Archives for 2019

8 Parenting Tips for Ages 6 to 10
 

At every stage of development, parents face new challenges, and the elementary school years are no different. During this exciting period of growing independence, added responsibilities and increased social interaction will bring new issues parents must contend with. Here are some tips to help you through this adventuresome, but trying, stage.

1. Tattletales. Does your child tattle every time a sibling or playmate breaks a rule? Sometimes they just don’t know the difference between tattling and telling. Other times, kids are looking to get another child into trouble. Explain to your child the difference. Tattling is when another child breaks a rule (or maybe there is no rule), and the action your child is tattling about is relatively harmless. Telling, on the other hand, is when another child is doing something that could cause harm to oneself or others. Make a rule that you don’t want to hear any tattling, but that telling is okay and even necessary.
2. Lying. Every child tells a lie at some point or another. In fact, most adults are guilty of occasional white lies. Still, teaching kids to tell the truth is vital to them developing into trustworthy adults and forming intimate relationships. Talk to your child about how lying diminishes yours and others’ ability to trust your child and can impact your child’s relationships. Then, if you catch your child in a lie, remind your child, and explain how your child’s future freedom and privileges will depend on how well you can trust your child. Also, to build your child’s trust in you, so your child will be comfortable being honest, practice being open and nonjudgmental. It will go a long way toward your child’s willingness to be open with you.
3. Media overload. With the overwhelming variety of media available to kids, it’s difficult to know where to draw the line. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that kids be limited to no more than two hours of entertainment-based screen time per day. Invite your child to help you establish rules about media use. Consider the various forms of media including tv, video games, computer, and cell phone. Establish a total number of hours per day your child can use media. Then ask your child to help you break down how much of that time can be spent on specific forms of media. Also, discuss the measures you’ll take if the rules are violated.
4. Chore wars. As your child grows, so should your child’s responsibilities. In the elementary years, children can pick up their rooms, set and clear off the table, dust, sort their laundry, fold and put away their clean clothes, bring in the mail, rake leaves, and many other simple tasks. During the early elementary years, choose a small number of simple chores. As they grow, increase the number or level of difficulty. To gain your child’s cooperation, set a regular schedule for each task, and offer daily or weekly rewards or an allowance.
5. Homework. This is a routine challenge for so many parents, so it’s best to set up rules and guidelines early on. Involving your child in the decision making can increase cooperation. One option might be to give your child 30 minutes of free time or media time after school before beginning homework. Another option could be to do chores and free time right after school, but homework will start immediately following dinner. Avoid saving homework for late in the evening though. It’s important to agree on consequences if the rules are not followed, so they are clear about what to expect. Also, choose a distraction-free location to be used for homework. Then require your child put their phone on the charger (away from the homework area) while working on homework.
6. Name calling and teasing. Sometimes when kids call each other names, they’re just playing. If two kids are going back and forth at each other, both laughing and having a good time, it probably isn’t a big deal. As long as it’s just play, balanced, and no one’s feelings are getting hurt, you can just let it go. On the other hand, if it’s one-sided, mean-spirited, or the child on the receiving end seems angry, upset, scared, or hurt by it, it’s usually best to intervene. First, try to empower the child being teased, and encourage the child to tell the other one to stop. If necessary, take a more direct approach, and make it clear to the child doing the teasing how hurtful the behavior is and that it isn’t acceptable.
7. The birds and the bees. The question of where do babies come from and discussions of puberty can leave even the most open-minded parents fumbling for words, so it’s best to prepare in advance for the inevitable discussions. That way you’ll be able to answer questions in the best way possible and without showing discomfort. Your comfort is essential to making your child feel at ease and will lead to your child being more open with you as your child matures. To get started, during the early elementary years, read to your child Where Did I Come From? or another age-appropriate book. Such books help take the guesswork out of what and how to say it to your child. By the later elementary years, discussions of puberty and sex should be more complete. Some children reach puberty by the age of 10, so you want your child to be fully prepared for the changes that’ll take place. You also want to make sure your child is accurately informed about sex since by late elementary some kids are already talking about it among each other and are often filled with misinformation.
8. Defiance. As kids grow, they become more independent – and with independence comes defiance. For dealing with defiance, lay out the ground rules ahead of time, so both you and your child will know the consequences for such behavior. When your child is defiant, keep the following in mind. First, consistency is crucial to being effective. Second, don’t argue. If your child tries to debate you after you’ve already discussed and stated your position on the issue, calmly say you’ve already made up your mind, and you’re not going to discuss it any further. Then leave the room so you won’t be tempted to argue or give in to your child’s badgering.

By Kimberly Blaker, a lifestyle and parenting freelance writer and blogger. • www.theyounggma.com

Read Next | Health and Wellness Resources for Your Staten Island Child

The store kits are great for beginners, but maybe it’s time to up your Easter Egg game. Your kids will hop with excitement making these awesome DIY eggs.

Minecraft Easter Eggs

Perfect for a video-game themed basket. See the tutorial at STL Motherhood

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Emoji Eggs

They’re not just for your text messages. See the Tutorial at Studio DIY

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Glow-In-the-Dark Eggs

Get glowing reviews with these eggs. See the tutorial at Growing a Jeweled Rose

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Natural Eggs

Skip the artificial stuff. Read more at Alloy.

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Mood Easter Eggs

These are so cool! Get the tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger

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Dinosaur Eggs

A roaring good idea! See the tutorial at Our Best Bites

I have a confession to make. I kinda hate going to the park with my kids.

Other parents seem to genuinely enjoy their trips to the park. The minute the weather warms up, I see “off to the park with the kids on this gorgeous day!” all over my Facebook and Instagram feeds. Friends tell me that they spent the entire day there and loved every second of it.

Now don’t get me wrong; that’s cool. If you truly like the park, then good on ya. I really wish I had whichever genetic indicator I need in my DNA to enable my experience at the park to be equally as enjoyable, but more power to you for having it.

But me? From the moment we arrive, I’m counting down the minutes ‘til it’s time go. Just being honest! And I’m willing to bet I’m not alone. In fact, the majority of you are already nodding your heads in agreement. Maybe even some of you “off to the park!” folks are secretly with me on this.

But here’s the thing: Going to the park is basically a parenting requirement. Like it or not, I HAVE to go. It doesn’t matter how I feel. Why? Because I’m a MOM, that’s why. When do I get a say in anything?

Below I will walk you through a typical afternoon at the park with my kids. If you find your own park experiences to be similar, then for the love of God, stop pretending it’s so much fun! Shhhh… your kids won’t ever know. It’ll be our little secret! So anyway, a day at the park…..

Oh look, our kids are playing together. Awkward silence, awkward silence, more awkward silence…. Ugh I can’t put off the obligatory small talk any longer. “So how old is she?… Oh, she’s adorable … Yes, they sure do grow up fast….” Yeesh.

Of all the kids in the park, of course my kid decides to play with the hacky, rashy, booger-covered one who is definitely carrying some mutant strain of coxsackie and chicken pox, hereby known as poxsackie. Might as well round up the pediatrician and the pharmacy now.

How old do your kids need to be in order to become the highly unaware, sitting-on-a-bench-checking-her-phone-while-the-kids-play-by-themselves mom?…..Maybe there is no minimum age, since I’m pretty sure baby poxsackie over there belongs to her– and he needs a baby wipe or ten to the face, ASAP.

Pleeeease baby, don’t climb up there. Look! There’s a little structure over there that’s just the right size for you! Ok, I guess the tallest one it is. Just love being that psycho mom who literally climbs inside a jungle gym with her kid to keep him from plunging to his death.

And now you want to climb up that ginormous slide? By yourself? Oh, silly me. Of course not by yourself. Mommy’s here! Climbing the ladder right behind you! So let’s get this over with.

Swings! That’s a great idea! Standing in place definitely beats chasing these kids all over the park!

20 minutes of “standing in place” later: “Push higher, mommy! Higher! HIGHERRRRRR!!!!”

Time check: 2:30p.m. Seriously?? We’ve only been here for 45 minutes?? HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE? Hasn’t it been at least three hours? So basically, time stands still at the park, but naptime is over before I can finish my coffee.

Poxsackie’s mom has some really cute sunglasses on. Hmm… I wonder if they’re cheap and just look expensive, or really expensive but look like they could potentially be cheap. Either way, I wonder where she got them. Oh wait, where did my kids go?

When the heck did they turn on the sprinklers?? These kids aren’t wearing bathing suits, not that it matters now. And there are some big kids in there playing way too roughly. Do I go grab my kid and get soaked, or stay dry and just leave her alone? Eh, she’ll be fine. How bad could they be?

Not my best decision. Where’s that Band-Aid I had in my bag for the last year and a half? When did I lose it? Why do I never have a Band-Aid on me when I actually need it?? Well, on the bright side, she’ll probably be too upset about her boo-boo to want to stay here any longer.

Wrong. Do I not know my own kids?

Is that sunburn? Darn! I forgot to put sunblock on them! I mean, it’s not like I’m at the beach or anything. I knew I should have brought my big diaper bag. There’s definitely some sunblock in there. And Band-Aids. And probably some bribery candy for when it’s time to leave, too. But who wants to lug a giant bag around the park? You can’t climb up a slide wearing a giant diaper bag. And how on earth does that mom who always just wears the little cross body pouch always have everything she needs? Are those things like tiny bag-shaped clown cars?

I will literally pay you in lollipops not to go anywhere near that sandbox.

It’s so freaking hot today. Would it kill them to plant a few more trees around here??

“Mommy I have to pee!” Come again? You have to PEE? Here? In that nasty, filthy bathroom over there??? Are you sure you can’t just hold it?? At least try for me? No??? Fine. But forget the poxsackie. You’re about to get something a lot worse.

Ok, I’ve had enough. “Kids! Time to go! Yes I know you want to stay but it’s time to go. Mommy is two monkey bars away from a nervous breakdown right now. No, NOT one more time on the slide…. Not the swing either! LET’S GO! Oh, don’t you dare start crying. Shut those waterworks down, missy. Now where did your brother go?”

What?? THE ICE CREAM MAN IS HERE??”

By Jeannine Cintron, the Staten Island mom who discovered the best cure for poxsackie is avoiding the park in the first place.

Plan on braving a trip to the park this spring? Of course you do! Go to siparent-com.go-vip.net/staten-island-playgrounds for a list of playgrounds on the Island. Don’t forget to tag us in your park pics on Instagram @siparent

Mornings can be a tough time to maintain your supermom status when it comes to providing healthy meals. Rushing out the door when NO ONE, including the dog, is cooperating, is enough to make you want to hit the drive-thru. But with a little planning ahead, you can make breakfast easy-peasy lemon-squeezy in less time than it takes to say, “Do you want fries with that?”

Maple, Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Fill your mason jar with rolled oats, maple syrup, cinnamon and milk and wake up to a quick and healthy gluten-free breakfast.

Serves 4.  Note: This recipe can either be made in two larger mason jars, each holding two servings, or four smaller mason jars, each containing one single serving.

Ingredients: 

2 cups rolled oats gluten-free

1 tsp vanilla

2 cup almond milk

3 Tbsp brown sugar

¾ tsp cinnamon

3 Tbsp pure maple syrup

¼ cup pecans coarsely chopped, toasted

Instructions:

• In four mason jars, place equal amounts of the oats, vanilla and milk in each. Stir to mix well.
• In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon and maple syrup. Pour a quarter of this mixture in each of the jars over the oats. Stir to combine.
• Refrigerate jars for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Just before serving, toast pecans at 325 degrees for 5-7 minutes. Divide pecans and sprinkle in each jar.
• Serve with additional cinnamon and maple syrup, if desired, and enjoy!

Credit: Evolving Table 

Slow Cooker Overnight Breakfast Casserole

There’s nothing better than waking up to the smell of a homemade breakfast already made! This casserole is loaded up with sausage, diced hash browns, eggs and cheese. Not a fan of sausage? Swap out the sausage for bacon for an equally tasty breakfast.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients: 

1 16-ounce package pork sausage

1 lb. bag frozen hash browns (diced or shredded)

1/2 yellow onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

12 eggs

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions: 

• Brown and crumble the sausage in a skillet over medium heat. Once the sausage is fully cooked, remove from the skillet and place onto a plate covered with a paper towel. Place another paper towel on top and press to remove as much grease as possible.
• Spray the inside of the slow cooker with non stick cooking spray.
• Layer the frozen hash browns, diced onion, bell peppers, cooked sausage, and cheddar cheese in the slow cooker.
• In a medium size bowl, mix the eggs with the milk, salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture into the slow cooker over the other ingredients.
• Set to cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Credit: House of Yumm 

Easy Breakfast Muffins with a Hash Brown Crust

Delicious egg and bacon breakfast muffins with a hash brown crust. Perfect make ahead breakfast or for a brunch!

Serves 24

 Ingredients: 

For the hash brown crust: 

1 20-oz shredded hash browns (or frozen, thawed and strained)

1 egg

1/3 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp dried parsley

3 cloves minced garlic

1/4 tsp smoked paprika

1 Tsp olive oil

For the egg mixture: 

12 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 cup shredded Mexican blend (or your other favorite) cheese

12 slices crispy bacon cut up into bite-size pieces

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 1/2 tsp dried parsley

Instructions: 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Spray two 12-cup muffin tins with non-stick baking spray

For the hash brown crust: 

• Mix entire bag of hash browns with egg, oil, cheese, salt, pepper, minced garlic, paprika, and parsley in large bowl until seasonings are well combined.
• Split hash brown mixture evenly among the 24 baking cups then pat it down with the back of a cup or other round container that fits into the muffin tins.
• Bake hash brown crust in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until it gets slightly browned and crispy.

For egg mixture: 

• While crust is cooking, mix eggs, milk, cheese, salt, pepper, parsley, and bacon in a large bowl.
• Once hash brown crust is slightly browned, split the egg mixture evenly on top of the hash browns in the muffin tins, filling to about 3/4 full.
• Bake in the oven for another 10-15 minutes or until eggs are fully cooked.
• Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes before removing from the muffin tins by sliding a silicone spatula around the outside of the cups.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

Credit: Play. Party. Plan 

 

Did you know Staten Island has a DOE Cooperative Technical Education program for high school seniors and post graduates up to age 21?

I recently had the opportunity to visit to learn more about the District 79 program, which is located in the New York State Institute for Basic Research (IBR) building at 1050 Forest Hill Road. The program offers classes in Medical Billing & Coding, Building Maintenance and Carpentry. Each program has a morning session from 8:30am to 11am and an afternoon session from 12pm to 2:30pm. Students attend either session that is compatible with their current school program.

MEDICAL BILLING & CODING (Teacher: Mrs. Cerrai)
Students will learn about different types of insurances, billing for single and multi-physician offices, understanding hospital, emergency room and outpatient services. They learn about proper vocabulary, medical billing tasks, confidentiality and other laws that apply to the field. The students are exposed to a work-based learning environment and have the opportunity to participate in an internship with South Shore Eye Care. At the completion of the program, students will have an opportunity to receive Professional Certifications from the American Medical Certification Association for Billing/Coding and Medical Administrative Assistant/Electronic Billing and OSHA.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE (Teacher: Mr. Territo)
This course provides students with the theoretical and hands-on experience necessary to perform entry building maintenance and repair functions. Students will learn sheetrock installation, finishing and repair, floors and wall tile installation, painting, door and door lock installation and repairs and landscaping. There will be a guest expert from Kingstone Locksmith (more at https://kingstonelocksmith.com/) to help students practice in lock installation. Students have installed memorials on the IBR grounds and maintained them. During my visit, I observed the students maintaining the interior and exterior of the IBR facility as part of their course work. At the completion of the Building Maintenance program, students have the opportunity to receive an OSHA certification.

CARPENTRY – (Teacher: Mr. Baiardi)
Students will learn basic carpentry skills for residential and commercial construction that are applicable in both new construction and renovation/restoration. Students will learn to read blueprints and the proper use of hand and power tools. They will be exposed to cabinetmaking and millwork, as well as green carpentry and residential building framing and finishing. At the completion of the program, students will have an opportunity to receive an OSHA certification.

The current carpentry students are working on several projects, including trash-housing structures to secure the trash bins and reduce the trash that blows across the IBR campus. This will help the resident families, who are participating in the research projects at IBR. Additionally, the Coop Carpentry students are collaborating with Staten Island Tech High School via the Guild of Staten Island Tech MakerSpace teacher, Charles Dazzo, to build worktables to replace desks currently being used by SI Tech students. Last but not least, the students are building benches that will be part of the Historic Richmond Town renovation project.

Mr. Dazzo hosts monthly meetings where he invites Trade Labor Union representatives to present information and opportunities to students and families. As you can see, this is an exciting opportunity for high school seniors and post graduates who are 17-21 years old.

Parents, principals, and guidance counselors play a pivotal role in letting students know about these opportunities in the 9th and 10th grades, so they can plan to incorporate it into their senior year schedule. The School of Cooperative Technical Education at the Institute for Basic Research, a NYC DOE Career and Technical High School Program, is a great way to expose students to real-life work opportunities as they consider their options moving on to college and/or a career.

If you are interested learning more about this program or want to know if your child’s high school already participates, please email the Coop Tech Guidance Counselor Mrs. Vitale-Mercado at RVitaleMercado@schools.nyc.gov or call (718) 290-8600 ext. 2110.

Read more about the Co-Op Tech Education at www.co-optech.org

By Community Education Council 31 President Michael Reilly