Crafts, Games, and Activities for Kids During Winter Break

Its almost here. The holidays are coming, so is the dreaded winter break and cabin fever that comes along with it. Here are a few crafts, games and activities to keep the kids engaged and parents sane during Christmas break, in New York and around the country.

Bake cookies: Toddlers through elementary school kids can help bake holiday cookies. Kids ages 5 and under can arrange pre-portioned refrigerated cookie dough on cookie sheet and decorate with icing. Parents of older kids can start from a mix (or scratch) and have the kids help with much of the prep work. Cost: Under $5.
Make ornaments or art display: Children young and old can make artwork either to display on a ledge or mantle, or hung on a Christmas tree. Materials from a neighborhood nature walk, such as pine cones and leaves, can be used to make ornaments or wreaths. Children who have learned to cut can make snowflakes with coffee filters to celebrate the winter solstice. Sticker based art, available on specialty stores such as Oriental Trading, or retailers such as Target and Walmart, can engage the younger kids. Cost: Free to $5.
Make a picture book, photo diary or journal: Grade school children can write a story or make themed picture books, such as the stories and legends behind the various holidays such as Hannukah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa. They can also write a holiday journal. Younger children can draw pictures, or paint coloring pages that can be collated into a picture book. Cost: Free to $5.
Spend family time reading, doing puzzles or imaginative play: A quick trip to the library or store for books and puzzles can result in hours of quality family time that is also educational. Children can also engage in hours of imaginative play making ribbons, castles, tents or boats with used packaging and scrap gift wrap supplies. Cost: Free to $10.

Enroll in a mini camp: Although most activities are closed during the break, a few (such as Super Soccer Stars in the New York tristate area), run special winter mini camps and clinics. Cost: $200-300.
Visit indoor play spaces: Some kids play spaces, such as bouncy castle operator Bounce U, have open play sessions that can help kids burn off energy and get rid of cabin fever. Other places for family fun include bowling, laser tag or even Chuck-e-Cheese. Cost: $10-30.
Play outdoors: Older children can enjoy winter sports like ice skating, hockey and skiing. Snow or no snow, it is always fun to take a short nature or neighborhood walk. Both these get kids burn off energy and cure cabin fever. Cost: Free.
Take a walking tour: Nature walks double as scavenger hunts and can yield supplies for arts and crafts. In urban areas such as New York, a walking tour can focus on holiday decorations in public spaces. A favorite walking tour involves starting at 42 ^nd Street and 6 ^th Avenue, walking up to 59 ^th Street while enjoying the giant Christmas decorations outside the various office buildings, walking across to 5 ^th Avenue, then walking down 5 ^th Avenue looking at the famed window decorations as well as lights at the department stores. The tour culminates at the Rockfeller Center Christmas Tree and skating rink. Cost: Free.
Drive by holiday decorations tour: Sundown at 4:30 pm offers the opportunity to drive around looking at holiday decorations outside private homes in suburban areas. Some cities run competitions for best decorated house or even tours. Several websites are dedicated to houses with impressive holiday lights displays in Long Island. So pack the kids in the car, lower the sunroof and drive! Cost: Free.
Visit museums: Museums not only have great educational value, but many also are dressed up for the holidays. Many offer discounted entry fees for children and students (up to college age). In New York, the most famous is the American Museum of Natural History's Origami Tree. The Metropolitan Museum of Art also has a large Christmas Tree. Cost: $10-30.

 

10 Ways To Stretch Baby's Clothing Budget Without Making Sacrifices

Stretching baby's wardrobe budget is not about skimping. It is somewhat about reigning in the urge to splurge, but more importantly, it is about reducing waste. Here are ten rules I shop by. While they don't save me hundreds of dollars like I did on baby gear or other unnecessary baby purchases, they do help stretch my money for plenty of nice baby clothes.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: First Person: 10 Ways I Stretch Baby's Clothing Budget Without Making Sacrifices

Picking a School for Our Child

Which daycare, preschool, nursery or kindergarten? Public or private? Montessori, Progressive, or traditional preschool? Questions I asked and answered while choosing the right preschool for my child.

When my son was about to turn three, I realized he needed more social interaction and explored sending him to preschool. I wanted to choose the best preschool, nursery or daycare--whether it was public or private, Montessori, Progressive or church-affiliated. I also wondered if I should home school until kindergarten. I asked some of my friends and neighbors, and I received overwhelmingly positive feedback on their children's preschool or daycare. This led me to believe that choosing the right daycare, preschool or kindergarten is a very personal decision, and everyone's opinion varies. I needed to identify our priorities, so I focused on what I really wanted in my child's first school and what would be a deal-breaker.

I read a very informative booklet published by the U.S. Department of Education that had a series of questions to ask ourselves and the elementary school. Some of the questions applied to nursery schools, preschools, daycares, and Montessories. This booklet reiterated that in reality, there was no "best school" only one that was the best fit for each child and his or her family.

Since I was open to the idea of relocating, my choices were varied and included 1) local public preschools, 2) public preschools in some other districts we were open to relocating, 3) private preschools, 4) daycares that followed a preschool-like curriculum, and 5) home schooling. I ruled out exclusive home schooling since we wanted social interaction for our child. Amongst the private schools, there were several affiliated with religious faiths, and others than were co-operative or Montessori.

Can we afford private preschool tuition? Annual tuition for private preschools in our area ran up to $19,000 for full day programs. While this was definitely cheaper than several Manhattan schools that charged $30,000-40,000, obviously my husband and I needed to prioritize our own retirement, our children's college education, etc. above private preschool and elementary school. Since school taxes were approximately half of our property taxes, sending a child to private preschool also meant not reaping the benefits of paying those property taxes.

We were not ready to make our decision based on finances alone. Some other questions I considered were:

* What is the demographic mix and will our child fit in?
* How long is the school day?
* Is after school care available?
* Does the preschool run through higher grades?
* What is the meals policy?
* How close is the school to our home?
* Do we have a preference for Montessori, Progressive Education or another special curriculum or philosophy?
* How involved do we have to be in school activities on a daily basis?
* Is there a preferential sibling admissions or tuition discounts?
* Will our child make the school age cut-off?
* What role should religion play?
* Do classrooms have computers?
* What is the discipline philosophy?
* What is the teacher to student ratio?
* Does the school offer special education, enrichment or advanced classes for children?
* Does the school have an honors or gifted and talented program for higher classes? * What does the school do to help develop character and citizenship?
* Where do graduates pursue their higher studies?

I narrowed the choices based on the answers to these questions. I attended Open Houses and toured a few preschools and met with both teachers and administrative staff. There are several public preschools in our city, and assignment was random (and varied from year to year). One of our key concerns was I could not meet the teacher of the class, and my child may have new classmates year to year.

In the end, I chose a private Montessori preschool that ran through kindergarten. What attracted us most to the preschool was that the curriculum was flexible to a certain extent, with the pace driven by the child's unique strengths and challenges. I also loved the mixed age (3-5 years) setting, which allowed my child to mentor younger children and learn from older ones. Although the Montessori method is not for all families, it was the right fit for ours.

Missing the School Age Cut Off: Good or Bad?

I am one of the many parents whose child misses the school age cut off for starting kindergarten in our local school district. While some parents are indifferent or even happy to wait another year before their kid starts school, some others, like me, would rather they be the youngest in their class. The other day, a friend and I were discussing our differences on this topic. She thought it was better for her child to be one of the oldest in her class. I worried that as other children just a couple of weeks older head off to school, my child may feel left behind and have to make new, younger friends. When she finally starts school, she might not find the curriculum challenging or interesting. Lastly, and perhaps quite importantly, I would have to delay working full time for an additional year as I care for my child.

Studies, including those by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (U.S. Department of Education) and Institute of Fiscal Studies (U.K.), have concluded that being one of the older children in the class can actually be an advantage, at least in the earlier years. Mathematically, a child who just turned three is 33% younger than a child who is a day short of her fourth birthday. That means if a child missed the cut-off and is entering pre-K3 close to his fourth birthday, he may be physically bigger and stronger. Similarly, the difference in age is 20% for a child who just turned five, versus one who is a day short of being six. An older child may also be more adept at socializing, managing his emotions, and focusing than younger classmates. As a result, an older child may have more confidence and do better at school.

In fact, one in ten kindergarteners were at or near the age of six in 2000, and this proportion has been rising. Studies, including one by National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), suggest that middle to higher income parents of boys are the ones most likely to delay their children's kindergarten entry.
So, is my friend, who is considering moving to another school district because her child barely makes the age cut off right? Does it make sense to delay entry into school even if your child does not miss the cut-off? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "academic red-shirting" is not necessarily a winning strategy. Al though there is evidence that being among the youngest in a class may be an initial disadvantage, the age difference (on a percentage basis) drops to 10% for children entering fifth grade, and the average aptitude difference likewise reduces. On the other hand, there is evidence that children who are old for their grade are at greater risk of behavior problems when they reach adoles­cence.

My child is fairly young, so I will have some time deciding when she should start kindergarten school. My older child went to preschool, which have their own cut offs, so starting a preschool program at age three or four will allow me to monitor her physical, social and psychological aptitudes in comparison with her peers. When I believe my child is ready to go to preschool, thereare several alternatives, which I discuss in"What to Do when a Child Misses the School Age Cut Off" I am willing to consider.

Related article: What to Do when a Child Misses the School Age Cut Off
More from this contributor: Ease Your Child's Transition to Preschool Picking a Preschool for Our Child
Everyday Toiletries and Medicine Cabinet Essentials for Newborn Babies

What to Do when a Child Misses the School Age Cut Off

I am one of the parents whose child misses the school age cut off for starting kindergarten in our local school district. While there is a debate whether starting school as one of the oldest children is beneficial, which I discuss in the article "Missing the School Age Cut Off: Good or Bad?, I am considering alternatives that may help my child get the school or preschool experience, ifI believe my child is ready to catch the school bus, based on her physical, social and psychological aptitudes.

Schools with later deadlines: Several local private schools have cutoff dates that are later than that of the public school program.
Montessori schools: Many Montessori schools have toddler programs for children who are too young for nursery class. Since the Montessori philosophy allows for mixed age classes, children can attend the toddler program initially and then transition to the primary level, which allows children aged 3-nearly 6 to be in the same class.
Daycares: Most daycares accept students on a rolling or monthly basis. Several local daycares incorporate a curriculum that is likely not markedly different from an accredited preschool curriculum.
Homeschooling: Homeschooling young children, especially in a small group, could bring the benefits of social interaction and structured learning in an environment that is familiar to the children.
Drop-off and enrichment programs: My town has several drop off programs specifically designed for preschool readiness. Most programs run 1.5-2 .5 hours for 8-16 weeks, and they are available for one or more days a week. I can supplement drop-off programs with library story-time, sports, and art and craft classes.
Schools in other public school districts: Finally, if I am convinced of the benefits of my child starting kindergarten sooner rather than later, I would not rule out moving to another school district that has a later age cut off, say December 31. Although she would be the youngest quartile of her class, she will likely not be the youngest.
Perhaps, if I find it appropriate for my child to start school when the district deems it right, I will just follow along. Otherwise, my alternative strategies will come in handy for helping my child. However, as a mother, my goal right now is for my child to enjoy her childhood first, and then focus on programs to keep her stimulated and challenged.

Related topics: Missing the School Age Cut Off: Good or Bad?
More from this contributor: Ease Your Child's Transition to Preschool
Picking a Preschool for Our Child
Everyday Toiletries and Medicine Cabinet Essentials for Newborn Babies

How to Calm Your Child's Fear of Starting Preschool or Kindergarten

Whether your child is headed to nursery, pre-k, or kindergarten, starting school for the first time can be scary for little ones. Here are some tips to calm separation anxiety in young children (and their parents) and make the transition from home to preschool (or daycare) easier.

Since children love familiarity and routine, getting into a school going groove can be especially helpful for kids starting preschool, nursery school or kindergarten in the fall. A month or so before my child first started school, I started taking steps to make sure he knew what to expect in school when he got there for the first time. For tips on how to prepare your child for the first days of school, read my article "Off to School: Getting Your Child Ready For Starting School". For a list of suggested books for kids that will help prepare for starting school for the first time, read my article "Suggested books to help kids prepare for starting kindergarten or preschool."

Practice going to school: I walked or drove my child to school a couple of times each week. In the beginning, we did it at any hour, but towards the end, we practiced around school time. This helped him get familiar with the route and routine. I pointed out the signs, the speed hump, classrooms and any visible play equipment.

Describe what will happen on the first day/read books: I shared my own memories of school. We sang songs (my favorite is "Off to School" from The Best of Elmo album by Sesame Street), and read books together about going to preschool.

Don't ignore fears but focus on the positive things: One advice I got was not to let the child dwell on fears or imagination of what might happen. For example, since my child likes art, I showed her books about going to school where children are painting or doing crafts. We also talked about how a fictional character (Elmo, Dora or Superman) might handle it.

Practice separation: I was surprised to find out so many ways of practicing separation. We played simple separation games like hide-and-seek. Since my child has never been separated from family based care givers, I introduced him to alternate caregivers (e.g. babysitters). Occasionally, I sent him to one to two hour drop-off classes.

Meet other children going to the same class: Some schools will organize orientations and get children together prior to the start of school. I attended such events. Additionally, I introduced my child to some of the children in the class by arranging play dates in advance of starting school.

Don't over-schedule extra-curricular activities: Before school started, we got a schedule for enrichment activities. I expected my child to be initially tired and possibly more irritable than usual when he started school. I did not give in to peer pressure for signing him up in advance for before or after school activities.

Note: Articles may have been published in other media. Author retains copyrights. Photo: sxc.hu

Off to School: Planning a Successful Start to School for Kids

Your child is three, four, five! In just a few weeks he will head to nursery, pre-k, or kindergarten. Since starting school for the first time can be scary for little ones, I wrote down some ideas I used to calm separation anxiety and prepare my child for school.

My plan to get my child into a school going groove really kicked in in mid August, a few weeks before my child headed off to school for the first time.

Start adjusting sleep and meal times: My son’s first year of school was only three hours in the afternoon, which overlapped with his nap time. Since I expected him to miss his scheduled naptime, I started putting him to bed later. When he started going full time from 8:30 am to 3 pm, I adjusted his meal and sleep schedule again.

If your child gets anxious or upset, acknowledge the feeling: A week before Labor Day, my child decided never to go to school. The best advice I got was not to bribe or bargain to mask the distress. I tried to continue to be upbeat and focus on fun, rather than share my own separation anxiety with the child.

Give children control over what they can control: We did our back to school shopping together. A couple of weekends before school, we planned a special shopping trip for school supplies and clothes. He chose the Disney Store and Target. By offering simple choices like picking a lunchbox, backpack or outfit, I was able to get him excited.

Pack a piece of home to school: Although toys are generally not allowed, most schools will allow children to bring his/her favorite toy, lovey or blanket to class for the first few days. Our school requested a family photo for the classroom, which delighted my child when he found it waiting for him in class.
Make sure the child is well rested and fed: A sleepy or hungry child can quickly become a cranky child. When my child did not finish breakfast or his night’s sleep, I told the teacher in the morning.
Practice a good-bye routine and make a swift exit: Like Chester the Raccoon, I practiced a special goodbye wave, hand-shake or high-5. Our school instructed us when dropping off to give a quick kiss and hug and cheerfully do the goodbye routine. Even though it was tempting, I didn’t  linger, peek, or come back several times.
Help your child settle in, say when you are coming back: My child’s teacher had mailed him a welcome letter with her photo, which helped him recognize her. I told my child her name and how to say hello. Once he was settling in in his new surroundings, I said when I would come back in terms he would understand (for example, "I will be back after story-time.")
Do not give in and keep/take your child home: Thankfully, my child loved going to school and did not have a meltdown. However, many other kids in his class did. As parents, we were told to tell our children we expect them to go to school no matter how much they fuss, cry or stamp their feet. When my child missed school (from sickness, bad weather etc.), I remembered not make it an extra fun day. After all, school is fun and it is up to parents to keep reminding our kids that!

Note: Articles republished in other media, author retains copyrights. Photo sxc.hu