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Parent Newsletters - Issue 39

No Limits Learning
kids goals Ezine

Issue 39, 14th July 2007

IN THIS PARENT NEWSLETTER

1. A WORD FROM THE EDITORS

2. SUMMER GOALSETTING FOR KIDS
3. KIDS CORNER COOKING AND CRAFTS
4. TICKLE YOUR FUNNYBONE (JOKES FOR KIDS BY KIDS)
5. WORDS OF INSPIRATION
6. SPONSORS

1. A WORD FROM THE EDITORS

Welcome to the next issue of the kidsgoals.com Newsletter. Now that summer seems to be in full swing many parents are looking for constructive things for their children to do rather than wasting away the hours playing video games and watching television. It may be an opportune time to sit down with your kids and talk about some possible goals they would like to work on over the summer. It is good practice for children to start with small short- term goals before they try to tackle the larger long term ones. In this issue we have suggestions to get your children excited about setting a few doable goals that they can accomplish before they return back to school. Also check out the recipe section for an awesome frozen fruit salad that your whole family will love. Cassie and I hope you are all having a wonderful and safe summer.

Happy Parenting,

Monicka

2. SUMMER GOALSETTING FOR KIDS

A year is a very long time for small children (and even older children), so helping them learn to set goals which can be achieved over the summer is a great way to introduce children to what for them is relatively "long term" goal setting.

You could start by talking round the possibilities - find out what gets your child excited. What goals would motivate and energize him, get him fired up and passionate?

Sometimes there will be something you can do together. If you have a passion or interest in common, you could set a goal together and work towards it over the summer. It could be related to a sport you both enjoy, or a hobby, or learning a new skill that you are both excited about.

Probably more often, though, your child will have his own unique interests and your role will be one of "cheerleader" - you don't have to want to learn rock-climbing yourself - or start a stamp collection, or join the sea-scouts, or whatever floats your child's boat - you can still appreciate and encourage your child's enthusiasm.

You can encourage your child to think about what he would like to achieve this summer, then teach him some basic, simple goal setting skills to make it happen.

Ask your child to:

1. Think about and then write or draw in detail what his goal will look like when he's achieved it. Or, instead of writing or drawing it, you could give him old magazines that he can search for pictures that relate to his goal, and cut them out.

2. Make sure that your child has whatever represents his goal in a visible place - somewhere he will see it every day, like on a corkboard in his room for instance.

3. Encourage your child to write out the steps - actions - that he will take towards his goal. Suggest that he should do SOMETHING, no matter how small, to help carry him towards his goal each day. It could be something as big as signing up for a club or class, it could be a phone call to ask someone for help, or something as little as choosing a relevant book from the library or simply spending a little time thinking about his goal.

4. Find out how to help your child. A good place to start is by understanding how he feels about his goal and what it is that excites him. Refrain from criticizing. A child's passion, when first ignited, can be a delicate and fragile thing. Be sure to encourage him first, and only point out downsides as things to overcome rather than things that make his idea or goal silly or unachievable.

The process of setting a goal, taking action and then achieving success is critical for the development of a healthy self-esteem in children. It's not the size of the goal that matters, but the realization, developed over time and many repetitions, that "I Can Do This!"

by Cassie

3. KIDS CORNER COOKING AND CRAFTS

HOMEMADE FLOWER PRESS

If you have pretty flowers in your garden, or pick them when out on a summer walk (know your local nature rules, though, and be very careful not to pick any rare flowers!) then now is a wonderful time to press flowers and save them to use in crafts later in the year.

You can buy flower presses quite cheaply, or use a heavy book, but a homemade flower press has that extra-special feel to it, and is simple and fun to make.

What you need:

• 2 thick (1/2" thick is fine) pieces of wood about 10" square
• 4 3" bolts, about 1/4" thick, with wing nuts to fit
• A drill (parents only!) with a drill bit a little wider than the bolts
• Sandpaper
• Acrylic or thick poster paints
• Wood Varnish (optional)
• Some pieces of reasonably thick cardboard (construction card is fine, or just pieces cut out of sturdy cardboard boxes (not cereal boxes, that card is too thin for pressing most flowers)
• Pieces of plain paper
• Tissue paper (optional)

Note: the dimensions are a suggestion, you can adapt them to the wood you have or the size you would like your flower press to be!

Making your flower press

1. Sand your pieces of wood and ensure there are no splintery bits. For a really professional look, if you have a good DIY-er in the house, you can ask them to use a router on the outside edges of both pieces of wood. If not, just sanding them is fine.

2. Drill holes in all four corners of both pieces of wood. If you position them about an inch in from the corner that is about right. If you can, clamp both pieces of wood together and drill straight through both - that way your holes will line up perfectly.

3. Have your child decorate the topside of the "lid" of the press by painting a colorful picture or pattern. Varnish if desired.

4. Thread the 4 bolts through the "bottom" of the press (the plain piece of wood), then cut pieces of card and paper into squares that will fit inside the bolts.

5. Layer the "ingredients" like this: one piece of cardboard, two pieces of paper, one piece of cardboard, two pieces of paper, and so on. Keep layering until you have a good chunk of "ingredients" - probably at least an inch, depending on the thickness of your wood etc. Then add the decorated "lid". The wing nuts are used to keep the press together.

Drying your flowers

Pick flowers during the late morning or afternoon - when the dew has had a chance to dry. Open the press up and arrange the flowers carefully between the pieces of paper in layers. Make sure the flowers are spaced out so they aren't touching. If they are very delicate, or quite moist, you may want to add a layer of tissue paper. Keep layering - cardboard, paper, flowers, paper, cardboard, and so on. This time, when you put the "lid" onto your press, tighten the wing nuts as much as possible (ask an adult to help!) If you go back to your press every day or two, especially if you're drying bulky flowers like roses, you'll be able to tighten them a little more.

After several days (how long depends on the flower), your flowers will be dry and can be removed. You can store them in a show box, layering them gently with tissue paper, until you want to use them.

FROZEN FRUIT SALAD

It is summer and fruit is in abundance so why not make a special dessert for the family as a surprise or better yet let the kids help with the preparation. Choose whatever fruits are in season or even canned fruit would work just fine. Here is a wonderful recipe that is as much fun to make as it is to eat.

• 1 pkg. cream cheese
• 1/2 c. mayonnaise
• 1 large can crushed pineapple
• 20 big marshmallows, cut in half
• 1 can whipped cream or small Cool Whip

Add cherries, oranges, grapes, coconut or any other fruit in season

Mix cheese and mayonnaise. Drain pineapple. Add cut marshmallows and other fruit as desired. Fold in cream or whip and serve or freeze. Cut frozen salad in squares and serve.

4. TICKLE YOUR FUNNYBONE (JOKES FOR KIDS BY KIDS)

If I have a bee in my left hand and a bee in my right hand, what do I have in my eye?
Beauty (is in the eye of the bee-holder)!

Q: What is a mosquito's favorite sport?
A: Skin-diving

Q: What did the spider say when he broke his new web?
A: Darn it!

FATHER: How are your grades, son?
SON: Under water, Dad.
FATHER: Under water? What do you mean?
SON: They're below C level.

5. WORDS OF INSPIRATION

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken." ~James Dent

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer.... Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer quite the other way
I have to go to bed by day."
~Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child's Garden of Verses

6. YOUR FEEDBACK

If you would like to request any topics for the newsletter for 2007, please email Cassie or Monicka at kidsgoals.com.

Thank you, from Cassie and Monicka

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