Enjoy Your Children and Parenting! » Uncategorized http://www.joyfulparenthood.com Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:56:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 Summer Activities That Won’t Break the Bank http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/summer-activities-that-won%e2%80%99t-break-the-bank.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/summer-activities-that-won%e2%80%99t-break-the-bank.htm#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:53:44 +0000 jesse http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/?p=222 Summer vacation.  For kids it is the pinnacle of the school experience.  Nine months of hard work to earn nearly 3 months off.  For parents it can be just the opposite.  Three months of constant activities, taxi driving and the dreaded “I’m bored.”  One of my friends said “You know you are a grown up when year round school sounds like a good idea.” Guess that means I’m a grown up now.

For my teenager who can drive, it’s not so bad.  She took a babysitting class so she could learn infant CPR and baby-sit at night.  She is also working part time. For me, there is no parenting class to teach me how to occupy my kids during the summer months.  Single parenting is always a challenge but the summer just takes the cake.  I have recently put together some ideas that are nearly free that have helped me survive these summer months.

• Family Film Festivals-in many towns the local movie theater offers movies for families for free or for a reduced cost.  The movies are not the most recent, but seeing any movie on the big screen is a thrill for my 7 and 9 year old. Because it’s a family movie festival, many parents bring infants, strollers and diaper bags.  This means the theater doesn’t care that you bring your own snacks and drinks to these shows.  I don’t know about you, but $8 for popcorn seems a little steep
• AMC bowling allies are offering free bowling for kids under 16 this summer. Check your local ally for offers like these.  Bowling can be really fun. Some allies even have bumpers for the kids.  This means no more gutter balls which is fun for everyone.
• Local nature trails are a super way to spend the afternoon. Walking by a lake or river can really be a treat in the summer.  You can wade into the water, teach the kids how to skip stones and watch for wildlife. Where I live there is a fish hatchery that is open all year long.  They have huge concrete tanks with fish of different ages that you can feed.  My kids still love this place.
• Your local library often will have programs for toddler through teens. Activities include reading and art but often are expanded in the summer. Our library brings in all kinds of magicians, storytellers, animal experts and artists. The best thing about these library programs is you can check out a book every week and see if you can finish it before the next week’s program.

These are just a few of the things I’ve found in my community. We also try to get together with friends at the park and at the community pool.  Kids really do keep each other entertained.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/summer-activities-that-won%e2%80%99t-break-the-bank.htm/feed 0 Do Teens Have Life too Easy? http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/do-teens-have-life-too-easy.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/do-teens-have-life-too-easy.htm#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:12:51 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/?p=102 Times have changed a lot since we were young and teens and we had different challenges growing up. In our day there were no computers for writing papers, or cell phones to use for an emergency, or dishwasher to clean the dishes. Many teens think they are entitled and don’t need to be responsible for anything.. Where does this behavior come from? Our role as parents is to teach our children responsibility and independence so that they can eventually make it on their own in the world. Times are different and some things may be easier now than in the past, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need to take an active role in helping out the family.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/do-teens-have-life-too-easy.htm/feed 0 The Pros and Cons of the Family Bed http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-family-bed.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-family-bed.htm#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 20:28:54 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-family-bed.htm I don’t think there is one answer to the question of whether a parent should choose a family bed or not. There are pros and cons to both sides. The pros are that you get more bonding time with your children. When they are babies it makes a it a lot easier if the mother is nursing, the baby is more accessible. Children have been known to sleep better when in bed with their parents. Parents can run into problems when it’s time to transition their child into their own bed. Sleeping alone in their own bed can teach them to self-soothe and learn to fall asleep on their own. The parents’ relationship may suffer if the children sleep in bed with them. It’s really a personal choice of whether or not to have your kids sleep in bed with you.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-family-bed.htm/feed 0 Preparing Your Children for Adulthood http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/preparing-your-children-for-adulthood.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/preparing-your-children-for-adulthood.htm#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:52:34 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/preparing-your-children-for-adulthood.htm Many parents are so very focused on the tasks when their children are very young. Changing the diapers, feeding, potty training. Parents need to remember that their children will grow to adulthood and you want them to become productive, capable and competent people. It’s never to early to prepare children for adulthood. Parents need to remember that they are the most important role model for their children. You must live the same moral code that you are trying to teach them if you want them to be honest and trustworthy. They can’t have a strong work ethic if you cannot fulfill your own job responsibilities. To achieve the outcome that you desire, every day create the experiences with the end result of adulthood in mind.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/preparing-your-children-for-adulthood.htm/feed 0 Parents Spend More Time WIth Their Kids http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids.htm#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:51:40 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids.htm I’ve been reading articles on the internet about how more and more parents are spending more time with their children. It seems that the current recession has helped that. Many families have had to cut back on activities that their children are involved in because money is tight. AT first parents were worried about having to cut back, but ultimately it has allowed them more time with their children. Parents are not feeling obligated to try and provide every little things for their children, which is good for both the parents and the kids. They find what’s more important the time and not the stuff.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids.htm/feed 0 National Child Abuse Prevention Month http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/national-child-abuse-prevention-month.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/national-child-abuse-prevention-month.htm#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:52:51 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/national-child-abuse-prevention-month.htm This month is the time to bring awareness to this issue. Many wear blue ribbons in memory of children that have died as a result of abuse and for those who have worked to prevent it. Some ways you can get involved with your community is by offering support to friends and family if they are in need and becoming aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and/or neglect. This is a shared responsibility for everyone and working together we are stronger and do right by our children.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/national-child-abuse-prevention-month.htm/feed 0 Low Self-Control in Children Can Lead to Obesity http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/low-self-control-in-children-can-lead-to-obesity.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/low-self-control-in-children-can-lead-to-obesity.htm#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:52:07 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/low-self-control-in-children-can-lead-to-obesity.htm This article talks about a study done at the University of Michigan where researchers had kids wait for a certain amount of time before eating sweet treats. If they waited the delegated 7 minutes they could have a large portion of it. If they could not wait they were asked to ring a bell for the examiner to come back and they then could have a smaller portion. They tested 805 children and 47% failed the test. Their tests showed that those who could not wait were 29% more likely to be overweight by age 11. First try healthier snacks if your child is hungry. Or try limiting their eating to mostly meal times instead of letting them snack all day long.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/low-self-control-in-children-can-lead-to-obesity.htm/feed 0 Trusting Your Children http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/trusting-your-children.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/trusting-your-children.htm#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:41:08 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/trusting-your-children.htm It may be tough when your kids get older to not want to know about every little detail of their lives. You have known every detail since they were small having to tend to their every need. It’s important for kids to have their privacy as they get older. You want them to become capable people, but respectful too. You want them to come to you when they are in trouble or are having problems. Letting them have their own time and space is important for their future. They need to become independent, that doesn’t mean they won’t come to you. Moat likely they will come to you and share what’s going on with them, because you gave them the space they needed.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/trusting-your-children.htm/feed 0 Parents teaching Their Kids to Drive http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/parents-teaching-their-kids-to-drive.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/parents-teaching-their-kids-to-drive.htm#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:40:19 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/parents-teaching-their-kids-to-drive.htm Now that driver training isn’t in most schools anymore, many parents are taking on the job of teaching their kids to drive. The reasons range from not being able to afford a class, to being able to learn with an online class. Many families can’t fit the driving academy class into their schedules or it’s too expensive. Some insurance companies will cover the cost of driving education. The benefit of parents teaching their kids, is the time spent. There are more opportunities for kids to learn when they can just ask their parent to teach them. Also parents will have first hand experience of how well they are learning.

]]> http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/parents-teaching-their-kids-to-drive.htm/feed 0 Sleeping Issues, Not Just for Babies http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/sleeping-issues-not-just-for-babies.htm http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/sleeping-issues-not-just-for-babies.htm#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:17:47 +0000 admin http://www.joyfulparenthood.com/sleeping-issues-not-just-for-babies.htm The Washington Post has a good article in the parenting section about parent that struggle with the sleeping issues of their children. It offers some solutions for bed wetting, night waking and not being to fall asleep without them. Parents shouldn’t feel discouraged considering about 25-40% of children have sleeping problems. Check it out, it may be helpful for any sleep issues your children may face.

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