25 Old Fashioned Summer Activites
Timeless classics that always are fun during summer...
Funny Bones: How Humor Helps Your Kids
“Keeping it light” as you parent will benefit the kids and you...
Horsing around in Yellowstone
The famous national park offers views most families only see in picture books ...
Giddy Up For Steeplechase
Your family can enjoy a day of equestrian delights...
The 5 S's
Simplify Soothing Your Baby...
Summer Fun with Shrek at Gaylord Opryland
DreamWorks Animation characters spring to life...
Well Child Tips
Summer's coming on fast, and even on overcast days, Baby needs to be protected from the heat and sun. Ultraviolet rays reflect off pavement, water and sand, which is why it's wise to cover your baby's skin with a thin, breathable material even when you are out of direct sun. Hats are great protection for your little one's head and face. Sunglasses can prevent UV damage to the eyes; choose those that block 99 percent of UV rays.
heat rash
Infants can get it in hot weather from blocked sweat glands on skin that stays moist and warm. Change diapers frequently, wiping away drool, and remove damp clothing from your baby's skin.
hot cars
Never leave children or pets in your car, not even for a second. The Interior car temperatures rise very quickly in hot weather and can be fatal. Also, beware hot car seat buckles touching your baby's skin — buffer buckles with a soft blanket. Shield sun rays from shining on your baby with suction-mounted shades.
cool ideas
let Baby suck on a chilled teething ring
spritz Baby with a gentle mists of water
give Baby tepid baths during the hottest part of the day
attach a battery-operated fan to Baby’s stroller
cover Baby with a light sheet — or nothing during naps
— Brett Sember
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Blog of the Day
"Honey! Where's Jenna? Will you go see? I have to finish my text!"
IGNORING KIDS BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY HABITS
Paying attention to your children is losing out to paying attention to your technology — your iPad, your cell phone, your must-do activity of the moment. And plenty of attention-loving kids aren't too happy about the fact that parents talk or text on their phones wherever and whenever they want to. Used to be — when all we had were landlines — that if you went to a playground with your child, you WENT to the playground with your child, chatted with other moms while you pushed your children on the swings. Now, when you go to the playground with your child, you are more than likely to be there, standing around, chatting on the phone or pressing away at its buttons.
While cell phone companies have done an excellent job at helping us to believe that 24/7 access is the way to live a life, think about it for a second: just as schools, hospitals and school zones are banning cell phone use during certain times and locations, so too should families lay claim to special tech-free times and places.
Here's more food for thought:
Have you ever observed a child trying to get his parent's attention when the parent is using a cell phone or computer? It's similar to a parent trying to get a child's attention when the child is playing a video game. Parents can discipline their kids for lack of paying attention, but what can kids do when their parents are too connected to their digital toys?
Psychologists are beginning to question how parents’ technological connections are affecting their connections to their kids. When parents are tweeting or texting instead of talking with their kids, it can impact language development in young children.
"Children take cues from their parents," says psychologist Barrie Nelson. "If the habit of the parent is I’m busy, I’m busy, I’m busy ... I have to check my smartphone, then the child will eventually realize, 'Oh, he doesn't have time for me ..."
What to do?
Moms and dads can set schedules and time limits for when they stay “connected.” When they are not “connected,” turn the phone and laptop off and put them away, physically, in a drawer. Contey says parents should remind themselves that the time they have to connect with their children is short.
“I’ve got a lifetime to check my devices and know what my friends are doing on the Internet, but I’ve got a few moments of being with this child each day,” says Nelson. “So what am I going to do to make those count?”
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Don't Miss Events
 Tuesday, May 27Tuesdays for Tots: Sweet Treat Preschoolers and their parents can use paper, shaving cream paint, confetti and other materials to create a non-edible sweet treat craft. Cheekwood, 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.; free with gate admission ($12 adults, $5 ages 3 and older); 356-8000 or cheekwood.org.FREE Turtle Search Ages 8 and older can participate in a box turtle research project. Nickajack Wetlands (call for directions), Murfreesboro; 3 p.m.; 217-3017 or murfreesborotn.gov/parks.Thursday, May 24FREE Side-by-Side Concert The Nashville Symphony, Curb Youth Symphony and featured performer, Maryville High School student Yusuke Yamanaka, perform an evening of music. Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 1 Symphony Place, Nashville; 7 p.m.; 687-6400 nashvillesymphony.org.Friday, May 25Playing By Air Take in a family performance of action, comedy, music, juggling and circus-style feats. Belmont University’s Black Box Theatre, 2100 Belmont Blvd., Nashville; Fri 8 p.m., Sat 2 and 8 p.m.; tickets TBD; playingbyair.com.Sounds Baseball Cheer for the Nashville Sounds when they challenge the Round Rock Express. Greer Stadium, 524 Chestnut St., Nashville; 7:05 p.m.; $12 in advance, $14 game day; 690-4487 or nashvillesounds.com.Saturday, May 26Exhibit Opening Tree Houses: Look Who’s Living in Those Trees! Opens today and is on exhibit through Friday, Sept. 7. Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, 502 S.E. Broad St., Murfreesboro; Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 1 - 5 p.m.; $6 ages 2 and older; 890-2300.Garden Tales Ages 2 - 8 can learn about seeds and flowers as Rachel Sumner uses songs, dance and interactive reading to entertain. Cheekwood, 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville; 11 a.m.; $12 adults, $5 ages 3 - 17; 356-8000 or cheekwood.org.Purple Cow Moograss Jam This fundraiser for Radnor Lake State Natural Area includes live music and children’s activities. Granny White Market, 5301 Granny White Pike, Nashville; 4 - 10 p.m.; $20 adults (includes T-shirt), free for kids; 373-1395 or radnorlake.org.Sounds Baseball Cheer for the Nashville Sounds when they challenge the Round Rock Express. Greer Stadium, 524 Chestnut St., Nashville; 6:35 p.m.; $12 in advance, $14 game day; 690-4487 or nashvillesounds.com.Tennessee Renaissance Festival Medieval magic takes over the grounds of Castle Gwynn during the annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival. This weekend's theme is the Royal Jousting Tournament. The festival is located at 2124 New Castle Road, Arrington-Triune. Hours are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission is $20 adults, $7 ages 6 - 12, free ages 5 and younger. Weekend passes are $35 adults, $12 kids. Call 395-9950 or visit tnrenfest.com.Sunday, May 27Sounds Baseball Cheer for the Nashville Sounds when they challenge the Round Rock Express. Greer Stadium, 524 Chestnut St., Nashville; 2:05 p.m.; $12 in advance, $14 game day; 690-4487 or nashvillesounds.com.Tennessee Renaissance Festival Please see Saturday, May 26 listing.
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Dinner 2 Night
Serves 6. Recipe courtesy of Donalyn at allrecipes.com.
Ingredients
1 cup dried pinto beans
1 cup dry black beans
1 cup dry garbanzo beans
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
salt and pepper to taste
cayenne pepper to taste
Directions
Rinse and sort pinto beans, black beans and garbanzo beans. Place in a large bowl and cover with water. Soak overnight.
Drain beans and place in a large pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 hour, or until beans are tender. It may be necessary to add more water during cooking to prevent drying out or scorching.
Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic until onion is transparent. Stir in cumin. To the beans add the onions, garlic and crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in corn and cinnamon; cook 15 minutes more. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne to taste before serving.
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Hot Products
There's a bag out there that is stain-free, wipes clean and you can even get the wrinkles out by just setting it in the sun! It's the Large Glitter Tote by Sarahjanes. It's made out of Mexican oilcloth and comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns — with a fashionable glitter bottom and three interior pockets. Durable enough to carry nearly all your beach necessities or pack for a day out at the park.
It's a large tote, but not too excessive. I love the fact that you can just wipe it clean. My kids spill stuff all the time and I am continuosly tossing my favorite bags in the wash to get them clean. Well, not any more. This bag is so slick that nothing will stick! So, don't throw it in the wash. I love the oilcloth and can't wait to see more from Sarahjanes.
You can even have it monogrammed for an extra $7.
But, don't stop there. You can get oilcloth products in checkbook covers, cosmetic bags, diaper clutch, chalk oilcloth table cloth, aprons and more. Sarahjanes also offers products made out of minkee, a super soft fabric, too!
Large Glitter Tote$30sarah-janes.com
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Hot Products
Potty training can be tough, but with the right potty it can be a bit easier. The Arm & Hammer 3-in-1 Potty Seat is a potty seat, trainer seat and step stool in one, conveniently sized little potty. The handles will give him extra security as he goes, too. Once your little one is ready to move on up to the big potty, this portable potty turns into a sturdy step stool for him to easily reach the big-boy potty or even the sink. The potty seat is removable, too, so it can be placed on top of the big potty. Don't worry, its prongs that hold it in place on the potty seat will go through the seat of your toilet bowl to keep it still so he doesn't slip off — although, the bigger the toilet the more likely is will scoot around just a little.Built into the side of the potty is a spot to hold Arm & Hammer disposable/flushable wipes. So, no need to have a box of wiped being kicked around while they go potty. Also, for extra freshness, the lid has a spot designed to hold a replaceable Arm & Hammer Snap-in Deodorizing Disc. Both the deodorizing discs and flushable wipes refills are sold separately.Arm & Hammer 3-in-1 Potty Seatby Munchkinmunchkin.com$29.99Available at Target, Toys R Us and online.
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One-Minute Parent
Your 15-month-old screams a his stack of blocks fall over again. You try to assist, but he cries, "No! No!" all the same. What do you do?
One-Minute Parent Solution:
"Such is the dilemma of the 1-year-old — determined enough to know what he wants, but increasingly aware that he's not quite able to get it," says Maureen O'Brien, author of Watch Me Grow I'm One, Two, Three (Harper Collins; $19.95). O'Brien considers this kind of behavior as a natural expression of frustration rather than naughtiness or rebellion. O'Brien offers the consolation that this is an indication that your child is developing at a healthy, normal pace and suggest that you remember your child's perspective before disciplining. "Who wouldn't want to cry if his feet slipped out from under him every time he tried to run?" reminds O'Brien.
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One-Minute Parent
Over-scheduled kids results in "family fatigue" says new research. The British Kidspot survey, commissioned by the Natural Confectionary Company, found that 50 percent of more than 400 moms of children aged 9 - 12 claimed their households suffered because of too many activities. The survey also found that 87 per cent of the moms wished their kids could spend more time in unstructured play and less time on computer games.
Family fatigue is not only exhausting for busy parents, but robs kids of the chance to create their own imaginative play which occurs when they have nothing structured to do.
The parent tip of the day:
Create a space in your home or yard where your kids can use their imaginations to decide how to play, rather than resort to playing on equipment or electronic devices that dictate to them what they should do.
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Helping Hannah
Tripping over your child's toys?  Up to here with the clutter? Start clearing away with these five fast tips from Handy Hannah:
1) Start charging! Professional organizers say kids won’t leave items out of place for long if you start charging them for it! Use brightly colored stickers you can slap on items that need to be put in their rightful place … that soccer bag in the living room, those toys in the hallway … Give a 24 hour rule, and if the item is NOT picked up by then, slap a sticker on it and charge your child a fee!
 2) Night Before Chores It’s surprising how many people DON’T do the obvious, but if you can teach your children to pick out their school outfits the night before and help you organize for their lunches, you’ll have less mess to contend with the next day.
 3) Give Stuff Away Do you really need all of those toys and all of those books and all of that stuff that’s piled in your closets and bins? Get your kids involved and clear through your clutter. Use boxes for those you will give away to a friend and those you’ll give to Goodwill. Less stuff means less mess!
 4) Move Kids’ Rooms Around Kids will enjoy rearranging their rooms with you if you have the time to do it, and it’s a great time to toss stuff out for giveaway and clean out under the beds and furniture. The older your children get, the more they’ll be invested in taking care of their room on their own.
 5) Remember: One Toy at a Time! Daycare centers are masterful at this one: If your child is done playing with a toy, then it’s time to put it away before starting to play with another one. Enforce this rule at your house and it will be half the battle when it comes to picking up after kids!
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