Read it again Mommy!!

I love to read with my children. I love the way their bodies fit perfectly against mine as we cuddle together a the end of a long day to read a story before bed. When one of my children is sick a good book often chases away the feelings of confinement as one's imagination soars. Settling in together to share a story allows previous tensions to evaporate with each turn of page. Reading together with your children can ease your mind and recharge the spirit as hearts and minds are focused only each other. Stories can be fun or can teach a lesson, and if you are lucky a good book does both with subtlety, wit, and illustration.

Unfortunately, sometimes it takes all my energy to read the same story over and over again, Some stories just weren't that good the first time and I have found myself cringing when my child says "read this one mommy." Thankfully though there are those that have earned their worn out bindings, chewed corners, and tattered (and taped back together) pages. below is a list of a few of my children's (ages 6 and 3 at the time I wrote this post. I am reposting as they are still great books.  I will have to update as the list has grown as my children have grown) favorite stories that any parent will enjoy reading again and again and again....
(these are not in any particular order)

Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems www.mowillems.com
This deceivingly simple plot with even more deceivingly simple drawings has become a family favorite. This is the story of a pigeon, who you guessed it, wants to drive a bus. As the bus driver steps away he asks the reader to watch his bus with the caveat to "Please don't let the pigeon drive the bus"
Both my children laugh out loud starting with "vroomy vroom vroom" to the offer of five bucks or to be your best friend. This pigeon will try anything. He may not be able to fulfill his dream of driving the bus but don't be sad, he discovers bigger and better dreams. www.pigeonpresents.com
Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Kevin Lewis illustrated by Daniel Kirk www.danielkirk.com
I often give this book as a gift for a new baby as it also come as a board book. My daughter's hardcover is worn from reading it and my son's board version has been chewed. He loved it so much he ate it. (we have since replaced it). The train takes various journeys in rhyme over the bridge, through the tunnel to the city to unload the freight. Final destination, the roundhouse for some deserved rest. A perfect bedtime story.

Fancy Nancy (any one of them) by Jane O'Connor illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/fancynancybooks/
This series of books is sublime, that's a fancy way of saying great. A must read for the child who loves princess stories and dressing-up, as well as for the parent who would prefer not to continue promoting the damsel in distress story. Fancy Nancy is an extravaganza in organza as children learn new words and ways to wear accessories. Each story ends with Nancy learning a little more than just a new vocabulary word.

I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont www.karenbeaumont.com illustrated by David Catrow
www.catrow.com
This book (like another of hers I Ain't Gonna Paint No More) is just fun! Through whimsical rhyme about liking yourself regardless of a pig nose or polka dotted toes, Karen Beaumont with the talents of David Catrow's illustrations bring to life the important message of this book. The silliness appeals to children and adults alike as it is as much fun to read as it is to imagine oneself with hair like a porcupine. Beaumont/ Catrow combination (they team in other books as well) highlight the inherent good time you and your children will have reading this book with a message that doesn't hit you over the head but makes you appreciate the exuberance of a child's imagination and open heart.

Mousepaint by Ellen Stoll Walsh: My son loves this book and its not about trucks! This simple "tail" is about three white mice who find some colored paint and jump right in.They discover by dancing in the colors they can make new colors! In the end they wash off the paint to a nice soft white "because of the cat." My son loves to point to the colors as we say them. What I thought was just a clever way to learn colors turns out to also be a unexpectedly playful book. ( I love the larger board book version.)

Alphabetter by Dan Bar-el and Graham Ross: www.danbar-el.com/book-alphabetter.html
Alphabet book are probably one of the most commonly written books as well as the most purchased by parents. How many different ways can you say the alphabet? Well, in Alphabetter (and my next favorite kids book), they have come up with a unique and creative way for kids to learn their letters. Their is a child for each letter who has something that the next child needs and on and on throughout the alphabet until the end when they finally get it all figured out and go for a swim. Besides the the unique introduction of letters this book also has a twist on multiculturalism using names like Joo-Pyo and Khalil. I appreciate the subtlety of bringing in a variety of cultures without hitting the reader over the head with it.

What Pete Ate From A-Z by Maira Kalman: www.mairakalman.com This book is genius! It's funny, clever, and ridiculously believable all at the same time (at least for those of us who have pets we love in spite of their voracious appetites.) A must read. The illustrations are definitley a little strange; however, they seem to fit the story perfectly. Pete (apparently a real dog) eats everything and anything. Starting with "A" Pete eats cousin Rocky's accordian and after eating his way through the alphabet, the author finishes with what he won't eat "zug zug dog grub!" My daughter likes to point out the various types of shoes Pete enjoys when we get to letter S. She has also learned to "read" the various necessary egg items needed for the Egghead Club; eggslicer, eggbeater, and the common cuckoo egg. Pete ate those too.

Nighty Night Sleepy Sleeps by Brian Andersen www.dogeatdoug.com Every parent will be able to relate to this story of a little boy and his dog who try to dodge bedtime. Its' simple rhyme and colorful illustration are a sure hit with the toddler set, as the duo hide in the closet, laundry and then rethink their plan to hide in the basement. Its very reminiscent of what we call in our house the pre-bed crazies that last until he literally crashes. My son loves this story and asks for it often. I love reading it also, as I enjoy adding my own voice changes and intonation depending on the hiding spots.

All books are available through www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com
but I suggest checking out your local library to give them a test run first to see if your kids love these books as much as mine do.

Genevieve M. Lowry M.Ed, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist/Reiki Master
Practical Parenting Solutions
For families facing extraordinary circumstances
www.practicalparentingsolutions.com
genevievelowry@practicalparentingsolutions.com

Family Stress Busters

Family Stress Busters

Genevieve M. Lowry M.Ed, CCLS

Certified child life specialist/Reiki Master

www.practicalparentingsolutions.com

We all experience stress. Whether it’s from balancing jobs, family, and home life no matter how hard we try it looms there working its way into family life. Children today are experiencing more stress related to school, peer pressure, and media events than ever before. Parents may be feeling the squeeze from loss of jobs, increase costs of livings and worrying about their financial future. Studies have shown that “having a repertoire of coping skills at a young age can be a buffer or moderator of the effects of negative life stress on development” (Pincus & Friedman, 2004). With a few simple accessible tools that can be integrated easily into an already hectic day or a fun art project that opens the door to learning a new skill, encouraging creativity, or building self-esteem, parents are empowered by teaching their children life skills for facing any challenge. Meditation offers families a way of calming the mind focusing away from the external into the internal. It is where creativity lies and where the connection happens (Barlow, 2008).

Family Stress Busters were designed to help parents and children discover fun creative ways to decrease stress at any time of day or situation. Some of the activities are “in the moment” techniques to get everyone refocused and refueled by letting off some steam through laughing or singing to encourage deep breathing. Others are activities designed to do together as a project or game in order to empower kids and parents to learn how to calm their minds or racing hearts at times of stress, anxiety or a case of nerves. Have fun trying out some of the Family Stress Busters and maybe create a few of your own.

Sing Directions: Things getting tense around dinner time, kids won’t settle down to finish their homework or pick up their toys? Feeling like any minute you may explode as each set back piles up? Try singing what it is you want everyone to do. Pitch, tune, or talent don’t matter for this concert, studies have shown that we use a different part of our brain to listen to music. Therefore, singing not only regulates your breathing so you maintain your cool, but you may find that your children actually begin to do what you asked.

Game: Have everyone join in the fun. Sing through dinner one night or play a game to you own special tune. You find yourselves laughing out loud (another stress buster) as well discovering the next American Idol.

Deep breathing: Taking deep breaths has been known for years to help increase blood flow and therefore decrease stress. When the energy in the room starts to begin to feel pressured get everyone to take a few deep breaths. Count in through your nose to three but breathe out though your mouth by counting to five. This pushes out the excess air no one realized they were even holding in causing tension in the muscles.

Activity: With young children blowing bubbles is a great way to teach relaxing breathing techniques. Focusing the air on the hole in the wand helps young children to stay focused and concentrate on their breathing. Older children can try to blow bigger bubbles forcing out more air than they take in releasing the tension with each try. Party blowers are a great alternative as well. Ask your kids to blow them fast then slow, doing this regulates breathing while causing them to concentrate on their breath.

Mantra or theme songs: Take a tip from Ali McBeal, pick a family a theme song or mantra. “All you need is Love” or “We Go Together” when times get overwhelming and everyone needs to be reminded of who they can rely on bust into song or recite the family mantra. Sometimes parents and children forget they are not alone and that each one of you has each other to turn to for help, advice, or a singing partner.

Activity: Write a family cheer. Ask each member of the family to say a strength of another member of the family, by identifying what each other brings to the family, reminds each other that no matter what is going on you are a team. Put it on a poster board and hang it up where everyone can see it.

Variation: Instead of a cheer create a family crest using the same concept at above.

Go Outside: Need an attitude change? Want to tell your kid to go run around the block a few times to burn off excess energy? Go outside even for a few minutes the cool air, open space, and natural setting will automatically transform any negative feelings ridding the body of tension. Everyone knows the benefits of physical exercise, increasing heart rates even for a few minutes expels energy, increases blood flow, relaxes muscles, and helps the body to oxygenate blood more efficiently, therefore, helping children to focus on completing a task.

Activity: Take some deep breaths, kick a ball around with your kids, or run a race in the backyard. Just those few minutes of sunshine and physical energy will clear the mind and body opening it up for learning, engaging and understanding. .

Activity: Can’t get outside have a Dance Party. Pick your tune and get your feet moving to the groove.

Laugh out loud: Nothing funny about that feeling you get when kids are fighting, dinners burning, and no one is paying attention to your repeated requests to set the table. However, laughter is the number one stress reliever so let it rip. Studies have shown that even fake laughing causes endorphins the “feel good hormone” to release. Laughter often brings a sense of levity to any situation; once you see the funny it’s hard to be upset.

Activity: Just start laughing; get the kids involved see who can laugh the loudest, the silliest, or the longest. It may start out being forced but in the end everyone will be rolling on the floor whooping it up.

Imagination Station: Use your imagination to get away. The mind does not differentiate between real or imagined. Therefore thinking about relaxing on the beach or encouraging your children to think about their safe place helps the body to believe it’s relaxed, calm, and peaceful.

Activity: In order to help your children use their imaginations, have them create their own Imagination Scrapbook. Pick a place real or imagined and have them describe their favorite or safe place using all five senses.

Game: For younger children a variation on the game Simon says helps them to understand progressive muscle relaxation by imagining themselves “tall as a tree” or as “wiggly as noodle.”

  

Do a good deed together: There is nothing compared to doing something nice for someone else to lift ones spirits. It teaches empathy, kindness, and empowers children to know that even small gestures can make a difference in someone’s life.

Activity: Collect food for the hungry (money tight? Do a little each week until the bag is full), Donate used toys, games or clothes to homeless shelters or instead of birthday gifts encourage your child to ask friends to bring a can of dog or cat food for an animal shelter.

Activity: Want something closer to home? Create a “Nice Gesture Jar.” As a family, come up with suggestions that someone can do for someone else. For example, set the table without being asked, draw a picture and leave it for someone on their pillow, or read a story to your younger brother/sister. 

Barlow, A. R. (2008, March). A Glimpse at the Holistic Approach to Wellness. School Nurse News , pp. 19-21.

Pincus, D. F. (2004). Improving children's coping with everyday stress: Transporting treatment interventions to the school setting. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review , 223-249.

Beatles, All We Need Is Love

Grease Soundtrack, We Go Together

Entire contents copyright 2009 by Genevieve Lowry M.Ed, CCLS. All rights reserved

"Hudson Got Dead"

Yesterday we had to put the family dog down or as my text book talking 4 year old told a woman at my daughter’s soccer game “Hudson got dead.”

As a parent I struggled with the right words to explain one of life’s challenging moments; the loss of a family pet. For me who had loved Hudson for 15 years saying he was dead was difficult to say. It sounded so final and harsh. I wanted my euphemisms, my soft language that wasn’t so direct. I wanted to say he was sleeping, gone to doggy heaven, or the farm. The instinct to protect my kids from life’s harsh realities was kicking in and kicking in hard. But as a professional who works to support children and families in crisis I had to face my own fears, practice what I preach and tell the truth. The truth for a four year old is “Hudson got dead.”

We had actually started this journey months ago when he first started to show signs of his age. We talked about a how the body gets older things wear out. Hudson really couldn’t see very well anymore, he had trouble getting up and down the stairs and often needed to be carried. (He was a 7lb Yorkshire Terrier). He had developed a few infections and had to have teeth removed. So on Friday morning after two days of watching him walk into walls and circles I decided it was time to let him go. (the infection in his jaw bone had actually spread to his brain causing dementia). I made the call in private and after a good cry, spoke with my husband about talking with the kids.

We sat them down together my son is 4 my daughter 8; understanding death very differently. My son still believes death is reversible and my daughter asked if the medicine the vet gave him was like the medicine the doctor’s gave her great aunt to make her comfortable when she died. I was pretty impressed with the connection. I proceeded to explain in language they could understand; simple, honest, and concrete.
I stated clearly, “The veterinarian or animal doctor would give Hudson medicine. This medicine would stop his heart; he wouldn’t be able to breath, run, play, or bark. Everything in the body would stop working and he would be (gulp, big breath) dead.”

I knew I had to say it for my own good as much as for theirs. The clearer I was now the easier to explain again when we were at the vet’s office. Children need new or scary information reiterated many times in order to begin to process it and make sense of it. We also read Lifetimes and the Dead Bird. Twice. Reading the stories reinforced the new information in a way that is both comforting and familiar. This would continue to be a way to revisit new information as weeks and months passed and each child was still processing the information at their pace.
The kids made pictures and cards for him writing how much they loved him. We took him on his dog bed and drove to the vet. While there, my son was bouncing off the walls and my daughter had a look of concern not really sure how to react or respond to her mother’s fluctuations between moments of clarity and tears.

The vet first gave him a tranquilizer; I explained "This medicine would help him sleep and feel relaxed his bones wouldn’t ache and he would be comfortable."

During the 10-15 minutes the medicine takes to work, we talked to the dog. We talked about how much we loved him. Offering them an opportunity to say good-bye, I asked each child to say what they would miss or love about Hudson.

My son said “Hudson’s fur is soft, some dog’s fur is hard but Hudson’s is soft and I like to pet him”

My daughter said she would always remember him in her heart. I had told both kids that if they needed to leave the room at any time that would be okay. It was fine if they needed to step out and come back in. When under stress children do best if they can come and go from it. Processing the information in increments and having the opportunity to manage their own stress levels by leaving doing something else then coming back when ready. My husband periodically walked them outside and we allowed them to come and go, touch Hudson, pet him again, talk to him, say what they needed then leave again.

As the vet came and gave the final medicine that would stop his heart. She pushed it in and my son stated “that’s the medicine that makes Hudson dead.” I wanted to cry. I knew it was true but it broke my heart to hear it.

We each took a few more minutes to say our final good-byes then left. Hudson lay peacefully on his bed with the cards made for him by the kids.

My textbook son as we get in the car asks when we will pick him up. I know this will go on for days maybe months. At 4 he doesn’t under the permanence of death. But I also know I have laid the groundwork to begin to understand and we have communicated openly and honestly with our kids giving them the tools to understand loss and not be devastated by it but to grow through each experience.

In the days following I have answered many questions about his body and what happened to it. Leaving him at the vet is confusing to a child. When children get to see you bury a pet there is a sense of finality about it, a sense of over, done, dead. Leaving Hudson’s body in the office is a present day problem when explaining death to a young child. I can explain the process: His heart stopped, but to a four year old whose understanding of death is fleeting leaving the dog there is confusing. Until developmentally he understands death is permanent I will repeat the facts, reiterate the process, and continue to be a supportive loving parent. Overtime even I may believe Hudson is really dead too.

Family Stress Management...Strategies for getting your kids to sleep

Everyone feels better with a good night’s sleep, and when the children get one too the whole family feels better and less stressed. With a good night sleep children are better equipped to face challenges throughout the day, as well as perform better in school. By adding these simple strategies to your bedtime routine children will fall asleep easier and wake the next day refueled, refocused, and ready for the day creating a less stressful family environment.

Blow worries away

Before bed children often need to decompress about the day’s events. For young children a way to offer this is to blow some bubbles. Have children imagine putting their worries into each bubble and watch it drift into the evening sky. For older children journaling, worry dolls, or placing beads or any small object into a box or plastic bottle; one to represent each worry is a way to voice concerns and put it “away” for the night. Once children have rid themselves of the “weight” they can experience a peaceful rest and be ready to face the next day.

Learn to Relax

At the end of a long day, we all may find it hard to let go of the days stress, making it hard to fall asleep, get a good rest, or focus on a task. Teaching children how to "let go" is as easy as pretending to be a wet noodle or a rag doll. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) walks the body step by step through each muscle, tensing then relaxing. Start by asking your child to make a fist and to straighten their arms out tight, as if they were a tall tree trunk and then release them; imagining letting go like a leaf falling from a tree. Follow with all parts of the body until the child has completely relaxed.
PMR also offers children the opportunity to learn where in their body they harbor tension allowing them to focus on that area. By taking deep breaths or imagining a soothing color offers kids a way to "wash away" the stress of the day leading to a better night’s sleep.

Picking a dream

Have your children choose what they would like to dream about. Helping children to create in their mind a sacred place can lead to increased relaxation and a better night sleep. Create with your child a sacred space that they can go to anytime. Ask them to describe it to you, what would it look? Who would be there with you? What would you eat? The more detail you ask for, the more vivid the image, the easier it is to regain those peaceful feelings associated with the memory. Some children will combine more than one memory or include things they wished had happened or make up an entirely imaginary dream. Asking children to create in their mind a special place that brings them peace and comfort offers them an opportunity to experience tranquility and safety while falling asleep.

Today's children are more stressed out than ever before academically, socially, and physically due to increased media, school and social pressure. Providing children with a repertoire of tools to face challenges can lead to increase self-esteem, promote creativity, and build positive relationships with family and friends. By offering children strategies for falling asleep helps them to learn a lifelong skill and manage their own stress, all leading to a decrease in parental stress and a more peaceful home.


For more fun and engaging ways to help your children manage stress, build self-esteem, and get a better nights sleep, download the e-book Following Imagination...Activities that Move, Create, and Play with the Fundamentals of Guided Imagery

Sample Activity from the Book- Following Imagination...Activities that Move, Create, and Play with the Fundamentals of Guided Imagery

Try this activity at home or hospital to help with stress, anxiety, pain management or as a tool for helping your child get to sleep at night.

Imagination Scrapbook

Ages: 7 years old-adolescence

Materials: Paper
Markers
Hole punch
Ribbon

Activity: Ask the child to write one of each of the following headings on each page or make up his own:
A place I would like to go real or imagined is…
The things I would need to bring with me are…
It looks like…
It feels like…
The things I hear are…
While there I eat…
It smells like…
The people who are with me are…
A time I want to think about my special place is…

Ask the child to then fill in each page. They can write words, draw pictures, or cut images from magazines. Encourage him to go into as much detail as possible on each page. Some pages may inspire more creativity than others. This is one way to determine the child’s strongest sense or learning style.

When the book is complete the child can create a cover and title for the book. Punch three holes down one side and tie with ribbon to hold it together.

Discussion: Talk about times when he might think about this place. How did it make him feel while he was creating the book? Did he get excited when describing it or sharing stories about the location or the people he was with? Help him to identify times of stress or anxiety for example, trouble sleeping, going to the doctor’s office, or giving an oral report in school. By thinking about his special place may help him to relax and feel in control of situations that may cause him stress.

This book is useful at times of pain, anxiety or stress to be able to say “remember when we made that book about your safe place?” “Tell me about your trip to __________ again” getting the child to focus on something that brings comfort may help a child manage stressful experiences better.


Benefits: Teaches relaxation
Distraction technique
Promotes creativity


Uses: Decreases anxiety
Pain management (acute or chronic)
Creation of safe space
Sleeping

For more activities like this one go to www.guidedimageryforchildren.com
Read more about the book in the following post Reducing Children's Stress

Reducing Stress in Children's Lives

Today's children are more stressed out than ever before academically, socially, and physically due to increased media, school and social pressure. Providing children with a repertoire of tools to face challenges can lead to increase self-esteem, promote creativity, and build positive relationships with family and friends.  Teaching children strategies for relaxation, affirmation, and better sleep can lead to a child or teen being better able to manage stressful situations, perform better at school, or resist peer pressure.

Following Imagination...Activities that Move, Create, and Play with the Fundamentals of Guided Imagery, offers a variety of fun and engaging activities and games. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic starting with The Basics; learning deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, to Sacred Spaces and Special Places teaches children how to create their own visualization and "script" for better sleep or facing daily or new challenges. The final chapter, Inner Soul provides children and teens strategies for creating positive affirmations that are intrinsic leading to good feelings from within not relying on outside sources like the media to feel good about themselves.

The more than 30 page book has over a dozen activities with easy to understand directions, uses, and benefits. Materials are easy to find, inexpensive, and many can be made from recyclables found around the house. Each activity or game engages children in an art activity or interactive game that teaches children and families how to incorporate guided imagery techniques into their daily lives. The activities offer parents, practitioners, as well as anyone looking for unique and innovative ways to holistically support children’s growth and development, build self-esteem, and promote creativity through movement, play and imagination.

Following Imagination...Activities that Move, Create, and Play with the Fundamentals of Guided Imagery utilizes the essence of what makes children unique in their approach to life to support them as they grow, learn, and develop.

For more information or to download the E- book go to www.guidedimageryforchildren.com
Read more information about using guided imagery in Support Groups or as a tool for managing Family Stress

Strategies for Communicating with your Child

Do you have a child like mine who at six years old is a magnificent storyteller? She can go for what seems like hours, barely taking a breath; telling stories about a band of rogue princesses slaying dragons on a cloud of marshmallow, or sharing every glorious yet inane detail with me about her life. Or is your child quieter more introspective and you wonder? What goes on inside his head? Regardless of age or temperament of your child, we all long for more moments where we feel as though we have made a connection with our child. In a busy world sometimes it feels like day to day logistics have taken' over as meaningful conversation. The time between school, work, and extracurricular activities doesn't have to be lost in the abyss of daily routines.

Whether you have a preschooler or teen, the following strategies are easily integrated into a busy day. Remember every family and every child is different use the the strategies as a place to start and tweak the information to fit your family and parenting style.

Hold them captive

Parent's today compete with so much technology daily that the car is the one place you can have your child's undivided attention. The back seat/front seat situation offers a level of comfort for kids they don't have to look you in the eye or see you wince if they ask or say something you weren't really prepared for. Driving provides the opportunity to also think through an answer and take pauses as you navigate busy roads. The time spent driving from one activity to another can be time discovering what is going on in your child's life.

OMG, TTFN

Technology is everywhere and instead of resisting, with your child it may pay to join in. Text, email, call or snail mail your child. Send a brief text to say "how r you, or just a quick "hey what's up." Email your child how proud you are of them on a recent achievement or maybe even send what we call in our house a "just because card" as another way to let your child know you are thinking about him and you are available to either shoot the breeze or have a serious talk .

Find a Medium
(and I don't mean the psychic kind)

Ask your child to join you as you walk the family dog, play a game or work on a project together. Use kicking a ball around the backyard as the excuse to spend time with your child. Because the focus is on the game your child will feel less pressure and may be more likely to open up and share about what's on his mind. Don't be hijacked by teaching the game or better foot skills, use it as a time to be present with your child and you may discover a few things about your child.

Talking Turkey

Studies have shown that children of families who eat together are less likely to use drugs and perform better in school. Use the dinner table to open up the lines of communication and connect with your child. Asking your child about her day or a topic in the media may spark a conversation you may not have otherwise had. Don't lecture but listen to your child's opinion and offer some of your own. Not sure how to start? Try a simple "check-in" asking each child about some part of her day or play the joys and concerns game where each child lists one joy of the day and something they are concerned about.

Sunrise or Dead of night

Whether your child is a night owl or early riser, join him for a few minutes before the day gets started and the hassles of the day haven't added a layer of stress or right before bed to debrief about the day for a better night's sleep. These few minutes each day, add up sending a message that regardless if its the crack of dawn or middle of the night you always have time to talk.

Talking with your child can be as frustrating as it is rewarding. Finding the right words is hard enough without the added pressure of finding the right time and place. Use what is available to you, dinnertime, drives to and fro, or doing a puzzle together offer opportunities for talking that could have been lost in space now have the potential to become precious moments.