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Easy Weeknight Meal Prep

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Who knew that becoming an adult meant that you have to figure out what to eat for dinner every single night for the rest of your life? Add in a spouse and kids, and meal prep takes on a life of its own!

To make things less stressful, and to share a few of our family’s go-to options that don’t include pizza, I have compiled a list of awesome meals, snacks and more for you. Let me know what you decide to check out in the comments!

Nurture Life

We have found our new favorite meal service… and it’s for kids! Nurture Life offers a wide variety of healthy Baby, Toddler and Kids Meals that can assist with the busy back-to-school routine. If parents don’t have time (or the energy!) to create well-balanced lunches or busy weeknight dinners, Nurture Life’s nutritious ready-to-eat meals for kids is a convenient option. Grab the meals right out of the fridge to get the nutrition and quality of a homemade meal in just 1 minute. Heat it up to serve for dinner or pack it in a thermos and your kids are ready to go! Kids will enjoy the delicious meal and parents will enjoy the no-prep, no-stress mealtime win. My kiddos absolutely loved the Chicken Dumplings with Edamame!

Nurture Life also has school-safe, cookie-inspired snacks with little to no added sugar that are made with plant-based protein and other nutritious ingredients. A quick breakfast, an easy snack or a satisfying dessert. Mighty Bites are yummy and delish. Yes – I might have eaten quite a few myself, lol!

Fry’s Chk’n Nuggets

Have plant-forward kids at home? These plant-based nuggets from Fry’s are the perfect easy weeknight dinner option or plant-based protein after-school snacks! Each delicious Chicken-Style Nugget is carefully shaped into a bite-sized chunk and evenly coated with crumbs before pre-cooking. Serve with a green salad or steamed veggies for a simple, healthy meal.

True Made Foods

The Fry’s nuggets also pack well in a lunchbox, so you can add them into your child’s lunch for the day at school. Pack a few favorite dipping sauces, such as True Made Foods Mustard, Veggie Ketchup or BBQ Sauce, and you’ve even added some hidden veggies in for the winning combo!

Keen One Foods

Quick cooking quinoa cups from Keen One Foods are healthy, simple and satisfying… making lunch & dinner a breeze! Ready in just 7 minutes, each cup provides plant-based protein and a nourishing, hearty meal. These are great preparing the night before and adding into a lunchbox, too, when everyone is bored of sandwiches. Choose from 6 unique flavors, such as Garden Medley, Pesto Pasta (a kid favorite!), Jamaican Jerk, Chipotle, Harissa Red Pepper, & Thai Coconut Curry. An ideal pantry staple, Keen One Foods quinoa cups are Gluten-free, Non-GMO, Certified Organic and Vegan.  

B’Free’s Family Faves Bundle

All of BFree’s products are gluten-free, wheat-free, non-GMO and vegan-friendly! The Family Faves Bundle includes all family favorites that make back-to-school lunch and meal prep a breeze. The bundle includes Pizza Crust, Bake-at-Home Demi Baguette, Burger Buns, Panini, Pita and Sweet Potato Wrap. It’s easy to get the kids involved when making pizzas, wraps or sandwiches, too. You can check out their recipes section for tons of inspiration!

Maple Hill 100% Grass-Fed Organic Milk

Perfect for breakfast, tucking in lunchboxes or serving with an after-school snack or dinner, Maple Hill’s shelf-stable milk boxes make mealtimes so easy! Available in Whole Milk, 2% Reduced Fat Milk and Chocolate, the single-serve milk boxes don’t have to be refrigerated. We love that the no spill screw cap can be placed back on if kids don’t finish it all, so no worries about spills in the lunchbox or wasting food. The container is also 100% recyclable.

FILLO’S

If you love Latin American food but haven’t found the time to find the perfect recipe for pinto beans or black beans, we have found a delicious solution! FILLO’S is a line of vegan non-GMO beans and grains flavored with real sofrito that offers a shelf-stable, ready-to-eat meal option that is traditional, nutritious, and convenient. Inspired by family recipes to bring the traditional foods of the Americas to your table, the dishes are delicious on their own, paired with an avocado, served as a supper side, or with rice, which is how we enjoyed the Cuban Black Beans. The seasoning and spices are pure perfection! There are a large variety of flavors to try, including Cuban Black Beans, Peruvian Lentil, Puerto Rican Pink Bean, Tex Mex Pinto, Mexican Mayocoba Bean, Panamanian Chickpeas, Peruvian Quinoa & Lentils, Cuban Congri, Puerto Rican Arroz con Gandules, and Carolina Peas & Rice. The best part is that we can grab these easily at our local Publix when meal prepping for the week!

*Companies generously provided samples for this article. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.*

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Exciting Ways to Encourage Learning at Home

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Exciting Ways to Encourage Learning at Home

Now that school has started, we are finding new ways to bring lessons to life at home! We are learning and growing together with a little help from some fantastic companies who make learning engaging, interesting and FUN for everyone!

Teach My Learning Kits

Whether your little one is headed off to preschool or kindergarten, or still at home with Mom or Dad, Teach My Learning Kits help little ones to be academically ready! Screen-free and designed for specific developmental stages, each set in the kit is fully coordinated to encourage matching, repetition and parent engagement… all in 20 minutes a day.

We received the Teach My Toddler Kit for our two year old son, and he has started to master his letters, numbers, shapes and colors with ease using the sets in the kit! We’ve had a blast bonding, playing and learning together with the simple, straightforward lessons in each set! The teaching tools included are fully coordinated to encourage repetition, interaction and make learning fun. According to the website, Teach My Toddler is designed around the concept of matching to encourage pre-reading skills.

The Teach My Toddler set includes 4 Board Books, 4 Full-Size Posters, 5 Foam Puzzles, 50+ Flashcards, Teaching Guide, and a handy Storage Case.

For ages 6 months to 6 years, the Teach My Kits are available nationwide online at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Staples, Bed Bath and Beyond and Teach My.

Edushape Magic Shapes

Let your child’s imagination run wild with Magic Shapes! Small pieces featuring magnetic edges stay together allowing little ones to build, design and create with ease. The platform included in the set makes it like doodling in 3-D! Magic Shapes are fantastic for developing gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and logic & reasoning in little learners, and I love that STEM is being encouraged through play. My kiddos have had so much fun stacking, building and more with this open-ended play set!

What’s neat about Magic Shapes is that they pack up easily for use while traveling or visiting grandma’s house, too!

Little Passports

Have a budding globetrotter at home… or want to instill the love of world travel in your children? It’s easy to introduce your little ones to geography, science, world cultures, the arts and more with the monthly educational subscription service, Little Passports. Bringing these lessons home, Little Passports is simply ingenious, encouraging children to learn about the world around them in a fun and engaging way. My 1st grader loved receiving the adorable suitcase in the mail with her first lesson from the World Edition, and now that she is reading, she has had so much sharing the lessons and activities with her younger brother!

In this subscription, your child will explore the world with new pen pals, Sam & Sofia. The first month, an adorable blue suitcase arrives, packed with everything needed to take off on an exciting adventure, including a passport, wall-sized world map, stickers, photos, activity sheets, and more! A different country is featured each month, with more activities, photos, stickers, souvenirs, and games to pique your child’s interest… and a fun new adventure to look forward to receiving!

4 affordable Little Passports subscriptions are available, depending on your child’s age and interest, including Early Explorers (3-5), World Edition (6-10), USA Edition (7-12) and Science Expeditions (9+).

*Companies generously provided samples and images for this article. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.*

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Essentials for a Modern Toddlers’ Room

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Updating your baby’s nursery to a more timeless, neutral space for your little one, or looking for more classic pieces that could work for more than one child? We have compiled some tips on creating an eco-friendly, modern space that will grow with your child that won’t break the bank!

Choose materials carefully. For the walls, opt for a child safe, enviromentally-safe, no or low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, such as Real Milk Paint. Paint is one of the top indoor air pollutants, and VOC’s are the toxins that off-gas into the air upon application. Most major paint manufacturers now make a no or low-VOC line of paint with a wide choice of colors, so when picking out paint, read labels carefully or ask a store associate for assistance.

We all know that the color in a space can greatly affect our mood… and our children’s mood! For young children, opt for a color scheme that promotes a healthy night’s sleep & a calm, nurturing atmosphere for play. A neutral color can help to stabilize and ground, while green is an ideal color for any space. Green is neither hot nor cool & symbolizes growth & new beginnings. Use yellow sparingly, or not at all, as yellow is the hardest color for your eye to break down.

In addition to paint, carpet is another major indoor air pollutant, so instead look for hardwood, bamboo, cork, rubber or tile options for bedroom flooring. Adding an area rug made from natural fibers adds the needed warmth you want in a bedroom, plus offers a sound deadening quality to help sound from bouncing off the floor & walls. Wool is strongly suggested as it is a self-extinguishing fiber, an added bonus. We love this ABC Classic Rug from Peurobaby, as it is ethically made from 100% raw materials and non-toxic dyes. It is also washable, which comes in handy with little ones! It is extremely lightweight and easy to pick up and move, with anti-slip underlay to ensure safety.

When adding furniture pieces to your child’s room, such as dressers or chairs, look for unfinished wood furniture, and then stain/paint with a NO VOC stain or paint. This will limit any off-gassing of toxins that a finished piece of new furniture would emit into the space. Another eco-friendly choice is to choose a recycled or upcycled item from a family member or friend. For a fun, timeless piece that blends in seamlessly with any space, the Wooden Toddler Slide from Peurobaby is perfect for indoor use, and encourages exercise, motor skills and independence! Available in a wide variety of colors, the slide is made from molded wood and finished with water-dilutable finish, free of methylpyrrolidone and free of phthalate plasticizers.

For additional play items that grow with your child, choose items that delight their imagination and encourage independent play, from a wooden kitchen to an adorable Chalkboard Ride-On Wagon! This little wagon is a favorite with my children… my now 6 year old likes to decorate it with her artwork, and my little guy likes to pull his wooden cars around in it! It wipes clean easily, too!

When choosing new linens and bedding for a neutral space, think cool colors such as blues, greens, and lavender to calm and soothe, rather than jarring, bright colors! Organic cotton blankets, sheets and pillows give your child a soft, safe place to snuggle into at night, and if possible, opt for Naturepedic, a company that makes GOTS certified organic cotton sheets, pillows, and more… all allergen-friendly, as well! We also adore Aden + Anais, who make the softest, breathable, 100% cotton muslin blankets, changing pad covers, and sleep sacks.

It can be fairly simple to makeover your child’s space to create a delightful, neutral space in which to sleep and play! When in doubt, opt for eco-friendly, natural, and classics that grow with your child.

*Peurobaby provided a sample & images for this article. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.*

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Five Tips to Beat the Blues, Feel Better & Stay Healthy in 2016

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Credit card bills, short days, plummeting temperatures and maybe even a few extra pounds from all those holiday celebrations and libations. According to a recent article on psychcentral.com, “studies show as many as 25 percent of Americans suffer from low-grade to full-blown depression after the holidays.”[1]. And then there is Blue Monday – the third Monday in January, believed to be the most depressing day of the year.

Oy!

The fact is: the sun is out a bit longer each day and people are starting to think about spring, warm weather and bathing suit season. January is the month to actually take advantage and get ready for a new year.

Crispy Green Apple

It’s also “National Staying Healthy Month,” so here are five simple things everyone can do to feel healthier and spring into 2016:

1. Walk, don’t run.

2. Baby steps – take the stairs.

3. Eat fruit – consider freeze-dried fruit snacks when fresh fruit is not available.

4. Stay hydrated – water is best, but try some of the new natural beverages.

5. Sit less – pace, stand, get a walking desk. Just don’t sit.

*Article and image courtesy of Crispy Green. Exercising image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net  and nenetus.*

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7 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

The holiday season is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year.” But for some, it’s quite the opposite and the holidays can actually be more like the most miserable time of the year.

Steve Siebold, a psychological performance and mental toughness coach who is the author of 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of The World Class, says, “The change from everyday routines, the large gatherings, the decorating, shopping and more can make many people feel overwhelmed and stressed this time of year.”

Siebold offers his top tips to reduce the stress of the holidays and make it more enjoyable:

1. Slow down: Life is challenging enough as it is, and with all the extra commitments and things that have to get done this time of year, it can cause panic and chaos for even the most mentally tough people. When you find yourself moving a million miles an hour, take a step back and slow down. Instead of getting overwhelmed in everything you have to do, focus on one task at a time. Looking at one thing in front of you compared to the big picture makes it much more manageable.

2. Ask for help: There’s no reason you have to do everything by yourself during the holiday season. Ask for help. If you’re hosting Christmas dinner, for example, ask your spouse or children to help with the shopping, coking, decorating, setting up the guest bedroom, taking out the trash, walking the dog, etc.

3. Don’t feel bad about saying ‘No:’ There’s only so much time in a day, and with all the extra commitments at the holidays, don’t feel guilty about telling people ‘no.’ A very simple response to soften it is, “I would normally love to help; however, I already have so much on my plate right now. I’ll have to pass on the offer. I would love to help another time.”

4. Take a break: If the holiday season gets to be too much, take a break. Put everything down for a day and go do something you really enjoy. If you feel a day is too long, take 30 minutes to an hour and go for a walk, spend time doing something fun with a friend, take your kids to the park, read a new book, work on your business plan for the New Year, watch TV or whatever it is that will take your mind off of the holidays.

5. Talk it out: It’s never a good idea to keep your feelings bottled up inside. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, talk to a close friend you can confide in, a therapist or try journaling. In fact, become your own best means of support and talk to yourself. Put things in perspective and tell yourself the craziness of the holiday season will only last for a few weeks and then life goes back to normal. Tell yourself it’s only temporary and that you can hang tough a little longer.

6. Lower your expectations: Many people have ridiculously high expectations of what the holidays are supposed to be like. Stop paying attention to what you see on TV. Stop being influenced by those holiday catalogs. Take the pressure off and just let the holidays play out naturally.

7. Focus on being rather than doing: One of the best ways to find happiness this time of year is to focus on being rather than doing. Make a list of the 10 things you are most grateful for in your life, and review them every morning for the month of December. Monitor how this simple activity impacts your emotions.

Article courtesy of Steve Siebold, author of 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of The World Class. Learn more at www.mentaltoughnesssecrets.com.

*Image courtesy of imagerymajestic on FreeDigitalPhotos.*

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Five Tricks for a Healthy Halloween

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Five Tricks for a Healthy Halloween

By Vanessa Chamberlin, author of The Fire-Driven Life

Halloween is such a challenging time for health-conscious parents. Everywhere we turn, people are offering the least nutritious, most sugary food around: candy! From classroom parties to neighborhood and family gatherings—there’s no way to avoid it. But if you are prepared and have some tasty, plant-based recipes in your toolbox, it will be a lot easier to partake in the festivities without overdosing on refined sugar. Plus, there are some easy tips (and tricks!) that can help you have a happier, healthier Halloween.

Always eat a healthy meal first. Whether it’s trick-or-treating or going to a party, make sure your kids go on a full stomach so they’ll be less likely to fill up on sugary snacks. On the day of school parties, make a filling, nutritious breakfast, and send them to school with extra special healthy lunches. Pull out your whole toolbox for this one! We’re talking cookie cutters for fun shapes, carving the fruit—everything. Your kids won’t want to miss out on this lunch, which will help them feel satisfied and loved all afternoon.

Send your own snacks. Whenever possible, send your own snacks. Even if you know that your children are going to be eating candy and cupcakes at their holiday parties, at least you can send them with some more balanced foods and encourage them to get their friends to try.

Enlist the help of some professionals! It never hurts to make sure a trip to the dentist falls before Halloween, and ask their help in making sure to explain to your kids why their dental health is so important, and how candy is bad for their teeth. It doesn’t have to be a big scary lecture, but just a simple reminder that a healthy smile starts with a healthy diet is a nice thing to reinforce.

Plan or attend a party that’s more in line with your lifestyle. Many of us have friends who understand why we’ve shaped our habits and lifestyles for healthy living, and they either do the same or are at least supportive and understanding. You don’t want your kids to feel left out, so if they’re not participating in other events, give them something else that’s fun. You might be able to get some of their close friends and families to join in, too. Not many parents like the idea of their kids getting a heavy dose of sugar either trick-or-treating or going to a party, so I’ve found it’s a welcome invitation when I invite people to celebrate holidays with us and have a nutritious night of festivities!

Finally, just talk about it beforehand. Let your kids know that you want them to have fun, but not eat lots of candy and junk that will make them not feel good. Ask if there is anything they would like to bring as a treat or eat before a party, and see if you can accommodate their requests. It’s so important for children to feel loved and respected as humans who have their own desires and opinions. Asking them to be involved in your holiday planning can go a long way!

For your healthy Halloween toolbox, here is a great recipe that kids love, and would easily fit into any festive party platter spread!

Gone in a Day Cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup chunky peanut butter

3/4 cup unsweetened coconut

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 TBS maple syrup (add more for desired taste)

1 cup raisins

Preparation

Combine peanut butter and coconut. In a separate bowl, combine cocoa, and maple syrup. Combine the two mixtures and add the raisins. Dough will be stiff. Roll into balls. Refrigerate 1-2 hours before serving.

Article courtesy of Vanessa Chamberlin, a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Lifestyle Coach and author of The Fire-Driven Life: How to Ignite the Fire of Self-Worth, Health, and Happiness with a Plant-Based Diet.

For more information, please visit, www.vanessachamberlin.com and connect with her on Twitter, @vkchamberlin.

*Image courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.*

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Feed A Bee, Feed the Planet

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Bee Health ImageApples, broccoli, cherries, almonds-they all have something in common that may surprise you.

Besides the fact that they may be in your kitchen right now, each one of these foods is available thanks to the honey bee and other pollinators. In fact, about one-third of the human food supply depends on bees and other pollinators. Chances are, honey bees have a hand in producing some of your favorite foods. And with all of their hard work, bees need to eat, too.

However, bees are struggling to find adequate, diverse food sources due to habitat loss. Recently, the White House launched the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge to create ways for everyone to support the issue and increase forage. With a global population expected to rise to more than 9 billion people by 2050, 70 percent more food will need to be produced. This means we all have to pitch in to help feed the bees so they can continue to produce the fruits, nuts and vegetables that people need for a healthy diet.

Join the effort to create a million pollinator gardens and feed the bees.

Here are three ways you can help increase forage area for bees and other pollinators:

• Learn more about native bee-attractant plants.

The Pollinator Partnership’s Bee Smart mobile app can help you choose the best plants to grow in your garden to attract bees and other pollinators.

• Ask the Feed a Bee initiative to plant flowers on your “bee-half.”

Feed a Bee is an initiative to increase forage areas for honey bees and other pollinators.

By visiting www.FeedABee.com, you can ask the Feed a Bee initiative to plant flowers for you that produce the pollen and nectar that bees need to survive and thrive. Nearly 200,000 people have pledged to plant 50 million flowers in the U.S., and it doesn’t stop there. Feed a Bee is also partnering with government and nonprofit organizations and businesses across the country to plant thousands of acres of forage for bees.

• Grow your own bee-attractant plants.

Through FeedABee.com, you can also commit to planting your own bee-attractant plants using a helpful growing guide and tips for creating bee-attractant habitats for pollinators. Additionally, you can share your planting photos using #FeedABee on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr.

Whether you own acres of land or a flowerpot on your balcony, have a green thumb or struggle to keep fake flowers “alive,” you can play a part in helping to feed a bee and, in turn, help them feed the world.

To learn more about bees and why they are important, visit http://beehealth.bayer.us/home.

*Article courtesy of NAPS. Image courtesy of Dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.*

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The Best Recipe For A Great Grilling Season Is “Safety First”

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Grilling SafetyGrilling is one of America’s favorite pastimes and a popular summer activity in backyards across the country. More than 60 percent of American households will cook kabobs, fresh vegetables, and of course meat on propane grills this summer, according to the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). PERC is an energy check-off program dedicated to safety and training for the propane industry.

“Summer is a time to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends,” says PERC President and CEO Roy Willis. “And with the onset of warm weather, it’s also a good time to review outdoor safety tips, including safe grilling techniques.”

Willis offers families some simple reminders for preparing and maintaining safe cooking conditions while using propane grills.

Before using the grill, he recommends reviewing and following all grill manufacturers’ instructions.

“If you buy a propane-powered grill and assemble it yourself, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter,” Willis says. “Better yet, have the grill assembled before you bring it home. If you’re planning a more elaborate outdoor kitchen, be sure to get in touch with your nearest propane professional for tips on products and access to qualified installers.”

Next, the location of the grill is an important consideration. PERC reminds families that the only safe location for any grill—including propane cooking units—is outside in a well-ventilated area and a safe distance from the home.

“Grills should never be placed in a confined area,” Willis says. “Make sure your grill is at least five feet from your house on a level surface away from siding, outdoor furniture or anything else that could be a fire hazard. It’s something that you don’t always think about when you’re grilling, but it’s a basic safety measure that’s easy to implement.”

Whether the grill is equipped with an automatic ignition or needs to be lit manually, the manufacturer’s instructions should be followed precisely.

“Always use caution when lighting the grill and never stray from the grill manufacturer’s instructions,” says Willis. “If the flames go out for any reason, turn the grill and gas off and wait 15 minutes before relighting it.”

PERC also encourages families to keep the top open when lighting the grill. This allows for ventilation and ensures that propane vapors are not being released into the confined grilling area.

Finally, proper storage of propane cylinders is an essential safety step when using propane-powered grills.

“Be sure to store propane cylinders upright and outdoors, and keep cleaning fluids, oil-soaked rags, gasoline or other flammable material away from cooking areas and gas appliances,” Willis says. “Removing combustible materials from any heat source is always a good idea.”

PERC reminds families that propane is a safe fuel when handled properly, and encourages grillers to learn about additional resources on www.usepropane.com.

“Grilling is an enjoyable way to prepare food and celebrate warm weather,” Willis says. “Enjoying warm weather throughout the summer can be easy with safe, efficient propane grills.”

*Recipe and image courtesy of NAPS.*

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Tips For Empowering Your Daughters

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Strange MagicCapable, strong and confident women are in the news with increasing frequency these days-from politicians and movie stars to women making strides in sports, business and the military. Parents are becoming more aware that helping their children—particularly girls—build skills that lead to empowerment is important for success in life. But many parents may be wondering just how to go about it.

Child and adolescent psychotherapist Katie Hurley, a parenting expert and author of the upcoming book “The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World,” notes that empowerment begins at home with day-to-day activities.

Here are some easy tips Hurley recommends as effective in helping your daughter to be her best self.

• Communicate, communicate, communicate. One of the most important things parents can do is open the lines of communication. Listen before you respond. Allow your child to vent and articulate her emotions, while letting her know you’ll just listen, without judgment. Showing empathy is important (“I hear you” and “How can I help?”). Give lots of love, acceptance and support. This will help her know that what she thinks and how she feels is important and that she is a priority for you.

• Help identify good models. Watch what she’s watching and discuss it together. Kids today are often plugged into their own world and tuned out to their parents. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit back and remain in the dark. Watch her—or your—favorite shows or movies together. The subtle lessons in a film can be the impetus for discussing issues and providing role models. One such film is “Strange Magic,” Touchstone’s newest animated tale from George Lucas, now on DVD. A key character is Marianne, a female whose journey to empowerment includes learning to see people not for how they look, but for who they really are. George Lucas notes, “The point of the film is that everyone deserves to be loved and true love goes much deeper than just infatuation or looks…It’s about finding true beauty in someone’s soul regardless of how they look.”

• Encourage girls to aim high. Remind them that hard work and dedication are part of what it takes to reach goals and dreams. The key to building girls up is to help identify and then support their strengths so you can encourage them to reach their goals.

• Resist jumping in to “fix” things. Rather than solving your daughter’s problems, try stepping back so she can work through conflicts and find solutions on her own. When you empower your daughter to problem-solve, you show her you have confidence in her ability to handle her life. This allows her to enlist your participation in a discussion and show your support through the process.

• Success is a team sport. Healthy competition is good. When young girls learn to stick together and lift each other up, they internalize the valuable lesson of teamwork. Whether your daughter is athletically, artistically and/or academically inclined, help her find ways to join with others and learn how to be a team player. Let her know it’s OK to compete by using her strengths to the best of her ability.

• Build empathy by volunteering together. Helping others is a great way to spend quality time together and learn to focus on other’s needs, which is a great leadership skill. Search for monthly volunteer opportunities and choose one that appeals to both of you. Spend some time doing good to feel good together.

Learn More

For more tips from Katie Hurley, visit http://practicalkatie.com.

• Disney’s “Strange Magic,” http://strangemagicmovie.com, on DVD and Digital HD.

• Pre-order Hurley’s “The Happy Kid Handbook” on Amazon.

*Article and image courtesy of NAPS.*

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Get Into The Swing Of Summer Safety

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Summer SafetyA few precautions can help your children enjoy warm weather fun in safety and good health. Known as “trauma season” among public health and medical professionals, summer is a time when serious injuries and unintentional deaths increase dramatically among children. Statistics show that 40 percent of all injury-related emergency room visits happen between the months of May and August. Fortunately, many of these injuries can be prevented with a few simple precautions.

“Sustaining a serious injury can be a life-altering event for a child,” said Dale Stauss, chairman of the Board of Directors for Shriners Hospitals for Children®. “We see patients every day with injuries caused by accidents, and we are committed to raising awareness about how to stay safe this summer.”

As experts in the treatment of pediatric orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries and burns, Shriners Hospitals for Children provides critical, surgical and rehabilitative care to children, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.

Shriners Hospitals encourages families to take these simple precautions to enjoy a safe, injury-free summer.

Playground 101

• Choose playgrounds that are appropriate for their age and offer shock-absorbing surfaces.

• Teach children that pushing and shoving can result in accidents and injuries.

• Remind kids to use the slide one at a time and to wait until it’s completely clear before taking their turn. Teach them to always face forward with their legs straight in front of them and to never slide down headfirst.

• Remind children to swing sitting down. Encourage them to wait until the swing stops before getting off and to be careful when walking in front of moving swings.

Make A Safe Splash

• Teach children to never swim alone or go near water without an adult present.

• Give children your undivided attention when they are swimming or are near any body of water.

• Always jump in feet first to check the depth before diving into any body of water.

• Never dive in the shallow end of the pool or into above-ground pools.

Fun On The Water

• Always have children wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved, properly fitted life jacket while on a boat, around an open body of water or when participating in water sports.

• Educate yourself. According to the Coast Guard, 86 percent of boating accident deaths involve boaters who have not completed a safety course.

• Always check water conditions and forecasts before going out on the water.

Mowing Matters

• Teach children to never play on or around a lawn mower, even when it is not in use. They should never be permitted to walk beside, in front of or behind a moving mower.

• Children under 6 years of age should be kept inside the home while you are mowing.

• Children should be at least 12 years of age before operating a push lawn mower and at least 16 years of age before operating a riding lawn mower.

Fire Safety Simplified

• Teach kids to never play with matches, gasoline, lighter fluid or lighters. Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children.

• Do not leave children unattended near grills, campfires, fire pits or bonfires. Always have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby.

• Take your child to a doctor or hospital immediately if he or she is injured in a fire or by fireworks.

Should an injury occur, the physicians and staff of Shriners Hospitals can help. To find out more about the treatments available, visit www.ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org.

Visit www.ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org/SafeSummer to find more tips for preventing injuries this season.

*Article and image courtesy of NAPS.*

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