THE BEAUTY WITHIN

 BY Tania Cowling

Providing daycare from dawn to dusk, running to the grocery store, taking care of your own family—does this sound like your busy life?  As nurturers and caregivers, we sometimes forget about our own well-being.

 

Would you think that taking a bubble bath could reduce your risk of heart disease, or maybe a massage could prevent your next cold?  Finding balance and indulging in healthy living is so important to a woman’s life.  The following are some ideas and important information for good health.  Pampering oneself not only nurtures the body, but also renews the spirit—it brings forth “the beauty within.”

 

Recapture Recess and More:

 With the immense demands of childcare, staying fit can be difficult.  However, ‘working out’ is not just about looking good; it’s about feeling good.  Think about how exercise leaves you with a feeling of well-being; a simple walk in the fresh air, a dip in the pool or even a game of catch. 

 

Children know this feeling instinctively.  They run and jump and swing, not because it’s good for their heart or lowers their cholesterol, but because it’s FUN.  So get moving!  Play with the kids. Would you believe that housecleaning counts as exercise?  Invite the kids to help tidy up the toys while you run the vacuum. Sounds like fun, when we know it’s healthy! We can all benefit from the stress reducing and energy enhancing benefits of moderate exercise in our lives.

 

Nutrition=High Energy Eating:

 If you’re lacking energy, and what woman doesn’t from time to time, making changes in your diet can increase your energy level.  It takes a lot of energy to digest fatty foods, so keep your meals and snacks relatively lean.  Include a combination of protein and good carbohydrates in each meal so that you get the energy enhancing benefits of both nutrients.  Here are some anti-fatigue foods any person can enjoy:

• Trail Mixes—with dried fruits, nuts and seeds.  These are high in iron and full of nutrients.
• Fortified whole-grain cereal, low-fat milk and sliced banana—what a perfect way to start the day. Chock full of important vitamins and the banana supplies us with potassium.
• Yogurt with strawberries—this snack gives you a healthy dose of vitamin C.
• Egg sandwich on whole-wheat toast—a nice package of B vitamins, iron, carbohydrates and protein.
• Half bagel with cream cheese---a bonus of calcium.
• Cup of bean soup—a good source of protein and zinc.
• Cut-up fruit sprinkled with chopped nuts.—fruit provides sugar, which the body uses for quick energy, but unlike candy, it has vital vitamins, minerals and fiber.
• Water, Water, and more Water—H20 keeps the body’s blood volume up insuring that ample amounts of the nutrients and oxygen needed for energy get transported to the cells.

 

Keep Your Skin Beautiful:

 

 Exposing your skin to too much sun breaks down the elastic tissues in your skin.  Although you might be tan, you may look older and wrinkled. Don’t let the sun keep you from looking your best or increase your risk of developing skin cancer.  Here are some tips for health and beauty:

• Lather up with sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.  Make sure all areas of exposed skin are covered, including the back of the neck and feet.
• Dress appropriately with long-sleeved clothing and a wide-brimmed hat guarding the face.
• Time is important.  Avoid the outdoors when the sun is highest between 10 am and 2 pm.
• Don’t be deceived.  A hazy day doesn’t block ultraviolet rays, so you can get a sunburn even when it’s cloudy.
• Even if you’re heading to the snowy slopes, apply sunscreen as you can get sunburned during the winter months too.

Pamper Yourself: Our Need To De-stress:

 Stressed out?  Kicking back and recharging your batteries is just what you need, especially when taking care of children.  Leave your problems behind for a short while at least, and give yourself permission to take a much-needed time-out. Here are a variety of stress-busters to get started:

Try Water Therapy--

 

Let your troubles float away!  Baths are high on the list of best stress relievers.  Make a bath long and luxurious after a long day with scented bath salts, candlelight and soft music. What about a jet spa that stimulates a whirlpool or the use of a massaging bath mat that fills the tub with a multitude of relaxing bubbles.  Visualize your cares just going right down the drain.

Meditate--

 

Take a 20-minute time-out and slow down.  Meditation or prayer can help bring you back in touch with your spiritual side.  It’s a very effective method of relaxation, reducing your blood pressure, slowing your breathing, relaxing muscles, and helping to clear your thoughts (resulting in improved concentration).  To meditate, quite your mind and allow yourself to focus on one thing, such as your breathing, or the flame of a candle.  Find a comfortable relaxed position and practice your breathing—visualizing health and renewal with each inhalation and letting out all your stress on the exhale.

 

There are many other effective methods to distress the body and mind, such as yoga, massage, tai chi, reflexology and more. Check with your local community colleges and health organizations for classes and services in your area.

 

I hope you find this article interesting.  Let us know how you relax during your free time. Go over to our Child Care Chat Forum and respond to my post.

 

Tania

CLEARING UP THE PLASTICS PROBLEM

ParentSmart 

by Gayle Jo Carter

As the drumbeat gets louder to ban bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in plastics used to make sippy cups and bottles, I wondered and worried: What exactly do parents, like myself, need to know about safety feeding our kids?

With a recent National Toxicology Program brief showing that BPA may disrupt neural and behavioral development in fetuses, infants and children, I knew that it was high time to clean house.  But of what?

Sophie Uliano, eco-consultant and author of Gorgeously Green, gives us her bottom line:

1.    Always avoid plastics with No. 7 printed in the triangle on the bottom of containers. Safer numbers: 1,2 and 5.

2.    Never microwave baby food in any type of plastic container.

3.    Avoid using plastic feeding utensils.

4.    Use ceramic, enamel or glass plates.

5.    Choose sippy cups, bottles and pacifiers free of BPA’s (read information on packaging when shopping).

6.    Take a second look at canned food because of inner plastic linings, studies show the chemicals in plastic cans leech into formula, soup and pasta.

*Printed in USA Weekend July 4-6, 2008   

http://www.usaweekend.com

I thought this article has very important information for parents as well as caregivers. In the event you did not get this flyer in your local newspaper, I posted it here. We all need to stay informed!

Tania

THE COLOR OF SUMMER

Yellow is a color synonymous with summer. It reminds us of the big, bright sun shining above, giving us warmth and sending us outside to play. Yellow is the color of sunflowers so vivid and lemonade so yummy. Explore the color yellow as you and your group participate in these summer activities.

Yellow Words to Think About:

Banana, butter, yellow cab/taxi, canary, cheese, chick, daffodil, egg yolk, danger sign, duck, yellow dump truck, grapefruit, lemon, omelet, yellow pencil, yellow raincoat, school bus, yellow squash, yellow jacket (wasp) and tiger swallowtail butterfly.

MR. SUN:

Cut sun shapes from yellow construction paper and hide them around a room or outdoors in the yard. Have your children go on a "sun search" to find as many sun shapes as they can. Continue to search until all the suns have been found.

After the search, set up a table with crayons, markers, sequins, faux jewels or anything that shines and dazzles. The children can decorate by gluing these materials to the sun shapes they found.


LOADS OF LEMONS:

Printing-

Cut lemons in half. Place a few folded paper towels in a shallow pan to make a pad. Pour yellow tempera paint on top. Add a few drops of lemon extract (found in the spice section of your local grocery store). Have the children dip the lemon into the paint and press down onto a sheet of paper to make prints. A dark sheet of construction paper would be a great contrast to the bright yellow prints. Smell the lemon scent!!

Make Lemonade-

Exercise your hands as you squeeze lemons together. The reward is a thirst quenching drink that's sure to please any child on a hot summer day!

You'll need:
• 1 part fresh lemon juice • 1 part sugar • 5 parts water • pitcher • ice

• Show children how to squeeze lemons. Encourage them to try on their own.
• Take a taste of this juice; is it sweet or sour?
• Invite children to mix all the ingredients in a pitcher and stir well.
• Pour the drink into cups of ice.
• Questions to ask about this experience: “What color is lemonade? What fruit gives us the juice? How does lemonade taste? Sweet? Sour? Are there other fruits we could squeeze to get their juice?”


YELLOW IN OUR WORLD:

Take a walk and look for yellow objects. Look for yellow flowers, yellow animals, yellow signs, yellow vehicles, yellow buildings, and so on. Take photos if you wish. When you return, talk about the yellow things you saw and invite the children to make drawings of their experience. Bring out the art box and let the children create!


SUNFLOWERS:

Have each child paint a small paper plate yellow (mix a small amount of white school glue in the paint). Lay pieces of yellow tissue paper in the wet paint (to give it a petal appearance). When this process is dried, give the children sunflower seeds to glue in the center of the plate. Staple two giant green construction paper leaves at the bottom. These flowers make great summer decorations for your room or to take home!


TASTE TIME:

Cut bananas, pineapple, lemons and yellow cheese into small pieces. Have the children sample these foods. Now, discuss color, texture and taste. You may enjoy making this recipe together.

Frozen Banana Dazzles-

Cut a large banana into two pieces. Insert a lollipop or craft stick into the cut end of the banana. Place these on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Have an adult melt chocolate chips in a saucepan or use a microwave oven. Dip the frozen banana into the chocolate sauce to coat. Invite the children to roll the coated banana in dishes of candied sprinkles, flaked coconut or chopped nuts. Refreeze until ready to serve.

How did you like this article? Do you have any yellow activities you would like to share? Add a comment below by clicking on the “comment” link. Hope to hear from you.

Tania

Fourth of July Fun

This was submitted by Angela Anderson.
Thanks so much!
The Editors at EverydayTLC


Activity Idea:
For the July 4th Holiday (we did these on the days prior) we painted flags which had numbered color sequences easy enough for 3+ year olds to handle. The paper being white left them with only red and blue to paint on.

We made necklaces which were made with brown yarn, and wooden hearts, along with a few bells.

The all time favorite however were the sac races. This was the first time we have done this and it was a blast. I had two older girls race with the smallest children so the younger ones (one at a time) could win the race. The older children would fall if the little one stumble to help out and make the younger children even more excited to win as they struggled to hold on to their bags..

Because the sac races were so fun we then tried them running through a sprinkler. This was great until they decided to run for the sand box while still wet.

For a take home to celebrate July 4th all the children received those little plastic cars with balloons attached to make them race with air, a small plastic flag, a set of stickers, hand clappers, and of course a muffin which they were able to decorate with red white and blue icing.

This being a 3 day week for us was very busy but the days went well and passed fast.

Tania's Top 10 List--My Favorite Children's Books

Do you have favorites? We can go on and on with lists of our favorite things. Today I thought I would list my favorite children's books.

1. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

2. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

3. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

4. Corduroy by Don Freeman

5. Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

6. The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

7. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

8. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

9. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

10. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

I'd love to hear about your favorites. Respond to my blog or go to our Child Care Chat and start a post.

Tania Cowling

Associate Editor/ EverydayTLC

BUG HUNT ACTIVITIES

BIG BUGS, LITTLE BUGS (Toddlers and Twos)

Take you little ones on a nature walk to look for bugs. Tell children to observe only and not touch (toddlers might touch an insect that could sting). Together talk about how some bugs crawl and other fly. Then pretend to be an insect and move like the bugs you see. Sing songs like “Eensy Weensy Spider”, “Bringing Home A Baby Bumblebee” and this fun song: (Tune: “Farmer In The Dell)
Oh! Squiggly, wiggle worms
Make tunnels in the ground.
Squiggly, wiggle, squiggle worms
Are squirming all around.
Later, plan a “bug hunt” by hiding several plastic toy bugs around the room and invite toddlers to find them. Another variation is to fill a dishpan with rice, hiding the toy bugs inside. Children can catch the toy bugs by using a tweezer or tongs to pull the insects out.


BUGS ARE COOL (Preschool +)

In order to observe insects closely, try capturing a few placing them in a well-confined temporary home. With a little “bug hotel”, children can invite friendly insects inside to spend a day or night studying them through its many windows. Your group can use poster paint to decorate the outside of an oatmeal container. Paint or draw the windows, then use scissors or a craft knife (adults only) to cut them open. Placing insect stickers on the container would be fun too. Take a piece of window screening and roll it so it rests snugly around the inside of the container. Trim so the top edge fits beneath the lid, and leave a one-inch overlap where the sides meet. Place the lid on top. Glue a hotel sign on the container—let the children choose the name. After you have captured the insects, take time together to look at the bugs closely either with the naked eye or use a magnifying glass. Count the legs, wings, antennae and look at the colors and patterns of the insect. Be kind to your guests—provide some nature food and water (a filled plastic water cap) while they are visiting. When observation is over, you can just unfasten the lid and let the insects fly out.


IT’S TIME TO VIEW SOME TUNNELS (School Age)

This is prime time for making an earthworm ranch. These see-through ranches allow children to watch worms tunnel and turn your organic garbage into fertilizer. After observatory time, children can transplant these cute cultivators outside, where they’ll help aerate and fertilize the soil. Take a 1-2 gallon wide mouth jar or a small 5-gallon aquarium and fill it with compost and soil. Compost is matter such as fruit and vegetable peels, old leaves, and any food not eaten (except for animal products which smell as it rots). In your ranch container, layer the compost with soil, moistening each layer with water. Let it sit for a few days, stirring it and moistening it occasionally with a spray mister. Gather about six worms. After a rain, you can find them almost anywhere; under leaves and especially in moist soil. Put the worms on top of the soil of your ranch container covering the top with a screen top. Since worms like it dark, cover the sides of the container with black construction paper and tape it in place. Set the worm ranch in a cool, shady place. Keep the soil moist and remember to keep adding compost. After a few days, remove the black paper and look for the worm tunnels.
Ant farms are also a fun project for your group. Fill a one-gallon jar partially full of soil. Find an anthill and with a shovel, lift the surrounding dirt. Place this dirt and ants into the jar. Be sure to capture the queen ant (she is larger and has wings). Cover the top of the jar with some fabric and secure this with a wide rubber band. Wrap dark construction paper around the jar to encourage them to make tunnels. Place breadcrumbs and a damp cotton ball on top of the soil. Pour a little water on the cotton every few days. Remove the dark paper in several days and observe the tunnels.



Submitted by Tania Cowling
Associate Editor/EverydayTLC

BUG HUNT

When we were children, bugs intrigued us. Who didn’t have a baby food jar with air holes punched into the lid and a few crawlers collected from the backyard inside? More than half of all living things in the world are insects—and they can be fascinating creatures. The best way to approach a “bug hunt” with your group is by direct observation. Fortunately, nearby fields, woods, and even the backyard can offer an abundance of specimens for study. To become proper bug hunters, arm yourself with a magnifying glass, an informative insect book and a “bug hotel” (container). Then start your search by looking under rocks, old logs, leaves and patio planters. Once you have collected enough “samples” to satisfy young entomologists, sit down to identify your finds, study them, and be sure to let the insects go once you are finished with them.
Here are some interesting facts about bugs that you can discuss with the children while doing this activity. There are plenty of indoor projects to do too!

1. Insects are many different sizes, shapes, and colors. Fairy flies are so small they can go through the eye of a needle, whereas, the largest insects are the Goliath beetle which is 4 inches in length and the Atlas moth which has a wing span of 10 inches.

2. Insects come from eggs. Baby insects are usually called larvae.

3. An insect has six legs and a jointed body, which consists of three distinct parts: the head, thorax (middle body), and abdomen. A good example of this is the ant.

4. Most winged insects have four wings (two pairs).

5. Their antennae detect odors, sound waves, respond to air currents, and are used for touch.

6. Some insects are useful as they produce foods we eat, pollinate plants, eat other insects which are harmful, and are a source of food for many animals.

MORE TO COME...