Indoor Motor Activities

Winter is in full swing. And while we have had some unseasonably warm weather this week, we know the cold weather will return. Parents of young children sometimes have to get creative when it comes to finding ways to get their kids moving during our long, cold Minnesota winters. Keep reading to get some great ideas for indoor motor activities to help you keep your kids moving all winter long. 

1. Sock Toss

Provide laundry baskets or other containers and let your kids throw folded socks into them. 

2. Painters Tape Fun

Painters tape is great. It is easy to remove and can be stuck to a variety of surfaces, including carpet, tile or wood floors. (Be sure to test a small piece on your floor to make sure it doesn't leave a residue.) Tape different lines on your floor. Some ideas to try are ladder rungs for jumping and zigzag lines for walking or crawling on.

3. Hide and Seek

Instead of traditional hide and seek, try hiding a toy or object and have your child find it. Then let them try and hide the item and you find it. Don't be surprised if they hide it in the same spot as you!

4. Indoor Pool Party

One cold winter day when my kids were probably 2, 4, and 6, they came tromping downstairs from their bedrooms in their swimsuits. I asked them why they had their swimsuits on and was told they were having a pool party as they dashed back downstairs. I followed them downstairs to see just what a pool party in my basement looked like. The kids had laid out all of the blankets in our basement on the floor and a few pillows too. They had folding chairs set up around the outside of the blankets that they could jump off of and into the "pool." My oldest was the lifeguard, complete with a whistle. This was a game that was repeated throughout the winter for many years. 

5. Move Like an Animal

Find a spot in your house that has some open space and get your kids moving their bodies in different ways. 

Hop like a frog.

Fly like a bird. (Run with your arms outstretched.)

Wiggle like a snake. (Wiggle on your tummy on the ground)

Waddle like a penguin.

Walk like a bear. 

Check out this link for more Animal Movement Ideas.

6. Dance Party

Turn on your favorite tunes and have a dance party with your kids. 

7. Indoor Bowling

Save some plastic bottles to set up as bowling pins. Give your child a ball to roll at the pins. 

With some of the ideas above the next cold day doesn't need to be a boring one. Pick one or two of these to try and keep you and your child moving.  

Toys, Toys, Toys

I grew up with two sisters, all of us just two years apart in age. We spent hours playing, exploring and of course, fighting from time to time. The toys we most enjoyed playing with didn't require batteries or have lights or all the bells and whistles. In fact, the toys we most enjoyed allowed us to explore, learn and create with our imaginations. 

One of our favorite toys was our toy kitchen. Our dad and grandpa built an amazing wooden kitchen complete with a fridge, an oven and a cabinet with a sink. We spent hours cooking, playing house, restaurant and, much to my dad's dismay, washing our hair in the kitchen sink when we decided to play hairdresser. Fortunately, we got caught before we managed to cut anyone's hair. The best part of this kitchen is that when my sisters and I started having our own children, my dad and grandpa made the same kitchen set for each of our families. My own kids spent hours playing house, cooking, restaurants and yes, even hairdresser, just like my sisters and I did! 

                                          My oldest playing with the original kitchen.

                                          My oldest and her grandpa ready to play with her 

                                          brand new kitchen.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a statement on toys. Their advice for parents is to choose "high-quality traditional" toys. Toys that engage children's imagination and invention and most importantly, toys that parents and children can play with and enjoy together. The co-author of the paper, Dr. Aleeya Healey, said, "The less bells and whistles a toy comes with, the more it lends itself to creative play and imaginative play." 

Toys like blocks and puzzles allow kids to manipulate the pieces and build fine motor skills, as well as, engage their thinking and problem-solving skills. Props like my kids' kitchen set encourage creative and imaginative play. Books that can be shared over and over again can spark children's play and imagination as well. There's no need to spend lots of money either. Anyone who has watched a young child unwrap an expensive toy and then play with the packaging knows that sometimes the best toys are free. Save your recycling. Let your child explore those boxes and just see what they can create!

So, what was your favorite toy growing up? Did you spend your time playing with Barbies or trucks and cars or building blocks or Lincoln Logs? Maybe it is time to track down some of those old favorites and share them with your child. 

A Generous Spirit

I was recently on my Facebook page and saw a post about a young girl who started her own toy drive to donate new toys to the local children's hospital. As I read through the post, I was left wondering why some children just seem to be naturally generous. They see a need and they are called to do something to meet that need. Is it something they are born with? Do their parents have some sort of magic trick? 

Sometimes when we hear stories like this we are left wondering what we are doing wrong. Why our children aren't displaying generosity in big ways. All kids can be generous and their small acts of generosity, whether it be sharing a toy or helping you shovel the freshly fallen snow are important and can be encouraged. How do we raise children who are generous in both small and big ways?

1. Generosity starts with empathy. Empathy is not an inborn trait. Children are hardwired to care but need to be taught empathy. The best way for children to learn empathy is to be shown empathy. Be the port in your child's storm. In other words, when they are experiencing big emotions, stay calm and respond in a loving way by recognizing and naming their emotions. Help them regulate their emotions by offering comfort and care before addressing their behavior. 
2. Generosity is developmental. All areas of development develop on a continuum. No two children will develop generosity in the same way and timing. 
3. Sharing is a great way for young children to show generosity. That being said sharing can be hard for young children. Make sure you have age appropriate expectations. Children develop sharing and turn taking skills between 3.5 and 4. Younger children can also share but need more support and guidance. Also avoid forcing your child to share. Instead encourage children to share by pointing out how happy their friend is when they share their toy with their friend. Making other people happy makes us happy! 
4. There are several common misconceptions about generosity. Generosity is often viewed as something we do for those with less than us. It is often only associated with giving money or things. There is also a common belief that generosity is only beneficial to the person receiving the generosity. But we know there is so much more to generosity!
5. There are three ways to be generous. You can share your time, talents and treasures. Help your child practice being generous in all these areas. You might encourage them to play a game that someone else wants to do to share their time. You and your child could make cookies or draw pictures to give to a neighbor or friend to share their talents. Sharing their treasures might include donating part of their allowance or toys that they know longer play with to others. 
6. There are many benefits to generosity. Kids who are generous are more likely to do well in school and less likely to abuse drugs/alcohol. Generosity also helps develop leadership skills, such as, learning to respect others, developing patience, and having a better understanding of what makes a good citizen. 
7. Finally, the best way for children to learn how to be generous is to see their parents being generous. Model generosity for your children by sharing your time, talents and treasures with them and with others!

A great way to start practicing generosity with your children is with the 10 Days of Giving Campaign. ECFE and Preschool with be participating in district-wide 10 Days of Giving Campaign to collect toiletry items for the Holiday Train starting December 1st-10th. Participating is easy. Have your child pick out some shampoo, soap, toothbrushes or other toiletry items. Items can be dropped off for donation at our Central Park and District Program offices. Thanks for helping and Happy Giving!

Finding Joy in Parent-Child Interaction Time

I am pretty sure that I have one of the greatest jobs. As a parent educator, I have the opportunity to get to know families and walk along side them. While I don't think I could pick a favorite part of my job, I really enjoy coming along side parents and their children during parent-child interaction time.

If you have taken an Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) class then you know that our classes are built around three important components, early childhood education, parent education and parent/child interaction. Each of these components plays an important role in making ECFE unique from other programs and activities.

Parent-child interaction is all about engagement. It is an opportunity for parents to spend time with their child(ren) in a setting with activities that are designed to be developmentally appropriate. Keep reading for some tips on how to get the most out of parent-child interaction time during your ECFE class or even at home.

1. Follow your child's lead. This can be a little hard for parents to do. We often have friends who come to ECFE each week and play with the same truck or doll or the sensory table for the whole class. Parents of these kiddos might feel tempted to push their child to try a different activity or do the art projects but remember that for young children there is value in repetition.

2. Art is all about the process not the product. Art can be tough for some parents. There is paint and glue and MESS! And parents often feel like the end product needs to look a certain way. At ECFE, we know that the process of making art is more important than the end result. So if your child dives into the paint with their hands instead of the brush or has a turkey that doesn't really look like a turkey, it's okay.

3. Take time to observe your child in action. We can learn so much by taking a step back and watching our children in action. Notice what skills they are working on. How they are interacting with other children and adults. How do they react when something is difficult?

4. Practice COAL. Be Curious about what your child is doing. Be Open to what or how your child is playing. Be Accepting and Loving in your interaction with your child.

5. Put away your phone and keep your focus on your child. This one probably doesn't need much explanation!

And remember to have fun and delight in this special time with your child!

SoWashCo CARES

Have you heard about SoWashCo Cares? This is an amazing program right here in our community that is striving to meet various needs for children, teens and families in District 833. SoWashCo CARES was started a few years ago by Cheryl Jogger after her family participated in a Feed My Starving Children event hosted by the city of Woodbury. She started with posting specific requests that had been passed on to her from school social workers in our district for members of the community to help fill. The CARES stands for Community Action Reaching Every Student.

Two years ago, SoWashCo CARES started a food collection and packing event to provide students who are food insecure with food over Winter Break. The response the first year was amazing. They were able to pack enough food boxes for 200 students! Since that first packing event, SoWashCo CARES has hosted 3 more food packing events to provide food boxes for summer and winter breaks. On November 14th at Oltman Middle School from 6-8pm, they will be hosting their 5th packing event. They are hoping to pack food boxes for 300 students!

By now you may be wondering, "What can I do to help?" That's the great thing about SoWashCo CARES. It is a very accessible program. You can follow SoWashCo CARES on Facebook and Twitter to help fill requests that come from the district's school social workers throughout the year. For families with young children, helping fill these requests is a great way to start introducing your child to service to others, generosity and kindness. Families can also register for the packing event at SoWashCo CARES Winter Pack Event. You can help by dropping off donations of Easy Mac n' Cheese cups and other easily microwavable items at the District Program Center, Central Park in the ECFE suite and the District Service Center.

SoWashCo CARES is also looking for winter clothing for students and families who are in need. Families can check out Winter Clothing Needs to sign up to provide winter gear. New requests are added to the spreadsheet daily and donations will be accepted until all requests are filled. Donors can label their items with the child's number and deliver directly to the social worker at the specific school.

Let's Talk About Guilt

Let's talk about guilt. Specifically, let's talk about mommy and daddy guilt. I have lost count of the number of things I have felt guilty about in my 16 years of motherhood. There was the time I fell asleep on the couch in the afternoon and missed picking my girls up from school. Never mind, that I had been up all night with their sick little brother. I still felt like the worst mom ever when I got to the school and saw the tears on my middle daughter’s face. Or there was the time I accidentally caught my daughter's leg in the sliding door of the van. OOPS! She escaped with a just a bruise, but I still beat myself up for days. Of course, it didn't help that every time we got in the van she would remind me not to shut the door too soon! 

As parents we are our toughest critics. We think about all the things we should have, would have, could have done and feel guilty. This guilt can lead us to doubt ourselves as parents. I'm not saying that all guilt is bad. Feeling guilty for losing my temper with my kids has led me to apologize and try really hard to find ways to remain calm during other tough interactions. 

I recently read an article, 5 Ways to Cope when Mom Guilt is Getting the Best of You, by Taylor Pittman. She highlights the causes of and ways to shut down parental guilt. As I was reading the article, I could think of times in my life where I have experienced guilt in each of these areas. 

Taking care of yourself is taking care of your family.

Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to go out for a rare date night. My son is not a fan of us going out at night and being babysat by his sisters. He especially has a hard time going to bed when at least one of us isn't home with him. Despite being excited about a night out with my husband, I also was dreading the inevitable tearful phone call asking when we would be home because every time I feel guilty that I am not home to handle bedtime. When this type of guilt arises, I just have to remember that spending time with my husband makes me happy and refreshes me. I am a better mom when I take care of myself and my relationship with my husband. 

Missing out on milestones or other kid events does not make you a bad parent.

I have 3 kids and husband who travels for work. It is impossible for me to make it to all my kids' events. And despite knowing this, I still feel guilty for missing out on seeing my kids' events. It is even worse for my husband who misses out due to work. He tries very hard to be present and engaged with the kids and their activities when he is home. Parents miss out on kid activities and even milestones because parenthood is only part of who we are. We might have work, other children, family and variety of other responsibilities. The key to lessening these feelings of guilt is to be present and delight in your children when you are with them. In other words, enjoy the activities and milestones you do get to experience with your child. 

The perfect parent is a myth.

There are a lot of messages parents receive about what they should be doing as parents. Limit screen time, only healthy foods and snacks, educational opportunities, reading daily, just to name a few. But let's get real, maintaining all of these high and lofty goals 100% of the time would be exhausting and certainly guilt inducing when we aren't able to maintain perfection. This where the 80/20 rule comes in handy. Throw out perfection and embrace the idea of being good enough because that is all your child needs you to be. 

Social media is not reality. 

Anyone who has ever attempted to take a family picture with young children can tell you that for every decent shot you take there are probably 10 where someone is crying, not looking at the camera, not smiling or even better, intentionally making a goofy face. Yet, those aren’t the pictures we share. Parents need to put on reality goggles when on social media. Remember that the perfect lives we see in other's posts  are not reality. There were probably tears, and maybe even some yelling before "perfection" was captured. Even better, let's get real about what we share on social media. Share the not so perfect story and pictures that truly capture what real-life is all about. 

It's okay to make mistakes.

Parenting is hard. There are going to be times when you don't make the right decision or lose your cool. I have stopped feeling guilty for messing up as a mom. Instead, I choose to see those moments as an opportunity to show my kids that no one is perfect. That it is okay to make mistakes. What matters in life is how we handle those mistakes and learn from them that make us better people. 

Join me in making parenting a No Guilt Zone. Let go of the things that you have been feeling guilty about. Be present with your children. Delight in them. Take time for you. And remember that your child just needs you to be good enough!

Outdoor Play

Fall is upon us. The air is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. For many of us Minnesotans, we see these as the early warning signs of  the long, cold winter ahead. The cooler temperatures can often lead us to avoid getting outside with our kids. We all know it is a lot more work to get a little one out the door when you have to deal with jackets and maybe even hats and mittens and not just shoes! My challenge to you is this; find some time for outdoor adventures with your child several times a week.

Here are five reasons why you should head outside with your kids:

• Physical Health-Research shows that being outdoors causes children's heart rates to slow, blood pressure to drop and higher levels of relaxation. Time spent playing outside also gives kids a dose of vitamin D through exposure to sunlight which is important to their growth and healthy immune systems. Outdoor play also tends to be active, physical play that encourages gross motor development.
• Imagination/Play-Outdoor environments present kids with a vast array of materials, from sticks to rocks to flowers to leaves, for children to explore. This variety allows children to engage in a wide range of open-ended play activities. The stick your preschooler finds might be a magic wand one minute and a sword the next! The outdoor environment is continuously changing based on the seasons, daily weather, etc. These change allow our kids to explore in new ways each time they interact with nature, encouraging creativity, imagination and learning. 
• Sleep-That's right SLEEP! Studies have shown that more outdoor playtime leads to better sleep. Kids who play outside more are more likely to sleep through the night. Sunlight helps regulate our sleep patterns. Plus the physical activity kids engage in outside leads kids to fall asleep faster and get better sleep.
• How to handle risk-The variety and changeability of the outdoors makes a perfect environment for children to explore and learn how to deal with risky situations and set personal limits. This might include climbing rocks or trees, building a fort, running, jumping, using tools or even exploring at a playground. Kids learn how to overcome challenges and deal with unpredictable events on their own when allowed to take reasonable risks. Kids who are allowed to explore in "dangerous" situations learn how to keep themselves safe. I get it. This can be a tough one for parents. We all worry about our kids getting hurt. Just remember, I said reasonable risk. Be close by and watch your child for cues that they may be getting in over their heads. Only then, should you step in with encouragement and support. 
• Socialization-Anyone who has ever taken a preschool-aged child to the park can knows that usually the child makes at least one new friend each time. This is because at this age kids' friends tend to be other children who are nearby. Outdoor environments, especially parks, tend to provide kids with other kids to play with. Kids have the opportunity to learn from one another. Kids also can also practice being both a leader and a follower, cooperation skills and how to deal with conflict. While indoor play with other children allows kids to practice these same skills, the openness and space provided in the outdoors allows kids to interact with one another more gradually. The larger physical space allows them to choose when to interact by giving each child more physical space. 

So now that we cover why we should head outside with, it is time to think about the how and the what. Going to your local park/playground is a great option for getting outside but it is only one. Check out one of the many Nature Centers and State  or Washington County parks. Click on any of the links below for more ideas on how to get out and enjoy nature with your child. 

• https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/ideas-exploring-outdoors
• https://theimaginationtree.com/60-nature-play-ideas-for-kids/
• http://www.playgroupnsw.org.au/ParentResources/PlayActivities/nature-play-activities
• http://www.greenheartsinc.org/uploads/25_Easy_Nature_Play_Ideas_for_Early_Childhood_Centers_-_website_version.pdf

Happy Exploring to You!