Search Results for: blog swimming lessons for you amp your child

Put Kids to Work

My parents were huge proponents of the idiom:  “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.” In other words, my mom and dad hated seeing their offspring sit around when there was work to be done.  And when you’re living in a home occupied by six people, there’s never a shortage of tasks to be completed. For me, summer meant tennis camp, swimming lessons and plenty of chores.  In my dad’s eyes, no job was too dirty for his little girl.  Looking back, I don’t begrudge my father for keeping me and my brothers busy during the dog days of summer.  In … Continue reading →

Encouraging Budding Shutterbugs

In addition to soccer camp, t-ball and swimming, this summer my 7-year-old will be enrolled in a photo workshop for kids. The opportunity presented itself last month and I jumped at the chance to sign-up. Fortunately, my daughter is as excited about the workshop as I am. She loves to take pictures and having someone other than mom giving her instructions on how to snap frame worthy shots is a golden moment in my book. This is not to say that parents make bad teachers. Rather, in many cases, having an expert in the field of photography work with a … Continue reading →

2,000 Days

I wonder if the forest preservation people realize how much paper the average kindergarten class bleeds through in an academic year? I had the equivalent of at least a few hundred murdered trees stacked in my mock mud room courtesy of my just graduated kindergartener. Miles of worksheets interspersed with dozens of art projects, end of the school year autograph books (translation: scrap pieces of paper stapled to form a book with the names of each of my daughter’s classmates scribbled in kindergarten cursive), and mountains of registration material for everything from summer Bible camp to youth soccer sessions. Post … Continue reading →

What is at the Center of Your Family?

In my last blog, I wrote about Jean Liedloff’s book The Continuum Concept. Liedloff spent two years in the South American jungle with indigenous tribes, and she wrote an account of their family life. Many of her principles are also those of attachment parenting. In the book, Liedloff says that the tribal people she lived with went about their business with their babies in arms or on their backs. Babies were integrated into the social life of the tribe. Few people in my city seem to have such a tribe. I’m lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents nearby. … Continue reading →

Is Your Preschooler Overscheduled?

This summer I decided to give my car a break. Instead of pulling in and out of karate, basketball, swimming, piano, soccer, gymnastics, art, cooking, and ceramics class parking lots, our family vehicle has been cooling its wheels in a shady garage. Score one for the aging Nissan… and for the aging mom. The preschooler, well, she’s not sharing our joy. Not entirely anyway. After months (make that years) of juggling a less than relaxed routine of classes, activities, playgroups, and kiddie seminars, I figured I’d trade in the overscheduled routine for a more laid back summer schedule; one that … Continue reading →

Hot Hawaiian Travel Deals: Luaus and Love

It’s been a while, but it appears the traditional Hawaiian luau is headed back to Waikiki Beach. The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa located near downtown Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu recently announced that it is resurrecting the traditional local feast on the shores of the world’s most famous beach. The “Waikiki Lu’au on the Lagoon” is being offered twice weekly, on Sundays and Wednesdays. It includes a lei greeting, traditional luau meal and a Polynesian entertainment extravaganza. Beginning just before sunset guests will be greeted with live Hawaiian music and a flower lei on the … Continue reading →

Is Pool Chlorine Bad for You?

I don’t want to put a damper on your summer fun… but that chlorine in your pool is a pretty powerful chemical. Chlorine can be highly irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract if not diluted. The upside of chlorine: this chemical helps disinfect the pool water. It helps curb algae growth and keep bacteria under control. Swimming in a contaminated pool can be dangerous to your health! The downsides of chlorine: A 2006 study found that children who are prone to asthma are at increased risk of developing the disease if they swim regularly in an indoor chlorinated … Continue reading →

Flood Health: Other Illnesses

When a natural disaster strikes in your area, you have to be careful to prevent illness and other injuries. Safe food and water is a priority. Here are some things the U.S. Centers for Disease Control suggest to help keep you and your family safe and healthy during a flood or other disaster. Avoid floodwater — don’t drive vehicles or equipment through standing water because you don’t know how deep it is. If you will be working in or near water, be sure to wear a life jacket. Prevent mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants or using an … Continue reading →

More International Hotels that Treat Your Kids Like Royalty

Most parents agree that if their children are happy they are happy. These days more and more hotels around the world are latching on to that philosophy and upping their game when it comes to creating kid-friendly atmospheres. Dozens of upscale properties are now targeting tots in an effort to win over their affluent parents. Here are several more international hotels making headlines for their superior kid-friendly amenities: CHINA Just in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics the Commune by the Great Wall hotel has just completed its new children’s facility. The brightly colored kid-friendly structure hosts programs specially designed … Continue reading →

Teaching Kinesthetic Learners

Teaching kinesthetic learners can be very trying for some teachers. Many teachers are still stuck in the thought that students should sit perfectly still and listen. Any movement indicates to the teacher that the student is not listening and learning. However, teaching kinesthetic learners can be very fun. Lessons that involvement movement and activity is usually enjoyed by all students and the teacher alike. While kinesthetic students actually need the movement to enhance their lesson, most other types of learners of students will find the activities interesting and entertaining. When planning a lesson for kinesthetic students involve as much physical … Continue reading →