Bichons vs Seals

The ultimate battle..... BICHONS vs SEALS!

They both like to play in the snow with their brother.....

They both YAWN!

....both get sleeeepy.....

...and then have to take a nap!

....sometimes they have to tip their heads and look coy!

....and sometimes they both have to look like confused cotton balls.

...or contented, fat, fluffy dudes!

.....and at the end of the day they must succumb to their snowy likeness.

ATTACK OF THE HALLOWEEN SUGAR MONSTERS!!!

Trick or Treat time is Sugar Time, but thanks to some helpful parents, your child doesn't have to be carried off by the Sugar Monsters this year.

KidsHealth asked parents to share how they handle Halloween. Most mom and dads — 82% — set limits using a variety of strategies to keep kids from going overboard on the Halloween treats.

Many parents said that after letting kids indulge in some treats right after trick-or-treating, they limit their kids to a certain number of pieces each day or put the candy stash out of reach and out of sight. Then kids have to ask for it — that is, if they remember that it's there!

One parent tried to limit the amount of sweets while also making sure that it was served up alongside something healthy. "They are allowed to select three items per day from the bag stored in the refrigerator, and they must have a glass of milk or water for each treat. After a week, they usually lose interest in the candy — maybe just coming from the fridge it doesn't taste as good or is harder to chew with the item being cold. Or by the time it comes to room temperature, they've gotten full!"

Of parents who try to limit treats, most said that they successfully kept their kids from overindulging. Those who said that their efforts failed cited a variety of reasons — from kids finding parents' secret hiding places to kids creating secret hiding places of their own. Other parents said that a big obstacle was having different caregivers for kids, from grandparents to babysitters, with different rules for the candy.

Just 15% of parents said that they offered trick-or-treaters healthy non-candy alternatives, ranging from bags of pretzels to small toys like yo-yos and temporary tattoos. About 37% said that they offered toys and candy. Nearly half of all parents just gave out candy.

Parents had a number of good tips to share about candy-limiting schemes that had worked in their houses, ranging from using the candy for craft projects to trades with their kids' dentists for small toys.
Here are some other tips from moms and dads:

• "Feed them before they go out to discourage snacking while out."
• "Tell them about the Halloween Pumpkin that will come by and leave a toy in place of the bag of candy."
• "Toss out the most brightly colored candy!"
• "Let kids know ahead of time the limits and reasons for those limits."
• "Remind the kids that if they don't eat it all now, they'll have more for later. Encourage sharing the candy with friends. Not only does it thin out the candy supply, it enforces sharing."

More Tips and Tactics

Use your best judgment given what you know about your child's personality and eating habits. Before kids go trick-or-treating, try to serve a healthy meal so they're not hungry when the candy starts coming in.
Kids who generally eat just a couple of pieces and save the rest might be trusted to decide how much to eat. But if your child tends to overdo it, consider setting limits.
Other insights for handling Halloween treats:

• Consider being somewhat lenient about candy eating on Halloween, within reason, and talk about how the rest of the candy will be handled. Candy and snacks shouldn't get in the way of kids eating healthy meals.
• If a child is overweight — or you'd just like to reduce the Halloween stash — consider buying back some or all of the remaining Halloween candy. This acknowledges that the candy belongs to the child and provides a treat in the form of a little spending money.
• Be a role model by eating Halloween candy in moderation yourself. To help avoid temptation, buy your candy at the last minute and get rid of any leftovers.
• Encourage your kids to be mindful of the amount of candy and snacks eaten, and to stop before they feel full or sick.

Here are some ideas for alternatives to candy to give to trick-or-treaters who come to your door:

• non-food treats, like stickers, toys, temporary tattoos, false teeth, little bottles of bubbles and small games, like tiny decks of cards (party-supply stores can be great sources for these)
• snacks such as small bags of pretzels, sugar-free gum, trail mix, small boxes of raisins, and popcorn
• sugar-free candy
• small boxes of cereal

Steer clear of any snacks or toys — like small plastic objects — that could pose choking hazards to very young children.
And remember that Halloween, like other holidays, is a single day on the calendar. If your family eats sensibly during the rest of the year, it will have a more lasting impact than a few days of overindulgence.

The 20 Best Snacks for Kids

Parents Magazine has published The 20 Best Snacks for Kids.  So rather than do our own witty, spiffy article, we'd like you to click HERE instead!  Happy Snacking, and don't forget the Luna and Lara (shameless self-promotion...so unbecoming).

Order Online!

Here's your big chance to show your kids you're cool

Give them COOL drinks and may healthy the rule.

There's only one thing that you have to do,

and the Springdom of Water will come straight to you.

Just click on this LINK and it will come to your door,
so you won't have to cart your drinks home from the store!

Learn Your Alphabet

Hard is the road from A to Z,
and puzzling to a curly head,
yet leads to stories green, blue and red.

For every child should understand,
that letters from the first were planned,
to guide us into storyland.

So work hard at your alphabet,
for by that learning you shall get,
to lands where Tabby and Tara are met.

And going where this pathway goes,
you may find at last, who knows?
The Springdom where the water flows.

Where shiny bottles red, green and blue,

are sugar free and good for you.

Sleeves Fit For Royalty

Princely Sleeves

Packaging Europe dubs Luna and Lara's Innovative sleeves "Fit for Royalty".  We assume by royalty they mean Tabby the Cloud Prince, and Tara the Star Princess.  We couldn't agree more, and thank you Packaging Europe.

Kids Nutrition: More is Caught Than Taught

• 

  By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

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At a recent picnic with my extended family, my 8-year-old child and a 12-year-old nephew were discussing the calorie content of a certain food. My mother commented to me that she didn't even know what a calorie was when she was their age let alone be worried about it.

And as a parent, my mother certainly didn't worry about whether I was getting the right number of minutes of physical activity each day.

Times have changed. Obesity and eating disorders are on the rise among children under the age of 12. One might lay the blame on any or a combination of the following: technology, safety, shifts in parents working more or outside the home, or food choices.

Rather than playing the blame game, however, perhaps we need to step back and reflect on our reaction to weight and childhood obesity.

In our well-intended fight against obesity, have we yelled too loudly, sending the wrong messages to children? Put too much emphasis on weight rather than health? Created feelings of anxiety and regret around food and numbers on a scale?

How do you talk to kids about food, health, exercise and weight?

Here are few suggestions:

• Be a role model. Actions speak louder than words. Let your children see you enjoying all food — in reasonable portions and in the context of a nutritious diet.
• Get up and play. Be active inside and outside. Dance, hop, jump, skip. Visit a park. Don't just sit on the bench.
• Be happy in your own skin. Negative talk about your weight puts the focus unnecessarily on appearance rather than health and a positive body image.
• Don't treat food as a reward. Remember food is first and foremost nourishment. This one gets complex as food is ingrained in our culture, making it difficult to separate food from emotions. But try to focus on the occasion (for example, a birthday) and not the food (cake).
• Stay connected. Plan, cook and eat meals together. You can see firsthand how your child chooses foods and portion sizes. Gently guide his or her choices. Watch for red flags of a possible eating disorder, such as eliminating foods or entire food groups, and strange behaviors with food or at meal times.
• Talk about cues. Educate kids about listening to their body's hunger cues rather than eating in response to external cues such as "it looks good" or "I'm watching TV so I need a snack."

As kids grow and mature, their body image and self-esteem evolve. If you have concerns that your child has issues related to weight or food, talk to your health care provider, sooner rather than later.

Source:  Mayo Clinic

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

Educate Today = Compete Tomorrow

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

Baby Animals Colouring Sheet!

Baby Animals Colouring Sheet! Free Download.

Count to 50 Hopscotch! Free PDF Download

Count to 50 Hopscotch! Free PDF Download

"Mom I can't concentrate in school"

W-O-W!  Wiseup-On-Water.  Poor hydration adversely affects a child’s mental performance and learning ability.  Symptoms of mild dehydration include light-headedness, dizziness, headaches and tiredness (18), as well as reduced alertness and ability to concentrate.(19,20)Once thirst is felt, mental performance including memory, attention and concentration can decrease by about 10 per cent. Mental performance deteriorates progressively as the degree of dehydration increases.(19,21,22)  Thirst is usually felt when dehydration reaches 0.8-2 percent loss of body weight due to water loss.(18)  For a 10-year-old child weighing 30kg this is the equivalent to one or two large glasses of water (300ml each).

Water consumption also has an immediate “alerting” and “revitalising” effect.(19)  In schools taking part in the Food in Schools water provision pilot project, teachers reported that “enhanced water provision contributed to a more settled and productive learning environment, as well as helping instill good habits”.(23)

18 Kleiner SM. Water: An essential but overlooked nutrient.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1999:99:201-7
19 Rogers PJ, Kainth A, Smit HJ. A drink of water can improve or
impair mental performance depending on small differences in
thirst. Appetite 2001;36:57-58
20 Sherriffs SM, unpublished data, as quoted in Maughan RJ.
Impact of mild dehydration on wellness and on exercise
performance. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003;57
(Suppl 2):S19-23
21 Gopinathan PM, Pichan G, Sharma VM. Role of dehydration
in heat stress-induced variations in mental performance.
Archives of Environmental Health 1988;43:15-17
22 Sharma VM, Sridharan K, Pichan G, Panwar MR. Influence of
heat-stress induced dehydration on mental functions.
Ergonomics 1986;29:791-99
23 Food in Schools: Water Provision Toolkit.
http://foodinschools.datacenta.uk.net/home.asp?idTopic=0&id
Page=1
1996;5:161-166 

About a Zillion Rainy Day Activities for Kids

Rainy summer days can be a bummer unless you have plenty of things to do to keep your children happy.  Remember, the thing they want most is YOUR TIME, so here are some ideas to use the rainy days to help build a bond with them and have fun too!

• Fill a large plastic bin with different shaped dry pastas dry beans rice whatever you can buy least expensively. Give them cups and "sand" toys and you have a winter alternative to the sandbox. (Spread a sheet under the bin they will get it everywhere then you can just gather up the sheet and dump it back in the bin.)
• Listen to a book on CD from the library or better yet...read to them.
• Camp in the house. One of our tents can be set up without the stakes so we have camp outs in the living room and make smores in the microwave. You can always drape a blanket over a table.
• Make a tower from paper cups as tall as you can. Then remove the bottom piece and watch it tumble.
• Subscribe or go to Family Fun's website. They always have a ton of creative ideas to try!
• Invite some friends over
• Learn something new together.... A foreign language, an instrument, how to sew, candle making, jewelry making, typing, etc.....
• Think up 100 things you can do besides watch TV
• Movie night - a special night a week where we rent a kid-friendly movie and eat popcorn.
• Make a teepee
• Let them sort your spools of thread or stick pins into your pin cushion (if you think he wouldn't hurt himself).
• Write on a white board we all like that!
• Make your own word search puzzles
• Make a book of favorite animals, trees, bugs, etc.
• Kids' Aerobics Video.
• Play basketball with the Little Tikes basketball hoop.
• Line up empty bottles of Luna and Lara (or whatever you have) etc and get a ball and bowl
• Go to the local appliance store and get large refrigerator boxes etc and make big forts (similar to McDonald's playland...okay use your imagination). The kids can have hours of fun running through them turning off the lights and using flashlights getting dad to play monster and even sleeping in them. You can also decorate them with paint or turn them into cars etc.  I have even seen playhouses made that include curtains wallpaper etc. Check your local library for "The Great Big Box Book" by Flo Ann Hedley Norvell.
• Play chase
• Install a chin up bar.
• Set up an obstacle course in the living room or the basement using chairs with pillows over them (kids crawled under) different things to make circles they could step in with different feet a jump rope and a mini-trampoline.
• Play racquetball in the garage or cellar (as long as you don't mind ball marks all over your walls)
• Have an indoor "snowball" fight. Divide; give each one a stack of newspapers yell go and they have to wad up the sheets of newspaper into "snowballs" and throw them. Great fun! Last part is seeing who can gather the most balls into a trash bag!
• Jump on a mini trampoline
• Clean out a drawer
• Clean the house fold laundry do dishes vacuum the rug... - Hee Hee
• Help a child re-organize or decorate his/her room
• Let them sort your cupboards from their favourite food to their least favourite.
• Plan a treasure hunt
• Do a craft
• Use large dry beans (limas etc.) and school glue and let him glue beans onto heavy paper or old folders. (You could dribble out a line of glue in the shape of something fun--a car for example--and then let him press the beans onto it.)
• Save boxes and containers then give them a roll of foil and duct tape and let them create.
• Make & send a card to someone who needs encouragement
• Start a new collection of something (besides dust :o)
• Color
• Make and color paper dolls
• Draw a picture together - take turns adding details
• Grab a pencil a notebook and practice drawing as a family
• Have him draw a picture and tell a story about it (you write down the story) and send it to Grandma.
• Start early to plan homemade gift ideas for Christmas!
• If he or she can cut get some old magazines glue sticks paper and cut out pictures and glue them to paper.
• Finger-paint with chocolate pudding on a paper plate then lick the plate clean :-)
• Work on family photo album together
• Perform an experiment
• Play with the globe
• Make play dough
• Make puppets
• Rubber Stamp
• Bake or cook together
• Bake cookies and invite a neighbor over to help eat them
• If you have a fireplace do a hotdog roast and make s'mores.
• Have a picnic inside on the floor
• Play board & card games!
• Make up your own game
• Charades
• Play ‘How many things can you remember to do?’: Give them a list of activities and make the list longer each time. For example hop to the door knock on it 2 times crawl under the dining room table and do the crab walk back to me. If they successfully complete this then I name 5 things the next time.
• Bake some goodies to take to your community's firemen or policemen & attach a card telling them how much you appreciate their work to keep us safe
• Make a treat or meal for someone going through a hard time
• Write a letter to a relative/friend
• Play dress up
• Put a blanket on the floor and pretend you are on boat fishing etc...
• Play post office
• Playing 'restaurant': make the menus set the table take orders serve
• Play school: you are the student & kids take turns being the teacher
• Play store
• Have a tea party
• Sing
• Grab a pillow and a blanket and lay them in your lap and sing with them.
• Make music (pots and pans etc)
• Tell a story (can't use a book).
• Give them a wide roll of masking tape and let them go to town making "roads" for Matchbox cars.
• Yahtzee or Uno
• K'nex!
• Legos
• Puzzles are contagious. Just start one on the table and they won't be able to keep away from it!
• Learn to do tricks with a yo yo
• Fill the tub or sink w/water & float boats
• Long playtime in the bath (use the baby monitor so you can keep an ear out for any trouble he may have or for if he or she needs you).
• "Washing" dishes at the sink--get a big pan of soapy water some plastic bowls and cups and let him stand on a chair and play.
• Write a story
• Write postcards or better yet a letter
• Make a family "newspaper" of recent events or happenings

Learn your ABC's

C is for Clouds

A is for Apple 

B is for Boat

C is for the clouds sprinkling raindrops on my coat.

D is for Dog

D is for Dog

E is for Eye

F is for Frog as he jumps so very high.

I is for Ice Cream

G is for Gate

H is for Hand

I is for Ice Cream the best treat in all the land.

L is for Luna (and Lara)

J is for Jellyfish, K is for King

L is for Luna whose moonbeams make me sing.

O is for Ocean

M is for Magic

N is for Nose

O is for the Ocean over which the cold wind blows.

R is for Rainbow

P is for Princess

Q is for Queen

R is for Rainbows beaming blue, red and green.

T is for Tree

S is for Star, T is for Tree

U is for Umbrella just in case it rains on me.

W is for Water

V is for Vapor, rising up so high.

W is for water forming way up in the sky.

Z is for Zebra

X is for X Ray

Y is for You

Z is for three Zebras that I saw at the Zoo.

(silly rhymes by The Pin)