Author: Lisa

June 4, 2017

Story Rocks Tutorial

Good morning and Happy Monday! Today I will be sharing my tutorial on how to create Story Rocks. This Story Rocks Tutorial will be the first installment of my new series I’m calling Rocking Motherhood Mondays (great name, right?!). Every Monday, I will post an activity, craft, or insight on various teaching methods to help engage and encourage you and your child through the journey of development and education. My goal is to help you better prepare your child for their future all while having fun! Now back to my current post about my tutorial on Story Rocks…

This idea for the Story Rocks came about a few weeks ago when my mother-in-law brought over a little gift for Miss Sassy Pants: Create A Story Cards (check them out on Amazon… they are amazing and great for long car rides), which my kiddo just loved. The idea is that you draw cards from the deck and then you create a story using the pictures on the five cards you drew. It is a lot of fun and allows the imagination to run wild. Some of the stories my kiddo has come up with so far just blow me away.

Since the cards were such a hit, I decided that we could create our own using rocks. Originally, I had planned to utilize an outside activity that would encourage us to go exploring to find rocks, but we were having such bad weather that I scrapped that idea and purchased crafting rocks instead (don’t judge). Then we just decorated them however we wanted. I did try to encourage a variety of decorations so each rock would be different, but other than that, I just let her do whatever. To say this Story Rocks Tutorial is a blast is a complete understatement. My daughter and I are both crafty and love anything that can include glue, glitter, and the color pink, but this activity doesn’t stop there. There are endless possibilities, which makes it great for anybody… even those that don’t like glitter or for those who are NOT crafty!

Story Rocks Supplies:

Rocks
Stickers – do not use puffy stickers (as seen below) or stickers that do not fully fit on the rock! No matter how many tears are shed… those stickers won’t stay on the rocks!
Googly Eyes – Use the Tacky Glue to attach
Paint – I recommend a satin finish
2 Paint Brushes – one for the Mod Podge and one for the paint
Mod Podge – sparkle
Sequins – I used the Tacky Glue to secure them to the rocks
Tacky Glue
Any other decorations that you can think of or already have on hand.

Tutorial Steps for Story Rocks:

Step 1: Rinse the rocks with water then dry them off

Step 2: Decorate… feel free to decorate all sides of the rock!

Step 3: Mod Podge… I used the glitter Mod Podge and as you can tell they look awesome!

Step 4: Let them COMPLETELY dry

Step 5: Start creating fun stories together!

Here are some of our Story Rocks:

Meet Roxy the Rock… seriously, how adorable is she?! And then there is our buried treasure rock that is covered in “diamonds.”

This project is ideal for any age… all you must do is adjust the difficulty for the age you are working with. Remember that you’re dealing with heavy rocks, so if your little one likes throw things – beware! Also, don’t choose supplies that could be choking hazards if that is an issue for your kids’ ages. Since my focus was for a toddler, I utilized stickers, and crafting supplies that were easier for her to manipulate independently. I also encouraged her to do the work so that she was practicing her small motor control. And lastly, it taught her patience to wait to play with the rocks after they completely dried (this was a challenging task even for me)!

Story Rocks are a great way to encourage literacy. Literacy is how we communicate with each other in our society. The ability to read, write, speak, and understand are all parts that make up literacy. Through storytelling, your child will build on their literacy skills. Learning and understanding word order, comprehension, and narration through telling stories… all while having fun!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial for creating Story Rocks! Stop back by next Monday for the next installment of Rocking Motherhood Mondays.

Cheers to Education!
Lisa

May 9, 2017

15 Tips for Picking Your Child’s Perfect Summer Program

I can’t believe I am already typing this post… where has the time gone? I swear it was just Christmas. However, I will admit, after the amount of rain we have had this winter, I am ready and willing to welcome the summer. School is almost out, which means it is time to pick a summer childcare program for your kiddos. This always seems easier than it is. There is so much to consider when picking a perfect summer program for your child. I decided, as a previous director of a child development center, I would put my experience and knowledge to work and give you my best tips for picking the perfect summer program. Here are my 15 Tips for Picking Your Child’s Perfect Summer Program:

1. Program or Facility Licensing

Is the facility you are enrolling your child in licensed by the State? This is important, because the State ensures things are being conducted the way they are being presented to you. The State also verifies certifications, background checks, and ensures that the program or facility is following the required rules.

It is important to note that each state is different and so it is important for you to understand the laws for your state. For example, in my state, a program running three months or less does not have to be licensed. This means nobody is checking on the facility to ensure it is safe, if the instructors are qualified or background checked, or that child to teacher ratios are being followed. Does this mean you shouldn’t enroll your child? No, but it should be another item of consideration.

Another thing to consider is if the summer program’s location has required fire and health inspections. Again, depending on your state, often licensed programs are required to have fire and sanitation inspections every year.

2. Background Checks

Is everyone working at the program required to be background checked? Does this include parent helpers, volunteers, janitors, and maintenance workers? Or is it only those who directly work with your child?

3. Staff Certifications

What type of certifications are required of the staff (including volunteers)? Are staff required to have their food handler’s card? What type of education is required to run the program? Is any continued education required to maintain their position?

4. CPR/First Aid

Is CPR/First Aid training a requirement? Does each staff member have to have CPR/First Aid training? Does this include parent helpers or volunteers? If so, what type of training does this include… infant, child/adult or just one or the other?

5. Costs & Payments

Nobody wants to put a price on their child, but the reality is it takes money to run a program and you generally (there are always exceptions) need to pay for your child to attend. So, are you able to afford it? If so, how do you pay for it? Are their payment due dates? Does the cost need to be paid all up front? Are there incentives to pay ahead or in a lump sum?

These are important questions, because you don’t want to lose your spot due to a lack of knowledge, nor do you want to rack up late fees for not knowing the due dates. I always recommend asking about discounts. Worst case scenario is they say no… however, they could say yes and save you some money!

5. Snacks and Meals

Who is responsible for providing the snacks and lunches? If the program provides any, what type of food is it? Is it an additional cost? What times are the snacks provided and when do the children usually eat lunch?

These may seem like silly questions, but if your child is used to eating every two hours and the program has a bigger gap, it is something to consider. Maybe you still enroll, but work with the program director to ensure your child has access to snacks if they get hungry.

6. Child to Adult Ratios

What is the child to adult ratio? Does this ratio account for volunteers? Are there times during the day that the ratio can change?

It is important to note that ratios are mandated for licensed programs by the state that I live in. For example, for infants we had 1 adult to 4 infants. You could always have more adults to the 4 infants, but never more infants to the 1 adult. Also, the ratios changed if age groups were mixed or if children were sleeping during nap times.

No matter where you live or what your state requires, it is best to know and understand how the program works so you know what type of care your child is receiving as well as what you are paying for.

7. Age Groups

Will my child be placed in a group according to age or will it be based on something else? What is the age span of the kids in the program? Are there times that the groups are mixed together? If so, for what length of time?

8. Discipline

What form of discipline does the program practice? As the parent, do you agree and support this type of discipline? Does your child need any extra type of care when it comes to disciplining? If so, this would be an incredibly important topic to discuss with the program director prior to enrolling.

9. Schedule & Closure Dates

Are there days that the program will be closed? Are you being charged for those closure dates? Also, what time of day does the program open and what time does the program close?

I would highly suggest getting a calendar of the closure dates so you can be sure you have them marked on your family calendar. It is also important to know how early you can drop your child off and how late you can pick them up. Some programs will charge a late fee if you don’t pick up your child by a certain time. You also don’t want to repeatedly frustrate the staff by being late, because that means they don’t get to go home on time. Ain’t nobody happy when that happens!

10. Education vs. Playschool & Screen Time

Is it an educational program or is it more of a play school environment? Is there screen time allowed? If so, for how long?

At my facility, we did not have any screen time allowed other than the day before a holiday, which was a special treat. We usually had some type of party with treats and fun holiday focused activities and then we would maybe watch a movie. This only applied to the older children, not the babies. However, screen time on a day to day basis was not allowed.

This means you need to decide what you are looking for in a program. Is screen time okay with you?

11. Facility Safety

Is the program you are enrolling your child in a safe building and is it an adequate environment? Do they have appropriate toys and an outside area for your child? Are there enough bathrooms and do they have the appropriate supplies needed to run a program?

These are all questions to consider when selecting your child’s summer program. Some of these may seem obvious, but you might be surprised when looking for your child’s perfect summer program.

12. Parent Responsibility

As the parent, do you have any additional responsibilities to the summer program? Do you have to volunteer a certain number of hours while your child is enrolled? Are you required to provide snacks based on a rotating snack calendar? Will you be expected to help with field trips?

I can’t stress this enough… it is very important to know and understand your side of the agreement when you enroll your child in a program. The more you know and understand, the less likely there will be an issue down the road.

13. Supplies

Are you responsible for buying supplies (art supplies, paper, glue, pencils, markers, etc.) for your child to attend? If so, when do they need to be purchased?

14. Field Trips & Transportation

Will there be any field trips? If so, what type of transportation will be provided? What type of supervision will be on the field trip? Are there additional costs for the field trip?

15. Does your Child Like it?

I know this seems like a silly question to consider, but I cannot stress how important it truly is. Your child is going to be spending a lot of time at this summer program, and if they don’t like it, I highly doubt it is going to work… no matter how perfect the program is!

I realize the above list seems long and overwhelming, but it’s a big deal leaving your child in someone else’s care. It is important for you and your child to feel comfortable, and that you know your child is being left in a safe and loving environment. Knowledge is power!

Cheers to summer!
Lisa

May 2, 2017

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Croissants

Oh man… spring is in the air and Mother’s Day is just around the corner. If you are like our family, we are gearing up for a fun-filled day that includes a delicious brunch and yummy desserts. One of our family’s favorite things on the brunch menu are croissants! Seriously… the buttery goodness, can it get any better? Well, unfortunately for your waistline, it can! Enter… Chocolate Covered Strawberry Croissants! Doesn’t the name just make your mouth water?!

Loosen your belt my friend and cut ties with the bathroom scales, because it is a croissant stuffed with chocolate and fresh strawberries. Then to make your scales scream, there is chocolate drizzled on the outside. You might be thinking that these are too time consuming or expensive to make, but you are wrong! They are easy to make, there are very few ingredients, and they are not expensive (I will note that strawberries this time of year are a little ridiculous in price, but that is just me ranting!).

Ingredients for Chocolate Covered Strawberry Croissants:

1 Package of Pillsbury Croissants
16 oz. container of fresh strawberries
12 oz. chocolate chips of your choice (dark, milk, or white)
2 tablespoons sugar
13” x 9” baking dish
Butter or nonstick spray to grease

Assembly & Baking Instructions for Chocolate Covered Strawberry Croissants:

Read Entire Recipe Before Starting

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Grease 13” x 9” baking dish and set aside.

Step 3: Wash and slice strawberries and set aside. Make sure to cut them small enough so you can fit a few pieces in each croissant.

Step 4: Gather your chocolate chips and set aside.

Be sure to have a decent sized work area when you go to assemble the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Croissants.

Step 5: Open the croissant package, then take the first one and lay it flat in your work area.

Step 6: In the middle of the croissant, put a couple pieces of sliced strawberries and a few chocolate chips and then roll the croissant like you normally would. Repeat with the rest of the croissants.

Step 7: Place the raw croissants in the greased baking dish leaving room in between them, since they will get bigger as they bake.

Step 8: Take the sugar and sprinkle over each of the completed croissants.

Step 9: Place baking dish in the preheated oven uncovered and bake according to the directions on the package, erring on the side of caution, I checked mine around the 7 minute mark to gauge how much longer they needed to bake… keep a close watch.

Step 10: Once they have finished baking, remove from the oven and let cool for 3-5 minutes

Step 11: Take about a cup of chocolate chips and melt them in the microwave.

Step 12: Drizzle the melted chocolate over the tops of the freshly baked croissants.

Step 13: Grab one along with a glass of much deserved champagne and enjoy… just make sure to leave some for brunch!

There you have it… easy to make, bakery-style, delicious Chocolate Covered Strawberry Croissants! I hope you give these delectable treats a try, and if you do, leave me a comment below. If you’re in need of a delicious drink for that special mom in your life, check out this recipe for the Holiday Sparkler, which can be made with or without champagne. I hope everyone enjoys spring and their Mother’s Day weekend!

Cheers,
Lisa

April 30, 2017

Toddler Anger and How to Redirect It

Before children, I wouldn’t have thought a post would exist about adorable & funny toddlers and anger. However, as a parent in the trenches of toddlerhood, toddler anger and I have become BFFs. I have been blessed with two amazing children that are sweet, loving, cute, and super funny. They are also both strong-willed and determined. Once something doesn’t go according to their plan… toddler anger rears its ugly head. Sometimes, it’s not a huge deal and it is easy to redirect. Then there are other times, that is not the case. So, with a ton of trials and FAILS, I have come up with two techniques that work very well for my two kiddos, and thought I would pass them along to you.

1. Give a Hug

Stop everything, get down at your child’s level and give them a big hug. I am talking about a full contact, full of love and understanding, kind of hug. Sometimes, especially when a toddler is emotionally charged, they just need to stop and see that you are not the enemy and that you are trying to help them. It also stops the situation from escalating. Once things have settled down, you can talk with your child about their feelings and provide options to help them control their emotions. Of course, consider the child’s age and abilities when providing options.

The hug option has served me well, especially when my daughter had a limited vocabulary. It was like a reset button to the situation and then we could give it another go, maybe from a different angle. As she has gotten older, and her vocabulary and cognitive abilities have increased, I tend to go with the second technique first, and then end with hug to keep things positive.

2. Smell Your Flower, Blow Out the Candle

Yes, that is what I meant to type. This is a breathing exercise to help relax and calm your child. I was introduced to this technique by a teacher I worked with. Basically, the phrase, “smell your flower, blow out the candle,” is used to help the child understand what you need them to do. A lot of children at this age won’t understand if you just simply tell them to relax and breath. However, by utilizing the statement above, they have a better understanding of what you’re asking them to do.

I suggest getting down at their level and demonstrating. Take your hand and hold it under your nose (like you are holding a flower) and take a deep breath in to “smell the flower,” then move that same hand out in front of your face (like you are holding a candle) and “blow out the candle” to exhale. Have the child do this exercise three times or until the child is calm. Once the anger is under control, and the child is calm enough to talk, proceed to discuss the situation that just occurred. Then I end with a hug!

Research & Results

These two techniques have served me well with dealing with toddler anger. The American Psychological Association states that, “Simple relaxation tools, such as deep breathing and relaxing imagery, can help soothe angry feelings,” (http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/controlling-anger.aspx).

We all know that when we’re angry it’s because something is not going as we wanted it to. As adults, it is easier to control our feelings when this happens, because we have had years of practice. A toddler, on the other hand, is just learning how to navigate these new situations and feelings, so it can sometimes be overwhelming. Remember, it is important for you as the parent to stay calm and know this is not about you. It is your responsibility to guide your child through their emotions and help them learn to deal with them. The earlier a child learns to deal with their emotions, the better equipped they will be to deal with life’s ups and downs.

I hope this helps those in the trenches and maybe prepares those getting ready to enter. Thanks for stopping by and I hope your week is off to a great start!

Cheers,
Lisa