Temper Tantrums – How To Calm Down The Temper Tantrum “Monster”

GiftBasketsForChildren.Org Offers These Tips To Calm Holiday temper Tantrums

Easter Time – Temper Tantrum Time at ChildrensGftBaskets.Org

Holidays seem like the perfect time to bring this up. Family time and holiday celebrations sometimes bring out temper tantrums with cranky kids and short tempered parents.  Here are some tips on what you can do to calm the temper tantrum monster:

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Temper Tantrums come out of nowhere sometimes -

These bad behaviors we call temper tantrums. Sometimes I think it is just nature’s way of preparing you for teenagers. Temper tantrums all boil down to a lack of control of your surroundings – Whether it is a two-year old screaming, whining, crying, lashing out physically or holding their breath because they are frustrated or an adult screaming insults at a waiter because they ordered a salad and they got lasagna instead. Both of these examples are temper tantrums – Adult and child versions.

The good thing is that in a child it is considered a normal process of development. In an adult it is considered childish, rude, low class and asinine. But who hasn’t had a really good melt down as an adult – All of us have and we all know we have.

Most common are the two-year-old tantrums. This seems to be the age that children are most frustrated by the things or people they can’t get to, “do” what they want them to, “do.” Probably because their verbal skills are developing and they haven’t quite mastered the art of conversation and even more importantly – Communication skills.

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What is a parent to do With Temper Tantrums?

One thing I learned very quickly is that no matter how “normal” a temper tantrum is for a two-year-old, not a soul on the planet wants to listen to your prince or princess screaming in a high-pitched childish voice how much they hate you.

1. Take your temper tantrum princess (Or prince) out of the area immediately. Especially if you are in a restaurant. Removing them from the area lowers the level of attention the rest of the world gives them and helps you to establish a more calm and level ‘playing field’ where you can work with them. It can completely distract them from their bad behavior and you may not have to do a thing more than that.
2. Getting attention is a big deal to children. If you give very little attention to them and then scream at them when they are being bad then they will rationalize (at that age) that negative attention is better than no attention at all, so they will seek your yelling and screaming temper tantrum behavior out over being ignored by you. Decide which you prefer and give them attention when they do good things versus only acknowledging them when they are having a fit.
3. Order over chaos is all youngsters are trying to establish. They want control, so give them some. I’m not telling you to hand them the car keys and let them drive you home. Let them decide what toy – One toy – they will take with them in the car.
4. Give them choices with the things you know will spark bad behavior. Ask them if they want a bedtime story either in bed or on the couch – after they put on their pajamas for bedtime . . . things like that. Age appropriate choices work best and make the most sense.
5. My best temper tantrum distraction observation was when I witnessed a young child contort his face to really let out a childish scream. His father stopped what he was doing, squatted down in front of his sons face and blew gently in his sons face the whole time smiling and explaining to his son that he needed him to speak normally so that he could help him get what he wanted. It was a beautiful exhibition of a young father controlling his child who was in the midst of having a full blown temper tantrum. Almost immediately (within seconds, actually) the little boy began to laugh and could tell his father that he wanted some juice. It was that simple – Distraction to the rescue!

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6.  There is an entire marketing philosophy segment on product placement in toy stores and grocery stores that believes that merchandisers need to place those kinds of shiny and pretty things that children love to touch, feel and want within their reach and sight – It’s about sales.  Those products are placed near the floors and on the first and second store shelves.  It’s a dirty trick to parents, but avoid the temptation, you must.  If your child grabs one of those things you can fairly easily trade them for something you want them to have – just with the mere suggestion of it.

7.  Those products are placed near the floors and on the first and second store shelves. It’s a dirty trick to parents, but avoid the temptation, you must. If your child grabs one of those things you can fairly easily trade them for something you want them to have – just with the mere suggestion of it.

8.  For instance they want the Peds dispenser with the candy in it at the checkout stand. Grab the gum already in your cart and let them know that you can only afford that one item. Give them a piggy bank to save pennies in so they can use their money to buy those things once in awhile. It’s OK to say, “No,” once in awhile. It might bring on a flood of bad behavior, but my guess is that having children didn’t mean you have to play gift fairy every day. Help them learn some spending rules.  Children of all ages like games like that.

9.  Rearrange your schedule if you are grocery shopping at their nap time.  You are simply asking for it if you don’t.  Fatigue is a common temper tantrum instigator.

10.  Don’t be A Pansy.  Say “Yes,” and, “No” consistently.  The weak link says “No,” one day and “Yes,” the next.  Instead of controlling the chaos and helping your child learn how to communicate you are teaching them manipulation and selfishness.

Sometimes the best things to distract kids with are the least expensive – a package of gum or a piece of special bubblegum from a machine, but other times may require more interesting distractions.  For clever temper tantrums distraction ideas, see these DIY ideas for Gift Baskets For Children.

Be consistent.  Be calm.  Be in control.  Be reassuring.

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Those are our best Holiday Temper Tantrum Tips From GiftBasketForChilren.Org.

GiftBasketsForChildren.Org  wishes you all the best!

Remember that holiday temper tantrums make for great stories for generations!   . . . This too shall pass!

]]> http://giftbasketsforchildren.org/2012/03/temper-tantrums-how-to-calm-down-the-monster/feed/ 0 http://giftbasketsforchildren.org/2012/01/valentines-day-kids-craft-ideas/ http://giftbasketsforchildren.org/2012/01/valentines-day-kids-craft-ideas/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:01:07 +0000 kowality http://giftbasketsforchildren.org/?p=525 Gift Baskets For Children-Craft Ideas to keep kids busy on Valentines Day

Kids Craft Ideas For Valentine’s Day Are Fun!

Valentine’s Day is a great day for celebrations, school parties, cupcakes, candy hearts,  and cookies and Kids Craft Ideas!

Most ALL kids will love to make crafts!  Valentine’s Day is a special opportunity for them to use their creativity to make craft things for others who will appreciate them.  Relatives and friends, alike, often keep these precious memories stored away for years.  Click Here for Ideas on How to:    Make A DIY Children’s Gift Basket

One other benefit of Valentine’s Day is that the focus is on expressing love and appreciation instead of gifts so it is seen in general,  as a more light-hearted holiday.

Remember to keep your crafts age appropriate and if you are creating in a classroom situation make sure that you have at least one older child or adult for every three children under the age of seven.  This will keep things moving smoothly and decrease any frustration that a child might have.

Valentine Day Kids Craft Ideas Tips:

• Use washable paints, glue, and markers.
• Have the children bring an old button up shirt of mom’s or dad’s to use as a smock to keep clothing clean.  Write their name on the collar or make a special name badge for the front.
• Use the tops of baby food jars to hold glue if not using glue sticks.
• Plan projects around a child’s attention span – Children under three will last about five minutes total.  For ages three-six you can plan for about ten minutes.
• Stickers are better to decorate cards than cutting out pictures and gluing them on at these age groups.
• Let the kids do it their way. The receiver won’t care if it doesn’t look like the picture on the box and neither should you, so make creativity a priority instead of perfection.
• Have your preparation already planned so children get right to work, and stay busy versus waiting for you to put everything out for them.

Valentine Day Kids Craft Ideas:

1 – Paper Conversation Heart Wreath

Best for ages 7 and up

Make a door wreath from construction heart cutouts and add your own quotes and sayings.

Materials:

• Construction paper in conversation heart colors like pink, purple, blue, and mint green.
• Dinner plate
• Cereal box or poster board
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Markers
• Glue sticks

Instructions:

Having an adult complete the first steps ahead of time can save time and frustration for a child.

• Trace around the plate onto the posterboard.
• Draw another circle inside the first circle, about an inch away from the first one.
• Cut out the circle and then cut out the center to make a wreath shape.
• Cut the construction paper into squares and fold in half.
• Draw half a heart against the fold of the paper and cut out.
• Open it up for a perfect heart shape.
• Flatten the hearts and write messages on them with markers.
• Arrange the hearts on top of the cardboard wreath until you have them the way you want them. Glue them in place and let dry.
• Attach a loop of string or wire to the back for hanging.

Possible Sayings:

• Be Mine
• Love-I Love You-Love U-Love you
• Call Me
• U R Sweet
• Kiss
• Hug Me
• Always-Yours Always-Always Love

Need more saying ideas – Grab an actual bag or box of conversation heart candy for inspiration.

2 – Valentine’s Day Card Mailbox:

Use an empty Kleenex box to create  a mailbox for each child’s Valentine’s Day cards.

Materials:

• Spray Paint or finger paint
• Empty Kleenex box per child
• Glue
• Construction paper
• Markers
• Stickers
• Glitter
• Other embellishments

Instructions:

1. Before craft time spray paint the boxes.  Red, pink, or white glossy spray paint are the most popular Valentine Day color choices.
2. Cut one heart per box out of coordinating construction paper.
3. Write the child’s name on the heart and glue it to the box.
4. Use the stickers and other embellishments to create their unique Valentine’s Day card mailbox.

3 – Hugs and Kisses Jar

These hugs and kisses can be sent anywhere and used anytime.

Materials:

• Pint Mason jar with screw on lid
• Hershey’s Hugs
• Hershey’s Kisses
• Paper for a tag
• Raffia or curling ribbon

Instructions:

1. Fill the jar with a mixture of hugs and kisses. You can even add some colored sugar crystals for sparkle.
2. Screw the lid on the jar.
3. Write something clever like; “Hugs and Kisses 4 U,” on the tag and attach it to the jar with raffia or curling ribbon.

When it comes to kids, the main thing is to remember that these times won’t last long before you are pining away and waiting for them to fit YOU into their schedule, so just enjoy yourselves.

And if you are still stumped for ideas – Look here at these Valentine’s Day instructional ideas for Kids – It’s a real hit with School age children!

Having fun is what memories are made of!  Valentines Day Kids Craft Ideas Help You!

Santa Facts Children Love and Understand

Here are some Santa facts to keep on hand for this time of year when you may need them to entertain a child.  Whether you are grandpa, grandma, aunt, uncle, older brother, or sister, teacher or babysitter:

• In 1600 speaking the name of St. Nichols was against the law – Have a day that they go to ‘jail’ whenever they say the name, “Santa.” Make sure it’s fun and not punishment, though or you’ll have a whole lot of explaining to do afterward! Tell them that to get out of jail that they have to do one good deed for someone else, much like they did in olden times when masters traded places with their slaves for the day in a gesture of festive goodwill and to bring them good luck in battle.
• By the 17th Century speaking the name of St. Nicholas was no longer a criminal offense and festive activities, caroling, and gift-giving traditions were once again celebrated.
• Dutch Immigrants named their saint Sinter Klaas, but Santa was originally named by the media in 1773 as St. A. Claus.
• Santa was also originally portrayed as coming into town on a horse.
• Later renditions of Santa have him riding over trees in a wagon.
• Santeclaus donned his red suit and sleigh pulled by one reindeer in 1821.
• By 1822, Santa had gained the other reindeer in the famous book, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” by the dentist, Clement C Moore.
• In 1897, you might remember the Famous, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” letter that was answered by Francis P. Church, Editor of the Daily Herald.

• Since the 1920′s Santa has been depicted as an over-weight man with a beard and a jolly laugh who dressed in a red suit with white trim.
• Since that time on a series of drawings, poems and illustrations have been created by local and national artists and media representatives to portray an image of Christmas that spans the world.
• Santa had become a media and advertising ploy to encourage buying practices at the end of the year to help store keepers with excess inventory.
• Some of the most famous, vivid, colorful and imaginative drawings of Santa were done for Harper’s Magazine, A Famous drink product and Even Abraham Lincoln.

Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Clause by Francis P. Church

More Great Ideas To Help You keep Kids Busy At Christmas – Right Here

Thanksgiving Day Origins:

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the USA.

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada.

The first USA  Thanksgiving celebration day is noted as a regal celebration and feast.

In 1621 newly settled Pilgrims from the Plymouth Colony (Known to us now as Massachusetts) shared  squash, corn, and wild turkeys  with the local Wampanoag Indians.

It wasn’t until ten years later that that original Thanksgiving celebration  was repeated.

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday.

Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday in 1879, by The Canadian Parliament.

Thanksgiving Terms of Celebration:

Pilgrim’s Hat – Also called a ‘cockel’ or a ‘ travelers’ hat because of its wide brim that helps shield the sun from the face.  Often the brim was trimmed with a scallop shell that identified the traveler’s pilgrim status.

Pilgrims used to put cockle-shells upon their hats, to indicate that they were pilgrims. Cockles are symbols of St. James, patron saint of Spain.

Pilgrims – Identified as a traveler who  is on a journey to a Holy place.  Notable pilgrims include Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi, and Margery Kempe.

Wampanoag Indians - Wampanoag were a semi-sedentary tribe with seasonal movements between fixed camps in present-day southern New England.  Their main diet staples consisted of squash, corn, and beans which they supplemented with by hunting fish and game.

Cornucopia – Also known as the ‘Horn of Plenty,’ to symbolize nourishment and abundance.  It’s design of a horn is usually shown filled with nuts, produce, flowers and other delicate and edible foods or some symbols of wealth.

Scarecrow – Originally used to chase crows from the fields so that corn crops and seeds were not devoured.  They were believed to have magical powers at one point and said to help with the coming of the Spring.  Modern days have given into modern technology and have designated the scarecrow as a symbol of  fall harvest seasons.

The scarecrow exists in the popular imagination as a stick figure dressed in human clothes.  Scarecrows were originally intended to discourage crows from feeding on recently cast seeds, and scavenging healthy crops.

In reality, however, crows are not scared of scarecrows and the modern farmer will more than likely resort to noise guns or reflective strips.

Thanksgiving Kids Craft:

 Table Decoration Center Piece – 3 Thanksgiving Geese:

Adult supervision requested – Use of knife involved

Crooknecks Squash

Materials:

1. Sharp Knife
2. Cutting board
3. Ice pick or awl
4. 3 – Crookneck Squash – With stems attached (stems make interesting ‘beaks’)
5. Cardboard & wax paper for display stand
6. Glue/Tape
7. Whole cloves
8. Fall colored Tree Leaves

Directions:

1. Wash and the squash and pat it dry.
2. With the help of an adult, cut the stem to form a ‘beak’ angle.
3. Pierce a small hole with the ice pick or awl  to form an ‘eye’.
4. Place the whole clove into the eye ‘hole’ to create the eyes.
5. Cut the fat, round end off the squash so that it will sit flat on the table and not tip over.
6. Repeat this process for more Geese – Make as many as you want!
7. Cover the cardboard base with waxed paper.
8. Attach the waxed paper to the base with tape or glue.
9. Put Geese on your cardboard base and cover with the fall leaves for extra color and decoration.
10. Keep Geese on cardboard base to avoid moisture damage on your wooden surface or table from the squash.

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice. “

~Meister Eckhart

Are you missing special family members this year for Thanksgiving and can’t get to see them.  They are probably missing you too!

Imagine their delight when they receive a special Gift Basket For Children From you!

Here at Giftbasketsforchildren.org, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Day Tips, Ideas, and Easy Decorations!

It’s Halloween – Dress it Up And have fun!

Halloween:  Roots

Long long ago, Halloween was inspired by the end of summer.  Or put another way, to celebrate the transformation of summer seeds and harvest to their natural state of slumber, or ending (very loosely translated – their death).

Halloween: Carving Pumpkins

Carving pumpkins for Halloween was actually attributed to the carving of turnips – A tradition of carving lanterns out of turnips to symbolize the souls trapped in purgatory (hell).  Turnips were in more massive existence where this tradition began, however immigrants who had better access to pumpkins began using pumpkins instead of turnips for lanterns – A tradition that inspires many today!

Halloween Greeting:  ”Trick or Treat!”

The greeting, “Trick or Treat,” is credited with the traditional medieval practice of the poor who went from door to door asking for food in exchange for a prayer for  the dead on All Souls Day (November 2).  However, Halloween, “trick or treat,” actually originated in Britain and Ireland.  For some children in Scotland a song is still expected for any treats.  That Halloween custom dates to a time before 1895.

Halloween:  Costumes

The Halloween Costumes customs of the United States are all dapted from customs of Halloween costumes overseas. In other words the costume customs came to the USA from all over the world.

Halloween: Perspective and Philosophy

Christian philosophy on this Halloween holiday vary.

It was Father Gabriele Amorth, a Vatican-appointed exorcist in Rome, is quoted as saying, “if English and American children like to dress up as witches and devils on one night of the year that is not a problem. If it is just a game, there is no harm in that.”

Several Christians hold the belief that  there is no negative significance to Halloween as long as it is used to teach children about death and morality in a way that doesn’t scare them and is considered no more than make believe ghosts and giving away candy.

Other groups of Christians believe that the celebration of Halloween only honors the occult and those who do not honor religious beliefs – (Paganism).

Others believe that Halloween has no relationship or should not be connected in any way to Christianity because it celebrates the Festival of the Dead – Which those of this Halloween belief considered a Pagan celebration in its origin.

Halloween: Gift Baskets For Children . Org

In our house, we hope that Halloween is enjoyed for the simple pleasures that it brings to young in dressing up and the old in their delight at seeing their children and the youngsters of friends happily putting on Halloween costumes and delighting in sharing their stories of collected treats!

Just GO TOGETHER!  Celebrate YOUR Grandparents on their special holiday –

National Grandparents Day – Sunday, September 11, 2011

Just what is “Grandparents Day Anyway!

Mrs. McQuade’s concern for the elderly helped spark the idea of a day honoring grandparents everywhere. She spent five years of labor-intensive lobbying for the recognition of Grandparents Day.

In 1970, Marian McQuade began her campaign to create a day in special honor of grand-parents.

Ms. McQuade celebrated the First Grandparents day in that year-1970.

The first state to celebrate Grandparents Day (1973) was West Virginia

Governor Arch Moore gave reality to Mrs. McQuade’s dream.

Mrs. McQuade’s background was in working with seniors.  In 1971, she was nominated Vice-Chairman of the West Virginia Committee on Aging and she was appointed as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging by the then Governor Archie Moore.

The United States Congress passed the legislation for Grandparents Day in 1978 and President Jimmy Carter signed the bill and passed it into law.

Grandparents Day originated in the USA . President Jimmy Carter put it into law that  Grandparents Day  would be celebrated on the First Sunday following Labor Day.

Grandparents Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day.  For 2011 it is on September 11, which is also designated as, “Patriots Day.”  In 2010, it was celebrated on September 12th.

The proclamation governs that the first Sunday following Labor Day is designated as National Grandparents Day in America.

The flower dedicated to Grandparents Day is called, ‘Forget-me-not.’   This official flower was decided by the National Grandparents Day Council because . . . ‘It not only reminds you of the relationship between grandparents, children and grandchildren, but also the fact that it created lasting memories for you.’

Gift Baskets For Children Grandparents Day Craft Ideas

Crafts and Things For Kids And Grandparents to Do together!

These are some craft ideas and activities that children can make on their own, or with the help of their special grandparents.

• For a ‘fun’ activity you can make together – ahead of time, have kids create cards or arts and crafts to give to their grandparents in honor of Grandparents Day weekend.

If your child does not have a grandparent, they can still make an art or craft activity for their parents or for a meaningful adult in their life like a friend of the family, a special aunt, or beloved uncle.

• You could also help your children make crafts that you could hand-deliver to a local nursing home or a retirement community, a senior center, or a lonely neighbor.

For many grandparents and grandchildren, for whatever different reasons, the particular Sunday that Grandparents Day falls on isn’t convenient for a celebration or a visit.

There are special things and activities that can be enjoyed with your Grandparents across the miles.  Long distance communications work GREAT!

• Grandparents love communication and sharing your life with them in pictures.  Several free internet sites exist for family photo sharing, but if you really want to do something special teach grandparents how to assemble a picture and make a card on the internet and how to save it on their computer.
• We use and love the free program called, “Picnik.com,” which is a free photo design site that lets you create and re-design photos and cards with borders, text, and design ideas.  Grandchildren and generations of Big kids (Grandparents and parents) will love it!  It is easy to use for any novice and has simple to understand directions that anyone could teach to a grandparent who was having trouble figuring things out.
• Grandparents Day can be any day that grandparents and grandchildren come together to celebrate their relationship whether it be in person or via a web cam or telephone.  Skype is a free web telephone you can enjoy together.

If Grandpa and Grandma don’t have a computer or don’t know how to set up Skype, ask a friendly neighbor or caregiver you know and trust to help them.  Contact their local library to see if they have a computer for that particular use and make a date for Grandparents Day with your grandparent – at their library.

• A Grandparents Day Gift Basket can make a grandparents day extra special this year.
• Help your children make a special gift basket just for their grandparents that is cherished and remembered by those special grandparents and persons for whom they hold dear.
• Grandparents enjoy the thoughtfulness of homemade gifts.  Encourage children to make some special hand-made gifts to include in their Grandparents Day gift basket.
• Make a personalized Grandparents Day invitation  – together!
• For the basic invitation shape use cardstock or scrapbooking paper to design the card. Use ANY shape – Heart, square, stacked boxes, triangle, . . . or something that has a special meaning for your family. Decorate the invitation so that you have lots of room for the invitation information – Date/Time/Place-with Address/Telephone Contact Information to RSVP or Get Directions. Personalize your invitations with the guests of honor name(s) listed in your heading.
• Also guide your children in creating home-made gift items so that a grandparent who cannot sew because of trouble with their hands, doesn’t receive a hand-made sewing kit from a grandchild who doesn’t understand arthritis.

Keep in mind any allergies or conflict with medicines if you are going to be baking gifts – especially if they are going to a nursing home (include a list of the ingredients you used with the baked goods).  If you order and send a special food gift basket, also find out (if you can) what the ingredients are and list those – in larger print on a separate not card for the receiver of your special gift.

 
• Investigate local activities through your Parks and Recreation Department in your city.  You may find several fun things to do – For instance Kids and grandparents may find that they can make their own old-time toys in a local, planned workshop.  Give them a bonus and take their picture together as a reminder of that special activity and day.
• Grandparents Day gift bags make great gift baskets too!
• Make the bag as much a part of the gift as the things you put into it by getting those colored paper lunch bags for your children – but if cost is a factor then color brown paper sacks instead. Kids can fill the bag with hand created cards for their grandparents day. Have them include other special items like a colored picture or a couple of pieces of a grandparents favorite candy or a baked item.
• Make a grandparents Day collage, have kids draw pictures of their grandparents, and create fun certificates or coupons to give as gifts for grandparents.
• Writing crafts are great for older grandchildren – Even adults!  Have grandkids write their thoughts down about what makes their grandparents special and you can even help them their writing into a special poem.

Here are some questions kids can ask Grandparents:  The answers can help kids understand their grandparents better, forge a deeper bond, write special poems, special letters and/or put on special plays for grandparents using facts from their own past:

1. When and where were you born?
2. Where have you traveled? Do you have a favorite place you travelled to?
3. Did you belong to any school teams or recognized for an honor or achievement award?
4. What was your favorite thing – subject or otherwise – in school?
5. Who was your best friend from school?
6. Do you still talk to your best friend from school?
7. What was the name of your favorite pet?
8. What kind of pet did you have?
9. What did you do when you were my age for fun?
10. What is your favorite memory from  your childhood?
11. What was your favorite song?
12. Did you play an instrument – which one? Do you still play that same instrument?
13. What do you remember the most about your own mom and dad?
14. What things have changed the most since you were my age? What did you want to be growing up – how did that change?  How do you feel about that?
15. What things are different from when you went to school until my going to school now?
16. Who was your hero growing up?  and why?
17. Who was your favorite athlete when you were college age – and why?
18. What has been your favorite age to be – and why?
19. What do you hope I learn and pass on from you as I get older?
20. If you could give me 1 piece of information about life, what would that advice tip be?

• Other ideas for more crafts and things to do with Grandparents can include having kids create a short play they can act out for their grandparents.
• Grandparents Day activities primarily center on those things grandchildren can create, do, or design for their grandparents  – Even older kids can share in making crafts or donate their time to teaching a grandparent how to use the computer so that they can talk to each other more often (this can be done long distance too).

Fun Grandparents Day Books Fitting For A Staged Play by Grandchildren for Grandparents:

• Little Red Riding Hood surprises a greedy wolf who is dressed in their grandma’s clothes and Little Red Riding Hood saves everyone by teaching the wolf a lesson about respecting your elders.
• Old Mother Hubbard, or several of the rhymes from the Grimm’s fairy tales stories and rhymes – there are over 200 to choose from!  Classics such as Rumpelstiltskin, Goldilocks and The Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, plus many more.  These classics make fun and easy plays for even the youngest actor or actress that any Grandparent would clap their hands in glee to see!

Complete Grimms Fairy Tales By Grimm, Jacob

Keep kids busy on the Fourth of July!

Along with Gift baskets For Children, help teach children (young & Old) why we celebrate this symbolic day of freedom.

The following quiz, taken from Kenneth C. Davis’s book, “Don’t Know Much About Anything,” will help to teach your children about a few interesting people and important facts linked to this important document in America’s history – Parents may even learn something too!

Everyone will learn the real date that the Continental Congress passed a resolution of independence from Britain and learn why Davis, the books author, described John Adams as both a, “great visionary,” and a “crafty politician.”

Question 1 – When Did Congress ‘actually’ pass a resolution of Independence?

A - July 1

B – July 2

C – July 3

Question 2 – Who was on the committee to draft the declaration?

A - Richard Henry Lee, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and George Washington

B – Samuel Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, John Hancock

C – John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman


Question 3 - What was one of the reasons that John Adams told Thomas Jefferson, the youngest man on the committee, to draft a declaration?

A – Jefferson was from Massachusetts, a politically powerful state.

B – Adams knew that he was unpopular and considered obnoxious by many delegates. In order for a declaration to be accepted, he had to keep a low profile.

C – Adams wanted to challenge Jefferson to improve his writing skills by drafting an important document.

Question 4 – Which of the following was something Congress cut out of Jefferson’s draft of the declaration?

A – They removed all references to slavery

B – They removed all references to women

C – They removed a paragraph written in Latin


Question 5 - Which two key players in the history of Independence died on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration?

A – Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock

B – Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

C – Benjamin Franklin and John Adams

Answers:

Question 1 – Correct answer is B –

• On July 2nd, the Lee-Adams resolution of independence was adopted, and many thought that would be the date celebrated as America’s birthday.

Question 2 – Correct answer is C –

• John Adams, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut were all on the committee. Thomas Jefferson was also selected because Virginia was so politically powerful.

Question 3 – Correct answer is B –

There were three main reasons that factored into Adams’ decision:

• First, the thirty-three-year-old Jefferson was a Virginian. “Virginia was the largest, richest, and most politically powerful of all the colonies,” elaborated author Kenneth C. Davis. “He [Adams] understood there were some public relations to be done.”
• Second, Adams knew that he himself was unpopular and considered obnoxious by many delegates. “[Adams] was a very smart man, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out that he wasn’t popular in the summer of 1776. In order for [the Declaration of Independence] to be acceptable to people, he had to be low-profile,” says Davis.
• Finally, Adams said Jefferson could “write ten times better than I can.” Explains Davis: “Adams did write some wonderful things over the course of his life, but Jefferson was a bit more poetic.”

Question 4 – Correct answer is A –

• The Congress made 86 changes, which eliminated 480 of Jefferson’s words. Most important was the removal of all references to slavery, “the execrable commerce,” which Jefferson, a slaveholder himself, had blamed on King George.

Question 5 – Correct answer is B –

• Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826.
• Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790, and John Hancock died on October 8, 1793.

The foregoing was excerpted from, “Don’t Know Much About Anything,” by Kenneth C. Davis. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission from HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022.

Gift Baskets For Children Wish you A Happy Fourth of July

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Father’s Day Gift Basket Ideas For Kids

Top 10 Gift Ideas For Father’s Day


For some kids the gift of Fathers Day will simply be spending time with Dad.  I miss our dad.  He is gone now, so I remember him with flowers.

If you need flowers or want flower gifts, FTD guarantees 24-hour delivery on their orders – Don’t wait.  Today is a present – a gift.

Father’s Day is your chance  to honor your father, or the memory of a father gone and to to celebrate your father or special male role model in your life who participates in the important parts of your life!

Kids love to make things and dads love to get those home-made things from their children that are passed down through a generation of memories.  So, if you really want a special something for the special Dad in your life, have it monogrammed with their initials andor a saying that is special to a father and child.  Here are a couple of our favorite special Father’s Day quotes to help you get started:

“He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” ~Clarence Budington Kelland

“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.” ~Bill Cosby

“A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again.” ~Enid Bagnold

It takes very little to please a dad on Father’s Day – A father will carry pictures where his money used to be, so if you want to add something to a special gift basket for children then most  dads will really appreciate a money clip or wallet.

Does your dad love to go to the theatre, see a concert, or an athletic event – Get him tickets – Get one for both of you so that you can take him with you!

Does your dad love the outdoors – Is he a gardener?  Or a bird watcher?  For gardening tools and birdhouse gift ideas click on the blue links here.

And Don’t forget about those avid bicycling Dad’s – Sports Enthusiasts – snow and land and water – all agree that the newest devices are the most fun and interesting.  Check out the newest gift ideas for your dad HERE!

Dad loves Golf – It’s the little things that count, so grab a golfing basket and fill it up for your dad!  The plan a tee time for both of you on his favorite golf course.

“My dad is a Geek!”  Then get him one of those geek gifts to add to your gift baskets for children, or build a gift basket for children around a geek gift for your dad for Father’s Day!

Does your dad hunt or fish – Add a custom knife to his gift baskets for children.  Make sure you pick out something you love and have it engraved so that when it is passed on, you will enjoy it that much more!

Gift Baskets For Children has these top 10 gift ideas dad’s love!

Hand picked for your special dad!

1 Dads love to Golf!

2 NASCAR, Football,  All American, Sports Gamer – You Pick!

3 Outdoors men make up over 80% of dads on Fathers Day-For Your Hunting or Fishing Dad

4 My Dad Loves Motorcycles!

5 What one daughter told us about her dad was that, “Dad has to hide his chocolate from mom!”  Get dad his own chocolate!

6 When dad looked at us with only one eye half open because the other eye was completely shut, we knew it was because he needed his morning cup of coffee to get started – For your coffee and tea dad!

7 Hot off the grill for the dads who love a great barbecue!

8 Dad is no barbecue king, but what a Chef he is!

9 Thanks dad. We don’t get to tell you very often, but we really appreciate and love you just for who you are.  And, Yes, you drive us crazy sometimes!  Celebrate YOUR dad!

10 When we were kids all dads loved fruit – Nothing has changed!

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.”

~Author unknown, commonly attributed to Mark Twain but no evidence has yet been found for this.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO YOU

AND YOUR DAD  June 19th

FROM

GIFT BASKETS FOR CHILDREN

Helping Kids Cope With Grief

Gift Baskets For Children Grief Coping Tips For Kids

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

I Pray The Lord My Soul To Keep

As Angels Watch Me Sleep At Night

Until I Wake In The Morning Light

Amen

Children hurt the most when a beloved parent or family member, or friend don’t come home from military service because of death.  It’s the hardest thing in the world to talk about.  Talk we must.

In Honor of our servicemen and women  who  didn’t come home, Gift Baskets For Children acknowledges these men and women in their unselfish service to their country and their gift of the ultimate sacrifice – their lives – on the day set aside to honor these heroes.

Gift Baskets For Children honors the memory of a beloved person in your life and knows that these tips for helping kids cope with the loss of  loved one for Memorial Day (Victoria Day for Canadians) are important.



Explaining Death to kids up to six-years-old:

Kids understand simple language best.  They have an uncanny knack for sensing when someone is being honest with them.  Be Honest.  Let kids ask as many questions as they want or need to.  Each person will feel something different – Let them know that it’s Okay to feel however they need to – That there is nothing “wrong’ with their feelings, because there is no right and there is no wrong interpretation of death and how you ‘should’ feel.  there is no such thing as how a person ‘should’ feel.

From a literal perspective is how children up to age five or six understand how their world relates to death.  Explain to this age group in literal terms. For example if it is the loss of a service man or woman and the death was sudden – similar to a car crash kind of sudden, then you can explain the fact that the death was sudden in a way this way, “The human form of the body won’t work again, because that ability was taken away.  And, although this is a sad, sad thing to happen, the body doesn’t now have the ability to work again – It is gone away for good. “

If you have religious or spiritual belief then you could explain that as well at this point in time.  Personally, the thing that has always given our family the most comfort in the loss of a loved one is the understanding that they are never farther away from me than a memory.  They stay in our hearts forever that way – with us – beside us and in times of sadness we find that comforting.

But to a child, they may think that the loved one has taken up residence in their heart and that if they had a key to let them out they could come home again.

BE careful of the words you use – their understanding is literal at these ages.

What kids have a hard time making any sense out of is the fact that that person will never come back alive.   In trying to explain the finality of death, you are often repeatedly asked by children, “When are they coming back?” or MANY variations of this theme.  It’s the hardest part to understand for them.

So be aware that their sleeping patterns may be affected with the news of a death.  They might be fearful of falling asleep at night if their loved family member or friend was “Lost.” instead of their family member who “Died,” and who will not be coming home again.

How Do I answer the Question – “When Are They Coming Home?

Gift Baskets For Children Found this answer helpful – “They are in a resting placed called a _____(grave, mausoleum, you fill in the blank) now. “

Again, if you have a belief that is spiritual or religious that you want to share, now is a good time (Heaven or an afterlife) to share that belief.  It is important to help kids understand that going to sleep, or a loved one or pet going away, isn’t what causes death so that they aren’t afraid when those things happen.

Explaining death to Kids between six and ten-years-old:

Again – Simple, clear, correct, honest explanations about death work best and are most understandable.  This age group has a tendency to believe that they can negotiate with death and are known to turn death into a ‘monster,’ or ghost – even ‘that thing under the bed,’ can symbolize death for them.

They may begin to believe that death is something they can bargain with or take upon themselves to try to prevent by changing their behavior (for instance if I am just a better baseball player – the list is endless – then my dad won’t go away and die).  Help them know that there is absolutely no way they can control death in as honest a way as you can find.

Explaining death to teenagers or kids over ten-years-old:

In some ways this age group is the most difficult and the easiest.  That is because they are out of the repeated questioning phase, but they internalize their feelings more and begin to question being mortal and the vulnerability of the human body and spirit.  Their questions are more internally focused and they often question your belief system, which can be frustrating if you are trying to explain and answer their questions.

Easy to say, hard to practice – stay calm and patient with your explanations.  Listen more than you speak so that you can hear what it is they are afraid of the most and answer their questions as simply and honestly as possible without judgment or criticism.  You want kids of all ages to open up to you so that any guilt they may be feeling because they are still alive (survivors guilt) is out in the open in a place where they feel safe talking about it with you.

Is This Age A Good time to Remind Kids About Their Personal Safety?

Gift Baskets For Children shouts the answer to this question – YES!  It is a wonderful opportunity to explain to kids the importance of driving safely, being careful where you walk – avoid dark streets, travel in groups when you are out at night and emphasize that they can stay safer from harm when they are in places that you can’t protect them in by protecting themselves.

It’s also a great opportunity to talk about living life with no regrets, making the most out of the time you have and that you love them no matter what.

If you are the service man or woman being shipped out from home and want to leave your kids with the best tip of all, tell them you are proud of them and that you love them.  That is something that all ages understand.

Irregardless of your feelings about the wrong or right of this war, it behooves each and every one of us to support our troops…our nation’s sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. To those who have seen duty clear, far and away from home…this Gift Baskets For Children Post is dedicated to you.

Bless You…and come home soon!

Plan Ahead For Gift Baskets For Children On Mother’s Day

Stumped on how to help your kids pick out something special, or even what to get your Mom.  Gift Baskets For Children are where to start, because what you really need to know is all right here.

In honor of mothers day for any mom, or an especially special person in your life who took on that mom role for you, this gift baskets for children information is dedicated to a very special mom whose family was trying to figure out what they should do for their mom on mother’s day.  Since they were all at or under the age of ten-years-old, they needed a little help from an adult.  Here is how a very special moms kids and husband co-conspired to create a perfect day for their mom.

Stephanie came into our family over twelve years ago.  She blessed our lives through her love as a mother to her children and her husband (Nathan).  Countless times she uses the rinse and repeat theory for love, forgiveness and understanding.  Her dedication to family, responsibility and loyalty may seem unappreciated to her, but to the people around her they are three of her many good qualities that make her especially stand out at Mothers Day.

Nathan (Nate) went on to share that the thing that stands out to him about his wife and her dedication to their family is her true integrity.  When she says that . . “Nothing will get in the way of me and my children,” she MEANS it!  Stephanie will stand by our kids side – no matter what, it doesn’t matter, until she leaves this Earth.  She would not now (or ever) hesitate to do without for herself to give to the kids instead.  She refused to pollute their bodies by smoking or drinking anything when she carried them because she wanted to protect them.  I am so grateful to her because she produced a gift that no man could ever provide and I cherish her for that,  . . . and so much more.

Stephanie Watkins, this is dedicated to you – Happy Mother’s Day!

HOME . . . Is  Where Your Story Begins

The kids started by answering a few simple questions about their mom.  All questions (and answers) are not edited.  they are taken from, ‘the mouths of babes,’ just as they were spoken – grammar and all.

Why I Love My Mom(?)

Brittney:  5-years-old

• My mommy wears sparkly clothes
• She has high heels she lets me borrow all the time
• My mom is SO, SO CUTE and PRETTY!

Katelyn:  8-years-old

• She is sweet, and careful with us
• She doesn’t Lie
• She cares about a lot of people
• She always cleans up
• She listens to how OUR day goes and she asks us about it
• She is Super-Duper Nice!

Nathaniel:  10-years-old

• She loves me no matter what
• She gives us a lot
• She gave us life
• She keeps a roof over our head
• She gives us clothes
• She has a really good personality to us
• She cares for every single one of us
• She loves us all equally

What I Would get my mom if I could get her anything I wanted to(?)

Brittney:

• I’d draw her a heart and buy her a necklace – One that has a heart in it.

Katelyn:

• Her back is always hurting and she’s always working so I would buy her a spa day.

Nathaniel:

• I’d buy her a brand new house with every single thing she’s always wanted – from when she was growing up and from now.

Why  I would Get It For Her?

Brittney:

• Because she’s a cute one.
• My mommy is pretty.
• I’d get her a cute (heart necklace), because I thought of it.
• That’s all!

Katelyn:

• She’s always on her feet, working to buy us clothes, gas for the car, . . . so I would buy her a spa day so she has a break.

Nathaniel:

• Because I want to give her everything she’s always wanted so that her life is easier.  She loves me no matter what . . . No matter what.

A solution for a gift basket for their busy, loving  mom from her children – An at home spa day, complete and beginning with breakfast in bed, a hand massage from the girls, a foot massage from her son, a back massage from her husband, and a maid for the day to clean the house while their family spends time together at the theme park.  And lastly, a formal presentation of a heart necklace by a well groomed, and bathed family at dinnertime.  Included with the necklace – The individual thoughts of her children on paper – nice stationery – about their individual feelings and thoughts about their mom for Mothers Day.  And don’t forget the Mothers Day Flowers and extra tissues in these special Mother’s Day Gift Baskets For Children (Dad)!

Lastly – Memories are what you are looking for to make your Mother’s Day a success.

Sometimes being a great mom just means that you will pinky swear to only do your best

. . . Every single day.

Here’s to you, Stephanie Watkins, Happy Mother’s Day!