Preparing Your Children For Their First Trip Alone

By Meg Hodson

We have always been a traveling family. Whether it's road trips to the beach, flights to visit family in the Midwest, weddings in Las Vegas, or Disneyland, we've done a lot. My children are natural travelers and really enjoy it. 

My oldest child (my daughter, age 11) finished 5th grade this year. We had learned about an opportunity to go on an 11 day tour of Alaska with People To People Ambassador Programs. I myself had done a People To People trip in high school and I had fond memories of my trip to Europe. I was excited to look into this further for my daughter. 

We ultimately decided she was ready for a trip like this. It was set to be a well-supervised tour and there were numerous meetings locally with the students going from the area. She couldn't wait for summer. She even did her own fundraising to pay for part of the trip and for spending money.

I am a firm believer that travel is a great way to learn. She is not back from her trip yet, but I can't wait to see and hear about her adventures. Her leader has a private group page set up for the parents, so we can follow along on their adventures. That has been wonderful!

As we prepared for her trip, I thought I would put together a list of some of the not-so-common items to check off as you get ready for a young child tp travel alone.

• Pack An Extended First Aid Kit. Band-aids are a given, but I put together an extensive first aid kit so that my daughter would not have to worry about buying these things and so she was prepared, should she need something at odd hours, like the middle of the night. Her kit included: bandages, first aid ointment, eye drops, blister bandages, chewable ibuprofen (she knew to consult her leader first to confirm the dosage), chewable allergy medicine, arnica for sore muscles or light bruising, homeopathic night time sleeping aid, and ginger mints (for motion sickness).

• Souvenir List. My daughter had requests from her brothers and from us about souvenirs we might like. I made a "Note" in her iPod that included some of the things we liked so she wouldn't forget. I also made a list of family members and friends and their addresses so she could send post cards. I bought post card stamps for her to have on hand. You could easily include this on the first page of a travel journal, too.

• Credit Card Gift Card. Banks actually do have travelers checks still, but I just thought this would be a bit of a hassle for an 11 year old. Carrying a large amount of cash was not a good idea either. She was familiar with the process of a debit card, so I thought a credit card gift card would be perfect and teach her some budget responsibility, too. We pre-loaded it with a set amount and sent her with a little cash, too. As a gift, I also bought her a Starbucks gift card for some treats along the way.

• Stay Charged Baby! I sent my daughter with a back-up portable USB charger to use for her iPod. She also has rechargeable batteries for her small camera. 

• Snacks. With odd flights times and this trip promising LOTS of walking and sightseeing, I packed my daughter some snacks. I knew she could buy some along the way, too, but you never know when you will be rushed for time. I sent her with some granola bars, coconut chips, nuts, and dried fruit. Be sure to pack items that won't easily get crushed or melt.

• Confidence. I know, I know, you can't pack confidence. But I assured my daughter that I knew she would be smart and make the right decisions on her trip. She had her leader to turn to as well. I ultimately said to "go with your gut", I know you will make the right decisions.

What tips can you share about preparing kids for their first trip?

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Adjustment Day

By Meg Hodson

School is out.  It's officially summer vacation for my three children.  They're excited.  I'm excited, too (really I am).  But to get to cruising altitude of summer, we must survive Adjustment Day.

I've never been to a chiropractor, but I am fully versed in what I am calling Adjustment Day. The kids are officially out of school for summer, but are acting as they have been throw into the deep end of the pool with no skill of how to swim.  In short, they are nuts.  We've stayed up way past our bedtime a few nights. Regularly scheduled school year has gone into repeats.  There is laughter, tears, fighting, and exhaustion....and that is all by the time breakfast is over.  I adore my kids, but seriously, I am about ready to run out the front door screaming.  

So what do you do? What helps ease the transition to summer vacation? How do you survive Adjustment Day?  I've assembled a few tips that I think help with summer vacation.....and on any given day that your kids might seem out of sorts and a little off center:

1.  Keep Them Well Fed.  One of the best tips I received was prior to our trip to Disneyland a few years ago.  A fellow parent friend advised to pack lots of snacks and feed my kids every 2 hours.  While it seemed excessive before going, it proved to be useful and downright necessary on our visit.  I think the same is true for summer vacation.  In general, kids are outside more and their activity level is increased.  Every other sentence out of their mouth is "I'm hungry". I have brushed off the request for food other times, but this time around, it appears that they legitimately need a bit more food.  Now, this doesn't necessarily mean food every 2 hours, but I am making a conscious effort to pack their plates a bit heavier at their three core meals and keep apple slices and carrot sticks in handy grab bags in the fridge.  

2.  Keep Them Active.  As a parent that works from home, I have to find a balance between spending time with my children and getting work done.  Easier said then done, right?  I do know that activities that are easily available to them are key.  I keep a well-stocked pile of new books from the library as they participate in a summer reading program.  Our backyard is equipped with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, toys, a trampoline, a sprinkler for hot days, and more.  I use a dry erase board each day for a small amount of chores for them to complete.  Find what they like and have those options ready and organized.  

3.  Establish A Summer Schedule.  When the school year is in full swing, adhering to a schedule is relatively easy.  That changes in summer.  But I urge you to create, even if it's loose, a summer schedule. Have set times when they are allowed to watch a t.v. show or play a video game.  Have a set time for workbooks or reading.  Serve your meals at about the same time each day.  Children thrive on a regular schedule; this will make them and you much happier.

4.  Roll With It.  As prepared as you will be, there will still be insane, crazy days.  And it's on these days that I urge you to squeeze your kids a little longer and smile.

 

Trophies.....For The Win?

My kids have been involved in sports since kindergarten.  They have enjoyed primarily soccer, but also basketball, t-ball, and dance.  Overall, all endeavors have been an amazingly gratifying experience, both for them and for myself as a parent.  

As a child, both myself and my husband were involved in sports from a young age.  I excelled at swimming and basketball, my husband in football.  I can distinctly remember the "old-fashioned" gym I used to practice in as a second grade basketball player, complete with dark wood floors and oversized metal lights hanging from above.  

Why did I get involved in sports at such a young age?  I imagine most of it was a heavy influence from my parents, particularly my Dad, who was an accomplished basketball player.  I also think it was because I was an active, social child and sports was a natural activity to at least try.  As it turned out, I loved both basketball and swimming and did very well at each sport.  

Even at a young age, we competed in swimming.  There were swim meets, they kept score, I got blue ribbons and the occasional trophy.....when I won or was honored with a title such as "Most Inspirational".  

It wasn't so "easy" with basketball; there were no ribbons or trophies until high school.  And even then, it was only for accomplishing something I am quite proud of:  playing varsity basketball as a sophomore and going to the state tournament.

Did I feel I was missing something for not having a large bulletin size board of ribbons? I don't think so.  Was I bummed (or did I even know) about trophies in second grade?  Nope.  I just loved playing and hanging out as a team.  Besides, where would I put all those trophies?

So, when did this perfectly acceptable and, dare I say, normal procedure in sports change?  When was the official launch of the participation trophy?  

I have been asked by parents who are team leaders, or by the coaches themselves, if we are "going to do a trophy for the team".  It's an inevitable question, it has become a commonplace inquiry.  It seems to me that most parents are cows in a herd and just go along with what appears to be the general consensus to get them for every member of the team.  There are times I haven't been asked, it's just a statement and that your money is due by Friday.  I even heard from one parent on one of my child's teams remark that a trophy was the only reason her child was playing this year.  

First of all, let me tackle this from a financial standpoint.  Recreational sports these days are not inexpensive. There are the team fees, buying the needed gear, traveling to games, and (ugh!) snack duty.  Coaches gifts (and rightly so) are decided on at the end of the season.  So, although a trophy or medal may "only be $10", it adds up to a lot when you add it on to other expenses, as well as families having multiple children in sports.

I posed this question to my followers on my Facebook page and the crux of the conversation focused on the competitive nature of sports and the earning of the trophy.  Here are a few highlights:

"Losing is a lesson all kids need to learn...."

"...kids don't understand what it means to be an athlete...

"It depends on the age......for my son (age 8), this is crazy....."

"Losing is a great lesson in life....."

I'm certainly not saying the comments I received are a scientific survey by any means, but it certainly aids in the conversation on the subject.  My overall feeling on the topic is my concern of what I am setting as an expectation and example for my children.  My kids have had amazing seasons so far this year.  But what if they had tried their best without much success?  What if they just plain sucked?  It's like those awful contestants on American Idol who have sworn they have been told by everyone they know that they are amazing singers..  Then comes the harsh reality check, you're not! I can be a gracious, proud parent without handing them a trophy.  Can't memories of a fun season be memorialized in photographs and memories?

Ultimately, I want my kids to have a competitive spirit, fight for a win, and be bummed if they lose.  And similar to other endeavors in their lives (like school), they are rewarded accordingly.

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No Sick Days?

My kids received recognition this year for not having missed a day of school!  I, of course, was very proud.  I didn't even think about the reaction from teachers and other parents....."how did you do this?" they asked.  2 kids, public school, not sick once?

I can't claim that any of the information below is "scientific".  But I'd like to think the choices I am making in regards to their food and lifestyle are having an effect on their health and learning.

1.  Lots of fruits and vegetables.  My kids eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and very little processed food.  Instead of Goldfish crackers and fruit leather, it's nuts, fresh fruit, or smoothies.

2. Easy on the sugar.  Treats are for special occasions only and no fruit juice.

3.  Yogurt everyday.  This is the big one. I am convinced the probiotics they get everyday are helping their immunity.

4.  No flu shot.  I have immunized my children with other shots, but they do not get flu shots.  

5.  Lots of exercise and activity.  My kids are active in some sports, but I also make sure they get plenty of exercise everyday.  We walk to and from school; if it's not raining, we are outside!

6.  Omega Fatty Acids.  I give them a fatty acid supplement, but they also eat a lot of avocado, chia seeds, flax seed, coconut oil, olive oil, and fish occasionally.

7.  Easy on the meat.  I am vegetarian, but my children do eat meat.  We do meatless Mondays in our house, and I make a conscious effort to limit their dairy intake (i.e. they drink almond milk) and to balance their meat intake.  If I know we are having meat for dinner, I opt for a vegetarian lunch.  If we have deli sandwiches for lunch, I might fix homemade macaroni and cheese for dinner.

I hope you find these tips helpful and that you might incorporate a few into your daily routine with your children.  These little changes can be huge for them in terms of their daily habits now....and when they grow up.

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!

Exercise For Kids In A Rainy World

I live in the Pacific Northwest.  We, of course, are known for our notorious Fall and Winter rainfall.  September and October this year were beautiful, with record breaking temperatures and historically low levels of rainfall.  We are making up for it in November.  Day after day, it's been nothing but rain.  And I am not talking the occasional sprinkle or light shower.  That cold, beating rain that comes with wind occasionally.

I have lived here most my life, except when I attended graduate school in New York City.  So, I am used to the rain.  I actually like the rain, love rain walks, and love the beautiful landscape that surrounds us in this part of the country.

But now that I have three children, the rain does present challenges when it comes to this time of year and long stretches of vacation.  Right now, we are nearing the end of a 9 day Thanksgiving break.  When vacations during the school year come around, I am well-prepared.  I keep them up on their studies, we do extra reading and workbook pages, and have extra fun activities like game night or holiday shopping.  But all of you parents out there know, the bottom line, at the end of the day, is that children need regular, everyday EXERCISE!!

We have all heard of the recommendation that children get 1 hour of play/exercise per day.  That's pretty easy to accomplish for my children while in school and with Fall activities.  They have school, do soccer, have dance class, and have crisp Fall days to ride bikes and play outside.  But then the rain and vacation comes.  Suddenly, I am struggling to get them the activity they need!

Why is it so important?  Of course, regular exercise is good for growing children's muscles, hearts, and to keep them fit.  But let us now forget their brains!  Recent studies show that exercise fosters a better attention span, better memory retention, learning, and a reduction in hyperactivity.

I think we can all agree that exercise is thus important for children.  But the trick (especially this time of year) is coming up with creative ways to get that for your children.  Below are some ways I have found to make it work:

1.  Playgrounds At School.  Most schools at least have part of their playgrounds under cover.  Often, the basketball hoops, hopscotch grids and even some playground equipment is under an awning.  After school hours and during vacation breaks, these areas are open to the public.  It's a great burn off some energy!

2.  A Walk In the Rain.  Don't underestimate the good ol' fashioned walk in the rain.  As long as your children have a good raincoat and rain boots, they are ready for a good rain walk.  They have free reign of every puddle they come across.  You can eve play games along the way:  the "Find Something Red (or color of your choice) Game" or "Find Anything That You Can Drive".  Come up with your own game.  The kids will have a blast

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3.  Breaks In the Weather.  There will be those days when the rain is just too torrential and windy and you just can't be outside.  So, stay tuned to those skies.  Even a 10 minute break in the rain can work wonders for the kids.  Quickly get outside with bikes, scooters, hula hoops, or the soccer ball and get a little energy burned off.

4. Indoor Play Areas.  Although there is a nominal cost involved, there are many indoor options for kids.  Jump gyms, children's gyms, roller skating rinks, ice skating rinks, and other similar venues can be a lifesaver for parents over Christmas vacation.

5. Dance Party.  When you are stuck at home and need exercise, my kids love a good dance party!  Click on a good dance station on Pandora and free up some space in the kitchen; dance along with your children.  You can even add exercises to the "routine" like jumping jacks, jumping on one foot, the splits, push ups, etc. to make it fun!  If you have a Wii of XBox, there are many fun dance games that you can buy or borrow from your local library.

6. Hit the Mall.  Remember, a lot of walking, even in spurts, is great exercise!  When my kids are bored and need exercise, we will often take a "field trip" to the mall.  Stores like Pottery Barn Kids, the Apple Store, or the Lego store are like going to a museum for my kids.  Malls are usually HUGE, so they get lots of walking.  Many malls these days also have indoor play areas, which add to the exercise and activity.  Best of all, unless you are actively shopping, it is FREE!