Friday, October 28, 2011

Celebrating Fall

The fall season is a wonderful time to plan those outdoor activities for your family. Wichita, Kansas has an amazing selection to choose from this weekend if your family doesn’t celebrate Halloween. There are hayrack rides, corn mazes, moonwalks, costume contests, pumpkin decorating and fireworks for just a few ideas. Listed below are some of the locations sponsoring these fall activities. You can visit their websites for more details.

• A-Maze-in-Grace sponsored by Christ Community Church. There is a 13 acre maze, pumpkin decorating activities, wagon rides, and special treats.

• Prairie Pines Pumpkin Days has a kid’s haunted house, corn maze, hayrides and a field of screams for older children.

• Cox Farm Pumpkin Patch and Maze has all these activities plus hot-air balloon rides.

• Family Fall Festival at Camp Hyde sponsored by the YMCA seems to have the largest assortment to choose from with live music, a bonfire, moonwalks, a magic show, costume contest, hayrides and fireworks.

The weather this weekend will entice everyone to spend the day outdoors enjoying nature. Bundle up your family for the fun as winter is heading our way.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Keeping children and pets safe at Halloween

Halloween has been a favorite holiday for children of all ages for a long time. On this one special night they can dress-up to be any hero or heroine they choose and receive a smorgasbord of candy at the same time. Halloween is also a night where people will play pranks or destroy property randomly. To keep your children and pets safe there are a few guidelines that all parents should consider.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has asked us to consider the following guidelines:

Choose costumes that are reflective, flame retardant and easy to move in.
Masks will hinder a child’s visibility so try make-up or hats as an alternative.
Children should have a flashlight, carry a cell phone and know how to call 911 in case of an emergency.
Younger children should be escorted by their parents. Older siblings should check in periodically to ensure their safety.
Children should stay in well lighted areas and remain on the sidewalks. They should never enter a home for their treat.
When your children return home sort through their candy and remove any suspicious items.

Unfortunately pets have been victims of Halloween pranks so if you plan to be away for the evening make sure your pets are safe in your home or garage. You will also want all your children’s toys and bikes placed safely in the garage to prevent theft or vandalism. If you have candle-lit pumpkin displayed you should never leave it unattended and place it on a sturdy table away from children and pets. Everyone can enjoy the festivity of this fall celebration if we think safety first.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Academic success and your teacher

The school year is underway and by now your child should be feeling comfortable with their new teacher. Your child’s relationship with their teacher is very important to their academic success. Children who get along with their teachers learn more. They will also feel more confident when asking questions and getting extra help when needed. This will make it easier for them to understand new materials and perform better on tests.

Work together

If your child is complaining about their teacher ask for specific concerns. It could be they are just missing their teacher from last year. Teachers want to get along with their students so the goal would be to create trust and kindness by communicating honestly about any concerns that your child may have. First make an appointment with the teacher to communicate the problem. Next discuss both sides of the issue and create a plan with the teacher to give your child more support where there is an academic concern. Follow-up with the teacher after the plan has been in place for a few weeks to see if the changes have helped your child’s academic progress. If there continues to be a concern after a few weeks then ask to meet with the principal or counselor to involve them with the issue. Let your child know that you are all working together to help him be successful at school.

It is also important for your child to be responsible for their part of the learning process. Students should attend class regularly and be ready to learn with the appropriate supplies. They should be prepared and have assignments completed as requested. Students should also display a positive attitude in class every day even though they feel there may be a concern. When everyone works together as a team your child will be successful.