Eat, Save, and Be Healthy

Summer brings the wonderful advantage of some unstructured time for children. As the days permit, make sure to use the nature in your backyard for children to learn. Following are some tips that were featured in a newsletter I receive (The Well-Centered Child) and I thought you might be motivated to ponder the possibilities they encourage. For those of us without young children, just remember that being outside is a stress release and a great way to be more active.

*Grow a garden, even a container garden for your child to grow  vegetables or flowers that are theirs to care for and pick. Flowers that work well are zinnias, daisies or marigolds. Vegetables that work well are lettuce, radishes and some tomatoes, they can “grow a salad”

*As reminders for care, make sticks with yarn or ribbon on them to help them to remember. Red ribbon could me “weed me” or blue ribbon could mean “water me”, etc. Move the sticks as needed. As you are showing them what’s a weed, make it a learning experience by asking questions like: Is there more of the weed above or below the ground? Can you find weeds with shallow branching roots? How about one with a long taproot? Who can find the biggest weed?

*When the wading pool needs to be emptied, scoop the water and water the trees instead of just dumping it on the lawn.

*Secure a place outside where children can just dig in the dirt. Occasionally you might hide small objects (as age appropriate) for them to find while digging. 

*Old cups bowls and containers like margarine or cottage cheese are great for molding and playing in the sand or dirt. Let their imagination go!

*Use a bucket of water and a paintbrush as a great activity for them to “paint the house” or “the fence” and watch how the water evaporates (it also is a help in keeping things clean!)

*If your looking for ways to use those outgrown shoes, plant a flower in them. Add a little dirt and try something like dwarf sunflowers in them for a pleasant addition to your garden.

*Who says learning numbers and letters need to be done on paper alone? Use something like a cereal box and cut out large numbers and letters. Take them outside and lay them on the lawn (in a place with permission) and put a couple of rocks on top of the cardboard. After a week, let the child remove the cardboard and observe the yellow grass underneath. Plants need light to produce chlorophyll, which makes them green. They can trace the letters with their fingers and replicate the tracing on the sidewalk with chalk or in the sand or dirt. By the way, the yellow will turn to green again.

*Hollow out part of a potato and fill it with cotton balls and grass seed. Slide the potato with the filled “hat” into an old hose or knee-hi and keep it watered. Soon it will begin to grow “hair”. You can also decorate the potato to be a real “potato head”

Remember children need to have at least 60 minutes of physical activity to increase their heart rate and develop their large motor skills. Set a good example by joining your children in some of their play. It’s good for them to have time to fill on their on by entertaining themselves, but it’s also great for you to spend time with them a get a little exercise too.

In the early years of life it may seem hard to bond or play with your baby.  They are so little and fragile.  While children in their first year, especially those first three months, are focused primarily on eating and growing, there is a lot of developing going on during this time.  Babies are learning about their world and discovering new things all the time.  From physical development—learning to use their arms and feet—to brain development—beginning to see and feel new things—to social development—who is my family?  Who can I trust?—learning and growing are all around.

In a world where the house still has to be cleaned and food still has to be prepared, it can be tempting to set the baby down in a bouncy chair or swing and let them “entertain themselves”.  While this is ok occasionally, it is important for parents to spend time with their babies helping them along in their development.

So what are some things parents can do with Baby?  Here are a few simple exercises for different stages of life.

0-3 months: DANCE WITH BABY.

Moving and swaying while singing or listening to music with baby can help soothe him.  For months he was rocked around in your womb constantly.  Being held closely to your chest is comforting to him, and listening to music helps his sense of hearing develop.

3 months: TUMMY TALK.

As baby is developing his large muscles and learning to keep his head up, it is important to help him strengthen these muscles.  The time baby spends on his tummy is helping do just this.  Some babies may not enjoy being on their tummies, but often if a parent gets on the floor and talks with them at their level, they may be more comfortable.  Baby my begin to push himself up, or may just start “swimming”.  Laugh with him and encourage him as he moves around.

6 months: MAGIC SCARVES.

Scarves can be a great toy to use to play with baby.  One activity is to thread a scarf or piece of fabric through a cardboard tube (such as an empty paper towel tube).  Let it barely poke out and have baby pull it through the tube.  You can add encouragement in this game such as “Where is the scarf?” and as he pulls, “Oh, there it is!”  This is teaching baby hand-eye coordination and object permanence (understanding that objects can still exist even when they cannot be seen, felt or heard)

9 months: EXPLORE!

Your baby is constantly learning about the world- what it sounds like, looks like, feels like and tastes like.  You can help your baby explore by talking to them about the things that they see inside and outside the house and describing it to them.  Let them feel leaves on plants or the grass and explain each thing as you show it to them.

TALK TALK TALK TALK!

Talking is the most important thing a parent can do with their child.  Constantly describing what you are doing, what you see, what you feel around you, help give your baby words to understand and describe his own world.   Studies have shown that parents who talk and read to children are more likely to have a higher vocabulary by the time they enter Kindergarten.

Take part in your child’s development and watch them grow every day!

For more information on development and activities you can do with your baby and toddlers, you can visit the OSU Family Life website: www.families.osu.edu and under “stages of life” choose “infants and young children” (or click here).   You can also check out some of the Gymboree books such as Baby Play or Play and Learn to find more activities to do with baby.

Some of you may be considering the option of leaving your children home during the summer. This is a big decision with lots of responsibility to consider. Following are a few thoughts for you to think about:
*Is your child ready to stay by alone? Can they follow directions? Can they entertain themselves? Are they comfortable being alone in your home?
*Practice situations that they may find themselves in. What happens if they go out to play? Where is acceptable? What happens if they get locked out of the house? What if they get bored?
*Are they only responsible for their care or are there younger siblings they must care for? How do they handle arguments? What are the consequences for disobedience?
*How do they check in with you? How do they reach you in case of an emergency? What is your plan “B” as a backup, who can they turn to for help if you can’t be reached?
*What are your house rules? Are friends permitted over while you are gone?
*How do they prepare meals and snacks, are they prepared to use the microwave or range top safely?
*How structured is their day, do they have additional responsibilities to do before they watch TV or play games on the computer?
*Consider their personal safety and instruct them on what to do if approached by a stranger on the street, or how to answer the door when alone.
Children need this knowledge to be confident in their time alone. Make sure you role play or act out different situations so the child puts this knowledge into action. Children who are mentally and emotionally ready to stay alone have the skills they need to be safe. Communication is essential for everyone to talk about the possibilities and to make the right choice for your family.