Checking In

photo courtesy of Darren Hester

Time to Check in :))

Hello, to whoever happens to find me :) I don't promote the blog enough in kidsgoals newsletter so I need to make sure to do that in the next issue. Hopefully that will keep me more consistent with my blogging.

Wow! It has been ages since I have blogged so figured it was about time to check in. I have been pretty consistent with newsletter since January and have updated the website a bit, but I am sorely lacking in the blogging department. So without further ado...

Since this is an update I have to tell you that I am doing much better emotionally, but there are days when it is still too real and I need to just go with the myriad of emotions that come up. It is a process and still early days as far as grieving goes. I have been seeing a counsellor on a regular basis for a few months and he has really helped me to deal with my loss. He is more of a holistic counsellor so one of his suggestions was to try meditation, which has made a huge difference in my life - I highly recommend it.

Some of the benefits of meditation are reduced stress, better concentration, lowered blood pressure, helps depression etc. It will even help you with your parenting skills, because you will be so relaxed nothing your kids can do will upset you. So do yourself a favour and give it a go. According to a Psychology Today article all you need is ten minutes - who can't spare ten minutes if it will change all aspects of their lives for the better.

There are many great guided meditations you can purchase online or just try googling the word meditation and you will find everything you need to get started at no cost.

Happy parenting,

Monicka

How to Raise Smarter, Happier and Healthier Kids :)

Good morning all!

According to the June 2006 Time's article, you can help improve your kids grades, as well as their health and happiness by ensuring your family eats dinner together on a regular basis. According to the article, "Studies show that the more families eat together, the less likely the kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders, consider suicide, and the more likely they are to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn big words and know which fork to use." Wow, seems like a lot of benefits for a little nightly family togetherness. :-))

Of course you know that the dinner part or what you serve for dinner has nothing to do with the benefits, rather it is the conversations and communicating with your children that does the trick. If conversing with your younger child or teenager seems a bit alien to you, we at kidsgoals found this great way to get the ball rolling. Check out Raising Smarter Kids with PAZ Talk Cards Cassie and I are firm believers in making learning fun and these cards seem to fit the bill nicely. - "PAZ Talk Cards are designed to get your family talking in a way that everyone will enjoy. Designed to resemble 'trivia questions' from your favourite board games, each card asks a simple (yet important) question to get families talking." How cool is that!!!

Happy Parenting, :))

Monicka and Cassie

Cooking with your children

Learning to bake cakes and cook dinner with my Grandmother when I was a child was a real self-esteem booster. Kids love to learn practical skills, so why not spend some quality time with them in the kitchen on an evening or weekend, rather than in front of the TV? They love to help and can genuinely take a load off your plate once they have learned a few basic cooking skills!

Check out our Child Friendly Cooking Ideas

Cookies to die for (not literally)

My son advised me that he has to bring something for his class Halloween party and they must be homeade and somewhat healthy. The recipe called for peanut butter but because some of the kids in his class have peanut allergies we came up with this version with almond butter and it is AWESOME!!! I am sure that when he brings these goodies to class for the party next week they will be a sure fire winner. Bonus, your kids can help you make them.

Happy Baking

Monicka

Bestest Oatmeal Nut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies Ever!!!!!

1 cup flour
1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened (*1 cup if you omit the nut butter)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter or other nut butters I use Almond butter (*optional if you choose to omit nut butter add an extra 1/2 cup softened butter to the recipe
1 egg
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 squares Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, coarsely chopped

PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Mix flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. Beat butter, sugars and nut butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Slowly add flour mixture, mixing until well blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate.

DROP heaping tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets.
BAKE 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 1 min.; remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely.

Enjoy!!!

Children, cooking, and taste buds

When I was little I loved Farleys rusks. Not sure if you get them in the States but here in England they are a popular biscuit for babies and toddlers. Soaked in milk they go all mushy, or eaten dry as a biscuit they are a great finger food.

Farleys have this delicious, slightly sweetened, cereally taste that I remembered vividly. Image my disappointment years later when I ate one and it tasted of - nothing!

I had not realized until that moment how much our tastebuds change with age. A baby's taste buds are much more sensitive than an adults. So introduce strongly-flavored foods with caution and respect your child's tastes if they are overwhelmed by strong foods.

Introduce new flavor gradually and encourage your child to try new things without being afraid that he will be forced to eat large quantities of something that is unpalatable for him!

For fun and easy ideas with your kids in the kitchen, check out cooking with your child.

Cooking with Your Child - Ants on a Log!

Cooking with your child....


ANTS ON A LOG
(easy to prepare snack for the little ones)

INGREDIENTS:
Celery Stick
Peanut Butter
Raisins

PREPARATION:
A very simple snack idea! Fill the center of the celery stick with peanut butter. Place a few raisins on top to be your ants. Eat and enjoy!

Happy cooking with your kids!

Cassie

Getting Kids into School Mode

It is hard to believe but in a few days school will be starting again much to the chagrin of our children. Getting your kids back in gear for school may seem like a daunting task but it does not have to be. Try and get them to focus on the positive such as new clothes for school and the chance to see classmates they haven't seen since summer. as well as meet new kids which may lead to new friendships.

It may be a bit of a drag for your child to be back on a schedule and have to go to bed earlier and get up earlier,but try and get them to see the benefit of getting more rest and how that will help have more energy and a better chance of doing well in their studies.

Happy Parenting

Monicka

Cooking with your child

The benefits of cooking with your child include:

• Provides quality bonding time with our children
• Builds positive self image
• Encourages self-discipline
• Rewards hard work and diligence
• Promotes eye-hand coordination
• Cultivates a love of learning
• Fosters cooperation with others
• Encourages their imagination

Here are a couple of nice easy recipes to cook with your child and to encourage them to increase their fruit intake!

APPLE CRUMBLE
4 cups apple slices, peeled
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup oats, rolled (raw)
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup butter

Put apples in shell baking dish and sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine dry ingredients, add melted butter and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle crumb mixture over apples. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes or until apples are tender. Makes six servings. Serve with crème fraiche yoghurt or whipped cream.

STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE
Quick and healthy snack that teens can make in a flash

1 large banana
2 handfuls of ripe strawberries
4 heaping Tbsp of unsweetened applesauce
6-10 cubes of ice

Add ice and the applesauce first (applesauce provides the liquid necessary in the crushing of the ice). Crush the ice until substance is smoothie-like, and then add the other ingredients. Enjoy!!!

Happy cooking with your child!

Frozen Fruit Salad

It is summer and fruit is in abundance so why not make a special dessert for the family as a surprise or better yet let the kids help with the preparation. Choose whatever fruits are in season or even canned fruit would work just fine. Here is a wonderful recipe that is as much fun to make as it is to eat.



FROZEN FRUIT SALAD
1 pkg. cream cheese
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 (No. 2) can crushed pineapple
20 big marshmallows, cut in half
1 can whipped cream or small Cool Whip
Add cherries, oranges, grapes, coconut or any other fruit in season
Mix cheese and mayonnaise. Drain pineapple. Add cut marshmallows and other fruit as desired. Fold in cream or whip and serve or freeze. Cut frozen salad in squares and serve.

Enjoy

Monicka