Luna and Lara: September 2012

Thursday, 27 September 2012

The Story of Luna and Lara

There’s a magical Springdom near Sligo Bay

Where glows Luna by Night and shines Lara by Day

Luna the moon and Lara the sun

Take turns keeping watch over everyone

So close your eyes and get carried away

To where children drink water four times a day

Luna glows brightly and lights up the night

Whilst Lara made sure that their daytime was bright

The Springdom of water is warmed by her rays

The children play happily in them for days

Tabby the Cloud Prince flies on his cloud

To tell you the reason he’s so very proud

“I came down through the rivers and oceans

To tell you boys and girls about a magical potion

When I was born I was given an order

To show you all the wonders from the Springdom of water”

Now Tara the Star Princess has something to say

About drinking water four times a day.

“It helps you do sports and your favourite hobbies

It keeps you cool, strong and clear and cleanses your body

When I was born I was given an order

To tell you all the wisdom of the Springdom of water."

Now Tabby and Tara have a dear friend,

For an Aquanaut’s faithful, right to the end.

“I’m the world’s only Aquanaut and I’m worth knowin’

I keep the pure water in the Springdom flowin’

Water keeps the plants and the animals growin'

I got a lot to do so I'd better get goin'!"

At breaktimes, lunchtimes, bedtimes and tea

Lets drink lots of water for them to see

Drinking more water’s the smart thing to do,

For all the dear children and that includes YOU!

Luna and Lara have a message that’s right

Always drink water from day until night!

Turning Indoor Kids into Outdoor Kids

Growing up, I was an indoor kid. Severely lacking in any form of physical coordination (can you say ‘last girl picked for school sporting teams’), I would rather curl up with a good book or direct my younger siblings in a theatrical performance than hit a ball or climb a tree (which I had a propensity to fall out of anyways!) Most kids have a natural inclination for particular types of play and while this is not necessarily a bad thing, I do believe it is important to encourage children to engage with other playful activities, especially when it comes to spending time outdoors.

And if a call of “Just go outside and play” doesn’t work in your house, here are nine ideas for encouraging your indoor kids to play outside.

1. Take the indoors out: Taking toys that children already enjoy inside outdoors can encourage them to play and explore with them in new ways. Blocks and figurines, dress ups,playdough and other creative materials are all open to a world of new possibilities when taken outdoors.

2. Use outdoor spaces as an extension of your indoor space: A patio, verandah or cubby house can provide shelter for play outdoors during the hotter and colder months, and extend your family’s playful spaces at any time of the year.

3. Spend time together outdoors as a family: Whether it be an evening walk together or involving your children in washing the car, being outdoors yourself is a great way to encourage children to be there too. Here are 25 more ideas for having fun together outdoorsand a great collection of ideas for family friendly weekend adventures.

4. Take time to explore a range of outdoor environments: Think beyond your own backyard when it comes to kids playing outdoors. Depending upon where you live, a visit to the beach, a river, a botanical garden or nature reserve, or even a farm, will provide your children with more of the great outdoors to explore.

5. Make it social: Inviting a friend over to play may be just the incentive your child needs to play outdoors. Set up a fun outdoor invitation to play (or two) and leave them to it.

6. Involving children in outdoor chores: Whether it be washing or walking the dog, pulling weeds, hanging washing or harvesting the vegetable patch, involving children in chores in and around the home is essential for the development of practical life skills.

7. Just add water: Kids love playing with water! As a sensory activity it aids brain development, and as a cognitive activity it lays a foundation for later scientific and mathematical learning, not that kids care about that at all, they just like to splash, pour, stir and get wet! Here are 10 fun ways with water play to get you started.

8. Don’t stress about the mess: For those mamas with a lower tolerance for messy play, being prepared with a tub of water, soap, facecloth and towels by the back door will help to minimise the likelihood of sand, mud and water being traipsed through the house at the end of playtime.

9. Make it a habit: You might like to try instituting a daily ‘green hour‘ as consistently spending time outdoors everyday is important to encouraging a child’s engagement with natural places as playful spaces.

How do you encourage your children to play outdoors?

source: childhood101

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Educate Today = Compete Tomorrow

Monday, 24 September 2012

Battling the Back to School Butterflies

Patience is a virtue...especially at back to school time. Pay special attention to your child to look for warning signs of anxiety. Some children will come straight out with it, by creating a new and life-threatening ailment in their imaginations each morning to keep from going back to school. Other children are far more introspective, but a watchful eye can still pick out the warning signs of anxiety. You know your children best, so you will be best qualified to identify warning signs of back to school butterflies. Whether their summer was jam-packed with activities or filled with complaints about being bored with nothing to do, kids often have a tough time making the back-to-school transition.

As with any new or potentially unsettling situation — like starting school for the first time or entering a new grade or new school — allow kids time to adjust. Remind them that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school and that it will all become an everyday routine in no time.

Emphasize the positive things about going back to school, such as hanging out with old friends, meeting new classmates, buying cool school supplies, getting involved in sports and other activities, and showing off the new duds (or snazzy accessories if your child has to wear a uniform).

It's also important to talk to kids about what worries them and offer reassurance: Are they afraid they won't make new friends or get along with their teachers? Is the thought of schoolwork stressing them out? Are they worried about the bully from last year?

Consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If possible, it's especially beneficial for parents to be home at the end of the schoolday for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don't have that flexibility. Instead, try to arrange your evenings so you can give kids as much time as they need, especially during those first few days.

If your child is starting a new school, contact the school before the first day to arrange a visit. And ask if your child can be paired up with another student, or "buddy," and if you can be connected with other new parents. This will help both of you with the adjustment to new people and surroundings. Some schools give kids maps to use until things become more familiar.

To help ease back-to-school butterflies, try to transition kids into a consistent school-night routine a few weeks before school starts. Also make sure that they:

get enough sleep (establish a reasonable bedtime so that they'll be well-rested and ready to learn in the morning)
eat a healthy breakfast breakfast (they're more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day)
write down the need-to-know info to help them remember details such as their locker combination, what time classes and lunch start and end, their homeroom and classroom numbers, teachers' and/or bus drivers' names, etc.
use a wall calendar or personal planner to record when assignments are due, tests will be given, extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held, etc.
have them organize and set out what they need the night before (homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the door and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms)

Although it's normal to be anxious in any new situation, a few kids develop real physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, associated with the start of school. If you're concerned that your child's worries go beyond the normal back-to-school jitters, speak with your child's doctor, teacher, or school counselor.

Source: KidsHealth and The Pin