Just like all the other times I said I was gonna do it. But this time it seems different. But then again, I have said that before. What can I do so this time is not like all the others? Can it be that I want it more? Can it be that I need it more? Not sure, but I really want to believe that this time is gonna be the last time I ever have to lose weight.
I try to always have a smile on my face. People comment to me all the time that I am always smiling and while I joke back “If I wasn’t smiling, I would be crying”, sometimes it’s true. I mean, come on, one person can’t possibly be happy ALL THE TIME…right?
I do love my life. I am so blessed with everything I have. That said, I just wish, more than anything that I didn’t think about food, what I weighed, and my body image 24/7. That is not an exaggeration. There have been plenty of nights that I have laid up thinking how I could be thin. How are thin people thin? When it is morning, so I could have breakfast? Am I the only person that feels this way?
Reality is, that I know I can't possibly be the only person that feels this way, BUT, I could be, maybe, one of the only people that talks about it. It is shameful. I think. Drug addicts don’t talk about their drug addiction and alcoholics don’t talk about their addiction, so why would a food addict talk about theirs? Same difference.
I read a blog this morning, which prompted me to do what I have been meaning to do for a while now. Blog. It talked about that ever so faithful BMI chart.
BMI Categories:
• Underweight = <18.5
• Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
• Overweight = 25–29.9
• Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
It’s like the big bad wolf. I will never forget – I had just had my 1st set of twins, about 6+ years ago. It was about 3 months after I gave birth and had to go to the doc for something. He did his exam and I needed a second opinion, so I asked for the records for the first visit to take with me. I read them. The doc called me OBESE. To say I wanted to crawl in a hole and bury myself and never come out was an understatement. I am 5’7” and at that time, weighed 195. He clearly didn’t take into account I just had 2 babies – but just even hearing (reading) those words sent me into a tizzy. Me? Obese? No way. I know what obese looks like and I was not it.
I have been extremely successful on WW before. After my 1st pregnancy, I lost 80 lbs in 9 months (gained 70 with him) and after the 1st set of twins, lost 50 lbs in 5 months. Now, with the 5 kids, a full time business and countless other obligations, finding the time to lose the last 20-30 lbs has proved it extremely difficult for me and in the interim, mentally debilitating. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard “You don’t look like you need to lose that much”. Either they were being nice or need glasses. I also hear “You carry it very well” – as if that is supposed to make me feel better.
So, for the 100th time, I started Weight Watchers on Jan., 2nd. Studies show that logging what you eat daily is a great way to be held accountable. I agree. It’s also a great way to obsess about what you eat everyday – LOL! Fact remains, that for me to be a healthy person, mom, wife and friend, I need to do this. In the end, it’s not even really about the scale. Its how I feel. How my clothes fit. I have clothes in my closet ranging from size 8-12. I would love to get rid of the big ones and choose daily from the small ones. I have to know that it will happen. I have to believe that I will succeed. After all, “The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do”. ~Author Unknown
And away we go…..
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Yes....there is such thing as Sleep Apnea in Kids!
Having 5 kids in a little over 5 years, one would expect that sleep would be the last thing a parent would get for a while. That said, having 5 kids, by the last 2, Sleep Training 101 should have been a mastered art. Everything was going great until Matthew and Joey were about 2 years old. All of the sudden, they started waking up a few times during the night and asking for something to drink. Just so that Mike and I didn’t get too sleep deprived, we complied with their request and thought that it was a temporary blip in the sleep process.
Well…we found ourselves a year and half later, what went from a few times a night being woken up by the “babies”, to 5-7 times a night. Increasing, them waking up was less and less of a request for something to drink and more of being woken from a nightmare. They were not night terrors. I did a lot of research and know the difference. The kids were awake, yet inconsolable. They were scared of something. It actually got so bad for Joey over a span of a few weeks, my mind took me to some horrible place and I told the pediatrician that I thought someone hurt him, because I could not imagine what else would make him wake up from a dead sleep so frightened. He gave me the name of a therapist to talk to.
It took me a few days to get the courage to call the therapist, as I wasn’t sure how I was going to be bring my 3 year old there. That night, after the kids went to bed, coming from Joey’s room, it sounded like the Amtrak was rolling thru. I opened his door, and if I didn’t know better, you would have thought there was a 300lb. drunk sleeping his bed. Nothing could prepare me for the sounds that were coming from this 34 lb peanut!
I knew he was not sick and could not, for the life of me, think what would be the reason he was snoring the way he was. I adore my friends and trust the mommy opinions of those around me, so I posted a simple question on Facebook asking if anyone knew why this was happening. Within an hour, I rec’d about 50 responses telling me that I need to have him examined for Sleep Apnea and have an ENT look at his adenoids and tonsils.
I goggled Sleep Apnea in children and was truly amazed at what I read.
In addition to continuous loud snoring, other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in children include:
• failure to thrive (weight loss or poor weight gain)
• mouth breathing
• enlarged tonsils and adenoids
• problems sleeping and restless sleep
• excessive daytime sleepiness
Oh my gosh. All of the sudden a light bulb went off in my head. Joey is an identical twin. His twin, in the last 6-9 months has gained about 5 lbs and Joey had not. I shrugged it off as they are each their own person and he will catch up. But, there was really a reason, perhaps now why he was not thriving! He was breathing thru his mouth and would nap during the day whenever he could.
I immediately called my pediatrician and told him that I wanted a referral to an ENT. He wrote a script for an x-ray and off we went. Had the test done and went to see the ENT. CONFIRMED. Not only were his adenoids and tonsils large, his airway was almost 100% constricted. Poor boy. And to think, I had NO idea. Nobody talks about Sleep Apnea in kids.
The surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids was set for the following week. I talked to as many people as I could about their experience with recovery, just so that I was as prepared as possible. I know that every child is different, but you can never be too prepared.
The surgery went great. The surgeon and anesthesiologist were terrific. The doctor told us that Joey’s tonsils were one of, if not the largest she had ever seen in a child his age. He woke up peacefully, drank an apple juice and we were sent home. He slept most of the day, I kept up with the pain meds and I was thinking that the next week was going to be a breeze.
Wrong! Recovery has been difficult and it’s been very hard to see how much pain Joey has been dealing with. While it’s still considered routine and the procedure is completed in about an hour, it is major surgery. In an adult, it takes a month for full recovery. In a child, it's a little over 2 weeks.
Toddlers are all-or-nothing when it comes to pain management. While they're on painkillers, your child will act completely comfortable and care free. Don't be fooled. As soon as it's time to give them the next dose, do it, or you'll be dealing with 3o minutes of sobbing and clinging while you wait for the next dose to kick in. If your prescription says to give the painkillers every 4 hours, but you need to give it to them every 3 hours to adequately control the pain, check with the doctor, but ultimately, do whatever you need to do to keep your child comfortable.
Hydration is so important. Their throats dry out. I've heard a dry throat when waking described by an adult as feeling like you have a bunch of glass in your throat. And then the medication stings going down. It is hard to rationalize with a 3 year old. I tried to explain to him that if he didn’t drink that we would have to go to the hospital. He didn’t understand. He just knew that it hurt to swallow and he wasn’t going to do it. Sure enough, day 7, he was so dehydrated that we were hospitalized for 36 hours while they “pumped him back up” with fluids. No fun for either of us! We were told that day 7-10 is the most painful period post-op because of the scabbing. Joey was at a consistent high level of pain until day 10 and that seemed to finally be the turning point, where he could eat and drink a little more easily with less pain meds.
The past week and a half, Joey slept in our bed and Mike slept in his, just so that I was close enough to him to watch him during the night and give him his meds. It's a long haul, you will be sleep-deprived & your child will be miserable. Definitely not a good time to be trying to accomplish anything else major in your life!
Do anything you can to keep them occupied. Watching TV or playing on a laptop is a good way to distract them from their discomfort and keep them still.
I also was begging Joey eat. I would let him eat whatever he wanted – even if it was soft cookies for a week! After the surgery, kids tend to lose a ton of weight while they're recovering. He was already small to begin with, so anything he was willing to put down, I was willing to give him!
I do know that every child is different and everyone heals and recovers at a different pace. I thought it was important to bring to light the importance of not minimizing all of the issues that Joey was experiencing, because in the end, it was something serious and Sleep Apnea was something that I had no idea about. Those that I have spoken to, say that the surgery has been life changing for their kids. Matthew is next up….
Well…we found ourselves a year and half later, what went from a few times a night being woken up by the “babies”, to 5-7 times a night. Increasing, them waking up was less and less of a request for something to drink and more of being woken from a nightmare. They were not night terrors. I did a lot of research and know the difference. The kids were awake, yet inconsolable. They were scared of something. It actually got so bad for Joey over a span of a few weeks, my mind took me to some horrible place and I told the pediatrician that I thought someone hurt him, because I could not imagine what else would make him wake up from a dead sleep so frightened. He gave me the name of a therapist to talk to.
It took me a few days to get the courage to call the therapist, as I wasn’t sure how I was going to be bring my 3 year old there. That night, after the kids went to bed, coming from Joey’s room, it sounded like the Amtrak was rolling thru. I opened his door, and if I didn’t know better, you would have thought there was a 300lb. drunk sleeping his bed. Nothing could prepare me for the sounds that were coming from this 34 lb peanut!
I knew he was not sick and could not, for the life of me, think what would be the reason he was snoring the way he was. I adore my friends and trust the mommy opinions of those around me, so I posted a simple question on Facebook asking if anyone knew why this was happening. Within an hour, I rec’d about 50 responses telling me that I need to have him examined for Sleep Apnea and have an ENT look at his adenoids and tonsils.
I goggled Sleep Apnea in children and was truly amazed at what I read.
In addition to continuous loud snoring, other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in children include:
• failure to thrive (weight loss or poor weight gain)
• mouth breathing
• enlarged tonsils and adenoids
• problems sleeping and restless sleep
• excessive daytime sleepiness
Oh my gosh. All of the sudden a light bulb went off in my head. Joey is an identical twin. His twin, in the last 6-9 months has gained about 5 lbs and Joey had not. I shrugged it off as they are each their own person and he will catch up. But, there was really a reason, perhaps now why he was not thriving! He was breathing thru his mouth and would nap during the day whenever he could.
I immediately called my pediatrician and told him that I wanted a referral to an ENT. He wrote a script for an x-ray and off we went. Had the test done and went to see the ENT. CONFIRMED. Not only were his adenoids and tonsils large, his airway was almost 100% constricted. Poor boy. And to think, I had NO idea. Nobody talks about Sleep Apnea in kids.
The surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids was set for the following week. I talked to as many people as I could about their experience with recovery, just so that I was as prepared as possible. I know that every child is different, but you can never be too prepared.
The surgery went great. The surgeon and anesthesiologist were terrific. The doctor told us that Joey’s tonsils were one of, if not the largest she had ever seen in a child his age. He woke up peacefully, drank an apple juice and we were sent home. He slept most of the day, I kept up with the pain meds and I was thinking that the next week was going to be a breeze.
Wrong! Recovery has been difficult and it’s been very hard to see how much pain Joey has been dealing with. While it’s still considered routine and the procedure is completed in about an hour, it is major surgery. In an adult, it takes a month for full recovery. In a child, it's a little over 2 weeks.
Toddlers are all-or-nothing when it comes to pain management. While they're on painkillers, your child will act completely comfortable and care free. Don't be fooled. As soon as it's time to give them the next dose, do it, or you'll be dealing with 3o minutes of sobbing and clinging while you wait for the next dose to kick in. If your prescription says to give the painkillers every 4 hours, but you need to give it to them every 3 hours to adequately control the pain, check with the doctor, but ultimately, do whatever you need to do to keep your child comfortable.
Hydration is so important. Their throats dry out. I've heard a dry throat when waking described by an adult as feeling like you have a bunch of glass in your throat. And then the medication stings going down. It is hard to rationalize with a 3 year old. I tried to explain to him that if he didn’t drink that we would have to go to the hospital. He didn’t understand. He just knew that it hurt to swallow and he wasn’t going to do it. Sure enough, day 7, he was so dehydrated that we were hospitalized for 36 hours while they “pumped him back up” with fluids. No fun for either of us! We were told that day 7-10 is the most painful period post-op because of the scabbing. Joey was at a consistent high level of pain until day 10 and that seemed to finally be the turning point, where he could eat and drink a little more easily with less pain meds.
The past week and a half, Joey slept in our bed and Mike slept in his, just so that I was close enough to him to watch him during the night and give him his meds. It's a long haul, you will be sleep-deprived & your child will be miserable. Definitely not a good time to be trying to accomplish anything else major in your life!
Do anything you can to keep them occupied. Watching TV or playing on a laptop is a good way to distract them from their discomfort and keep them still.
I also was begging Joey eat. I would let him eat whatever he wanted – even if it was soft cookies for a week! After the surgery, kids tend to lose a ton of weight while they're recovering. He was already small to begin with, so anything he was willing to put down, I was willing to give him!
I do know that every child is different and everyone heals and recovers at a different pace. I thought it was important to bring to light the importance of not minimizing all of the issues that Joey was experiencing, because in the end, it was something serious and Sleep Apnea was something that I had no idea about. Those that I have spoken to, say that the surgery has been life changing for their kids. Matthew is next up….
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Every so often, I get introduced to a photographer that just knows how to work with kids…
And with me having 5 boys, that is S U P E R important. That, AND, that they take great photos! I was SO excited to finally have the chance to do a photo shoot with Sara Pine last week. Totally impromptu…I grabbed the kids after school one day and headed to an awesome location in Agoura Hills. They had the best time and Sara and her crew were just awesome with them. The shots she was able to get captured their true personality and I was thrilled to see the outcome of our time together. Sara has been behind the camera since the age 11 and it shows! She is truly terrific and I HIGHLY recommend her. For more about Sara, visit www.sarapine.com. I wanted to share her work with all of the Jens List members and offer the chance to have her photograph your family, as well. Perfect for this coming Holiday Season! $250 includes a photoshoot at the location of your choice on a weekday and all pix downloaded online for you to do whatever you would like with them! Click http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0IcNmzdoyaNHHA, then photo book, then full screen and you will get an idea of how amazing our photo shoot really was! Enjoy!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Best Karate Studio Ever!
For 26 years, Team Karate Centers has been coaching people, of all ages, in the process of learning and practicing the martial arts as a tool for learning and practicing the art of being a more complete, proactive, and empowered human being. They consider ourselves an integral "part of the village" that helps parents instill valuable character traits, beliefs, and habits in children. They teach a brand of self-defense that transcends the block, kick, punch, and throw - and includes the self-defense skills of kindness, empathy, community, and compassion. If you are looking for something fun and extraordinarily engaging, interesting, and life-enhancing, they are masters of making it easy to get started. We have been a part of this studio for over 6 years and absolutely love it there!!!
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Personalized Pumpkins
They come in 3 different sizes and range in different prices depending upon whether you supply the pumpkin or they supply the pumpkin. Pumpkins can have a name, a spooky picture, spray paint, and glitter to make them goolish and stand out. Pricing: for name only Small pumpkins $10; Medium pumpkins $15; and Large pumpkins $20. For the additional bling such as a picture $5 and another $10 for glitter and spray paint. They are great. For more info contact Lindsay at Lindsssay820@yahoo.com. Here are the ones that I got for the kids!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Mission Accomplished: Girls Night In is a Success
Yes, it's been over a week since my Girl's Night In: Bridesmaids Style. But it was just THAT fantastic that I was too exhausted to recap. But I'm here now to tell you, in great detail, just how marvelous it was.
13 of us gathered in a girlfriend's "screening" room to escape our typical Family Friday Nights. Not that we don't love the end of the week with our family's, but coming off of the beginning of school, it's been nothing short of exhausting. We popped open some wine, and in my case a few cans of Diet Coke, oooohhh'd and aawwwww'd over the treats from LINDSAYCakes and began to relax. I would have loved to chitchat with all the girls all night long (and I think I foresee my own Girl's Night In coming soon), there was a movie to watch.
Movie candy was passed around, cell phones were put on vibrate, the lights were lowered. For the next two hours, every one laughed uncontrollably. We couldn't stop. No one moved, we were glued to our seats. It's the most quiet I've ever seen this group of women in my life.
After the movie, we did our stretching - hey we're pushing 40, things get tight - and made our way to the desserts. LINDSAYCakes did an incredible job with the cupcakes. Her attention to detail - she did bridesmaids dresses on some, and little faux engagement rings on others. Nearly everyone took one home - in addition to their real party favor: a mini-bouquet from Calabasas Flowers.
The evening was priceless, the company was bar none.
Bridesmaids is a must see, and it's officially out on DVD now, so get your own copy and have a Girl's Night In ASAP!
To place cupcake or cake orders from LINDSAYCakes, email Lindsay @ lindsaycakesxo@gmail.com.
To order flowers from Calabasas Flowers, call Denice at (818) 222-5576
Monday, September 12, 2011
Lights, Camera, Girls Night In: Bridesmaids is Coming Soon to a DVD Near You
Jen's List is honored to be receiving an advanced copy of the hilariously funny hit Bridesmaids. I loved it when it was in the theater, and now I'm equally excited to gather a few of my inner circle and sneak out and watch it from the comfort of a friend's home. We've got big plans for our Girls Night In, Bridesmaids style.
To keep everything organized, I've created this magnificent pinboard (see above) through one of my favorite new sites, Polyvore. It's amazing and helps me put so many things together.
Let's start with the movie theme, because who doesn't need popcorn? Thank G-d for microwave popcorn and those adorable little single serve plastic buckets (as seen above) at Target. I've been eyeing them for quite some time and finally have an opportunity to use them! And movie candy, I've got these multi-purpose mason jars from Michael's that I use for absolutely everything. The night of Girls Night In, we'll take a cute ribbon, tie it around the top and fill them with some of our favorite movie candy: Red Vines, M&Ms, Skittles, etc. (My mouth is watering!)
This isn't just any old movie night so we'll need some centerpieces which will double as our party favors, because party favors aren't just for kids anymore. We're doing a pink theme, because we're still girls at heart. But we'll make these itty bitty bouquets out of stock and mini-mums, wrap them in paper and ribbon and have them set in smaller vases with pink ribbon wrapped around the bottom during the party. I'm all about dual functionality.
It's Friday night, and many of the girls will be glad to have put the kids to bed and sneak out of the house for some much needed alone time, so we'll have some yummy Moscato and Rose Champagne (think pink!) on hand. Anyone that knows anything about me knows that Diet Coke is my personal drink of choice.
Also on hand, will be a fruit assortment, I'm thinking fruit skewers, but those are time consuming, and with 5 boys, that might be fairly ambitious this week!
And let's not forget the cupcakes! We've teamed up with local specialist LindsayCAKES who has agreed to make us a special Bridesmaids themed treat. Who doesn't love that?
Friday cannot come soon enough!
And don't forget you can get your copy of Bridesmaids on Tuesday, so start planning your own Girls Night In.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general “Creativity: FANTASY” tidbits:
•• CONTINUE TO talk about, pretend and discuss Toddler’s feelings and other people’s feelings (children’s and adults’).
•• FROM ABOUT 4, having a vivid imagination, he sometimes has imaginary playmates. He has difficulty, however, separating make-believe from reality.
•• HE IMITATES Dad (she imitates Mom), particularly in play.
•• SHE PRETENDS she’s at preschool, the grocery, the mall, in the car.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 5”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general “Creativity: FANTASY” tidbits:
•• CONTINUE TO talk about, pretend and discuss Toddler’s feelings and other people’s feelings (children’s and adults’).
•• FROM ABOUT 4, having a vivid imagination, he sometimes has imaginary playmates. He has difficulty, however, separating make-believe from reality.
•• HE IMITATES Dad (she imitates Mom), particularly in play.
•• SHE PRETENDS she’s at preschool, the grocery, the mall, in the car.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 5”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general “Creativity: FANTASY” tidbits:
•• FROM 3, talk, pretend and discuss feelings a lot – feelings Toddler has and feelings others have. Being able to pretend you are someone else is the first step in understanding others, getting along and sharing.
•• ENCOURAGE HIM to “doctor” his baby doll or stuffed animal before going to the doctor’s office.
•• USE HAND PUPPETS with different voices.
•• TELL “WHAT IF” stories to her, and ask, “What would a happy kitty act like?” “If it started to rain while you’re playing outside, what would you do?” (Do not use scary scenarios.)
•• KEEP A SPECIAL BOX with costume materials – scarves, grown-up shoes (low heels!), bracelet beads on elastic, hats, clothing contributions from grandma/grandpa, etc.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 4”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general “Creativity: FANTASY” tidbits:
•• FROM 3, talk, pretend and discuss feelings a lot – feelings Toddler has and feelings others have. Being able to pretend you are someone else is the first step in understanding others, getting along and sharing.
•• ENCOURAGE HIM to “doctor” his baby doll or stuffed animal before going to the doctor’s office.
•• USE HAND PUPPETS with different voices.
•• TELL “WHAT IF” stories to her, and ask, “What would a happy kitty act like?” “If it started to rain while you’re playing outside, what would you do?” (Do not use scary scenarios.)
•• KEEP A SPECIAL BOX with costume materials – scarves, grown-up shoes (low heels!), bracelet beads on elastic, hats, clothing contributions from grandma/grandpa, etc.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 4”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general “Creativity: FANTASY” tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 2, suggest Toddler can be an animal living under a table.
•• Play “dress up” and “telephone” with her; help her pretend.
•• Play “copy me” games with him in front of the mirror.
•• Homemade puppets are easy – a white sock with colored marker face is great fun.
•• FROM ABOUT 3, since fantasy play is more elaborate, puppets/stuffed animals can be animals in the jungle, in the zoo, or kings at a tea party.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 3”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general “Creativity: FANTASY” tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 2, suggest Toddler can be an animal living under a table.
•• Play “dress up” and “telephone” with her; help her pretend.
•• Play “copy me” games with him in front of the mirror.
•• Homemade puppets are easy – a white sock with colored marker face is great fun.
•• FROM ABOUT 3, since fantasy play is more elaborate, puppets/stuffed animals can be animals in the jungle, in the zoo, or kings at a tea party.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 3”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general “Creativity: FANTASY” tidbits:
•• FANTASY is expressing ideas and feelings through pretending. It can include playing “make-believe,” day-dreaming, talking with imaginary companions and reading fantasy books. Fantasy play comes naturally, allowing Toddler and Preschooler to feel powerful and in control, doing the ordering instead of being ordered.
•• CREATIVE/IMAGINATIVE play often stimulates physical growth (playing “cops and robbers” or music video stars) and social growth (imaginary play pretending to be a teacher, parent or doctor).
•• EARLY, FROM 18 months, Toddler enjoys simple pretend play like wearing hats. Using a bottle/spoon, he’ll pretend to feed a doll/stuffed toy.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 2”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general “Creativity: FANTASY” tidbits:
•• FANTASY is expressing ideas and feelings through pretending. It can include playing “make-believe,” day-dreaming, talking with imaginary companions and reading fantasy books. Fantasy play comes naturally, allowing Toddler and Preschooler to feel powerful and in control, doing the ordering instead of being ordered.
•• CREATIVE/IMAGINATIVE play often stimulates physical growth (playing “cops and robbers” or music video stars) and social growth (imaginary play pretending to be a teacher, parent or doctor).
•• EARLY, FROM 18 months, Toddler enjoys simple pretend play like wearing hats. Using a bottle/spoon, he’ll pretend to feed a doll/stuffed toy.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 2”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books. “CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general “Creativity: MUSIC/MOVEMENT” tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 3, what counts are activities using muscles and discovering how things feel. He has growing hand control/coordination and is interested in perfecting movement skills, so he may spend the entire morning going down the slide or riding a favorite tricycle.
•• FROM ABOUT 4 and having increasing agility, Preschooler runs, jumps, hops and skips around obstacles with ease. She likes to gallop, turn somersaults, climb ladders and trees, and hop on one foot. She jumps forward with her feet together over objects 5-6” high.
•• FROM ABOUT 5, encourage Kindergartener to jump, hop, skip, dance, tiptoe and march RHYTHMICALLY TO MUSIC. Teach him how to move his body to dramatize the opening of a flower, falling snow/leaves/rain, wiggly worms/snakes. Dance to music on a bad-weather day to transform rainy-day wiggles/squirms to welcome bursts of free-form movement.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 1”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general “Creativity: MUSIC/MOVEMENT” tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 3, what counts are activities using muscles and discovering how things feel. He has growing hand control/coordination and is interested in perfecting movement skills, so he may spend the entire morning going down the slide or riding a favorite tricycle.
•• FROM ABOUT 4 and having increasing agility, Preschooler runs, jumps, hops and skips around obstacles with ease. She likes to gallop, turn somersaults, climb ladders and trees, and hop on one foot. She jumps forward with her feet together over objects 5-6” high.
•• FROM ABOUT 5, encourage Kindergartener to jump, hop, skip, dance, tiptoe and march RHYTHMICALLY TO MUSIC. Teach him how to move his body to dramatize the opening of a flower, falling snow/leaves/rain, wiggly worms/snakes. Dance to music on a bad-weather day to transform rainy-day wiggles/squirms to welcome bursts of free-form movement.
Next week – “Creativity: Fantasy, Pt. 1”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts. THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
FORMS of Creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general “Creativity: MUSIC/MOVEMENT” tidbits:
•• FROM 18 months, play music with different rhythms, and provide kitchen “instruments” – oatmeal box drum/pots/pans.
•• FROM ABOUT 2, singing spontaneously, Toddler repeats songs/nursery rhymes over and over. Expose her to different musical styles: classical, country, Gregorian chant, rock & roll, opera, rhythm & blues, etc. with solo voices and orchestras. (Pounding/noise “music” is not good for brain development.)
•• SINCE HE IS LEARNING names of body parts and enjoying activities that use these names (touching toes, eyes, elbows), he can do simple creative movements like imitating animals.
•• WHILE BALANCING on each foot for 1 - 2 seconds, she jumps by lifting both feet.
Next week – “Creativity: Music/Movement, Pt. 3”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts. THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
FORMS of Creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general “Creativity: MUSIC/MOVEMENT” tidbits:
•• FROM 18 months, play music with different rhythms, and provide kitchen “instruments” – oatmeal box drum/pots/pans.
•• FROM ABOUT 2, singing spontaneously, Toddler repeats songs/nursery rhymes over and over. Expose her to different musical styles: classical, country, Gregorian chant, rock & roll, opera, rhythm & blues, etc. with solo voices and orchestras. (Pounding/noise “music” is not good for brain development.)
•• SINCE HE IS LEARNING names of body parts and enjoying activities that use these names (touching toes, eyes, elbows), he can do simple creative movements like imitating animals.
•• WHILE BALANCING on each foot for 1 - 2 seconds, she jumps by lifting both feet.
Next week – “Creativity: Music/Movement, Pt. 3”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Friday, July 08, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general “Creativity: MUSIC/MOVEMENT” tidbits:
•• MUSIC/MOVEMENT is the expression of ideas and feelings using bodily movements. It includes dancing, singing, playing instruments and using the body to make movements such as leaping like a frog or exploring ways to make a circle with the body.
•• BY 12 MONTHS, Baby responds to music with body motions swaying, swooping, swinging. As she practices new mobility, give her freedom to move around, and free your environment of obstacles, preferably with a cushioned floor.
•• ABOUT 15 MONTHS, create an obstacle course of pillows/cushions to climb over/around/through. He may also be ready for rocking horses/riding toys he pushes with his feet.
Next week – “Creativity: Music/Movement, Pt. 2”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general “Creativity: MUSIC/MOVEMENT” tidbits:
•• MUSIC/MOVEMENT is the expression of ideas and feelings using bodily movements. It includes dancing, singing, playing instruments and using the body to make movements such as leaping like a frog or exploring ways to make a circle with the body.
•• BY 12 MONTHS, Baby responds to music with body motions swaying, swooping, swinging. As she practices new mobility, give her freedom to move around, and free your environment of obstacles, preferably with a cushioned floor.
•• ABOUT 15 MONTHS, create an obstacle course of pillows/cushions to climb over/around/through. He may also be ready for rocking horses/riding toys he pushes with his feet.
Next week – “Creativity: Music/Movement, Pt. 2”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Friday, July 01, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general Creativity: LANGUAGE tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 5, Kindergartener is a good story teller, enjoying making books of his stories. He draws pictures to go along with his words, and he likes explaining the pictures he’s created. (Don’t say: “What’s that?” Do say: “Tell me about your picture.”)
•• ADD DRAMA to your daily reading sessions by using different voices for different characters. Ask her to tell the story and imitate your voice.•• ENCOURAGE INTEREST in jokes, nonsense and riddles by reading humorous stories, riddles and nonsense rhymes. Join him in jokes from school, books, TV and movies.
•• READ BOOKS which introduce beginning notions of teamwork, cooperation, communication and self-esteem to help develop empathy and understand social roles.
Next week – “Creativity: Music/Movement, Pt. 1”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general Creativity: LANGUAGE tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 5, Kindergartener is a good story teller, enjoying making books of his stories. He draws pictures to go along with his words, and he likes explaining the pictures he’s created. (Don’t say: “What’s that?” Do say: “Tell me about your picture.”)
•• ADD DRAMA to your daily reading sessions by using different voices for different characters. Ask her to tell the story and imitate your voice.•• ENCOURAGE INTEREST in jokes, nonsense and riddles by reading humorous stories, riddles and nonsense rhymes. Join him in jokes from school, books, TV and movies.
•• READ BOOKS which introduce beginning notions of teamwork, cooperation, communication and self-esteem to help develop empathy and understand social roles.
Next week – “Creativity: Music/Movement, Pt. 1”
?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general Creativity: LANGUAGE tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 4, make homemade books and read the books often – a “numbers” book, a “words” book, a “letters” book, a “shapes” book.
•• USE THE MAGIC of make-believe – invent stories with Preschooler in them.
•• LET HER INVENT stories with herself in them and stories with you in them.
•• PLAY LISTENING and guessing games with sounds of different animals.
•• ANOTHER GUESSING GAME is to find something he can see, describe it for him, and let him tell you what you described.
Next week – “Creativity: LANGUAGE, Pt. 4”
?s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general Creativity: LANGUAGE tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 4, make homemade books and read the books often – a “numbers” book, a “words” book, a “letters” book, a “shapes” book.
•• USE THE MAGIC of make-believe – invent stories with Preschooler in them.
•• LET HER INVENT stories with herself in them and stories with you in them.
•• PLAY LISTENING and guessing games with sounds of different animals.
•• ANOTHER GUESSING GAME is to find something he can see, describe it for him, and let him tell you what you described.
Next week – “Creativity: LANGUAGE, Pt. 4”
?s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general Creativity: LANGUAGE tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 3, Toddler can make up simple stories about the pictures or books you show him. He enjoys making others laugh and being silly.
•• BEGINNING TO REASON and try new things, she may insist some of her strange notions are right, but reasoning takes practice, so be patient with her.
•• PROVIDE PAPER, small notebooks and fat markers for use in dramatic play. •• DRAW A FACE on an old sock, and show him how to “talk” with puppets. Next week – “Creativity: Language, Pt. 3” ?s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com.
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • books • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).
Some general Creativity: LANGUAGE tidbits:
•• FROM ABOUT 3, Toddler can make up simple stories about the pictures or books you show him. He enjoys making others laugh and being silly.
•• BEGINNING TO REASON and try new things, she may insist some of her strange notions are right, but reasoning takes practice, so be patient with her.
•• PROVIDE PAPER, small notebooks and fat markers for use in dramatic play. •• DRAW A FACE on an old sock, and show him how to “talk” with puppets. Next week – “Creativity: Language, Pt. 3” ?s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instrumentsForms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general CREATIVITY: LANGUAGE tidbits:
•• LANGUAGE is the expression of ideas and feelings through words, either written or spoken. It includes the stories children tell and their creative “plays” and games.
•• FROM 1 year, play sound games with Baby. Repeat back to him the sounds he makes since keying in on sounds largely establishes the breadth of her later vocabulary.
•• FROM 18 months, Toddler enjoys talking on the phone (real or toy). Don’t expect logical conversation!
Next week – “Creativity: LANGUAGE, Pt. 2”
?s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instrumentsForms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general CREATIVITY: LANGUAGE tidbits:
•• LANGUAGE is the expression of ideas and feelings through words, either written or spoken. It includes the stories children tell and their creative “plays” and games.
•• FROM 1 year, play sound games with Baby. Repeat back to him the sounds he makes since keying in on sounds largely establishes the breadth of her later vocabulary.
•• FROM 18 months, Toddler enjoys talking on the phone (real or toy). Don’t expect logical conversation!
Next week – “Creativity: LANGUAGE, Pt. 2”
?s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Play and Grow Smart-er Tips
Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of "Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five," has been giving tips to aid your child's optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities, now every Sunday. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general Creativity: ART tidbits:
•• REMEMBER: avoid making models in clay or drawing pictures for him to copy. He learns more by working out his own ideas, and adult-induced items can actually hinder learning and healthy self-expression.
•• FOR OPTIMUM fine motor ease, use art tools (crayons, pencils, brushes, etc.) that are FAT. These should be used through the first grade in consideration of physical fine motor development. “Regular-sized” crayons will break with the strength and lack of refinement of little hands and fingers, get lost, be underfoot and cause frustration for everyone.
•• FROM 3, some activities include using primary (blunt) scissors, drawing (circle and face), color matching, tracing circles from objects, rocks glued together to make animals/people/bugs (add faces with markers), sorting beans into egg crating (red navy, small white, dried garbanzo, etc.), stringing large buttons/beads on a shoelace, endless construction with large snap-together components/blocks.
•• FROM 4, encourage exploration with new media (cork and wire, soda straws, string, yarn), mix colors with paints, make a collage out of differently-shaped/colored leaves, make play dough from a recipe, decorate a small box (gift for mom?) with uncooked macaroni and paint it.
Next week – “Creativity: LANGUAGE, Pt. 1”
Any ?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
“CREATIVITY” involves imagination, ingenuity, invention/originality, creative thinking, dramatic/visual/musical arts.
THE CRITICAL WINDOWS during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for Creativity is 1 – 4 years with lifelong expression. The more opportunity children have to experience healthy, positive and nurturing Creativity experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.
A FEW DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING TOOLS (toys and other objects) for CREATIVITY: • blocks • dolls and stuffed animals • sandbox • water • costumes and props • play figures • child-sized dishes and tools • art materials • construction sets • music and instruments
Forms of creativity: ART (visual), LANGUAGE (written or spoken), MUSIC/MOVEMENT (bodily movement), FANTASY (pretending).Some general Creativity: ART tidbits:
•• REMEMBER: avoid making models in clay or drawing pictures for him to copy. He learns more by working out his own ideas, and adult-induced items can actually hinder learning and healthy self-expression.
•• FOR OPTIMUM fine motor ease, use art tools (crayons, pencils, brushes, etc.) that are FAT. These should be used through the first grade in consideration of physical fine motor development. “Regular-sized” crayons will break with the strength and lack of refinement of little hands and fingers, get lost, be underfoot and cause frustration for everyone.
•• FROM 3, some activities include using primary (blunt) scissors, drawing (circle and face), color matching, tracing circles from objects, rocks glued together to make animals/people/bugs (add faces with markers), sorting beans into egg crating (red navy, small white, dried garbanzo, etc.), stringing large buttons/beads on a shoelace, endless construction with large snap-together components/blocks.
•• FROM 4, encourage exploration with new media (cork and wire, soda straws, string, yarn), mix colors with paints, make a collage out of differently-shaped/colored leaves, make play dough from a recipe, decorate a small box (gift for mom?) with uncooked macaroni and paint it.
Next week – “Creativity: LANGUAGE, Pt. 1”
Any ?’s – email msmarm@roadrunner.com
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The most AMAZING gift to give your partner this Father’s Day
I had the pleasure recently to do something that I have ALWAYS wanted to do, but never had the courage. Let me tell you…I am so glad I mustered up the nerve and scheduled an appointment with Kathy at Flash Frozen Photography (http://www.flashfrozenphotography.com/) in Woodland Hills for a special Boudoir session. After 5 kids, sometimes it is hard to feel pretty…but after hair with Erin Goldstein and Makeup with Karen Snyder (http://www.cosmeticallyorganized.com/), I was on my way. Kathy’s studio is quaint and just what anyone needs to complete this fabulous shoot. I thought that I would be timid and shy, but Kathy has a way to make you feel totally comfortable in your own skin, no matter what you are wearing, no matter what size you are.
I left with such a smile on my face, like a natural high and so excited to see the final result. I got a sneak peak at some of the shots and was truly blown away. All I could think of was “who is that in those photos?”. I am beyond giddy with anticipation to see what my hubby thinks when I give him a little black book for Father’s Day!
Now, I will tell you, the gift is not inexpensive, but I am not kidding when I tell you that I truly think that EVERY woman, in their lifetime, should do this at least once and if not for their partner, then at least for themselves!
Normally, a session is $500 without hair and makeup. However, I asked Kathy what she would be willing to do for Jens List members and she came up with the following:
45 Minute session, with a 10 page "Little Black Book" - One or two outfits & makeup by Karen - $350.
Hair by Erin is available for an additional $40-$60, additional depending on style.
Fine Print: Must pre-pay - 48 hours cancellation. The response was SO great, that Kathy ADDED some additional spots & she can accommodate gifts for Father's Day until June 13th!!!!
Call Kathy for more info at 818.888.2280 and of course, email me with any questions too at jen@jenslist.com. Do it and cross it off your bucket list!
This is a "G" rated pix from the shoot:
I left with such a smile on my face, like a natural high and so excited to see the final result. I got a sneak peak at some of the shots and was truly blown away. All I could think of was “who is that in those photos?”. I am beyond giddy with anticipation to see what my hubby thinks when I give him a little black book for Father’s Day!
Now, I will tell you, the gift is not inexpensive, but I am not kidding when I tell you that I truly think that EVERY woman, in their lifetime, should do this at least once and if not for their partner, then at least for themselves!
Normally, a session is $500 without hair and makeup. However, I asked Kathy what she would be willing to do for Jens List members and she came up with the following:
45 Minute session, with a 10 page "Little Black Book" - One or two outfits & makeup by Karen - $350.
Hair by Erin is available for an additional $40-$60, additional depending on style.
Fine Print: Must pre-pay - 48 hours cancellation. The response was SO great, that Kathy ADDED some additional spots & she can accommodate gifts for Father's Day until June 13th!!!!
Call Kathy for more info at 818.888.2280 and of course, email me with any questions too at jen@jenslist.com. Do it and cross it off your bucket list!
This is a "G" rated pix from the shoot:
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