SMMART TIME-OUT: Halloween Safety

Halloween is right around the corner. We just put the finishing touches on our front porch (orange lights, black lights in our sconces, cobwebs, spiders and pumpkins).

Here are some great safety tips word-for-word from:

http://www.halloween-website.com/safety.htm

Halloween Costume Safety Tips:
Wear flame retardant costumes.

Make sure your Halloween costume is colorfast so the color doesn't run onto your other clothes if it rains.

Try on costumes before Halloween to allow time for altering.

Hem your costumes so you don't trip and fall.

Apply reflective tape to your Halloween costumes.

Avoid cumbersome masks. Use make-up instead.

Make-up should be hypoallergenic and non-toxic.

Wear comfortable, practical shoes.

Double tie your shoelaces so you don't trip.

Keep your costume and wig away from candles.

Don't carry fake swords, guns, knives or similar accessories that look authentic. Make sure they're flexible and cannot harm anyone.


Trick-or-Treating Tips:
Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries after dark.

Take along a cell phone.

Wear identification that's easy to read.

Always trick or treat in groups, accompanied by an adult.

Follow a curfew and take a watch with a backlight.

Plan your route ahead of time.

Stay on the sidewalks and out of the streets. Cross only at intersections and designated crosswalks.

Walk. No running.

Don't trample through flower beds and gardens.

Watch out for open flames in jack-o-Lanterns.

Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods.

Walk with your head up and be aware of your surroundings.

Only visit well lit houses. Don't stop at dark houses.

Don't enter any houses unless you know the people.

Carry a spare Halloween bag -- in case yours breaks or you fill your original one.

Don't approach unfamiliar pets and animals.

Don't cut across yards and stay out of back yards.

Follow traffic signals and don't jaywalk.

Always watch for cars backing up or turning.

Review the "stop, drop and roll" procedure in case your costume catches on fire.

Never accept rides from strangers.

Respect other people and their property.

Be polite and say "thank you."

Don't eat any candy until it's inspected for tampering under bright lights.

Avoid candy that has loose wrappings, is unwrapped, has puncture holes, or is homemade.

Small children should not be allowed hard candy they may choke on.

Report any suspicious or criminal activity to an adult or the police.

Consider having a party instead of Trick or Treating.

Happy Trick-or-Treating!!!

SMMART TIME-OUT for Tidbits

Already plotting and planning your St. Patrick's Day morning?  This Shamrock egg-over-easy will be a hit!

Crack an egg inside a sliced green bell pepper ring. Cover on low heat until the yolk pinks over.

BTW, for another morning's breakfast, cook your egg-over-easy inside a fresh onion ring slice...very yummy!

 SMMART ASPIRATIONS...Do you remember?

Do you remember what you loved doing when you were little?  What did you dream about being as you sang your heart out in the bathtub, poured line after phrase into your poetry journal, or raced your friends from the school door to the end of the block?


I remember sitting in front of the mirror running lines from "Annie", or repeating the same phrase over and over until I felt I had pinned the exact emotion required...basking in the rush of Starlight Express or so deeply devastated at Eponine's denial by Marius in Les Miserables. 


I took a drama class in 8th grade and the teacher encouraged me to try out for Summer Institute for the Arts Drama School...I attended for four summers...the best summers of my life as a youth!  But then, so torn between my left and right brain...decided that drama wasn't a practical vocation (not likely to pay the bills and very likely to provide immoral roles and opportunities).  That's how I saw it anyway.  I can't say I'm sorry I didn't pursue the stage.  I guess I figure that hobby finds a way to be satisfied in ways other than Kennedy Center lights, and can be pursued when the little ones aren't so under foot.


Whoa...I usually like to listen to others spill, rather than bare my own soul.  So, back to the point ... Disney on Ice is comin' to town...and one of our own, Janusz McKinnon, from Bountiful is skating in the cast!  I thought I'd share some of his inspiring story.  He loved skating, he pursued it, he's living part of his dream.

JANUSZ JOHN MCKINNON

HOMETOWN: Bountiful, Utah

AGE YOU BEGAN SKATING: 8 years old
WHY DID YOU START SKATING? My parents took my older brother and me to a public skating session at the Bountiful Recreation Center, and both of us liked it so we started to take the Learn To Skate classes.
SKATING ACHIEVEMENTS (Competitions/awards/tests): I skated in numerous regional, sectional and national competitions. I have passed my Gold Freeskate and Gold moves in the field test.
LIST YOUR INTERESTS/HOBBIES/FAVORITE PASTIME: I played a lot of different sports when I was growing up other than ice skating. I played hockey and football in high school. My favorite pastime is hanging out with my friends and just relaxing whether it be going up to the mountains or just relaxing on the couch.
ROLE MODEL(S) (Skating or otherwise): I would have to say Scott Hamilton. I have looked up to him for a very long time. He is a really nice person and is real.
TOUGHEST CHALLENGE (During skating career): Actually after I had surgery on my ankle it took me three years to finally come back and compete for the last time in November. It just took a long time getting the motivation to start training again when I knew that I wasn't going to win or anything. I just ended up doing it for myself and had one of the best times skating and seeing all the people that I had competed against three years earlier.
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS: Eventually I want to graduate college and get my degree in athletic training. Besides that, I eventually want to be a skating director at an ice arena.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO KIDS WHO HAVE A DREAM/DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE SKATING? Don't quit when everything looks like it is going wrong. Because, no matter how hard it is going to be at times, it is well worth it when you reach your dreams.
IF YOU WEREN’T A PROFESSIONAL ICE SKATER, WHAT MIGHT YOU BE DOING FOR A LIVING? I would probably be an athletic trainer or own my own dance club.
WHAT YEAR DID YOU JOIN FELD ENTERTAINMENT? I started in August 2003.
HOW DID YOU AUDITION? I auditioned while the Jungle Disney On Ice show was in Salt Lake City. My coach Karel and his wife Amanda set up an audition with their friend who was the performance director.
WHAT DID YOU DO PRIOR TO JOINING FELD ENTERTAINMENT? I was coaching ice skating lessons in Ogden, Utah, at the Weber County Ice Sheet. I was also working for a security company at different special events such as concerts, U of U football games and many other things.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT PERFORMING? Being able to see the kids in the audience going crazy with excitement about seeing the different characters in the show. Making people smile is what I have always liked to do when I am skating.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT ICE SKATING? Being able to do something that most people that I know can't. I like the jumping aspect of the sport and over time I finally figured out the spinning part also.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SKATING STYLE? My skating style isn't too graceful. I just skate how I want to. I like to take all the things that I have learned from the different coaches and add it into my own skating style.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE AUDIENCE TO GET FROM YOUR PERFORMANCE? I want them to enjoy what they are watching and leave with a smile on their faces.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING ON TOUR? The chance to travel all over and meet so many different types of people
WHAT COUNTRIES HAVE YOU PERFORMED IN WHILE TRAVELING WITH FELD ENTERTAINMENT? Since this is my first year so far, just the United States. I think that will change the longer I am here.

HOMETOWN INFORMATION

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? I grew up in Bountiful, Utah.
WHAT MAJOR CITY IS IT NEAR? Salt Lake City
HOMETOWN CLUB WHERE YOU TRAINED/NAME OF COACHES: I trained for about 13 years at the Bountiful Recreation Center. The home club there is the Utah Figure Skating Club. The past three years I have been skating at the Weber County Ice Sheet. The Wasatch Figure Skating Club is at that arena. In Ogden, my coach is Karel Kovar.
NAME OF HIGH SCHOOL/YEAR GRADUATED/LOCATION: Woods Cross High School, graduated 1996
NAME OF COLLEGE/YEAR GRADUATED/LOCATION/MAJOR: Weber State University, not yet graduated, Ogden, Utah, Athletic Training

REMEMBER...to check back for the SMMARTideas Disney on Ice Giveaway!

SMMART TIME-OUT: Fire Safety

Did you know that you are supposed to change the batteries in your smoke detector every six months to a year? Can't believe I didn't know this! (Maybe I did once upon a time, but just forgot:) It kind of sucked the wind from my lungs when I heard the fire chief remind us at my pre-schooler's last field trip. There were some other great reminders too...thought I'd share a few to make sure that we're all Fire Safe!

-Make a FIRE ESCAPE PLAN from your home and PRACTICE with your family. I think it would be a good idea to practice every six months when you're changing the batteries in your smoke alarms. Here is a link to help you plan your fire escape plan: http://www.sparky.org/safety_tips.html

-Help your children become aware of what a fully suited FIRE MAN LOOKS LIKE and teach them to not hide from the possibly scary looking man, but to trust him to help your child.

-Here are some great SAFETY DISCUSSION POINTS to share with your children:

http://www.firesafety.gov/kids/discuss/index.shtm

- TEST YOUR FIRE ALARMS MONTHLY. Let your child be involved in pushing the button and testing the alarms to make sure they're working. The fire chief showed us a fire alarm that, when activated, sounds a voice-alert. Here is a review on the KidSmart fire alarm-you decide if it's better. Be sure to remember a CO Detector too! (Some alarms come 2-in-1)

-Teach your child how to "STOP, DROP and ROLL" while covering their faces, and Feel doors if they're hot or cold before exiting.

I think a great activity to share with your children is to show them these hazardous room pictures at http://www.firesafety.gov/kids/lesson/lesson_plan_hfs.shtm and discuss the fire safety mistakes. You could print the list of mistakes and then cut them into strips. Take turns choosing a strip and finding the mistake in the picture.

If you haven't had a chance to visit the fire station with your child, plan a field trip there and invite some neighborhood friends. Our fire station did an excellent job of sharing some life-saving ideas with our children, and reminding MOM of what I need to do to ensure that my family FIRE SAFE!

SMMART TIME-OUT for TIDBITS: Irlen Syndrome

Have you ever heard of Irlen Syndrome?

Sometimes children and adults are misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD when it’s a matter of not being able to focus when reading black words on white paper. Often, these individuals get frustrated, have a hard time focusing, may get migraines and exhibit many prohibitive behaviors that may appear like they don’t have a long attention span or just don’t care.

Those affected by Irlen Syndrome may complain that the text they are reading is blurry, wandering, jumping, swinging, changing places or disappearing. Check out this link to see what reading may be like for these individuals: http://irlen.com/distortioneffects.php

Over 20 years ago, Helen Irlen discovered “that a subgroup of individuals showed a marked improvement in their reading ability when reading material was covered by colored acetate sheets. For the next five years, Ms. Irlen worked on refining her discovery, developing diagnostic testing instruments, and patenting a set of colored filters.”

My friend, Roxanne, was telling me about her experience with a very dear friend who suffered from Irlen Syndrome. He would rub his eyes and often cry from frustration and pain. He was such a smart young man, but because he thought the fading, blurry text was “normal” didn’t know to explain what was happening as he would read. To make matters worse, the “blackboard” once used in school was a whiteboard…so he couldn’t follow along with the class or read instruction written up on the board. He was labeled as an ADD or ADHD kid by those who didn’t understand what was going on. After some love, understanding and investigation, his mother and Roxanne discovered he was suffering with Irlen Syndrome. Now his teacher runs his tests off on a certain color of paper and he has colored gels that he places over the pages of his text books.

Yes, colored plastic overlays on top of black text/white paper or even colored lens glasses can drastically improve reading ability for individuals affected by Irlen Syndrome. It is amazing that something so complex can be treated so simply.

Look here to see a list of symptoms and disorders that may be misdiagnosed, but are actually part of the Irlen Syndrome. http://irlen.com/index.php?s=who

SMMART TIME-OUT FOR TIDBITS: Summer Reading Club

This summer our Tuesday mornings have been greatly anticipated as "Summer Reading Partay Days".

..."Hurry and get dressed, or you'll miss your reading partay!"


..."Hurry and eat your breakfast, or you'll miss your..."

Plus, it was another way to bribe my child to accomplish simple everyday tasks. (Oh, and I do know how to spell "party", I just like saying it like: "PARTAY!")

My neighbor, Miriam, is...well, yes, I'll say it!...GENIUS!

She organized and instituted a Summer Reading Club for a few of the neighborhood kids, ages 3-6. Miriam gathered a group of 9 moms that wished to participate.

• -We settled upon a "Nursery Rhymes" theme and were to provide 2 hours of projects, songs, books, role-play, snacks...that pertained to the nursery rhyme of our choice. In the past, Miriam organized a learning club where one mom hosted a Science morning, Reading morning, Art morning...
• -Each mom hosted the group of 13 children once in their home.
• -Miriam sent out to each mother the list of moms and their contact info, the list of children and their ages, the schedule of "Reading Club" dates and the nursery rhymes pertaining to each date.
• -Then we decided upon some basic guidelines:

Reading Club Rules:

1. If you or your kids are sick on your scheduled day, you will need to choose a day to reschedule.
2. You will only be hosting one time. That means 8 times you get a break from your kids!!
3. Each time it will be for 2 hours. From 9:00-11:00am. All story Club days are at this time.
4. Get another adult to help you or a couple of teenagers. With kids this young it's great to separate them into smaller activity groups and have them rotate.
5. All kids need to bring a water bottle with their name on it.
6. You provide the snack. It is fun to have it related to your theme.
7. Take pictures if you have two seconds to remember that.
8. Remind your own child before each time that this is NOT playgroup. They will not be able to wander the homes, get out toys as they please, etc. There will be down time-but it will be fairly structured (playbreak, or related movie clip) and the kids need to plan for this.
9. If a child is too difficult to handle, his/her mom will be called and asked to come help.
10. It's a good idea to have activities for them to go do when they are done with the projects-like playdough, books, coloring, etc. (I found that the children who are finished enjoy being helpers to help the other children finish up their projects.)

I was a little frightened to think about hosting 13 kiddos in my home for two hours! What if they are jumping on my couch? coloring on my carpet? or torturing the goldfish?

I must say that those kiddos were perfectly polite little people! It was a great experience! (Be sure to plan well and have everything cut out, available and ready to go.)

It was sooooo nice to have a structured learning time each week during the summer for my 4 year old...and she was able to socialize with and make some new friends.

Each mom came up with some great, creative ideas and projects for the children to experience.

So, I sure hope Miriam invites me again next summer to join in her learning group rotation! (Hint, hint...if you're reading this, Miriam.)

Lisa

SMMART TIME-OUT FOR TIDBITS

I think that this would be a fun idea for a birthday party...all different colors of crazy straws (names written on their water bottles with a permanent marker or tear off the label and tape on your own).

Poke a small hole into the top of a water bottle cap (The Costco Kirkland brand little water bottles have a cap that allows for easy poking). You can use a small screw driver, ice pick, meat thermometer...just be careful.

The hole should just be big enough to squeeze in the crazy straw...and instant FU N !

Lisa

SMMART TIME-OUT FOR TIDBITS: LOST

I was waiting for a prenatal check-up and happened upon an article in American Baby Magazine by Heather Swain entitled:
“Separation Anxiety: What should your child do if she gets lost?…5 Simple Things…”

1- Teach your child to stay put!
“Preschoolers think of a stranger as someone who’s ‘scary’ or ‘bad’, so a friendly or nice person may not be seen as a threat by a young child…teach kids never to go anywhere with anyone without asking their parents’ permission first.”

2- Teach your child to call your name-your real name.
“…preschoolers should learn the first and last names of their parents or any other of their caregivers. You have to repeat this information to children over and over again to help them remember it. Then if they ever become lost, they can tell someone who their parents are…Predators are looking for the kid who is not drawing attention. The kid yelling for her mom is too much trouble.”

3- Teach your child to ask another mom for help.
After your child calls your name, but you don’t return, “the next step is to ask for help…Children this age should ask another mother with children for help. (Older children can learn to ask police officers or store clerks, but preschoolers can’t yet distinguish uniforms from other types of dark clothing.) …Women will generally commit more time to helping your child because men are afraid that if they help they’ll be targeted as a predator.”

4- Talk about safety in your daily life.
“We have to keep our fears in perspective and talk to our kids calmly about how to keep safe…We don’t say to a kid, ‘See that truck? It’s trying to run you down!’ Instead, we give kids positive, empowering rules for safe behavior.

5-Role-play with your child.
“Talking about safety is key, but … a better approach is to practice through role-playing…Focus on positive things a kid can do to find a parent rather than how they can stop a bad adult from taking them away.”

Hope you find some of these tips useful.

Lisa

SMMART TIME-OUT FOR TIDBITS: CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

I'm sharing next week's post a little early, in time for Valentine's Day. My sister sent me this recipe e-mail from Hawaii...don't know if it's made it around the loop to everyone yet.

Anytime you are baking or cooking with your child, it's an excellent opportunity to learn math skills with measuring cups and measuring spoons. Compare the size of 1cup to 1/2 cup to 1/4 cup. Let your child pour 1/4 cup into 1 cup until the 1cup is full.

Of course, involve your child in the recipe...cracking the egg, pouring in ingredients, sprinkling a few chocolate chips on top.

Science comes into play as you combine dry ingredients and then add the wet...observe texture and let your child feel the mixture as she stirs. Then it's fun to watch in the microwave as the heat expands the mixture and the cake batter rises.

The original recipe is to be cooked in a tall mug. I separated the batter into 3 ramekins and microwaved all 3 together. It worked beautifully...especially with an extra helping of powdered sugar dusting over the top of the finished product (thanks to my 3 year old helper).

Serve with a dallop of vanilla icecream on top if you like...I like.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 Tb Flour
4 Tb Sugar
2 Tb Cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tb Milk
3 Tb Oil
3 Tb Chocolate Chips
Small Splash of Vanilla Extract
1 Lg Mug

· Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well.
· Add the egg and mix thoroughly
· Pour in the mil and oil (Add in chocolate chips if you like)
· Put mug in microwave and cook for 3 min on High (1000 watts)
· The Cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed!
· Allow to cool a little and tip out onto a plate if desired. Serve a la mode.
· EAT!

And why is this the mots dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from a chocolate cake at any time- day or night!(Unfortunately I don't know who to credit this recipe to, so if you know, let me know and I'll give props where they're due.)

Lisa

TIME OUT FOR TIDBITS: SMMART GINGERBREAD HOUSE

This is hands down the best gingerbread recipe for making a Gingerbread House.

SMMART SCIENCE: Talk about the different forms that a solid can take when you observe the dough form of a solid and the baked cookie solid form. Also, take notice that a solid can be a powder when you observe the spices. You can talk about how many ingredients come together to form a mixture and make something new.

SMMART MATH: You can count the number of candies that it takes to cover the roof, make a path, or circle the doorway. Create shapes with candy to form the windows, doors and designs.

SMMART MUSIC: Turn on some holly-jolly music to enjoy while you enjoy time together.

SMMART ART: You are creating a gingerbread masterpiece...colors, shapes, patterns.

SMMART READING: Use any left over icing to pipe out your child's name in cursive. Pipe the name out on wax paper and let it sit until its hard. Then peel off the wax paper and your child can eat his name.

Gingerbread House Dough (courtesy of my friend Kindy)

6 and 3/4 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 c light or dark corn syrup
1 and 1/4 c packed brown sugar
1 c margarine or butter
1 Tb cinnamon
1 and 1/2 tsp ginger

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix dry ingredients and spices together in a mixing bowl.
-Combine sugar, corn syrup and butter in a pot and heat until melted while stirring continually.
-Pour heated mixture into dry mixture and combine well.
-Cool the dough so you can handle.
-Pour dough out onto floured counter so dough doesn't stick. Kneed dough until workable and ready to roll out.
-Roll dough out into 1/8 to 1/4" thick. Cut dough into pattern. You can search for a pattern of your choice online. (You may also wish to cut out shapes of snowmen and Christmas trees to adorn your Gingerbread House yard.
-Bake 8-10 minutes on Parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

(If you wish to use the scraps, bunch them together in a ball and microwave for a few seconds until the stiff dough becomes pliable again)

Makes 4 to 5 homes the size in my picture or many little houses.

Royal Icing

3 level Tb meringue powder
4 c powdered sugar
5-6 Tb water
(*optional: 1 Tb corn syrup for shine)

Beat on low 7-10 minutes till forms peaks

Makes 3 cups

Happy Holidays!

Lisa

SMMART TIME-OUT FOR TIDBITS: DINNER TIME

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I recently attended a seminar where Becky, a registered dietician, spoke to an audience of women about preparing healthy meals for the family. She also discussed the value of helping your family appreciate the importance of eating dinner together as a family. She had a few suggestions to help make dinner a special event:

-Let your child choose from a variety of fun tablecloths to set the table

-Use fun, colorful placemats- personalized to each person in the family

-Try using “school lunch” trays to serve dinner

-Set the table with different styles of plates, or a “your special” decorated plate, or special birthday plate

-Take turns pulling conversation starters from a “Conversation Pail” (“What do you like about school?” “If you could change places with your sibling for a day, what would you like best?” “What was the best and worst part of your day today?”)

-Read excerpts from books such as: 365 Manner Every Kid Should Know, Sheryl Eberly or 10 Minute Life Lessons for Kids, Jamie C. Miller or 100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families, David Niven


Here are some other ideas (more can be found on the “Studio 5” website at: http://studio5.ksl.com/?sid=1840540&nid=54)

-Place big utensils on the table (ladle, noodle spoon, tongs, spatula) instead of silverware

-Use chopsticks instead of silverware

-Feed the person on the left his dinner from your plate

-Food color in certain foods (red mashed potatoes for Valentine’s Day, green scrambled eggs for St. Patricks)

Lisa

TIME-OUT FOR TIDBITS

I thought I'd tip you onto a product that we are enjoying. "Elmer's Squeeze n' Brush Paints" are great for the novice painter and great for making posters too. They're quick and easy and contain messes to a minimum.

Set up an easel for your little Picasso. You can create your own easel. Use a large piece of cardboard or purchase a foam board and prop it up against a chair. Place an old sheet under the board. You can use hair claws, those black paperclip clamps, or twist two small tufts of the sheet and wrap them with masking tape to create a support at the base of your foam board so it doesn't fall.

Tape individual pieces of paper onto the sturdy foam board.

Put an old, long T-shirt on your child. Pull loose hair back and let your child paint whatever she imagines.

Now, that's a cute little Picasso!

Lisa

TIME-OUT FOR SKILLS

Your child is growing and reaching new milestones. Practice new skills with your child that she should be learning to accomplish.

Study a list of skills that your child should be able to perform at her age. There are many skills lists to be found on the internet with a simple search. Here are a couple of websites that provide important milestones for your child:

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/big-kid?pn=Article%20page&intcmp=Nav_Global_Bigkid
ParentCenter website (copyright of BabyCenter)
*You can click gray timeline (across top of page) to find what milestones your child may be reaching at her age. The timeline goes from “pregnancy” to “9 years”.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/interactive/index.html
CDC Website
*(from Caring For Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to age 5 by Steven Shelov and Robert Hannermann by the American Academy of Pediatrics)

Lisa