One of the most important aspects of your child’s healthy life is having a routine. In that routine, one of the most crucial parts is sleep. A child who is lacking sleep will have a low attention span and tends to show hyperactivity; thus they will not perform at 100%. While preparing for my teaching career in college, I learned that many children who have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD are really just simply sleep deprived!

Other issues seen with children who are lacking sleep are being forgetful, being grumpy, and not listening. So, you may ask, “How can I help my child get better sleep?” While I definitely don’t claim to be an expert, I do have some suggestions that may help you and your child get into a better sleep routine.

1. Make the bedtime routine the same every night. Our bedtime routine goes something like this:

-bathtime
-teeth brushing
-pajama dressing
-storytime
-prayers
-sleep

2. Stick to the same bedtime every night. Of course special events may happen that throws everything off, but on normal evenings, try to get the routine started at the same time.

3. Make sure your child’s room is conductive to sleep. You want it dark and as distraction free as possible. For instance, putting your child to sleep in the living room in front of the TV is not a healthy habit.

4. Encourage your child to fall asleep on their own. While I am a big believer in doing what works for you and your child, children do need to learn to “lull” themselves to sleep. You don’t want to make them dependent on you to be put to sleep (example: being rocked to sleep) as this is a hard habit to break and may lead to sleep issues later in life.

It is also important to make sure your child is getting enough sleep. The amount they need varies depending on age. You can find the recommendations HERE. Children who get adequate amounts of sleep are happier, more cooperative, and overall, just more healthy.

Sharon is a wife, mother, and certified elementary school teacher. She blogs at Momondealz where her goal is to help you conquer your budget, one deal at a time.
 
Photo credit: Bensonsforbeds

We love our children and want them to be healthy. We work to cook and serve meals that are well rounded and good for them. Then we sit down as a family to eat dinner and our children refuse to eat their vegetables. Won’t even open their mouths to try them. Argh, I have felt that frustration, more than once.

Instead of throwing in the towel, rethinking the situation can give us some hope with those vegetable battles.

Remember…..

Part of your child’s job description is to not like vegetables.

Just because your child doesn’t love veggies doesn’t mean you are a bad mom. I can’t get my husband to eat olives or pickles, that doesn’t make me a bad wife.

Children have to be exposed to a food approximately 10 times before they will accept it. What ever you do, don’t stop offering the vegetables.

Naturally we all want to make our own decisions. Put yourself in your little one’s shoes. Children are told when to go to sleep, when and what to eat, what they will wear, what to say, “say dog, say please, say thank you.” They get to make very few choices in their lives. This makes them fell slightly trapped. The same way we feel when we are told what to do.

One of the best things you can do when it comes to veggies is to give children a choice.

Give your children two different veggie options at meals. One option makes them feel forced, two options gives them a choice. By giving choice children, just like adults, they feel like they are in control and in charge, instead of being told what to do. By making our own choices, even if they are small, we feel ownership and responsibility. No longer are you telling them what to eat. Instead they are choosing what to put in their mouths. By giving them choice when they are little, it will help them gain trust in you. It will strengthen your communication and help you better learn about your child’s preferences and how to deal with them.

Note: this does not mean that as your child gets older you should turn into a short order cook, making them a “special dinner,” different from what the rest of the family is eating.

If your child is obstinate, throws their veggies, or fights with you at the table about eating them, explain that their actions are not acceptable. Then, ask your child to use “words” to tell you if they don’t like something. When they tell you they don’t want the vegetables, respect them, and thank them for talking to you instead of throwing a fit. Take the food they don’t want away, and move on. As they feel that you are listening to them and respecting their opinions, they will start to come your way, maybe even try the veggies they once rejected. Remember, when all is said and done, you are still the parent, and you are still in charge. Giving them choice, doesn’t mean we are giving them ultimate control.

What you don’t want to do is let this ruin your family dinner experience. We are trying to create memories and rituals that hopefully stay with our families long after the “veggie war” is over. Make dinner fun and enjoyable for everyone. If your children know that every time you sit down to eat there is going to be stress over the food, they will naturally not want to be there, at least not with a pleasant attitude. 1 carrot is not worth it. Don’t let this battle get you worked up, frustrated, or loose your temper. We can’t let our mother’s pride overshadow our love for our children.

We have fought this battle in our home. Our son is willing to try every vegetable there is, our daughter, not even close. Wouldn’t even open her mouth. It has taken time, but the more respect I show her, the more she is willing to try new things. The more I listen to her opinion and honor that opinion, the more she is willing to try new things. The more I give her choices so that she feels like she has control, the more she is willing to try new things. She is five. It has taken time and a lot of patience.

As parents it is easy to get so caught up in trying to do “the right thing for our children” that we miss the fact that they are people just like us, with thoughts and feelings and preferences.

In my mind (and sometimes out loud), I say things like, “I worked hard to cook this for you, now eat it”, or “I am trying to be a good parent and help you grow healthy and strong, now eat it.” Or, when we are with other people I worry that they will think of me as a bad parent if my kids refuse to try their vegetables.

I have had to throw those thoughts out the window.

Respect your children’s opinions and they will respect you. DON’T GIVE UP. Allowing choices doesn’t mean your kids have won. It means you really love them and treat them as you would want to be treated.

More Suggestions…

Try veggies in all different forms. Raw, cooked, add some butter, salt, pepper, even a little ranch dressing could change things. Most kids will eat anything with “dip dip sauce.” There is nothing wrong with spicing things up a bit. After all, most adults don’t even eat vegetables without “something” on them.

Use all the tricks, dice veggies up very small and add them to your hamburger meat, your spaghetti, on pizza, anything. Find ways to hide veggies in your kids favorite food.

Try every vegetable you can get your hands on. Think outside carrots and peas. When our daughter was two she would only eat raw zucchini. Who would have thought.

Let your kids help you cook. Get them involved in every step.

Grow some vegetables, teach your kids as you go and they they will want to taste what they have grown.

A favorite in our house. I add small pieces of cooked carrots and peas to my children’s cheese quesadillas. Cook up a few carrots until they are nice and soft. Slice them very thin and layer them with the canned peas, amongst the cheese.

You can also slice cooked carrots up and put them in grilled cheese. You can’t even see them. Yum.

Take broccoli and carrots and mix them into pasta sauce. The sauce will hide the veggies and add a sweet aspect. Use multi colored pasta and the veggies will really be hidden. Kids love it.

Don’t underestimate Teriyaki Sauce. It makes anything taste good.

If , for nutritional reasons you are still concerned. Be sure your children are taking a vitamin each day. Along with that, make them a smoothie each day with vegetables mixed in. Add some fruit, ice, a little yogurt and your choice of vegetables. They will love it and never know that they are eating spinach and carrots from dinner the night before. The goal is to find the vegetables they like and work with it. Fruit and vegetable juices like V8 can also help provide the missing nutrients.

Getting your kids to eat healthy can be very frustrating. Be creative, don’t quit and stay calm, and eventually, you will see improvements.

Heather is the author of Family Volley, where she answers your questions about parenting, motherhood, relationships and everything in between. Family Volley is funny, helpful and fantastic. Heather is a homemaker, wife, and mother of 3 young children. On the side she is a professor at Brigham Young University where she teaches Family Psychology. Every Friday she posts a new, fun activity you can do with your family.

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR KIDS TO EAT THEIR VEGGIES?

Want to know what baby items I think you can live without?  Head over to Mom on Dealz and read my guest post for the Bringing Home Baby Event.

Lots of giveaways to enter while you’re there too.

September is looming near.  You’ve already started watching the school supply sales, but it’s also time to start preparing your child for heading back to school.  If your household is like mine, the rules get more slack in the summer.  Bedtime is pushed back, the kids are used to playing all day, spending more time with friends and family, and generally just getting to have fun!  I’m still relatively new at the whole school experience but here are a few things I’ve learned:

1.  Routines:  Getting your child back into a routine is essential.  A major issue seems to be a change in sleep schedule during the summer.  You may be out and about later and lets face it, the sun is out longer too.  Start thinking about the appropriate bedtime for your child when the school year starts.  I’ve read different opinions on when to adjust the sleep schedule.  Some people say 1 month in advance and others say 1 week.  My personal preference is about 2 weeks before school starts. Try changing the bedtime by 10-15 minutes each night to ease the child back into a sleep routine.

2.  Get Ready:  I mentioned a couple weeks ago that you can get supplies for less by not being brand specific and thinking about practicality.  However, I do think it is important to get some items that make your child excited to go back to school.  Maybe your daughter’s favorite color is pink. You can pick up pink folders and pencil case or get a Hello Kitty water bottle (hmm, I wonder where that idea came from).  Older kids may benefit from getting the “in” item to start off the school year.  I liked wearing a new outfit the first day.  Find out what would make your child excited about returning to school, within the budget.

3.  Meet the teacher:  I can’t tell you how important this has been for my kids.  Getting to know the teacher in advance helps to eliminate some of the stress from not knowing what to expect.  I recommend that you try to go on the scheduled day for your class, so your child gets to meet some of the other students.  Also, make sure to tour the school if it’s your child’s first year.  Last year, Monekeyboys school offered a school bus tour for the kindergartners.  Finally, start riding the bus the first day if that will be your child’s transportation for the year.  You don’t want your child jumping on after the first week and the kids have already picked out their seats.

4.  Talk, Talk, Talk:  Talk to your child about what to expect.  If you’ve met the teacher and other students you can make the discussion more personal.  Remember to keep it positive.  If you’re nervous about the new school year, your child will pick up on that.  Just don’t go overboard.  Try to find a balance between preparing your child and making them want to run in the other direction when they see you coming!

5.  Get organized:  Before school begins, make sure you have all the required supplies and necessities together.  You don’t want to be out the day before looking for supplies or clothes last minute.  Also, early departure means a rush in my house on weekdays.  I lay out the kids clothes, pack lunches, and make sure the backpack is ready the night before.  If everything is ready to go, hopefully you can eliminate a morning battle.

6.  Preschool Age:  If your child is just starting preschool or has never been to school, be prepared for separation anxiety.  Monkeyboy had a horrible time when he started pre-k.  He was used to being home with me for two years.  It took a month of crying for him to adjust.  LuLu, on the other hand, was easy.  She was used to being left at the Y, so she was more adjusted to leaving me for short periods.  She was nervous and a little clingy but it wasn’t a full fledged meltdown like my first born.  Consider having non-family look after your child now, so they learn that mommy will be back.

I’d love to hear your ideas.  I know I still have a lot to learn, especially for my 1st grader. *Sign*

This post is linked to Madame Deals, My Coupon Teacher, Melissa’s Bargain Blog, and Life as Mom

Yahoo released an article written by Allyou.com showcasing “The Best Months to Shop for Deals”.  The article breaks down bargains by month and gives a shopping tip for making the most out of the deals.

You’ll notice that August is the best time for fall fashions, school supplies, computers, air conditioning, yard equipment, and camping equipment.  The only thing that I’ve found that varies from this list is swimwear.  I buy on clearance in August (not June) and get great deals.  The selection isn’t as great but the discounts are better, in my area anyways.

Remember Frozen Food Month in March and Dairy Month in June? They’re on the list too.

Read the full article HERE

Thanks, Mom on Dealz!

Stace over at The Coupon Queens of Hampton Roads just wrote up a detailed post about Pantry Moths.  I must admit that I had no idea what a Pantry Moth was.  I have never fallen victim to those vicious little creatures that ruin our food (knock on wood).  After reading Stace’s post I’m a little fearful for my poor defenseless stockpile that I have so painstakingly acquired.

But never fear!  Stace has not only given you detailed instructions on how to destroy the pesky little buggers, but signs to watch out for and ways to help protect your stockpile from attack.  I realize now that my unprotected bags of  flour and baking soda are just the type of environments Pantry Moths love.  I think I need to invest in sealed containers for at least my baking and oatmeal items.  Those seem to be the most susceptible to invasion.   I’ll just cross my fingers and hope for the best for the 25 boxes of unopened cereal in the pantry.

Head over HERE to read Stace’s post.  Just resist the urge to immediately run out and spend $200 on Tupperware 🙂  That was my first thought…

Thanks for sharing Stace!