Community Connections: December 2002 Newsletter

The Community Connections Communicator -- December 2002

In this Issue:

The theme of this month's issue is Holiday Time! Check out our suggestions for how to buy the perfect toy, successful travel with your child, and holiday crafts and activities.

	Tip Sheet: 15 Fun Things to do When Your Kids are Stuck Inside!
	Article: Cooking up Some Fun!, by Amy Pottberg

Snowed in with the kids? Head for the kitchen and cook up some fun! Check out this article for information on how to make the most of your cooking experience.

Spotlights of the Month:
Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (K.E.E.N) - Your child is sure to get moving with the free one-on-one recreational opportunities provided by this organization! Click here for more information.

Recommended Websites:
www.verybestkids.com - Check out this website for more fun activities you can do at home with your children. Click here for more information.

15 Fun Things to do When Your Kids are Stuck Inside!

	Read a book
	Make a picture with stamps and/or stickers
	Sing songs and/or dance to your child's favorite music
	Have your child help you cook lunch or prepare a tasty snack
	Build with blocks
	Have your own little pizza or pajama party
	Blow bubbles
	Plant some seeds to create an indoor garden
	Play hide-and-seek
	Make and play with playdoh
	Have a puppet show (use favorite stuffed animals or make your own puppets using paper bags or socks)
	Draw, color, or paint a picture
	Do a puzzle
	Have an indoor picnic on the floor with your child's favorite foods
	Make a collage using old pictures, newspapers, and magazines

Cooking up Some Fun!, by Amy Pottberg

The winter months can be a fun and exciting time for kids, however once the thrill of the holidays and the magic of the first snow has passed, winter boredom can quickly set in. Icy weather and freezing temperatures can keep kids cooped up indoors for hours or even days. Many kids spend this time glued to the television or playing video games. So what can you do on those days when kids are home from school to drag them away from the TV and keep them from going stir crazy? Try cooking!

Cooking is a great multisensory experience you can share with your children. It reinforces many important skills and can be adjusted to fit any ability level. Practice math skills by having children identify numbers in the recipe or count the number of cups they pour in. Work on pre-reading skills by having children identify letters and practice following the recipe from left to right. Motor skills and coordination can be strengthened through pouring and mixing ingredients. Help build independence and increase kid's self-esteem by choosing or adapting recipes that kids can make with minimal adult assistance. Increase oral motor skills by having kids taste what they are making by licking a spoon or their finger.

Have a picky eater? You may be surprised at what kids are willing to eat when they have made it themselves. Your child will be proud of his or her creation and will most likely be excited to try the finished product, even if it contains an objectionable ingredient. But don't expect your child to eat a big bowl of vegetable soup if they've previously refused to eat anything in that food group. Start off by choosing recipes that include lots of things your child likes and a little bit of something new. Even better, give your child a choice of a few different recipes that contain something new. They will be more likely to try something new if they feel they have some control over the matter.

The only question left is, what to make? The choice is up to you and your child, but it's a good idea to choose recipes that can be broken down into several simple steps. If the recipe is too complex or requires too much adult assistance, your child may become frustrated or disinterested. The more things the child can do independently or with minimal assistance the more they are likely to enjoy it. And remember, 'cooking' doesn't necessarily mean you have to cook what you are preparing. For example, try making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or an ice cream sundae. These activities allow for greater independence, minimize potential kitchen hazards (burns from the oven or stove!), and provide instant reinforcement because there is no time spent waiting for the final results because they're ready to eat immediately. There are several children's cookbooks on the market right now that contain simple recipes and step-by-step picture instructions along with the words so children can follow the recipe and 'read' along with you. A few to try are:

Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook for Preschoolers & Up, by Mollie Katzen & Ann L. Henderson

Betty Crocker Kids Cook!, by Betty Crocker

Children's Step-by-Step Cookbook, by Angela Wilkes

These cookbooks can be purchased online or at a local bookstore. You may also be able to find them on the shelves of your nearest library, call ahead to check availability of these or other children's cookbooks. The most important thing to remember is to have fun! Good luck, and happy cooking!

Spotlights of the Month!

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (K.E.E.N)
P.O. Box 341590
Bethesda, MD 20827-1590
Email: info@keen.org
Website: www.keenusa.org
Brief Description:

The Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (K.E.E.N.) Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit, volunteer organization that provides free one-on-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities. Modeled on an innovative program established in England, K.E.E.N. in the United States was launched in 1992.

With the help of volunteers from Washington D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia, K.E.E.N. has served more than 250 children and young adults. These individuals have disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Mental Retardation, and various Developmental Delays. Unlike other recreation programs for individuals with disabilities, K.E.E.N. provides an open, unstructured environment for people with any type of disability, including those with significant needs. For some of the children and young adults who are unable to participate in other programs, K.E.E.N. may be their only recreational activity.

We currently offer training and technical consultation to businesses, churches, and other community organizations to help make them more welcoming to families and children with special needs. If you know of a business or other organization that would like to take advantage of these services, please e-mail us at: communityconnections@umd.edu
OR
If you know of a business that is already welcoming to children with special needs and their families and you would like to share this information with other families and professionals, please send us your name as well as the name and contact information for the business with a brief description of why you believe they are welcoming to families. If appropriate, we will post the business on our website and we may even feature it as a 'Spotlight if the Month'. E-mail your submissions to: communityconnections@umd.edu

Recommended Websites:

www.verybestkids.com
If you're still looking for more activities to do with your children, check out this website! It contains lots of creative and fun activities for you and your kids. There is information on arts & crafts, recipes & cooking, holiday projects, and learning activities. Sign up for their online newsletter to receive monthly updates.

*Questions or Suggestions about our newsletter? Have an idea you would like to submit? Please feel free to contact us at communityconnections@umd.edu

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Disclaimer
Unless otherwise noted, all referenced articles are available at no charge to you. Community Connections provides this for informational purposes only and cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by linked sites. The opinions and views expressed at these web sites do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Community Connections. Any personal information requested by any of the web sites will be governed by the privacy policy at the site, and any questions you have related to the sites' use of information should be directed there. The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to make any offer or commitment to purchase, subscribe to, provide or sell any service or product or to provide any recommendations on which readers should rely.

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