In spite of the recent changes made by McDonald’s with regards their Happy Meal selection, study shows that many kids still remain junk food eaters. The threat of obesity with kids is still very much existent, what with all those other calorie packed food we find at the grocery that are obviously targeting the younger market.

According to a report, fast food, supermarket prepared meals, and other meals not being inside the home, is really ruining our kids’ diets. The reason for this may be because these food choices are readily available, very convenient and saves time with the preparations.

The way to curb this, apparently, is to truly make an effort to cook at home and serve meals straight from the kitchen to your family’s dining table.

“We cannot control where these eateries are located or how they prepare their foods, but we can decide to cook more at home, which will ultimately save money and help keep our families healthy,”

It does seem like a lot of work, but ultimately, it’s your kids’ health that benefits from this.

You can start by planning weekly meals, and then buying the ingredients at the grocery store. You have to carefully read the labels of these ingredients and find ways to replace other items that may be deemed as high calorie, or high sugar.

As a consumer, the homemaker has the power to really make sure that her family’s health is at its prime, by paying attention to the food we eat and serve.

A Disney World vacation involves a lot of planning and a lot of money for spending. It’s a pleasure trip that will have the kids loving you more for bringing them there. But it sure is going to cost you one.

Here are a few tips on how to save on money even when you’re going to Disney World with the whole family:

1. Do the math. Before you book a reservation and plan you trip, make sure you have the proper budget for it. Check rates and prices first and do a comparison, before you make anything final. For instance, you may think you can save by booking a “Room Only” rate at the Disney hotel, but there are some packages that may save you a lot because it already includes airfare, dining and park tickets.

2. Don’t miss out on deal and codes. When you’ve finally made your choice, book accommodations in advance. The rates changes by the season or if there are any deals involved. The deals can save you %15-25% at least, which is already a big thing if you’re going there with a large group. Get an annual pass, if possible.

3. Don’t buy essentials at the Disney World, like sunscreen or toothpaste. It’s a lot pricier if you get those there. Even those fun kiddie souvenirs like those glow-in-the-dark stuff are way more expensive than if you buy these at the grocery store, for example.

4. Map out your itinerary. This way, you avoid delays as well as making extra expenses because of visits that are not properly planned.

Image courtesy of Life123.com

The parenting column in the New York Times today discusses the problem of kids and stealing.  Is it a normal phase kids go through, o r does it presage issues of character or behavior that parents need to worry about?  I remember being about 5 years old and seeing a candy bar that had fallen underneath the display case in the grocery store.  I somehow got it into my head that those fallen candy bars were free, so I took it.  Of course, a few minutes later, when my mom found out, I was marched back into the store, and made to tell the manager what I had done and to give the candy bar back.  The thing was, I didn’t think I was stealing, I just thought those were free candy bars.

Apparently that sort of thing is pretty normal, according to pediatrician Perri Klass’s article.  Different things are going on with kids at different ages, though.  For a toddler, boundaries have to come from the outside, because they aren’t able to set them on the inside.  A toddler’s entire thought process is “I see it, I want it, I take it, it’s mine.”  Toddlers have to be taught–patiently and consistently–that not everything they see or want is theirs.

Klass then goes on to talk about kids who are a little older–old enough to know that what they’re doing is wrong and to try to cover it up by lying or hiding.  These kids are testing, she says.  They want to be caught.  They need to be caught.  She quotes Dr. Barbara  Howard of Johns Hopkins, who says, “Kids are trying to find out what happens if you get caught, and one of the biggest problems is if you don’t catch them. They’re trying to find out what the rules are, and if nobody catches them and says, ‘That’s wrong, you have to give that back or pay for it,’ they don’t get a sense of being properly supervised.”

So if stealing is a fairly normal developmental phase, are there times when parents should be concerned about stealing?  Yes.  When a child is stealing as a means of acting out, he may need help dealing with the underlying issue.  Stealing something of a sibling’s or classmate’s could indicate self-esteem problems or underlying resentments that must be addressed.  In those cases, stealing is only a symptom.

For the most part, stealing needs to be dealt with gently but firmly, with boundaries set and reiterated and consequences immediate and consistent.  But pay close attention; if your child needs extra help dealing with some kind of emotional problem, it’s your job to notice that, too.

I know it seems early, but school starts in my area in mid-August, which means that there’s about 8 weeks of summer vacation left.  Between now and then there will be camps, fireworks, and back-to-school shopping.  If you have a little one getting ready for kindergarten, this summer is a very important transitional time. 

Here are some things you can do to help your child transition from a preschooler or little kid, to a full-fledged student at “big kid school.”

1. Keep up their friendships.  If there are friends from their preschool or play group, arrange play dates for them.  Take them to the pool or play in the back yard.  It will help your little one to know they will know people when they get to their new school.

1. Visit the school.  In the days before school actually starts, teachers will be in their classrooms, busily decorating and getting things ready for your child.  Drop by and meet them.  Show them what kind of desk they will sit in, where they will hang their bag, where they will eat lunch.  The first day of school should not be the first time they see their new space.

1. Drive the bus route or other transportation route.  If your child rides the bus, drive the most likely route, and point out familiar landmarks on the way–”see, there’s the grocery store,” “there’s Amy’s house,” “there’s Daddy’s work.”  Show them where the bus will park and the door they will walk in.  If you carpool with another family, point out that family’s car and remind your child which kids will be with them.  If your child walks with older children, walk the route and show them where they will enter the building and what they will do. 

1. Set aside a couple of different days for back-to-school shopping.  Shopping can be an overstimulating event for kids.  Consider doing clothes and supplies on a different day.   Let your kids be involved in picking out their own things–they can certainly decide whether they want the blue or green pencil case.  That way their items are theirs alone, and their special day is special to them.

1. Make it special, even if it’s not your first first day.  Younger siblings sometimes get lost in the shuffle, but remember, it’s their first time, even if you’ve sent other children to kindergarten before.  Make a big deal of it.

1. Keep your emotional messages positive.  For me, I get all weepy, because time is passing too fast, and every new landmark seems to take them away from me that much faster.  But starting kindergarten is a good and positive thing, and your child doesn’t need to worry about you.  He’s got enough on his plate.

1. Start the routine early.  We get out of our bedtime and morning routines in the summer, so start easing back into them at least a week before school starts.  Kids need 9-10 hours of sleep, and they need plenty of time to get ready in the morning–rushing around only adds to the stress.  Practice your routine in the days before it starts for real.

1. Go with them to class the first day.  You probably won’t walk them to class every single day, but on the first day, it’s a good idea.  But don’t hover, and don’t linger.  Cry later, if you want, but keep things bright and excited for your little one. 

1. Leave the cameras at home.  Film your child coming out the front door on his wya to his first day, but don’t crowd the hallways or classroom of his school with your nostaligic needs.  That’s space used for a certain kind of movement and activity, and the teachers won’t appreciate you taking it over.

1. Take your cues from your child.  Don’t offer effusive reassurances unless your child has expressed a need for them.  Don’t suggest things they might be worried out–you might induce them to a worry they woudn’t have thought of!  Just prepare them, and respond to their questions and concerns as they raise them.

Kindergarten is a pretty big deal, both for parents and kids.  If you follow some of the tips above, it can go smoothly, and without too much stress for your child–or for you!

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