Author: Jennie Risley

Back-to-School Jitters

Posted on | by Jennie Risley

As a new school year begins, it is normal to have some back-to-school jitters. Then add the stress that many are feeling as we continue to combat a worldwide pandemic. Walking into another school year of uncertainty can be frightening. Helping your kids discover, understand, and cope with the feelings they are having can be a challenge for some, especially if you as a parent have mixed feelings as well. As our kids begin their new school year here are a few tips on how you can help your kids manage their stress.

Observe your child’s behavior

Watch for potential signs of depression. Some might include serious mood changes, changes in their eating habits, abdominal pain, withdrawing or isolating themselves from loved ones or from activities they enjoy.

Have open communication

Frequent check-ins on how they are feeling are a great way to foster open communication. Giving your child the space to express their anxiety about school and validating their feelings will help keep the lines of communication honest between you and your child.

Avoid other stressors

Whether we realize it or not, our kids are always listening and watching our reactions and feelings about what is happening around us. Many times they are waiting to take their cue from us. Insert as much positivity into your daily conversation with them and around them.

Add fun

Kids want nothing more than to just be kids. Create an atmosphere of intentional fun into your week and weekends. Give your kids time and space to relax, unwind, and have fun.

 

[Here is a fun way to help you understand how your child is feeling about school starting back.]

Celebrating the 4th during a pandemic

Posted on | by Jennie Risley

Life feels like it is finally getting back to normal, but for some, there is still a sense of hesitancy to go back to large gatherings. COVID is still very much so present and a part of our daily lives. So how do you celebrate the big events throughout the year but still maintain some social distancing measures?

When you think of the Fourth of July you think of BBQ parties, firework shows, and gathering with friends and family but for some, that’s just not an option. Many different states still have group mandates and restrictions making it difficult, or even impossible, to get together with friends.

Just because the Fourth of July looks a little different this year doesn’t mean it can’t still be celebrated or fun. Here are a few different ideas to have a fun, but safe, Fourth of July.

1: Red, White, & Blue theme

Wear your favorite red, white, and blue outfit and get festive with your food by matching it with your red, white, and blue theme. Blueberry jello, whipped cream, and strawberries make the perfect layered dessert for a 4th of July themed dinner. Or you can take a dessert shortcut and grab some bomb pops!

2: Get outside!

Who doesn’t like to play in the water on a hot day?! Grab the hose and hook it up to a sprinkle and let the kiddos go crazy! In our house, we love to have water balloon fights! You can add a festive spin to this family tradition by everyone wearing plain white t-shirts and adding some red and blue food coloring to your water.

3: Alternative Fireworks show

Skip the crowds and watch the fireworks show on tv! You can watch it at your leisure and you don’t have to worry about a good view or the crowds. If you have littles, you can create a fun science experiment on making fireworks in a bottle! And it’s only 3 ingredients!

  • Baby oil
  • Food coloring
  • Water
  • glass jar

Mix the food coloring in about 1 cup of baby oil. Pour mixture into a glass of about 3 cups of warm water and watch as the food coloring separates from the oil and makes a beautiful display in the meantime!

We truly hope you have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July this year!

Beating Summer Boredom

Posted on | by Jennie Risley

Every year we look forward to summer. The snow and rain are finally gone. The sun is out. No more homework or after-school activities. Nothing consuming our extra time and preventing us from enjoying the day. But if your house is anything like mine, by week two you are already hearing “mom, I’m bored!”

So why is it that we feel like we are going to lose our minds now that school is out? You probably stumbled upon this because you are desperately, or maybe not so desperately, searching for ideas on what to do with your kids this summer. Keeping kids busy can be a challenge but if you come up with a plan and make it fun, it’ll be a little easier.

Here are a couple of ideas that can help you beat summer boredom.

1- GET OUTDOORS
There have been a number of studies on the benefits of outdoor play for the overall development of kids. Here are just a few of those benefits and how you can encourage your kiddo to get outdoors!

  • Improved motor skills
  • Improved muscle strength
  • Increased openness with parents and caregivers
  • Greater self-awareness
  • Improved peer-to-peer relationships
  • Use of all five senses
  • Develop a sense of independence
  • Aid with brain development
  • Improve communication skills
  • Expanded learning space

Sometimes it’s not easy to get the kids off of electronics and outdoors, here are a few ways you can help encourage them:

  • Make It Fun
  • Take Them Places
  • Provide Options
  • Bring Family and Friends
  • Go Outside Regularly

2- MAKE A SUMMER BUCKET LIST

Things are just easier to do when you make a plan. And if you are like me, planning can feel exhausting because it takes so much time. You don’t have to do all the planning on your own, get the whole family involved.

Here is a fun little bucket list template that you can use. Gather the whole family and allow each person to come up with a few, reasonable, things that you all can do as a family. Write it on your list and hang it somewhere that you all can see it. At the beginning of each week, make a plan to do a couple of those items (don’t forget to check the weather).

[Downloadable Summer Bucket List pdf]

 

3- RAINY DAY ACTIVITY STICKS

Even in the summer, it rains somedays and that can be such a damper to your planned day at the Zoo. Here is a fun way to help bust any rainy day boredom happening in your house.

  • Grab a package of popsicle sticks (some call them craft sticks, but I am a child of the 90’s so we still call them popsicle sticks) and a permanent marker.
  • Write out a science experiment, board game, movie, craft, or item to bake on at least 20 sticks.
  • Then place in a jar.
  • Draw from the jar during a rainy day or when you are just bored and have nothing else to do.
  • DO IT!

(Let the kids decorate the jar, makes it even more fun for them!)

You can make this as simple as you want or make it more complex, it’s really up to you. I got different color sticks to make different categories for us to choose from.

 

4- MAKE A SUMMER PHOTO ALBUM

Taking photos of our daily happenings is a normal thing in our house. That’s just how I grew up and it’s something I have continued as my own family grew. I can remember going through the wall of albums and looking back at the photos of family trips and vacations back when you had to go develop the film and actually put the photo in the album. With today’s technology, you can have your photos printed directly on the page. Throughout your summer activities capture those moments. At the end of the season either create a digital photo album book or have those photos printed to create a fun family photo album. Allow each child to decorate each page.

Creating memories with your children doesn’t have to cost a fortune and the impact that is made on your child’s life is priceless. Hopefully, some of these boredom busters will come in handy this summer.

Have another creative & fun idea that is not on this list? Post it in the comments. We just might share it on our social media pages and give you a shout-out.