The Consumer Product Safety Commission released an article Thursday about bedtime routines for infants.  Part of that routine, the article says is to make sure that your child’s sleeping environment is a safe one.  In the case of small children, the fewer “things” that are in the crib, the better.  Here are some key ideas when putting your infant to sleep:

1. Remember the “back to sleep” idea.  Put your child to sleep on his or her back.  If they are old enough to roll over, then that is okay.  However, until that point, put them to sleep on their back.
2. Make sure the crib meets minimum safety standards.  Cribs that are sold today meet the minimum requirements for safety (or are recalled when a defect is detected).  If you are using an older crib, though, check the spacing between the rungs and all of the connecting pieces for durability and safety. 
3. Never use a pillow in a crib.  If a child’s head needs to be elevated for a cold or other symptom, elevate the entire head of the crib by placing the legs on a small stack of books.  Babies should sleep on firm, infant mattresses, not pillow or other soft objects.
4. DO NOT use a crib that has been altered or repaired.  The integrity of the furniture is compromised at that point.
5. Make sure the mattress fits well in the crib.  The space between the mattress and the crib components should be minimal (two fingers wide at most). 
6. Remove any strangulation or choking hazards, such as tie backs from a curtain or the cords from blinds. 
7. Check with the CPSC for any recalls regarding the components you are using with any child.

1. Cinderella Battery-Powered Toy Cars Recalled by Dumar International USA Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

5. Munire Furniture Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard 

The flu.
RSV
Bronchitis.
Pneumonia.

Our bodies fight off many germs and viruses each day, including the ones that lead to such nasty illnesses such as these (and more).  There are a few simple things you can do to keep your body healthy and strong to ward off serious illnesses.  These are also great practices when you ARE sick, if for nothing else than to protect others with whom you come into contact.

1.  Wash those hands - A LOT!  Make sure you use soap and water, and wash well.  I love to use the “preschool rule” for washing hands - sing the ABC song to make sure you lather and scrub for an adequate amount of time.  Washing your hands frequently is a good way to ward off unwanted germs and viruses that may find their way onto your skin.

2.  Bulk up on fruits and veggies.  Foods that are high in vitamins, especially vitamin C, will certainly help boost your immune system.  Make sure that you have at least five servings each day.  While multivitamins will give you your daily allocation, they are not as easily absorbed into the body in pill form as in their natural state.

3. Don’t forget your water.  Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day - more is better.  Keeping your body hydrated will help flush out any impurities in your body. 

4.  Saline is your friend.  Before you even get a sign of the sniffles, keep your nose clean by misting it with saline at least three times a day.  The saline will flush out any histamines or other airborne impurities that might leave you feeling not 100%. 

5.  Be a friend without being too friendly.  Keep your contact with others to a minimum.  People can carry viruses and germs on their bodies without showing any signs of illness.  Respect people’s personal space and keep your germs to yourself; others will follow suit.

We had an incident this weekend with our older son, age 8.  He is at that stage where he is testing his boundaries, moreso than “normal”.  And, during the church service, he went a bit too far.  His consequence for his inappropriate behavior was to visit the nursery (typically for children 3 and under).  He begged me not to leave him, but the room wasn’t crowded and since I work in there from time to time, the ladies were more than happy to let him “help out” with the little guys.  So, he was admitted into the room with the little kids, and I am pretty sure he sat in the same chair for the remainder of the worship service.  He was in the same spot when I retrieved him for Sunday School.

My first reaction to what I was doing to my child was shock and a little horror.  Was I scarring him for life?  Was it wrong for him to be embarrassed or humiliated?  I had an overwhelming sense of guilt until my reasoning skills took over.  *I* didn’t put my son into that situation; *he* put himself there.  He knew the consequences and chose to take the wrong path anyway.  He was testing his limits and found out exactly where that kind of behavior would lead him.

We had a long chat afterward about his feelings over what happened.  He was embarrassed and angry at first.  But he, too, realized that it all could have been avoided had he simply done what was expected of him.  He also understands that it WILL happen again should he choose to misbehave.  For every action, there is a consequence, and he is in charge of his own actions.

Was I tough on my son?  You bet I was.  That’s my job as a parent - to teach him to be responsible for himself, to show him that his actions warrant consequences (good and bad), and to enforce rules that are given to him.  My job is not to be his best friend or let him do whatever he wants to do; that isn’t parenting.  Parenting is hard work, it is painful, and it is emotionally and physically draining.  The rewards are huge, though, when your child realizes they are in control of their discipline by their actions.

If there is one item in my 4 year-old class that thrills every single one of my students, it is my set of pattern blocks.  My class loves to create patterns and pictures with shapes, creating art and objects using squares, hexagons, triangles and quadrilaterals.  This activity always manages to lead the child to discover the properties of shapes in regards to angles and sides: how different shapes can “interlock”, which shapes work best for creating patterns, and which shapes do not work at all.

Tessellations are, simply put, a “tiled” pattern.  They are a design created by interlocking, non-overlapping, repetitive shapes that leave no “holes” or gaps between them.  Much like floor tile, tessellations can go on forever, repeating the same pattern over and over.  Tessellations do not have to be regular polygons (such as triangles and squares); they can be created with non-traditional shapes and figures as well.  Dutch artist M.C. Escher is one of the most famous names associated with tessellations.  Check out a terrific collection of his work at Platonic Realms’ site, complete with a short biography and a variety of his sketches and drawings.

While playing with shapes and their relationships with each other can create amazing art and designs, children are also exploring mathematical concepts closely tied with geometry and spatial relationships.  Incorporating toys and tools such as Fractallations and Puzzellations, children are able to experience the joy of creating a unique design or picture while still learning and internalizing key mathematical concepts.  For a more direct look at tessellations, products such as tessellation activity books can provide opportunities for children to explore the use of design and color to enhance a tessellation design.

Montessori is not a new word in our vocabulary.  Maria Montessori, an Italian educator, developed this once-unique style of learning over 100 years ago.  Since then, the Montessori method has been utilized worldwide to establish a strong educational foundation for children, and it has even been used with older children as well.  Like any other method of learning, it is not the best way to learn for every child, but it is a highly positive, highly motivational, and extremely hands-on way to establish key educational concepts with young children.

My children are not schooled in Montessori, at least not formally.  Both of my boys attended (or are currently attending) a more traditional preschool program, but concepts from the Montessori method are incorporated into their routine at school and at home.  In a Montessori-conceptualized classroom, children are self-directed, and the teacher plays a passive, facilitative role.  Children learn at their own pace, within their own interests, building their own set of skills.  Teachers (or “guides”) are present to assist the child and to give general directions on use of materials.  This method of learning places emphasis on the independence of the child, giving rights to children to function on their own in their environment, leaving the adult to observe and make materials available that suit the needs and interests of the children.  Children are not formally graded; they are evaluated in a more annotated, holistic way, using checklists and narratives to chronicle a child’s growth and development.

The Montessori method is almost completely hands-on learning.  Children learn best, according to this method by being actively engaged in the process, developing their observation skills, and participating in many types of activities. These activities can be kinetic, spatial, sensory, geared toward motor skills and the acquisition of concrete knowledge in order to attain abstract thinking. 

The Montessori based classroom will be found with multiple collections of student-centered activities, shelves stocked with supplies that interest the age range of the students, and a serene and calm atmosphere.  Many times, children are grouped with multiple ages together to encourage flexibility and sharing.  Children do not use materials unless they have been introduced to them by an adult or another student to ensure that concepts are being correctly mastered with each activity. 

Montessori is not for every child.  Some children need a more direct sense of guidance from an adult.  But, there are key elements to the method that can benefit children in many areas when used correctly.

For a collection of Montessori-style toys and products, visit Wonderbrains.com.

For more information on Montessori programs, visit www.montessori.edu

Some mornings are a breeze in getting my crew out the door and on our way to school and our other activities.  Other mornings, though, are a fight from the second their little eyes open until we all get to our destination.  What makes those great mornings so great?  Here are a few things I’ve observed that help us get off to a great start (even on a Monday!).

1.  Be ready yourself.  If I’m not ready by the time the kids get up, chances are they are going to drag around during our finite time at the house.  By having myself put together, dressed, and otherwise good to walk out the door, I’m not distracted with my own routine while trying to get them through theirs.  All of my attention can be focused on their needs.

2.  Start off the day with a big bite.  My kids are eaters, but my older son needs to eat the.minute.his.feet.hit.the.ground!  My younger son, though, would rather wait about 20 minutes to wake up before chewing on some toast and peanut butter.  No matter when they eat, though, breakfast is important enough to make time for it in the morning.  Running out the door with a pop tart in one hand and a juice box in another may be better than having nothing at all, but it isn’t better by much.  Try to make time to have a bowl of nutritious cereal, a protein-filled meal, or at least something filling with less sugar to start the day off right.

3.  Allow at least 10 minutes for those “other” things that crop up.  How many times have I heard, “I can’t find my shoes!” or “Have you seen my library book?” or even “Don’t leave - I have to go to the bathroom!”  I have long-since learned that cushioning our morning routine with a few extra minutes allows for those last-minute stressors that arise. 

4.  Do some prep work the night before. Have the backpack ready to go at by the door.  Lay out the clothes for in the morning to save time choosing something to wear.  And, make sure everyone is in bed on time.  Getting a good night’s sleep can do wonders the next day!

5.  Be a list-maker.  When my older son was in preschool and not able to read yet, we posted a list on the bathroom mirror - a list of pictures of his morning routine.  We drew four or five activities that he needed to do each morning and posted it where he would easily see it.  After practicing for about a week, he was highly proficient at following his list to get ready - everything from dressing to brushing teeth to making his bed.

6.  Take a deep breath.  Even the best-laid plans will fall by the wayside every now and then.  Don’t be so rigorous in your routine that you can’t allow for a day that simply doesn’t go as planned.  The important thing is to not let those little things that get in the way each morning become a part of the routine.  Make those little things the exception, not the rule.

Mission City Press Recalls Girl’s Bracelet Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard