Daylight Savings Torture … I Mean, Time

March 8, 2013 By 2 Comments

With the “delightful” Spring forward happening this weekend, I thought this post was worth re-sharing and seeing if anyone has any tips!

I’ve certainly heard it and thought it a million times: “Time changes were created by someone who doesn’t have children.”

Clock

Trying to get children adjusted to a suddenly adjusted schedule can be daunting at best and torturous at worst. No one wants to go to bed when it’s light outside. Hopes of a later bedtime meaning a later wake-up are often crushed by disoriented toddlers.

Here are some tips on getting your children adjusted to the time change:

  • Don’t skip naps in hopes of having your child go to sleep earlier. Overtired children often resist sleep.
  • If your child is old enough to understand, explain the time change and why it began. Not only will this help them understand why it is light outside at 8 p.m., it makes a great history lesson at home!
  • Don’t be too stringent about bedtime the first week after the time change. Let kids go to sleep 30-45 minutes later than normal and edge back toward their regular bedtime. Keep their routine the same, though, because those steps can communicate “bedtime” more than outside conditions.
  • My friend Kat suggests having your child use a sleeping mask as young as age 4. This helps block out sunlight and allows them to get to sleep despite light coming in the windows. She said it really did the trick for her daughter!

Also interesting is that exercise helps your body produce seratonin, which aids in resetting your internal clock. So if you are having difficulty adjusting yourself, a good workout might be the remedy!

Do you have any tried-and-true tips for maintaining sanity during the time change?

Sources: Fox Birmingham, “Make Little Changes to Help Kids with Daylight Savings”
The Examiner, “Adjusting to Daylight Savings Time”

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Filed Under: Everyday Parenting Tagged With: ,

Teaching Kids Love

September 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

You can ask the adult Sunday School class that I co-teach. Lots of times we dive into the topic for the day, hit lots of key questions, then I pop the question at the end of the lesson: “How do we make this real for our kids?” That’s the kicker! Sometimes we learn things on one level as a student but having to teach a concept to someone else is a different story. One of those questions is, “How can I teach my kids about love?”

I think the answer starts with showing our kids a glimpse of what unconditional love is like. I say a glimpse purposefully because I get a bit squeamish when I think of all my imperfections. I may intend to show my kids love but by the end of the day I hear them saying, “Dad, why are you so grumpy?” It is difficult not to feel like a failure in that regard.

No matter the mistakes we make, thankfully, we all have a Heavenly Father who loves us in such a remarkable way. He sent His own Son to die for us! That is true love. Communicating God’s love to your child is the best possible thing you can do as a parent! Take time this month of love to communicate how much you and God love your child!

Filed Under: Dads, Everyday Parenting Tagged With: , ,

A Quantum Leap: From Preteen to Student by GG Mathis

September 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

First day of sixth grade

 

Depending on the age-grouping plan at your church, your preteen may be on the brink of an astronomical jump from a self-contained children’s area to the “great big black hole”  of the youth/student area. If the thought of throwing your tiny sixth grader into a middle school department with eighth graders the size of Jupiter makes you queasy, know you aren’t alone! 

 
Here is a handful of hints to help launch your preteen successfully into your church’s youth/student ministry: 
 
Be familiar. Well before transition time, get acquainted with your student pastor. Check your church calendar for upcoming youth events, especially those engineered for middle school or junior high. Find out who will be teaching your preteen, introduce yourself, and don’t be embarrassed to ask what happens on a typical Sunday. (Familiarity with upcoming events will help you set boundaries for activities, such as no-sleep lock-ins, that your preteen may not be physically ready for.) 
 
Be positive. Once you know what’s happening “up on the youth floor,” talk it up to your preteen. Preview upcoming activities with a “Hey! Guess what you get to do!” point of view. Make a special effort to include your preteen and your family in the first get-acquainted fellowships of the year. 
 
Be available. Volunteer to assist at events, bring goodies, or—they’ll love you for this one—teach a Bible study class! Your student leaders will love you for it. Even if you aren’t teaching your preteen’s grade or group, your participation and availability can help him feel a little less alien when surrounded by older students.  
 
Be in prayer. Your preteen is in for a wild ride over the next few years. Physical, spiritual, and emotional challenges will assault her at astronomical speed. Your church’s student ministry can be a docking station for her to connect with Christian peers, caring adults, and her loving Heavenly Father. Pray for the student ministry staff and volunteers who will serve as “mission control.”

 

GG Mathis loves her family, writing, kids (especially preteens), and tea! She is a mom and wife in Joplin, Missouri, when her family endured the deadly tornado that wrecked their town in 2011.

 

LifeWay is MORE than excited about our new curriculum for preteens, FLYTE.  If you’re looking for some great topics to touch on with your preteen group, go watch this video and then consider learning some more about FLYTE. 

 

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Filed Under: School-Age Kids

Real Life Solutions: ADHD

September 5, 2012 By 2 Comments

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We are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.

Q: My 9-year-old child has been diagnosed with ADHD. How do I talk to him about this? 

 
A: Be honest. Most children struggle with ADHD before it is diagnosed and need an explanation. Keep the explanation simple and developmentally appropriate. 
 
You can explain that ADHD is like someone who has difficulty seeing and needs eye glasses to focus. Treatment is like getting those glasses. Or you may explain that it is like your brain is a speeding train and needs to slow down. 
 
Some parents use examples of volcanoes, super heroes, robots―all things that need extra control for their intense energy. Be positive and don’t use shaming language such as bad, deficit, weird, special, hyper, or mental. 
 
Help your son understand that this is a condition that needs to be managed and is not an excuse for inappropriate behavior. Don’t label your child or expect problem behavior because of the disorder. Your child can be live happily and successfully with ADHD. 
 
The diagnosis will help you work effectively with him to bring out his gifts and talents and decrease frustration. He is wired a little differently, but those differences make him uniquely him—who God made him to be. Your attitudes and expectations will influence his, so stay positive and encouraging. 

 

Filed Under: Health & Safety

A Family-Friendly Field Trip

August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Passages, a non-sectarian, worldwide traveling exhibition of The Green Collection, tells the dramatic story of how the Bible came to be. This 14,000-square-foot, interactive display of rare biblical texts and artifacts and was designed to engage people of all ages and interests in the history and impact of the Bible. Passages invites visitors behind the scenes of the most-banned, most-debated, best-selling book of all time to discover the surprising story of Bible history and is currently open at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.

The exhibition allows children and adults alike to see, touch, feel, and experience thousands of years of history through priceless artifacts and interactive features more readily associated with science museums. Along with some 300 priceless biblical artifacts from ancient papyri to dead sea scrolls to beautifully ornate gold Bibles, the exhibit draws in children with:

  • A hidden riddle scavenger hunt hosted by Louie — a talking lion whose images appear throughout the exhibition to explain to young visitors the history and importance of each area;
  • Hands-on activities such as writing by candlelight with a quill pen, setting block letters on a printing press, and creating an original page to adorn a Bible;
  • Adult and children’s versions of virtual guided tours via an iPod Touch
  • Two working replicas of a Gutenberg and King James printing press that children get to manipulate;
  • Animatronic historical characters including St. Jerome, Anne Boleyn, William Tyndale, and John Knox, which engage visitors with stories of human life and sacrifice that went into making the Bible available today; and
  • Life-like galleries set in historical scenes including an ancient synagogue and a modern excavation site.

 

Reformation Theatre

Passages is in Oklahoma City through October 16 and will then tour soon-to-be announced cities and locations worldwide. Tickets are $19 for adults and include the exhibit, the rest of the museum’s holdings plus the use of an iPod touch audio guide. Discount coupons are available at Hobby Lobby and Mardel.

Filed Under: Events

Go Grab a Blizzard Tomorrow

August 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Tomorrow, August 11, is the sixth annual Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day. For each Blizzard sold, $1 or more will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. What a wonderful (and tasty!) way to help a fantastic organization.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. When a donation is given it stays in the community, ensuring that every dollar is helping local kids. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4 billion, most of it $1 at a time. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of our mission to save an improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at CMNHospitals.org.

Last year Dairy Queen raised over $5.5 MILLION dollars for CMN Hospitals! Wow! I guess people really like their Blizzards!

25-for-252

My favorite flavor is Turtle Pecan Cluster. (Not that I would refuse ANY flavor Blizzard, I don’t think.) What’s yours? — Jessie

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: , , ,

Back-to-School Photography Tips

August 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I still have a hard time fathoming that August is the beginning of the school year around here (Tennessee). Where I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, we didn’t start school until the Tuesday after Labor Day. I’m pretty sure that’s still the rule there. But then again, I didn’t graduate until June 16th … so I guess it’s just a toss-up as to which end of the summer you want your extra weeks to be.

Do you want to start some special traditions for your school-aged children? Having pictures of the same events every year will make a beautiful scrapbook or album for your kids to look back on when they are adults. – Jessie

Here are some tips on back-to-school photography from Tracy Greene, photographer and author at Take Great Pictures.

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Back To School Shopping, Shopping, Shopping

Whether you like it or not, shopping for back-to-school clothes, shoes, and school supplies is an annual tradition that deserves documentation. Photograph them before you leave with their worn out summer sandals, unruly pool hair, and faded summer tank tops. You’ll have that to start your back-to-school scrapbook page and contrast it with the first day of school photo.

By giving the camera to your kids for part of this day you might even end up with a funny photo of yourself frazzled from a day of shopping.

The First Day

Whether they are taking the bus, walking, or driving themselves for the first time, that goodbye photo is crucial to remember that feeling forever. They will be proud to see their independence and you can reflect on this time in their lives. 

Think Outside of the Box

Kids smiling for the camera always make a nice picture, but you might like something a little out of the ordinary even better. Try photographing kids from behind. On the first day of school you will see the excited posture of their walk onto the bus or into school with their new favorite backpack they picked for this year.

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Get a Close-Up

Make sure you do a full head to toe photo to capture what they looked like at this time in their life. Then, zoom in close and do a few portraits to remember the features of their face at this age. They will inevitably get annoyed after a few shots so keep shooting and grab some of those funny candid moments too.

Back-to-School Traditions

Once they are home from the first day, do you have an annual family tradition? Homemade cookies and milk, ice cream cones… whatever the tradition, be sure to include your camera.

 

Do you have any back-to-school photography traditions?

Photos courtesy of Tracy Greene.

Filed Under: School-Age Kids

Fun Friday Photo — August 5, 2011

August 5, 2011 By 1 Comment

Thirteen-year-old Makenna gets creative with her pretzel while at Blume in Orlando, Florida, with the Acteens from her church! 

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Thanks to Heather P. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

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Real Life Solutions: Playtime

August 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

mintle03(2).jpgWe are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.

Q: How important is it for me as a parent to play with my child? I feel like I have so much to do during the day. My child has playmates in our neighborhood and likes to play alone with toys. I use playtime to get household chores done, but I am wondering if she needs more of my time.

A: I love your question because you intuitively know that being a Martha mom requires a bit more Mary time (Luke 10:38-42)! Playtime with you is important for your child no matter how many friends and activities she has. No one can make your child feel as special as you can.

It is worth taking time each day to engage in pretend play. Play is a learning activity that encourages verbal and logical skills and the development of relationship skills. Studies show that parents who play with their children have kids with better self-esteem and who are reinforced in their imaginations and creativity. So here are a few ideas.

Instead of cleaning with your mop, make it a puppet. Have your child develop a theme and become part of the pretend world. Be silly and have fun. You can play with puppets and stuffed animals and use them to teach your child real-life situations that present your values.

Old-fashioned games such as hide and go seek, hopscotch, and acting out a fairy tale are easy to do and will bring you and your child closer together. Put down the dust rag and play with your child. She won’t remember a clean house as much as the fun she had with Mom.

 

Filed Under: Everyday Parenting Tagged With: , ,

August Giveaway: She Makes It Look Easy

August 3, 2011 By 28 Comments

"I want what she has." How many of us have said that? I sure know that I don’t have it all together. Trying to be a full-time mom, housekeeper, wife, and freelancer usually explodes in my face. My house is a mess. My toddler watches too much TV. My baby doesn’t get as many baths as he should. The laundry is piled everywhere. There are ants dancing in the kitchen.

She Makes It Look EasyMarybeth Whalen’s second and newest book, She Makes It Look Easy, deals with this very topic. Here’s the blurb from the publisher, David C. Cook:

Ariel Baxter has moved into the neighborhood of her dreams — and the chaos of raising three children moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable. Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that "perfection" isn’t always what it seems to be.

I haven’t read this book yet, but it was featured by the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, so I was able to read several reviews. From what I read, it’s a heart-piercing novel that is both fiction and true to life. It may be a smack in the face … or just the assurance you need that no one has it all together, really.

Would you like to win a copy of Whalen’s novel? We have TEN autographed copies to give away, courtesy of David C. Cook. To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling us what the best book you’ve read recently was. (If it’s Green Eggs and Ham, that’s OK too!) — Jessie

Winners will be selected at random September 1, 2011. USA only. LifeWay employees are not eligible to win.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,
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