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Comment by Betsy Henry 11 hours ago

I've just written a book, HOW TO BE A ZEN MAMA. It was just published this last September!! Hope you'll come to my website and blog at www.zen-mama.com.

Comment by Rhonda Cratty 1 day ago

Valentine school parties will warm the hearts of elementary schools around the country this week. They are simple and easy to organize, even at the last minute.

You need parents that are willing to be on duty for an hour or so. Plus parents who can’t be there but are willing to send in items.

Divide up the party into four sections: Food, Craft, Game, and opening Valentine Cards.

Food:
Yum cookies and ice cream!
Have enough heart shaped cookies so each child can have two.
Ready made frosting, pink and red candies, sugar crystals conversation hearts…
Small Ziploc bags (They will enjoy decorating more than eating.)
Plastic knives, small paper plates, paper towels,
Place cookies, spoon of frosting, candies and a plastic knife at each place and let children decorate and eat.
For ice cream treats visit this link: Teaching your child to follow directions is a life time 101 skill

Games:
To whom do these lips belong?
Make a pattern for a large heart on scrap paper or a sheet of newspaper. Fold the paper in half. Draw one half of the heart. Cut out the pattern and unfold it.
Place pattern on red poster board and trace around it; carefully, with a knife cut an opening in the middle of the heart, just big enough for lips.
Decorate the heart with doilies on the edges of the heart, glitter, writing all the student’s names in random order with black marker on the front.
In the doorway of a classroom tape a piece of paper, (So legs can not be seen) with the heart on top.
Children take turns guessing whose lips are in the heart.
For card game visit this link: Valentine card game 101 teaches children to follow instructions

Craft:
A Gift of Love!
This takes planning, if there is a parent that can take pictures of each child before hand it works best.
4 craft sticks for each child, glued together in the shape of a square, add a magnet.
Red and pink paint, markers, glitter, stones, buttons, beans, beads, macaroni, glue…etc…
Each child paints and decorates frame as desired.
Parents attach frame to picture and date.
For card craft visit this link: Children can have authentic opportunity to follow directions 101

The last center is easy: Children love their Valentine cards and need time to open them.
Enjoy your Valentine School Party!
R.R.Cratty
Find Links at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m2d7-Valentine-day-class-party-ideas-101

Comment by Rhonda Cratty on February 6, 2010 at 9:19pm

February is American Heart Month; it was created to raise awareness of heart health issues. Friday kicked off the month’s events with the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day, which is part of the Go Red for Women campaign created in 2004. Let us extend this month’s heart health awareness to our children.

There is no end to what we do for our children; and there is no better place to start than with their dear little hearts. There is plenty to do to keep them healthy. Teaching them how to have an active life style and healthy eating are two great ways to start.
Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m2d6-Children-heart-health-awareness-101

Comment by Rhonda Cratty on February 1, 2010 at 7:42pm

February 2nd is the day that Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, PA peeks out of his burrow to predict the weather for the rest of the winter. The legend is if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he doe not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

The largest Groundhog Day Celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where crowds have gathered to celebrate the holiday since 1886. This Pennsylvania German custom has its origins in ancient European weather lore, when a badger or bear was used as a weather predictor.


Our culture keeps Groundhog Day alive and well through books, celebrations, films and games.
For Some “Family Friendly” ideas keep reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m2d1-Groundhog-Day-family-fun-101

Comment by Rhonda Cratty on February 1, 2010 at 7:41pm

February 2nd is the day that Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, PA peeks out of his burrow to predict the weather for the rest of the winter. The legend is if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he doe not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

The largest Groundhog Day Celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania where crowds have gathered to celebrate the holiday since 1886. This Pennsylvania German custom has its origins in ancient European weather lore, when a badger or bear was used as a weather predictor.


Our culture keeps Groundhog Day alive and well through books, celebrations, films and games.
For Some “Family Friendly” ideas keep reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m2d1-Groundhog-Day-family-fun-101

Comment by Rhonda Cratty on January 28, 2010 at 7:46pm

Tonight snow showers are due to dust Colorado’s homes, providing an opportunity for old-fashion family fun.

Of course when we wake up to find snow covering our yard we think of snowboarding, skiing, sledding, building snowmen and snowball warfare. However, cold evenings are a perfect excuse to have family dinner, sitting around a coffee table, in front of a fire.

First you need to set the stage. Have your child cut out paper snowflakes to decorate the room, gather cozy pillows to place all around and stack books ready to read. Lamps should be bright enough to read by, but still comfy. Then everyone helps make a dinner of luscious cups of warm tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit salad and coco. As for desert, *snow ice cream is just right for your evening.

While sitting around the coffee table you can talk about your favorite “snow stories,” your day, as both your meal and conversation die down it is time to delve into those wonderful books. Stretched out on the floor propped up with pillows is a great way to share old and new books.

*Three recipes for snow ice cream:
Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m1d27-Family-fun-on-cold-evenings-101

Comment by Mom Lounge on January 26, 2010 at 10:07pm

Moms learn, laugh and grow with advice from professionals, join Sheinina the host of the Mom Lounge webisode show, http://www.momlounge.com

Comment by Rhonda Cratty on January 25, 2010 at 7:16pm

January is Preregister time for Kindergarten

Some districts around the country started last week, some this week and some next week, but all are beginning preregister for the 2010-2011 Kindergarten classes.

In January each year I see a new batch of parents start to come into the school to register, for the first time, the most precious part of their life, their child. Parents are taking tours of not just the school I work in but schools across the country. They are interviewing secretaries, teachers, principals, other parents and neighbors in the exhausting search for what would be best for their children.

Parents can spend countless hours interviewing school personal and neighbors. They can look at trends and study data. However, the most important element to look at is your own child’s strengths and weakness. Each child is such a unique special individual, to lump them into categories or trends would be simply wrong.

Some behaviors that might affect learning are:
Difficulty separating from his/her mother and/or father (Will they cry each time you leave?)
Immature speech or behavior patterns. (In an emergency could another adult understand them?)
Short attention span, constant state of motion and/or easily distracted. (Kindergarten is learning, can they sit on a rug and listen to a story?)
Limited success with fine motor skills (cutting, coloring, etc.)
In need of constant supervision on playground equipment, or forgets safety rules, disruptive or destructive. (Does your child understand about being safe?)
Struggles with changes in routine, has trouble following simple instructions. (Does your child fail to finish tasks often?)
Works better one-on-one than he does alone or in a group setting (Can you see your child working in a group?)
Has poor bladder control that is especially evident under stress.
While you are spending time with your child, observe their behaviors. Make the best possible decision by making your decision based on your child’s needs, talk to his preschool teacher, caregiver or pediatrician. Then, if you are still unsure set up an appointment to speak to your neighborhood school, talk to the Kindergarten teacher, (Kindergarten teachers are a dear bunch.) or the principal.

You must remember you are the expert on your child’s life. If you have nagging doubts about your child’s ability to handle kindergarten, it may be best to give him/her the gift of time. In that additional year make sure he has lots of play dates, opportunities to interact with a variety of children, of course plenty of books read to him and by him, paper, and scissors and love. If you know that your child is ready to make that first step into a formal educational, give them a hug, a smile and your complete confidence in their ability. For your little ones truly see a reflection of themselves in your eyes.

Good Luck,
R.R. Cratty

Slide show is filled with pictures for your little one keep reading: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m1d25-Preregister-time-for-Kindergarten-101

Comment by Rhonda Cratty on January 22, 2010 at 8:19pm

The most precious moments you will share with your children should be right before bed. Morning time families are rushing and bustling around for work and school. During the day families are separated by distance.

Home at last, work, school and activities done, dinner has been enjoyed and homework completed. Your children have had their baths, and are in their warm pajamas. Then comes a special time for your children, a time when “your” undivided attention, love and devotion are theirs alone. A time that they can count on, as a time in their day-(no matter what kind of day they have had,) that is filled with warmth, comfort, and reassurance through the nighttime ritual of cuddling closely with you and a book. Please Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m1d21-Bedtime-and-Books-101#

Comment by Rhonda Cratty on January 18, 2010 at 6:34am

Teaching our children 101: keep the “Dream Alive” with kindness
Teaching our Children to Keep the “Dream Alive” with Kindness
There are plenty of ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day during this long weekend. Events to keep the “Dream Alive, “ are important; However, after the celebration is over let’s make sure our children know first the history of the holiday, and second the responsibility, character building and citizenship of giving to their community.
Please Keep Reading at: http://www.examiner.com/x-2016-Parenting--Education-Examiner~y2010m1d17-Teaching-our-children-101-keep-the-Dream-Alive-with-kindness

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