Family Time

• Finding the Right TV Balance for Your Family
  Like it or not, television is part of our lives. However, parents can use television to help get children interested in reading by taking out library books on the topic of the show. TV can also be used to spark conversations with children and encourage them to think critically. Select a program, watch together and then talk about it. Conversation starters include:
  • Tell me why this is your favorite program.
  • The people you see are pretending. Can you tell it's not real? How can you tell?
  • Who is your favorite character? Why?
  • How do you think the story will end?
  • Would you like to have a friend like that? Why?
  Source: Learning Leaders
• Prioritize
  What is the center of your family? That's all that really matters, what you set out as the focus of your world and how you want your children to experience life. For your base camp, remember that most days, food, naps, adequate playtime and laundry make the world go round.

• A Thought for the Day...
  Positive mothering starts with you! Its all about attitude - love your children first for their sheer existence in your life and tackle the mundane in monumental form - it has to get done so get it out of the way when you can so its not in your way!
• Be Prepared.
  As a rule, never leave home unprepared for an emergency.  From head to toe, think ahead.  Keep all necessary medical information, such as insurance cards and emergency reference sheets, with you at all times. Keep a complete first aid kit in the trunk of your car with fresh materials just in case.  And if you can, always travel with a cell phone and adequate money in case you meet with an unexpected emergency situation.
• Plan for Fun
  Plan ahead for weekend fun and field trips by scouting out the local freebies through the park service, parents papers, libraries, etc. Find time weekly for one nifty field trip for a new experience. Pack the car with the essentials the night before so you can hit the ground running in the a.m. Include directions so you arrive unscathed and the camera to capture the fun!

• Have a Central Clearinghouse at Home
  Have all family members use an in-box to place important papers. This is your launching pad to success. Review this box daily to update your calendar system. Next, file all paperwork in activity specific folders by family member, such as Dad church, Joey school, or Mary soccer, etc. The key benefit here - no more refrigerator clutter. Keep it clean for the important things, such as artwork.