Debbie Zimmer is a paint and color expert and the spokesperson for the Paint Quality Institute (http://www.paintquality.com/media-center/media-contact/bio.html) Zimmer urges families to think about the spectrum of colors found in a rainbow. “Red, yellow and orange are warm and welcoming,” Zimmer said. She added, “Red can create excitement and is also known to increase appetite so it may not be the best choice of wall color for a child’s bedroom.” More calming choices, she suggested, are blue, green and even purple because they are all found in our environment.

The impact of color on a child, however, extends beyond the four walls of a bedroom. Alicia Ethen is a mom of 3 and special education teacher who taught in Ohio and Iowa for 10 years. Ethen always incorporated color in her classroom and during instruction time. She believed that information was more visually pleasing and that color encouraged her students to pay attention. She also noted a distinct difference in a child’s ability to organize thoughts when she used color. “I found that many of my students (in special education and general education K-12) who struggled grasping information as quickly as their peers were able to better understand when key parts of activities or steps of math problems were presented in different colors,” Ethen said.  “The colors seemed very effective to help the kids organize and visualize the “smaller parts” of the information instead of only seeing it as a “whole.”

Ethen also found that using color often allowed her students to increase reading fluency.  “I was amazed when I initially offered students the use of colored bookmark filters when reading. They were able to choose from red, blue, or yellow filters (colored pieces of clear plastic the size of a bookmark). Some of the students read through a passage much clearer and better paced than without the filter. These colored filters seemed to consistently allow some students to improve their reading, which helped them to enjoy reading and ultimately increase their self-confidence.”

So, the next time your child announces his favorite color be sure to listen and take note! The impact of color on a child, his mood and ability to perform in school can be extraordinary.

Elizabeth Abrams, BabbaCo Blogger
Writer & Mom of Two

I recently caught up with Natalie Harel-Yakov , a financial advisor with Har-El Financial Group and AXA Advisors, LLC in Northbrook, IL and the mother of 5 (yes 5!!) children. Yakov believes that the earlier parents introduce how money works, the easier it is for children to understand. “The best way to teach a child about the value of money is by experience,” she said. “Have them participate in purchasing small items with amounts they can understand.”

Yakov said that talking about money, saving and earning can help build a foundation for financial literacy when they are older. “Like any values in life, when they are instilled at an early age, they are more likely to maintain them as teenagers and adults. One of the problems with the economy today is that people spend beyond their means. These lessons are not taught in school so it is up to the parent to guide their child,” she said.

When talking with your children, Yakov said to avoid using “baby” words. Instead she suggests using words and concepts like “earning” and “saving” because they can easily be applied to other areas of your child’s life. When you child asks for something that’s beyond the budget, Yakov said to try saying something like, “We need to save for that.”

The discussion of money can offer a unique opportunity to teach beyond the ideas of earing and spending. “Another added value is not only putting a portion away for savings, but also giving a portion to charity,” Yakov remind parents. “This will demonstrate why it is good to give back and not just take. It’s important that we, as parents, are seen as role models and that we teach not only good physical habits, but good fiscal habits as well!”

Natalie Harel-Yakov is a financial advisor with Har-El Financial Group and AXA Advisors, LLC in Northbrook, IL. She is also the mother of 5 and the founder of mom4profit. For more information, visit her website at www.harelfinancial.com.

Elizabeth Abrams, BabbaCo Blogger
Writer & Mom of Two ]]> http://www.babbaco.com/blog/behind-the-babbabox/making-sense-of-a-dollar/feed/ 0 http://www.babbaco.com/blog/behind-the-babbabox/be-the-coach/ http://www.babbaco.com/blog/behind-the-babbabox/be-the-coach/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:41:58 +0000 BabbaCo Blog http://www.babbaco.com/blog/?p=5589 READ MORE]]>

An interview with Kimberley Clayton Blaine, aka The-Go-To-Mom
By: Elizabeth Abrams

We’ve all been there. The scene at the park on a beautiful day when your preschooler, who moments ago was animated and angelic, has now morphed into a screaming, crying sweaty mess all because you said it was time to go home. As you pry your little guy from the sandbox, you are pleading with your child to stop. You might offer bribes or suggest other distractions but really you just wish the wailing would end. Sigh.

Now that my eldest daughter is in Kindergarten, I am learning that these dramatic meltdowns, while exhausting and slightly embarrassing, are really just the beginning. The first year of elementary school has brought my daughter new friends, new experiences, and much to my delight, great joy. She is becoming more self-aware of her own accomplishments, as well as the achievements of her classmates, which means we are starting to see the beginning of competition in the classroom and beyond.

As toddlerhood tantrums give way to the complex emotions of early childhood, there are times when I find myself as confounded as I did during those tricky terrible twos. Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT, is the executive producer of www.TheGoToMom.TVwebseries and the author of The Go-To Mom’s Parents’ Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children. Blaine is a teacher, advocate and practitioner of emotion coaching—a powerful idea that teaches children to recognize their feelings and understand that all emotions are ok. Blaine says teaching children that appropriate emotional expression is acceptable allows them to feel in control. Ultimately, she says, families who emotion coach notice that their children perform better in school, are self-confident and physically healthy. Blaine offers the following 10 steps to begin the process of emotion coaching in your family (hey–we told you she’s The-Go-To-Mom!).

(1) Know and respect your child. They each have their own personality, character, and temperament. This is not a one-size fits all approach.

(2) Know your child’s developmental stage to avoid setting unrealistic or inappropriate expectations.

(3) Watch carefully for any emotions your child is trying to express and use challenging moments as a time to get to know your child better.

(4) Create an atmosphere of empathy and support for all of your child’s emotions.

(5) Share responsibility for emotion-based behavior while setting limits.

(6) Encourage internal motivation to change behavior.

(7) Model good behavior by thinking before you act.

(8) Avoid denying, discounting or minimizing your child’s feelings.

(9) Build your child’s emotional vocabulary by listening to them and describing what you see.

(10) To encourage cooperation, prepare your child in advance of what is expected.

Blaine reminds parents that emotion coaching takes time and diligence. “It’s not a strategy you can apply to misbehavior. It’s a way of life and can change life for the better for the entire family.”

Hi everyone! We’re SO thrilled that you decided to join the BabbaCo community and try the BabbaBox. I personally wanted to welcome you through this video! Your first BabbaBox theme is Sun, Moon & Stars. After that, you’ll get the themes that our whole community gets. It’s somewhat of a surprise each month and you’ll get sneak peeks in our newsletter before you get each box!

BabbaLove,

The truth, though, is that sometimes I worry. The term “best friend” is a tricky one. I’m so glad that Maddie’s mom, who is one of the best friends I could ask for, feels the same way. But what does that mean for our girls?

Judy Freedman is a social worker and author of the book and program, Easing the Teasing (http://www.easingtheteasing.com/). Freedman said as moms, we should be pleased that our girls are focused on being the best friends they can beto each other.Freedman said she believes best friend troubles begin when children become possessive of one another, are not able to socialize without the other or don’t include other friends in their play.

Whether it’s a mother’s intuition or our own experiences as children, Maddie’s mom and I are acutely aware of these important signs. Our girls discovered the special friend in one another on their own, but it’s a relationship their parents have helped nurture. Their friendship is honest and filled with enthusiasm and love.

Freedman said there is great power in having a true best friend. “The positive experiences in their friendship can serve to build additional positive friendships and serve as a wonderful model to their peers and classmates.”

For these little girls, this special friendship has done just that…and so much more.

By Elizabeth Abrams, BabbaCo Blogger
Writer & Mom of Two

This month’s theme: RAINBOWS

Isn’t there something just so magical about seeing a rainbow grace the sky? Rainbows are one of the world’s wonders that are a great way to explore the aspects of light. For this month’s BabbaBox, let’s delve into the science of rainbows – and revel in their beauty! The gorgeous colors and fascinating facts in this BabbaBox are going to “light up your world”.

BabbaLove,

Today is National Sibling Day! It’s a day when we celebrate our partners in driving mom and dad nuts…our best friends…and the ones who will always have your back. When I was pregnant with Grant (baby #2), I remember hoping for a girl because I wanted Kayla to have a sister who she was super close to.

I thought being the same gender would make them automatically closer. Then, I’ll never forget what my dad told me. He said, “it’s not the gender that makes them close, it’s how YOU as a parent foster that sibling love between them”. (Of course, my super psychiatrist dad would always makes me think intentionally about things like that.) I thought about it a lot as I prepped for the arrival of Grant.

Kayla is now 5 years old and Grant is 2. They are as close as can be.

How do we as parents foster the love between our kids?

Here are some key things that Peter and I did intentionally to foster their love.

- Sibling Gifts: When Grant was first born, we let Kayla pick out a stuffed animal to “gift” to Grant. She wrapped it, named it, and made her really feel like SHE was the one gifting it to him. There is something about giving a gift that makes you feel love for the recipient. We also had Grant “gift” Kayla something that was very specific to what she loves. So, it was the first start of establishing their relationship.

- “Noonah” in Korean means “big sister”. We had Grant call Kayla “Noonah” from day one and that is all he calls her now. There is something special to a meaningful nickname between siblings to creates a special bond that they don’t share with others.

- “Give one to Noonah”. We also make them “give” and share things with the other. If Grant asks for a pretzel, we give him one and then tell him to give another pretzel to Kayla. When he does, we praise him and make him feel like it was his idea to do so. Now, he literally gives the first of whatever he gets to Kayla and then takes the second for himself. (Not if it’s candy though. hehe)

- Team GK! Treat them as a team together as much as possible. Make them high five, hug, and chest bump! They’ll get the sense really quickly that they are on the same team.

Happy Sibling Day!

Reason Why It’s Our Pick: Perfect way to capture your child’s wild imagination!

Place Where to Get It: Children’s specialty shop, bookstore or http://www.creativityforkids.com

Price Point: $19.99

Personal Testimonial: Sometimes when I hear my daughter completely wrapped up in a make believe world, I marvel at the places and stories she creates. There seems to be no end to where her imagination can take her.

That’s why she was wide-eyed and completely thrilled to receive the Create Your Own Enchanted Storybook as a 5th birthday present last year.  Complete with markers, glitter and rhinestones, this adorable castle shaped book is filled with blank pages for your budding author to fill-in.  My daughter created the story, I wrote it and we still read it all the time (I mean ALL the time).  It’s perfectly imperfect and yet impressively told.  She carefully wrote her name in the author section and proudly glued a photo of herself on the front cover.

This storybook is my daughter’s proud masterpiece and a priceless keepsake for me. Check it out here!

CREATE

Your family is egg-ceptional right?  (sorry we can’t help ourselves). Using markers and some yarn, try creating an egg head family like this [via parents.com]:

Credit: Parents.com

Aren’t your kids sweet enough?  Easter baskets don’t have to be filled with standard sweets and candies. Why not pack a health-conscious basket instead? Here are some healthy Easter basket ideas that your kids (and their dentist) will still love [via SuperKids Nutrition].

EXPLORE

Happy hunting! There are lots of cute ideas for Easter egg hunts, including Hidden Easter Basket Clues or a Treasure Map Egg Hunt: 15 Easter Egg Hunt Ideas

Credit: OneofaKindGift Ideas

Seriously fun — have the Easter Bunny create a trail of jelly beans that will lead your children to their Easter basket! Jelly Bean Trail via FamilyFun.Go.Com

Credit: FamilyFun.Go.Com

STORYTELL

Tell your kids about your favorite Easter memory from when you were a kid. If you have pictures or even videos be sure to share those too!

CONNECT

It’s not too late to grab some friends and have an egg decorating party!  Here are some ideas to get started: Easter Egg Decorating Party

Credit: Celebrations.com

Enjoy the day and don’t stress about the meal!  Great “make-ahead” ideas from the master Martha Stewart. It includes an easy menu of smoky ham, spinach quiches, and lemon cake.

Credit: MarthaStewart.com