More Fun Than Allowed…with Kids

I recently became aware of a new music video site just for kids, although I rather enjoy it myself, (don’t tell the little ones).  Jitterbug.tv is a music community delivering classics from our favorite movies (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as well as new pop songs by artists like Barenaked Ladies and Dan Zanes.

I had the opportunity to check out some videos with my 2 year old and she was all about Elmo and Chris Brown singing the Signs song.  I loved Elmo and Norah Jones.

The community allows you to join for free and suggest and rate videos for the site.  Instead of looking all over the internet, you can make Jitterbug.tv your one stop for new music videos to enjoy with your children..

There’s a great interview with one of the founders over at Out With the Kids.com.  Great insight into a vision of two parents to help make music for children more readily accessible.  Check out the interview, then go directly to Jitterbug.tv.  You won’t be disappointed.

I think being a parent is the most creative job there is.  Constantly trying to keep harmony while still doing what we know is right, is a great balancing act and requires an avid imagination.

My children have never been neglected sweets, but I’ve noticed that they ask for them when they are visible, and don’t if we don’t have any, (at least to their knowledge).  Take cake and/or ice cream for instance.  If it’s just after a birthday party, and they know that we have cake, they want it for breakfast.  Same for ice cream.  Why not?  I’ve found a way to be the coolest mom on the block by allowing my children to have these forbidden treats for breakfast.

How?

Simple.  Kids want the things that look like sweets.  So I make banana or zucchini bread…but not really bread, instead I make cupcakes.  I put a little frosting on the top, and now it’s good enough for breakfast.  Add a frozen yogurt (I usually freeze gogurts, since they are easiest for the kids to eat) and some grapes, and all the neighborhood kids want to have breakfast at my house. 

Sure, I could just say “No.”  But aren’t we, as parents, already saying NO a lot?  Why not say “yes” and use some creativity to make it good for all of us.

Boog really wanted to learn the Twelve Days of Christmas and to help him out Hubby made a cheat sheet with pictures and numbers so he could remember.  He is not really fond of singing the song from the beginning, but instead likes to start at the end.  He’s been singing it for days.  When I asked how he got so good at remembering all twelve days he told me he had been practicing on the bus, at recess, and at bedtime.  He is very proud of himself, and so am I.  Maybe he can teach me the twelve days.

His sister is not so enthused with the spotlight not being on her, but she tolerates it, as you can see.

Enjoy!

My son did this project at school for a “countdown” to their Holiday Party.  His sister was a little envious, so we did one at home, so she could count down the days until Santa arrived.

Cut out strips of paper to make a chain.  glue or staple the “correct amount” of links to form a chain.

Cut out (or have child cut) a bell and attach at the top of the chain.

The saying we put on our bell is this (modified from son’s bell):

     December 1st through 25th

     Is the longest time of the year.

     Seems as though the fun and gifts

     Never will appear.

     Break a link every night

     As the sandman casts his spell

    And Christmas morning will be here

    By the time you reach the Bell.

The kids each have one in the doorway of their rooms, and break a link each night before going to bed.

Do NOT hit! 

That’s what we teach our children.  We also set the example.

I do not believe that there is any good lesson in spanking my children.  The only thing it teaches is that bigger people can physically harm smaller ones, and for what reason?

The old “I was spanked when I was a kid, and I turned out okay” rhetoric gets to me every-time.  I used to walk across the room to turn on the TV, change the channel, and adjust the volume.  Technology has made it easier, I don’t do those things anymore.  I use a remote.

Pediatricians and Psychologists now warn against striking our children due to the harmful repercussions it can cause, but as a society, we are slow to believe and trust in this technology and it disturbs me as to why.

No where in our adult lives is it okay to strike another.  When we are upset with a co-worker’s performance, or a neighbor’s meddling, we don’t hit them, and we would definitely suffer consequences if we did.  So why would we spank children? 

If they are misbehaving, showing a lack of self control, aren’t we showing a similar lack of self control by striking them?  If we really waited for the situation to deescalate, calmed ourselves and our child down, would we really still feel like a spanking was what they needed?

I understand that for some it is a religious belief, and I’m not trying to tell anyone how to raise their children.  Just think about what the real lesson is, and what you want your child to learn from it.

In 20 years, we can get our families together and see how my unspanked children compare to those that are physically punished. I have every confidence in myself as a parent, that my children will succeed in anything they put their mind to, they will be self confident, and they will never even dream of striking their children.  It will NOT be how they were raised.

PS:  Thank you so much to The Mom Buzz for promoting my previous post here

http://www.ohanamamablog.com/2008/11/ohana-mamas-monday-mom-buzz.html

You Rock!