Child Summer Entertainment Tips For The Work At Home Mom

By Tammy Embrich

Here we are in the full bloom of summer. A fun time for kids enjoying their break from school.

I have a niece who simply loves to read. Actually, she is content to sit and read for an entire day. My Sister-In-Law never has any concerns about her child's entertainment needs because her little one seems to always be taken away with a good book.

But that is just not the case with most children. If your child is between the ages of 4 and 10, then you may need to put some thought into child entertainment tips.

When my son was very young, he amused himself with his farm sets. Remember those? He had toy houses, sheds, tractors, other farm equipment, fence pieces, and not to mention all the toy trucks and cars his parents spoiled him with. He would set all this up in our living room and he was quite the happy child for several hours.

The above would be a great idea if your child is a boy and was into this type of activity. Every child is unique and has different likes, dislikes, and needs. And all these need to be taken into consideration.

Below are just a few summer inexpensive entertaining tips for you and your children

1. Go to your public park. If the park is in walking distance, save your gas and walk to the park to make the outing more fun. Pack a small picnic lunch (something that could be carried easily) and some snacks for the day. Your kids will love it! Plus it will give them a chance to run off that extra energy that us parent folk don't seem to have anymore. If you work from home on your computer and are blessed with a laptop, take it along and work while the kids are playing.

2. Have a weekly ice cream social. Make it fun with all the special extra treats such as sprinkles, chocolate syrup, bananas for banana splits, whip cream, cherries, cones, and the like. Suggest to other Moms in your neighborhood to take turns in hosting this event. This way you will have a considerable block of work time to yourself to help you stay on schedule.

3. Set up your kitchen table for finger painting fun. Open up your laptop right there at the table to keep an eye on things while you stay working. And by all means, take a few moments and make your own finger painting creation! This will give you a nice break from work and also encourage your kids to remain interested in the project for longer periods of time if they see you enjoying it too.

4. If you have a home office, get your children enthused with tidying things up a bit. If you have more than 1 child, give them each a special cleaning project. Set aside a special clean-up day each week for this purpose. You can make it extra special by rewarding them with a little pocket change or even a lunch event.

5. Take a trip to your public library. This activity would be a fun outing every week or every other week. This is another convenient place you can take your laptop along. While your kids are looking at or reading their books, this would be an ideal time for you to open it up and keep on working.

6. Make one day of the week a work help day. Set your kids up a special work area, with paper, pencils, crayons, etc...
Have them make pictures for you to display on your desk for the week. Tell them you need pretty pictures with lots of smiley faces on them to keep Mom motivated and happy about her business. You can also give them special chores such as, fetching the mail for you, emptying the trash, stamping your name or label on brochures, catalogues, and envelopes. According to what type of business you have, I'm sure there are other tasks that your children will be happy and able to help you with.

7. Have a video day. Keep this to a minimum. You don't want to create an unhealthy habit that would encourage more bad habits as they reach adulthood. You should encourage other events that would keep them active versus being in front of the screen. So, once per week would be ideal.

Here you have an activity for each day of the week. Be happy and enthusiastic about these weekly events, as this will encourage your kids to be more involved. A good idea is to make up a colorful chart with these events and place it on the fridge for everyone to see. These activities may get them involved with your business (depending on their ages of course), and will also give you a chance to spend some quality time with them during the summer. Have fun, they are only young once!

Article Written By Tammy Embrich

You can find more articles by Tammy at Parenting Articles.

You can also visit her at her Work At Home Forums.

10 Greatest Parenting Mistakes

By: Dominique Goh

No one said that being a parent was going to be easy. There is no full proof manual that comes along when the baby is born. I myself am still learning as I travel along this journey as a parent of two young boys.

Here is are some tips to help improve on your parenting

As a parent you should not :

1. Give into guilt by taking upon the mistakes of the children as your own. It is okay if children make mistakes. It is only bad if they do not learn from it. It is not possible for your child not to make mistakes or be infallible as you personally are not.

2. Striving for Perfectionism. Stop!! Don’t do that you are not bringing up robots. If all your kids problems/battles are being solved by you catering to their every need they will not be able to adapt to the real world and the how to be independent and face their own battles. They will not know/learn the techniques/skills needed for survival. By aiming for perfectionism you are only placing additional unwanted stress on your child and they may resent you for it.

3. Being Overindulgent. Do not be afraid to deprive your kids. Sometimes they have too much of a good thing to learn how to appreciate it properly. If they have everything they desired they will not know the value of ownership and how to cherish and take care of their own belongings.

4. Failing to admit that as parents, you foul up sometimes. Do admit your mistakes to you child if you commit any. It will only help to strengthen your relationship . Your child will give you plenty of changes to apologize, ask for forgiveness and try to do better.
Problems and errors are inevitable; how we handle them is up to us. We can be critical of ourselves or our children, or we can see our mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.

5. Shutting off the child. Irregardless of what tactics you try in an attempt to guide your child, make sure that you also keep the lines of communication open, be as perceptive as you can, and then trust your intuition about what’s best for your son or daughter. You may be driving your child into a corner and into desperation if you do so and they may take drastic actions which you may regret bitterly afterward.

6. Punishment will change all bad behavior. This is not true. It is only a temporary stop gap measure which does not eliminate the particular unwanted behavior. It may even reinforce other undesirable behaviors in your child. Your yelling or hitting your child as punishment will only result in him acting out the same behavior on others or even you in the future? Do you wish your child to behave so aggressively towards you like you were towards him?

7. Constantly nag at your child. It will only cause them to turn a deaf ear and make you more frustrated with them. 50 time - " I told you to put your clothes into the laundry hamper" does not equate to the child doing what you wish him to do. I'm sure you hated when your spouse or parent nagged at you to do things which you didn't find the need or didn't want to.

8. Believe that by explaining to your child why a behavior is wrong he would automatically stop it and not commit the same mistake again. Explanation without modeling the correct behavior is useless. It will be the same as sitting through a boring science lecture which you have no interest in. You will still commit the same mistake as you haven't learn the theory and done the practice associated with it.

9. Having the belief that praising a child too much is bad for him. This is a very ancient way (dictatorship) of parenting. If your praise is misguided or poorly delivered yes, it may not be effective. Be specific in how your praise your child. Praise him for a particular action IE: Playing nicely for 20 minutes with his brother instead of saying " You are being a good boy today ".

10. Thinking that all children can fit into the same mold. Each child develops and matures at a different rate. Every one of them have their own strengths and weaknesses. It would be unfair to them to compare their development with their siblings and peers. Instead a better way would be to work on developing their strengths and help them how to overcome their weaknesses.

Are you guilty as a parent of committing any of these mistakes?

About The Author

Dominique Goh, elementary school educator, mom to two young boys, freelance writer, budding website designer and administrator. Sign up for my parenting newsletter and receive a FREE Childcare E-book at Dominique's Desk.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers

From Eating Well.com

Instead of batter-dipped, deep-fried nuggets, we coat chicken tenders in a seasoned almond and whole-wheat flour crust and then oven-fry them to perfection. With half the fat of standard breaded chicken tenders, you can enjoy to your (healthy) heart’s content.

Ingredients

Canola oil cooking spray
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 large egg whites
1 pound chicken tenders (see Ingredient Note)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set a wire rack on the baking sheet and coat it with cooking spray.

2. Place almonds, flour, paprika, garlic powder, dry mustard, salt and pepper in a food processor; process until the almonds are finely chopped and the paprika is mixed throughout, about 1 minute. With the motor running, drizzle in oil; process until combined. Transfer the mixture to a shallow dish.

3. Whisk egg whites in a second shallow dish. Add chicken tenders and turn to coat. Transfer each tender to the almond mixture; turn to coat evenly. (Discard any remaining egg white and almond mixture.) Place the tenders on the prepared rack and coat with cooking spray; turn and spray the other side.
4. Bake the chicken fingers until golden brown, crispy and no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 174 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 2 g mono); 66 mg cholesterol; 4 g carbohydrate; 27 g protein; 1 g fiber; 254 mg sodium; 76 mg potassium.

Nutrition bonus: Selenium (31% daily value).
0 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 3 very lean meat, 1/2 fat

Enjoy!~ ;)

Stress Management Tips for Moms

By Aurelia Williams - Certified Life Coach

Let's Face it, every mom has had one of "those days". The baby is feed and dry but very fussy, your child forgot to tell you about a science project that is due tomorrow and hands you a list of 10 things that you must get from the store, you forgot the roast in the oven and now it is dry and your husband just called to say that he is stuck at the office... again! After a day like this, it can be very hard to keep your stress level low. With each passing minute you may feel your stress and irritability rising, your patience getting shorter and your fuse about to blow! Calgon Take Me Away!!

When you feel the need to escape and take a few minutes to yourself to de-stress, follow some (if not all) of the tips I share with my own coaching clients below.

Put yourself in time out: Allow some alone time for yourself. Use this time to focus on you. Find a place in your home that you can go to and find privacy. You can ask your partner or a friend to take the family out for a few hours while you enjoy your alone time. Do nothing, sleep, read, watch a movie, and just enjoy your solitude.

Call a Friend: Rather than yelling at your husband or your children, try picking up the phone and vent to a friend. Be sure not to vent AT her, but rather tell her about your day and get it all out. If she offers you some advice, listen and soak it in. This mini-time out session will leave you feeling heard, de-stressed and you will find that by the end of your call some of you anger will have dissipated.

Play: As adults, we sometimes forget the beneficial value of play. Play stimulates our imagination, encourages our creativity, boosts our energy, and best of all, it is fun. Try a game of tennis, a game of cards online or perhaps invite some friends over for an evening of adult board games.

Meditate: Meditation has been proven to reduce your blood pressure, and helps to dramatically reduce your stress level. Meditation and/or prayer will help you to keep in touch with your spiritual side. Meditation is a very effective method of relaxation. To meditate, quiet your mind and allow yourself to focus on one thing, such as your breath. Find a relaxed comfortable position where Try visualizing good health and peace as you inhale. While you are breathing out breathe out all of your stress. Set aside approximately 20 minutes for this exercise. Upon completion, you will see just how much more relaxed your mind and body is.

Take a nap: Find a quiet, comfortable spot and take a nap. Even a short power nap can leave you feeling refreshed, renewed, and more focused. Studies have shown that people who spent 30 minutes each day napping had one third less heart disease than those who didn't nap.

Eat: Not just anything but certain things. Studies show that certain foods can help reduce stress. Carbohydrates will actually soothe you. Good sources of carbohydrates include rice, pasta, potatoes, breads, air-popped popcorn and low-calorie cookies. Experts suggest that the carbohydrates present in just one baked potato or a cup of spaghetti or white rice, is enough to relieve the anxiety of a stressful day.

Movie Time: If you don’t have anyone to watch the children for you while you de-stress. Put in one of their favorite movies, supply your children with a few healthy snacks, and have them occupy themselves for a little while so that you can take a breather.

Don't feel guilty for taking time out to rejuvenate your mind and body. Being a mom is not an easy task and it is a full time job. Take a break when you need it and be sure to ask for help to keep the stress at bay.

Next Steps:

If you need an extra hand getting what you want out of life, contact Certified Life Coach, Aurelia Williams. She'll help you design a life that allows you to reach your business and personal goals; cultivate more fulfilling relationships and that elusive achieve work/life balance you've been striving for.

Click here to learn more about her coaching program!

Tips to Curb Summertime Teen Laziness

By Aurelia Williams

Most of us enjoy a lazy day when we can sleep in, putz around and just relax a little - and our kids are no different. However, when the dog days of summer come, some teens take that one "couch out" day and stretch it over an entire summer break. Here are some tips to combat summertime teen laziness and keep your teen active and engaged.

Communicate Expectations – Tell your teen in a nonthreatening but firm manner that you will not accept their staying in bed all morning and afternoon. It is perfectly reasonable to ask that they get up at a decent hour. Explain that you want them to do more than merely watch TV, play video games, or visit social networking sites all day.

If your teen wants you to help pay for their summer activities, they should be willing to abide by a few summer guidelines. Set an age appropriate, specific time that you expect them to be home, based upon the level of trust they have earned. Ask them to take on a couple of extra chores during the summer to earn some pocket money. These chores could be for you or someone else, but make sure they go above and beyond the normal, everyday chores that every member of the family should be expected to do.

Get Them Engaged – Whether you ask them to help you more around the house, participate in volunteer activities in the community, or help them get a job, you want them to be engaged in something worthwhile. Give them encouragement to help at a YMCA, children’s program, or nursing home. They may find they truly enjoy these volunteer activities and you will help them appreciate the joys of serving others that will last a lifetime.

Help them find volunteer positions by calling around to local places of worship, daycares, charities, or nursing homes. Local businesses may be hiring summer help; offer to help them find a job to earn some extra money. This will help them learn to manage money, but will also help them realize the value of their time. If they get paid by the hour, they might be less likely to fritter their time away.

Spend Family Time – Avoid giving lectures about what they should do during the summer. (Lectures, period, are ineffective with teens.) Instead, find activities that you can do with them. You don’t have to spend every waking moment with your teen, but take some time to take them shopping, go to a movie, or out for a coffee. Keep it relaxed and let your teen open up to you in their own time and way. Summertime is a great time to reconnect with your teen. Don’t let these weeks go by without taking this time to slow down and just be together.

Encourage Physical Activity – Take time to learn or play a new sport with your teen. Not only will this help your teen be more active during the summer, it’ll help you get some much needed exercise, too. Boys in particular are more likely to enjoy "side by side" activities. These are often great times to open dialogue with your son about important issues. Give tennis, swimming, cycling, or rollerblading a try. You both will benefit your health and well being.

Parents all over the country complain that their teens get lazy during the summer break. But teens, just like toddlers, need guidance, clear communication, and reminders of your expectations in order to be successful. These tips should get you well on your way. Ask your teen if there are things they’d like to accomplish before school starts, and then help them to meet those goals.

Need More Help?

Here are three guides to help you reconnect with your teen, so you can help them with the rocky road of being a teenager.

1. If you're gearing up for another summer with your teen and want to dread trying to keep them occupied, happy and out of trouble, check out School's Outfor plenty of expert resources to make it a great summer.

2. Real Life Guidance to Understanding Your Teen shows you how to accept what you can and cannot control in your teen's life, how to cope with mood swings, keeping the lines of communication open.

3. Real Life Guidance to Helping Your Teen in High School includes practical suggestions to help your child find his/her identity, avoid bullies, handle peer pressure and more.

Grab them all to be armed with the easy-to-follow advice at your fingertips. They're available for instant download, which means you can get the help you need any day of the week, even if it's the middle of the night.