Halloween safety tips

Each 31st of October children around the world, including yours, will be going to “trick or treat” full of excitement and glee. But despite being such an enjoyable celebration, through its nature, Halloween also means precautions must be taken into account when going with your kids to trick or treat.

First of all, you should make a map of their route so that you can avoid unsafe or dangerous areas with obstacles or broken pavements. You will avoid tripping and falling or walking through poorly lit streets. Also, make sure children have something lit on them, like a small flashlight, flashing attire or even consider making them wear light-up shoes or sneakers. This way your will ensure that they can’t be missed in the dark.

Then, you should carefully pick the shoes that your kids are going to wear. It’s best if you skip on the shoes that came with the costume because they won’t be comfortable enough and just go for sneakers or boots.

When you buy a costume containing a mask, make sure that it allows full visibility and breathing. If the holes are too small and you kid is still set on that costume you can make them larger with some scissors. It’s very important that the mask that can be easily be put on and off.
The costumes should be appropriate to the weather in the area you live in. If it’s very warm outside they shouldn’t be wearing thick and furry costumes and, likewise, if you’re facing cool evenings make sure your kid’s costumes are keeping them warm.

Teach your kids that they should only trick or treat the houses that are lit. Usually, neighbours that don’t want to be bothered keep their lights off. Also, keep in mind that you don’t go past 9 pm. This way the trick and trickers won’t disturb the residents and will also have time to enjoy their treats.

The children should be fed a consistent meal before they go trick or treat and they should also have a small bottle of water on them all the time so that they can stay hydrated.
If your children decide to go trick or treat with a group of other children make sure a parent will accompany them along their way or you could volunteer to be their supervisor.

Before leaving for the expedition check that your kids have went to the bathroom first then give them some final advice on how they should properly behave and wish them a fruitful trick or treat.

Happy Halloween!

Fish Smarty - because we make kids smarter

Ensuring that your kid stays healthy in school - Part I

Once your child starts going to kindergarten or just straight to school you might notice that his immune system will be challenged and the he might get sick easier than before. It only takes one child in a class to have a cold or a virus and it will immediately spread among his peers. Being in a community will, most likely, make him predisposed to sickness.

When it comes to viruses the most effective method that would prevent their spread among your kids colleagues is a very good hygiene or, more simple, washing hands. You must teach your children to wash their hands whenever they use the restroom, before they eat, and after they sneezed, blown their noses, came back from outside, where they played or just walked. You should also try to explain them why washing hands is necessary ever since they are old enough to understand. Continue to repeat this and talk to his teacher to also insist on the hand washing practice in class. This way, your kid will be less likely to forget.

Moreover, besides washing hands there are also other precautions that are equally important such as: teaching the children that they should cover their mouth and nose with their hands when sneezing or coughing. Then, they must wash the hands or use a sanitary, antibacterial solution (this could be either alcohol based or an evaporating gel). However, this antibacterial solution should only be used when they don’t have any proper means to wash their hands with water and soap. Children should also avoid touching their eyes or putting their fingers in their mouth when they haven’t washed their hands.

To be continued...

Fish Smarty - because we make kids smarter!

Cooking recipes for your kids

Fish Smarty is proposing a new set of activities for parents and children. Cooking together - recipes for kids; easy and fun outdoor activities.

Egg flowers

What do you need?
1 hard boiled egg;
1 piece of toast with butter;
Jelly;

It’s best if you have a cookie cutter so that you let your child cut the hard boiled eggs in perfect circles. Show your child how to arrange the egg circles to form a flower, then let him give it a try.

Put a piece of colored jelly in the center of the egg slices. To make the leafs and the stem use the toast greased with butter in the shape of a longer strip and 2 triangles (the leafs).

Your kid will be thrilled to help you prepare the flowers and to eat them.

Encourage him to experiment and create new shapes.

French toast

What do you need?
1 egg;
1/3 cup of milk;
1/8 spoon of vanilla;
or
1 egg;
4 spoons of flour;
1/3 cup of milk;

For both recipes, lightly whip the egg and add the other two ingredients. Ask your child to moist the bread in the mix while you fry the bread in an oiled pan, at a medium temperature until it becomes light brown on both sides. Each composition is sufficient for three slices of bread. French toast is a wonderful recipe which combines bread, eggs and milk for your child enjoyment!

After each cooking session ask your kids to help you clean up. They need to be part of each step of the process: cooking, cleaning and eating. Also, teach them to share with their friends and peers the food they have. It will help them be more giving, more sociable and less inclined to greed.

Cooking can bring together your kids and it can enhance the interaction between them and the other kids they interact with.



Fish Smarty - because we make kids smarter

What to do when it rains?

Rainy days are often a little sad and boring on a holiday for children. Parents find themselves in a situation in which they must come up with something equally fun as the outdoors for their children.

However, with a little bit of imagination and creativity parents and children can spend quality time indoors as well. You might think hopscotch is only meant to be played on the pavement, yet consider making your own indoor hopscotch with colored tape. This game can last for quite a while because it is so entertaining for children, no matter the place.

Making a camp in the children’s room or even in the hotel room will be very entertaining for them. They could either pretend they are characters of an adventure tale or that they went camping. They might even sleep in the improvised tent and this will prove to be very entertaining.

You might think that if you have to look after your children you might not have time to cook. Bring them along in the kitchen and ask them to help you. They will be particularly thrilled when you will be cooking sweets. Try not to choose something complicated and give them precise tasks such as washing the vegetables, mixing some ingredients or peeling fruits. They will enjoy doing something new and they will be particularly thrilled of seeing the result of their hard work.

If they are old enough, you should teach your children how to play cards, board games or chess. Reading, also if they are old enough, will be one of their favorite indoor activities if you show them that it is not a boring or mandatory activity. Allow them to choose their own books.

However, if they don’t feel like doing any of the above, don’t be afraid, grab some raincoats, some rain boots and some umbrellas and go outside where you can explore the environment in a way that is new to them. Allow them to run around, to get dirty, to feel the rain and the windy weather. They’ll love it!

Fish Smarty - because we make kids smarter

Outdoor Expedition Part I

Children and the outdoor spaces are deeply interconnected.

A child’s place is definitely in the outdoors as nature plays an elementary role in their development. Yet, leaving for expeditions in the outer environment raises many concerns for each parent. They either worry too much, or don’t worry at all. Below you can find some helpful advice for your outdoor exploration with your children.

As tempting as it may be to keep your child in the safety of your hour house or of your back yard, or even of the park you go on a daily basis, you should be more endearing, step outside the safety zone, and try new things, more fresh air, and new areas. It will only be beneficial for your little man. It is best that each time you go ahead to the outdoors you pick your place wisely considering two or more from these elements: grass, trees, sand, mud, water, flowers or animals.

Once, children had numerous places for free play. They played everywhere, on the streets, sidewalk, alleys, be it park or a vacant parcel that the city offered. In the suburbs or villages they took advantage of the forests, rivers or fields. The opportunities were limitless and that with little or no parental supervision. Nobody worried something might happen. Now, the situation has changed considerably. Parents worry and are fearful so they carefully supervise every step their child makes. Therefore, children usually stay and play indoors or most of they outdoors activities consist of learning and playing sports.

Still, parents should go head for the outskirts of the city to allow their children to play in the woods, to head for the lake or the river or to run around the grassy fields. Remember, children can easily get bored. This is why they can choose from a variety of outdoor games they can play.

No Kids Allowed movement is spreading

Fish Smarty is a well known supporter of Kids Allowed Movement, however recently it came to his attention that children all over US are ban in specific public places.

Read more here: What's the matter with kids today and why doesn't anyone want them around? In June, Malaysia Airlines banned babies from many of their first class cabins, prompting other major airlines to consider similar policies.

Lately, complaints about screaming kids are being taken seriously, not only by airlines, but by hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, and even grocery stores.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-no-kids-allowed-movement-is-spreading-2516110/

Fish Smarty - because we make kids smarter!

10-Year-Old 'Workout Kid' Has Grade Schoolers Sweating And Football Coaches Drooling

That's an interesting article on Kids health and sport.

C.J. Senter may or may not be the next Tony Horton or the next Barry Sanders, but he is definitely the next 10-year-old to watch.

Granted, when most people hear "child prodigy," they rightfully raise an eyebrow and wonder who is pulling the strings. Add a workout DVD by a fourth-grader with sculpted muscles to the mix and "cute" can turn to "concerning." But it turns out the story behind "C.J. The Workout Kid" is a lot more inspiring than insidious....

More information here.

Fish Smarty - because we make kids smarter!