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Kidshape – Oct 2014

Beat the Morning Meltdown Ways to prepare family for the day ahead Mornings can be mayhem for moms. In fact, according to the Johnsonville Sausage Report, nearly half of moms say that mornings can be so hectic that most days everyone in the family needs to fend for themselves for breakfast. One mom who is all too familiar with handling hectic mornings is Elisa All, founder of 30 Second Mobile, a mobile website and app that keeps busy moms “in the know while on the go.” All says it’s about planning ahead and powering up for the busy day ahead. “The kitchen in the morning can be chaotic if you don’t have everything lined up the night before,” All said. “I love serving my family a hot, balanced breakfast, and it’s a lot easier than many people think.” Johnsonville just introduced fully cooked breakfast sausage, which is easy to warm up in the microwave for 30 seconds and powers kids up with protein to get them through the morning. With these ideas in mind, you’ll be ready for whatever the day brings. And one more idea: a mobile breakfast in a coffee mug that’s microwave-ready and will have you out the door in minutes. Check out the delicious recipe for Sausage, Egg and Potato Scramble here and visit www.johnsonville.com for more easy meal ideas. Microwave Sausage, Egg & Potato Scramble Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 2 minutes Servings: 1 1/2 cup frozen shredded hash brown potatoes 1 egg 1 tablespoon milk 2 links Johnsonville® Fully Cooked Original Recipe or Turkey Breakfast Sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese Salsa, optional Coat 12-ounce microwave-safe coffee cup with cooking spray. Add hash browns. Microwave on high for 1 minute. In a small bowl, combine egg, milk, sausage and cheese; pour over hash browns. Stir until blended. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer or until eggs are set. Serve with salsa if desired. Top 10 Morning “Hacks” from Elisa All 1) Stage a “path” to the door the night before so everyone knows where he/she is going. 2) Select kids’ outfits at night. Be sure to check weather in advance and plan accordingly. 3) Pack lunches ahead of time. After dinner, pack the non-chilled items in the lunchbox and leave it on the counter for quick packing of the chilled things in the morning. 4) Brush teeth and wash face in the morning shower, or take baths the night before. 5) Sunshine helps you wake up. Open the shades and let the light in. 6) Make breakfast easy by keeping tasty foods on hand. Johnsonville’s new, fully cooked breakfast links — in Original Recipe, Turkey and Vermont Maple Syrup — help you give your family a wholesome and high-quality warm meal in 30 seconds. 7) Place jackets and backpacks in a central location to grab on the way out. Use a hanging shoe organizer with pockets to keep essentials and accessories by the door. 8) Reward with what works for your child, for example, electronics and other activities they get to do in the car. 9) Motivate and track time with a music playlist. Everything is more fun and moves more quickly with tunes, and you can track how much time has passed. 10) Care for yourself. Have a workout bag in the car and consider getting up earlier to have some personal time before the day gets going.

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Parents

Fun Ways to be a FIT Family

Obesity is a global epidemic affecting people of all ages. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of Americans are considered obese, while Statistics Canada notes about 25 percent of Canadians are obese. Being overweight or obese has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Children who are overweight are likely to be overweight or obese adults. While eating a diet that is low in fat and high in whole-grain fiber, vegetables and lean proteins are important. Exercise remains one of the key factors in maintaining a healthy weight. However, many adults and children simply do not get enough exercise during the day. An active lifestyle is often hampered by the prevalence of digital devices or sedentary jobs that encourage more screen time than fitness time. But there are ways for the entire family to get fit. Exercising together is not just a great way for families to get healthy, but also a great opportunity to spend time together. The following are a handful of ways families can work together to incorporate more exercise into their daily lives. • Tackle chores. Yes, tasks around the house can count as exercise. Working together not only gets you moving but also cuts down on the time it takes to tackle tasks around the house. Mowing the lawn, vacuuming the rugs, sweeping the floor — all of these activities can get the heart pumping. Make it fun by setting chores to music or competing against one another to see who gets their task done first or the best. • Compete in the pool. Swimming is a low-impact activity that works many muscles in the body. Taking a dip in the pool can be both relaxing and beneficial to your health. Compete with family members to make the most of the time spent in the water. Host relay swimming races, see how long each member of the family can tread water or create any other competitions that keep everyone in the pool moving. • Create an outdoor obstacle course. Set up a series of obstacles in your yard and host your own triathlon. You can jump through tires, climb through tubes and scale trees. Make it fun by having adults try to ride tricycles or pair up an adult with a child for sack races. The opportunities for fun are only hampered by your imagination. • Go for family bicycle rides. Traverse your neighborhood or blaze new trails by riding bikes together. Young children can be strapped into trailers that are pulled behind the bike or ride in seats attached to the bike itself. This gives everyone a chance to enjoy the great outdoors and hone their cycling skills. • Go hiking. Hiking is another fun family activity that also happens to make for great exercise. Choose a trail that may not be level and push everyone’s endurance to the test. • Stroll the beach. Walking or running on sand offers more resistance than walking on pavement. Take a stroll at the seaside. Break up the walk by collecting shells or stopping by the water to observe marine wildlife. • Hit the dance floor. If you’ve been invited to a wedding or a Sweet 16 party, cut a rug and take advantage of the DJ and dance floor. When enjoying yourselves, you probably won’t even realize how much you’re exercising.

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Parents

Kidshape – July 2014

Summer is a time of playground fun, camping, swimming and other outdoor activities. When kids are outdoors, their sense of adventure and curiosity soars, which can, unfortunately, lead to a higher risk of injuries. In fact, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide organization, each year one in four children 14 years of age and younger will sustain an injury that requires medical attention. The good news is that many of these injuries are preventable by following a few simple tips and learning how to avoid accidents and injuries. Mowing Matters While it may seem like just a common household tool, thousands of children are injured in lawn mower accidents each year, some with severe effects. • Teach children to never play on or around a lawn mower, even when it is not in use. They should never be permitted to walk along side, in front of or behind a moving mower. • Children under six years of age should be kept inside the home while mowing. Fire Safety Simplified Every hour, approximately 16 children are injured from fires or burns, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide organization. Use these tips to keep your little ones safe around fireworks, grills and other heat sources: • Teach kids never to play with matches, gasoline, lighter fluid or lighters. Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children. • Do not leave children unattended near grills, campfires, fire pits or bonfires. Always have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby when burning fires. • To ensure a safe celebration, leave fireworks to the professionals. • If your child is injured by fire or fireworks, immediately take them to a doctor or hospital. Playground 101 The Centers for Disease Control revealed that emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries every year. Before you let them play at the park or school playground, be sure they keep these precautions in mind: • Use appropriate and properly fitting safety equipment when participating in any sport, such as helmets and goggles, which can greatly reduce the risk of head and eye injuries. • Take your children to playgrounds with shock absorbing surfaces. Choose parks and playgrounds that are appropriate for their age. Check for hazards or broken equipment and continuously supervise your children while they are at play. • Teach children to use playground and sports equipment properly. • Remind children that pushing, shoving and crowding on the playground can result in accidents and injuries. Make a Safe Splash While playing poolside may be a blast, the Safe Kids Worldwide organization also revealed that drowning is the leading injury-related cause of death for children between 1–4 years of age. Fill your family’s summer days with these safe practices around the water: • Teach children to never go near or in the water without an adult present. Children and adults should never swim alone. • Give children your undivided attention when they are swimming or near any body of water. • Always have your children wear a Coast Guard approved, properly fitting life jacket while on a boat, around an open body of water or when participating in water sports. To learn more, visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/safesummer.

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Parents

Kidshape – June 2014

Kids today often lead, like most people, very sedentary lifestyles. Thanks to cars and computers, most of what we do is while sitting. This is true for kids as well. They sit in school, they come home and sit to do homework, sit in the car and then for fun, they sit and watch TV or play video games. Summer camps provide not only a mental break from the monotony, but a physical change of pace. Most summer camps are outdoors oriented and keep kids moving and busy all day long. The food at most summer camps is also often different than what kids might receive at home. For one, there are usually fewer choices, and after a day of swimming and hiking, that broccoli might start to look a bit more appetizing. True, there will probably be s’mores and the occasional candy bar, but the truth is the junk food is not as easily accessible or in the same quantities as it is at home. There is no fast food in the woods. A more well-balanced diet and a day full of adventure are great for anyone, kid or not. Mental wellbeing also has a huge impact on physical health. Multiple studies have shown that the mind and the body are not separate entities; they are interwoven, and the state of one will most certainly affect the other. Though they don’t have taxes or mortgages, kids have stress, too. Friends, school and pressure from parents take their toll. Summer camps provide a much-needed mental break. Relaxing, gaining confidence with new experiences and making new friends for a few weeks out of the summer can mentally recharge and refresh kids for the rest of the year ahead. It can be difficult to send kids off on a great big adventure away from home, but it can be a great benefit for the kids and make for a better year. It is worth it. Apart from being just a fun experience, summer camps are physically beneficial for everyone who participates. Fun and engaging exercise, a mental refresh and healthy food for a few weeks make a new school year and a new grade a little bit easier. For more information on the benefits of summer camps, visit the following sites: http://tvoparents.tvo.org/article/what-are-benefits-summer-camp http://newsroom.cigna.com/HealthandWellness/SummerHealth/SummerCamp/ www.psychologytoday.com/blog/nurturing-resilience/201202/summer-camps-make-kids-resilient

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Parents

Kidshape – May 2014

The thought of sending your child away from home for the first time is often scary for both kids and parents. That’s normal. Summer camps are a big step, but they are also an important step in childhood development. The correct time comes differently for each family, but giving children a safe environment to develop a sense of self and independence helps to prepare them for the future. Of course there are sometimes challenges that come with going to camp. Activities may not be easy, it can be hard to make new friends and homesickness is very common. These struggles are perhaps the most important part of summer camps. When kids are at camp, Mom and Dad aren’t there for back up. Of course, kids are not completely on their own, but depending on the camp, there is an increased need for self-reliance. Discovering that they can do things on their own can be very empowering for young children. Facing the challenges of a summer camp often gives kids a new confidence that they bring back to everyday life. New experiences are also an important part of camps. There is a lot more to learning than what standard schools have to offer. Summer camps are a great way to give children a well-rounded education. Both interpersonal and physical skills are learned at camp. For first-time campers, the new skills may be as simple as learning to make friends or as complex as learning how to shoot a bow and arrow. No kid comes home without a new experience. Even if they never play the obscure sport that they learned again, knowing that they can try and succeed of their own accord is a powerful lesson. Sometimes youngsters can get stuck in their social roles at school. Pressures from parents and schoolmates profoundly shape who they are. Being surrounded by a completely new social group at summer camp allows for the freedom of self-exploration. In a new group, they can escape from whom they are labeled as, and maybe try out a new social role and personality. Whether they take this home or leave it at the camp, the chance to try something new is invaluable. For more information, go to the following sites: Summer Camp: Great for Kids, Even Better for Parents http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/summercamp/article2.html http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/friend/going_to_camp.html

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