What do you want out of a class?

EDUCATORI want to be a good teacher.
I want to connect with the children.
I want to enrich their lives.
I want to develop their skills.
I want class to go smoothly.
I want to have fun.
I want the parents to get their money’s worth.
I want the parents and children to like me.
I want them to re-enroll.
I want to feel successful.
CHILD
I want to give love.
I want to be loved.
I want to be noticed.
I want to be accepted.
I want to be engaged.
I want to have fun.
I don’t want to make mistakes.
I’m leery of new people.
I’m sometimes afraid to try something new.
I want to have friends.
I want to learn.
I want to move.
I want to be close to Mommy/Daddy.
I want to be independent.
I want to do it myself.
PARENTI love my child more than anything in the world.
I am an expert on my child.
I want the very best for my child.
I am doing the absolute best I can.
I often feel insecure.
I delight in my child’s successes.
I’m impacted by everything my child does.
I sometimes feel alone.
I frequently feel overwhelmed.
I need to feel supported.
I need you to love and accept my child.
I feel judged as a parent by the actions of my child.
I want the other parents to like me.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Awesome jewelry site! Chunkybling.com

My friends over at Free Sample Freak posted about a contest on ChunkyBling.com, giving away some awesome jewelry! I checked out the site, and they have some REALLY pretty interchangeable beaded watches, where you can change the watchband to match the face. I really like these! They also have some interchangeable charm necklaces. These are my favorite, since I love charm necklaces!! I think I may get this one after I ask the hubster! :) It seems you can also host an online jewelry party! This may also be something i would possibly be interested in!!!! They have some really great chunky jewelry. I highly suggest you check them out today!




I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

DISCIPLINE AND THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES

The word discipline comes from a Greek word, which means ‘to train’. Discipline and punishment are not synonymous. Punishment is but one form of discipline and one that, if a child’s love tank is full, is seldom required. Discipline is a type of love and the more a child feels loved, the easier he is to train.

First, it’s important to understand that children love in a self-oriented fashion, meaning they know what they need to feel loved, but they don’t know, or necessarily care, what others need. They also test our love continuously with their behavior. To discipline a child with love, one needs to figure out what the child needs when he misbehaves as opposed to trying to correct the behavior. The latter often leads to thoughtless punishment.

A child who misbehaves has a need for something. Knowing his primary love language allows you to know how to address his need, whatever it may be. The first and most common cause of misbehavior is an empty love tank. The second is physical pain or discomfort of some kind, which could include hunger, thirst, tiredness, or feeling unwell.

If a child feels remorse for something he’s done, there’s no need to proceed any further, other than to discuss it and then forgive him. Punishing a child for something he already feels guilty about hinders his ability to develop a good conscience and produces anger and resentment.

Here are 5 methods that can be used to effectively discipline with love. Notice that two of these are positive methods of discipline, two are negative and one is neutral. Always use these methods in order and stop when the desired effect has occurred.

1. Make a Request. This sends 3 important, nonverbal messages to the child:

• That you respect his feelings;
• That you realize he has a brain and is able to form opinions; and
• That you expect him to take responsibility for his own behavior.

2. Issue a command when making a request fails. Issuing commands are more effective when used infrequently and not as the main method of controlling behavior.

3. Gentle physical manipulation is especially effective with young children who often do things that are not necessarily wrong but not to your preference. For example, be careful not to confuse ‘negativism’ with defiance. When a 2-year-old says “No!” he is demonstrating a normal stage of development, where he begins to separate psychologically from his parents. If you make a request and he says “No”, move to a command. If he still says “No”, you might be inclined to punish him, but instead gently guide him to what you need him to do. If he resists, it’s defiance, so act accordingly. But, most often the child will just go along with your gentle physical manipulation. He was just practicing his independence.

4. Punishment is the most negative way of training a child, and the most difficult for the following reasons:

• The punishment must fit the crime since children have such a strong sense of fairness;
• The punishment has to be appropriate for each particular child;
• Punishment is often administered inconsistently according to the punisher’s mood at the time. When you’re feeling good, you tend to be more lenient than when you’ve had a bad day; and
• Punishment when used as a primary means of discipline provokes needless anger, and causes the child to develop passive-aggressive attitudes and behaviors.

If you have to punish the child, give her a conscious expression of love in her primary language before and after administering the punishment.

5. If the child shows no remorse for his behavior, the next step would beBehavior Modification. It utilizes three components:

• Positive reinforcement (giving a reward for good behavior);
• Negative reinforcement (taking something away); and
• Punishment (ie. removing the child/isolation).

Behavior modification is best used only for recurring specific problems for which a child shows no remorse. Overuse causes a feeling of being unloved because behavior modification is completely based on conditions. This results in a ‘I have to give to get’ attitude and teaches the child how to manipulate authority figures.

In order to respect a child’s love language and discipline (train) with love, do not select their love language as a method of discipline. For instance, if you use condemning words with a child whose love language is words of affirmation, your words will communicate not only that you are displeased with the behavior, but also that you do not love the child. If the love language is quality time, do not use isolation as a form of punishment. If it’s physical touch, don’t withhold hugs or respond in a physically negative way. Imagine what a spanking would say to this child! Understanding the child’s primary love language allows you to discipline with love and makes any discipline one has to do far more effective.

Source: The Five Love Languages for Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell. ISBN 1-881273-65-2.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Crying It Out Causes Brain Damage

Research suggests that allowing a baby to "cry it out" causes brain damage.

by Dr. Stephen Juan

Experts warn that allowing a baby to "cry it out" causes extreme distress to the baby. And such extreme distress in a newborn has been found to block the full development of certain areas of the brain and causes the brain to produce extra amounts of cortisol, which can be harmful.

According to a University of Pittsburgh study by Dr. DeBellis and seven colleagues, published in Biological Psychiatry in 2004, children who suffer early trauma generally develop smaller brains.

A Harvard University study by Dr. Teicher and five colleagues, also published in Biological Psychiatry, claims that the brain areas affected by severe distress are the limbic system, the left hemisphere, and the corpus callosum. Additional areas that may be involved are the hippocampus and the orbitofrontal cortex.

The Science of Parenting (2006) by Dr. Margot Sunderland points out some of the brain damaging effects that can occur if parents fail to properly nurture a baby -- and that includes forcing them to "cry it out." Dr. Sunderland, who is the director of education and training at the Centre for Child Mental Health in London, draws upon work in neuroscience to come to her conclusions and recommendations about parenting practice.

In the first parenting book to link parent behavior with infant brain development, Dr. Sunderland describes how the infant brain is still being "sculpted" after birth. Parents have a major role in this brain "sculpting" process.

Dr. Sunderland argues that it is crucial that parents meet the reasonable emotional needs of the infant. This is helped along by providing a continuously emotionally nurturant environment for the infant.

Allowing a baby to “cry it out” when they are upset will probably be regarded as child abuse by future generations.


--

For more on 'sleep training,' 'crying it out' (CIO) and 'controlled crying', see:


BOOKS:

*Why Love Matters

*The Science of Parenting

*The No-Cry Sleep Solution
*The Baby Sleep Book
*Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
*The Baby Bond
*Natural Family Living
*The Baby Book
*The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost
*Baby Matters
*Attachment Parenting: A Commonsense Guide to Understanding & Nurturing Your Baby
*Primal Health: Understanding the Critical Period Between Conception and the First Birthday
*The Attachment Connection: Parenting A Secure & Confident Child
*Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby & Young Child
*Mothering Magazine

LINKED ARTICLES:

Excessive Crying Harmful to Babies

Being Wise to Babywise [advocates for CIO, 'controlled crying' and 'sleep training']

The Dangers of Leaving Baby to Cry It Out (CIO)

Ask the Experts: Sleep Training
Dangers of Your Baby 'Crying It Out'

The Con of Controlled Crying

Healthy Infant Sleep

Should Baby Soothe Himself to Sleep?

Sleeping Through the Night

The No-Cry Sleep Solution

Biological Imperatives: Why Babies Do Not and Should Not Sleep Alone

Where Should Babies Sleep at Night? A Review of Evidence

Sleeping Like a Baby

10 Reasons to Sleep by Your Baby

Breastfeeding, Nightwaking: Protection from SIDS

Solitary or Shared Sleep: What is Safe?

Babies Not Designed to Sleep Alone

Baby Sleep: A Review of Research [with links to articles]

Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go

Primal Love & Mothering

Night Time Parenting: A Practical Approach for the Reduction of Attachment Disorders and the Promotion of Emotionally Secure Children

WEBSITES:

Co-Sleeping vs. Crib Fact & Statistic Sheet

Baby Sleep Institute and McKenna Library of Research

To connect with other parents and get in on Sleep Forums:
SafeBedSharing.Org


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Speech & Language Development: The First Year

From the moment your child is born she is learning how to communicate with you. In fact, her ears are developed enough to begin hearing and listening as early as the fourth month of pregnancy. As a new mother or even an experienced mother you may have questions about your child's speech and language development.

Speech & Language: Birth to 3 months
Crying is your baby's first and only way of communicating with you during the early weeks of life. She will cry to let you know she is hungry. She will cry to let you know her diaper is wet. She will cry to let you know she is unhappy. As she continues to develop, she will begin to coo and she may be able to make out vowel sounds such as "ah", "eh" and "uh".

Although your baby cannot talk or even really babble yet, her language skills are forming. She is listening and learning about her environment. She should startle if she hears a loud noise and turn her head towards her mother's voice.

You can help promote her speech and language development by singing to her or reading to her. Talk to your baby often and expose her to a variety of sounds and music.

Speech & Language: 4 to 6 months
Between four and six months your child's speech and language begin to blossom. What started out as simple cooing turns into full fledge babbling. She should be able to make single syllable consonants sounds including n, k, g, p, and b. The infamous ga-gas and goo-goos may be heard now. She will laugh and smile and of course still cry to communicate with you.

You can encourage her language by playing with her often. Use her name when you speak to her. Repeat sounds when she says them to you and encourage her to repeat them back. Baby rattles are appropriate toys at this age.

Speech & Language: 7 to 9 months
Your baby's babbling will continue and progress to sound more like real talking. She will make two syllable sounds such as mama and dada. Although these sound a lot like words, she likely has not associated them yet with a person or thing. She will continue babbling, learning more and more new sounds during this period. She is beginning to understand more too. She can understand simple commands such as no-no. She likely has a collection of words she understands now.

You can encourage your child's language development through play. Singing songs such as "Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" or playing games like "Where's your belly?", "Where's your nose?", "Where's your toes?" is a great way to expand your child's language.

Speech & Language: 10-12 months

Between ten and twelve months you may hear your child's first word. By a year most children can say 3-5 words. Besides beginning to talk, your child's comprehension of the spoken language begins to flourish. She may shake her head no, wave bye-bye, and follow simple directions.

Activities you can do to encourage her to talk include continuing to read stories and nursery rhymes and playing games such as peek-a-boo. Learning animal sounds can encourage even the reluctant talker.

Not talking by a year is not usually an indicator of a problem unless there are other signs of delays. Consult your doctor if you are concerned about her language and speech development.



I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Happy 8 Months Evan!

I can not believe that my youngest is already 8 months old!!! In 4 short months he will celebrate his birthday and no longer be a baby!!!!!!!!!! He is growing so fast and doing so much every day!!!

Here is my little boy from birth to now!

June 2009

July 2009

August 2009

September 2009

October 2009

November 2009

December 2009 

January 2010

February 2010

Happy 8 months buddy! We love you! 

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

When Should My Baby Start Talking?

One of the most exciting events for new parents is hearing their baby utter his first words. It is hard to say for sure when to expect your baby to say his first words, but most babies will be able to say 3 to 5 words by the time they are about a year old. Your baby may start trying to talk sooner than this. As a matter of fact, you may hear your baby babbling words like “ma ma” and “da da” as early as six months of age. While he may be practicing making sounds and imitating at this age, he probably doesn’t actually understand the meaning of the words he is babbling just yet.

Receptive language comes first

Your baby’s receptive language, or what he understands, develops before his expressive language, or what he says. When you talk to your baby, you are helping to develop his receptive language and stimulating his overall language development. Even if your baby isn’t able to speak to you, he is still absorbing information and expanding his vocabulary just by listening to you. Some babies take longer to learn how to coordinate their tongue and mouth to form sounds.

Early expressive language
Birth to 3 months

Your baby starts learning to communicate with you very early. One of the first ways your baby communicates with you is by crying. Now this may not sound like language development but this is how he tells you what’s going on. You may even discover that your baby has a different type of cry depending on what he is trying to communicate to you.

4- 6 months

At around 4-6 months your baby will start babbling. He should also be responding to you by smiling and cooing. This is how he communicates with you at this age. Even though he isn’t forming actual words with his babbling, he should be starting to make some of the sounds he will later use to form words. You may hear him making vowel sounds first like “ooh” and “aah” and then later he will start combining consonants and vowels to make sounds like “da da” or “ba ba”.

7-12 months

Your baby’s receptive language will really start to blossom during this time. He will understand more and should be able to understand simple instructions like “no-no.” Your baby may not be talking just yet but he should be babbling by now. Pay attention to him and you may notice him trying to imitate sounds or gestures that you make. For example, he may wave bye bye or blow kisses. If he hasn’t started talking yet, try not to worry. He should be saying his first words soon.

Baby’s first words
Your baby will likely say his first words sometime between 11 and 14 months. By 18 months, you can expect him to be able to say up to 20 words. Not all babies, however, develop at the same pace or reach milestones at the same time. If you ask a group of moms when their children started talking, you will probably get a different answer from each mom. Even when you compare children from the same family, you will see variations on when each child learned to talk. Developmental milestones are designed to help parents and doctors stay alert for signs of problems.

Encouraging your baby to talk
Here are some things you can do to encourage your baby to talk:

Imitate your baby’s sounds and encourage him to imitate you. Try smiling when he smiles, laughing when he laughs, or making “ooh” and “aah” sounds when he makes “ooh” and “aah” sounds.
Play games like “peek-a-boo” and “so big” with your baby. Your baby will learn to anticipate what comes next and learn to mimic you during play time.
Talk to your baby throughout the day. For example, when you get him dressed, tell him what you are doing. Little things like saying, “mommy is putting socks on your feet now” will help your baby learn new words.
Read to your baby. First word books are great for teaching your baby new words. It may take a while before your baby is able to say the words in the book but he may be able to identify words by pointing.
Should I be concerned if my baby isn’t talking?
If your baby is under 15 months and not talking yet, this is not a cause for concern. He should be babbling by the time he reaches his first birthday though. If he is not babbling by the time he turns one, you should discuss this with your doctor. You should also pay attention to how your baby responds to sounds. If he does not respond to his name when you call him, turn his head towards the direction of a loud sound, or if you just feel that something is not right, you should talk to your doctor. By around 16 months your baby should be saying at least a few words. If your baby is not saying anything at all by 16 months, you may want to talk to your doctor about getting early intervention services set up for your baby. This does not necessarily mean that your baby is not developing normally. Some perfectly healthy babies do not talk until they are closer to two years old. Still, if you are worried about your baby's speech or language development, you should discuss your concerns with your doctor.



I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Ten Creative Ways to Teach Your Child the Alphabet

1. Make an Alphabet Book
Make your own alphabet book with your kids. You can purchase a blank paper book at an educational supply store or you can make one with construction paper and a three-hole punch. Help your child make a page with each letter. You can have him write the letter or find the letter in an old magazine and cut it out. Cut out pictures from an old coloring book or magazine that has words that start with the letter on the page.

2. Play the ABC game whenever you drive somewhere
This is an easy and fun way to teach your child the alphabet. Whenever you drive anywhere play the ABC game. Have your child find the letter A on billboards, or license plates, or signs. Start with the letter A and then look for letter b, c, etc. Once you finish the alphabet you can play again.

3. Sing the Alphabet Song
Children love to sing and what better song to sing than the Alphabet Song. Start your day off with a song or two and be sure to include the ABC song.

4. Play the Alphabet Memory Game
You can purchase flashcards of the alphabet or make your own with card stock paper or construction paper. Have your child match the capital letter A to the lowercase letter a. Or you can start with letters that are all lowercase or all capital. Each time your child matches the letters have him tell you what letter it is.

5. Make Alphabet Cookies
What child doesn’t love cookies? Get alphabet cookie cutters or use frosting to write the letter on each cookie. Have your child tell you which letter he wants to eat!

6. Make an Alphabet Photo collage
Purchase disposable cameras for your child. Take a trip outside, to the park, zoo, or wherever. Spend your time looking for pictures of words that start with the letter A or B, or whichever letter you choose. When you get the photos developed let your child cut them out and glue them onto a collage. Have your child write or trace the letter for your photo collage onto construction paper and glue the photos around. Children love taking pictures and this is a lot of fun.

7. Another Alphabet Game
We have probably all played this game before. Its fun for kids and can be fun for adults too. If your child is young you can just play a simple game. Start with the letter A. “A is for apple”, “B is for banana”, “C is for cat”, and continue on with all the letters. If your child is older you can play the game with a theme. For example, play lets do the alphabet game with fruit or animals. This way they are learning to sort animals or fruits and also practicing their alphabet.

8. Play Alphabet Bingo
Make your own Bingo cards with construction paper. Write the letters of the alphabet on it. You can make this simple by making your Bingo cards more like a Tic-Tac-Toe game or you can make them like a traditional Bingo card. Call out the letters and have your child mark them or put a Bingo chip on the letter. When your child wins they can yell out Bingo! Purchase little prizes from the dollar store to make this even more fun.

9. Make an Alphabet finger painting
Use poster board or construction paper and make a finger painting with different letters. Have your child paint the capital letter and lowercase letter. Let him decorate it with whatever colors he likes.

10. Play the Alphabet Hide Away Game
Fill a bag with different objects that start with different letter sounds. For example, you could fill it with a car, a book, a pencil, etc. Show the child all the items in the bag. Then put all the items back in the bag. Have them find the items by touching them only. Say can you find something that starts with the letter B? Say what sound does the b make? Then see if they can find the book in your bag just by touching. This game is not only good for learning letters and sounds but also helps them with using their senses and tactile skills.



I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Letter of the week activities Monday, February 22: Letter B

Bb
Oh boy! It's Bb week!

1. Read a book.
2. Play with blocks.
3. Bounce a ball.
4. Talk about the day you were born with your mom or dad.
5. Count the buttons on Mommy/Daddy's shirt.
6. Ride your bicycle.
7. Fly like a butterfly.
8. Hop like a bunny.
9. Buzz like a bee.
10. Listen to the sound of birds outside.
11. Count the windows in your bedroom.
12. Drink a big glass of milk.
13. Draw a beautiful picture.
14. Growl like a bear.
15. Eat a banana.
16. Help make breakfast.
17. Look for brown fall colors.
18. Move your body to music. You can do it!



Becka

Text messages to help new mothers

New mothers don't always know what to do during their first pregnancy and the first year of their baby's life. Text4baby offers a free mobile information service to anyone who needs it. They send you facts, information, and guidelines via your mobile phone regarding your pregnancy. All you have to do is text BABY to 511411 and specify how many months you are and the predicted date of birth. From there, text4baby will send you 6 text messages during the first week, and after that 3 weekly tips timed to their due date or baby's month of birth.

These tips will cover a variety of topics including:
-Immunization
-Nutrition
-Seasonal Flu
-Mental Health
-Smoking & Alcohol
-Oral Health
-Safe Sleep

Information about child birth and prenatal care is provided by National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition with support from Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration. Following message development, they underwent a review process by several government organizations.

Research shows that 90% of mothers have cell phones. Allowing this important information to be at such easy access will save the lives of babies and mothers everywhere. Just knowing the right information will decrease the number of premature births, birth defects, and birth fatalities in the country, all of which are associated with lack of prenatal care.

This service will offer not only tips, but services that are available to mothers. They will send them information about prenatal care options around their neighborhood, and ways to be proactive about guiding a healthy lifestyle for them and their baby.

Mothers who sign up for text4baby are more likely to sign up for prenatal care. Prenatal care can help save money on health insurance. Premature births, which can result from lack of prenatal care cost a lot more money in hospital bills and health insurance than a healthy baby. Tips such as what to eat, when to exercise, smoking and alcohol texts will also ensure that their baby will be healthy.

This service will continue for a year after the birth. It will provide mothers with all of the essential information during their baby's first year of life.

This service is easy to activate just by texting BABY to 511411
Mothers can update their due date by texting UPDATE to 511411
And, if they would no longer like to receive these texts, they can stop them by texting STOP to 511411


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Infant & Toddler Activity: Interesting Words and Textures

Help your youngest learners explore the world of texture through their skin - the body's largest organ! Stimulate their sense of touch and introduce new words to their vocabulary. Here's what you'll need for infants and younger toddlers!Materials:A basket filled with items that are safe and have an interesting and different textures. For example: Cotton gloves Leather gloves Plastic dishwashing gloves (only for the teacher to wear) Craft feathers (only for the teacher to hold) Cotton balls (only for the teacher to hold) Real flowers (such as carnations or roses) Salt (only for the teacher to use) Balls with different textures that are larger than 3 in. (fuzzy tennis, dimpled golf, etc.) Here's How:  Prior to the activity, check each child's information to make sure they are not allergic to any of the materials chosen. Gather all materials and place them in a basket. Set the basket on a shelf or table near a comfortable area of the floor that is clearly out of the reach of children but easy for a care teacher to reach. Sit on the floor with the children and loosen their socks or shoes so they can finish pulling them off. Push up their sleeves or long pants so you can touch different places on their skin with a variety of textures. With infants, take one of the items from the basket and name the texture. Gently roll, touch or move it along each of the child's feet and legs. Say a phrase to describe the object, texture and the body part. For example: "fluttery flowers on your feet," or "soft feather on your toes." Use this as a game to use new and interesting words. Repeat the simple touch game with each infant in your care. Choose a new item from the basket and say the name of the texture. Gently roll, touch or move it to touch the child's cheeks and neck. Again say a simple phrase that describes the object, texture and the body part. For example: "smooth rubber on your cheek" or "dimpled golf ball on your neck." Finally say the name of the texture and next move it to touch the child's hands and arms. The child will likely try to grab the object now, closely supervise each child as he/she touches the item -but do not let him/her put it into his/her mouth. Play this game on different days with the different objects; be sure to name each texture before you touch it to the infant's skin or body. After you play this game many different times, you may notice how the child begins to anticipate what each texture will feels like. With young toddlers, follow the same steps but ask the toddler to say the descriptive phrase with you. Soon the toddlers will say the phrase when you hold up different items. To change the activity, encourage the toddlers to hold the items and gently touch your arms or cheeks with it. Babies and young toddlers will love the arousal on their skin while learning their body parts!

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Toddlers...and how to survive them

Listen to what your child says when she expresses her feelings, such as "I'm not going in there because there is a monster there!!" or "I don't want to go there because she never wants to play with me" or"Mama, what can I do to show you that I love you so much?" All these things show that your child is confident in expressing her likes and dislikes. Some children clam up and do things they don't like quietly. Some show their dissatisfaction but do not know how to verbalise them thus you end up guessing what the problem is. Watch your child. Which one is she?

Children pleasure in who they are and what they can do so give them the praise and attention and KNOW who they are and what they can do. Ask your child lots of questions to really get to know them. Ask them what their favourite food is. Ask them what they think they are good at. Ask them what their favourite colour, toy, book, person etc is. Ask them if they would like to try out new things like roller blading or diving, why and why not. If you were to make a list of your child's traits, both good and bad, can you make a list of fifty characteristics?

Observe how your child shows her feelings towards other people. Is she shy? Or is she confident when speaking to people? Does she take time to warm up? Or does she treat different people differently? Watch how she responds to other people's questions. Does she nod and shake her head or does she just glare back in silence? Does she respond with proper answers? This will give you a clue as to how confident your child is.

Teach your child about the different people around her, their cultures, their likes and dislikes, for her to understand that everyone is different. Then observe how your child uses this information in her day to day life. Does she pass it on?

Children are a blessing from God. They are not ours, just temporarily for us to take care of. So care for them with the best of your ability.


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Discovery Bottles

What are Discovery Bottles?
Discovery Bottles are plastic water or pop bottles filled with different colorful materials.

Purpose of Discovery Bottles: To encourage observation skills, scientific concept

Discovery Bottle Ideas:

Wave Bottle: Turn this bottle on its side and watch as "waves" roll.
To Make: Fill 1/2 the bottle with cooking oil ( you can also use baby oil). The add water until the bottle is full. Add blue food coloring and hot glue the cap shut and you're finished!

Glitter Bottle: Shake the bottle and watch the pretty glitter move through out the bottle.
To Make: Fill the bottle with water. Add food coloring (your choice of color). Then add glitter. Hot Glue the cap shut.

Autumn Bottle: fall inspired bottle
To Make:Fill bottle with fall nature items (acorns, leaves, pumpkin seeds). Hot Glue cap to seal.
.
Calm Bottle: Watching the glitter slowly float in the bottle.
To Make: Add glitter then fill the bottle about 1/2 full with clear corn syrup. Hot glue cap to seal.

Estimation Bottle: Child has to estimate how many items are in the bottle.
To Make: Fill bottle with several items (such as rocks, or sea shells) Be sure to count how many of the item you add so you can tell your child how close their estimation was.

Place the finished bottle on a low shelf so your child can observe the bottles as they wish.


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

10 Low or no cost resources for preschool teachers

1. Books. Visit your local library when it is having a book sale. You can usually buy books for just a few dollars. Some branches sell books all the time; others sell books only on occasion. This is a way to add to your classroom collection without worrying about due dates or fines. 
2. Online Videos. Whether you and the children want to watch pandas at the National Zoo (http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/giantpandas/default.cfm) or you are looking for ideas for teaching science (www.exploritorium.edu/webcasts/index.php), take a few moments to watch something new. 
3. Digital library of teacher resources. Access reading materials and multimedia resources through the PBS Digital Learning Library (www.pbs.org/teachers/dll).
4. Freecycle. Everything available through www.freecycle.org is free! Check the site to see if there is a group in your area. You need to join to view listings of available items or to post a listing, but joining is also free. Members offer lightly used items of all kinds-clothing, books, furniture, and so on. The purpose is to reduce waste while sharing resources in the community. You will have to pick up items you want. More information is available online. 
5. Traveling materials. The National Park Service offers traveling trunks of items connected to different national parks throughout the country. (see www.nps.gov/learn/trunks.htm). Museums frequently have materials related to their collections that they will lend to programs. 
6. Music. Use a free, online radio web site like Pandora, to play different types of music. You can create your own channels based on artists or genres and easily switch among them. For classical music, check out the children's web page for the Dallas (www.dsokids.com) or San Francisco )www.sfskids.com) symphony. 
7. Discounts. Several national chains offer discounts to teachers. They include A.C. Moore, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Borders, Half Price Books, Jo-Ann, Lakeshore Learning, OfficeMax, and Staples. NAEYC members receive a 20% discount on hundreds of books, videos, brochures, and posters int he NAEYC catalog and reduced subscription fees for Highlights High Five, a magazine for preschoolers. 
8. Paper. Ask local print shops for scraps, which they often give away at a very low price. Contact community businesses to see if they can donate outdated letterhead or envelopes for the children to use. 
9. Art Materials. By March, stores are looking to get rid of calendars for the current year. You can find ones You can find ones with animal or nature photographs or fanciful illustrations. Cut off the month portion and paste the illustration or photos in the classroom. Or offer these materials for use in art projects. 
10. Donations. Local businesses or associations, like Delta Kappa Gamma, give money or other resources to educators an schools. Sometimes a local restaurant, like a pizzeria, or other family friendly business will help you raise funds. For example, they may pledge a percentage of one day's proceeds to your program. Ask families to spread the word in the neighborhood and to patronize the business that day. This is an easy way to raise funds and to form partnerships in the community. 

Published in Teaching Young Children, a NAEYC publication. 

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

A Basic Montessori list of supplies for Preschoolers

If you are just starting out in Montessori you may be overwhelmed by the cost of supplies. Here is a list of the essentials to get you by while you build your Preschool Montessori supply closet (some you may already have):

Sand Paper Letters and Numbers
Pink Tower
Wooden puzzles
Lacing cards
Play dishes- perfect for practical life activities- pouring, setting tables etc..
Baskets of nature items (rocks, sea shells) for classifying
Sensory Touch boards (satin, wool, cotton, wood)

Start with these basics as you continue to add to your Montessori shelves.


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Beautiful poem every mother should read!

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

Happy 7th birthday to my Princess!!!

Happy 7th birthday to my sweet girl! I can not believe she is already 7 years old!!!!!!!! It seems like yesterday I brought her home form the hospital. She has made us SO proud...she does great in school, has a lot of friends, and is on the honor roll. She LOVES being in school and always has a smile on her face. (except when she is having a tantrum, but hey with 3 brothers, a girl has to make herself heard!)

My baby girl has gone from this

To this 

In so little time! It does not seem possible that she is so big! She amazes us every day with what she can do! She also loves to dance, and is trying to find out what style she likes the best...I am sure she ould excel at all of  them!

Happy birthday princess! We love you!!!

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

RECALLS

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2010
Release # 10-139

Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 695-3551
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Allreds Design Recalls Baby Bracelets and Pacifier Clips Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Allreds Design Baby Bracelets and Pacifier Clips

Units: About 900

Manufacturer: Allreds Design (doing business as Hidden Hollow Beads), of Fort Duchesne, Utah

Hazard: The recalled bracelets and pacifier clip clasps contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: Allreds Design received one report of a 10-month-old child who was treated by a physician for elevated lead levels.

Description: This recall includes Allreds Design brand baby bracelets and pacifier clips. The bracelets are sold in sizes 0-6 months, 1-4 years, and 4-8 years of age. The baby bracelets and pacifier clips have crystal and plastic beads in various colors with a metal clasp.

Sold by: Resale stores and other consignment retailers nationwide from June 2008 through December 2008 for about $5.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these recalled bracelets and pacifier clips away from children and contact Allreds Design for instructions on how to receive a replacement bracelet or pacifier clip.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Allreds Design toll-free at (866) 695-3551 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Note: Hidden Hollow Beads was alerted to this hazard by Jefferson County's Health Department in Missouri.

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10139.html


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CPSC Public Calendar

Vol. XXXVII No. 19
February 17, 2010

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Commission Agendas

Listed below is an agenda of a Commission Meeting scheduled for the week of February 22, 2010. For a recorded message concerning the latest agenda information call (301) 504-7948.

Commission Meeting
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Hearing Room 420

Closed to the Public

Matter to be Discussed

Compliance Weekly / Monthly Report - Commission Briefing

The staff will brief the Commission on various compliance matters.

Meetings Between Commission Staff and Outside Parties

All meetings listed below are open to the public unless otherwise stated. For information on a specific meeting or to attend a meeting, please call the contact person listed for that meeting.

Abbreviations: we use asterisks (*) to identify meetings for the current week which have not appeared before in the printed Public Calendar. If the meeting involves discussion of a "substantial interest matter," defined by CPSC's Meetings Policy, we show the date when we posted notice of the meeting on the Master Calendar. The Master Calendar is in the Office of the Secretary, Room 502, telephone (301) 504-7923. We indicate whether a meeting is of substantial interest by the symbol (S); we use the symbol (N) to indicate non-substantial interest meetings. The Commission offices are located in the Bethesda Towers Building, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.

Under the Meetings Policy, a staff person holding or attending a substantial interest meeting must file a log of the meeting with the Office of the Secretary within 20 days.

Week of February 22 thru February 28, 2010

Tuesday, February 23

Commissioner Robert Adler and Jason Levine (Special Assistant to Commissioner Adler) and Chairman Inez M. Tenenbaum and Matt Howsare (Special (Legal) Assistant to Chairman Tenenbaum) meeting with Andy Counts, Exec. VP; Bill Perdue, VP-Product Standards & Sustainable Growth, American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA); and Mary Martha McNamara, Counsel to AHFA, to discuss furniture issues in consumer product safety; 10:00 a.m., Bethesda Towers, room 723. The meeting was requested by Mary Martha McNamara. For additional information contact Ophelia McCardell, (301) 504-7731. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 1/28/10. Posted on the Master Calendar 1/28/10. (S)

Tuesday, February 23

*Commissioner Nancy Nord and staff meeting with Andy Counts, Exec. VP; Bill Perdue, VP-Product Standards & Sustainable Growth, American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA); and Mary Martha McNamara, Counsel to AHFA, to discuss furniture issues in consumer product safety; 11:00 a.m., Bethesda Towers, room 722. The meeting was requested by Mary Martha McNamara. For additional information contact Autumn Moore, (301) 504-7901, amoore@cpsc.gov. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/16/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/16/10. (S)

Tuesday, February 23

*Commissioner Anne Northup meeting with Andy Counts, CEO of American Home Furnishings Alliance and Bill Perdue, Director of Environmental and Technical Visits to discuss furniture tip-overs, bunk bed and upholstery issues; 12:00 noon, Bethesda Towers, room 720. The meeting was requested by Mary Martha McNamara. For additional information contact Catherine Gatewood, (301) 504-7780. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/16/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/16/10. (S)

Tuesday, February 23

Commissioner Thomas H. Moore; Pam Weller and Michael Gougisha (Counselors to Commissioner Moore) meeting with Andy Counts and Bill Perdue with the American Home Furnishings Alliance; Mary Martha McNamara, Esq. with McNamara & L'Heureux, P.C. to discuss furniture issues in consumer product safety; 3:00 p.m., Bethesda Towers, room 725. The meeting was requested by Laura S. Genuario. For additional information contact Linda Taylor, (301) 504-7895 or ltaylor@cpsc.gov. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 1/27/10. Posted on the Master Calendar 1/27/10. (S)

Wednesday, February 24

*Allyson Tenney, Directorate for Engineering Sciences, attending ASTM F15.45, Candle Products Fire Safety Task Group meeting; Airport Courtyard by Marriott, Columbus, OH. For additional information contact Allyson Tenney, (301) 504-7567. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/16/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/16/10. (S)

Wednesday, February 24

*Jake Miller and Patty Edwards, Directorate for Engineering Sciences (Mechanical), meeting with Gene Barrow, Bassett Furniture, to discuss manufacturing process of children's furniture specifically wood cribs; 1:00 p.m., 3525 Fairystone Park Hwy., Bassett, VA 24055. The meeting was requested by CPSC staff. For additional information contact Jake Miller, (301) 504-6938. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/16/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/16/10. (N)

Thursday, February 25

*Jake Miller and Patty Edwards, Directorate for Engineering Sciences (Mechanical), meeting with Carlton Craig and Kevin Walker, Stanley Furniture, to discuss manufacturing process of children's furniture specifically wood cribs, including a courtesy plant tour; 8:00 a.m., 1641 Fairystone Park Hwy., Stanleytown, VA 24168. The meeting was requested by CPSC staff. For additional information contact Jake Miller, (301) 504-6938. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/16/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/16/10. (N)

Thursday, February 25

Thomas Caton, Directorate for Engineering Sciences (Mechanical) giving presentation on "Metallurgy and Dissimilar Metals" at the Pennsylvania Amusement Ride Safety Seminar meeting; 11:00 a.m., Holiday Inn Harrisburg/Hershey - Grantville, PA. The meeting was requested by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards. For additional information contact Thomas Caton, (301) 504-7543. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/12/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/12/10. (N)

Future

Tuesday, March 2

Richard O'Brien, Laurie Hopkins, and Sylvia Chen, Office of International Programs, meeting with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) representatives: Gary Kushnier, Vice President - International Policy, Scott Cooper, Vice President - Government Relations, Elise Owen, Director - International Development, Jessica Hychalk, Program Manager - International Policy, Leslie McDermott, Program Administrator - International Development, to discuss ANSI activities in China; 3:00 p.m., Bethesda Towers, room 410A. The meeting was requested by ANSI. For additional information contact Richard O'Brien, (301) 504-7054. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/12/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/12/10. (N)

Tuesday, March 23

Michael A. Babich, Directorate for Health Sciences, and other CPSC staff meeting with representatives from ExxonMobil, on Cumulative Risk Assessment of Phthalates; 10:00 a.m., Bethesda Towers, room 410 B/C. The meeting was requested by ExxonMobil. For additional information contact Michael Babich, (301) 504-7253. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 1/25/10. Posted on Master Calendar 1/26/10. (S)

Addendum

Meeting notices printed in this section did not reach the Office of the Secretary in time to meet the Tuesday noon deadline for the previously printed Public Calendar. Under the CPSC Meetings Policy, however, staff persons, including Commissioners, can meet the seven-day notice requirement by placing notice of the meeting on the Master Calendar at least seven days before the meeting. The Master Calendar is in the Office of the Secretary, Room 502, Bethesda Towers Building.

In addition, the policy allows the Office of General Counsel to waive the seven-day notice requirements of meetings of the staff personnel, and individual Commissioners can waive the requirements for themselves and their personal staff.

Thursday, February 18

Commissioners Nancy Nord and Anne Northup and staff will meet with Satbir Nayar, Project Manager, XOS, Inc. and Berry Buemer, Vice President of Marketing and Sales of XOS, Inc., and Quin Dodd, Of Counsel, Mintz Levin, PC, XOS, to provide the latest information about the HD XRF technology and the status of the ASTM voluntary committee process to finalize a uniform test method for the use of HD XRF to detect lead in paint; 11:00 a.m., Bethesda Towers, room 722. For additional information contact Autumn Moore, (301) 504- 7901, amoore@cpsc.gov. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/16/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/16/10. (S)

Thursday, February 18

Commissioner Robert S. Adler meeting with Satbir Nayar and Berry Buemer of X-Ray Optical Systems, Inc. (XOS), and Quin Dodd, counsel to XOS, to discuss latest information on validation of HD XRF technology and the status of ASTM's Volunteer Committee to finalize a uniform test method for the use of HD XRF to detect lead in paint; 10:00 a.m., Bethesda Towers, room 723. The meeting was requested by Quin Dodd. For additional information contact Ophelia McCardell, (301) 504-7731. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/16/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/17/10. (S)

Friday, February 19

Andrew Trotta and Shivani Mehta, Directorate for Engineering Sciences, attending the Kitchen Fire Prevention Technologies Workshop; 8:30 a.m., (registration starts at 8:00 a.m.) Montpelier Room at the Madison Loews Hotel, 1177 15th Street, NW, Washington D.C. The workshop is being sponsored by Vision 20/20. For additional information contact Andrew Trotta, (301) 504-7578. Transmitted to the Office of the Secretary 2/12/10. Posted on Master Calendar 2/12/10. (S)



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'CPSC 2.0' Launches Product Safety Agency into Social Media -- Learn more at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09346.html

* Visit our new blog, OnSafety at www.cpsc.gov/onsafety

* See our videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/uscpsc

* Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OnSafety

* See our photos on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/uscpsc

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.


I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here

The Ultimate Pancakes

The Ultimate Pancakes                This week is National Pancake Week! What better way to celebrate then with a fresh, homemade plateful?!  You'll need... 3/4 cup milk 2 tablespoons white or cider vinegar 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons butter, melted cooking spray pats of butter   To make...  Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to "sour".   Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk egg, vanilla and butter into "soured" milk. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until most of the lumps are gone-- the mixture will be foamy at this point. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes to thicken.   Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Add a small bit of butter for flavor. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.   Serve with syrup and/or honey-butter! ENJOY! 4 servings-- Nutritonal values:  Calories: 230| Total Fat: 8.2g | Cholesterol: 72mg

I am the mom of 4 wonderful kids, 3 boys and 1 girl. Looking at them, you know I have had many years working with and enriching the lives of children. I have an Associates (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Management, and a Bachelors in Early childhood Development and Education with a concentration in Child Psychology. I have almost 20 years in the Early Childhood field, and loving every minute of it! You can visit my site here