ML Interest Tag: think

Even Science Agrees the Youngest Sibling Is the Funniest

by Shahrzad Warkentin

If your youngest is the funniest sibling, you’re not alone

Is your youngest child always the one that makes you laugh or sends her siblings into a fit of giggles? Research may have just proved you right—a new survey of siblings and family members revealed that the funniest siblings are typically the youngest ones.

According to a survey conducted by British pollster YouGov, youngest siblings are most likely to believe that they are the funniest members of their families. Forty-six percent of younger siblings answered that they think they are the funniest versus just 36 percent of oldest siblings.

The study, which included 1,783 adult siblings who were asked to assess their personality traits based on their birth order, revealed some interesting insight into how birth order can impact a person as they become an adult.

“Splitting out the first and last born siblings in British families with more than one child (86% of the population), a clear divide in personality traits emerges,” a YouGov writer said about the findings. “The most significant difference is in feeling the burden of responsibility – most (54%) first borns say they are more responsible than their siblings, compared to 31% of last borns.”

YouGov continued, “To some extent age itself, rather than family dynamics, may be responsible for the differing characteristics. Older children, having had more time to get on in life, are more likely to say they are more successful than their siblings. But undoubtedly there are family forces at work – parental attention soon shifts onto new arrivals, and firstborns may have to learn the ropes themselves. As evidence, elder siblings are more likely to feel more organized and able to prioritize their own lives. Likewise, younger siblings are more likely to feel more favored by their parents.”

A few other things the survey uncovered include:

  • 54 percent of oldest siblings feel more organized than their younger brothers and sisters.
  • 47 percent of youngest siblings see themselves as “easy-going,” compared to 42 percent of older siblings.
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Mystery Road Trips Are Perfect for All Kinds of Families—Even Yours

By Joan Lowell

Who doesn’t love a surprise? Good ones, I mean. Kids love fun surprises and our family has a great tradition I want to share with you. We call them Mystery Rides. Adults, sometimes with the help of older kids, plan a fun place to take the kids. The mystery? Don’t tell the kids where they are going.

Make it a Mystery Ride!

Our family can thank my dad’s sister, Barbara, for all of it. She has been taking individual members of the family for Mystery Rides for as long as I can remember. In fact, one time, she took the entire family, which filled a large school bus, for a hike and picnic. My kids have great memories of family time thanks to those rides.

Our rides have rules, well, guidelines. It makes for more fun, engages the entire family, makes the best memories, encourages thinking and even builds a sense of direction. I could go on about all the life skills or educational benefits, but I will get on with the rules (no electronics is a must). Here are the basics. The rest is up to you and your imagination.

Choose kid-friendly locations.
Nobody thinks a ride to get the oil changed is fun. Rides to do everyday errands are not good mysteries. Think zoo, park, trip to Grandma’s house (if that would be a big deal). I will share some of our faves later.

Choose free or low-cost venues. 
You will be surprised at what you can find within driving distance that costs little or nothing. Not everything is free, but look for coupons or discounts, check online for specials or family events. You don’t always have to go free, but if you’re like me and have literally half a dozen kids, you’re frugal.

Choose locations that build on your kids’ interests and hobbies.
Then choose ones that none of you would ever do. Enrich when possible, then think outside the box and try something totally out of your comfort zone. Auntie Barbara once took my Gram to see cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and if you knew my Gram, that was outside the box! Inspiration could strike anytime, any place.

Kids can ask questions to get hints during the ride.
But our family only allows yes-no questions, so parents give tiny bits of information. Here are some examples: Have we been here before? Is it a public place? Is it a private home? Will we look at objects or people? Will we touch or make something? Kids, even the youngest ones, can get really creative with their thinking and questioning.

Hints may come before leaving home.
depending on your destination, it might come in the form of telling kids what to wear. For example, if you’re going to a park to hike and have a picnic, kids need to wear proper footwear and you might need to pack food. Here is where you make use of your spouse, a discreet older sibling, or another adult helper.

Bring a friend or another whole family.
The more the merrier, really! If you have room in your car, take a friend along. If not, invite the entire family to join in the fun in their own car!

Don’t give it away.
The idea of the mystery ride is, you guessed it, a mystery. It is to build suspense and engage the family in a common task. As the kids ask questions and you answer, one might actually guess your destination. As much as possible, don’t show it, unless you’ve arrived, or you are prepared to give instructions on what to expect and so on.

Obviously, some Mystery Rides work out better than others. If you repeat a ride, that can flop, unless they love it. If you can afford it, make one a family vacation or even a short weekend away. That would be cool, but most of ours are day trips to places we haven’t been before.

Local fairs, seasonal events and places where kids can touch and do are more successful than places kids just watch a show of some sort, at least in my experience. Overall, food destinations have been duds for us, but every family is different. That is the beauty of the Mystery Ride.

Here are my kids’ top few favorite destinations over the years:

  • Local school playground near our house (not their school)
  • Roger Williams Park Zoo (you can feed giraffes or sea lions!)
  • Paint Night (where an instructor does one and you each do your own)
  • Hiking at cliffs nearby our home

Can’t wait for you to try it out with your crew.

Go Au Pair representative, cultural childcare advocate, Mom to six great kids, I earned my BS at RI College and MEd at Providence College. My hats: educator, tutor and writer of local blog for Go Au Pair families and Au Pairs. Baking, gardening, reading and relaxing on the porch are hobbies.

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How to Craft with Kids (without Losing Your Mind)

By Dani W.

Hey Mamas (and of course Papas) out there!

Let’s talk about crafting with your kiddos.

I know, as parents, we always like non-screen activities for our kids. And one of the best ways to do that is to help them with simple arts and crafts!

However, you may be thinking, “UGH. What a mess it will make.” Or, “I’m sure they’ll fight with each other while sitting at the table together.” Or “I wonder if I have all the supplies I need?” And, “How can I help all of them at once?”

And if you are thinking these things, let me tell ya, I’m right there with you!

However, there are a few simple ways to make crafting with your kiddos a bit easier, and a more calm, enjoyable experience.

1. Plan the Craft Ahead of Time

So, if you’re like me, I’m not a big planner by any stretch of the imagination. I watch in envy as organized people get things done calmly and perfectly.

However, I do try to hone these organizational skills at least a little. One way you can do this with crafts for kids is to plan ahead. And by this, I mean, pick maybe 2 or 3 crafts to do with your kids for the week. Pinterest is a great place to research easy crafts.

Then look at the supply list which is usually provided in the instructions, and make sure you have all the materials you need. And if you don’t just add them to your supermarket list for when you go out next time. Or order from Amazon! Hey, even easier, head to your neighbor’s house and see if they have some supplies to share.

Just be sure to have all your supplies handy and ready to make your crafts for the week.

2. Set Up Your Craft Area

Next, it’s time to set up your craft area. You could choose a space on your countertop, dining room table or some people even have rooms dedicated for crafts.

Just clear off the area you are going to use, mine is usually the dining room table. Stuff somehow, every day, every minute, every hour, gets accumulated on there. So the first thing I do is to clear off the stuff that’s somehow piled up on there. Must be gremlins or something.

Then, once you have a clear surface to work on, set up a designated station for each of your kids. Place all the supplies out that they will be using, in the order that they will most likely be using them in. This is so they have their own station with supplies to use, and they’re not fighting over each other’s stuff. I tell mine if a dirty, stinky old sock was on the ground and one wanted it, then the other ones would insist on having it too! ;)

So set up those nice, neat craft stations—just don’t expect them to stay neat for long.

3. Enlist a Craft Helper

Ok, so it really is nice to have another adult on hand to help, especially if you have multiple, preschool-age children. So if grandma is coming to visit maybe plan the craft for that day.

Or, if it’s a more in-depth activity, maybe plan it on a weekend when your partner may be there to help out.

However, if there are no other adults available, I have my older children help a younger one. They may not be thrilled but it will be a good experience for them, teaches them about helping others, am I right?

Also sometimes if I explain the craft or experiment before starting, then the older kids can complete it independently. This allows me the freedom to help the younger ones. And don’t worry, once they get into a “craft routine” the process will go much more smoothly!

4. Expect a Mess

Ok, parents, so this is where we lower our expectations. Those beautifully staged photos of kids doing crafts, laughing merrily, clean and well-dressed, with their mom standing over them smiling happily and calmly helping? Well, let’s face it, that’s (usually) not the way it works.

Mine are usually completely covered with paint or glue, the table is also strewn with the same sorts of materials. So make sure if it’s a messy project, to put some newspaper or plastic table cloth down to protect your surface. Make sure they are dressed in old play clothes too.

An easy-to-clean rug or hardwood or tile floor under your workstation helps too because some of the craft and activity supplies are bound to sneak their way to the edge of the table and fall onto the floor.

Remember, it’s easy to be annoyed by messes but it really doesn’t take all that long to clean up. Don’t forget to get the kids involved in the clean-up process as well!

Crafting with Kids

Have I convinced you to check Pinterest for craft ideas, gather your kids up and get your crafting supplies out yet?

I certainly hope so!

And remember it’s ok to lose your mind sometimes…just as long as you find it again. ;)

But, in all seriousness, I hope these steps will help make the crafting and activity process a little easier for both you and your little ones

Have fun, and as I’m sure you’ve heard before…time goes by fast and they’re only little for such a short amount of time. So make the most of it!

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Hey there! I'm a wife, mom, homebody and lover of all things home and family. I'm also the author of the blog Dappled Skies and Diys. Over on the blog I share simple DIY projects, kids' crafts and activities, and gardening tips along with a few mom-life stories for fun!

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How Scheduling “Worry Time” Can Help Combat Anxiety in Kids

By Sally Baird

Childhood worry seems to be rising as rapidly as COVID-19 cases. More and more children are acting fearful, having trouble sleeping, doing poorly in school, and showing physical symptoms. Does this sound like your child? What if you have you tried everything, but your child is still anxious? What if you already made the Worry Box as described in this article on Tinybeans.com and your child’s Worry Box is overflowing with worries? If so, I have the perfect strategy for you to try called, “Worry Time.”

Like the Worry Box, this technique is so simple and so effective that it should be in every parent’s toolbox. Both the Worry Box and Worry Time strategies are forms of containment or ways to contain worries in both physical space and time. Like the strategies in the book “Shrinking the Worry Monster,” they come from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a highly regarded form of anxiety intervention. A fuller description of CBT and containment is in the above-mentioned Worry Box article.

Thinking versus Worrying

First, let’s look at the difference between thinking versus worrying. Thinking is a good thing. It can involve reflecting, reasoning, and problem-solving. It can lead to purposeful action which allows the mind to move on.

In contrast, worrying is problem solving gone amiss. What starts out as a concern, can turn into an unhealthy obsession of unresolvable problems. Most chronic worriers believe they cannot control their anxious thoughts. It is as if worriers are caught in a downward spiral where an anxious thought arises, the problem seems unsolvable, and then physical symptoms of anxiety take over. This pattern repeats over and over. It is so emotionally painful that people try anything to avoid the worry thoughts, but that usually doesn’t work. Just look at a picture of a purple cat and then tell yourself that you will not think about that cat for one minute. Chances are you will think about that cat the entire minute.

The good news is that anyone can learn to control how and when to worry. It takes using good, research-based strategies and practice. My favorite tools come from CBT and include talking back to the worry, containing the worry in a “Worry Box,” and using “Worry Time.” The last two strategies contain worries so they aren’t just running amok in the brain 24/7.

Steps for Scheduling Worry Time

The goal for Worry Time is not to stop worries, but to reduce the time spent on the anxious thoughts. The steps are a template for training your child to contain his worries within 15-20 minutes a day. Of course, it will take regular practice, but it is a very achievable goal.

Step 1: Schedule Worry Time

Set up a daily Worry Time where you will listen to your child talk about his worries for 15-20 minutes. Worry Time should be the same uninterrupted time everyday, but not 1-2 hours before bedtime. Late afternoon is often a good time.

Step 2: Explain Worry Time to Your Child

Tell your child that you and he are going to start having a special time together called Worry Time. It will happen from 4:00 to 4:20 (let’s say) and he gets to tell you everything about his worries. You will listen closely, but this is his time to talk. You may not say that any of his worries are silly, but instead you will mostly accept what he has to say. When Worry Time is over (maybe you set a timer), tell your child that you really appreciate all the concerns he has told you and you look forward to Worry Time tomorrow.

Step 3: Teach the One Rule

Teach him that there is only one rule with Worry Time. You will not listen to his worries when it is not Worry Time. You know this will be hard, but you will give him other things to do with his worries. His worries will become smaller because of Worry Time.

Step 4: What to Do When It Isn’t Worry Time

Discuss other ways to contain his worries. He can write them down and put them in the Worry Box, he can write or draw his worries in a notebook, or he can imagine putting them in a safe and locking them up. At the next Worry Time, he should pull out his Worry Box or his notebook and share everything that is in there.

Tell your child that he can also do something else when he is worried (distract). How about going outside, running the stairs, reading a book, or calling grandparents? You and your child can have fun writing down all the things he can do while he is waiting for the next Worry Time. He can also read the children’s book, Shrinking the Worry Monster, to learn ways to talk back to the worry on his own.

Most parents find this strategy seems hard at first, but their child’s worries often dissipate after time. After a few weeks, some kids actually have very few worries to report, but they want to continue their special time with their parents. If your child is very anxious, you might try scheduling Worry Time twice a day at the beginning. Of course, if your child is extremely anxious, please do talk to your health professional about getting outside help. You do not want your child’s anxiety to turn into a serious adult anxiety disorder.

Worry Time is a clever strategy that contains your child’s worries in time. When it is combined with a method to contain the worries in physical space like a Worry Box or a notebook, it is a very powerful anti-anxiety tool. And it is so easy that every parent may want to give it a try. This is such an anxious time for all of us, having anxiety-reducing tools in our parenting skill set seems imperative.

This post originally appeared on www.drsallyb.com

I am a child psychologist who specializes in children's anxiety. I just published a top seller children's book titled Shrinking the Worry Monster, A Kid's Guide for Saying Goodbye to Worries. I love sharing ideas about decreasing worry in children, especially now. I also love to hike and bike in beautiful Pacific NW. 

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Avengers Really Do Assemble with This New LEGO Advent Calendar

by Karly Wood

Advent calendars truly are the gift that keeps on giving. A fun way to countdown the holiday season, we tend to love any LEGO version that launches––especially this year.

The LEGO Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar ($40) has everything young super heroes need to recreate iconic movies from the film franchise. Geared towards kids seven and older, the 298-piece calendar has comes with everything from minifigs to the perfect backdrop.

You’ll get seven minifigures that include Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Thor, Captain Marvel, Thanos and Nick Fury. But that’s not all!

Also included are tons of accessories like a Quinjet, Helicarrier, Spider-Man drone, Avengers Tower and more.

 

While it may seem silly to be thinking of buying advent calendars in August, these sell out amazingly fast. You can order this Marvel version from lego.com starting Sept. 1.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of LEGO

 

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Why Imaginative Play Is So Important

By Jonna Laster

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” —Maya Angelou  

In the picture book, Nutshell Regatta, a young girl and her beloved grandmother spend an afternoon exploring a pond and the many creatures and plants living in and around the water. Through their interaction, and using imaginative play, their experience transcends what most people might see when looking at a similar landscape. The animals take on unique roles, the plants play their special parts and the little girl and her grandmother transport themselves to a whole other world whereby they share a unique adventure and create their own story. This is imaginative play.

When we engage in imaginative play, we engage all of our senses. Observing a scene is very one-dimensional. Creating the scene, however, is multi-dimensional. All creative people and great problem solvers use imaginative play. At its core, imaginative play, is “thinking outside the box”. 

There are those who might worry they are not creative or don’t know how to start. The great thing about imaginative play is there is no wrong way to do it! Start with a simple plan. Next time you take a walk with a child, try to engage with your surroundings. 

  • Collect pebbles or leaves. Think about how you could arrange them in a vase or picture frame. 

  • Take a walk with a child in silence. When you get back home, take turns sharing what you saw, smelled, heard and felt.

The fun part is there is no wrong way to do this. Creativity really has no boundaries—you just need to start. In keeping with that vein, let children color outside the lines. Encourage creativity and story-telling. Keep as many supplies around as you can manage including empty boxes, old fabric, old costumes, catalogs, crayons, pencils, paint. All of these types of items are a treasure trove for imaginative play. And remember, it’s the process of imaginative play that’s important rather than what is created! 

Ideas for Imaginative Play:

  • Have one person start a story. Then, each family member or friend adds the next sentence or two. Round and round the story goes, often ending up in very unexpected places. This is a great boost for memory skills, and a source of delightful silliness for everyone!

  • Take out any board game. Collectively reinvent the rules. An example of this activity: A word tile game, like Scrabble, could expand to accept made-up words as a long as a pronunciation and a definition is given and the word is used in a sentence.

  • In this variation of charades, take out a stack of blank index cards. Each person draws or writes out instructions for whoever pulls one of their cards from a stack.

  • Create an entire new and zany rule book for a familiar game—this works well with strategy board games.

  • Flip the script. Rewrite or retell the endings of favorite shows or movies. To be able to deconstruct and reconstruct a familiar storyline is a prime example of imagination meets critical thinking skills.

The most important rule of imaginative play is…there really are no rules!

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Jonna Laster's earliest recollections take place in an old canvas tent on her parent's Alaskan homestead. The stories told around the wood-stove filled her with wonder, and to this day remind Jonna of why she's always been a writer. Jonna lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.

 

 

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Ice Cream Slime Is a Thing & You Can Get It at Baskin-Robbins

by Sarah Shebek

Pass the slime! Bring out your inner child (and delight your own kids) with the new Sour Berry Slime topping from Baskin-Robbins. Yes, it looks like green slime and yes, you can put it on any scoop or shake.

For slime times in June, just ask to add it to your ice cream for 99 cents, or take a bottle of slime home for $6.99! You can also grab the Flavor of the Month, Summertime Lime, with tart candy flavors to combat the hottest days. It might look questionable, but it’s delicious!

“Baskin-Robbins is bringing out the kid in all of us this summer with the introduction of delicious and edible Sour Berry Slime, paired with the ultimate, tangy Summertime Lime Flavor of the Month, perfect for any hot summer day,” said Shannon Blakely, Vice President of Marketing & Culinary, Baskin-Robbins.

If you’re a kid of the ’90s you’re likely thinking of Figure It Out on Nickelodeon right about now. No word on whether Baskin-Robbins slime is pourable enough to recreate that game show moment, but no judgment if you decide to find out.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Baskin-Robbins

 

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Cue the Candles: Birthday Charcuterie Boards Are the New Cake

by Karly Wood

This last year has brought a ton of changes when it comes to celebrating birthdays. From drive-by parades to Zoom gatherings, birthdays got a makeover we didn’t know they needed

Is it time to say goodbye to another soiree staple? This birthday charcuterie board has us thinking yes. So long, birthday cake!

photo: The BakerMama

Completely customizable, the birthday dessert board is packed with the all the goodness b-days have to offer, like the one featured above from The BakerMama who was way ahead of the trend. Fill it up with mini cupcakes, cookies, popcorn, cake pops––there’s no wrong way to birthday charcuterie!

Not only does this dessert concept avoid the “blowing out the candles and spreading germs everywhere” moment (thanks, COVID), but it also works great for guests with food allergies. Parents can thoughtfully include allergy-friendly snacks or create a completely unique board so kiddos don’t feel left out.

Whether you’re hosting a family-only event or planning your next party when things are back to normal, birthday charcuterie boards are a surefire win.

––Karly Wood

 

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Grow Your Child’s Cognitive Skills through Gardening

By Michelle Worth

Photo: Shutterstock

We’ve had a year of shifting academics and social interaction to a virtual platform due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Gardening is an easy, screen-free activity that can provide your child with numerous benefits.  

Designing and digging a garden can be the perfect outdoor parent-child bonding activity. Not only is it fun and rewarding for kids, but studies have shown interacting with plants has benefits ranging from reducing stress to promoting healthy eating habits.  Another reason to grab your garden gloves? Working with your child to plan, organize, and plant can help develop their executive functioning skills. And that could improve your child’s ability to complete academic and daily life tasks. How exactly can you boost your child’s developmental skills through gardening? Let’s dig in!

Step 1: Plan the Plot 
Start by letting your child choose what plants to grow. A few ideas: 

  • Pizza Garden. Include veggies you can use to top your family’s next homemade pizza, like mushrooms, spinach, and broccoli. 
  • Salsa Garden. Are chips & salsa a favorite snack in your household? Cilantro, tomatoes, and onions it is! 
  • Rainbow Garden. Think cucumbers, bell peppers, strawberries, and other colorful fruits and veggies. 
  • Salad Garden. Plant lettuce and any favorites to make the perfect side salad at your next dinner! 

Browse through a gardening magazine or website to order the seeds. Ask open-ended questions about what plants your child thinks you should choose and why. That can help develop cognitive skills like organization and reasoning. 

Do some research with your child on the items you plan to include in your garden. Challenge your child to put their planning skills to work by gathering information on the stages of growth they can expect to see from their plants and what tools or materials they’ll need.

Step 2: Map It Out
Now it’s time for you and your gardening buddy to map out the location of the plants in your garden!  Help your child draw a picture of where each plant should go or use an online tool like this one. 

Asking cause and effect questions can help your child use critical thinking skills. Do certain plants need to get more or less sun? Will some veggies need more room to grow than others? How will that affect where you choose to plant your seeds? Help your child see the different options available when thinking about how to plan their garden. As they start to see that they can go about completing a task in multiple different ways, their cognitive flexibility skills can strengthen. That can help them tackle all kinds of to-dos in their daily life. 

Step 3: Dig In!
Time to let your green thumb shine and plant the seeds. This part helps your child develop their ability to execute a plan. Before you get started, talk about what steps you’ll need to follow: weed, dig, plant, add soil, water. Through this, their sequencing skills can soar! Focusing on following each step can develop your child’s inhibitory control. They’ll need to control their behavior, attention, and thoughts to each task at hand in order to get their garden growing. And even more good news! Outdoor activities like gardening have been proven by the American Journal of Public Health to improve children’s attention skills. 

Step 4: Let Your Garden Grow
Your child can’t bite into a juicy watermelon from their garden just yet! Give them some responsibilities for caring for their garden, like these:

  • Watering
  • Weeding
  • Watching for the plants to reach each stage of growth

Maintaining the garden through these tasks can help work your child’s memory skills each day. Getting up and working on the garden can also encourage their ability to initiate tasks. Finally, let your child enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of their labor. Watching their plants grow, picking, and eating from their garden can boost self-confidence and provide positive reinforcement for all of that hard work. 

If you have concerns about your child’s ability to complete aspects of tasks such as organization, maintaining attention, planning, or reasoning, consider consulting an expert. TherapyWorks is a company that provides speech therapy services with licensed professionals that can evaluate your child and, if needed, provide ongoing therapy services.

I'm a mom entrepreneur and Co-Founder of TherapyWorks, a pediatric therapy company that provides services via telehealth. I recognized the need to make high-quality pediatric therapy more convenient after one of my own children needed therapy and launched TherapyWorks with my Co-Founder, an experienced speech language-pathologist, with that in mind. 

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