Tag: kids

THE BUG MAN COMETH

 

Interviewed and written by Lois Pierce

 

Natural History is an important part of ANY science program and it’s been brought to the Southern Oregon area for 7 years by a very POPULAR company that caters to ALL ages at ALL locations.

BUGS-R-US Educational Services provides hands-on fun and education to 5 counties in 2 states. Its owner, John Jackson, has done over 3000 programs in the past 7 years to over 160,000 visitors and is still going strong.

John contributes the success of BUGS-R-US to that simple fact that  ”People like to be entertained, educated and grossed out every chance they can get.” And that’s what he does with 15 different topics ranging from the most popular “BUGS and BUGS AS FOOD” , “WORMS and COMPOSTING” to “OWLS and OWL PELLETS” and the new “NATURAL HISTORY of the OREGON TRAIL.” “Every program we teach is just a big show-and-tell….the audience gets to touch EVERYTHING and that’s what makes it stick in their minds.”

BUGS-R-US Educational Services has worked for retirement communities, day-care centers, schools, churches, birthday parties, fund-raisers, Parks and Rec., Scouts, Homeschools, Garden Clubs and the list goes on. They have turned ALL of the 15 topics into Birthday themes. Your child’s Birthday Party can feature unique, unusual entertainment that is educational as well!

John updates the 15 topics on a regular basis and tries to keep them FRESH for new audiences. “We built the “NATURAL HISTORY of the OREGON TRAIL” program for 4th graders but quickly found out that it appeals to older folks just because of the history factor.” And that’s how his audience base continues to grow.

John and his son, Will, usually work 7 days a week and have to buy the new year calendar VERY early. “Some of our clients like to book 9-12 months out so that means I can look at the schedule a year out and know I’ll still have a job”, John jokes.

BUGS-R-US Educational Services website… www.bugsrus.org … has details about all 15 of their programs along with photos and videos.

“It amazes me that I get to educate and have fun with my students and it’s not really work”, John says. “It’s just me having fun with friends.”

BUGS-R-US Educational Services can be reached at (541) 772-3281 or through their website at www.bugsrus.org

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Healthy Eating for Kids

You want the best for your family and food is a healthy way to interact with your kids.

 

Start young

School your children early with board books about fruits and vegetables. Involve them when you go grocery shopping identifying the fruits and vegetables and picking out healthy choices. Kids are more likely to eat healthy if they are engaged in the process of selection, planning and preparation of their meals. You can make meal preparation fun and creative that kids will look forward to. Make scenes with your food, pancake or sandwich faces, craft animals from celery sticks, peanut butter and apples or raisins.  We are taught not to play with our food but a little fun time can be good.

 

Where Food Comes From

A great way to teach kids about food is to visit the source. Maybe you have space for a garden and can involve your kids in the growing of the food they will eat. Or maybe you can visit a farm, a U pick, Farmers Market or even join a community garden. How fun it can be to grow, care for and pick fresh fruits and vegetables together.

 

Healthy Snacks

Keep a good choice of healthy snack options at home or when you are on an outing.  Carrot sticks, sliced apples or cucumbers, grapes or raisins, bananas, whole grain crackers, yogurt, popcorn. Seasonal fresh snacks of sliced watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, berries, peaches and other sliced fruit is a treat.

Cheers

Maybe your child is picky about eating fruits and vegetables in the whole form. A good way to be sure they get a mix of fruits and vegetables is making fresh vegetable juice or a smoothie. Carrots, celery, beets and a little ginger make a yummy vegetable combination (you would need a juice machine for best results).  Bananas, strawberries (or other fruit choices) , yogurt and coconut water, almond or soymilk make a yummy smoothie and the variation of combinations of what is right for your family is limitless and a great way to introduce new fruits.  The end result is you are happy knowing your kids have drank their fruits or vegetables.

Be a Good Example

Let your child see you make healthy food choices. If your kids see you eating healthy that will become a norm in their lives. Maybe you can read ingredient labels together, if your kids see it is important to you then it will be important to them to develop healthy eating habits.

Try, Try Again

If your kids reject a new fruit or vegetable, don’t give up.  Take a break and offer at a different setting. There are many creative ways to incorporate fruits and vegetables into main dishes if you search for new recipes.- Zucchini noodles.  Banana and fruit pancakes, cauliflower crust pizza, etc…

Make it fun and start young.

 

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Be A Super Hero: Reduce the Risk of Sexual Abuse Of the Children In Your Life

Be A Super Hero: Reduce the Risk of Sexual Abuse Of the Children In Your Life

One of the most anxious moments of my adult life was the first day I left my then two month old son in the hands of his daycare provider so that I could go back to work.  I knew what the risks were for my son.  I had worked in the field of child protection for nearly twenty years at that time.  I had seen the dark side of humanity and was feeling very overwhelmed at the daunting task of keeping my child safe from all harm.

Many parents face this same dilemma.  While there is nothing we can do to totally guarantee our child’s safety there are things that we can do to reduce the risk.

One of the most important things that you can do to reduce the risk of sexual abuse of your child is really quite simple.  Listen to your child. Talk to your child.

Not in the distracted I am busy kind of way but really take time every day to be present in your child’s life.  Pay attention to all the small stuff so they will come to you with the big stuff.  This will let your child know that you care about him.  It also builds self esteem.

Many children who are sexually abused are vulnerable because they lack self worth.  If they are not getting that attention from you, they may seek that attention from someone whose intentions are not pure.  Another very important thing that you can do is when you are looking for a child care provider, do your homework.

If you are using a daycare facility you should inquire about their employee screening process.  You should make sure that it includes a thorough background check.

If you are using an in home provider then you should require that anyone you hire have a background check.

If you are a single parent and are bringing other adults or older children into your child’s life, make sure that you know them and know what their backgrounds contain.

You should be very selective about who spends time alone with your child.  As a parent you should educate yourself about the signs of abuse and follow up if you think that you are seeing any of these signs.

If you do not know what to do, then seek advice from a professional at the Jackson County Children’s Advocacy Center.  You can learn the signs of abuse by taking a Darkness to Light class at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County.                                                                     

 Tammi Pitzen

Executive Director

Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

 

www.cacjc.org

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Back To School Tips

It is time to go back to school. Children cringe and parents let out sighs of relief.  With the return of a “normal” schedule also comes an increase in our child’s participation in extra-curricular activities; both as part of school and outside of school.  Start off the school year on the right foot by meeting your child’s teacher and defining your expectations of communication both to and from the teacher.  It is also a good time to meet all the adults that will be interacting with your child through extra-curricular activities.  If your child is playing football or cheer leading or even on the debate team, it is important that you meet all of the adults that are going to be interacting with your child.

It is also a good time to set up rules for sleepovers and social activities as well so that your child knows what the expectations will be.  You should always know the people your child will be spending time.  It does not matter if they are a child or an adult.  Ask questions of those adults that are in charge.  If it is an organized activity, ask about what kinds of supervision will be given to the participants.

Inquire about who will be allowed to be alone one on one with your child.  Ask to review their policies regarding interaction between those in charge and the participants.  If it is a play date, ask who else will be in the home or attending the play date.  If the play date will take place in the home, ask where medications are kept, if there are guns in the house ask where they are kept and if they are locked away out of the reach of the children.

By asking these questions and knowing the people who will be interacting with your child you are letting everyone know that you are involved in your child’s life and you are also letting them know that you will be watching for signs that indicate when something is not right.  You are reducing the risk for your child to be abused!

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Taking Care of Yourself During the Holidays

Taking Care of Yourself During the Holidays

The holiday season is already upon us!  Seems like every year the frenzy starts earlier and earlier.   It is a time to create new memories and to bring your family closer together.  Here are a few quick tips to help get you in the right frame of mind.

Make sure you “Get Enough” during the holiday season.  Make sure that you get plenty of sleep, plenty of exercise, and plenty of down time.  It is important to take care of yourself in the hurry and scurry of the holidays.  It makes you feel happier which leads to a more relaxed atmosphere to enjoy time with your family.

Do not over indulge.  Enjoy the great goodies but make sure you sneak in some healthy vegetables in your diet.

Remember your children are watching you and will take their cues from you.  If you are enjoying the holidays, the frenzy, the time with family then chances are your children will as well. Our children mirror our behavior in a lot of ways.  If you are unhappy and stressed out, they likely will be as well.

Plan some activities for children who will be home on school break.  When children get bored that usually leads to   disruption.  They do not have to be expensive outings.  Plan some projects that they can give to relatives as Christmas presents.  Arrange for a holiday movie marathon or engage them in sending out the family holiday cards.

The holidays are a time to spend with the ones you love doing the things you enjoy.  Do not rob yourself of the joy by making it so frenzied you are too stressed out to remember the things you love about spending time with family and friends.

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Helping Your Child Master Their Feelings

As a parent one of the hardest things I have had to do was teach my child how to talk about feelings.  The conversation was not hard but teaching the skill has been off the scale in terms of difficulty.  The gift of being able to articulate what you feel and what you want is one of the most important things you can do for your child’s emotional well-being.

There are some simple things you can do to help your child be successful in this endeavor.  One thing you can do is to not discount whatever he tells you about what he is feeling.

For example if your child tells you that he is angry about something, do not tell him he should not be mad.  Instead, ask him about what is making him angry.  Help your child identify feelings and emotions by using facial expressions, feelings posters, or using books.  There are some great books about emotions for even very young child that use facial expression.  It is a great way to start the conversation and to start to identify what feelings look like and feel like.

Another way to teach a child about feelings and talking about feelings is to model that behavior for them.  Talk about how you are feeling.  Children learn behaviors and what is acceptable by watching the adults in their life.  If you get in the habit of talking about your feelings in front of your child, then they too will begin to talk about feelings.  Be appropriate when doing so as we all know what great imitators children can be.  An example could be “I am feeling really happy today because you cleaned your room” or “I am sad because you are not feeling well today”.

Show empathy with your child.  A good example might be “I can see you are feeling sad and disappointed that you will not be able to go to the park today because it is raining.”  Of course help your child to practice this skill by listening to him and asking him questions about his day and how he is feeling.

Be interested in what he has to say.  This is such an important skill to teach.  When children are frustrated because they cannot find the right words to express what they are feeling many times we will see anger, sadness and maybe a tantrum or two.  This is a great excise that will allow you and your child to increase communication and social skills.

 

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Cyberbullying – what parents should know

Cyberbullying – what parents should know

As parents it’s our job to help our children develop into independent, confident, and self-assured young adults. The pressures and complexities of being a teen, and being the parent of a teen, couldn’t be more challenging. It’s hard enough for kids to find their place in the physical world and try to fit in, but the cyber world has added a whole new layer of concerns.

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using digital technology. Cyberbullying most commonly involves the use of cell phones, but may also involve computers, tablets, iPods, gaming consoles and just about any device that connects to the “cyber” world. The actually bullying is facilitated through websites and applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, and Kik Messenger. Common examples of cyberbullying include mean and threatening text messages, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.

Digital technology is not to blame for cyberbullying. In fact, digital technology and the power of the Internet have a very positive impact on learning, sharing of ideas, problem solving and staying appropriately connected with friends and family. But these tools can also be used to hurt other people. Whether done in person or through technology, the effects of bullying are the same. According to the US Department of Justice, kids who are bullied are more likely to use drugs and alcohol, have poor grades, skip school, have more health problems associated with the stress, avoid attending school, church, and social functions, and have lower self-esteem.

So what should you do as a parent to help reduce the risks of cyberbullying? The most important thing to do is talk with your kids about cyberbullying and other online issues regularly. You should also regularly look for opportunities to model and teach empathy. When we help our kids put themselves in another person’s shoes, they learn to be more sensitive to what that person is experiencing and are less likely to tease or bully them. By explicitly teaching our kids to be more conscious of other people’s feelings, we can create a more accepting and respectful community. Learn more at www.StopBullying.gov

 

Sergeant Colin Fagan
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Celebrate Meal Time With Your Family!

Celebrate Meal Time With Your Family!

By Elycia Bechard, LPC

Therapist at The Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County

 

As families gather together for the holidays it can be a great opportunity to step back and remember the importance of connection.  If you are fortunate enough to have positive memories from your childhood experience of family meals, try to remember how those moments of learning, connection, or modeled behaviors affected you or shaped who you are today.   I frequently hear from parents their difficulties in trying to juggle their many responsibilities: children, partner, family, work, etc., so here are some fun, exciting ideas you can use while eating together as a family to develop or re-establish deeper connection with your child.

The goal is to get away from the TV and make dinner time fun for the whole family. If children choose not to participate, that is okay.  Parents modeling smiling, laughing and having fun can motivate children to participate!

  1. The Microphone Game — Give everyone a chance to share about their day by passing around an object that serves as a microphone.  When someone has the microphone, they have the floor – meaning all others are listening! This technique can be a great opportunity to slow things down and make time to listen to one another.  It provides a space where children who might have difficulties trying to get out their thoughts and words have the time and space to share.
  2. Play with your food! — I know, I know. This goes against everything we have been taught growing up.  Play at the table, however, can assist in making a comfortable atmosphere where your children feel they can share about their day.

 

  1. Food Shapes — Make ordinary meals into fun shapes, faces, or designs, such as the smiley pancake, funny faces spaghetti, or an all time favorite – ants on a log. There are tons of ideas on-line if you need inspiration!

 

  1. Themed Dinners – Pick a type of cuisine (Italian, Mexican, etc.) and imaginatively travel to the country with music, dress or décor. Perhaps your son loves Spiderman.  Plan a meal for Spidey and bring Spiderman toys to the table as décor.   You could do something similar themes like the “Frozen” movie, dinosaur adventures, and Minecraft explorations.

 

  1. New Ideas — Ask your children if they have an idea or favorite game they learned from school to try at the dinner table!

 

  1. Celebration Meals — Celebrations need not just be held for holidays. Have a celebratory meal for getting a good report card, passing a test, taking off training wheels on a bike, or having a successful work week.  Celebratory meals do not need to be expensive either, but can be about making that family member’s favorite meal.

 

  1. Book-Inspired Meals — Choose a recipe from your favorite book or movie – Green Eggs and Ham, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Harry Potter’s Pumpkin Juice, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, James and The Giant Peach, The Stinky Cheese Man, Ratatouille, etc. Read from the story during dinner!

 

  1. Kids in the Kitchen — Have your child choose a meal they would like to try and have them help you pick out the ingredients at the grocery store as well as in the kitchen. This can be helpful for children with persnickety eating habits to feel a sense of control and value.

 

  1. Create a story together. – One person starts a story with one sentence. (Once upon a time….)  Each family member then adds one additional sentence until the story has gone around the table.  You can write down the story and read it aloud at the end of dinner for a great laugh.

 

  1. Set the Mood — Play music, light candles, dress up a bit – all these changes can suddenly make dinner a special event.

 

  1. The Dinner Guest – have each family member share one person from any time period that they would like to invite to dinner and then share why. This can be fun for parents to hear about what their children are learning in school and who their child shows interest in.

 

  1. Telephone Around The Table – Keep those cell phones on vibrate! I’m talking about the classic game where one family member thinks of a phrase and whispers it to their neighbor until it has travelled around the table to see how close the phrase got!

 

  1. Family Game Night — Pretend your family is on a Food Network TV show like Iron Chef, Chopped, etc.

 

  1. Eat the Alphabet – Try to eat something that starts with every letter of the alphabet: Apple, Banana, Carrot, etc.

 

A wonderful starting place is to sit down and figure out how often you could potentially incorporate one of these fun, new ideas into mealtime, and most importantly be consistent. If you can plan to do it once a week, once a month, or any other amount of time, that is terrific. Create a schedule where your children have something fun to look forward to. Overall, enjoy each other and have FUN!

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Geocaching provides hours of free outdoor adventures for the whole family!

 

   Geocaching provides hours of free outdoor adventures for the whole family!

By Alex and Amanda Smith

Geocaching has been around since 2000 and in recent years has expanded into one of the hottest family activities for all ages. Geocaching is a treasure hunt using GPS technology to find real life treasures hidden in plain sight all around the world and even in your own backyard! A GPS device or smart phone, a good pair of walking shoes, a writing tool, and a sense of adventure are all you need to geocache. It’s easy to begin. Go to Geocaching.com, set up your free basic membership (or for a small yearly fee become a premium member and have access to more geocaching options and possibilities), search your home address and let the adventure begin! Each cache will have a description of what you are looking for and sometimes a hint. You can also read the past logs of other folks who have found that cache. Once you discover the physical cache you will find a log sheet to write your geocaching name on. Then you can log the find online via smart phone or computer and share your experience with other cachers. Often, inside the cache you will find small tradeable items so make sure you have a trinket if you want to swap something! This is a favorite part of the game for young cachers. See Geocaching.com for more details on tradable items.

 In beautiful Southern Oregon, there is no shortage of hiking trails, stunning scenery, and outdoor adventure. Geocaching takes people to places they have never been to or perhaps didn’t even realize existed right here is Southern Oregon! From the top of Mt. Ashland to the river banks of the flowing Rogue River and all places in between, there are hidden caches and treasures to be found.

Visit our website at www.sogeo.org or www.facebook.com/Southernoregongeocaching to learn more and see some of the fun things we have going on.

If you have any questions about current or upcoming exploration opportunities, email us at southernoregongeocaching@gmail.com.

We look forward to hearing from you and sharing more about this amazing adventure for the whole family!

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Infant Massage:Bonding and Benefits for Parents and Babies

Infant Massage:Bonding and Benefits for Parents and Babies
By JoAnn Lewis, LMT, CEIM, Trainer with the International Assoc. of Infant Massage, Sweden, USA chapter.
Evidence keeps pouring in to show us that loving, nurturing touch between baby and parent is essential to our baby’s best development in all ways. The stimulation, relaxation, relief and interaction of infant massage all play an important part in baby’s emotional, intellectual and physical well-being that lasts a lifetime.
At the Touch Research Institute in Miami’s University Medical Centers, research shows premature babies given daily massages for 15 minutes gain 47% more weight and go home in half the time with savings upwards of $9,000 to the hospital and the parents! This is just one of many studies illustrating the advantages of infant massage in reducing colic, sleeping problems, and stress hormones. It is found to improve nerve coatings, digestion, brain development, muscle tone, immune function and much more…
Touch is the first sense we develop while still inside our mothers and the strongest since birth. And we continue to need touch all of our lives for well-being.
At every class in infant massage the parents and babies learn about each other together with this ancient traditional way of communicating through touch, “dancing” and relaxing in deep harmony with respect to each other. It is the lovely dance of massage! Parents can really relax for the first time with each stroke as their baby responds to their touch, their voice, and their complete, loving attention. This simple and strengthening nourishment of massage builds their confidence, their bodies, their trust in each other; setting a strong foundation for life!
Call the Family Massage Education Center at 77 Manzanita Avenue in  Ashland, Oregon for a schedule of parent/baby classes at 541-482-3567. Or call to become an educator/instructor of infant massage at the next certification USA training in Ashland with JoAnn Lewis, USA Trainer.
http://www.hellofmec.com/
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