapist Jane Nelsen, coauthor of the Positive Discipline series.

"As any parent knows, self-esteem is a fleeting experience," says Nelsen. "Sometimes we feel good about ourselves and sometimes we don't. What we are really trying to teach our kids are life skills like resiliency."

Your goal as a parent is to ensure that your child develops pride and self-respect – in himself and in his cultural roots – as well as faith in his ability to handle life's challenges (for a school-age child that may mean giving a dance performance for you).

Here are ten simple strategies to help boost your child's self-esteem:

Give unconditional love. A child's self-esteem flourishes with the kind of no-strings-attached devotion that says, "I love you, no matter who you are or what you do." Your child benefits the most when you accept her for who she is regardless of her strengths, difficulties, temperament, or abilities.

So, lavish her with love. Give her plenty of cuddles, kisses, and pats on the shoulder. And don't forget to tell her how much you love her.

When you do have to correct your child, make it clear that it's her behavior – not her – that's unacceptable. For instance, instead of saying, "You're so naughty! Why can't you be good?" say, "Please don't throw the ball in the house. A ball is an outside toy."

Pay attention. Carve out time to give your child your undivided attention. That does wonders for your child's feelings of self-worth because it sends the message that you think he's important and valuable.

It doesn't have to take a lot of time. It just means taking a moment to stop flipping through the mail if he's trying to talk with you or putting aside your smartphone long enough to answer a question.

Make eye contact so it's clear that you're really listening to what he's saying. When you're strapped for time, let your child know it without ignoring his needs. Say, "Tell me all about what happened at soccer practice. When you're finished, I need to make our dinner."

Teach limits. Establish a few reasonable, consistent rules for your child. For instance, if you tell her to wear her helmet when she rides her bike in the driveway, don't let her go without it at her friend's house. And if she breaks a rule, be sure she knows what the consequence is beforehand. ("If you don't wear your bike helmet, you don't get to ride your bike.")

Knowing that certain family rules are set in stone helps her feel more secure. She'll start to live by your expectations soon enough. Just be clear and consistent and show her that you trust her and expect her to do the right thing.

Support healthy risks. Encourage your child to explore something new, such as trying a different food, making a new friend, or riding a skateboard. Activities that promote cooperation rather than competition, like mentoring programs or volunteering, are especially helpful in building self-esteem. Though there's always the possibility of failure, without risk there's little opportunity for success.

So let your child safely experiment, and resist the urge to intervene. For instance, try not to "rescue" him the minute he's showing mild frustration at figuring out how to read a tricky word. Jumping in to say, "I'll do it" can foster dependence and diminish your child's confidence. You'll build his self-esteem by balancing your need to protect him with his need to tackle new tasks.

Let mistakes happen. The flip side, of course, of having choices and taking risks is that sometimes your child is bound to make mistakes. These are valuable lessons for your child's confidence.

So if your child misses the school bus because she was dawdling in his bedroom, encourage her to think about what she might do differently next time. That way her self-esteem won't sag and she'll understand that it's okay to make mistakes sometimes.

When you goof up yourself, admit it, says Daniel Meier, assistant professor of elementary education at San Francisco State University. Acknowledging and recovering from your mistakes sends a powerful message to your child – it makes it easier for your child to accept his own difficulties.

Celebrate the positive. Everyone responds well to encouragement, so make an effort to acknowledge the good things your child does every day within his earshot. For instance, tell his dad, "Peter did all his chores today without prompting." He'll get to bask in the glow of your praise and his dad's heartening response.

And be specific. Instead of saying "Good job," say, "Thank you for setting the table for dinner." This will enhance his sense of accomplishment and self-worth and let him know exactly what he did right.

Listen well. If your child needs to talk, stop and listen to what she has to say. She needs to know that her thoughts, feelings, desires, and opinions matter.

Help her get comfortable with her emotions by labeling them. Say, "I understand you're sad because you can't go to the sleepover." By accepting her emotions without judgment, you validate her feelings and show that you value what she has to say.

If you share your own feelings ("I'm worried about Grandma. She's very sick."), she'll gain confidence in expressing his own.

Resist comparisons. Comments such as "Why can't you be more like your brother?" or "Why can't you be nice like Evan?" just remind your child of where he struggles in a way that fosters shame, envy, and competition. Even positive comparisons, such as "You're the best player," are potentially damaging because a child can find it hard to live up to this image.

If you let your child know that you appreciate him for the unique individual he is, he'll be more likely to value himself too.

Offer empathy and redirect inaccurate beliefs. If your child compares himself unfavorably to his siblings or peers ("Why can't I throw a football like Nicholas?"), show him empathy and then emphasize one of his strengths. For instance, say, "You're right. Nicholas is good at throwing a football. And you're a fast runner." And if he goes into a tailspin of negativity and self-doubt ("I can't do math. I'm a bad student."), help him see things in a more realistic light. Say something like, "You are a good student, you just have trouble with math. Let's work on it together and see if we can figure it out."

This can help your child learn that we all have strengths and weaknesses, and that he doesn't have to be perfect to feel good about himself. But if you're concerned that something deeper may be at play, ask your child more detailed questions about school, friends, and how he views himself. You might decide it's best to talk to a counselor or mental health specialist.

Provide encouragement. Every child needs the kind of support from loved ones that signals, "I believe in you. I see your effort. Keep going!" Encouragement means acknowledging progress – not just rewarding achievement. So if your child is struggling with a math problem, say: "You're trying very hard and you almost have it!" instead of "Not like that. Let me do it."

There's a difference between praise and encouragement. One rewards the task while the other rewards the person ("You did it!" rather than "I'm proud of you!").

Praise can make a child feel that she's only "good" if she does something perfectly. Encouragement, on the other hand, acknowledges the effort. "Tell me about the game. I saw you really hustling out there" is more helpful than saying, "You're the best player on the team."

Too much praise can sap self-esteem because it can create pressure to perform and set up a continual need for approval from others. Give your child the message that the effort – and seeing something through to the end – is what's important.

So dole out the praise judiciously and offer encouragement liberally. That will help your child grow up to feel good about herself.

Hiking with the "Big Kids"

We spent the day hiking at Cantwell Cliffs.

Article: Why kids lie, and 7 ways to get them to tell the truth

http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/19/6492349-why-kids-lie-and-7-ways-to-get-them-to-tell-the-truth

Our group is in the news today! (Preschool Postcard Exchange)

See page 5 of today's edition of the Logan Daily News We recently participated in an educational postcard exchange with other daycare and preschool programs across the US and Canada. The children thoroughly enjoyed this project. Each day that another hand-written note arrived, we discovered a new treasure! This was a fun way to interest the children in geography and social studies, learning first hand information about people outside of our local area.

Photo Update - June

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Kidpalooza!

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Photo Update - Spring

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Article: Three Tools & Perspectives for Positive Parenting

http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2012/04/three-tools-perspectives-for-positive.html

Humorous Toddler Behavior

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/strange-toddler-behavior

Photo Update - March

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Article: How to Structure Your Days to Really be the Parent You Want to Be

Fantastic advice about parenting and routine: "The Way of the Peaceful Parent" Click HERE

Article: New Research: The Nicer the Mom, the Smarter the Kid

New research shows that kids With patient moms have larger hippocampus (area of the brain). But what is a mom to do if the kids constantly fight and whine? Child expert gives ideas on keeping your cool:

http://mommywithselectivememory.blogspot.com/2012/03/new-resarch-nicer-mom-smarter-kid.html

Photo Update - February

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The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.
~Lane Olinghouse