ParentLife Blog

Fun Friday Photo -- July 31, 2009

15-month-old Eden enjoys the warm summer days!

Thanks to Cathy E. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Cooking Therapy

Flour flying, sticky dough on their tiny fingers and the almost-comical strategically placed sprinkles; these are all joys of baking with kids. It is even more special when the purpose for baking goes beyond learning to make a batch of cookies to actually enabling the kids to be able to once again have use of their hands.
 
This is what is being done at ALYN Hospital — the leading rehabilitative pediatric hospital in the Middle East. ALYN prides itself on the mission of being able to help treat any child, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity — a rarity in this war-torn region. The doctors and specialists at ALYN are constantly evolving effective, creative and fun ways to rehabilitate the children – such as their breakthrough with cooking therapy.

The act of creating these pastries is not only fun for the children, but targets the muscles and motor functions they so desperately need to grow as independent adults.  In this photo, Marwa, a chef superstar at ALYN, who is slowly regaining the use of her body with every cookie, cake and pie she makes.
 
The ParentLife team thought cooking therapy was a very unique concept and we wanted to share it with you. Our team is committed to providing help for parents of children with special needs. We do our best to cover at least one special needs topic in each issue of ParentLife.

What other unique kinds of therapies have you heard of? Has your child participated in cooking therapy or another unique therapy? Tell us about it!

ParentLife Visits Saddle Ridge Ranch

Today is a very exciting day at LifeWay Christian Resources. It is VBS 2010 Preview Day (and Bring Your Child to Work Day!! LifeWay will be taken over by children, children's ministers, and other children's ministry workers as they get a taste of the Wild West on Saddle Ridge Ranch with an advanced look at the theme for VBS 2010.

Children in kindergarten through sixth grade, parents, and guests will participate in a worship rally and various VBS rotations. For lunch, the LifeWay cafe will offer special western-themed, kid-friendly food options! It promises to be a great time!

ParentLife has the wonderful opportunity of participating in the fun this year. We get our very own booth dedicated to letting people know about our magazine, our blog, and the LifeWay children's devotional magazines — More, Adventure, and Bible Express! We will be handing out business cards promoting the blog and directing folks to our Facebook and Twitter pages. Even more exciting ... we will be giving away one free subscription to ParentLife and each of the children's devotional magazines!

It's going to be a great day!

If you attended VBS 2010 Preview Day today, tell us about your experience and what you enjoyed the most!

I'm Sick ... So Stay Away!

Our household was hit by some kind of virus this weekend. Christy and Jonathan were really sick. Christopher felt really bad and had a fever. And I had my turn at being the primary caregiver!

I thought about how everyone seems to respond differently to being sick. I have been told several times how I am not a good patient and tend to want to sleep and just be left alone! Christy is definitely just the opposite, enjoying conversation and companionship even in the midst of being sick. And I think the boys are a mix of us both. They both get grumpy but also need some close attention.

One moment illustrated this well. I stayed up with Jonathan when he was sick but trying to go to sleep. He was uncomfortable with his stomach hurting so he didn't want anyone too close. I sat at the foot of his bed. Then he asked if I would hold his feet while he went to sleep! A funny request, but it summarized this whole conversation: Sometimes when you are sick you need your space, but need someone close by at the same time taking care!

Obviously sickness is no fun. There is a reason why patients and patience sound so much alike but can be opposites! But in retrospect, it definitely made us slow down and we had some fun time together in the midst of it all.

I hope you are staying well this summer. When your kids are sick, what kind of patients are they?

Summer Fun Idea -- Children's Garden

The grand opening for the new garden is this Saturday. Admission is free this Saturday only 9 a.m.-Noon and will feature a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:00. But it is an affordable day visit at other times. Admission to all areas of the Botanic Garden is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, $3.00 for children (3-12) and free to children under two and to Members.  For more information visit www.memphisbotanicgarden.com. 

Fun Friday Photo -- July 24, 2009

"You want me to pose for a picture? I'll show you a pose!"

Thanks to Brandi R. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Summer Reading Fun

This summer our boys had summer reading to do for school. To help them stay motivated, we enrolled them in the summer reading program at our county library. Christy and I decided it was only fair that we join the adult summer reading program too! And what a great time we have had reading!

Jonathan really enjoyed reading one of my personal childhood favorites The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series.

We have read a bit of everything under the sun to Christopher but now that the start of kindergarten is only about a month away, our reading will turn to some books to get him ready. I can't wait to hear Christopher's reaction at the end of First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg.

Christy has enjoyed reading Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series.

I finally finished some books that I have had on the shelf a long time, including The Shack and 90 Minutes in Heaven.

What are some of your favorite books that you have read this summer?

Taking Care of Yourself

I'm afraid this week I am learning the hard way the importance of taking care of yourself as a parent. Life in the Skulley household has been anything but calm during the month of July. We've been going nonstop at work, church, and home ... full speed ahead ... until the end of last week when both Jack and I became sick, bringing everything to a screeching halt. Jack had a cold that quickly became an ear infection, and I came down with a cold that quickly turned into the never-ending cough/sinus infection. Needless to say, it has not been a fun few days.

Ultimately, this sickness has been a reality check for me. It is the perfect real-life example of how stress (both good stress and bad stress) can take its toll over time. I have been reminded of how important it is to slow down, reduce stress, and take care of myself so that I can take care of my family.

Weeks ago, I should have taken the advice of Kathy Firkins, the writer for the July 2009 ParentLife article "Super Stressed." She talks about how stress is physical, mental, and emotional. She also provides her "Top 10 Instant Stress Relievers." If you're feeling stressed, don't miss this article.

How do you deal with stress? What are the most effective stress relievers that you have found to work for you?

Enjoy the Pool -- Safely!

We have had the best summer with both our boys (that's them in the pool earlier this summer) on the swim team at our local YMCA. They have both improved so much! It was a lot of hard work but we are a bit sad now that the season is over. Now that they both know how to swim, w  e relax a bit more when they are in the water, but there are still important steps to take to protect them.

Consider the following tips from the TIPP program (The Injury Prevention Program) provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

• Never let your child swim in any body of water without an adult watching.
• Be sure the adult watching your child knows how to swim, get emergency help, and perform CPR.
• Keep a life preserver and shepherd's hook in the pool area to help pull a child to the edge of the pool when necessary.
• Don't let young children and children who cannot swim use inflatable toys or mattresses in water that is above the waist.
• Watch children closely when they are playing near standing water, wells, open post holes, or irrigation or drainage ditches.
• Teach your child to swim once he or she is ready (usually around 5 years old).
• Teach your child safety rules and make sure they are obeyed:

1. Never swim alone.
2. Never dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.
3. Always use a life jacket when on a boat, fishing, or playing in a river or stream.

Check out the AAP Web site for other tips on water safety and the TIPP home page for injury prevention tips for your children at all ages and stages of development.

Where have you taken your kids to swim this summer?

Travel Tips for Families

Thanks to REI for this great travel advice for families. Use these tips for any last minute travels between now and the start of the school year!

1. Plan Together — Encourage your children to be a part of the planning/selection process. Select a few trips that meet your family's requirements, engage children in learning about each trip, then let them choose the family vacation this year.
2. Ask Questions — Once your vacation is selected, ask your children what questions they have about the trip or location.
3. Geography Lesson — Use a map/globe to help children learn how far they are going and what the flight route will be, etc. This helps establish an early connection to the destination.
4. Research Locations — Search online for small towns your itinerary will pass through – learn about the history, animals plants and people that live in these places. Find something your family wants to learn more about or see while you visit.
5. Pack It Up — Pack with your child – use the gear list and have them think about what they already have that fits the need and what they will need to get.
6. Keep a Travel Journal — Get your child a journal and help them write in it each day about what happened on their trip - encourage them to draw pictures. Be sure to record the senses you used along the way to hear different sounds, smells, tastes, and sights you experienced in each place.
7. Make a Lasting Memory — Make sure your children get to use your camera, or have their own so they can take photos. An instant camera is a fun thing to take along when visiting developing countries. It's a great gift to share on the spot with new friends you make along the way and a quick way to add photos to the journal when the children recaps their day.
   
8. Send a Postcard Home — Look for postcards to send to family, friends, and even to your own home so your children have a memento from their trip awaiting them upon your return home. Make sure you use colorful local stamps – great keepsakes and addition to journals.
9. The More the Merrier — Travel with other families with children. Both families will appreciate the company of other playmates, and adults.
   
10. Present — If your child is in school, have him create a presentation for the class to "show and tell" about his trip.

Do you have any other great tips you would offer based on your vacation experience?

Fun Friday Photo -- July 17, 2009

1-year-old Jack digs into his first birthday cake! "Yummy!"

Thanks to Jason S. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Word Play for Day

Check out this great article and summer fun idea from ParentLife writer and local school counselor, Bill Conger, about musician Roger Day.

Roger Day doesn't have any trouble getting in touch with his inner child. As a children's performer, the former camp counselor travels the nation entertaining preschool- and elementary-age children with silly songs that he created like "It's a No-No to Kiss a Rhino!" and "Mosquito Burrito."

"What I love about doing children's music is that it's all my own stuff," Day said following a July 9th gig at the Brentwood Library near Nashville, Tennessee. "It's my own creativity. It's my own imagination. I'm not doing other people's music. I think that's great for kids to see so that they are encouraged to use their imagination too.”

July Giveaway Reminder -- Don't forget!

Don't forget!! There is still time to get involved in our July giveaway. This month we are giving away products from our new Levels of Biblical Learning line of products. Click here for more information.

Everyone* who posts a comment on our blog during the month of July will be entered to win some of our new Levels of Biblical Learning products!

These products also are available for purchase online or in your local LifeWay Christian Store.

*LifeWay employees are not eligible for this giveaway. Multiple comments do not increase chances of winning.

A Special Edition of ParentLife

Do you have a child under 2 years old? Or are you expecting a baby in the near future? Be sure to check out BabyLife -- the special edition of ParentLife designed for expectant parents and parents with infants and toddlers. Filled with tons of practical information on what to expect in those first two years.

Here are a just a few of the helpful topics included in BabyLife:

• Basic care and developmental information for 5 different stages: On the Way, Birth to 6 Months, 6 to 12 Months, 12 to 18 Months, and 18 to 24 Months
• The 3 Rs of Spiritual Formation
• Encouragement for single parents
• The benefits of routines
• 9 games to play with Baby
• The bond between grandparents and grandchildren

Be sure to check out BabyLife today!

Tell us what issues new parents care about most -- and help shape our next issue of BabyLife!

Speaking Louder Than Before Tour -- Coming This Fall

If your family loves great music and opportunities to minister to others, you're going to love Jeremy Camp's fall 2009 tour!

Making his passion known this past year with the release of Speaking Louder Than Before, BEC Recordings artist Jeremy Camp is introducing his fall tour named after the recently released CD and with a purpose at hand. As his first headlining tour in almost two years, Camp will be joined by reigning Dove Female Artist of the Year Natalie Grant and label-mate Bebo Norman. The Speaking Louder Than Before Tour is sponsored by Compassion® International and is kicking off in Florida on September 10th.

Tickets for the anticipated tour went on sale Friday, July 10th in addition to a special iTickets / iTunes promotion. Those who purchase tickets via iTickets from July 10th until July 24th will receive a code for two free downloads at iTunes ("Beyond Measure" by Jeremy Camp and "Never Saw You Coming" by Bebo Norman).

Earlier this year, Camp and his management company began a ministry called Speaking Louder Ministries. The purpose behind Speaking Louder Ministries is tri-fold:

1. Bringing a raised awareness to the local outreaches in the cities that Jeremy Camp performs
2. Helping equip the church body and local community to get involved in ministry together
3. Impacting the needs of the community/organization with physical goods.

Visit www.speakinglouderministries.com for more information.

Jeremy is thrilled about this 30+ city tour. "I'm really looking forward to the tour and to what's being planned with Speaking Louder Ministries," shares Camp. "We'll have unique opportunities in each and every town that we play on this tour to be a part of local ministry. I'm hoping to see the body of Christ engaged and fired up to help local ministries in need. This will be more than just a typical concert experience, we will be working and worshiping together for the Kingdom of God."

For tour dates and additional information, visit www.jeremycamp.com.

Don't miss Jeremy in the July 2009 issue of ParentLife as he talks about how God has been faithful to Jeremy and his family. And make a note not to miss our January 2010 issue, featuring Natalie Grant on parenting twin toddlers!

Family Golf Month

During the month of July, golf facilities nationwide will offer free and affordable activities for families during the fourth annual Family Golf Month.

Golf is a great way to spend quality family time together, especially during the summer months. Throughout Family Golf Month, participating courses will provide activities such as golf clinics, family scrambles, parent/child golf camps and play days.

To find participating facilities in your area, go to PlayGolfAmerica.com, and click on Family Golf Month. The Play Golf America site also highlights other programs available to families, including the Sticks for Kids program, providing kids the ability to play golf and learn the game who may not otherwise have the ability to participate.

Do you ever play golf together as a family? What are some other great family summer sports that you like to participate in together?

Fun Friday Photo -- July 10, 2009

1-year-old Hailey loves to feed the ducks. She tends to snack on whatever she's throwing in!

Thanks to Brooke F. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

Pregnancy Complications

As you probably already know from my post a week or two ago, we are about to celebrate my little boy's first birthday this Saturday! But one year ago yesterday actually marked the beginning of the events leading up to his arrival. I experienced a complication in my pregnancy called preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs during pregnancy and the postpartum period. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, preeclampsia affects at least 5 to 8 percent of all pregnancies.

Some of the symptoms of preeclampsia include the following.

• High blood pressure (140/90 or higher)
• Excess protein in the urine
• Severe headaches
• Vision changes
• Sudden weight gain
• Swelling (especially in the face and hands)

Most of the time, preeclampsia only modestly increases blood pressure, but if left untreated, it can lead to serious (possibly fatal) complications for you and your baby. The only cure is delivery of the baby. The disorder is actually responsible for 15% of premature births in the United States every year. (Be sure not to miss our article on prematurity coming up in the December 2009 issue of ParentLife.)

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to talk to your doctor. Check out the Mayo Clinic's tips for preparing for your doctor visit for helpful questions to ask.

There is no way to prevent preeclampsia. In order to take the best care of yourself and your baby, be sure to seek early and regular prenatal care.

My sweet little boy, Jack, was delivered exactly one month earlier than expected and spent about a week in the NICU, but he is now so happy and healthy (thanks to an awesome medical team). You would never know he had such a difficult start.

 If you are an expectant parent, be sure to check out ParentLife's monthly department "On the Way." Our goal is to provide you with practical and encouraging information to help you during your pregnancy. What kind of information would you like to see in our "On the Way" deparmtent? Leave us a comment and let us know. We'd love to hear from you!

We've Got a Job to Do!

In the July 2009 ParentLife editorial I wrote about a chapel service I attended this year. Ms. Ford led her first graders in a program about sharing the good news. Over and over again, these adorable first graders repeated, "We've got a job to do!"

This service made me wonder how we do — together as families — sharing the gospel or participating in service projects that communicate God's love to others. Sometimes when we are so busy that we struggle to spend time together having family devotions, it is difficult to take the next step and plan those service projects together. But it is well worth the effort!

Our church holds a weekly summer Kidz Club in a local apartment complex that we have participated in with our boys. They see the reason we are there is to love those kids and tell them about Jesus. Service spurs a greater understanding how we are all responsible for carrying the good news of Jesus to others.

What are ways that you witness and serve others as a family? Are there specific ways you tell others about Jesus over the summer months? We would love to hear your thoughts!

Fun Vacation Destinations

As a little boy, I knew that July was the month we always went on our big family vacation for the year. More often than not we went to Myrtle Beach, SC, for a week of sun and fun! When planning our July 2009 issue of ParentLife, it seemed natural to plan our lead feature "On the Road Again: Making Vacations Fun" all about the family vacation. We listed a few fun destinations for possible trips but were overflowing with a few more ideas. Whether you are looking for a week's vacation, a weekend getaway, or a day trip, here are some places and sites to enjoy together as a family:

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tennessee — Adjacent to America's most visited national park, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg offer attractions like Dollywood, all types of shopping, and tons of restaurants all within a short distance of hiking, camping, white water rafting, and beautiful mountain scenery.

 

Cincinnati, Ohio —Home to the Kings Island and Boomerang Bay mega-theme park complex, you could spend days enjoying these attractions. Stay at the Great Wolf Lodge or Coco Key resorts that  feature indoor water parks. Nearby visit the one of a kind Creation Museum, a great conversation starter about God's role in creating the world with all its wonder and complexity.

Glorieta, New Mexico —Many people know Glorieta as a conference center, but Glorieta also offers special rates for family vacations. Glorieta is tucked in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at the southern most part of the Rocky Mountain chain, so offers guests the chance to relax, recharge and rediscover. Check out their special rate for pastors and church staff.

Where do you plan to spend your family vacation? Or are you staying close to home this year?

Packing for Camp

We ran across this great information from the American Camp Association (ACA) about packing for camp and thought parents might find it useful for kids who are going to camp the second half of summer. The ACA encourages parents to contact their camp for specific packing lists and guidelines. In addition, the ACA suggests the following guidelines for parents to keep in mind when packing for camp:

• Headgear – Parents should pack items to protect a camper from the sun: scarves, bandannas, baseball caps, or sunhats, as well as needed eyeglasses, sunglasses, and swimming goggles.
• Clothing – Clothing is a necessary component of camp, just do not expect any to return home clean! Include T-shirts, a swim suit, and shorts for hot days; a jacket, sweatshirt, and jeans for cool or cold days; and a raincoat or poncho for rainy days. Also, long pants will protect a camper from poison ivy, bugs, and thorns during hikes.
• Footwear – Appropriate footwear is one of the most important items to pack for children at camp, especially when they are hiking, spelunking, running, and heading to the beach. Consider packing boots, tennis shoes, sandals, lots of socks — and dress shoes if the camp requires them. Remember that shoes should be broken in prior to the start of camp.
• Bed and Bath Needs – For children attending a resident camp, parents should remember to pack the home basics: towels, as well as a blanket, pillow, pillow cases, sheets, sleeping bag, laundry bag, and mattress pad. Bathroom Kits are essential. Families should pack a brush and comb, shampoo, soap and soap container, toothbrush and holder, toothpaste, deodorant, insect repellent, sun block, and lip balm with sun block in it.
• Additional Items – Pack some additional items including books and magazines, flashlights and batteries, Frisbees® or other toys, a water bottle, and writing materials. When considering electronics, musical instruments, and other special gear, check with the camp about policies. 

Decisions about camp, including from what to pack, should be made together as a family. When children participate in the decision-making process, their likelihood of enjoying a positive experience is improved.

For expert advice on what to pack, or preparing for camp, visit ACA’s parent resource site at www.CampParents.org.

Where are you sending your kids to camp this summer? Tell us about your camp experience!

Fun Friday Photo

5-month-old Aiden says, "My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!"

Thanks to Kathy W. for this great photo!

Photos wanted! Send us your funny, cute, or just plain fun pictures for our Fun Friday Photos. Each Friday we will post a new "Fun Friday Photo." E-mail your photo and a suggested caption describing the photo to parentlife@lifeway.com. Visit the blog each Friday to see if your photo was chosen!

VBS Excitement

This week, I have the privilege to work at Vacation Bible School at my church. It has been a great week so far ... and there's still one more day to go!

VBS brings back so many fun memories. As we were decorating our room on Sunday, my friend Heather was commenting about how exciting it is to be involved. We both agreed that it makes us feel like kids again ... anxious to see what each new day of VBS will hold! VBS may have changed over the years (now with amazing themes, fantastic music, and lots of extra options) but the basic purpose is still the same -- to tell kids about Jesus!

In years past, I've worked with preschool, but this year I was ready for a change. I am working with 2nd graders and I love it! It's such a great age. They are sweet, smart, and kind. And most excitingly ... they are very receptive to the gospel. Yesterday was the day we emphasized the plan of salvation. We learned about the ABCs of becoming a Christian:

• A -- Admit to God that you are a sinner.
• B -- Believe that Jesus is God's Son.
• C -- Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

We must have gone over the ABCs 6 or 7 times yesterday (if not more). By the end of the day, the kids knew it by heart! I just hope and pray that in His time, God will soften each of their hearts and draw them to Him. It's so wonderful to get to play a small role in God's plan for these children. I'm so thankful and excited to see what He does through them!

What memories do you have about VBS? Did you come to know Christ as your Savior at VBS? Have your children participated in VBS this year? Tell us about your experiences.

July ParentLife Giveaway

This month we are giving away products from our new Levels of Biblical Learning line of products. The Levels of Biblical Learning is an instrument you can use to reference what children from birth through sixth grade can understand and develop in their spiritual growth. It also guides our product development for LifeWay Kids resources.

Now our new line of products feature puzzles, bookmarks, stickers, craft packs, bulletin boards, and more that fit each of these important areas of learning for your child. Everyone* who posts a comment on our blog during the month of July will be entered to win some of our new Levels of Biblical Learning products!

These products also are available for purchase online or in your local LifeWay Christian Store.

Have you seen these resources yet? Check out the products and let us know what you think!

*LifeWay employees are not eligible for this giveaway. Multiple comments do not increase chances of winning.