Talking to Kids When Tragedy Strikes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s guest post is from Aaron Anderson a Westminster, Colorado therapist who blogs about family and relationships at The Relationship Rx.

With the recent tragedies such as the ones in Boston, Newtown and elsewhere, many parents feel confused about how to talk to their children about such tragic events. Children have a natural curiosity, so when they see things on TV they’re going to ask about them. This can create awkward moments for parents who have to come up with answers quick.

What’s even worse for Coloradoans is that we don’t just see these tragedies on national TV. Recently, we have seen tragedies in our own schools and communities. We have had friends and loved ones affected by the awful events that occurred with Jessica Ridgeway and at the Century 16 multiplex theater in Aurora.  We haven’t just seen these events on TV, we’ve heard about them from people who were there – and so have our kids.

These awful events often leave parents at a loss of how to talk to your children about them.  Below are five ways to talk to your children about tragedies in ways that not only help them to understand what happened, but also help them learn from them and help them feel safe.

Keep a Normal Routine. Children thrive on predictability and reliability. When tragic events occur, however, they question how predictable things are and they feel less safe. You can help your children by keeping them in their normal, predictable routine so they feel a sense of normalcy and safety despite what events are going on elsewhere.

Talk explicitly About Safety. As mentioned above, when tragic events occur children worry about their own safety. Don’t just tell them that they will be safe. Tell them how they’ll be safe. Tell them about how police officers are being more vigilant, and how you as a parent are talking to people (such as principals and teachers) to make sure they are safe at school and other important places.

Talk About It As Often As They’d Like: Parents think they need to have ‘the talk’ with their kids about tragedies. More accurately, however, parents need to think of it more like having ‘the talks’.  The more you talk with your child about it, the more questions they’ll have answered and the safer they’ll feel. This also relieves some pressure off of you as a parent because you don’t have to cram all the information you can into one long awkward conversation.

Grieve With Them. Too often, parents try to hide their emotions from their children. They think that if their children believe they aren’t worried then their children won’t worry, either. However, children worry about sad things no matter how strong of a face their parents have. Instead of trying to hide it, talk with your children openly about your feelings. Tell them that you’re sad for those who got hurt and their relatives and friends. This gives your children strong examples of how to emotionally cope with difficulties and how to move forward even though things are emotionally tough.

Help Them Learn From it. Part of your job as a parent is to teach your child morals and values that will help them succeed and contribute to society.  When these events happen it’s important to teach your children important life lessons that will keep them safe and will help them in the future. This will also help your child be safe because they’ll know important things they can do to keep themselves out of harm’s way.

No parent wants their child to think about the tragedies that happened in Boston, Newtown, or here in Colorado. Most parents don’t like talking about it themselves, let alone like talking to their children about it. But following these recommendations can help your child cope through them and even come out stronger for it.

Aaron Anderson is a therapist and owner of The Marriage and Family Clinic in Westminster, Colorado. In addition to his private practice, he is a speaker, presenter, adjunct faculty for CU, and is a regular contributor to exceptional marriage and family blogs, websites and magazines like the one you’re reading now. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Check out his blog The Relationship Rx and his twitter profile @MarriageDr for more great information about marriage and families.

Is Minimalism Possible for Families?

If your family is anything like most families, the weekends are usually filled with cleaning and maintaining the house and the car, picking up toys and doing endless loads of laundry.

What if you could take one step that would free up more time for your family and ultimately simplify your life? Would you take it?

Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn were on the fast track. Successful jobs, busy, fashionable – living the life, you could say. But, they say, they were also unhealthy, wasteful and, to their own surprise and horror, deeply unhappy.

“We discovered that working 70-80 hours a week and buying even more stuff didn’t fill the void. In fact, it only brought us more debt and fear and anxiety and loneliness and guilt and paranoia and depression,” says Millburn.

So they decided to embrace minimalism. They quit their jobs and threw out or donated the majority of their material possessions. Then they started to write about it at www.theminimalists.com. Now the website is read by over one-hundred thousand visitors each month who are also hoping to release themselves of the drag of a fast-paced, materialistic lifestyle and bring more meaning into their days.

Now, most people would scoff and say, “Well that’s fine for them, but we have a mortgage, kids, and commitments. We can’t just get rid of everything.”

The thing is, families don’t have to walk away from everything to benefit from the principles of minimalism, say Nicodemus and Millburn.

The Minimalists, as they are known on their website, will be hosting a meet-up event at the Bovine Metropolis Theatre in Denver on Wednesday, March 6 to meet Colorado readers and talk about their latest book, Live a Meaningful Life.

Nicodemus and Millburn took some time out to tell us how anyone, even busy families, can incorporate minimalism and live a more meaningful life:

People tend to think of minimalism as an extreme lifestyle mostly practiced by monks and hermits, how do you define a minimalistic lifestyle?

Ryan Nicodemus:  Some people meet me and when we talk about minimalism they think we live a radical lifestyle. They say things like, “I could never be a minimalist.” The truth is, this lifestyle is not radical. We’re not radical people. If you spend time with us, you’d realize that the minimalist lifestyle isn’t much different from yours.

Joshua Fields Millburn:  I don’t count my stuff, but I have hundreds of things, even after I got rid of 90% of my stuff. I own a car. I own pots and pans and kitchen utensils. I own a queen-size bed. I own a smartphone. I own a laptop computer. I own a desk. I own a guitar. I own some furniture. I own some books. I own a clothes dresser. I own a washer and dryer. I own more than a few days worth of clothes. But there are three key distinctions:

• I don’t own excess stuff. I have only the things I use frequently, things that add value to my life; but I don’t have extra stuff, I don’t have “just-in-case” items. If I wanted to change my lifestyle, then my definition of “excess” would change as well. For example, if I wanted to become a peripatetic writer, traveling the world like my friend Colin, then I would need to drastically reduce my possessions. But, at this point in my life, I’m happy with where I live, and I don’t desire to travel extensively. If that changes, then I will change.

• I constantly question my possessions. Do I still need this? When is the last time I used this? What would happen if I got rid of this? Could someone use this more than me? Because I constantly question my possessions, I am in a perpetual state of paring down, which feels good. There is no endgame; I will never arrive. I will continue the journey the rest of my life.

• I don’t give meaning to my possessions. Most importantly, I understand that my possessions can be replaced. Someone recently asked me what I would grab if my apartment caught fire. “Nothing,” I responded. “Everything I own is replaceable.”

What about for families? Kids come with a lot of extras – toys, bouncy seats, sporting equipment, toys, backpacks, toys — is it really possible for a family to live a minimalist lifestyle?

Yes. One of the guys who introduced us to the concepts of minimalism, Leo Babauta, has a wife and six kids. He’s a minimalist – very minimal, in fact.

What benefits do you think families can realize from living with less stuff?

One of the biggest benefits is time. Once we jettisoned the excess stuff in our lives that stuff that took so much time to accumulate, we were able to spend quality time with the people closest to us and less time taking care of our stuff. Think about what you’d do if you had less stuff but more time.

As adults it may be easier to see the benefits of minimalism, any tips for getting kids on board?

Show the benefits, not the actions. Humans, especially children, are motivated by the end result much more than the process. Show them what they can do with their extra time – their extra freedom – and then show them how simplifying will help them realize those benefits.

What advice do you have when one member of the family is holding out against going minimalist?

The answer is easier than you might think: start with yourself. You must first set the example for the people around you. We both embraced simpler lives a few years ago and before we knew it, many of the same people who thought we were crazy at first started asking us how they could de-clutter and donate and live a more meaningful life.

Actually just the thought of becoming a minimalist can seem kind of overwhelming: going through boxes and closets, finding places that will take stuff, setting guidelines for the new lifestyle, etc. Can you recommend one step that any family could take toward minimalism right now, today?

Start small with one thing a day.

What if you removed one material possession – just one – from your life each day for the next month? What would happen? Would you have 30 fewer things a month from now? Probably not. You’d likely jettison far more than 30 items.

You see, once you gain momentum, once you strengthen your simplicity muscle, once you feel the benefits, embracing minimalism becomes easy. The more you do it, the freer and happier and lighter you feel, and thus the more you want to throw overboard. The more action you take, the more you want to take action.

To embrace the simple life, you needn’t rent a dumpster and dispose of all your stuff. You need only to start somewhere. You can start small with one room or one thing each day. You can start with yourself. Once your friends and family notice the benefits you’re experiencing, they’ll hop on board in their own ways.

 Talk Back: Have you taken any steps toward simplifying your family’s life? Do you have any house rules to control clutter?

7 Winter Boredom Busters

Try these 7 fun activities to bust winter boredom!

This blog has been on a little hiatus while Colorado Parent is undergoing some exciting changes. Watch for our April issue of Colorado Parent in print and you will see a fresh new design and even more local parenting information. We can’t wait to share it with our loyal readers and our third generation of Colorado moms and dads!

Ah, January, the month of fresh starts. While the newness of the year feels like a breath of fresh air, the thought of being stuck in the house for two to three more months with the cabin-fever kids can be stifling. Here are some ways to help the whole family make the best of winter or enjoy a little taste of spring even with snow on the ground.

1. Bake or cook something

Winter is the perfect time to be in the warm kitchen. Kids love to peel, chop, measure, concoct and stir, especially when there is a delicious treat to look forward to at the end. Cooking and baking also offer fun opportunities for lessons in math (measuring), science (baking chemistry) and social studies (culture and food). Once the summer rolls around, the kitchen will probably feel like an oven. Cooking warm soups or baking something will fall to the bottom of the “fun” list, so enjoy it while you can.

2. Create whimsical creatures, puppets or dolls

Wait! Don’t jump past this one. You do not have to be an artist to have fun creating simple dolls or creatures. Grab an old sock, some buttons, magic markers, yarn and glue and the kids can paste together a crazy puppet. Check out this article on page 15 of our Winter Fun Guide with ideas for Woodland creatures made from items found around the yard. Adapt this idea to see what you and the kids can create using cereal boxes, egg cartons and other items in the recycle bin. And remember there is no right or wrong. It’s just about having fun.

3. Start a calisthenics competition

Who can do the most jumping jacks? What about sit ups or push ups? Create a chart where the family can track their physical achievements each day or week. No fancy equipment needed for this type of exercise – just your own body weight. Google “calisthenics” for other exercises that can be done at home without special equipment.

4. Have an indoor picnic

Pack a simple picnic-style meal and a little imagination and lay a blanket on the family room floor. Invite the kids to decide your imaginary location – their favorite park, grandma’s backyard, or a recent vacation spot. Then reminisce about your favorite characteristics of that location as you enjoy your picnic. Just remember, you are imagining you are outside, so no television allowed.

5. Hold a game night

Spend an evening playing favorite board games or learning a new game. The internet is full of instructions and videos to help the family figure out a new card game. Or, if the kids are feeling ambitious, they could create their very own board game with things found around the house or devise their own version of a card game.

6. Plant something

There is nothing like watching a little green sprout emerge from the dirt to make you feel like spring is not far away. Pick a couple simple seeds like beans or even grass. Fill a pot with soil, plant the seeds and teach the kids to care for the plant. Watch the plants as they grow. This may even inspire the family to plant a little garden.

7. Take advantage of good weather days

Lucky us! We live in Colorado where 60-degree days can pop up in the middle of January. Take advantage of the good weather days to get the kids outside for a walk, a bike ride, a park visit or just to explore and play. Whether you have an infant or a 14 year old, a stroll in the fresh air and sunshine will appease the cabin fever. And, the lingering glow of that outdoor time will help get everyone through to the next warm snap.

What are your best ideas for Winter Boredom Busters? Tell us in the comments below

Deborah Mock is the editor of Colorado Parent magazine.

The Ultimate Cheap-and-Patriotic Halloween Costume

Lydia Rueger from Lydisms is our guest blogger today. Halloween costumes can be expensive and we don’t all  have the ability or time to whip up something on the sewing machine, so here was Lydia’s solution to her daughter’s request for an $80 costume.

It’s a down economy and a presidential election year—could there possibly be a MORE appropriate 2012 Halloween costume than a homemade Statue of Liberty designed for 5 bucks? I doubt it. (Hello, Humility? I’m sorry, she’s out to lunch.)

Last year my daughter came across a very nice Statue of Liberty costume in a catalog, but with torch, robe and crown, it came to about $80. While I was pleased about her costume choice considering the less-than-original-princess-and-fairy-costumes of years past, I decided I could do better with my own resources.

From around the house, we gathered the following for Lady Liberty:      

Painting a crown for Lady Liberty costume.

Cardboard
Sage green paint leftover from a home-painting project
Black paint
A princess crown (for Liberty’s crown)
An empty ribbon spool (for torch)
Foam sheets used for packing breakable items (torch flame)
Small flashlight (torch “light”)

(Also needed: Ponytail holder, stapler, safety pins, scissors, markers and duct tape)

At the thrift store, we purchased:
Two sage green curtains, $5 (for robes)

Then we went to work. Here’s how it came together:

Instructions
• The Crown: Cut a cardboard piece to cover the entire front of any child’s princess crown; paint green and let dry. Once it’s dry, paint black rectangles across the green piece. Cut long, skinny triangles from cardboard; paint green. Once all paint is dry, attach front piece to crown with duct tape. Attach crown spires with a stapler. Touch up paint once crown is assembled, if necessary.

• The Torch: Paint a large empty spool of ribbon with green paint. Using markers, color foam sheets yellow and orange and cut 3-4 pieces into a tear drop shape for flames. Glue foam flames around the top inside edges of the spool, leaving a hole through the middle. Slide small flashlight into the spool with the light part up. If the flashlight doesn’t fit exactly, add more foam around the edges. When the flashlight is turned on, it makes a great Liberty torch that actually lights—fun for nighttime trick or treating!

A cute costume that was fun to make for just $5.

• The Robe: I do not sew, but pinning curtains to form a robe worked fine, and was less work for me. Only thing is, you have to re-pin if you wear the costume again. Pin one curtain loosely around child so it drapes around the body. Fold second curtain into a long rectangle and drape over one shoulder like a sash; secure under the other arm with a large ponytail holder (easier than pins, and removable).

What favorite cheap-and-original costumes have you created? Post it on Colorado Parent’s facebook page!

Life-Saving School Bus Tips

Teach kids school bus safety whether they ride or not.

The wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round and transport twenty-five million students to and from school each day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the greatest risk of injury is not in riding the bus, but approaching or leaving the bus. It’s never too early to teach your child about bus safety, whether they ride everyday or not. Here are some guidelines from the NHTSA:
• Children should get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

• When the bus approaches, stand at least three giant steps (6 feet) away from the curb and line up away from the street.

• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens and the driver says that it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.

• If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a place at least five giant steps (10 feet) ahead of the bus before you cross.  Be sure that the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver.

• Use the handrails to avoid falls. When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing with drawstrings, and book bag straps don’t get caught in the handrails or the doors.

• Never walk behind the bus.

• Walk at least three giant steps away from the side of the bus.

• If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up because the driver may not be able to see you.

It is also worth a reminder to parents and other drivers: SLOW DOWN in school zones or where children catch the bus, and obey school bus laws.

Warning Signs Your Child is Being Bullied

Back-to-school for some kids may be more like back-to-bullying.

A new school year is just around the corner. While that usually means kids will be making new friends or reuniting with old friends, it can also mean the beginning of –or the return to –peer stresses and bullying.

It’s a sad statement that as many as 70 percent of children will be a victim of a bully during their school years. And, according to the American Medical Association, as many as 160,000 students skip school every day because they fear bullying.

Even sadder, it’s often hard for a parent to identify the signs of bullying. Despite the intense stress and anxiety that comes with bullying, children often won’t tell when they are being bullied. Maybe it’s embarrassment or maybe they fear that their bully will find out and things will just get worse, whatever the reasons parents need to be especially vigilant.

Here are some warning signs to watch for:

• A sudden change in personality, including loss of appetite, unexplained mood swings, uncharacteristic anger, social withdrawl or acting out.
• Daily stomachaches or headaches or a refusal to go to school.
• A drop in grades or loss of interest in schoolwork.
• Frequent requests for more lunch money.
• Unexplained scratches or bruises, or torn or soiled clothes.

Certain types of children are also more likely to be targets of bullies. Special-needs students can be picked on for their differences, whether physical or social. But researchers believe any child who is particularly sensitive, lacks social boundaries, has low self-esteem, fails to defend himself or, especially, does not have a peer group is more likely to be bullied. Bullies pick targets that are either passive or easily provoked.

If you find that your child is being bullied or maybe is the bully, stopbullying.gov is full of valuable resources for responding to bullying.

Tell us: Has your child been on either side of the bullying epidemic?

Creative Ways to Serve Your Family Fresh Fruits & Veggies

Our guest blogger today is Gemma Martin, a LiveWell Mom in Denver. LiveWell Colorado is an organization devoted to preventing and reducing obesity in Colorado by promoting healthy eating and active living.

Including fruits and veggies into my families’ daily meals has always been a BIG priority of mine. Growing up in England, every Sunday my mother would cook a traditional ‘Sunday Lunch’ which contained between 3-4 varieties of steamed vegetables. I grew up knowing that it wasn’t an option to leave the veggies on my plate and I learned to love the taste of all the different kinds my mother would serve. I want to instill the same kind of value to my children and here are some helpful ideas of how I plan to.

Aside from the obvious health reasons to eat fruit and vegetables these foods make your plate more colorful and delicious! Here are some fun and creative food ideas for both fruit and veggies, and then I will let you in on some sneaky secrets of mine to get my kids to eat up the goodness!

• Fruit kabobs

• Fruit pizza (large or mini)

• Veggie pasta salad

• Corn on the cob

• Chicken and rice with veggie mix

• Apples with peanut butter or caramel

• Real fruit popsicles

• Carrots and ranch dip

• Raisins

I find that my best bet to get fruit and vegetables eaten is to incorporate them with other things, even if it is something sweet like caramel dip. One of my favorite recipes is chicken and rice; with the creamy sauce you can disguise the veggies. I choose ‘small’ veggies, like a mixed bag with peas, corn and small carrots. The kids love it and never complain; again the veggies really brighten up the meal!

Corn on the cob is great in the summer, its extra delicious because it’s in season, it’s usually cheap on a special deal at your local supermarket, it’s a bright color, and it’s fun and different for the kids to pick up and eat. My son and daughter LOVE getting out the corn on the cob holders to put in the ends. It truly makes it more fun for them to eat because of the utensil change!

Fruit kabobs are a double whammy because you can have the kids help put together the fruit on the kabob sticks. Good fruits for this idea are; grapes, banana’s, pineapple chunks, watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries.

Another option for fruit is the real fruit popsicles, although it’s not exactly like picking up an apple it is an icy cold treat and you get a serving of fruit! Also try to keep handy snacks around like raisins, and craisins.

Fruit pizzas are simply delicious and beautiful to look at. They are so colorful and you can really get creative on how you arrange the fruits on the top of them. My personal favorite fruit on these is kiwi fruit; the green against the other colors looks awesome! I like the full size pizza or individual cookie style pies. Either way these are GREAT and are sure to be a hit at any party or BBQ feast.

Above all, keep your fridge stocked. This is easy for almost anyone. You will eat what you have on hand, period. So, every time you run into the store pick up something fresh, in fact make a promise to yourself that you will pick up 2 fresh items whether if be a fruit and or a vegetable. That way you will incorporate them into your meals!

I hope you find these idea’s helpful, good luck and happy cooking everyone!

What are your Creative Ideas for Serving Fruits & Veggies? Comment below

How to Talk to Children About Tragic Events

Many of us awoke to the news of the tragic shooting at the midnight premiere of the latest Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora Colo. As parents, our hearts break for the victims and their families but we also begin to think about how this might affect our own children.

Twelve people were killed and 59 wounded in the early morning hours of July 19, 2012, when a gunman opened fire inside a movie theater during the film. Try as we might to protect our kids from violence like this, they will likely see the news or hear about the events and have questions and fears. They will look to parents for answers at a time when we are trying to make sense of this ourselves.

You can help reduce children’s fears and worries by what you say and how you share the information. The suggestions below, geared for children ages 6 and up, will help guide you in talking to your kids about tragic events. Remember, each child is different, so use your best judgment in choosing what to say and how to talk to your own child.

• Let your child hear the news from you. With all of the media attention, your child is bound to see something about tragic events on TV or the Internet. Friends and other kids may also talk about it and disturbing news may be harder to hear this way. As much as possible, talk to your children before they hear the news elsewhere.

• Start with the end of the story. Reassure them that the event is over. This will reduce anxiety as you are sharing the news.

• Reassure them that they are safe. Tell them that something bad has happened in another area, but it is over and they are safe. When situations like this happen, children need to know that they are removed from the event. If the tragedy happened near your home, do not focus on that. It will only increase anxiety and future fears. Help your child feel that there is some distance between them and the tragedy.

• Share with them that the person who did this bad thing was not well.  I told my children that this man most likely had a rare disease in the mind and was not able to think clearly. Children need to know that this is not a common behavior. The National PTA also suggests reassuring children that, while there are people who do things that are hard to understand, for the vast majority of the time, we are safe.

• If it’s true, let your child know that the police have caught the suspect. Children feel more secure knowing that the bad guy was caught and cannot hurt them. In the case that a suspect has not been caught, do not lie but do not focus on that information. Instead reassure children that police, the government and many other people are working very hard to be sure we are safe.

• Be conservative with details. Any details you may share depends on your child’s age. Use your best judgment and share as little information as possible about the violence and of course, do not share graphic descriptions.

Children will most likely be sad and maybe fearful when initially hearing tragic news. Give them time to talk about how they feel and to process the information. Answer their questions as honestly as you can in age-appropriate language. As the days go on, be available to listen. Many children will process the information and then will want to talk more later on. Let them know that you are available to talk about the event as much as they need, whenever they need. Check in with them over the coming weeks and let them know it helps to talk. Here are some other tips for the weeks to come:

• Children naturally process and come to terms with difficult information through play and creativity. After hearing the news, my children began playing on their own and started acting out a play involving a child who needed to be rescued. Later, my youngest daughter wanted to draw images that were soothing and calming for her.
• Taking action or helping in times of crisis is a way for children to manage their feelings and is a meaningful way to give back and help others. For instance, make a card for the families who have lost a loved one. In addition to sending a caring message to the families this is also a way to help your child process their feelings and learn empathy. Brainstorm with your child other ways that you might be able to help.
• Comfort your child and give them extra love and TLC. Don’t be surprised if your child is more clingy, insecure, worried, fearful or irritable for the next few days or even weeks. These are all natural reactions to a tragedy.
• Structure and schedule helps children feel secure. Talk about the plans for the day and give your child activities to do.
• Make sure your child does not watch the news. Disturbing images and reports tend to increase anxiety. Images of tragedies are often harder to forget than verbal descriptions and can cause longer lasting fears.
• Monitor your child over the coming weeks. If he or she remains excessively anxious or fears increase after two weeks to a month have passed, you may want to seek professional help.

Anya Beebe MA, LPC is a licensed professional counselor, art therapist, certified COPE parent trainer and mother of two. www.WholeHeartParenting.com

These ideas are intended to give helpful guidance for children who are not immediately involved with a tragedy. If your family has been directly affected by the shooting or other tragic events Aurora Mental Health is offering free 24 hour counseling services at 11059 East Bethany Dr. Aurora, Colorado.  In addition, people may call in on their crisis line at 303-617-2300. For more information, please take a look at their website at http://www.aumhc.org For ongoing help or to find a therapist in your area, the Denver Therapist Network is also a great resource denvertherapistsnetwork.com.

 More Resources:

Tips from Children’s Hospital Colorado for talking to your kids about the Aurora Movie Theater Shooting

Tips from the National PTA for discussing hate and violence with your children

Protecting Your Family in the Heat

Holy Heatwave! So far summer 2012 has been a scorcher in Colorado, with the hottest average temperatures for a June on record, record setting highs and a week of over-100 degree days. Amy McCarthy the Content and Community Manager of Parenthood.com is our guest blogger today with tips for protecting your kids from heat stroke.

At a time when kids are outside the most, parents need to watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition. Kids and the elderly are at the highest risk, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here are some strategies to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke:

• Hydration – Make sure that your child has plenty of drinking water. When kids are running around inhigh temperatures, they’re susceptible to severe heat cramps in their arms, legs or abdomen,especially if they’re not hydrated. Keep a close eye on very young children and make sure they’re drinking water regularly. For older kids, consider purchasing a refillable water jug that they can keep with them while playing outside.

• Cool Off – Require that your kids come inside once an hour on very warm days to refill their water bottles and cool off with a fan or air conditioning.

• Be Aware of the Signs – Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are different, but they’re both serious and require attention. KidsHealth.org lists the following signs of heat exhaustion:

– dehydration

– fatigue

– weakness

– clammy skin

– headache

– nausea and/or vomiting

– hyperventilation (rapid breathing)

– irritability

If you notice any of these signs in your child, bring him indoors or to a shady area. Loosen or remove any clothing, and encourage him to eat and drink. You can also try to bathe him in cool (not cold) water. If your child is too exhausted to eat or drink, call a medical professional; fluids given intravenously may be necessary to prevent severe dehydration.

Heat stroke is more severe than heat exhaustion and requires quick medical attention. Boys Town, a national child and healthcare organization, says one or more of the following symptoms may be a sign of heat stroke:

– A fever of at least 104°F

– Unconsciousness or delirium and child may or may not be sweating

– Flushed skin that is hot to the touch

– Fast heart rate

– Nausea and vomiting

“If you notice one or more signs of heat stroke, call for an ambulance and contact a physician immediately,” says Boys Town pediatrician Kelli Shidler, M.D. “It is essential that you cool your child down right away by moving them to a cool place, sponging the skin with cool water or ice packs and fanning their body.”

For more information, visit the CDC or Boys Town Pediatrics.

– Amy McCarthy is the Content and Community Manager at Parenthood.com

Tell Us: What are some of the ways that your family is staying cool on these hot summer days?

Colorado Mom Crafts Against the Clock on TLC’s New “Craft Wars”

TLC’s new series CRAFT WARS, which premieres Tuesday, June 26, pits 3 crafters against each other in the ultimate crafting showdown.

Have you been bitten by the crafting bug? You’re not alone. Crafting is a $30 billion industry. Mom crafters are more creative than ever before—just check out websites like Pinterest. This Tuesday TLC launches its new series, CRAFT WARS to celebrate the crafting lifestyle.

On the series premiere of CRAFT WARS, three talented crafters, including Traci Remley, of Littleton, Colorado, face off in a series of challenges that will take them back to school; they must create a duffle bag to haul after-school sports necessities and a play house out of school supplies. At stake is a $10,000 grand prize. The competition is hosted by author and avid crafter, Tori Spelling.

TLC’s CRAFT WARS is hosted by author and avid crafter, Tori Spelling.

Tune in for the Series premiere of TLC’s CRAFT WARS on Tuesday, June 26th at 10/9c.

We spent a few minutes chatting with Traci about her recent experience as a CRAFT WARS contestant.

Traci Remley, a Littleton, Colorado mom, competes with other contestants on the series premiere of TLC’s CRAFT WARS.

How did you become a contestant on CRAFT WARS?
Traci: I’m a fairly new crafter. I’ve been crafting for only two years, but I’m passionate about it and going on Craft Wars seemed like a great opportunity to see what I could do. A friend of mine initially encouraged me to try out for the show. I sent some photos from my blog, but didn’t hear back for a while so I
assumed they weren’t interested. Then they contacted me and asked for a casting video and it went from there!

What was your favorite part of being on the show?
Traci: My dad was my assistant so getting to do something fun with him was an opportunity most fathers/daughters don’t get to do. Traveling and collaborating with dad was great! I loved getting to know the other contestants and learning from them, as well. Their husbands were both a lot of fun and we all had a great time hanging out together.

Traci and her crafting assistant, her dad Dave Schafersman, work on the Pop Craft during CRAFT WARS.

What was the most challenging aspect of your experience?
Traci: The nerves, honestly. I’m a Colorado girl. I’ve been to L.A. one time so the set seemed a little overwhelming. I’m used to crafting in my living room in my pajamas. Being watched while crafting was a little scary. The time challenge was also hard. We had one hour to do something that you’d normally do in five hours.

What types of crafts do you like to do with your kids?
Traci: My daughter is very young now so she loves anything with textures—sand, rice—any fun tactile experience that lets her explore and make messes. I refurbish furniture and I made her a chalkboard table so she can write right on the table!

Do you have a favorite mom-child craft?
Traci: We make our own bubbles, anything with water, water colors. To make your own bubble solution, get a bucket and fill it with water. Add 1 cup liquid soap (laundry soap or dish soap) for every 4 cups water. Blow bubbles through cut PVC pipes or even embroidery hoops.

How do you organize your crafts at home?
Traci: Having someone else organize all the craft supplies on the show was great, but in real life I’m a bit messy and things are all over the place! I tend to craft on my living room floor with a trunk full of stuff spread out. I have a bunch of stuff in my shop and in my basement. I have a one year old, so in reality, nothing is organized.

What are the benefits you see of crafting for moms? For kids?
Traci: Crafting gives kids and moms something in common. Most kids love to get a little messy, so it’s fun to share that experience with kids. My background is in early childhood education so I really focus on developing all the skills, including fine motor skills. I think it’s important to let your kids know that it’s okay to be completely different. If you feel like coloring a purple tree, color a purple tree. There are no wrong answers!

Julie Christensen is a writer and mother of four in Parker.

Talk Back! Are you a crafting parent? What kind of crafts do you love to do with the kids? Leave a comment.