Stay-at-Home Parents

The Evolution of the Toy Box

Jul 18, 2008

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With toy organizers now a high-growth industry, there's no excuse for toys all over the house.

When we had one child and approximately 2,000 toys, we had several large toy boxes throughout the house. My philosophy was "the bigger the better." Each one held a huge number of toys, one was an old cardboard moving box that was bulging on the sides. Heaven help you if you wanted Batman's left boot, which was buried deep in the rubble.

When we had two children and approximately 6,000 toys, I had the idea that we should separate them into categories. One toy box had the super heroes, another had the cars, another had building blocks and such, and the big cardboard box was retired and replaced with a big plastic box.

When we had three children and approximately an infinite number of toys, my passion for organization kicked into high gear and I bought some storage units and started filling the bins and baskets with toys. Not quite obsessing into alphabetical order, I did however get some enjoyment out of separating dolls and doll clothes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and cars, trains and anything with wheels.

I'm not saying the toys all stayed organized or even that they all got put away at the end of every day, but my toy storage solution was a saving grace to me as a stay-at-home mom who lived, ate, slept and worked inside the house.

You don't have to be an organization freak like me to get excited about organizing your kids' toys. Take a trip to Target or your favorite store and take a look at what's out there now. Online stores like Clutter Free Kids can give you some great ideas.

Now get those toys picked up!

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Jul 11, 2008

Music to a Parent's Ears

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Research shows music is good for kids in so many ways.

I learned so much researching The Argument for Music Education. I've known for a long time that music is good for children for lots of reasons, from birth (or even pre-birth, some believe) through college. But what I didn't know is the correlation between music lessons and higher SAT scores, better math grades and better academic success overall.

In my opinion, the best school districts are those that put a high value on arts education. My own children, in the Fayette County schools in Lexington, Kentucky, were required to take humanities courses starting in middle school. My son was required to attend some type of arts performance or event monthly during his junior year, and their middle school and high school had orchestras, bands and choruses that were top notch.

After reading up on the benefits of music education, it made me glad we offered our children lessons in guitar, piano, clarinet and bassoon, even though there were times when nagging them to practice became something I dreaded.

Now that my children are older, I'm glad we stuck it out and kept the music playing - on one instrument or another - in our house all those years.

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Jul 4, 2008

Moving Day, Moving Year

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As the mom in a move, you're in charge of positive attitudes.

I moved this week and as anyone of you who have ever relocated to a different state or region, you know things are pretty crazy around my house right now.

I've done this before, seven times, so I have lots of advice on moving. This time around I did my best to follow my own advice, but by Day 2 in the new house, I once again found myself surrounded by boxes full of completely unrelated things, near tears, the kids complaining that they were starving, and my husband griping that I didn't get rid of enough junk before we moved.

Moving with kids is a particularly difficult task, because you can't just hole up in the house and organize your kitchen cupboards and put things away. At some point and at regular intervals, you'lre going to have to take the family exploring in your new neighborhood, find something fun to do, and cook an occasional meal.

As the mom in a move, it's not only your job to reinvent a new household, but you're also in charge of attitudes - keeping your own positive and convincing your kids that this is a good place, an adventure and a new start.

I'm still only on Day 5, but I'm not doing too badly. I found two nearby Starbucks for my daughter and tonight we'll go to the beach to watch fireworks. The boxes will have to wait.

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Jun 26, 2008

Be Safe on the Beach

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If you're only an occasional visitor to the ocean, be aware of the hazards and dangers, and keep your vacation a happy one.

My kids were at a Florida beach for spring break this year and my 17-year-old son and I were walking along the beach when we saw what looked like a blue water balloon.

"Is it alive?" he wondered aloud.

"Of course not, it's a water balloon," I said, convinced that its bright, vibrant, blue color was not something found in nature.

Well, as you can imagine, it wasn't a water balloon. And it was alive. It was a man-o-war, which can be dangerous to clueless midwesterners who poke and prod what they think is a piece of litter.

My son and I and are a perfect example of how hazardous an occasional vacation day at the beach can be. Unfamiliar with sea life and its dangers, water conditions, the power of the sun's rays and other beach hazards, anyone who spends 50 weeks of the year on land and splurges for a vacation or two at the beach is a disaster waiting to happen - or at least a day of discomfort from a bad sunburn and a jellyfish sting.

Beach Safety for Kids outlines some beach dangers to be aware of, particularly the sun and its ability to cause sunburn more easily and quickly at the shore. Don't let it get you down. Just pack up that sunscreen and first aid kit, stay near the lifeguards and enjoy your vacation!

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Jun 19, 2008

Sun Protection for Kids

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Failing to put sun block on your children before they go outdoors could be criminal.

The sunscreen industry has been front and center in the news recently.

The new FDA rules on sunscreen, enacted last summer, won't take effect for another year, but the public has been made more aware of the importance of UVA protection on the bottle of sunscreen they buy.

Earlier this month, the devastating impact of failing to use sunscreen was spotlighted by a case in Kentucky. A father was arrested and jailed for letting his 2-year-old son go outside without sunscreen. The toddler had second-degree burns from the sun, including golf-ball-sized blisters on his skin, after being outside for just 90 minutes.

Internet chat rooms and blogs are abuzz with parents saying, "It's about time!" and others asking how a father can be charged with first-degree criminal abuse when seriously abused kids are routinely sent back to their parents.

Regardless of how this case turns out for the Kentucky family, it has implications for parents everywhere. I've always considered sunscreen one of my "Mom's Things to Do." Buying it, remembering to pack it, putting it on the kids, nagging the kids to put more on, and knowing the differences in brands, SPF numbers and types. Now I feel that if I don't do all these things, there could be criminal implications.

This summer, make sunscreen your constant companion. WebMD recommends these sunscreen guidelines:

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors, to allow it to be absorbed into the skin.
Shake well before using and use about an ounce (a handful) to cover your entire body.
Use on all parts of your skin exposed to the sun, including the ears, back, shoulders, the part in your hair where the scalp is exposed, and under the edge of clothing, where shifting might expose more skin.
Reapply sunscreen often throughout the day, especially after getting wet or sweaty.

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Jun 12, 2008

The Largest PTA Meeting

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The National PTA is hosting a live webcast for questions and answers.

The PTA wants to hear what you have to say.

Quite a step up from the PTA meeting where you have cookies and coffee in the school gym, the National PTA will host a live webcast for parents and families, addressing "everyday issues to enhance children's health, safety and educational success."

The webcast will take place at 2 p.m. EST June 17. You can participate by logging on to http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=48895.

The webcast will feature PTA National President Jan Harp Domene and an unnamed guest. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions via email and have them answered during the live webcast. From quick parenting tips to ideas on parent involvement, the live webcast is being touted as a "one-stop shop for parents and families looking for answers on these topics and more." The webcast offers parents who can’t attend the annual PTA national convention June 20-23 an opportunity to have their questions answered.

If you've ever wanted your voice heard on a national level, here's the time, place and technology available to do it.

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Jun 5, 2008

Kids and Politics

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In the United States, from now until the November election is the perfect time to start teaching your children about the political process and government.

Unless you've been living in a cave for the past 16 months, you're aware that we're at the peak of political fever here in the U.S. This past week the party primary elections ended and the general election campaigning for U.S. president has begun.

Your kids are never too young to be exposed to elections and how government works. OK, maybe your toddler won't want to sit and watch CNN with you, but not too far beyond that, children can start learning the ABCs of our political election process.

How can you help expose your kids to the world of politics and government?

Talk about politics at the dinner table. Ask your kids what's one thing they would change if they were president, or if they could have dinner with one president from history, would would it be? Politics is a rousing dinner table conversation.
Watch the news with them. They may not understand most of it, but pick up on something that has a spark of interest and explain it to them in simple terms. Don't be afraid to say you don't understand something. Look it up together.
Take them to vote with you. It's fun, it's cool, it's secret and it's a good chance to explain to your kids that our right to vote is a privilege that many people around the world don't have.
Encourage your children to develop their own opinions about issues and candidates. Tell them they're not being disobedient by not agreeing with your views. Help them to form their own opinions and back them up with supporting facts.

The Professor's House has more suggestions on how to teach kids about politics. If you start early, by the time they're old enough to vote, they'll be well informed and ready to participate in the process.

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Out! Vamoose! Scram! Go Outside!

May 30, 2008

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Parents of the 21st century have an obligation to put their children back in touch with nature.

When I was growing up, my friends and I regularly heard our parents say, "Go outside and play!" - sometimes not in an altogether friendly, encouraging way. When we'd complain that we didn't have anything to do outside, the moms sometimes said, "Go watch the cars go by." It took me years to appreciate the sense of humor of a 1960s housewife.

But we did go outside. We built things out of sticks, played catch with the crabapples from the schoolyard trees, played kickball, built forts and rolled down hills. When all else failed we watched the cars go by.

We didn't know it at the time, but we may have been the last generation to spend more leisure time outdoors than inside. We had TV, but without cable or satellite it wasn't compelling enough to keep us inside for long. And of course, we had no computers, VCRs, DVD players or video games.

Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods warns that we're raising a generation of children who are spending less and less time with nature and fewer hours in free, unstructured play. The result is a serious disconnect between people and the earth, Louv says.

Sometimes it's as simple as opening the back door and taking your children outside for a few hours every day, in spite of the weather or time constraints. Take a walk with your kids, play catch, collect rocks, blow bubbles, draw with sidewalk chalk. Or better yet just let them play whatever they want. Just being outside will help them reconnect with the outdoors.

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Three Cheers for Summer Reading

May 22, 2008

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This summer, read with your kids, for school requirements and just for fun.

What do you think of when you hear the words "summer reading?"

I'll tell you what I think: High school, summer of 1976; it's a week before the first day of school and I'm looking at The Greek Way, The Grapes of Wrath and Romeo and Juliet sitting on my nightstand, still shiny and uncracked (I think Grapes of Wrath was still in the bag from the book store) and wondering where the summer went.

And here's the thing: I loved to read. I read probably eight books that summer, including Gone With the Wind, but three of the best pieces of literature sat untouched until I was faced with an Incomplete in English.

I did get them all read. I'm proud to say I went all through high school and college without ever using Cliffs Notes.

But what is it about summer reading that puts fear and dread in our hearts and yawns on our faces?

While writing The Joy of Summer Reading this week, I started to imagine a student's ideal summer. One in which the required summer reading books were all read over the span of June through August and completed well before the first day of school. And a summer in which many evenings were spent curled up on the couch with a good book and many sunny days were spent lounging in the back yard with an even better book.

Summer is a good time to set some reading goals with your children. The school year is too busy to get caught up on the Harry Potter series or start in on the Magic Treehouse books. But the summer, with its long days and relaxed schedule, is just the right time.

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