Friday, September 19, 2008

Name the Chick!!!



Well, we got to pick our chicks today! So, I tried to pick one that was active, hoping that means that it will not die in the next week and a half. Anyhow, after we picked them we had to mark them so we could tell which one was ours!

I decided to use my artistic abilities to show you a 'photo' of what you would see if you happened to be standing above my chick. :)









You can't really tell the colors in the drawing. But, the head is green with a blue border. The stripe down it's back is green and the dots are blue, just so you know!

Oh, and after picking one that was active I marked him (most the other chicks hated this part, but mine didn't mind so much) and then it was sleeping in my hands for the next half hour!

I need help naming it. I was thinking I would name it 'Bug' since it looks kind of like a ladybug, but if anyone can come up with something better...

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Menu Planning!!!

This is an idea that I heard a little about in class and decided to create a post!

If you have picky eaters and aren't too keen on catering to them every day (please look at Topic #4 in my Nutrition and Children 101 post), need a way to help your children enjoy their meals, or just want to incorporate your family (old or young) into the planning a little more, this could be fun will help teach your younger children what meals should be made of.


Each week you can come up with 6 main dishes for dinners, 6 main dishes for lunches, 4 or 5 veggie dishes (this can definately be modified to suit your family).

After you have written the lists on separate papers (to help the younger ones see them as being different so that you do not end up with corn, peas and carrots for one meal), let child #1 pick a main dish and veggie that they would want to have for their dinner and then after they have all picked their dinner then let them pick a lunch menue. After this you can print off a simple calendar of the week showing who's meal is when and what you are having. This will also help those learning to read or to tell time by giving them practice! :)

I think this is a great Idea, because the little ones can see their name on a meal and be excited. They also learn that it is okay to have something they might not like today, because tomorrow is their day. However, be careful not to make them eat what they don't like because of the fact that they will have their day (read topics #2 and #5 in my Nutrition and Children 101 post).


If you have ideas that may help, let me know. This is just a work in progress! :)




A quick example:


Main Dishes (Dinner):

Mozzarella Chicken
Roast and Mashed Potatoes
Tacos
Rice and Beans
Tater Tot Casserole
Hawaiian Haystacks
Stew and Rolls



Main Dishes (Lunch):

Maccoroni and Cheese (with tuna or hotdogs in it or on the side)
Ramen (with the veggies they choose in it or on the side)
Grilled Tuna Sandwich
Chicken Nuggets and French fries
Egg Rolls and Rice
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Grilled Cheese with Bean and Bacon or Tomato Soup



Veggies:
Carrots
Peas
Broccoli
Salad
Corn
Celery
String Beans






You can click on this example to see it closer. Don't look too close, I just did it real fast on excel! :)

Nutrition and Children 101

So, this is MY Nutrition and Children 101 (these are My thoughts based upon nutritionist ideas, research, psychological development and my own ideas/experiences.



WARNING: Before I start in on what I think... just know that no one on earth knows your children better than YOU, so use advice sparingly (no matter who it comes from-doctors, nutritionists and mother-in-laws included)!


Nutrition and Children 101

Topic #1: YOU, as the parent and role model, have to be healthy! You cannot eat all sorts of treats throughout the day and then tell your child they cannot have any because they didn't finish their meal/snack/veggies. Try and limit the amounts of sugar and carbs that you eat so that you are able to perform to the best of your abilities throughout the day.



Topic #2: Do not waste your time trying to control what they eat! You only have enough energy to control so much of what your child does throughout his/her childhood. Children know when they are hungry and they know when they are full. Do not make them finish everything that YOU happened to put on their plate. If they are old enough to dish their own plates, let them. If they say they are full and can't finish what they dished up then explain that they may have dished too much and eventually they will get it down. If not, help them to know they can take small amounts and then have seconds later if they are not full after what they have.



Topic #3: Take TIME for your meals! Try to have meals and snacks on a schedule as much as possible. Children like routine things and it makes it easier for you in the long run! Sit down and have good conversations with everyone. Teach your children that eating is enjoyable and that mealtime is a time where they can plan to see everyone and enjoy being as a family.



Topic #4: Picky eaters will learn to not be picky if you are patient enough! If your child only wants a peanut butter and jelly sandwich day after day and will only eat the bread at dinner time it is okay! Usually what they want is not too hard for you to make (if you don't want to cater to each child's individual meals every day go to my Menu Planning post for alternative ideas). If you are able to cater for a time then let that picky child eat peanut butter and jelly while everyone else is eating something else. Eventually the sandwhich is going to get old and they will eat other things. They may lack some nutrients for a while, but their bodies can handle these picky eating bouts...It is not your job to MAKE them eat healthy things! It is your job to provide the food and teach them about healthy eating through words and actions.



Topic #5: Do not use food as a punishment or a reward! Saying things like: "you can have a cookie if you finish your veggies" will possibly make them hate veggies even more. The goal is to get them to enjoy healthy food, not loath it or stuff it down so they will get something else. Another thing is when you tell them they cannot leave the table until they finish their food. If they are not hungry or don't really like what is offered they will begin to dred mealtime (hopefully you can see where I'm going with this topic).



Topic #6: It is okay for children to feel hungry! If your child decides he/she is hungry an hour after a meal let them know how long it will be until the next one (you can be controling in this area because it will save a lot of work for you while your child learns good eating habits. Do not think they need to be fed each time they feel they might want to a snack. This DOES NOT have to do with thirst, however! Water needs to be available at ALL time!


Topic #7: Exercise!!! Help you and your children get exercise each day. This will not only help your children stay fit and healthy, but will actually help their bodies crave food when it is meal time and be excited for nap or sleep each night. Again, routine is GOOD (for them AND YOU)!


The topics that I mentioned above might not sound like fun, but it is very important to get children into good habits while they are young. Some of those things listed above have to do with decreasing eating disorders later in life.



Thursday, September 11, 2008

A New Semester!!!

So, Natalie's question, and the fact that I'm getting pretty excited about the things that I'm learning, made me want to start posting some of the things that I'm learning this semester. Also, if anyone has any questions I could address in a class for another opinion... feel free to ask away!

The classes I am taking at the moment:

1. Principles of Learning - this deals with teaching/learning behavior. I will be training a chicken and rat in this class... possibly using some techniques on a child as well.

2. Research Methods - probably not something you'd be too curious about, but the title is self explanitory.

3. Developmental Psychology - this simply deals with development throughout a lifetime, so probably won't be too in depth since we cover so much.

4. Pregnancy - this doesn't need an explination. I am learning SOOO much!!!

5. Abnormal Psychology - I'm not exactly sure where this will be headed, but so far we've discussed what the word 'abnormal' means. I'm thinking this is definately one of my favorite classes so far though!

and... last, but not least:

6. Nutrition and Young Children - this deals with all sorts of information on how to teach your children about foods and what is or is not appropriate practices. It's very interesting to me and I hope to use it a lot!


Anyhow, those are my classes. I hope you are all having wonderful times this Fall!