Unsolicited advice

So yesterday I decided to take the kids to the new Family Dollar. I had forgotten my sling, so I had to take the lil man in with his car seat. Of course, he does not like his seat...so he proceeded to scream. Now normally, I would carry him, but I had all 4 of the kids with me, so it was a little difficult.

Now, this is actually the first time I have gotten a comment other then "you have your hands full" from anyone other then some family memebers (who will remain nameless, but they know who they are!). The EMPLOYEE was actually following me around, telling me to pick him up, that he is going to choke, and that I am being mean. Really lady? Wonder what she would have done if I pickd him up and handed him to her?! Would she have stopped telling me how to parent my children?

I wonder when it became OK for complete strangers...and employees of a store for that matter...to tell people what to do with their kids.

OK rant over!

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Bullying and Cyberbullying Ends With Me!

Bullying is a serious problem that affects millions of kids and teens of all races and classes. Bullying and cyberbullying are at an all-time high; one out of four kids is bullied and 42 percent of kids are cyberbullied.

Read more here

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

The benefits of co-sleeping...

So I see a lot of my friends getting slack for sleeping with their babies in their bed. WHY do people insist on trying to tell others what is best for them...most without any real research to back them up.

I found this awesome article on the benefits of co-sleeping.

Other cultures around the world co sleep, and many never even heard of SIDS or colic! Perhaps they know something we do not? Maybe we could learn from them!!

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

New Nationwide Study Confirms Homeschool Academic Achievement

Next time someone tells you that your child will not be on par with their public school peers, send them to this article.

Each year, the homeschool movement graduates at least 100,000 students. Due to the fact that both the United States government and homeschool advocates agree that homeschooling has been growing at around 7% per annum for the past decade, it is not surprising that homeschooling is gaining increased attention. Consequently, many people have been asking questions about homeschooling, usually with a focus on either the academic or social abilities of homeschool graduates. 

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Sale Hours, Location, & Important Information

Saturday, August 15, 2009

7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

The sale is open to the public on Saturday.

The sale is held at the Kerr Scott Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

CASH ONLY (no checks).

Come early for the best selection. We recommend you bring a clothes basket to help you carry items you want to purchase.
Listen to our radio ad for the August 2009 sale! It is playing all week on G105 and 93.9KISS FM.


See news coverage of the March 2009 Sale on WRAL.


See more here

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Tuesday MEME

Today is simple...I have 3 of 4 kids (the 6yr old, 2yr old, and 7 week old) who have high fevers. I have actually managed to keep the house tidy, and get them fed at a reasonable time! And to also go to the bathroom lol. Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Easy Baked Mac and Cheese! YUM

Ok so the easiest meal I know how to make, which apparently can feed about 200 people...is my gramma's baked mac and cheese!

All you need is:

32oz Elbow Macaroni

1 big blok sharp cheddar cheese

1 large can CRUSHED tomoatoes

heat oven to 350

cube cheese

cook macaroni aldenti, drain, return to pot

pour in tomatoes and cheese

mix well

pour into large baking dish, cook 15 min

take out, stir, back another 15 min

let cool and serve

This is a family favorite, and has also been served at a large group get together, of over 200 people. I have been asked many times about this recipe!!! Total prep to serve time is no more then 45 min to an hour! Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

365 Days of Creative Play

My friend Gabriele over at A Work Of Childhood is having a great giveaway! Gabriele homeschools and has SO many great things to share on her blog. I think this is such a great contest!

365 FUN, CREATIVE ACTIVITIES TO STIMULATE YOUR PRESCHOOLER EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

A fun indoor or outdoor activity for each day of the year! For parents, grandparents, childcare providers! Uses only safe, simple, household supplies! "Projects that you can do with your kids, and even better, activities they can do by themselves."-Family Circle "Now there is a solution to every day of the year."-Parenting This amazing resource of fun and thoughtful activities for kids ages two years and up will help encourage their creativity and learning through play. Using only safe, simple household supplies, 365 Days of Creative Play is great for parents, grandparents and childcare providers. Illustrated by children. Go on over and check it out!

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Another great one from Elizabeth Pantley!

I love love love! Her books. I recently started reading Hidden Massages: What our Words and Actions are Really Telling our Children. I came across this line, that I have always used as my mantra:

Making our children ultimatley responsible for their own behavior doesn't hinder them. Instead, it frees then to achieve success, unencumbered by the fralities that can readily drail a less-disciplined person, and it helps them to find confidence and happiess in their lives when they reach adulthood. Isn't this one of our highest goals as parents?

I love it! More people need to start making their children become responsible for their actions. You see too many parents getting mad at someone else for something their child did, in turn relaying to that child that they will not be held accountable for their actions. This could be disastrous in the long run!

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

6-Month-Old Kicked Out of Restaurant for Not Wearing Shoes?!!

When Jennifer Frederich took her 6-month-old daughter, Kaylin, with her to Burger King earlier this week, she never imagined that the tot’s bare feet would have her kicked out of the restaurant.

Frederich was standing in line to order her food with her baby, her mother, and her grandmother when the restaurant’s manager looked over and told the group that they would have to take their order “to go”, because the baby’s shoeless feet violated the restaurant’s policy.

Trying to explain to the manager that the baby didn’t even have a pair of shoes yet because she didn’t walk did no good, the manager insisted that shoes needed to be worn, and threatened to call the police. Frederich and her companions quickly finished their meal and left the restaurant.

read more here

Defending Wake's handling of No Child Left Behind

Seriously, are they for real?!

School board members and administrators managed to simultaneously defend their handling of No Child Left Behind choice requirements while also acknowledging they can do some things better.

continue here

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Wake schools' student market share drops

So this is how they view our children? As market shares?!

The school district's market share dipped to 83.3 percent of the school age children in the county.

continue reading

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Calendars may thwart Wake school transfers

RALEIGH -- Wake County school officials acknowledge they're flunking out at giving hundreds of families timely notice that they can transfer children from schools that are failing under federal No Child Left Behind standards.
Telling parents well before school starts that they have a choice other than their children's assignment to a failing school is a key element of the 2002 No Child Left Behind law. But Wake school officials, citing technical difficulties and time pressures, will not contact families at most year-round schools until several weeks after classes have begun.
Chris Marsch's two children started school Tuesday at Barwell Elementary, a year-round school already classified as failing under No Child Left Behind. "It's a law you have to enforce," Marsch said. "It's ludicrous that parents are getting the shaft every time."

more

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Toddler biting (A Mamasource Question)

On the subject of biting, which is a normal toddler behavior, there were several questions posed at from several frustrated mamas over at Mamapedia.So I decided to give my own advice on the subject, having dealt with it for quite a long time!!

Biting, hitting, yelling: all of these behaviors can be seen in any toddler classroom, playdate, or other extra cirricular activity involving young children who are not yet verbally expressive. Most teachers and parents try their hardest to avoid these instances, but when you have 8 to 10 18 month to 2 year olds in one room, it can be pretty hard to avoid every instance.

It seems that the biggest problem occurs when a child wants a toy another child has, or wants the attention of an adult otherwise pre-occupied. The child gets frustrated, and the fangs come out! The child then takes this opportunity and chomps down.

This does not mean the child is destined to be a cannibal, or that they have a violent streak. This is merely their way of communicating. But there is a way to attempt to lessen the instances of accident reports, angry parents, and banning from playdates, get togethers, and Kindermusik sessions!

Research has indicated that infants and toddlers who can use sign language have fewer incidents of unwanted habits.
Teaching a child to sign, will help them become more expressive, and help them to tell another child, teacher, or other adult, what they want, and why they are upset.

Here are some tips for Signing in Childcare Settings



• Signing helps to lower noise levels in preschool classrooms by reducing frustrated screaming and crying.  Children spend less time crying and teachers spend less time playing “the guessing     game,”  allowing  more time for positive interaction.

•  Signing gives children with special needs the opportunity to interact in  a meaningful way with typically developing children.  Acceptance of children with special needs is greatly enhanced.



• Signing serves as a “language bridge” for children and staff who speak different languagess-the ign  is the same for eat (English) as it is comer (Spanish).



• Signing empowers children because they can communicate successfully with those around them.  This sense of empowerment significantly contributes to babies’ happiness.



•Signing enhances early language skills because children can engage in two-way  conversations with  their teachers and their peers at an earlier age.



• Signing helps children solve problems. STOP and SHARE are commonly used signs that  help children learn to get along with one another. Signing significantly reduces problems with biting.  Take away the frustration and biting goes with it.



• Signing enables children to control the topic of conversation and express their unique interests at an   earlier age. This allows teachers to design activities that will enhance children’s specific interests.



• Signing adds fun to daily routines and circle time and music activities.



• Signing facilitates home-school communication and helps parents get more involved in preschool  curriculum in a more meaningful way.



• Signing is appropriate for all preschool age groups (infants, toddlers, preschool, Pre-K) and it facilitates visual/kinesthetic learning.



• Signing in preschool classrooms has been shown to enhance literacy skills needed for school success: reading, vocabulary, and spelling.

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 18 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com

Stay Safer on Summer Adventures

With summer's warmer weather and sunshine, your family is finding reasons to leave the house that was a cozy retreat all winter. As your family spends more time outside, take some time to remind your kids of ways to stay safer away from home:

• Teach your kids to ask you before leaving home and to stay with a friend whenever they're playing outside or walking anywhere.
  
  
• Talk to your children about how to locate help at theme parks, sports stadiums, shopping malls, and other public places. Identify those people who are safe to ask for help, such as law enforcement, security guards, and store clerks with name tags. Make it a point to practice each time you take a trip; quiz your children on the things they should look for.
  
  
• Teach your children that if anyone tries to grab them, they should make a scene and make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting. Set up role-play situations at home to practice.
  
  
• Take a trip to the neighborhood playground. While there, check to make sure all the equipment is well-maintained, and talk to your children about how to play safely.

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 17 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com