St. Johns December 2018
Winter Family Fun
St. Johns December 2018
Winter Family Fun
December 2018
Volusia December 2018
Winter Family Fun
Volusia December 2018
Winter Family Fun
December 2018
Flagler December 2018
Winter Family Fun
Flagler December 2018
Winter Family Fun
December 2018
Mixing Things Up: Bonding With Your kids in the Kitchen Makes Holidays More Fun
Provided by Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville
or many, the holidays are a wonderful opportunity to take the pace of our hectic lives down a notch and enjoy the company of friends and family. These times serve not only as a way to recharge, but also as a way to reconnect with the ones we love. As parents, one of the greatest things this time of year is getting to spend time creating memories with your children and instilling traditions they will carry on when they have families of their own.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or something else, there’s usually food involved, which means you’re going to be in the kitchen. While you’re there, why not include your little ones in the fun? Kids love to measure out ingredients, mix them up and, of course, taste-test, so it’s the perfect time to enlist their help while imparting basic lessons about cooking. And believe it or not, many of these activities also provide educational and developmental opportunities that go well beyond food preparation.
“You can use this time in the kitchen to work with your child on counting skills, color sorting, and understanding basic measurements, all of which help develop fine motor skills,” said Jodi Ervin, RD, a registered dietitian with Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “It’s also a great chance to talk about nutrition and healthy eating.”
Making something like a healthy holiday trail mix together utilizes all of the above. From measuring out the ingredients, counting small items like M&Ms®, separating the green and red candies into piles, and pouring them into small containers all help to hone manual dexterity, the coordination between the small muscles in the hands and fingers with those in the eyes. These activities also make a child feel more at home in the kitchen environment, which is important later when they are off cooking on their own someday.
“With microwaveable items and take-out food so readily available, children today are no longer learning the basic kitchen skills that one day lead to better eating habits as adults,” said Ervin. “Habits form at an early age and with childhood obesity on the rise, it’s really important to get them involved in the kitchen when they’re little and to make it fun.”
The best time to plan these kitchen sessions, she added, is after a good nap when your child is well rested. It’s also a wonderful distraction from the television and video games. Every now and then, veering off the healthy path and making a treat, like cookies, is OK too. After all, holidays and cookies do go hand-in-hand.
“Teaching them how to make a recipe that’s been in the family for years is a great way to build tradition,” said Ervin.
Healthy Holiday Trail Mix
• 2 cups Cheerios™ (plain or multigrain), Rice/Wheat Chex™, or Kashi® GOLEAN cereal
• ½ cup whole grain pretzel sticks or squares
• ¼ cup raisins, dried blueberries or dried cranberries
• ¼ cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup almonds, cashews or walnuts
Sprinkle in mini-M&Ms® or chocolate chips. Mix everything and portion into ½-cup servings.
Indoor Winter Fun: 25 Ways for Kids to Get Their Ya-Ya’s Out
When the weather outside is frightful and you are fresh out of fun ways to keep kids entertained, turn to this list of ideas. The key is to stop thinking like an adult and to remember how to think like a kid. Once you accomplish this, who knows what kind of mischief you will help your kids dream up!
And while we are on the subject, why not forget your grown-up responsibilities for a little while and join the kids in some fun indoor activities? Your cabin fever will melt away like snow on a sunny day once you dive into one of these fun pastimes with your kids. Come on, parents. They will only be kids once.
1) Become a builder. Make a fort after lunch and then live in it until dinner.
2) Ready, set, duck! Ball up some clean socks, turn some furniture sideways, and have a sock-ball fight.
3) Fun with flour. Make something that involves kneading like bread, rolls or pizza dough.
4) One-legged kangaroo. Spend an hour hopping on only one foot every time you have to move around the house.
5) Soften their falls. Put on layers of soft, stretchy clothes and play Twister in the kitchen.
6) Set a world’s record. See how long you can toss a soft ball back and forth without dropping it even once.
7) Stretch for it. Have a headstand or a handstand contest. Who is the straightest, who can last the longest, and who is the most poised?
8) Colorful awe. Look up group games that can be played with a silk parachute (please note: also helpful in fort construction).
9) Strike a laugh. Take turns playing yoga teacher and making up silly yoga poses. Not laughing yet?Add in funny breathing exercises.
10) Let alter egos act out. Make sock or bag puppets, give them your quirkiest qualities, and then put on a puppet show.
11) Have a competition. Make a foursquare court in the basement or garage using painter’s tape and then take turns playing.
12) Find your inner Picasso. Tape large pieces of drawing paper on the walls of the basement or garage, spread newspapers on the floor, and create self-portraits with chalk pastels.
13) Play charades. Make sure the clues are appropriate for all ages. Or, if you prefer, try Pictionary instead.
14) Take that, Villain! Act out a scene from a family-favorite book. Look up some fight choreography online and stage a mock-fight.
15) Climb, jump, and hop. Create an obstacle course in the basement or garage. Time everyone’s results. Then try to beat your best time. (See sidebar for more ideas.)
16) Mess around with beauty. Make facial masks out of bananas or avocados and take turns giving them to each other.
17) Get inspired. Watch The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe and then draw what you image you would find on the other side of your hidden doorway.
18) Bonsoir, Madame. Create a simple meal from a foreign culture like France, India or Africa, with ingredients you have on hand.
19) Start a band. Make some music with either real instruments or whatever you can create out of what you have on hand. For even more fun, try a marching band.
20) Musical fingers. Fingerpaint to different kinds of music. Let everyone choose a song and then compare the resulting images. Which music helped to create the most inspired paintings?
21) Instant nostalgia. Make sparkly white play dough and then recreate a miniature scene of your home in a snowstorm. (Keep a can of instant snow on hand for just such an occasion)
22) I say potato, you say potahto. Break out the potatoes, cut them in half and carve the cut ends into stamps. Then, transform leftover brown bags into recycled wrapping paper.
23) Trashion passion. What’s in your recycle bins? Divide it up into two teams, mix in some plastic and paper bags, set a timer for one hour and see who can whip up some runway magic for a quick trashion runway show.
24) Lip-sync battle. Everyone picks their favorite tunes and then battles it out on whatever kind of “stage” you can create. For extra fun, video the numbers and cut some short clips together into a compilation.
25) Sculpture magic. Go through all of your art supply cabinets and drawers and pull out everything you can bear to part with. Be sure to include sticks, wire or string. Then, see who can create the most original sculpture using supplies on hand.
Indoor Obstacle Course Ideas:
• Throw a sheet over a string to create a crawl tunnel
• Over and under string or masking tape stretched between walls
or objects
• Pogo stick jumping
• Hula Hooping
• Stilt walking
• Balance beam
• Throw beanbags into buckets or pots
• Walk a lap while balancing large book on head
• Slalom on a too-small bike or scooter
• Jump rope
• Jumping jacks or push-ups
• Bounce a ball off a wall
• Spin around ten times
• Juggle a soccer ball or hacky sack with your feet or legs
• Balance something on a
serving spoon
• Step from stool to chair to stepladder, etc.
Stash These Supplies For When You Have Down Time:
• Fort-building kit (check Amazon)
• Parachute (double duty in making forts)
• Nerf products (for throwing in the house)
• Nutella (for crepe-making)
• Instant snow (for creating your home in miniature)
• Glitter (for adding to playdough and making sculptures sparkle)
• iTunes card (for lip syncing and finger painting to music)
• Twister
• Pictionary
• Foursquare ball
• Hacky sack
• Painter’s tape
• Chalk pastels
• Finger paints and coated paper
• Bananas
• Avocados
• Bag of russet potatoes
The Upside of Social Media Connected Kids
As parents, we often hear stories about the shadowy side of social media. Although problems can crop up, the networking tool can be instrumental in helping kids learn, connect, increase their awareness and grow into more mindful communicators.
Invite Creative Expression
Kids who have a passion for photography, art, video production, music or writing can use applications like blogs, YouTube and Instagram to express themselves.
Maggie Pike, a college freshman, says she uses her Instagram page to post photos of world events and people of different cultures.
“Social media can be a great source of creativity,” she says. “There are poems being posted, interesting questions being asked, or funny or cool videos being shared… Positive examples are everywhere, more so than the negative aspects of social media.”
TIP: Discuss how your child will respond to any negativity that might come her way from Internet trolls or cyberbullies. Remove geo-locator tags from photographs and overly specific information from profiles. Establish privacy settings and remind your kids to make positive choices online.
Foster Purposeful Mindfulness
“You start developing your personal brand identity as soon as you go online,” says Linda Buchner, president and co-founder of MindDrive, a non-profit workforce development organization that recruits students from urban Kansas City schools. The students, ages 13 to 19, choose to enroll in contemporary communications or automotive design.
The communications team works in tandem with the automotive team, sharing the MindDrive brand through video production, marketing materials and social media.
In 2013, the students earned national attention when they programmed their futuristic-looking electric car to recognize social media connections. Fueled by social media likes, shares and hashtags, they successfully drove the car from Kansas City to Washington D.C.
TIP: Encourage your child to practice her public speaking and presentation skills by creating video interviews, podcasts and SlideShare presentations on topics that interest her.
Channel the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Sandra Perez, 18, created her own YouTube channel featuring fashion and makeup demonstrations. Perez, who plans to pursue a degree in communications in the fall, now has over 1000 followers and has been approached by corporate sponsors.
“It’s something she wanted to do anyway, to practice her public speaking skills, and now she has a professional site,” says Buchner, who hired Perez to work as her marketing intern.
TIP: Whether your children like to watch Minecraft videos or pin craft ideas on Pinterest, monitor what they watch and post. Even if they delete their viewing history, you can see the types of videos they’ve been watching by reviewing YouTube’s recommendations.
Connect with Friends
Social media can give kids the opportunity to meet peers who share their interests, and Buchner believes it can boost their confidence in face-to-face interactions.
“Sometimes really shy kids or kids who don’t have a lot of friends are more comfortable finding friends through social media,” Buchner says. “It’s an opportunity to tread lightly and put yourself out there a little bit.”
TIP: Balance out your child’s tech-use with “in-real-life” play dates and activities. Also, role model responsible device use, set consistent boundaries and establish digital citizenship rules.
Promote Awareness
“Students will constantly post different things that are going on that they are involved in. Maybe they received an award, won a sporting event or volunteered at Ronald McDonald House,” says Kim Urenda, a high school counselor.
Social media allows for a deeper understanding of various cultures and world issues.
“Positive uses of social media by our young people support social justice and advocacy for humanity, and social media provides them with an understanding of world issues in a very relevant way,” says Deb Woodard, University of Missouri-Kansas City School Counseling Coordinator.
TIP: Show your kids sites that other young people have started, like FairED, that are healthy examples of positive social media use. Altruistic kids can complement tweets and posts about their campaign with video interviews and short informational clips to educate and share with their audiences.
Raise Critical Thinkers
More educators are integrating social media into the classroom beginning in elementary school.
“Our biggest push is media literacy, educating students to question the motive behind what’s being posted,” Urenda says.
Teachers also role model how to use platforms like YouTube, Skype and Twitter to connect with experts and bring textbook materials to life.
“If you can see an ice castle in Siberia, then it makes it really interesting when you are reading about it,” says Sarah Pike, an elementary school principal. “And the kids thought it was exciting when we did some Skyping with a National Geographic tornado chaser.”
Pike finds that interactive technology motivates students and makes learning relevant. Schools, she says, must stay current.
“We are training kids for jobs that we can’t even foresee because information is changing so fast. They must be able to use these tools to communicate and collaborate.”
TIP: After your next family vacation, invite your kids to make an iMovie with their favorite photos and videos, create a digital photo album, post a review of their vacation on a family blog, and/or post pictures on Instagram.
Some interactive sites & apps that promote creativity, learning and sharing:
• Create comic strips at MakeBeliefsComix.com.
• Interview and collect family stories with the StoryCorps.me app.
• Check out YouTubeKids, a free app offered by YouTube featuring videos, channels and playlists for younger children.
• Explore history in the collaborative community HistoryPin.org.
Beyond Toys and Games
The Christmas gifts are wrapped and piled in a beautiful array under the tree. When the children open them, some of their holiday dreams will come true and everyone will be filled with holiday joy.
Now, fast forward to a week or two later, those longed-for toys and games are either broken or they’ve become just another part of the possession pile—almost passé. \
Before you wonder if Scrooge is writing this article, let me say I love Christmas. I love giving presents and I love watching children open them. But allow me put in a good word for the type of gifts that will keep on giving pleasure, inspiration and educational benefit long after the holidays are over.
After reading through these ideas, you might put a bug in the grandparents’ ear. They’ll be happy to provide some of these long-lasting, valuable gifts as their Christmas offerings. Here they are:
Lessons
From music lessons, to art, drama, dance and sports, the gift of a series of lessons in some skill area will add character-building traits to your child’s personality. The child who learns to practice diligently, focus on a skill, set goals and meet them, experience defeat and then move on to victory, that child has gained lifelong benefits.
Ask your children some questions. Listen to their discussions while they’re dreaming of what they want to be or accomplish in their lives, and research the best teachers and schools in your area. Choose from individual lessons with one on one attention or group lessons which can be a wonderful starting point in a new skill.
Studies show, more and more clearly, that children with the ability to focus their attention and follow through with practice become better learners in every subject area.
Subscriptions
Magazine subscriptions, books of the month and other learning materials that arrive at your child’s doorstep on a regular basis instill a love for learning. Children look forward to the next issue, the next story, the next episode. They enjoy being “old enough” to have something come in the mail just for them.
There are fantastic books and magazines available for children. From literature to science, math, geography, history and more, the wealth of information available is quite wonderful. You know your child. You’ll know the types of reading materials to purchase. And as your child grows, so can the reading and interest levels of the subscription. There are excellent choices for all ages.
Life Experiences
This choice may be the best one you can choose. Give the gift of time and adventure to your children. How about a planned trip to a local art or history museum? How about a week end trip to a ghost town a short drive away? How about purchasing a book on geology and then taking a trip to some areas displaying geologic wonders?
Every town and region has its own historical background. Did they used to mine for gold in your area? Is lumber or fishing a local industry? Did Lewis and Clark travel through your part of the world? Are there Native American sites to visit and learn about?
Since parents are their child’s first and foremost teachers, you can take the initiative to combine learning with family fun. There are endless possibilities, and you can be sure the kids will love the time together and soak in a bit of learning at the same time.
So go ahead and buy the toys, dolls and games the kids want for Christmas. But why not make it an annual tradition to add in at least one gift that will keep on giving?
Quality Magazines for Young Learners
FOR AGES 0-2
Babybug
Highlights Hello Zoobies
FOR AGES 3-6
Highlights High Five
Ladybug
Zootles
Click
Chirp
Your Big Backyard
Family Fun
Ranger Rick Jr.
National Geographic Little Kids
FOR AGES 6-9
Highlights
Nickelodeon
Chop Chop
Zoobooks
Ask
Spider
FOR AGES 9-14
Time for Kids
National Geographic Kids Odyssey
Cricket
FOR AGES 9-14
Calliope
Dig
Muse
Faces
Cicada
Cobblestone
Iguana
AppleSeeds
Boys’ Life
Xplor
American Girl
Owl
Sports Illustrated Kids
21 Ways to Keep the Hush in Your Holiday Rush…So you can stay relaxed all season
ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS BUT DREADING THE END-OF-YEAR RUSH?
If so, you are not alone. Most parents approach the season with equal parts excitement and trepidation, which can lead to difficulties with decision-making from moment to moment. That’s why I’ve created this list of twenty-one reminders to help you preserve your family’s good cheer all the way through the most wonderful time of the year.
GO FOR GOOD ENOUGH. If you have an idea in your mind of the “perfect” holiday, you may to be disappointed when your imperfect brood can’t uphold your image. Aim for “good enough” instead. You’ll smile more if you can let unimportant things—like slightly burnt cookies, lights that won’t blink in unison, and late holiday cards—slide.
JUST HIT DELETE. If you think your holiday schedule is grossly overloaded, call a family
meeting and vote on what to scratch off your joint to-do list. Decide what you don’t want to do, first. Then decide what matters most to each family member. A one-gift-per-family-member tradition might be a sanity-saving plan that sticks.
CALL IN FRESH RECRUITS. Even if you don’t normally hire a housecleaner, you probably could use some help now. Why not call in a cleaning service in mid-December and in mid-January to bookend the holidays, even if you don’t use one the rest of the year? Consider it a holiday present to yourself.
HUM YOUR FAVORITE TUNES. Haul out your seasonal music early before you tire of the omnipresent muzak that is sure to come. Load up your smart phone or iPod and carry headphones in your purse to jolly things up when you are ticking chores and errands off your to-do list. If your old faves are getting overplayed, jazz up your playlist with some fresh downloads or albums.
SHOP THE PLAN. First, the plan: write down the names of everyone you truly want to give to and what you think they would like. Then, the shop: keep the list in your wallet to jog your memory when hunting down a gift for each person you cherish. For store shopping, pay cash so you won’t overspend. For online shopping, search for coupons before ordering and act early for cheaper shipping.
SIP YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN. When you are having a hectic day, take a time-out. Warm up or buy an extra-hot cup of Chai tea with a spritz of whipped cream on top. The spices will put you back in touch with your senses and the warmth will spread through your belly and soothe your frazzled cheer.
GET BAZAAR. Take the whole family to a local holiday craft bazaar. Look for gifts for teachers and other folks who enrich your family life. Give each child a spending limit and enjoy interacting with the vendors. Plan to spend a couple of hours browsing so you can soak up all the creative energy.
TAKE THIRTY. Line up winter reads from the library or download them onto your e-reader. Encourage the whole family to take thirty minutes a day to relax and read. Collections of short stories or essays are good choices for moms with very young or multiple children. This is a great way for everyone to decompress after a busy day.
BRING MOTHER NATURE INSIDE. Pine cones, holly, evergreen boughs, twigs, and poinsettias all remind us that life is hibernating underneath that blanket of snow or wicked frost. Gather reminders of the season from your backyard or local garden shop and decorate the front hall, mantle, and stairway. Remember: simple is as merry as ornate.
HUGGY HOLIDAYS. Use “Happy Holidays!” as an excuse to hug your loved ones often. Every time you feel stressed, hug or get hugged. Your holiday stress will melt away.
STAY HEALTHY. Put holiday-scented soaps by every sink and encourage plenty of hand washing. Install a bottle of hand-sanitizer next to every box of tissues. Chase every “Achoo!” away. (But stock up on cold medicines, just in case, to avoid midnight trips to the market.)
LIGHTEN UP. Twinkling lights create a comforting mood. Don’t limit shimmery lights to the tree and outdoor eves. If it sounds fun, bring some solace into the kids’ bedrooms as well as yours.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH. Bring some uplifting scents into your cleaning routine. Check out the Mrs. Meyers brand of earth-friendly cleaning supplies. Your home and laundry will smell winter-wonderful.
ENJOY SPREADING CHEER. Save the annual holiday letter composing and Christmas card address labeling for when you can carve out time to relax and enjoy the process. And don’t try to do it all yourself. Break the job down into steps and enlist the whole family. Remember: taking everything on without helpers is naughty, not nice.
QUESTION TRADITION. Traditions are wonderful but let’s face it—sometimes even the fondest can become tired. So, if you don’t feel like tromping around all afternoon hunting for the most splendiferous evergreen on the tree farm or frying the most perfect potato latkes, buy a pre-cut tree at your local grocery store or pick up latkes at the deli instead. Use saved time to enjoy tree trimming or dreidel playing instead.
CREATE CLASSIC MEMORIES. Play hooky from holiday prep for the day and go ice-skating with your kids. Drink hot chocolate. Take lots of family photos. Build a fire. Goof off. Enjoy the grins.
SAVE IT FOR A HEAT WAVE. If you are really feeling a time crunch, don’t donate time to help the less fortunate during holiday time. Give time later during a less hectic time of year. There are people in need throughout every season, after all.
SOCK IT TO ʻEM. Don’t wait until the temperature hits zero to stock up on slippers and socks.You’ll keep your heating bills down and your kids smiling if everyone in your brood has warm tootsies as the mercury plunges.
HIT THE HAY HARDER. There’s less light during the winter. Take advantage of it and put the kids to bed an hour earlier than normal. There’s the extra hour you need to keep some hustle in your holiday muscle or at least wrap some presents without interruption.
POP PLENTY OF CORN. Line up holiday movie classics in your movie watching queue. Watch some with the kids and some with your honey in the wee hours.
DECK THE BATHROOM. Hang up some scented pomanders. Bring in lots of little candles (beyond the reach of little hands, of course). Look for winter-scented bath indulges in Juniper, Cedar or Musk. Sink into a bubble bath wonderland. Forget your name for ten minutes.
From the Editor
Dear Friends,
As we welcome the joyous holiday season into our homes this month, we know there is much to look forward to with our families and friends. This is one of the most meaningful times of year as we come together to enjoy one another and celebrate. For my family, the holiday season has always been eagerly anticipated by children and adults alike. From caroling to cooking, the days leading up to Christmas and the new year have been a way for our family to share in our long-standing traditions and create new ones that will be shared with future generations of our family. One of our favorite family traditions on Christmas Eve involves singing Christmas carols with each family member choosing a song to sing and ending with “12 Days of Christmas.”
Another of our favorite traditions includes the time we spend together in the kitchen, baking for the annual cookie exchange. It’s a wonderful time to teach the children and grandchildren how to navigate the kitchen while incorporating a few math skills in the process. Measuring, counting, and sorting are all part of the experience and your little ones will have so much fun following your lead they won’t even realize they’re learning during their vacation! On top of that comes the joy of sharing with friends and neighbors what you’ve created together. We hope you’ll enjoy “Mixing Things Up” this holiday season.
Of course the Florida winter weather can be unpredictable and with several weeks off from school, our kids get a bit restless. On fair weather days, venturing outdoors to holiday events is always a treat, but when the temperatures dip low, it’s easy for cabin fever to set in. “Winter Fun: 25 Ways for Kids to Get their
Ya’s-Ya’s Out” provides some fun and free ways to transform your home into the ultimate adventure over the holidays. From building a fort to painting with your little Picasso, you’re guaranteed to find a few things on the list that will pique their interest and have you laughing together.
Keeping that holiday cheer going is important and as parents, we have to find ways to decompress during the busy season as we plan, shop and entertain. “21 Ways to Keep the Hush in Your Holiday Rush” is just for us – a few simple ways to help us take a breather and keep our cool during one the most hectic months of the year, including the biggest stress reliever of all, the hug. We hope you’ll find time to carve out a bit of relaxation for yourself as you share the magic of the season with your loved ones.
We’d like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the communities who have warmly welcomed us this year as the new publishers of Parent Magazine. As we look forward to the new year, our one resolution is to keep providing the absolute best information out there for you and your family in 2019. We’ll see you soon!
Best,
Dr. Barbara C. Holley
Editor, Parent Magazines
From the Superintendent
It’s December, which officially means we have reached the halfway point of the 2018-19 school here at Volusia County Schools. It has been a fantastic first half of the school year, and I am proud of how hard our students and staff have worked to close out the term.
Around the holiday season the focus is often on giving back. Volusia County Schools has stepped up in a big way to help those around us. We have seen our staff members participate in events such as the Thanksgiving Basket Brigade, Feed the Need Food Drive and Toys for Tots, among others. There are many who are in need and I am grateful for the generosity of our students and staff who go the extra mile to help.
Sticking with the theme of “giving back,” Volusia County Schools found a way to help a school district in need. Earlier this term, we sent crews to Jackson County to assist in relief efforts after Hurricane Michael. We sent an eight-man crew and six trucks full of equipment to assist the Jackson County School District with some of their needs. I am proud of our district for stepping up and helping a fellow school district. It’s the perfect example of being “All In.”
Near the end of November, we announced our five finalists for Teacher of the Year! Congratulations to these five teachers: Sharron DeRosier from Galaxy Middle; Ian Jackson from Taylor Middle-High; Sonia Larrabee from McInnis Elementary; Michelle Pons from Volusia Online Learning; and, Keisha Wallace from Atlantic High. We look forward to celebrating them and all our nominees at the Teacher of the Year banquet in January.
As our students, staff and their families prepare for the upcoming holiday break, I wish you well and hope you find the time to relax and enjoy the moments that you have with one another.
Thank you,
James T. Russell, Superintendent
