Let's Go to Machu Picchu!

Machu Picchu is the gem of Peru. Actually, it’s the gem of all South America. It stands as the #1 tourist destination for the entire continent. What makes this place so special? It’s just a bunch of ruins, right? Wrong. A former Inca city and stronghold, it sits perfectly positioned on top of Machu Picchu mountain (the real name of the city is still unknown to this day). Unable to be seen from the mountain’s base and hidden from invading Spanish forces in the 1500s, it was never plundered or destroyed as many other Inca cities were. It sat hidden from the outside world until American Hiram Bingham from Yale University discovered it in 1911. Since then, visitors from around the world have flocked to this site, over 1 million in 2013 alone. It is officially a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

As my husband, Dan, and I laid the groundwork for a 16-person mission trip to Peru, we considered whether or not to take the group to Machu Picchu. We didn’t go there on our 2012 mission trip. Could we make it happen this time around?

Our first view of Machu Picchu...postcard perfect!

The only right choice in the matter seemed to be the addition of an excursion to Machu Picchu. We were already going to be in the country, and of our 16-person group, I was the only one who’d ever been to Machu Picchu. Plus, the journey to Machu Picchu starts in the city of Cusco which sits at 10,000 feet elevation. Since our team would be hiking at elevations equal to that or higher once we started the trekking portion of our ministry, we needed to give our bodies time to acclimate to the altitude. Machu Picchu sits at about 8,000 feet, so we could use the time to acclimate to altitude, plus see an amazing historical site. On paper, this all made sense, and it sounded great.

Our team on the mean streets of Aguas Calientes. There's nothing
quite like an international trip to bring people together.

Even though the journey from the United States to Peru is a long one, we knew that once in Peru, getting to Machu Picchu would still be quite an endeavor. International visitors must enter the country through the capital city of Lima. Machu Picchu isn’t close to Lima, and many mountains stand in between. Getting to Machu Picchu then includes a plane ride to Cusco, a bus ride through the Sacred Valley, and a train trip to the small town of Aguas Calientes. From Aguas Calientes intrepid tourists can hike up the side of the mountain, but most people take the bus up a narrow switchback road.

As our team embarked upon this journey to Machu Picchu, something wonderful began to happen. A tight team bond started to form. Even though we all knew each other before we left the USA, there’s something about traveling that brings people together. We started to know the “real” people, the ones that sometimes live behind facades. This process cannot be forced...it has to unfold naturally through a series of experiences.

Another unique component to this process was that even though we had tour guides and taxi drivers who could get us to all the right places, Dan and I were the true leaders of the group. We had the ultimate responsibility of making decisions that impacted everyone. We don’t speak Spanish, and we didn’t have any special insights, except for my previous trip to Machu Picchu. This “feet on the ground leadership” honed our skills and further brought the team into a tight-knit group.

The team begins to form a bond...one that would serve us well
on the entire trip.

So, our journey to Machu Picchu was more than just seeing ruins. It was about forming a team, a “family,” which would benefit us later when we trekked into the mountains to deliver Bibles to the Quechua people. 

Preparing for Peru

My third time to Peru...love that
place!

When I first went to Peru in 2010, I assumed it would be my one and only trip to this beautiful South American country. Now here I am in 2014 after completing my third trip to this gem of the southern hemisphere. What a privilege it was for my husband, Dan, and I to serve as leaders of a 16-person mission team from our church.

Leaders...we learned a lot!

Dan and I participated in a 2012 trip to Peru to do this same type of work...distribute translated Bibles to the Quechua-speaking people of the Andes. A 40-year translation project resulted in the New Testament finally being available in the Quechua language, but many of the Quechua-speaking people living in the mountains had yet to receive a copy. Working with a team of Peruvian missionaries, we trekked into the mountains to deliver those Bibles. What a thrill it was to hand the Quechua people a copy of God’s word for the first time in their own heart language.

Two years later we volunteered to lead this same endeavor. And when I say, “lead,” I mean plan, organize, and direct our American team. We quickly learned that taking ourselves to South America is QUITE different from leading other people there. A strong belief in our task strengthened our resolve, as well as the knowledge that serving in the name of the Lord means walking within His protection.

Dan and I also served as the managers of the team once our feet were on the ground in Peru. The job was much easier once we met up with the Peruvian missionaries. We followed their directions for the distribution of the materials and for interacting with the people. Interacting with local people was complicated by the fact that none of us spoke Quechua, a language that’s very different from English, Spanish, or any other language the typical American has exposure to.

What a privilege to hand a Bible to someone translated into their
own "heart language!"

But, the foreign-ness of Quechua helped drive home an important fact. If Quechua felt like an alien language to us, then how must Spanish (the other official language of Peru) or English feel to them? It doesn’t make any sense at all, just as we can’t begin to understand a word of Quechua. For example, the simple phrase, “Hello. How are you?” is written like this in Quechua: Llamellacu quecanqui. If I hadn’t just given you the translation, this phrase would’ve made no sense. And so, as our team prepared to go to Peru, to the Quechua people, we felt strengthened by the belief that God’s Word is for everyone, and everyone needs access to it in their heart language.

Airport adventures...don't fall asleep! lol

On an early July morning, packed and ready to go, boots ready to walk, sixteen of us trundled off to the airport for an early morning flight to South America. Dan and I were the intrepid leaders, ready to face what lay ahead on this grand adventure, sustained by the grace of God.

Family Fun in Cincinnati

In Ohio for some family fun this summer? Head to the Queen City...Cincinnati. Packed with family-friendly destinations, you’ll think you’ve traveled to an entertainment hot spot. Try a few of these attractions to make the most of your visit.

The new Banshee coaster is the world's longest
inverted coaster.

King’s Island. Record-breaking rollercoasters, a world-class water park, and star-studded entertainment make King’s Island one of Ohio’s best attractions. Don’t miss the newest coaster, Banshee, which set a record as the world’s longest inverted coaster. The Beast, which celebrates its 35^th birthday this season, still holds the record as the world’s longest wooden coaster. It sits adjacent to the Diamondback, the Vortex, and a host of other rides that will surely deliver the thrills, chills, and spills that your family craves. Milder rides also abound in every section of the park along with an award-winning kids’ section, and the recently remodeled water park, Soak City. Daily admission starts at $59.99, but many discount offers are available online. Plan your visit at www.visitkingsisland.com .

The Asian elephants are always a favorite at the
Cincinnati zoo. See over 500 species of animals!

Cincinnati Zoo. If rollercoasters aren’t your speed, then head on over to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Consistently rated as one of the top zoos in the country, over 500 animal and 3,000 plant species are featured. Don’t miss the newest exhibit, Africa, which opens on June 28^th. Designed like an African savannah, visitors will have unrestricted views and close encounters with the animals. Other exciting exhibits include polar bears in the “Lords of the Arctic,” orangutans in “Jungle Trails,” and Asian elephants in the “Elephant Reserve.” There’s also  giraffes, rhinos, reptiles, and more. It’s a full day at the zoo! General admission is $15 for adults and $11 for kids, but there are many package deals available. Plan your visit online at http://cincinnatizoo.org.  

Kids of all ages love the Duke Energy
Children's Museum!

Cincinnati Museum Center. If you’d rather spend the day indoors, then try the Cincinnati Museum Center. Housed in the former Union Terminal train station, this museum houses three different museums, an Omnimax theatre, and a variety of traveling exhibits. The “Diana: A Celebration” exhibit is currently featured and showcases the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales. This award-winning exhibit will be at the museum through August 17^th. While you’re there, visit the Cincinnati History Museum which takes visitors on a walk through the past of this great city. The Museum of Natural History and Science provides a wealth of hands-on experiences about prehistoric history and the scientific world. Finally, the Duke Energy Children’s Museum offers hours of hands-on play and exploration for kids of all ages. Wrap it up with a movie on the Omnimax’s five-story screen, and you’ve got a day full of excitement. Ticket prices vary depending on the number of museums visited. The website at www.cincymuseum.org explains the various options available.

Fountain Square.  Whether you choose to spend an entire evening here, or you stop by on your way to another location, Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati has food, fun, and entertainment all summer long. An daily schedule of events means that there’s always something happening, in addition to the permanent dining and shopping storefronts that surround the square. Music, dancing, sports events on the big screen...you’ll find it in the square. Check out their website at http://myfountainsquare.com for the full schedule of summertime events. Also, keep in mind that there’s ice skating here in the winter.

Reds Baseball. It’s the great American pastime, and a chance to see live Major League baseball in action. Tickets can be had for as little as $9, depending on the game. Visit http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com for ticket information and details on special events.

You can have a fun, family-filled adventure in southwest Ohio. Try Cincinnati and see what a great time you can have!

Other places to explore in the Cincinnati area...
The Beach Waterpark: http://www.thebeachwaterpark.com/
Newport Aquarium:  http://www.newportaquarium.com/
The Creation Museum: http://creationmuseum.org/
Newport on the Levee: http://www.newportonthelevee.com/
Cincinnati Art Museum: http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: http://freedomcenter.org/

Failure IS an Option

Allow kids to experience failure.
(Photo courtesy of realworldracingphotog, Creative
Commons license)

I’ve known a lot of kids in my 18 years of teaching, and I’ve witnessed those kids experience many ups and downs. A frequently experienced “down” is failure...how to accept it and how to deal with it. Unfortunately, too many of today’s kids have no idea how to manage failure in their lives. As parents, how can you help your kids navigate these treacherous waters? It’s not easy, but here are a few steps to try.

1.  Don’t be a helicopter. The term, “helicopter parent” has become more common in the last decade. It describes a parent who constantly hovers over their children to prevent any misfortune from befalling them. While the aim of this behavior is noteworthy, the end result is not. Kids with helicopter parents never experience failure and therefore, they don’t learn how to pick themselves up and start walking again. As difficult as it may be, do not become a helicopter parent. Let your kids stumble and fall so they can learn from the experience. Closely related to helicopter parents are the...

2.  Superhero parents. These parents rush in to save the day every time there is failure or trouble. This is also a recipe for disaster. Kids have to learn how to deal with disappointment, conflict, and failure. Give your child the opportunity to be a problem solver. Parental intervention should be the last resort, not the first. Your child will learn far more when they deal with issues on their own.

Bad grade? Teach kids to manage the feelings
of failure and disappointment.
(Photo courtesy of Ektor, Creative Commons
license)

3.  Teach kids how to accept failure. Let’s face it, the world is tough. Failure lurks around every corner, and we have to know how to accept it. Help kids to approach failure with courage and a plan for improvement. Bad test grade? Work on study strategies to be more prepared the next time. Didn’t make the sports team? Improve some skills to be ready for next year. The team didn’t win its game or competition? Congratulate the winners with a smile, and know that maybe the next game will be better. Whining, crying, and complaining don’t change anything. Action steps help kids strive to do better in the future.

An ideal scenario to help teach acceptance of failure is the family board game night. Typically, there’s only one winner in the game, and everyone else loses. Losing is a painful, but important, lesson that we all must master. Parents can model what it looks like to be a graceful loser and how to handle to the disappointment of failure.

A family game night helps kids learn to manage
failure as there can only be one winner.
(Photo Courtesy of Michael Beck, Creative Commons license)

4.  It’s okay to be disappointed. Failure often brings disappointment, and it’s acceptable to feel that way. Instead of dwelling on the feelings that accompany disappointment, help kids to work through them by finding an outlet.  Talking, writing, exercising, or even crying are coping strategies. Sometimes a good cry clears the senses, and it’s easier to move forward from there.

Failure WILL happen, and we all must be ready for it. If we, as parents, always shelter our kids from failure, then we’re doing them a great disservice. They will experience the fiascos of life, and they need to know how to manage it. Whether it’s coping strategies, forcing them to face their own problems head-on, or simply being a shoulder to cry on, the best things we can do as parents is to prepare them for life’s inevitable. It hurts to watch kids struggle through tough times, but as the old saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. This is true for adults and kids alike. 

Back to Peru

In the shadow of Huascaran, Peru's tallest mountain

Two trips to Peru in two years; experiencing this wonderful country twice in a short amount of time leaves me humbled. And now as I stand in the early weeks of 2014, I find myself planning another trip to this South American wonderland.  I don’t speak Spanish, I’m not fond of eating guinea pig (the Peruvian national dish), hiking in the Andes is strenuous, the rain forest is wretchedly humid...so why would I jump at the chance to go back to such a place? The bigger question is, why wouldn’t I?

Observing parrots at the clay lick near the Tambopata
Research Center.

My first journey to Peru was a trip for teachers to the Amazon rain forest. I spent a week sleeping under  mosquito nets, dodging bats (not my favorite animal), and sweating profusely without end.  However, the ability to witness this marvel of nature was worth 

all the difficult times. Never could I have believed that such a place existed. The monkeys howled in the trees, the beautiful birds soared through the sky, the frogs and insects chirped at all hours of the night; the Amazon presented itself as an alien planet, not an earthbound locale.

My second journey took me in an entirely different direction. I hiked in the Andes Mountains with 13 members of my church. Our goal was to deliver translated Bibles to the native Quechua people. These folks had never owned a Bible in their own language until our band of “Gringos” appeared in their villages to give them one. The trekking was rough, but the thrill of handing God’s word to people for the first time in their lives made every step worth it.

My third trip south of the Equator will again require a trek into the Andes to deliver Bibles to native Quechua people. As a co-leader alongside my husband, we’ve assembled a 16-person team who will walk into little-seen corners of the mountains, Bibles in hand. As heads of the team, it’s our job to get everyone safely there and back and to accomplish our mission in the process. It’s amazing experience to lead a group of friends and to have the responsibility of bringing God’s word to those who’ve ever had it. I expect that we will bless people through our actions, and the experiences of our last trip make me hopeful for our success.

For example, on the 2012 trip we visited four different villages. After the third village, we embarked upon the trail towards our last and final village. When I say, “trail,” imagine a small winding path that may be trod upon by people, donkeys, horses, or sheep at varying points throughout the day. At times we didn’t even walk on trails but just cut across country, as needed.

How privileged we were to see this man
come to Christ!

Our group was walking along one of these paths when a farmer came running to us. He’d heard about our nightly presentation where we passed out the Bibles. He’d been unable to attend the previous night, but he still wanted to talk to us. Through a translator we learned that he’d been struggling with alcoholism, and he knew he needed help. He wanted to accept Christ into his life. So, we all prayed with him right on that mountainside and watched as the joy of Christ became evident in his life.

He was thrilled that he hadn’t missed his chance, and we were thrilled to see the hand of God at work in the mountains of Peru. As we trekked on, it was unclear who was more excited, the Peruvian man we’d just prayed with or our band of travelers who’d just witnessed a miracle.

When I think ahead to the upcoming trip, I can’t help but pray for more experiences like that one. It makes all the work, the planning, the trekking, and the journey into the unknown worth it...to go back to a place I love. To go back to Peru.

Life Lessons from the Olympics

Photo Courtesy Sujit & Roz, All Rights Reserved

My family gas been glued to our TV lately as we’ve enjoyed the latest edition of the Winter Olympics. I love the level of danger in these winter events! Zooming down a mountain at 80mph definitely qualifies as trip on the wild side.

Even though these Olympics are almost over, you can still use them as an opportunity to teach your kids a few life lessons. Olympic athletes and regular folks all need strategies if we aspire to achieve.

1.  Hard work is required for success. Olympic athletes are the perfect example of hard work. Day after day for weeks, months, and years...training for the games requires blood, sweat and tears. Some athletes spend a lifetime training for the chance to compete in the Olympics.

2.  Training is important. After hard work comes training. Each sport has a specific skill set that has to be mastered through very exact training. Most professions around the world also hold true to this concept. Skills must be taught and learned if success is to follow.

3.  Commitment is key. The athletes in these games are dedicated to their sports. They follow their commitments through from beginning to end. Even when it’s hard and even when it’s not fun, commitment to success is evident in the Olympic athletes.

Photo courtesy of Michael Chu, Creative Commons License

4.  The journey is as important as the end result. Everyone who goes to the Olympics hopes to win a medal. However, all athletes know that the journey they’ve taken to reach the Olympics is important, too. We all go through a journey in life, and it’s not always the end result that’s most important. We learn and grow as we walk the road of life.

5.  Our differences make us unique. One of the most enjoyable parts of the Olympics is the interaction between the different countries. Whether it’s skin color, language, cultural traditions, dress, or religion, the Olympics provide opportunity to celebrate the differences that make each person and country interesting. What a boring world it would be if we were all the same!

6.  There’s no time for quitters. The difficult training must be frustrating for Olympic athletes. However, quitting can’t be an option. They’ve got to stick it out through good times and bad, even when it’s hard. The hard is what makes the accomplishment so much greater in the end. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it.

7.  Patriotism is important. Every time an American stands on the medal podium, I feel a sense of pride. These athletes represent what’s best about our country. No wonder I get choked up when the national anthem plays for a gold medal winner. Our country may not always be perfect, but at the end of the day, this is still the greatest nation on earth, and we should be proud of it and our accomplishments.

Even after the Olympics are over, you can reinforce these ideas to your children as concrete examples of hard work and perseverance, patriotism and commitment. Adults, too, can be inspired by the wonderful example set forth from our Olympic athletes.

Start Summer Travel Planning Now!

It may be winter right now, but summer is around the corner and with it comes the summer travel season. Here are 6 tips to get you started with your summer travel plans.

1.  Pick a destination. Start with a map and begin to brainstorm. Compile input from family members. Conduct research on the sights and activities that various places have to offer. Consider additional requirements of international travel, such as passports. Make a wish list and then start to whittle it down. A major component of the whittling-down process will likely be...

2.  Transportation. Drive or fly? It’s the age old question every family asks when planning their summer travel. Perhaps you immediately know that flying is cost-prohibitive and therefore out of the question. This may immediately cut several destinations off the list of possibilities. If you’re on the fence about flying, look to the Internet and start to research. It may be too early to book tickets, but you can get an idea of prices and routes. This will help you determine whether or not flying is an option. If you must drive, then factor in the price of gas and hotel stays between here and your destination.

3.  Pick your dates. Look at the family calendar and mark adults’ vacation time and kids’ summer responsibilities. Depending on the age of your children and their level of summertime commitments, you may not have a large window of travel time available to you. Focus on several different chunks of the summer calendar in which you could book a vacation. The amount of time available will help you further pare down that list of destinations.

4.  Research hotel or lodging options. City accommodations will be quite different than beach accommodations. If you’re looking to rent a beach house or condo, then its availability may finalize travel details such as dates and transportation. Rental properties typically need to be secured earlier on the calendar than hotels do. Use a website like Trip Advisor (www.tripadvisor.com) to fully understand what each lodging spot has to offer. A website like Travel Zoo (www.travelzoo.com) is a great place to search hotel and airfare deals for major cities.

It's never too early to start making summertime travel plans.

5.  Set a budget. After viewing preliminary prices on airfare and hotels, start to lay down a reasonable budget. Don’t forget to research the cost of attractions you want to visit, as well as food. This will likely be the final deciding factor on your choice of destination. It all comes down to money in the end.

6.  Pull the trigger when the time is right. After you conduct your research and make your decisions, be ready to act when it’s time to buy plane tickets or book hotels. Don’t be afraid to make those purchases or reservations when you see prices that fit into your budget. Airfare can be notoriously tricky. If you can’t begin to make heads or tails of it, then enlist the assistance of a travel agent. Also use a travel agent to book a cruise or to plan a complicated trip with many location changes.

7.  Apply for a passport. It takes awhile to secure a passport, on average 4-6 weeks. If your destination is international, get moving on this. It can be expedited for an additional fee, but the sooner you can start the process, the better. Visit the state department website at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/new.html to find out more.

Even though summer still feels far away, you can get the jump on planning an enjoyable vacation by starting the process now. Sunny skies are right around the corner, and you’ll definitely want to make the most of your summer travel time.

Feed Your Brain

Winter weather might be getting you down, but it’s easy to keep your mind sharp by exercising your brain. Kids and adults benefit from a daily dose of “brain food.” So turn off the TV and video games and give your brain a workout with exercises meant to stimulate your mind.

Reading...the ultimate brain food!
Photo courtesy of Paul Bence, Creative Commons License

As a teacher, I have to recommend reading as the most important “brain food.” Readers create mental pictures that engage the imagination. Processing words along with their meanings forces the reader to understand a scenario as it’s being described. Reading will always top my list of “brain food” activities, and the greatest part about it is that if you visit your local library, it’s totally free.

Not a reader? Don’t worry. It’s not the only activity that qualifies as “brain food.” Puzzles are another engaging activity. Whether it’s a hands-on jigsaw puzzle, or a written puzzle such as Sudoku, a crossword, or a word search, puzzles force the brain to think creatively while also exercising memory and perception skills. Mazes also fall into the puzzle category. The more difficult the maze, the better the mental work out.

Crafts and hands-on activities also give the brain exercise. Knitting, crocheting, wood working, scrapbooking, painting, sewing, and even auto repair connect the hands and the mind together. Introducing these types of skills to kids provides them with opportunities that can be utilized into adulthood. Adults, it’s never too late to learn one of these activities, so don’t assume it’s all kids’ play.

Learning a musical instrument is exercise
for the brain.
Photo courtesy of Nikos Koutoulas, Creative
Commons License.

Music and dance provide wonderful exercise for the brain. Learning to sing or play an instrument stretches the mind and forces it to work, especially when reading music is involved. Dancing, besides its obvious physical benefits, gives the brain an opportunity to direct the body into a prescribed set of motions and actions. Singing and dancing together takes the entire process one step further.

Play board games as a family. Institute a family game night and make it a grand event. Snacks, games, and family competition make these “brain food” moments even more fun. Play a variety of games and keep a running total of the winners so that you can crown a champion for the night. Game night brings the family together for some quality time, as well.

Play with LEGOs, blocks, or other building materials. Give your kids the opportunity to create and build. Don’t just stick to the provided directions for LEGOS, either. If your blocks are all mixed together, then take them and just start building. It’s fun to see what can be created. Or, for an even bigger challenge, attempt to copy a well-known building or person to make a LEGO version.

Learn a new skill. It’s a healthy to engage in new activities or skills. Think about something you’ve wanted to do and learn how to do it. Encourage your kids to do the same. Your brain will thank you for it.

Build variety into the cold winter months by regularly feeding your brain and keeping it healthy. This is important for kids and adults. Feed your brain and give it a work out no matter what your age!

Cooking with Kids

In my last post I discussed the importance of eating dinner together as a family. One central idea to that concept involves kids in the kitchen. There’s beauty in the time spent on nourishing your family, and kids learn it best when they begin to cook as youngsters.

Good cooking is truly an art form. My younger self could cook, meaning that I could take prepackaged food and create something that was edible. But understanding food and the nuances that accompany a delicious dish is a skill that must be rehearsed, just like anything else. I’ve learned a great deal about cooking thanks to my husband who understands food much better than I do. My attitude changed as I realized that cooking for family and friends is truly an expression of love.

So, how can you develop a love for cooking in your kids’ hearts and minds? Several strategies bring kids into the kitchen to start them on a journey of food appreciation.

1. Begin by including them as your helpers, or as we like to call it at our house, “sous chefs.” Kids of all ages can assist in cooking, and it makes them feel important. Whether it’s getting out the ingredients, pouring things into a mixing bowl, or stirring, there’s always a task to be completed. Older kids can learn to chop, peel, and manage a hot skillet. If you need time to teach skills, approach it on a weekend when time is not as tight as on a school night.

2. Get kids’ attention with their preferred foods. If your child is reluctant to serve as your assistant, entice them with foods you know they already enjoy. It’s more fun to make a batch of cookies than to prepare a vegetable side dish. Be patient. The goal is to get them interested, so take it slow. Once you’ve got them hooked, you can start to introduce new foods or engage them in the preparation of other dishes.

3. Watch cooking shows on TV. Something amazing happens when you watch cooking shows...you really want to cook. Watching the masters at work stirs up a sense of excitement. “I could do that!” you start to think. And, if you’re thinking it, kids will, too. Find an entertaining cooking show host and start to tune in regularly. Not only will you pick up a few tips and tricks, your family will start to see how much fun it is to cook.

4. Find kid friendly recipes. Search the Internet, look in magazines, or visit bookstores for recipes that are written for kids. The local library is likely to have kids’ cookbook available, too, including ones written by celebrity chefs like Rachael Ray. It won’t take much time to find recipes which engage your kids in the kitchen.

Turn your children into chefs and start them on the road to a lifetime of cooking. Make food and mealtime a priority in your family and equip your kids with healthy habits and attitudes for the years to come.

Mealtime is Family Time

In this increasingly hectic world, it can be difficult to sit down for a family dinner. Don’t mistake the importance of this family time, though; coming together to leave the distractions of the world behind. Several wonderful things happen when a family eats together.

1. Children learn good table manners. At its most basic function, the family dinner helps children learn table manners, especially when mom and dad model them. Implementing the manners at home trains the kids for using those manners in other eating situations, such as restaurants and at friends’ houses. Train them at home and then take them out to practice their skills.

2. Children learn the art of conversation. Besides eating, talking is a major function of the family dinner. Not only do kids hear their parents talk, but they learn how to engage in polite conversation and all the nuances that accompany it. This frequent conversation with parents also improves vocabulary which develops better language skills.

3. Children have uninterrupted attention from their parents. Busy, busy, busy. It’s become the American way of life. But, when the entire family sits down to eat, the kids have the opportunity to talk to their parents, share information about the day, and ask questions. Some of the best conversations in families happen at the dinner table.

4. Children eat healthier meals. Research shows that families eat more fruits and vegetables when everyone sits down for a family meal. Teach kids about nutrition and model healthy eating habits. Eating at home also gives parents control over portion sizes, a difficult task when dining out.

5. Children learn about cooking. Preparing and then eating a family dinner teaches kids how to cook. Let children be part of the meal preparation. Older kids and teens can even take on the responsibility of preparing an entire meal once a week. Pass down those cherished family recipes by engaging kids in the process of cooking.

6. Children try new foods. While cooking and eating a meal together, take this opportunity to introduce a new food. Experiment in the kitchen and get kids on board with your new adventure. Eating at home is more economical than dining out, so trying a new recipe is gentler on the pocketbook. Let kids suggest a new menu item and even let them help make it. It’s easier to be adventurous when eating at home.

7. Children are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Studies show that kids who eat at least five family meals a week are less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as cigarette smoking, drugs, and drinking. The time spent in direct contact with parents has a positive impact in helping kids make wise choices in these areas.

If a myriad of activities keeps your family from sitting down together on a regular basis, then it might be time to pare down the activities. Start small with one or two meals per work and gradually increase as you flex the schedule. In time, the family dinner will feel so routine, you’ll wonder how you survived without it. 

Keep Kids Active in the Winter

Winter has reared its ugly head with cold temperatures and plenty of snow. After just a few days of being stuck inside, you may be looking for ways to get your kids moving. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 60 minutes of exercise every day, and that can be a tall order to fill when winter weather keeps recreational activities at bay. Think outside the box to keep your kids active during the long days of winter.

1. Turn your house into an indoor gym. Create an obstacle course with chairs, pillows, sofa cushions, tables, and anything else that you can use to make a maze for your kids to crawl and jump through. Utilize the space in your basement or garage for kicking a soccer ball, having a “sword fight” with pool noodles, jumping rope, or creating the aforementioned obstacle course. Set up a fitness routine with a series of jumping jacks, push-ups, sit ups, and jogging in place. Time your kids and set goals for personal “bests.”

2. Bring technology into the mix with your video game system. Wii Fit games are a lot of fun, and kids love working out with other “Mii”s. Games like “Just Dance” provide a fun way to work out while dancing. Find workout DVDs that everyone can use. Kids enjoy using adult exercise DVDs because it makes them feel more grown up. Zumba DVDs incorporate dancing into the workout.

3. If you need to get out of the house, take advantage of your YMCA membership. Teens can visit the fitness room or shoot hoops in the gym. Get kids of all ages moving by walking on the track. Let kids use their MP3 players and headphones to motivate them while walking or running. Take the entire family for a dip in the pool and conduct family relay races across the pool.

Visit an indoor entertainment venue with jumping
inflatables, laser tag, and more!

4. Visit a local establishment with jumping inflatables. Older kids will enjoy laser tag, and you could even stage a family competition. Search out the indoor entertainment venues in your area to find other fun activities, such as sand volleyball, go karts, laser tag, mini-golf, and bowling. Many large cities now feature the SkyZone Trampoline Park. Jumping packages start at just $9 a person. Google search to find indoor entertainment establishments for admission rates, directions, and hours of operation for wherever you live.

5. Go outside! When those rare winter days with higher temperatures arrive, send your kids outside. Keep a few balls or other outdoor toys handy through the winter so that the kids can shoot a few hoops, take a spin on a skateboard or scooter, or swing on the swingset.

6. Don’t shy away from the snowy days, too. Buy your kids winter weather clothes so that they can go outside to play. If the price of snow pants and boots feels oppressive, check second-hand stores or consignment shops to pick up those clothing items for a lower price. At the end of the season, shop sale racks for next year’s winter gear.  Being prepared for the weather means kids can get exercise outside more often than not, year-round.

Don’t let cold weather keep your kids stuck on the couch all season. Get creative and keep ‘em moving.