Pumpkin D-I-Y

Picking out the best looking pumpkin in the patch and taking it home to carve has become a Halloween tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. If you have ever taken the time to carve a pumpkin, then you know that it is definitely not as easy as it seems. Cutting the circle around the stem, scooping out the slimy pumpkin guts, and carving a design is a time consuming and not to mention, a messy feat!

It seems like every year, the traditional triangle-eyed, triangle nosed, and tooth-y smiled pumpkin seems to be slowly disappearing.  The carvings on pumpkins get more and more intricate as the years go by. It kind of seems impossible to compete with these multi-layered and 3 dimensional carvings. So, if you’re not the most talented or a pumpkin carving genius, then you’re in luck! Here are few fun and easy alternatives to traditional pumpkin carving:

Sleek and Studded:

 For this edgy and oh so stylish pumpkin you’ll need black matte spray paint and a couple dozen gold and silver studs.

        Tips:

·      Wipe down your pumpkin with a damp paper towel

·      Newspapers! Be sure to lay down a ton of newspapers before you spray paint your pumpkin

·      2-day project! It might be a good idea to spray paint your pumpkins black one day and when they’re dry, or the following day (just to be safe) then add the studs

·      To get the flat-backed studs to attach, I suggest using E-600 or Super Glue

A Little Sparkle Never Hurt:

This super sparkly pumpkin is sure to draw attention when the light hits just right.

           

Tips:

·      Wipe down your pumpkin with a damp paper towel

·      Use Modge Podge or spray paint on your pumpkin as the “glue”

·      OR have your child paint a design on the pumpkin and then sprinkle a lot of glitter onto the wet paint

·      OR spray paint the pumpkin your favorite color, then only add sparkle to the stem

Glowing Goblin:

This pumpkin brings a bright and fun twist to the traditional tea-light glow, and  a great opportunity for kids to get creative

 Tips:

·      Wipe down your pumpkin with a damp paper towel.

·      Use newspapers underneath

·      You’ll need several colors of glow-in-the-dark puffy paint

·      Use painter’s tape to help create fun designs

Sources & Inspiration:

http://www.alittlecraftinyourday.com/2014/10/22/diy-glow-in-the-dark-pumpkins

http://www.cuckoo4design.com/2013/10/studded-chalk-paint-pumpkins.html

http://waitingonmartha.com/diy-pumpkin-prettiness/

http://createandbabble.com/decorating-mini-pumpkins/

~ Sara Luckham

Social Media Specialist

Seaside Staffing Company 

APNA Approved Agencies Blog

Whether it be purchasing a new television or hiring a new Nanny, you want to make sure you’re getting the best. Searching for a Nanny on your own can be a rigorous and stressful process, so using a company like Seaside Staffing Company can help alleviate a lot of the hassle.

APNA stands for the Association of Premiere Nanny Agencies. This association’s mission is to ensure that you will be working with the best of the best in the Nanny industry. In order for a nanny agency to get the stamp of APNA approval, they must go through arduous background searches. APNA even goes to the lengths of creating a personal relationship with the nanny agencies in order to get a better understanding of their company and establish a lasting connection.

When choosing a nanny agency to correspond with, it’s always a good idea to double-check that they are APNA certified. This should give you peace of mind, and allow you to find the nanny of your dreams with ease! 

~ Sara Luckham

Seaside Staffing Company 

Social Media Specialist

Video Games

They come home from school, kick off their tennis shoes, throw their backpack on the kitchen table and run up the stairs as fast as they can to plug into the X-Box. Habits like this may seem harmless, but day after day, kids who spend their afternoons glued to the TV are slowly letting their childhood slip by. Aren’t some of the fondest childhood memories made while playing in the front yard with the neighborhood kids? It is crucial that children are able to have time to develop social connections, and when the video games get in the way, it could place a damper on social skills. If their only interaction is with a controller and TV screen, they will become withdrawn from the world. Sadly, patterns like this make it seem as though video games have become a major part of the daily lives of children today.

So, are videogames actually addicting?

The answer is yes. According to an addiction counselor, when a video game is being played it causes the brain to release endorphins that produce a high similar to that experienced by a drug addict. Addiction is quickly associated with substances, but addiction can also be found within certain behaviors. Kids that suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are found to be at a higher risk for forming an addiction to the games.

A few of the warning signs of an addiction are:

·      Using the video games as an escape from reality

·      Using the video games to change their mood

·      Lying about the amount of time spent gaming

·      Felling symptoms of withdrawal when not playing the games

·      Spending an increased amount of time playing

·      Grades and homework are no longer a priority

The video gaming industry has kids hooked. They can control every aspect of their own virtual world. I guess when Mom said that, “video games will turn your brain to mush,” she wasn’t kidding. Of course, these games are ok in moderation, but when gaming becomes priority, the children are missing out on crucial developmental opportunities.

~Sara Luckham

Social Media Specialist

Seaside Staffing Company

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/video-game-addiction-no-fun

http://www.psychguides.com/guides/video-game-addiction-treatment-program-options/

http://www.video-game-addiction.org/video-game-addiction-treatment.html

"I'm Thankful For..." Craft!

While perusing the Internet today I found this awesome trend of "I'm Thankful For..." garland and creative decorations! This fun and meaningful addition to your Thanksgiving decor can be recreated in any way and reflects the real meaning of Thanksgiving! It is a fun project to complete with your children and the results are just as special and heartfelt. 

Take a look at a few of these examples that I found thanks to a few other sources:

mycakies.com 

thesweetestoccasion.com 

themotherhuddle.com 

Will Santa Bring A Smartphone This Year?

It's that time of year again! Children of all ages, around the world are perfecting and finalizing the most important decisions of the year: their Holiday wish list! They have been taunted all year with "he sees you when you're sleeping" and whether they are asking Santa or their parents for these ever-so-coveted items, there may be one or two controversial things on the list. Based on what I've heard, one of the most asked-for gifts in the younger generations is the ever-polluting smartphone. Parents have to make a huge decision whether or not to grant this wish for their child...but how?? 

I found this wonderful article on Huffington Post that is worth the read if you are considering purchasing your child's first smartphone this holiday season. This article lays out 5 rules to be implemented for the arrival of the newest member of the family...

Read it HERE: The Gift That Keeps on Distracting: 5 Rules for Your Kid's New Smartphone 

How To Stay Connected To Your Child

Maintaining a great relationship with your maturing child is a tricky balance. Struggling with the urges to smother them with love and instead be calm and "cool" can be difficult for parents. However, it is crucial to try. When a relationship is strong, it is also sweet. 

Having and maintaining this connection will also encourage a smoother running household. A child that feels connected to their parents WANTS to cooperate and follow the rules of the home. 

We all flounder at times. There are days when you may not think to go that extra mile and instead stick to the basics, such as packing their lunch, kissing goodbye and asking how their day was. Here are 10 habits that can help strengthen your bond with your children. This blog post was inspired by Aha! Parenting which can be read HERE.  

1. Aim for 12 physical connections a day (hugs, kisses, pats on the back etc.) 

2. Bond through transitions - when your little one wakes up in the morning, have a little 5 minutes snuggle to help the transition from sleeping to waking up. When they arrive home from school, spend a few minutes of sweet time to unwind from the busy school day. 

3. PLAY - laughter is one of the best ways to form a connection! Joke around, chase, dance, sing..."Making playfulness a daily habit also gives your child a chance to work through the anxieties and upsets that otherwise make him feel disconnected -- and more likely to act out." 

4. No technology! - When you are creating a personal connection with your child, do not have the distractions of technology present. "Your child will remember for the rest of his life that he was important enough to his parents that they turned off phones and music to listen to him." 

5. Special time - Carve out 10-15 minutes a day with each one of your children individually, doing something they love to do. You will be amazed how much they will open up when the attention is on them, and ONLY them. 

6. Invite emotion - Welcome the breakdowns, accept the tears and hear them when they cry. Remember, they are comfortable enough with you to release whatever emotions are streaming through them! So listen (and see #7).  

7. Listen! - Fight the urge to comment on everything your child is saying. Let them freely talk and let their minds wander. Listen. 

8.  Slow down and savor the moment - "Share the moment with your child: let him smell the strawberrries before you put them in the smoothie.  Put your hands in the running water together and share the cool rush of the water. Smell his hair. Listen to his laughter. Look him in the eyes. Connect in the magnificence of the present moment. Which is really the only way we can connect."

9. Bedtime - A great way to end the day is with a snuggle and a chat. Recap his favorite moment of the day. Talk about the upcoming weekend. Get him excited for school tomorrow. The next day, make sure to follow up with your previous conversation. You will be amazed what can be learned in 5 minutes. 

10. Be Present - "Your child only has about 900 weeks of childhood to live", be there for them! When you are engaged with your child, live in the moment. Eliminate distractions. You won't be able to do it all the time, but it is a habit to begin forming and will come with no effort before you know it :) 

Beautiful Letter One Mom Wrote To Her Little Boy...

We found this lovely post on Huffington Post from a mother to her little boy. This message can be applied to so many different families, situations and environments. Let kids be kids! Some say that children are conditioned to gravitate toward certain gender cues and association, while this may be true, this mother will not stand for it. She wants her little boy to explore, experiment and do whatever it is that brings him joy! We love this message and what it supports.

See the full post HERE 

I have a little boy... 

A little boy who likes to wear tutus. A little boy who likes to dance. A little boy who loves to paint and a little boy who hums happy tunes all day long.

A comment came. 

A comment too riddled with prejudice for me to repeat. A warning to me to be careful. A warning to not encourage such things or I'll regret it later.

And so to this person I say nothing. For my words to her will change nothing. But to my little boy I say this, for my words can change everything.

I say dance. And not just hip-hop dancing -- wear that blue tutu that you love and twirl and twirl.

I say wear whatever clothes you want. Wear blue because you like blue, not because it's a boys' color. And if you like pink, well, wear pink. And if you want to wear your sister's dress, then heck, go ahead and do that too.

What's that? Well of course you can wear fairy wings. Oh, and a firefighter's hat too? Sure. And you know what? I'll wear one too. And we'll all head out for a walk, dressed in our glad rags, laughing and giggling.

Shall we play with clay today, Mommy? Sure. Shall we add some sparkly beads? Sure. And why not? Are pretty things that sparkle only to be enjoyed by girls?

Do you want to play soccer, Mommy? Sure do, buddy. But let's play it because it brings you joy, not because it's a boys' sport. And maybe after we finish we can go inside and finish that tea party we were playing this morning?

I have a little boy. 

He is a boy. He is a child. He likes to play. He builds blocks and plays house. He plays soccer and dances on tippy-toes. 

He really couldn't care less if he uses a pink toothbrush or a blue one. And neither could I.

And neither should you.

I have a little boy.

Halloween Crafts for Kids!

I just found this website with a TON of fun Halloween craft ideas for kids! Check them out :) 

Bat Crafts (10 crafts)

Cat Crafts (6 crafts)

Ghost Crafts (13 crafts) Lots NEW!

Jack o' Lantern Crafts (21 crafts) Lots NEW!

Monster Crafts (15 crafts)

Skeleton Crafts (9 crafts)

Spider Crafts (8 crafts)

Witch Crafts (11 crafts)