Homework Success Network

Preventing a Swine Flu epidemic--from within your family

It can be really scary if one of your kids comes home with symptoms of the flu. How are you going to keep it from spreading to your other family members? Following are some unofficial (but logical and practical) ideas you might consider:

Know the signs and symptoms of the Swine Flu (H1N1)--Visit the CDC's website for the latest information. As fever is one of the hallmark symptoms, be prepared to monitor a person who's temperature is above normal. Keep the sick family member home from school or work until the fever is gone! The fever is your sign that the virus is still active--and if it's active, the virus can be transmitted. This is one time when you want to discourage "sharing"--it won't help the sick family member or his/her classmates or the workplace gang.

Isolate the family member as much as possible. Keep your healthy family members away from exposure to the higher concentrations of viruses likely to be in the "sick room" When people want to visit, go outside to avoid healthy folks' exposure to the potentially higher concentrations of virus in the sick-room. Infected family members should either eat meals in their rooms or have a family gathering outdoors --bundle up (if necessary) and socialize in the wide-open air, like a picnic or barbeque.

Blended families can make for a Tense Graduation Celebration

Are invitations to your son/daughter's graduation ceremony an issue?  At a time when kids really appreciate family relationships, the process of keeping everyone celebratory and not jealous, left-out or hurt can overshadow (or at least cloud up) this very important event. 

1) Remember the "Star" of this event who deserves the spotlight--your Graduating Student.  For his/her benefit, leave old hurts and frustrations at the door.

2) Broaden your perception.  Imagine that difficult family members are there for the same reason you are--because they love your kid(s). Remember that they are there to celebrate the success and achievement of THEIR graduating student. 

3) Narrow your focus.  Envision only THIS moment and ignore historical moments of conflict.

4) Create a stellar memory--Avoid body language that might distract from your graduate's experience.  Pretend as if everyone honors each other, become united if only for this singular event. 

Congratulations to ALL of our graduates!!!!  They deserve a peaceful and appreciative family to commend their accomplishment and honor their commitment. 

For general ideas about how to ensure that your extended (and perhaps slightly estranged) co-parents and family members can participate and enjoy your graduate's success, you're invited to read an article by Carolyn Ellis entitled: "Peaceful Blended-Family Events Can Happen!"  Check it out at Peaceful Blended Family Events Can Happen

13 Ways to Create a Fit Family

One in three kids is overweight or obese, according to The New England Journal of Medicine, and an increasing number of children are showing early warning signs of heart disease.

Fast-food meals and sedentary lifestyles of watching TV and playing computer games are adding to the problem. The key for parents is to “live a healthy-body-weight message, every day, and your kids will naturally come along for the ride,” says author Tom Gilliam, co-author of Move It. Lose It. Live Healthy: The Simple Truth about Achieving & Maintaining a Healthy Body Weight.

I especially liked #5 "Find fun activities you can do as a group and #7 "Make a game out of shopping for healthy foods"  To read all thirteen (13) Ways to create a fit family, go visit:  13 Ways to Create a Fit Family  at SuccessMagazine.com .

Cooking up something G-O-O-O-D!

    Most kids love to help in the kitchen.  Here's a great opportunity to encourage a struggling reader to read "important" stuff; cooking demonstrates science and math in a really practical way.   Although it's a tad more work for mom, encourage your cooking assistant to help in the kitchen.   You'll accomplish several goals:

1. Cooking becomes a joint project (fun, even!)  You'll be allowing your child to "contribute" for which you'll be able to deliver a warm Thank-you.  Most kids really respond to heartfelt appreciation.  It ensures a repeat performance!
2. Reading becomes important. Talk with your child about what would happen if you misread the instructions, the amounts or the ingredients.  Precision matters and you can use the opportunity to talk about being "picky" about reading.
3. "Science" abounds!  How does cake batter become a cake?  What happens to the water in the rice pot? Why does some food taste better hot while others taste better cold?  How does "jello" work, anyway?  If you don't know the answers, these questions could put you and your child on an internet quest, together.
4. "Math" matters.  How many servings is in a recipe or package?  How many packages to you need for your family? Labels a lot about the value of packaged foods…read the labels together and talk about how big a "serving" really is.  Check out the size of a serving in packaged cereals…you might be surprised!
5. Quality time is sometimes tough to schedule in.  Cooking together counts in the quality-time category.  Have fun and your kid will, too! 

        All this a good eats, too!   Wow!

 

 

Want Better Grades? Start with Family Mealtime!

There's been a fair bit of research done regarding how family meal times affect our kids...from prevention of eating disorders to getting better grades (that's right--BETTER GRADES).  But it's not just about the food.  It's about the communication.  Families that eat together actually talk to each other. 

I've found a great site that you'll find interesting.  It's all about food and family "Dine-Without-Whine".  As an intro, you might enjoy (and be inspired by) their video at  http://www.familydinnervideo.com

Check it out....and then here's a thought:  Tonight, Turn off the TV; Move dinnertime back into the dining room or at the kitchen table; and enjoy some family time.  Talk about what you've done today; share what you learned; take turns discussing ideas that are important to each of you.  It's a good thing to do on SO-O-O-O many levels.  Bon Appetit!