Quick Tips: 3 Ways to Make Easter Meaningful for Your Child

Today's Quick Tips are from Sherry Kyle, author of both women's fiction and devotional and inspirational books for girls.

Quick Tips:

Three Ways to Make Easter Meaningful for Your Child

There’s nothing more exciting than sharing your faith with a child, and Easter is one of the best times to do it. After all, Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith. Here are three easy ways to make Easter meaningful for your child.

  Interact. Read the Easter story from your child’s Bible, and then discuss it. Ask your child questions and engage in interactive play, such as building a cross from Legos or a tomb with blocks, to help your child understand the true meaning of Easter.
 Prepare. Get your child involved in planning a simple Easter dinner. Decorate the table. Bake a special treat. Go shopping and purchase your child a new outfit. Show them that Easter is a day to celebrate!  
 Invite. Have your child invite a friend to accompany your family to a sunrise service. Remember to bundle up, and bring a blanket to sit on as well as mugs for hot chocolate! As the sun peeks over the horizon, explain how Jesus is the light of the world and how he overcame darkness when he rose from the dead.

  Sherry is the author of books for tween girls including The Christian Girl's Guide to Style,The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room, The Girl's Guide to Life, and Love Lexi: Letters to God.

 Sherry also writes novels for women set along the coast of California where she makes her home with her husband of 27 years and their four children. 

   When she's not writing, Sherry spends her time reading, walking, having coffee with friends, and decorating her beach home. You can connect with Sherry on her webpage or blog.

Camp for Your Special Needs Child

     Camp is a fun part of summer for thousands of children each year. But what about your special needs child? Will he miss out on experiencing camp? He doesn't have to. With all the camps that have sprung up, children who previously couldn't attend now may. Camps range from those designed specifically for certain special needs such as asthma, cancer, or ADHD to traditional camps that accommodate children with some special needs. It takes thought and research to find the camp that is best for your special needs child.

Benefits of Camp

    Camp benefits all children. The positive outcomes for children with special needs are much the same as for other children, but often go beyond those. Here are some possible benefits.

• The chance to try new experiences.  Things that aren't possible for your child to do at home may be available at camp. Swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing and group games are adapted so that all children can take part. There are also crafts, campfires, and social activities. For children with physical, mental, and behavior problems, camp is an ideal setting to try new things.
• The opportunity to be around children with the same challenges. Your child might be left out as the only one in a wheel chair at school but will fit in at camp. She'll talk to other children who've been made fun of for being different. Your child with cancer can share his fears with campers who are facing or have overcome the same.
• Your child will make friends who can become penpals either through U.S. mail or by e-mail. Or perhaps they can talk into a tape player and send tapes back and forth to stay in touch.
• Increased independence and confidence. Camps have modifications so that children can be as mobile and independent as possible. Children with physical, mental, and behavioral difficulties find freedom at camp that they don't experience elsewhere. Counselors are trained to give help when needed and to encourage campers to do as much as possible for themselves. With more independence comes improved self esteem and confidence.
• Learning from peers. Your child may learn coping skills and different ways to do things from children who share his challenges. He'll see what other children are capable of doing and try to do more for himself.
• Increased physical activity. At home your child might find it easier to watch television than be active. Helping your child be active might be draining for you also. At camp your child will take part in adapted swimming, hiking (if mobile), horseback riding, sports, and group games.
• It gives you time to spend alone or to give extra attention to siblings. You can do activities that you ignore because your special needs child can't participate.

Finding the Right Camp

     There are many things to consider when choosing a camp for your child. Here are some things to consider and do.

     Start early! Try to make your final decision in February or March. Many camps  hold open houses during the spring months. Many camps will fill up in early spring and you may be on a long waiting list.

     Make a list of your child's needs. Before searching for a camp, consider your child's needs. Make a list of special accommodations and services your child requires. Does he need injections that must be given by a trained medical person? Does she have a special diet? Does he sleep on a special kind of bed?

     List your expectations. What do you want the camp to do for your child? Allow activities within a structured environment?  Provide new experiences? Do you hope for increased independence?

     Consider your child's desires. Your child will do better if he helps with decision making. Does he want to go to camp? What kind of camp? What activities does he hope for?

     Decide on duration, location, and cost. Consider what you want. Do you want your child to stay a week? Longer? How far away? What if the best camp for your child is in another state or across the country? How much can you pay? The cost of a special needs camp can be as high as $5,000 for a 2-3 week session. Check with local organizations for sponsors or scholarships.

     Make a list of camps that match the criteria on your list. Go to the websites listed below or ask other parents for camp recommendations. List the ones in which you are interested. Then find out more about each.

     Know what kind of training does the staff receives. This varies by whether your child attends a camp specifically for special needs children or a traditional camp that accepts children with certain needs. Is medical staff available at all times? Do counselors know how to deal with your child's specific challenges?

     Know what kind of children attend the camp. Just because a camp says they accept ADHD children or children with disabilities, it doesn't mean that they have any attend or that they are set up to work with and nurture these children. A camp may be willing to accept children with asthma but not be able to accommodate wheelchairs for many of the activities. Or they may accept children with physical disabilities but not be accepting of behavior disorders.

     Find out about child to caregiver ratios. How many children are in each cabin? How many counselors are there per child? Find out if the number of counselors mean adult counselors or counselors in training.

     Check that the camp is clean, safe, and in good repair. If possible, visit the camp. That's the best way to know it's really like. Are wheelchair ramps in good condition? Are the cabins clean with screens on the windows? Are bathrooms and showers accessible for your child? Are there wide paths? Is there a place for your child to sit apart from the group if he needs to calm down? Is play equipment clean and in good repair? Does the camp seem bright and cheerful? If you can't visit, ask for a video.

     Make sure the overall  attitude is nurturing, positive and upbeat.  All children need to feel accepted and cared for. The director and counselors should be positive and cheerful. Gloomy staff members won't contribute to a positive camp experience for your child. Nurturing camp staff is essential.

     Communicate with the staff. Once you've chosen the best camp for your child, contact the camp director and be sure that your child will have everything she needs for a positive camp experience. You will be more relaxed about sending your child to camp if you know she will receive her medicine at the right time, have the diet she needs, and get appropriate help with daily care.

Preparing Your Child for Camp

     Once you've selected the best camp for your child, it's time to begin preparing your camper. Here are some suggestions:

· Become familiar with the camp. Either visit or get a video if you haven't already done this. Find out the schedule. Give your child as much information as possible.

· Give your child practice being away from home. Arrange for your child to spend the night with a friend or a few days with a relative to help them learn how it feels to be away from home and to develop ways to cope.

· Help your child learn to eat, dress, shower, and prepare for bed as independently as possible.

· Label all belongings going to camp. Check the packing list to be sure you've included everything. Send extra socks and underwear. These get lost easily. Make sure to pack all medicines and special equipment needed. Pack a comfort item such as a favorite photo, stuffed animal, or pillow.

· Discuss any fears or concerns your child might have. Is she afraid of the dark? Does she wet the bed? How can she deal with these things at camp?

     The camp experience is beneficial for most children, especially those with special needs. Don't assume your child can't go to camp because of limitations or challenges. Research the camps available and decide if there's one that would provide a positive experience for your child.

Camp listings:

Camp list  Extensive directory of camps from day camps to sports camps to camps dedicated to a particular academic need

summer camps Easy to use summer camp directory. You can search by location or type of camp.

What has been your experience in the past with camp?

Zootopia: The Movie That has Parents Talking

Zootopia

If you’re expecting a sweet bunny story, you might be surprised by the true grit detective story you get instead. Sure, the bunny decided early in life that she wants to be a “cop” even though there are no officer bunnies to date. And she pushes through with her ambitions, excelling in police academy.

Her dream assignment comes through, and she leaves her parents and her two hundred or so brothers and sisters to their carrot farming and heads to the big city—Zootopia. There Judy Hopps’ dreams hit a glitch. She’s assigned to be a meter maid. That doesn’t diminish her go get ‘em spirit though. You want 100 parking tickets a day? I’ll give you 200 by noon! And she does.

Still, she believes she could be of help with the missing mammal cases that other officers are investigating. Soon she’s pulled in when she is given 48 hours to find a missing otter or resign from the force.  With the help of a sly fox named Nick, Judy faces the underworld of mob polar bears and other animals. She and Nick discover that something is turning predators into mad beasts, and the duo must figure out what is causing the change before they can put a stop to it.

This movie is delightfully entertaining, somewhat predictable and delivers a true detective story that in true fashion includes the mob and the requisite nude scene—if you count the animals at Mystic Springs Oasis—a place where animals don’t wear clothes!:) The cutting edge animation, well paced plot and detailed world building make it a must see for families. Warning: There are some dark parts that may be frightening for young children. But have no fear, the good guys win in the end.

Besides being highly entertaining, there are a lot of lessons you can take away from Zootopia.

1. Don’t judge. People shouldn’t be judged by their size or um, species. There had never been a bunny cop before, and everyone laughed at the idea, but Judy turned out to be a pretty slick bunny.
2. Hard work and perseverance pay off. Judy Hopps pushed herself to her own limits and achieved her goal. The question is—Is your dream worth sacrificing other things to pursue it with all you’ve got?
3. Stereotypes are flawed. At the beginning of the story, Judy Hopps appears nothing more than an uptight overachiever and Nick a laid back smooth talker. But as the story unfolds and the characters are developed, we find that they are both much more than that. A person’s past and experiences need taken into account.
4. Individuality is important.  One reviewer calls the movie a “pro diversity” pep rally. Zootopia is made up of a large number of different animals, and while many are the same species, they are individuals. The idea of individuality didn’t start with Disney though, it began with God, who made each person in a unique way and gave him/her the talents and abilities needed to fulfill his/her calling. (Psalm 139:14, Ephesians 2:10) Like Zootopia, God’s family is made up of many different people making up one family.  (1 Corinthians 12)

Additional thoughts:

 The movie goes a bit overboard in preaching tolerance. In matters of race and ethnic diversity, I think we need tolerance and acceptance. We need to avoid judging others by our norm. But in matters of lifestyle and personal choice, each person must live by his or her convictions and value systems. We cannot expect someone who denies the existence of God to follow a biblical lifestyle, but neither can we expect a follow of Jesus Christ to openly accept those who defy his commandments. That being said, neither side has the right to be ugly or hateful.

Summary:

The movie is a LA style detective story with well developed characters, a detailed story world and a well paced plot. On the car ride home it will be the parents, not the children, gushing about what a good movie it was.

Quick Tips: Help for Clutterbugs

If you are new to my blog, I try to post Quick Tips once a week or every other week. But the tips are from experts in the area, so it depends on how many people I find to write them. Quick Tips are short bits of information on different subjects by authors who have written books or are experts on the subject. 

These tips will be practical--the kind you might want to print a copy of, clip on your refrigerator and return to on occasion. And I hope you really do put them on your fridge or somewhere that you can refer back to them.

If the quick tips help you, please leave a comment for the author.  So far we've had these tips(click to read):

Be Smart, Savvy,Strong

Keeping Christmas Simple But Meaningful

Healthy Heart Tips for Football Couch Potatoes

Having a Personal Quiet Time with God in 2016

Keeping Your Mind Sharp

Beating the Winter Blues

Getting Your Preteen or Teen to Read

Friendships that Cross Boundaries
Today's quick tips come from Jeanette Levellie. A spunky pastor’s wife of thirty-plus years, Jeanette Levellie authors a weekly humor/inspirational column, God is Greater, a popular feature in her local newspaper since 2001. She has published stories in Guideposts anthologies, stories in Love is a Verb Devotional with Gary Chapman, articles in Christian and secular magazines, greeting card verses, and poems for calendars. She is also a prolific speaker for both Christian and secular groups, and loves to make people laugh while sharing her love for God and life.

Quick tips:

Help for Clutterbugs

Taking care of clutter is a huge time thief. If you’re serious about de-junking your environment so you can spend more time writing, reading and playing with your family, try these three steps:

• Enlist help from a trusted but objective friend who isn’t as attached to your collection of hair bows from elementary school or scratched Elvis records. Spend a day together de-junking everything that fits into the above three categories.
• Give, give, give to charities, homeless shelters, and thrift stores. Just don’t give it to relatives who are likely to give it back to you, or a second-hand store you frequently shop at.
• Reward yourself after each room, drawer, or box you’ve cleaned out. But not with more stuff! Read a chapter from a novel, look at cute kitten videos on YouTube, or watch a movie. Then revel in how much time you are freeing to engage in activities you love!

Excerpted from Shock the Clock: Time Management for Writers and Other Creatives by Jeanette Levellie

Jeanette is the mother of two grown children, three grandchildren, and servant to four cats. She lives in Paris (not the French one), IL. with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include dining out, talking baby talk to her cats, avoiding housework, reading, and watching old classic movies.

You can connect with Jeanette through her FACEBOOK PAGE or WEB PAGE

Easter Basket Ideas

I'm going to take a minute to promote my books because they can add value to your Easter baskets. Most of them can be found at your local Christian bookstore--Lifeway, Family Christian and others. Try to give them the business if you can, but they are all available on both amazon.com and christian books if not. HERE and HERE.

But first, you might want to include something like this in your child's basket:

Or this version:

Here are some basket ideas:

Check for the books at your local Christian Bookstore. If not order HERE.

Best Movies for African American History Month

February is African American History Month. I know I'm a bit late to the game, but there are some good resources out there. And for those of us who are Caucasian parents raising African American children, Haitian children and other races/ethniticities, having resources available is always a good idea. 

Below is a list of movies. I have not seen all of these, so I am taking the recommendations of other people on some of them. The descriptions are from IMDB, Ted Baehr or online.

The Gabby Douglas Story

The story of the international gymnastics phenomenon who overcame overwhelming odds to become the first African American ever to be named Individual All-Around Champion in the artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Games.

The Preacher's Wife

Reverend Henry Biggs finds that his marriage is flagging due to his constant absence caring for the deprived neighborhood they live in. On top of all this, his church is coming under threat from a property developer. In desperation, Biggs prays for help, and it arrives in the form of an angel named Dudley. My kids like this movie because of the the little boy and his friend who finds his happily ever after with the Biggs family.

Remember the Titans

Based on a true story, Titans depicts the forced integration of an all black high school with an all white school and its impact on football in 1971 Alexandria, Virginia. Faced with the need to unify their team, two coaches, one of them played by Denzel Washington, must help the team to learn that the real victory lies in changed hearts.

Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored

Chronicles the early life of its author Clifton Taulbert. Clifton is encouraged by the Christian faith, love and kinship of his tightly knit "colored" community to overcome the racial intolerance prevalent in the deep South of the 1950s and 60's. 

 42

42 tells what happens when the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team signed the first black player in the Major Leagues, Jackie Robinson, in 1947. 42 is an inspirational, superb movie showing how the Christian faith of both Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson helped end racism in professional baseball. However, there is a fair amount of foul language and some racial epithets, so caution is advised, especially for children.

Driving Miss Daisy

Over 25 year, as the American South changes profoundly, the friendship between a highly independent, eccentric Jewish matron and the stalwart and very patient black widower.

The Lilies of the Field

This wonderful family movie teaches the Gospel in a winsome, entertaining way that’s unsurpassed by most other movies. In the story, a group of German nuns transplanted to Southwest America convince a young black man to help them build a local church. In the meantime, the young man teaches the nuns the joys of Pentecostal Protestant worship focused on Jesus and His Gospel. Both Jesus and the local church are lifted up.

Akeelah and the Bee

Akeelah, an 11-year-old living in South Los Angeles, discovers she has a talent for spellin, which she hopes will take her to the National Spelling Bee. Despite her mother's objection, Akeelah doesn't give up on her goal. She finds help in the form of a mysterious teacher, and along with overwhelming support from her community, Akeelah might just have what it takes to make her dreams come true.

The Princess and the Frog

With a modern twist on a classic tale, this animated comedy is set in the great city of New Orleans. Featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana.

The Color of Friendship

A TV-G rated television film, is a heartening tale of racial tolerance with a very interesting twist. An African American US congressman with an interest in South African politics invites what he thinks is a black South African child into his family home for the summer. However Mahree Bok, the daughter of a South African policeman, is in fact white and it takes a lot of courage for both sides to accept the other. By the time she has to go home, however, Mahree has become an important part of the family and best friends with the Congressman's daughter, Piper. 

Annie (2014 version)

Ever since her parents left her as a baby, Annie has led a hard-knock life with her calculating foster mother. All that changes when mayoral candidate Will Stacks takes her in on the recommendation of his advisers. Stacks believes that he's Annie's guardian angel, but the plucky youngster's confidence and sunny outlook may mean that Annie will save Will instead.

These are all that come to mind. Leave a comment if you have thoughts on these movies or can add any to the list.

Summer Camp: Is Your Child Ready for Camp?

It might seem too early to start thinking about summer camps, but it's not. National camping week is in February, and the parenting magazines have special features about camp. Both of my twins already have their camp plans made. 

One opted for a one week fun Christian camp in Pensacola. The other opted for a no frills five week mission project camp. She's been before, but only for a week. This is the first year she's old enough to go for five weeks.

She's not the first to go. All of my children have gone, some as early as 4 years old. Others as elementary, middle school or high school campers. One went as a leader.

Trinidad high school team

Jeff as a preteen camper

It's not easy!

7-10 year old team

A parent stays with a 4,5, or 6 year old camper. Look how small Jasmine was!

Jessica and Jasmine went to Arizona together. Jessica was a leader, and Jasmine was a camper.

 They might have had a little trouble getting their belongings to their tents.

 All of these pictures are from TMI, which is a good, though tough, program. I don't have pictures of the fun camps.

Is your child ready for camp? Should he go? Only you can decide that. Here are some thoughts on it:

Is Your Child Ready for Summer Camp

     Do you have happy memories of camp -- memories of special friends, singing around a campfire, or learning to swim or sail? You might have played jokes on cabin mates, taken part in impromptu skits, or slept in a tent for the first time. Camp days can leave positive lifetime memories. Unfortunately, they can also leave lasting bad memories when a child goes to camp before he's ready.

     Although some residential camps accept children as young as six, that doesn't mean a six-year-old child is ready to sleep away from home. You are the best judge of whether or not your child is ready for camp. Here are some things to consider:

·         Has your child experienced sleeping away from home before? If you've had to pick him up from a friend's sleep over, he's not ready for an unfamiliar camp. If he's hesitant to spend time at grandma's house, he's not ready. A child should have positive away-from-home experiences before attending a residential camp.

·         Can your child care for his own needs? Does he choose clothes and dress himself? Shower himself? A child should be able to handle his own self-care, eating, and sleeping needs before being away from parents at camp.

·         Is your child really interested in attending camp? Does he ask questions about what he'll do at camp and show enthusiasm toward it? A child should look forward to camp and openly show his interest.

·         Will your child know anyone at camp? If a friend or sibling is attending the same camp, your child may not suffer as much homesickness. If your child is going with an older sibling, coach the older child on how to help the younger child.

·         Does your child enjoy new experiences? Going to new places and making new friends? Does he like to try new foods and new activities? If so, he may come home from camp with a list of addresses for new friends and a whole list of new hobbies.

·         Do you feel confident about your child going to camp? Are you going to spend the week or the summer worrying about your child? If you're feeling uneasy about your child going to camp, he'll sense it and it will make him feel less sure also. Listen to your feelings. They may be telling you to wait a summer.

     If after considering it you don't feel your child is ready to go away to camp, there are other options. Here are some things to consider:

·         Find a local day camp for your child. You can find day camps to fit your child's interest and needs and your budget. Call your local YMCA or Park and Recreation Department. Your child can experience sports, crafts, and new friends in a setting where he feels comfortable.

·         Consider church camp. Your church might have a one week camp for the church kids. Even though he'd be away from home, your child would be with his church friends. The counselors will also be people he knows from church.

·         Attend a family camp. Your whole family can take part in the camping experience. You'll learn new skills and take part in activities together. Family camp will help you bond and share memories.

·         Volunteer to be a counselor or camp worker. Find a camp that can use your help as a counselor, cook, lifeguard, or craft teacher and attend residential camp with your child. Having you nearby will give him the confidence he needs.

     Summer camp can be a lot of fun, but make sure your child is ready before you launch into the world of new experiences away from home. You are the best judge of whether or not your child is ready.