Family Connections

Establishing Family Traditions for Easter

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:33:47 +0000

Even the White House has traditions for Easter; the annual White House Easter egg hunt. Of course the weather in DC is probably more optimal for that outdoor recreation than is the weather in my part of town… Wisconsin.

The Weather Outside Doesn’t Say ‘Spring’ Just Yet
The weather may not be conducive to being able to enjoy an Easter egg hunt outdoors but there’s no reason to disregard outdoor Easter décor. We had an Easter tree every year while I was growing up. You can pick up a bag of those colorful plastic Easter eggs relatively cheaply particularly at the after Easter sales. Tie a string in a knot and close the knotted end of the string inside the snap together eggs. Hang the loop of the strings on a tree out in the front yard and you have yourself a traditional Easter egg tree. Of course hunting for my Easter basket on Easter morning was also a tradition.

Fred Astaire And Judy Garland As A Tradition
There’s nothing like sitting down and watching an old time movie to bring the family together and create an annual tradition. Irving Berlin’s movie entitled Easter Parade may be old fashioned but still has plenty to say in the way of music and old school charm. They don’t make them like that anymore.
And of course whatever you put on the table for Easter brunch will more likely than not become the biggest Easter tradition.

Coffee will stunt your growth and other myths and facts

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:37:40 +0000

Does coffee really stunt growth?
When I was growing up, my mother never once allowed me to drink coffee. Her answer: “coffee will stop you from growing taller honey.” I never questioned this for fear of remaining my tiny self the rest of my life. I am now a grown woman with children of my own and I have never once given them coffee until recently my son wanted a cup of coffee for breakfast just like mum and dad. I vehemently said no, and when he asked me why, I blurted out “coffee will keep you from growing taller honey.”

It took me a minute to realize that (a) I am my mother after all and ( b) I was passing on information to the next generation, that I was not sure of myself. I grew up in a part of the world where myths are just accepted as facts of life, but I came to learn later that these myths served as health protection. With this in mind, I thought it would be nice to find if coffee really does stunt growth. So like everybody else, I decided to Google information out there regarding this myth. I was surprised to find out that this really is a MYTH. A health article from mnsbcc.com indicates that coffee was thought to cause a decrease I bone mass density, resulting in osteoporosis. Therefore, for years coffee, especially for children was considered an absolute no-no.

That said, however, coffee is a stimulant (FACT) and if taken in excess may cause increased heart rate, nervousness and jitteriness. It is therefore, not a good idea to take it a few hours before you go bed, unless you plan to stay up all night. Coffee is likely to cause insomnia (FACT) and web MD advices give at least six hours between the last cup of coffee and bed time.

My search for any connection between coffee and stunted growth landed me to all sorts of myths about coffee. This one In particular was quite interesting internet including that the best coffee comes from Italy (MYTH). I headed to wed MD because I wanted to debunk or confirm other myths about coffee. Some of those include coffee causing cancer, stomach ulcers, addiction and increased heart disease. Regarding coffee having an addictive effect, sorry to say this is sort of a FACT. Caffeine acts as stimulate to the central nervous system and may cause dependence.

There are a lot of myths out there surrounding coffee, but now we know that not only is coffee not generally bad for us, but it may actually benefit our health. So enjoy your favorite coffee (mine is Tassimo) and drink to your health!

Playing Games As A Family

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:25:03 +0000

Statistics indicate that close families spend time together. The time they spend together is important to their bonding experience. And consistent time pays off. However, with busy schedules it can be difficult to make sure that these activities are part of your daily schedule. They can easily get lost in the daily tasks. Therefore, make sure to plan family time. A great option for family time is games.

Video Games

Did you know that you could play video games as a family? This means that when you everything gets done at night your family can sit by the computer and play games. This is much more interactive than watching tv as a family. It will allow your family to bond and enjoy each other’s company. Plus, there are top video games including fun bike games.

Board Games

Another option for your family is board games. These games are fun for all ages including your older children. It is sometimes hard to entertain the entire family, so board games are a great option. This will help your younger and older children grow closer. Also, it can help your kids to be more interactive and educated.

Therefore, start playing games to ensure your entire family is entertained and spends times together.

Connecting With Your Teen

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:14:20 +0000

If communicating with your teenager or tweenager is a daily dilemma, you may try checking out a web site called Parentingclan. They have advice on almost anything that has to do with parenting.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like A Teenager?

It’s not that teenagers are a problem; it’s just that they almost always have one. The hardest but most important thing to make sure of with a teenager is that they feel comfortable coming to you with anything… Anything! Teenagers today can face issues all the way from eating disorders to Internet harassment. Teen suicide rates are still unbelievably high.

Teens—Tweens—What’s the Difference?

Surely you jest. Just like when you were a tot, kids today want to grow up fast. Preteens want to be teenagers and teenagers want to be adults. Some preteenagers want to be adults. Do talk about sex, do talk about drugs and don’t forget that a little bit of responsibility goes a long ways.
Though ADHD seems extremely overemphasized and way too overly diagnosed these days, if you truly cannot connect with your teenager and they are clearly suffering you may consider seeing a professional. There are teenage behavioral disorders that can be treated.

Cozy Up Together in the Family Bed

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:54:35 +0000

Whereas this article in no way, shape or form encourages co sleeping habits, it can be fun to get the entire family to snuggle up in bed for video games or a movie. That can now be done luxuriously with something called the TV bed.

Pay TV or DVD’s

A movie that is appropriate and fun for the entire family can be enjoyed even further when everyone is snuggled up warm and toasty beneath a fluffy, cushy comforter or the family quilt that grandma made. Once it’s time for the kids to go to bed mom and dad can snuggle up together and watch a show or movie geared more toward grownups. Whatever that may be.

Break Out The Video Games

I don’t know about bowling, golf or any other Wii-type games that requires a lot of physical motion, but fun video games like question and answer, quests or even driving games can be enjoyed by the entire family with the simple push of a button that raises the giant flat screen TV seemingly magically from the foot board. Who ever knew that playing video games with your kids could be this much fun without ever leaving the comfort of your bed?

You know what they say… A family that plays together stays together… Or something like that.

Keep Your Family Active and Happy

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:52:46 +0000

What does a great family outing consist of? A picnic in the park? A pickup game of softball or touch football? Tickets to this weekend’s game? How about bowling balls?

Why Take The Family Out Bowling?

Bowling promotes healthy competition as well as bonding. It’s an affordable family activity that is easy to learn and enjoy. Plus, it gets you up off the couch and moving around. With not only adults but children facing ever increasing obesity issues these days, getting up off the couch and away from the video games is highly recommended. Of course you could go bowling on your Wii game console but then you have to make dinner and fix your own drinks. At the bowling alley, everything is done for you.

Something For Everyone

Bowling alleys are a great place for adults and kids. There’s beer and pizza; there’s an arcade most of the time; there are endless pitchers of soda; and there are shoe rentals and community bowling balls that anyone can use. If the kids are really young you can even set them up with bumper bowling while you play in the next lane.
With something that as all inclusive as a bowling alley you really don’t need to look elsewhere for something for the entire family to do that gets you out of the house, up off the sofa and still remains affordable to this very day.

Keep Anxiety From Disturbing Your Family Dynamic

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:51:27 +0000

A high percentage of individuals suffer from anxiety. In fact, you might suffer from this common mental illness. How do you know if anxiety is an issue for you? Anxiety affects individuals as they try to function daily. Certain tasks may seem overwhelming. At times, life’s nuisances will be more irritating. And you might have a harder time letting things go. If this is you, it is important to learn how to deal with your anxiety. Anxiety can disrupt family life and a family dynamic.

Anxiety And Parenting

One of the most important reasons to control anxiety is so that it does not affect your children. Sure, everyone gets irritated from time to time. However, you do not want to get overly irritated that it gets in the way of being a good parent. Instead, you want to learn how to manage your stress.

Anxiety And Divorce

Another more serious result of anxiety is often divorce. Sadly, many anxiety sufferers cannot learn to let things go. This can cause tension between partnerships and sometimes result in divorce.

The important thing to realize is that sometimes this issue is beyond your control. You may need professional health. There is no shame in that and it will make your life better.

Video Games You Can Play As A Family

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:30:29 +0000

If you are a parent, then you might remember playing Oregon Trail growing up. Are you feeling the urge to rekindle those memories? Perhaps you want to get the entire family involved. Maybe you would like to switch it up and play some war games instead. Regardless, there are several games you can play online as a family.

Family Feud

One of the most popular family games is Family Feud. Yes this game is old. However, it has stood the test of time and the online version might be even more fun than watching it on tv. This game is fun for the whole family and very interactive.

Phase 10

Another fun game for your family is phase 10. You can play this card game online and enjoy all ten phases virtually. It is a fun, competitive game. And it is sometimes easier to see all of your cards when you play online! Plus, you don’t have to worry about shuffling or bending the cards. This is why many people turn to the computer.

If you are looking for something fun that your entire family can participate in, consider an online game. You will be glad that you invested the time together. Plus it’s fun too. The only challenge is determining a game because there are so many options!

Exposing the Kids to Theater

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:31:53 +0000

One of the most important things that any parent can do for this child in today’s world is exposing them to the theater at a young age. Theater is vital because, students in most public schools are getting less and less culture than they did 20 or 30 years ago due to school budget cuts that have taken programs like art or band out of the school system.
Parents can’t depend on schools to bring culture into their children’s lives and it’s more important than ever before for any parent to disconnect their children from their gaming systems or the internet and expose them to more refined forms of entertainment.

Finding Shows That Are Right for Kids

Unlike theater shows that were produced years ago, today’s theater has hit shows that people of all ages including children will love. For example: The Book of Mormon Musical, a show that was written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone has renewed interest in musical theater for adults and children because, the show covers the Mormon religion in a very funny way.

How to Find Shows In Your Area

The best place to find more information on hit musicals and off Broadway productions is the internet. All you have to do is search for theaters in your area then click on their websites to view show times and information for productions that are due to start soon.

Gather the Family Around the Breakfast Table and Start Your Day Off Right

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:43:24 +0000

Family breakfasts can be a wonderful time to bond and share how each other is doing and feeling. These are times that are memorable, and definitely worth creating if you have the means to do so.

What does your family enjoy?

You might decide to prepare a meal that everyone will enjoy such as pancakes. Pancakes are a favorite with the kids. Kids love the butter and syrup. However, what about the adults? Adults are always in need of a nice hot cup of coffee. Jura Kaffeemaschinen makes a machine that is awesome, and will always give you the results you are looking for.

When should these breakfasts be planned?

Do them as often as possible. This means more and more time with each of your family members, and you can also become closer as a family. The time can be relaxing, and overall a great bonding experience for your children.

Being a good role model is important when it comes to raising your children. Be sure you always show the kids and your family how important they are to you. You will love the end results.