When Siblings Argue, Parents Lose

Let me preface this by saying, I am an only child and my husband was raised as an only child (with half brothers in other homes).   I basically have no understanding what-so-ever of sibling rivalry.  And, in all honestly, I’m not sure what’s going on in my house is actually the dreaded rivalry problem.  This is more of an argument that starts at daylight and ends well into the night.  That’s right, they get in our bed at night and push and shove each other in their sleep.  This mentality is totally not something I can understand.

My Baby is Annoying

Baby Girl enjoying the paddling pool with Daddy; check out his farmer tan.  LOL!

Baby Girl is my sweet pea and I love her with all of my heart.  She makes me experience so many emotions throughout the day that I'm starting to feel a little unstable.  I can go from laughing to wanting to pull my hair out in a heartbeat.  This little sweet pea has a wee bit of a temper with a dash of stubborn streak. 

Portrait of a Mother

We all have a one: a photo of ourselves that we don’t recognize; a picture of the stranger within us. Common photographs of this variety are the decade-old photos of women much younger than ourselves, unflattering pictures highlighting previously unknown flaws, or those portraying weight we hadn’t realized we gained.

Believe me; I am in these photos, and show up in increasingly more each year. Worse even, than the photos capturing physical ugliness and aging, are those detailing ugly emotions. These are the pictures you didn’t know were taken while sitting through a child’s soccer practice, “God, I hope he didn’t notice me looking that bored,” or a photo snapped at a party while you quietly argue with your husband, “I thought we were being discreet!”

Why I'm Glad I'm not a Dad

We Moms complain all the time about how much better Dad's have it. They get to skip stretchmarks, morning sickness, labour pains, and usually get more sleep, exercise and free time than we do. But in many ways, Moms are winning at the game of Parenthood.

In honour of Father's Day, I thought I'd emphasize some of the reasons why Dads don't have it so great. Items are not listed in priority (although #1 is first for a reason).

Welcome to My World, Cake Optional

We all find ourselves fretting the tough stuff, often forgetting to relish in the excitement of our children.  The hardest part about seeing the world through my children’s eyes has been the fact that I spent so many years forcing myself to think like an adult.  Having kids can definitely alter your perspective of what’s important.  Often parenting advice will include the phrase “this too shall pass”.  In the early years it is difficult to think that there will ever be another night of uninterrupted sleep or even better, will you ever get to sleep alone with your spouse again?  

A Lesson in Sex Education

My boys are 6 and 8 and like most children that age, they are super inquisitive. I allowed my 8 year old to miss school today in the name of community service. He wanted to do and it was a good opportunity for us to have a mother/son day. The day was as perfect as one little weak hearted mother could ask for. One of my most endearing traits, if I can even say that about myself, is that I can find humor in almost everything. I’m very rarely strapped for a punch line. I do have a serious side and when it comes to education, charity, teachers and children, I can break out a no-holds-barred conversation.

Concentrating on a WordPress Set Up

Now that we have registered the domain name, So You Wanna Start a Blog, and we’ve secured hosting for our blog, we can get a few more technical details out of the way.  Let me tell you that there are various hosting sites and the best host for you is the one that fits your needs as far as costs go.  My general opinion is to start small and upgrade later if you need more frills.  Once you’ve made up your mind and initiated the set up process, you will receive a set of “nameservers”.  That string will look something like “ns1234.yourhostingcompany.com” and “ns1235.yourhostingcompany.com”. 

Parenting through Terrorism

Just as I thought I had managed to explain to my children the importance of helping our neighbors and working together for a good cause, I was slammed with the news that we, as a nation, took part in an assassination.  I’ve struggled heavily with my stance on this and I’m finally comfortable presenting my opinion.  Obviously it has taken me the better part of ten days to write this so you know I didn’t come to this decision abruptly.  The positives and negatives have been weighed heavily by me, the discussions have continued from one day to the next with my ex-military husband and sleepless nights have yet to come to an end. 

So You Wanna Start a Blog

Indeed as I mentioned last week, 20,000 people start a blog every day.  That’s an enormous amount of blogs hitting the Internet at any given time.  For you, the process is going to be easy because we are going to walk through the details, step by step.  This will allow you the opportunity to work within the confines of various platforms and blog topics.  For our ongoing project, I used the process of checking keywords for maximum exposure and for examining the niche’ that we plan to cover. 

Crazy or Brave?

I am about to say something that not too many women would admit on the day before mother’s day.  I am about to say that all I really want to do for Mother’s Day is to be left alone.  I will accept any of the following: manicure, time for a long run, and the chance to go shopping, even grocery shopping, alone.  That is the key word here: alone. I want to get a manicure.  Alone.  I want to go grocery shopping.  Alone.  I want to try on jeans, compare labels on mayonnaise, and make what I want for dinner without little voices complaining that “this is boring, those jean are too tight in your bum Mommy, and as of today I hate chicken so I’m not eating this…what else did you make?”  Just for one day. 

An Introduction to Blogging

I remember exactly where and when I read the words, “Blogging is the new Black”.  I was a feature writer on a parenting site and watched slowly as my fellow writers moved from the community platform to their own individual blogs.  I dismissed it and figured they were simply on a wild goose chase and would be back.  They didn’t return.  I eventually did what millions of others have done, I joined the world of the weblog.

A Tribute to a Lost Child, a Wasted Life

This is my son, Mr. Man as I call him here on my blog; he's 12 years old.  Mr. Man is a good boy currently struggling with the hormone challenges of his preteen puberty years.  Lately I feel like we are not connecting like we used to, that I'm doing more nagging at him than anything else; I hate that. 

Friday was my pick up day, our normal exchange day with his bio dad.  An hour prior to pick up, Mr. Man called me stating that he wanted to stay at his dads because him and his sister, Miss Priss, were fighting again, he was fed up and couldn't be around her.  Previous to this there was discussion on possibly separating the two on opposite access schedules until Miss Priss gained coping skills through therapy for her anger issues(my suggestion).  This suggestion was refused by their bio dad and since then the more I have thought about it, the more I agree that this is not the answer to the problem(this was discussed maybe 3 months ago).  The kids step-dad and I believe whatever the problem, we need to work it out as a family, work together towards a solution.  Mr. Man has attempted to do this twice to his bio dad as well.  The time will come, maybe, where Mr. Man will decide at who's house he will reside most of the time I am sure but that is a more permanent arrangement and not a rash decision he's made to run away from his problems for a week at a time.  Regardless, I refused to let him stay at his bio dads; he eventually came with me, not without a temper tantrum mind you.  Miss Priss was adamant that they had not been fighting, at least not like he said they were fighting and did not know why he was making such a big deal out of everything.  I broke into the talk about being positive over negative, making a big deal out of something small and running away from problems does not solve anything.  Miss Priss had her therapy appointment right away and Squeakers was still at her dance practice so Mr. Man and I had the perfect opportunity to talk.

Luckily I had Hubs come home early to pick up Squeakers from dance so that I could focus on Mr. Man.  On our way home I stopped at the post office for our mail and when Mr. Man ran in to get the mail I received a text message with terrible news.  A close friend of Mr. Man's had taken his life the night before; he had just turned 13.  His mother had yelled at him and sent him to his room only later when she checked on him, she found he had killed himself.   I cannot tell you how sad I am for the family. I quickly phoned Hubs to prepare for a talk when we arrived home.  Meanwhile I have my son walking towards the vehicle and I have the hard job of delivering this terrible news.

When we arrived home I sent Squeakers and Baby Girl upstairs to play while we sat Mr. Man down.  Hubs and I told Mr. Man about how much we love him and how he can tell us anything, no matter how bad he thinks things are, we will always help.  We said that things may seem tough at times growing up, maybe he thinks we are hard on him sometimes but we are because we love him and we are trying to mold him into a wonderful adult.  We've all been there as kids, we've all made mistakes, lived through them and learned from our mistakes; he will too and that's okay because nobody is or ever can be perfect.  Mr. Man is looking at us with worry in his eyes, he can tell by the way we are talking to him that there is more to all of this.  I had the job of delivering the news; I said "Hunny, we have some terrible news we have to tell you that is very serious.  We just found out that your good friend _________ committed suicide last night."  Mr. Man's face went completely white, his face dropped, his eyes started welling up and he asked us if we were joking.  I said "Unfortunately hunny, no I am not joking; I would never joke about something like that."  which of course he knew but it was a natural reaction.  He immediately hung his head low, trying to hold his tears back like a man.  I went to him, hugged him and told him it was okay to cry, he was in private and didn't have to be strong for anyone.  I hated to see him so upset and sad; we were all crying.

After a good cry, he wanted to know more details like why would he do that?  "He seemed happy, he just got back from a trip with his dad."  I asked if he noticed anything before this happened but Mr. Man said he didn't.  There was mention of the possibility that he might have been bullied but Mr. Man said he didn't think so, not that he knew of.  He couldn't understand why he would do that only after his mom yelled at him; I assured him this was not the reason why he did what he did.  The reality of it is that we probably will never truly know why but that there was probably a lot more going on in that little boys mind than anyone knew about.  It would be surprising to know how many people put on a brave face, an act, when they are deeply troubled.  Mr. Man has made the decision to celebrate his friends life, try not to focus on the death but rather to use it to cherish all the things life has to offer; this will be his tribute to his friend, a lost child; a wasted life.

Sometimes I wonder if I am too open with my kids but when something like this happens everything is put into perspective and I am thankful that I can be sure my kids will always come to me if they have questions or have feelings about something, even if it's hard.  My heart and prayers go out to that lost little boys family. Hug your kids and remember to listen to them; you just never know.

"Suicide happens when a person has lost all hope. It is a final attempt to end really intense suffering, but it is not a solution. People who end their lives this way leave the people who care about them with a lifetime of sadness, confusion, hurt and despair." ~ Taken from KidsHelpPhone.ca

Crisis Centre Guidelines

Between 6% and 10% of all crisis line calls across Canada are related to suicide.¹ Nearly 1 in 25 Canadians admit to having had suicidal thoughts in the past year.² It could be someone you know.

How can I recognize if someone is suicidal?

A person who is suicidal feels trapped, hopeless, and alone. They feel their only choice is to die by suicide. Some possible signs are:

• Changes in behaviour – increased use of alcohol or other drugs; increased or decreased sleeping or eating; decreased self-care
• Hopelessness – a negative outlook with no positive future: “What’s the point? It won’t change.”
• Changes in mood – crying easily; depressed; frequently agitated or anxious
• Warnings – saying “Life isn’t worth it” or “Things would be better if I were gone;” jokes, poems, and art about suicide
• Preparations for death – saying goodbye; making a will, giving away prized possessions, talking about going away
• Impulsiveness – actions without thought of risks or consequence; outbursts or aggressive behaviour
• Previous Attempts – recent intentional self-harm or suicide attempt

What can I do if someone is suicidal?

• Talking – It can help.
• Reach out and let them know you care.
• Ask directly – “Are you considering suicide?”
• Be a supportive listener – accept their feelings.

Taken from 2020Parenting.com

Happy Earth Day!

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day? I've given the pledge not to buy anything new for 2 weeks which will be a feat with 6 household members.  I've also given the pledge not to use chemical cleaning products for 4 weeks; bring on the lemons!

Celebrated every April 22, Earth Day is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide.

More than 6 million Canadians join 1 billion people in over 170 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. Nearly every school child in Canada takes part in an Earth Day activity.

Environmental challenges abound as our daily actions pollute and degrade the fragile environment that humans and wildlife depend on to survive.

About Earth Day Canada
Earth Day Canada (EDC), a national environmental charity founded in 1990, provides Canadians with the practical knowledge and tools they need to lessen their impact on the environment. In 2004 it was recognized as the top environmental education organization in North America, for its innovative year-round programs and educational resources, by the Washington-based North American Association for Environmental Education, the world's largest association of environmental educators. In 2008 it was chosen as Canada’s “Outstanding Non-profit Organization” by the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication. EDC regularly partners with thousands of organizations in all parts of Canada. www.earthday.ca.

Give it Up for Earth Day!
 With four simple actions to choose from, what will you give up?

 Toronto (01/04/2011) - Earth Day Canada’s new action and commitment campaign is challenging Canadians to help create a healthier world by making simple changes to their daily routines. The Give it Up for Earth Day campaign launches today to kick off Earth month – www.earthday.ca/giveitup.

“For years we have promoted the importance of approaching every day with the same passion for addressing environmental issues that Canadians associate with Earth Day,” said Jed Goldberg, President of Earth Day Canada. “This campaign is another opportunity to reinforce the fact that Earth Day has always been about more than a day. It’s about developing the habits in our daily routines that will greatly lessen our impact on the environment.”

Participants can take part in the campaign by committing to one or more of four actions: cutting out toxic cleaners from your home; eating a vegetarian or vegan diet; buying nothing new; or turning off the TV. Participants can register their pledges on earthday.ca/giveitup and select a time commitment of one to four weeks.

“We hope the campaign will show that small changes can have a huge impact,” continues Goldberg. “In the end, pushing ourselves away from habits that are based on convenience and comfort allows us to grow individually as well collectively.”

The campaign website will have helpful information and resources such as recipes, personal stories and interviews, how‐to instructions, and printable prompts that serve as reminders to support people with their pledges. Participants who register their commitments will be eligible to win prizes that support long term eco-friendly habits.

In addition, Earth Day Canada staff will be adopting commitments and tracking their progress on the campaign blog. In May, Earth Day Canada will report the total savings results from the campaign.
The Give it Up Campaign is now accepting pledges until April 30, 2011.
For more information, visit www.earthday.ca.

Is Homeschooling Right for Your Child?

Are you considering whether or not you should homeschool your child? You may not be certain that your lifestyle, current situation or your child can handle homeschooling. Below are a few tips for determining if homeschooling is right for your child.

1. Determine Why You Want to Homeschool. It’s important that you take the time to explore the reason(s) why you want to homeschool. For example, is it because you disagree with the governmental policies regulating mainstream education? Do you want to incorporate your religious beliefs into your child’s education? Does your decision have something to do with your childhood school experience?

2. Are You “Tough Enough” to Handle It? You have to mentally tough if you make the decision to homeschool. Why? Because those who homeschool are under constant criticism by those who don’t understand it. So, you need to make sure you are mentally tough enough to handle the misunderstood and opinionated views that others will express to you.
3. Do You Have the Time? When you make the decision to homeschool, you will be making the decision to give up some of your time. The question is, do you have the time available to give up? It’s a great sacrifice to make, if you can. Just realize that it takes time to plan, teach and grade.

4. Do You Have the Money? While homeschooling isn’t going to cost you a fortune, you need to understand that it will cost you some money. You will be out money for the curriculum and school supplies on a yearly basis. You will also have other expenses arise along the way. For example, if you decide to take your children on a field trip to the zoo, museum or aquarium…these all cost money.
5. How Will Your Child Interact with Others? Since your child will be homeschooled, he or she won’t be around other kids on a regular basis…unless you get involved with another homeschooling group in your community. You can also get your child involved in other child-related groups such as youth sports like Soccer and Little League Baseball. There are also clubs like 4-H, Boy/Girl Scouts and church activities as well. This is important and worth consideration.

6. What Level of Education is Your Child At? Some parents make the decision to homeschool because their child is at a different academic level than his peers at school are. This may mean they have a learning disability or are exceptionally smart. Regardless of which it is, if your child is at a different academic level than his classmates, homeschooling may be the best way to give him the unique education he needs.

An In-Depth Look at Homeschooling and Unschooling

My older three children have always attended public school.  The thought of Homeschooling has always crossed my mind but this is as far as it went because up until a year ago I worked full-time shift work outside the home.  Since then I have been doing research on the subject and am considering homeschooling our youngest daughter.  Baby Girl turns one in May; I have decided to start her in Tot School after her birthday. I heard about this wonderful program from my friend Liz over at From Chalkboards to Strollers. 

Homeschooling and Unschooling are two (of many) alternative education models that are used by parents. However, there are many adults who are confused by these two types of alternative education. Below are some of the differences between the two.


Homeschooling – The following are the normal steps parents go through when they make the decision to homeschool their children.

* Investigating state and local educational rules and regulations for homeschooling.
* Selecting a curriculum for their children to use.
* Learning how their children process information and learn.
* Determining their children’s reading level.
* Deciding where “school” will take place.

Unschooling – Some of the steps involved with making the decision to Unschool are similar to those for homeschoolers, but there are some that are unique. Below are some of the steps that may take place as a family decides to Unschool their children.

* Review and understand state and local educational laws.
* Understand how children learn the best (visually, auditory, etc.)
* Collect books and other materials to pique their children’s interests.
* Become familiar with resources such as the local library and others so they are ready for the moment their children express interest in something and want to learn more.

The main difference between the homeschooling and unschooling models is that homeschooling is more directed then unschooling. When unschooling, you are allowing your child to lead the process – you teach about a topic when the child expresses an interest in it. Unschoolers don’t usually follow a curriculum nor do they take regular tests or have regular homework.

As with everything, homeschooling and unschooling is subject to a variety of myths and misconceptions. Below are some of these myths along with the actual facts.

Myth: A child’s education is neglected with unschooled.
Truth: The parent, or teacher, doesn’t neglect the child’s education. He or she just looks for the opportunity to “seize” the learning moment when it arises. Unschoolers have to teach the basic subjects and since unschooling is child-led, these teachers are never tuned out.

Myth: Homeschooled children aren’t properly socialized.
Truth: Just because these children aren’t going to school every day does not make them un-socialized. They are still active in a number of community activities such as sports, church activities, Scouts and other clubs. Additionally, it is worth noting that homeschooled children are introduced to different people every week, whereas traditionally schooled children are seeing the same kids and teachers daily.

Myth: Parents who unschool are lazy.
Truth: These parents are most definitely not lazy. They have to make an effort to continually be watching and listening to their children so that they can take advantage of teaching a child at any given moment. Unschooling means that parents teach when the child takes an interest in something…it may be in the morning or late at night or in the middle of the week or on a weekend.

Myth: Children who are homeschooled don’t do well in higher education.
Truth: Surprisingly, the opposite is true. Many believe that homeschooled children have “an edge” because of the high amounts of discipline and character that they have as a result of homeschooling. In fact, many of these children are awarded scholarships from colleges and universities.

**Copyright of This Lil Piglet by Stacey Martin. Distribution only with credits to the author and linkage back to this article. If distributing this article with linkage, please email stacey at this lil piglet dot net with the link to where the article can be found.**

An Interview with Squeakers

Baby Girl & Squeakers

It was that time where we meet with the kids teachers for parent teacher interviews.  Leading up to the interviews, Mr. Man was causing me to worry. You see Mr. Man has not been bringing home a stitch of homework all year, nor his school agenda where normally he is supposed to write his homework, notes from the teacher and so on.  Last year this time after similar circumstances, his dad and I received his report card with a failing grade and the rest a good 6% drop in grade, enough for me to yank all of his extra-curricular activities.  Of course I was outnumbered and with a mediated decision we decided to try one more year of hockey with the promise of bringing up his marks and proving that he could handle his school workload AND sports. 

My Little Girl is Becoming a Lady :(

Gone are the days of diaper changes and wrestling with Miss Priss during one of her temper tantrums.  Well that's not completely true, I still wrestle her during one of her fits but usually she wins now because she is almost my size.  ;-)  Where did the time go?  Miss Priss and I used to talk about things like why the rainbow has so many colors and now we talk about boys, puberty, bras and moods.  It seems Miss Priss has only been talking about her "development" for the past month but in reality it has been a long time and a slow subject that she has sporadically asked questions about. 

Long before Hubs and I got pregnant with Baby Girl, I ran out and picked up the books:

Sport Nutrition for Active Kids ~ The Kids Cook Monday !

All kids need to eat a well-balanced diet, but should your child's diet be any different if he plays on a sports team or works out? Making sure you child eats a well-balanced diet and drinks plenty of water every day is even more critical when you have an active child involved in sports. Active children burn through nutrients quickly and require even more water than adults require.

Sports kids also need to eat the right amount and mix of food to keep their energy levels higher while they're competing. As long as they're already eating a healthy diet, that mix probably won't vary much, and eating for sports should just be an extension of regular healthy eating habits.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that your athletic kid is particularly reliant on the nutrients that he gets from a healthy diet. Unlike an adult, your child doesn't have a weight that he's trying to maintain. Your child's body is still growing, so it will need extra nutrients to keep up with the energy required for the sport and the spurt. It's not wise at this point to put your child on a diet.

In some sports where weight is an issue, like wrestling or gymnastics, your kid may feel pressure to lose weight. If a coach or teacher, or even a teammate, says that your child needs to lose weight, consult with your doctor first. If your doctor thinks your child needs to lose weight, then ask him to suggest a healthy eating plan based on your child's activity level. Most young athletes will automatically and naturally eat the right amount of food that their body requires. If you're concerned that your child isn't eating enough, or is eating too much, check with your doctor before putting her on a diet.

Vitamins and Minerals

Make sure your sports kid gets plenty of calcium and iron. Calcium helps build strong bones that are resistant to breaking and fractures. Calcium-rich foods include dairy products and leafy green vegetables like broccoli. Iron is important, too, because it helps carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Iron rich foods include red meat, chicken, tuna, salmon, eggs, dried fruits, leafy green vegetables and whole grains.

Protein

Protein is important because it helps build and repair muscles, but most kids get plenty of protein through a balanced diet, so no supplements are necessary. Regular exercise helps build strong muscles, and too much protein can lead to dehydration and calcium loss. Protein-rich foods include fish, lean red meat, and poultry, dairy products, nuts, soy products, and peanut butter.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates provide energy for your child's body. Some diet plans tell adults to avoid carbs, but your young athlete needs them because they're an important source of fuel. Don't worry about “carb-loading” like the big guys do. A simple, healthy diet is all your child needs. Good sources of carbohydrates are whole grain foods like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, whole grain bread and cereal, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Fluids: Wetter is Better

Make sure your child takes in enough water and other fluids, especially during the game. Water helps cool the body during activity and helps transport nutrients throughout the body. Children have very high fluid needs. For example, a 9 – 13 year-old child who is not overly active needs at least 2.1 to 2.4 liters of fluid, preferably water, every day. Your sports child will need even more than that.

Children don't always recognize when they're thirsty and, as a result, they might not drink enough water and could easily start to show signs of dehydration. If they're involved in intense physical activity, they may notice it even less, which makes it especially challenging to make sure that your child drinks enough water.

Fight dehydration by having your child drink water before, during, and after the game. Give him or her a water bottle to sip from when they're not in the middle of the game, and remind them to take a break every 10 to 15 minutes when they're exercising to take a drink. Make sure that water is always available during games and practices.

Plain, cool water is the best source of liquids for your child. Especially if the activity they're involved in lasts less than one hour. Those sports drinks are fine during intense sports or activities that last more than one hour, but keep in mind that they're loaded with sugar.

Talk to your child about dehydration and make sure he knows what the symptoms are, including headache, fatigue, thirst, nausea, vomiting, chills and feeling faint. Tell him to make sure he lets his coach know if he's experiencing any of these symptoms.

Eat Smart before You Start

Make sure your child eats a healthy meal or snack two to four hours before game time. Choose foods that are high in carbohydrates and low in fat, sugar, and salt. Proteins are fine, but keep the amounts low because some proteins are difficult to digest and that could cause your child to have cramping and nausea in the middle of the game.

Healthy foods include low fiber cereal with milk and fruit, a granola bar with yogurt and a banana, a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, or a glass of milk and an apple.

Some children get very nervous just before a big game and don't feel like eating. If that's the case with your sports kid, try making him a fruit smoothie with yogurt, fruit, and milk or juice.

Say No to Sport Supplements

Your young athlete will want to try those fancy sports supplements and energy drinks that he sees his idols advertising in the commercials. After all, the TV ad says they'll increase his energy and make him perform better on the field.

Let your child know that most of those products are all hype and sugar and that they really don't do anything to enhance performance. And let him know that a healthier alternative is to get plenty of exercise, eat a high carbohydrate low fat meal and drink plenty of water.

"Start your week off right: make Monday family night!

The Kids Cook Monday is a weekly opportunity for families to take health into their own hands. The Kids Cook Monday provides examples of kid friendly recipes and video demonstrations along with nutrition and safety tips – making it easy for families to cook and eat together every Monday.

When kids pitch in making meals, they’re empowered to consider the portions, the vitamins and the nutrients of what they’re eating. And since the family that cooks together eats together, parents can check in with their children during dinner." ~ The Kids Cook Monday's ~ Take the Challenge!

**Copyright of This Lil Piglet by Stacey Martin. Distribution only with credits to the author and linkage back to this article. If distributing this article with linkage, please email Stacey at blog@thislilpiglet.com with the link to where the article can be found.**

Learning Through Unstructured Play

Rewind the calendar 40 or 50 years and you would have seen a very different scenario in family neighborhoods than seen today. On a bright sunny day, there would be clusters of children riding bicycles, playing hopscotch, climbing trees, or running around. You were often let out the front door in the morning and would only turn for meal times. Your parents trusted you were safe and since there was a common understanding amongst neighbors that you all looked out for each other’s children.

Fast forward to modern times and oh how things have changed. Today you are more likely to see empty streets and often find children inside playing video games even on the sunniest of days. In today’s world playtime is often structured and based around organized activities such as dance class or music lessons.

However, there is a growing movement made up of parents who have simply had enough. Many parents now want their children to experience that same good old fashioned childhood they had. This is good news all around because the benefits of learning through unstructured play are many.

Kids were made to climb trees, dig in the earth, and run around. Each activity teaches your child something new. Through these unstructured simplistic everyday activities they will learn how to problem solve, build relationships, learn balancing and motor skills, care for the earth and others around them and many other valuable life lessons.

There is no denying that unstructured play time is important for children. And while there is a place for organized activities such as music lessons or sports club, these should not replace free play time.

If you’d like to incorporate some unstructured play time in your child’s schedule here are a few tips for modern parents:

#1 – Limit clubs and activities. Let your child choose a few clubs and explain to them why free play time is important. By limiting clubs and activities you free up precious time for your kids to “just be kids.”

#2 – Free up one day a week. Having one day a week to just “be” is a fantastic way to give all family members a chance to relax and unwind. Plan on having one day (Sundays work great) where there are no planned activities or chores. Let each family member have free range to do whatever they’d like this day without having to adhere to a schedule or regimented structure.

#3 – Cut back on electronics. This means limiting the time your kids spend watching TV, playing on the computer and video games. A great option is to incorporate this electronic free time into your free weekly day. If one day without electronic gadgets seems too much how about a few evenings a week or limiting video games for weekends only and limiting the time spent on the games as well.

Unstructured play will help your child grow in many positive ways. Take a little time to think about ways in which you can incorporate free unstructured play into your child’s day. – you’ll be glad you did.

How to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Greens

There seems to be a love-hate relationship between kids and any kind of healthy vegetable. Why is that? Whatever the reason, they do need the nutrients locked inside. So, how can you get your kids to eat their green vegetables?


The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. It’s true. Whatever we do not like or won’t eat, we are not likely to introduce to our kids. It is an unconscious process that we, as parents, go through. When you shop, if you don’t like peas, you won’t pick them up.

So, in reality, getting your kids to eat their greens is also an experiment for you as well. Through them, you can learn to appreciate vegetables that you may have shied away from as a child and again as an adult.

With that said, introducing new foods to kids when they are young is one way to get them to eat their green veggies. Their palate is clean and ready to accept new foods. They will learn how vegetables are supposed to taste and choose the ones they like. Resist the urge to smother them with butter or salt. Let the natural flavor come through.

If your children are older and haven’t developed a love for veggies, you may have to be a little covert with your veggie operation. The first thing to do is double the vegetables in foods they normally eat.

Let’s take a hamburger for instance. Homemade burgers are the best. Kids who don’t eat a lot of veggies will put them on their burger. This is your opportunity to smuggle a few more greens in. if they usually take one piece of lettuce, put two. Vary your types of lettuce so they get a variety of tastes: romaine, Bibb, iceberg and even mixed greens.

Add a salad to your meals. Serve the salad while the kids are waiting for the main course. When they are truly hungry they will dive right in. it also gives them a chance to create a salad they will like. Offer a smorgasbord of add-ins including green things like cucumber, lettuces, beans (edamame, peas) and green peppers. Make your own dressing so you know its low-fat.

Offer veggies and dip for snacks. Instead of serving popcorn with your favorite movie, try a platter of veggies and great-tasting dip. Kids love to dip things so give them each a small bowl of their favorite dip.

One more suggestion is diced veggies. Add them to soups, stews and even spaghetti sauce. You can hide a bevy of good things in these places.

Are your kids averse to eating green things? Help them by using every opportunity to get introduce them to their palate.