Ingredients:
• 1 pkg semi sweet chocolate chips
• Fruit! You can do: strawberries, apples, bananas
• waxed paper
• Directions:
1. Wash Fruit & dry VERY well.
2. Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper
3. Put chocolate into a glass bowl.
4. Put in microwave on high for 30 seconds.
5. Remove from microwave and stir for a second or two
6. Repeat the above step one or two more times.
7. By the third time, you should see some of the chocolate beginning to melt.Remove at this point and stir and stir until the lumps are gone. It's better to let the warmth of the melted chocolate and the bowl melt the other chocolate rather than over microwaving it. If in doubt, err on the side of under microwaving.
8. Dip the dry Fruit into the chocolate, swirling them around to coat well and then place on the waxed paper.
9. set aside for about 2 hours to let the chocolate harden
You could also do a Chocolate Fondue with the chocolate. Ideas for that: Graham Crackers, Marshmallows, Angel Food Cake (Cut into little chunks), Raisins, Rice Crispy Treats, or just use the fruit!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Valentine Bags!
A couple of years ago we started something really fun in our home at the first of February. I made each person a big heart bag. I used string for a hook, and two hearts stapled together for the purse. Then I wrote the person's name on it. We told everyone to think of kind things that someone has done for you, or what you love about them, or what you think they are good at. Then we told them that every time they should write that person a note (Little kids: Color a picture or have help from mom and dad). Then the Sunday before Valentine's Day (or after which ever is closer) everyone gets to look in their bags. NO LOOKING BEFORE THEN! Each bag hangs on the outside of their room. If you have multiple children in the same room, then you just let them choose an inside door to hang theirs from. Anyway it is really fun!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Heart Hunt
I am really looking forward to Valentine's Day! I wanted to do something fun for my kids. I found this game and thought it would be a perfect family game for Valentine's Day. I thought for those of you that are room mothers, preschool teachers, etc. you might like this game also.
Heart Hunt
Cut out of red, white, blue, yellow and green paper hearts of all shapes and sizes, then cut each heart into four pieces and scatter these all over the room, on the floor, chairs, tables, behind pictures, etc.
Allow a certain length of time for the hunt, and when all the pieces have been collected, request each guest to put his pieces together and see how many whole hearts of the same color he has collected.
White hearts count 1
Blue hearts count 2
Yellow hearts count 3
Green hearts count 4
Red hearts count 5
The one scoring the greatest number of points is the winner of hearts and deserves a prize. A booby prize may be awarded the one who has only broken hearts.
January 26 is..... the Chinese New Year!
Go to this link below to find out what your animal is from your birth date. It also has crafts, info about the holiday, stories, proverbs, word searches, coloring pages, and food ideas!
Below is a picture of a chinese Dragon you can make with your hand prints. They cut them out, but I think it would be fun to just use paint to make the dragon, and do everyones hands in the family!
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/chinese-new-year/
January 26, 2009 is on next Monday so you can have quite the fun night if you take a few minutes to plan!
Below is a picture of a chinese Dragon you can make with your hand prints. They cut them out, but I think it would be fun to just use paint to make the dragon, and do everyones hands in the family!
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/chinese-new-year/
January 26, 2009 is on next Monday so you can have quite the fun night if you take a few minutes to plan!
Talking to Kids about a Serious Illness
In December my mother was diagnosed with Cancer for the fourth time in her life. I felt a need to talk to my kids, but didn't know where to start. I realize that others might be in this same situation, so I decided to post this article I found on the internet. (FYI: I am glad I researched a bit, because when my daughter started to have problems I was able to help her)
When someone is seriously sick, the whole family is affected. Adults have a hard time. There is a lot of stress in taking care of the house and hospital visits. There is a lot of emotional stress, worrying about the sick person and trying to make medical decisions. Kids are upset. They worry about their loved one and have stress from the changes at home. Parents can help kids. They can talk with them about the illness and how they manage it as a family.Kids often know something is going on. They may overhear people talking, or see expressions, or notice tension or stress. Tell your child about the illness. Younger children can be told in simple words about the illness. Tell them the truth. Older children can understand more medical words and details. Tell you child what will happen during the illness and the doctor's and families's plans. Tell your child the doctors are doing everything they can to help the sick person. Don't be afraid to say, "We don't know yet". That may be the most honest answer.Let your child visit the sick person when possible. This may be good for both of them.A young child might think that they somehow caused the illness or that it is their fault because they had bad behavior or bad thoughts about the sick person. Young children might also worry about their own safety and health. They may worry about their caregivers: "ho will take care of me if Mommy dies?" "Will I get this disease and die too?" Tell your child it is not their fault and they did not cause the illness. Let your child know that they will always be loved and cared for.Adults will be stressed and worried and tired. Kids may feel upset, ignored and fearful. Some kids may worry and start to lose weight or have trouble in school. Older children may feel angry at the changes. Family counseling may be helpful. Kids may also have behavior problems, bedwetting, thumb sucking, trouble sleeping, become very quiet and withdrawn or think they are very sick themselves.If the sick person is your child's brother or sister, your healthy child may be jealous that the sick child gets so much attention from the parents. Try to understand their feelings. Try to spend special "alone time" with your healthy child and always tell them you love them. Try to keep a normal routine at home. children like to have order and know what will happen each day. They will feel safe and secure.Some children will have to help out more around the house with chores. Some kids will have to help with cooking, laundry and cleaning. Sometimes it will be important to let your child be free and just have fun. Everyone needs to help out but give your child chores that are easy for their age. If other adults offer to help out, let them. Other adults could help with household chores, taking your child to baseball practice or just going to the park with your child.If the person that is very ill may die, talk to your child about death and what you think death is like. Let your child say goodbye to their loved one. And let your loved one have a chance to make a wish or give a word of blessing. This "goodbye" will help in the future months as your child deals with the sadness.I nform your child about the illness. Tell them what's happening.L et the child visit the sick person.L isten to your child's feelings.N otice if your child has too much responsibility.E xpect stress to affect your child's behavior.S tay with normal daily routines.S oothe or comfort your child with love and security.
When someone is seriously sick, the whole family is affected. Adults have a hard time. There is a lot of stress in taking care of the house and hospital visits. There is a lot of emotional stress, worrying about the sick person and trying to make medical decisions. Kids are upset. They worry about their loved one and have stress from the changes at home. Parents can help kids. They can talk with them about the illness and how they manage it as a family.Kids often know something is going on. They may overhear people talking, or see expressions, or notice tension or stress. Tell your child about the illness. Younger children can be told in simple words about the illness. Tell them the truth. Older children can understand more medical words and details. Tell you child what will happen during the illness and the doctor's and families's plans. Tell your child the doctors are doing everything they can to help the sick person. Don't be afraid to say, "We don't know yet". That may be the most honest answer.Let your child visit the sick person when possible. This may be good for both of them.A young child might think that they somehow caused the illness or that it is their fault because they had bad behavior or bad thoughts about the sick person. Young children might also worry about their own safety and health. They may worry about their caregivers: "ho will take care of me if Mommy dies?" "Will I get this disease and die too?" Tell your child it is not their fault and they did not cause the illness. Let your child know that they will always be loved and cared for.Adults will be stressed and worried and tired. Kids may feel upset, ignored and fearful. Some kids may worry and start to lose weight or have trouble in school. Older children may feel angry at the changes. Family counseling may be helpful. Kids may also have behavior problems, bedwetting, thumb sucking, trouble sleeping, become very quiet and withdrawn or think they are very sick themselves.If the sick person is your child's brother or sister, your healthy child may be jealous that the sick child gets so much attention from the parents. Try to understand their feelings. Try to spend special "alone time" with your healthy child and always tell them you love them. Try to keep a normal routine at home. children like to have order and know what will happen each day. They will feel safe and secure.Some children will have to help out more around the house with chores. Some kids will have to help with cooking, laundry and cleaning. Sometimes it will be important to let your child be free and just have fun. Everyone needs to help out but give your child chores that are easy for their age. If other adults offer to help out, let them. Other adults could help with household chores, taking your child to baseball practice or just going to the park with your child.If the person that is very ill may die, talk to your child about death and what you think death is like. Let your child say goodbye to their loved one. And let your loved one have a chance to make a wish or give a word of blessing. This "goodbye" will help in the future months as your child deals with the sadness.I nform your child about the illness. Tell them what's happening.L et the child visit the sick person.L isten to your child's feelings.N otice if your child has too much responsibility.E xpect stress to affect your child's behavior.S tay with normal daily routines.S oothe or comfort your child with love and security.
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