Spending Time with your Children

Have you ever asked your children what they dream of becoming? Have you ever sat and listened to their dreams? Do they want to become a doctor, an astronaut, a mom? Many times my children will come to me and out of the blue will say, "mom someday I'm going to be a scientist." Usually I nod my head and mutter an approval. However one day I decided to sit down and really listen to what my kids had to say about what they wanted to do when they got older. After all many a great man had the dream to do something wonderful when they were little and encouraged to follow that dream.
Take an hour today and listen to your children's dreams. If they don't have a dream, imagine one with them. Tell them what you dreamed of being when you were little. What stopped you. How did your dreams change. Support, encourage and take an hour to dream with your children.

Quality Time with your kids one hour at a time -3

If you have girls, it's time to have a tea party. No fancy dresses needed, just a happy attitude, tea or water and cookies. Crackers or cheerios will do in a pinch. We going for some good quality interaction here. Teach your little one how to have a fun tea party, complete with British accents, gossip and clean up time.

If you have boys or a mixture sometimes they will go for the whole tea party thing, and sometimes you will just have to have hot wheel races across the kitchen floor.

Spending an hour at your child's level will give them a sense that mom or dad is never to busy to hang out with me. Let your child know you enjoy them.

Spending Time with Your Family - 2

To find an hour to spend with your child can be forever a rewarding gift given to them. Each hour you invest in your child will give you one more cord in the bond between you. Today find that hour and take your child to the play ground. Instead of chatting with friends or sitting on the side, get involved. Run around playing tag. Do you know that most playgrounds have treasure hunts. Find out if your play equipment has one, and participate with your child.
If your children are older, play a game of basketball. If your like me and not so hot at hoops, play around the world or HORSE.
If your kids are teens and can't imagine being seen with their parents, offer to take them to the mall and shop with them. Remember, your trying to spend at least one hour of one on one time with your child. No matter what you do, the one on one interaction will be good quality.

365 Ways To Spend One Hour With Your Family

We may be a little late for the new year start, but we are never too late to start spending quality time with our families. It's never too late.

Starting today we will give you a new way everyday to spend one hour of good quality time with your family.

Turn off the T.V. today and spend one hour talking to your kids about their favorite things about school. Ask about their teacher, their classmates. Where do they eat lunch? What is their favorite subject. Do they have any work they can show you. Today be interested in what they do when they are away from you. Share some of your favorites when you were their age. Your will have given them a fantastic hour of your one on one attention and invested your time into their growth.

As we work to keep this blog going for the year, our goal is at the end to have invested 365 quality hours of time into our child's life. 365 hours that may have slipped away if we weren't careful, 365 hours T.V. may have given them more of an impression. Your children are only with you for awhile, give them a little of your time and you will never regret it.

Pepsico to Pull Sugar Drinks from Schools

It's all over the internet. Pepsico has decided to help fight childhood obesity by pulling all sugary soft drinks in the public schools by 2012. I'm surprised at the response. Many people say it's not enough to pull just the sugary soda and not all soda. Some parents are upset that they are interfering. The comments in this article here, have many people who are for it but say it's not enough. It's an interesting topic and I would love to hear what you have to say. Tell me, are they doing the right thing or is it too little too late?

Fun Family Game for Everyone

Finding games that are fun for all ages in the family are sometimes hard. A preschooler will not enjoy a game the same way an adult would. We just bought a new game for my 8 year old daughter. It looked fun and something we might all enjoy as a family. After dinner we sat down to play the game. We had a blast. It didn't matter how old you were. My pre-teens enjoyed it as much as my little ones. Even dad was getting in on the game and laughing.
Don't make me laugh Jr. was a success. We even played the game with all her little friends for her birthday. It was a perfect party game. The whole point of the game is to act silly and try to make people laugh. Everyone starts out with a straight face, the player chooses a card and has to act it out. Some are simple, some are group activities.
One of the things we didn't expect, was to come to the end of the board and want to keep playing anyhow. This game rates #1 in our family right now. How about you? Do you have any fun family game recommendations?

Reading Builds Bonds

It is recommended you start reading to your baby before it is even born. It's not so much as they understand what you are saying, but they are hearing your voice. Reading is a calm soothing sound for babies. Not only as they grow do they begin to watch your facial movements and mouth, but they seem to find so much joy in how you read to them. As your child grows she will surely have some favorite books. Many favorites for little ones are repetitive short books, and interactive books.

Here are a few that your home library should have.

Pat the Bunny  By Edith Kunhardt Davis

GoodNight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown

Jiggle Joggle Jee By Laura E. Richards


Snuggle Me Snuggly By Karen Baicker


Tumble Me Tumbly By Karen Baicker

How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight? by Varsha Bajaj


Sheep in a Jeep by Margot Apple

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney

While there are many more wonderful books out there to read to your child, these books will give you a good start in building fun reading time into your day. 
 

 

Mothers of Preschoolers

Are you a mother of one or more preschoolers? Then you may understand the need moms have for adult conversations. MOPS is a national group that has local chapters meeting in almost every town. At MOPS you will find other mothers of preschoolers who know what you are going through. You will also have many veteran mom's of preschoolers who can answer questions and give you direction.
During the MOPS meetings your preschool child will be entertained in a MOPPETS class. This class frees you up to visit with other moms. MOPS programs provide a community atmosphere which is enhanced with creative community projects, teaching and lively discussion.

Find a local MOPS near you and get involved.