Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Tue, Jun 18, 2013
Q: What did the alien say to the garden?
A: Take me to your Weeder!!
Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Mon, Jun 17, 2013
What your father told you is still true
On Father’s Day, we remember those words of wisdom that Dad passed down to us—whether we listened to him or not. Here’s a collection of some fatherly advice from a variety of sources:
On Fathers
"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." (Mark Twain)
On Money
“The people that make a lot of money are the ones that don’t spend their time stressing about money.”
On Marriage
“Create a marriage that lasts because it is a happy one.”
On Intelligence
“Use that thing on your shoulders for something other than a hat rack!”
On Pouting
“If you stick that lip out any further, a bird will come along and poop on it!”
On Problems
“If you don’t want the hole to get any deeper, stop digging!”
On Success
“I learned a lot from my father, especially about business. Probably the best advice I ever had came from him. He had a four-step formula for getting things done: Get in. Get it done. Get it done right. And get out.” (Donald Trump)
On Being Mean to Your Siblings
"That's fine, she's only 5 now, but she IS going to grow up and she MAY get into body building. And then she'll track you down and say "Remember all the times you used to push me around?" and clean your clock!" (Bill Cosby)
On Life
“Appreciate scenery, art work, and a rainy Sunday. And always keep your gas tank full.”
"Be good and if you can't be good, be careful."
Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Wed, Jun 12, 2013
It's important that as parents we help foster our child's friendships. The best way to do this is to set aside some time for them to spend time together. There are so many fun activities that will entertain your children while building a bond between them. Some activity ideas are:
-Going to a local playground
-Hiking/ biking at a metropark
-Swimming at a local pool
-Roller skating/ ice skating
-Putt-Putt golf
-Fishing
-Going on a picnic
-Child cooking classes
-Going to the Zoo
Look for fun events at special prices in your local newspaper!
Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Tue, Jun 11, 2013
Q: What did the porcupine say to the cactus?
A: Mom is that you?
Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Mon, Jun 10, 2013
Summer is here, and the days are warm and sunny again. But if you’re not careful, an afternoon on the beach or in the park can lead to a case of sunburn. And worse: Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) can damage your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. Sunscreen will offer some protection (though some researchers argue that it doesn’t prevent melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer), but you’ve got to follow the directions. Here’s some advice:
• Sun block, by the numbers. Pick the right protection in the first place: A Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 will block about 93 percent of harmful UVB rays; SPF 50 screens out 99 percent. Apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before going out. This gives your skin adequate time to absorb it.
• Apply sufficient amounts. Experts advise applying at least one full ounce of sunscreen before going out—roughly enough to fill a shot glass. Reapply your lotion every two hours, and after swimming or exercising enough to raise a sweat. During a long day outdoors, you should use from one-quarter to one-half of an eight-ounce bottle. Remember to apply sunscreen to often-overlooked areas of your body like your ears, lips, and feet.
• Minimize exposure. Think of sunscreen as a second line of defense against sunburn and skin damage, not your primary protection. Wear a broad hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing, and try to avoid direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is strongest and the atmosphere absorbs less UV radiation than it does during the rest of the day.
Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Thu, Jun 06, 2013
It's National Gardening Day! How are you going to engage your child with gardening?
Here are some ideas:
1. Designate a set of gloves and shovel that are specifically your child's
2. Buy a kid-friendly gardening book and discuss the different characteristics of different plants and what these plants need in order to grow
3. Mark off a part of the garden that "belongs" to your child. They will be responsible for watering, weeding, and etc... this part of the garden. This will give them a sense of ownership and responsibility.
4. Schedule times during the week when you and your child will garden together.
We would love to hear some of your ideas as well! Please comment and share pictures of you engaging your child in National Garden Day!
Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Wed, Jun 05, 2013
Deciding whether to stay at home or return to work is one of the hardest decisions for a new parent to make. If you and your partner decide that both of you will return to work after you take maternity (and, possibly, paternity) leave, here are some suggestions that can help ease the transition.
• Line up excellent childcare. Knowing that a competent, nurturing professional is caring for your child in your absence can give you peace of mind.
• Discuss your job duties and schedule with your boss before you return. If your workplace is flexible, it may be possible to work different hours than you did before the baby was born, or you may be able to work one or more days from home.
• Return to work on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Having your first week be short makes things easier on you and your baby.
• For your first couple of weeks, consider working part time or shorter days. This will help your family make the adjustment.
• Talk to other working parents who’ve worked through this transition. They’ll be full of advice and encouragement.
Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Tue, Jun 04, 2013
Q: When does "B" come after "U"?
A: After you take some of their honey
Posted by Gloria Kaucic on Mon, Jun 03, 2013
Why don’t you and your kids communicate better? If you’ve asked this question more than once, you may want to take a look at your own listening skills. It’s as true with children as it is with adults: Good communication is mostly listening.
• Don’t interrupt. Kids, especially younger children, may need more time to find the words they need. Be patient. You don’t like being cut off by your boss in mid-sentence, and your children don’t enjoy being interrupted either.
• Ask good questions. Grownups may see a yes-or-no question as an opportunity to expound at length on a subject. Children are more likely to take the query literally and respond with a one-word answer. Structure questions that encourage full answers—what did you do? Why did that happen?
• Be empathetic. You don’t have to agree with what your child says to understand how he or she feels. Before giving advice, share your own feelings honestly and succinctly: “I get angry when that happens to me, too. What do you think you could have done differently?”
Posted by Amy Smith on Thu, Apr 11, 2013
Are you ready for the summer?
Parents report that summer is one of the most difficult times to find productive things for their children to do. And, at the same time, research shows, that all young people experience learning loss when they do not engage in educational activities over the summer. Unfortunately, young people without access to stimulating activities, who often come from lower-income homes, may be hit harder by this "summer slide"
The Good News: You can help your child have fun and learn at the same time.
So, get inspired and help stop summer learning loss now. Follow these simple steps and Do The Summer Countdown! to help keep your kids’ bodies and brains active all summer long – and retain more of what they learned in school.
Do The Summer Countdown!
5 Days a Week of Active Play
4 New Places to Visit
3 Fresh Fruits and Veggies Daily
2 Summer Projects
1 Time a day with a Good Book
0 Soda pop – Drink more water