Discipline is what it's all about!

Children are constantly discovering, exploring and learning. Often the focus is on cognitive skills such as those needed for reading. While it is important to provide our children with opportunities to learn and explore the world around them, the most important lessons that they will learn are related to behavior. Life is pretty difficult for a child, and for those around the child, when he or she has not learned the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It becomes even more difficult as the child gets older! Children are born with many things but knowing how to behave appropriately is not one of them. That task lies with those who care for and love the child. Discipline is a wonderful gift we can give to children. A child who is taught the difference between right and wrong, what is acceptable and what is not, and how to respect and care for others, is a child who is well on his way to becoming a confident adult who can control impulses and manage the stresses that come with everyday life.

It is important that we recognize the difference between discipline and punishment. Discipline is a positive and nurturing learning experience with a goal of self control and self direction as well as a concern and care for others. Punishment on the other hand applies something negative to the child to eliminate a certain behavior. Discipline is proactive, taking steps to prevent misbehavior whereas punishment is strictly reactive.

A positive relationship between child and parent is essential for discipline. The child must know he is loved and supported by the parent. Parents need to have a plan and a vision for the qualities and traits they want to see in the adult that their child will become as well as a plan to handle misbehavior when it occurs. Discipline does take time and effort on the part of a parent but ask yourself this, “Why is it that we find the patience to teach children to ride a bike and tie their shoes but when it comes to teaching appropriate behavior we often find our patience gone?” We understand that learning to ride a bike and tie a shoe do not occur overnight. Learning to behave appropriately is just as difficult for a child. Yet we often get discouraged and tired of having to remind children what is okay and what is not. We can’t assume that children understand what it is to share, or what it is to behave appropriately. These are learned behaviors. How many times have we seen two children arguing over something? Typically they are told to “be nice and share!” Just what does that mean to a child? Probably not much unless that child has had sharing modeled for them. Take the time to model sharing, sit beside the children and give them the language they need to smooth out the problems. When an adult has modeled appropriate behavior often, the child soon learns to behave appropriately without being prompted. It is important that we invest our time in children when they are young. The future payoff is well worth it for the child, for us and for our society.

Celebrating Your Child's Birthday

Birthdays are important milestones that deserve to be celebrated but we need to ask ourselves, “If we are going to all of this effort when they are in preschool, what will they expect for their sweet sixteen, graduation or wedding celebrations? Is this really something I want my child to see as important?” It is possible to have a wonderful celebration and create special memories without spending a lot of money. Birthday parties are held for the child and their friends. There is no need to feel as if you must keep up with celebrations held by other families.

Consider the age of your child when deciding on your guest list. Young children can be easily overwhelmed by lots of other children. One suggestion is to invite one friend for each year of age. When your child turns three, inviting three friends to play is manageable and will probably be much more pleasant than a group of twenty. Decide what your family rules are. Some families choose to have family celebrations and only invite friends every second or fifth year. You may decide to celebrate with a party on certain milestones birthdays. Whatever your family decision is, do not be afraid to abide by it. Involve your child in the planning process. Often their wishes are simple. If they are more extravagant than your budget, do not be afraid to let them know. Setting guidelines, including a budget, is an important skill for children to learn.

If you are feeling a bit intimidated going the party route alone, find another adult, a family member, friend, or even a teenage babysitter, who will be willing to help at the party. You can find party games in books or on the internet. Simple crafts are also fun for the children. Very often children simply appreciate the opportunity to play together and lots of planned activities are not needed. It is also important to have a discussion with your child ahead of time about which toys can be shared with friends and which cannot. Those which your child does not want to share should be put away before the guests arrive. Remember, whenever you are responsible for another person’s child, it is important to have some basic information such as an emergency phone number and be informed of any allergies or special needs that the child might have. Finally, take some time to stand back and enjoy the day, knowing it will be one of many special memories your child will have for years to come.

Eat your Veggies!

We have all heard “Eat your veggies”. Yes mother was right but why? It’s not just “because I said so”. Fruits and vegetables supply our bodies with many of the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals needed to keep our bodies growing and healing. These nutrients are important and can help ward off heart disease and stroke, control blood pressure and cholesterol, prevent some types of cancer, and may help avoid vision loss and help maintain a healthy weight.
Where is a good place to purchase produce? With the arrival of spring, early crops and new farming techniques farmers are able to offer locally grown produce conveniently located throughout local communities. Go early to get the best quality. Fact: the average supermarket produce travels about 2,000 miles to destination, compared to 50 miles or less to farmers market produce.
Crops you may find locally for sale in May include asparagus, radishes, and spinach. Early June brings strawberries, peas, romaine and leaf lettuces and cherries. Late June crops consist of beans, broccoli, and cabbage.
The following highlights two of my favorites.

Asparagus

Asparagus is a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Iron and also offers dietary fiber and calcium. This root vegetable produces green stalks with tight tips. By limiting sun exposure during sprouting growers are able to produce a white variety.

Usage: raw, steamed , grilled, microwaved and sauteed

Selection: High quality asparagus has tender stalks that are nearly completely green usually medium sized and the tips will be firmly closed

Avoid : Avoid Asparagus with wrinkled stalks and wilted tips

Storage: Refrigerate and use within two to three days for best quality. To maintain freshness, wrap a moist paper towel around stem ends, or stand upright in two inches of cold water.

Cherries
Nutrients found in cherries are Vitamin C, Calcium, dietary fiber and they are only 15 calories for ½ cup with pits and have no fat. There are two main types of cherries, sweet and sour. Sweet cherries are great for eating raw. Sour cherries on the other hand, are almost to tart to be eaten raw, and are widely used in cooked dishes.

Usage: Eaten raw, preserves, sauces, added to salads, in desserts.
Selection: Good quality sweet cherries are large, firm and have even deep red coloring. Sour cherries vary in color from solid red to reddish to cream color.

Avoid: Avoid cherries that are soft, have wrinkled skin, are leaking and sticky, or that have visible signs of decay. Immature cherries will be smaller and less juicy while over- mature product will be soft, dull and wrinkled.

Storage: Refrigerate cherries unwashed and loosely-packed in a plastic bag up to one week. Cherries with healthy green stems attached stay fresh longer than those without stems.

Remember any produce you may choose, should be washed thoroughly before eating, but washing before storing may speed spoilage. On hot days it is a good idea to bring a cooler or insulated bag for transporting your purchases home. Finding your local farmers market might be as easy as asking neighbors and friends or contacting your local cooperative extension office. Don’t go by my suggestion, get out there and try a favorite of your own or maybe something new.

Your Kinder-garden

Often parents of young children lament that they cannot raise a flowerbed or vegetable garden because their children need so much of their time and attention. Well, growing a backyard garden may be the best way to do this! You can teach your child a variety of skills while tending your crops. By engaging your child in your hobby, you have a golden opportunity to teach your child many skills that he or she will need for school such as:

• Math skills- count fruits, flowers and vegetables together; ask questions like “How many yellow flowers are there?” and “How many tomatoes are left in the basket if I take out 5?”
• Science- encourage curiosity and exploration by talking about how the plants are different from each other, how they change from one day to the next, how they grow. Point out and name colors, shapes, sizes.
• Language- talk, talk, and talk some more! Explain to your child what you are doing as you do it. For example, you can say, “Now I am filling the hole with dirt to cover the seeds so they can grow.” Ask your child open-ended questions (ones that require more than a “yes-no” answer). Listen to your child talk to you as well. Have him or her tell another family member what you did in the garden together.
• Following directions- give your child simple directions to follow- one- or two-steps depending on their age; set a few basic rules for working in the garden and give recognition to your child for following them. Your garden and your child can both blossom when you work together. Gardening can really be as simple as child’s play!