The Quest To Find A Baby Sitter

I am often asked about babysitters.

Whether you are trying to find help for the summer time or perhaps have a young baby and need regular scheduled help so you can get out to run errands - finding a reliable sitter is always a quest.

Here are a few ways to help find that perfect babysitter!

1. One thing I did was call the local company Sitters. They help find sitters that can stay with and help care for elderly people. But they also certify babysitters for children too. Their number is 903.277.2191.  http://sittersllctexarkana.com/ I used several people from their service on occasions when the children were very young, and I just had to leave the house and had no one to keep the kids. I had several different sitters from their service and eventually found a favorite one that I requested and scheduled regularly. I would tell them what you are looking for and then ask to interview 3 people for the position. It may be pricier than if you find someone on your own. I can't remember their fee structure, but it is worthwhile to know they have done a background check and have someone with references.

2. The other thing several of my friends did was run an ad in the paper and interview candidates. That is harder because as a new mom and a working mom it is difficult to find time to schedule an ad and then interview people, but it paid off for my friends, they all found good help that way.

3.  The 3rd option, I did one time was to call my church office and ask if they knew of anyone. I was given several names that way. It is always reassuring to know that someone with your same beliefs would be watching over your children.

Finding a sitter is never easy, but if you take the time to find a good one, it is well worth the search!

Holiday Printables!

Did you love the holiday party ideas in this issue? Get the free printable and recipe on these sites!

Photo Banner, click to take you www.howdoesshe.com where you can add your photos to banner and print out the design!

Christmas Bingo Card click to take you to www.crazylittleproject.com and print the card for your family!

Snowball Play dough click to see the recipe for this play dough!

Texarkana Family Calendar For Sept/Oct 2014

5 Ways To Increase Fine Motor Skills

1. Use Your Muscles!
Weight-bearing actives like push-ups, climbing, wheelbarrow walks or animal crawls strengthen hand arches. Stronger arches lead to better dexterity.

2. Increase Dexterity!
Have your child play with putty or play dough. Roll it into a ball shape then use both hands to thin it out into a worm. Repeat!

3. It's Slinky, It's Slinky!
Teach your children to use both hands at the same time by "slinking" a slinky from side to side.

4. Get Handy!
Do anything that involves tools such as scissors, tongs, marbles, or helping with household projects. Remember, a pencil is a tool, too! Give kids a writing or drawing exercise to encourage their dexterity.

5. Play Crab-Soccer!
Get down into a crab walk position, then kick a bouncy ball back and forth, or try kicking it into a goal. This is a fun way to exercise different muscle groups, as well.

Summer Fun (At Home!) 25 Ways

 It’s here.  It’s finally here.  The day counted down from the very first day of school.  The day that culminates in squealing excitement for students and teachers: summer vacation Cut this list out.  Put it on the ‘fridge and use it as a Summer Bucket List.  And tell your kids they can’t even think about being bored until they finish everything on it.Enjoy!

1.     Make a slip ‘n’ slide out of a big tarp and dish soap

2.     Have a picnic

3.     Make homemade scented play dough: ½ c salt, 1 c flour, 1 tbs. oil, 1 pkg. Koolaid, 1 c boiling water.  Mix together salt, flour and Koolaid.  Add oil and boiling water.  Mix with spoon until cool enough to handle and then knead with hands. 

4.     Perform a Random Act of Kindness for your neighbors:  You can deliver handwritten notes or pictures, make them a cake or give them flowers. 

5.     Make a Bored Jar:  Decorate a jar or paint an old coffee can and fill with activities written on colorful slips of paper for kids to draw out when they feel they have absolutely nothing to do.  A good tip: mix fun things with chores (like ‘play in the sprinkler’ and ‘pull weeds’) so they can decide if it’s worth it or not to have you entertain them!

6.     Have a Dessert War:  Have ingredients available in a central location (for example: graham crackers, whipped cream, fruit, sprinkles or chocolate sauce).  Each child has their own workspace and works against a timer to create a unique dessert.  Have them present it and explain what the process was.  This would also be fun with cupcake or cookie decorating. 

7.     Make a fort (you could have a picnic in your fort if you remove the chairs from a table and simply throw a sheet over the top of it and have the sides draping down for the walls.  Forts make great reading nooks!)

8.     Have a scavenger hunt: print out a list of items and attach it to a bag (you can use pictures for nonreaders).  The list might include: something brown, a feather, an acorn, a flower, etc.

9.     Make a lemonade stand:  Give the money you make to a special cause or charity or use it to spend on a Family Date. 

10.  Have a Water Olympics in your backyard  (sample stations you might have: sponge relay, water balloon toss or bobbing for apples)

11.  Hide and seek egg hunt:  You know all those plastic eggs you don’t use all year? Bring them out and hide them for an indoor or outdoor activity (when it gets too hot to be outside!).  You can even use a special colored egg as a prize for quality time with mom and dad or extra book at bedtime.

12.  Have a water balloon fight (make a contest at the end to see who picks up the most busted balloons.)

13.  Have a cooking lesson for a simple treat.  Be okay with the mess.  Eat your creation. 

14.  Make a surprise party for dad just for coming home from work. 

15.  Make your own books:  Take blank paper, fold in the middle and staple.  Younger children can draw and tell you about the pictures (you could even write in the words for them).  For the older kids, print it out and draw in the pictures or use clip art.  Read it with them at bedtime for a fun surprise.   

16.  Do a family painting:  Have everyone in the family contribute in some way.  Hang it up and enjoy your effort together.  (a tip: it’s best to let the paint from the work of each person dry before passing it to the next)

17.  Make a race track or city out of sidewalk chalk for small cars and trucks or a zoo for animals.  Large and concentrated projects will engage smaller children longer and it is fun for them to work together with you. 

18.  Make Fudgsicles: Mix chocolate pudding according to directions.  Pour into paper cups and insert wooden stick or spoon.  Freeze and enjoy! 

19.  Make bubbles:  Take one cup of water and add one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid.  Cut the top third off of a plastic water or soda bottle and you have an instant bubble blower. 

20.  Box Village:  Have old moving boxes? If not, use leftover boxes from big items or a make a trip to the back of Home Depot.  Cut out windows or doors, decorate, and group together.  Let your kids have snacks inside of the boxes and it may be a while before you see them again. 

21.  Grow something

22.  Make new crayons out of old crayons:  Gather up all the small broken pieces of crayons and put them in foil cup liners in a muffin pan about one inch deep.  Heat oven to 250 degrees and let melt (about 15-20 minutes).  After they are cool, pop them out and they are ready!   

23.  Paint outside:  Use butcher paper (super cheap at Sam’s) and make your own paint in muffin tins (flour, water and food coloring to desired consistency and color).  Hose down the mess and you’re good to go!  

24.  Have reading hour in the floor:  Each child can bring their favorite books and each one is read aloud to everyone.  An extra treat? Do the reading in a tent or fort with a flashlight. 

25.  Have a family talent show  

Perot Museum of Nature and Science...it's worth the drive!

We ventured out to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and thought it was an amazing adventure for the kids. Below are some tips and guides if you are traveling over to Dallas for a visit. And we would love to hear what you enjoyed the most.

1. Pack snacks and lunches. You have to exit the museum to the first floor to eat. There is a cafeteria and an outside area you can picnic on instead of standing in line to buy food. And it would be a good treat to eat at the cafeteria if you have older kids, but with kids ages 6,4 and 2 - I always find it easiest to have something ready to eat immediately and to their liking.
2. With small kids it worked nice to view a floor of exhibits then take a snack break. We did not get overambitious to see everything but kind of floated around to what the kids found the most interesting.
3. If you arrive early go to the sports exhibit underground first and the energy exhibit because they have exhibits that you have to stand in line for, and the lines will be shorter earlier in the day. Trust me - your kids are going to want to race a dinosaur!
4. When you reach a point and need a break, again if you are with small children, go to the bottom floor in the Children's Museum section. It is free play and you can grab a seat on a bench while they run free and have fun.
5. Don't be scared to ask a question, museum staff is floating around everywhere. In a few exhibits, my kids had questions and we located the staff - not only did they have an insightful answer, but then wanted to show my kids more!
6. Encourage Interaction. Every exhibit seemed to have different levels of interactions. Touch, feel, watch - it was engaging, so let your children be engaged!


Activity
Hand off your iphone and let your kids take the pictures. My children still talk about the ones they took, and can't remember the items in the pictures because they were the photographer. It gave us something to talk about after leaving the museum - and something they wanted to share with others! Here's a few of our favorites that my son took:

Don't miss Discovery Place Museum's Exhibit!

If you and your kids want to be a part of the dedication of the new Discovery Place Exhibit, Musical Tesla Coil, join the community July 10^th at 12 p.m. to celebrate the 157^th birthday of Nikola Tesla.

The Tesla Coil is named after inventor Nikola Tesla. William H. Terbo will be the speaker at this dedication. William is the closest living relative of Nikola Tesla. He is also a Founding Director, Chairman of the Executive Board, and since 1988 the Executive Secretary of the Tesla Memorial Society, Inc.

You may be wondering, “What is the Tesla Coil exactly?”  The Tesla Coil is an electrical resonant transformer circuit. They are unique in the fact that they produce extremely powerful electrical fields. This new exhibit at Discovery Place Museum will allow visitors to interact and explore the combination of music and electricity in a safe way.

The opening is July 10^th, however; Tesla Days will continue through July 13^th. There will be food booths and lots of fun. Hope to see you there!

Plan A Stop With Tiger Bookmobile Summer 2013

Tiger Bookmobile Summer 2013

You can’t miss the 48’ mobile unit when it is traveling down the street. With a brightly colored exterior aesthetic featuring children and animals all enjoying reading, the unit has been outfitted with mobile satellite technology, thousands of books, iPads, Kindle e-readers, reading benches and seats, flat screen television, Wii gaming, bean bag chairs and colorful rugs. The look is complete with an additional exterior seating area featuring a canopy, bean bag chairs and more fun rugs. 

Open Monday thru Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., the Tiger Bookmobile will travel throughout the community to various partner sites from June 17 thru August 23. A story hour will be featured at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily. Tour dates & locations are: 

 July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12, August 19:
     The Oaks at Rosehill - 2100 West 12th Street
 July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20:
     Hands On Texarkana – 1915 Olive Street
July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21:
     Splash Pad at Spring Lake Park – 4303 North Park Road
July 11, July 25, August 8, August 22:
     Nash Elementary School – 100 Burton
July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16, August 23:
     Pecan Ridge at Rosehill – 2210 West 15th Street
July 16, July 30, August 13:
     Highland Park Baptist Church – 2401 Hazel Street
July 18, August 1, August 15: ONLY OPENED FROM 9:30 A.M. - NOON
     Salvation Army – Center of Hope – 316 Hazel Street

For more information on the Tiger Bookmobile and their 2013 Summer Tour, contact: Tina Veal-Gooch, 903.794.3651 ext. 1013 or visit www.txkisd.net.

Protect Your Children From Extreme Heat

Protecting Children from Extreme Heat: Information for Parents

By www.healthychildren.org

Extreme heat can cause children to become sick in several ways. Make sure to protect your child from the heat as much as possible, watch for symptoms, and call your doctor if you see any develop.

Preventing Effects of Extreme Heat:

There are several steps you can take to protect your child from heat-related illness: 

• Plan to have a cool, air-conditioned space for your child. If your home does not have air-conditioning, find a nearby building that does. Libraries can be a great place for a cool retreat from the heat. 
• Make sure your child stays hydrated. Encourage her to drink water regularly, even before she asks for it.
• Plan for more time to rest than usual; heat can often make children feel tired.
• When your child is feeling hot, give him a cool bath or water mist to cool down.
• Don’t forget about the effects of sun exposure.
• Never leave children in a car or other closed motor vehicle, especially when temperatures are high. The temperature inside the car can become much higher than the outside temperature, and can rise to temperatures that cause death.

When to Call Your Child’s Doctor:

Call your child’s doctor immediately if he or she develops any of the following symptoms. Your child’s doctor can advise you on the next best course of action and whether an immediate evaluation is needed.  

• Faintness
• Extreme tiredness
• Headache
• Fever
• Intense thirst
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Breathing faster or deeper than normal
• Skin numbness or tingling
• Muscle aches
• Muscle spasms

For more information on how recognize and treat these heat related illnesses, click here.

Mental Health Tips for Parents with Teens

Advice for Parents/Guardians of Teens and Young Adults

From The American Academy of Pediatrics

1. Is your child headed to college? Know what to do to support your teen emotionally as he ventures out into the world and away from home base.
2. Make sure that your teen has medical coverage after high school and teach your teen how to access and use it. Many teens and young adults are covered under their parents’ health insurance through age 25.
3. If your teen is going to college, check into the health and mental health support services on campus, and make sure he is familiar with them.
4. In addition to making sure that the graduating patient has all of the vaccines and other preventive health care recommended for this stage of life, pediatricians also can help families to ensure they are preparing the way for their young adult’s continuing mental and emotional health.
5. If your teen has mental health needs, develop a plan of care in advance of your teen moving away from home. For college, this can take several weeks or months to develop. Does your child have a mental health diagnosis, such as ADHD, depression, eating disorder, etc?  Be sure to ask the health center staff what kind of medical information they will need related to your teen, and how to set up prescription refills if needed.
6. With your teen, communicate with college or university staff about their accommodations for teens with ADHD and other diagnoses. In addition, consider contacting the college’s Disabilities Office, Academic Advising Office, or Student Affairs Office to determine what accommodations are available for ADHD and other diagnoses.
7. Once your teen is settled into the college routine, keep in close contact and try to get frequent readings about how he is doing academically and socially. This is especially important during the first month or so while teens are still trying to settle in and may not have made friends yet.
8. Do you have a child in foster care who is “graduating” out of the system?  Depending on state laws, children in foster care are covered under Medicaid until age 18 or 21 and may need to transition to a different provider.  Some may need to transition even earlier to an adult or Transitional Aged Youth mental health provider.  Young adults transitioning out of the foster care system need help in identifying caring adults-- related or not-- from whom they can seek advice, support, and reassurance.
9. Is your teen going straight to work rather than college? Even though she may be remaining at home for a time, her life will change dramatically from when she was in the structured environment of high school, having daily contact with friends. Be sure to give her extra space as a young adult, but realize that she may need help navigating adult responsibilities like bill paying, taking on her own health care, etc. She may be missing her high school life and friends who have moved on.  Encourage her to keep up her friendships and to form new ones through work or other interesting activities.
10. Alcohol, drugs and sexual activity may become more accessible at this time.  Be clear about your expectations regarding drug and alcohol use are even though your child may not be living at home. Be sure your teen knows where to go—whether on campus or locally-- for reproductive health care. Continue to have conversations about peer pressure, good decisions, and consequences.
11. Once your teen turns 18, you’ll no longer have legal access to his academic or health records.  After he moves on from high school to college or work, have frequent, one-on-one conversations with your teen as a means of staying in touch.
12. It’s normal for young people starting at college or moving to a new place to have days when they feel sad, homesick, or a bit lost. If these feelings persist or interfere with their ability to work, they should seek help and know that it is normal to do so. Watch for warning signs and be prepared to act.

Summer at Sci-Port

We recently ventured down to Shreveport for the day to check out the Sea Life exhibit. I love the Sci-Port (http://www.sciport.org), so it doesn't take much to get us down there.

SeaLife is a VERY small exhibit, so don't expect much. The kids loved touching the stingrays, but that was the extent of the exhibit. It was outdoors, so we went back in for some special things. The kids got to make a fossil which they loved and then we just played around on some of our other favorite displays. Grab a daily schedule when you arrive there are always special events each day.

Don't forget they also have an IMAX theater and we watched To The Arctic - http://www.imax.com/movies/m/to-the-arctic-3d/, but they had several other movies playing.

Summer Camp Option - Crossfit For Kids!

Have a little athlete you are looking to train, or just a child with lots of energy? Maybe you want them to strengthen their coordination and their balance skills. Crossfit for kids can help do that! Take a look at their below summer camp or try contacting them http://crossfittexarkana.com/

It is an amazing physical training program that can help kids prepare for any sport!

Get Muddy This Weekend with The Trinity Mud Trek!

Trinity Mud Trek 2013

Looking for a family friendly event, something to do with your friends or a challenge to say you accomplished? Trinity is hosting their annual fundraiser, the Trinity Mud Trek, on April 27. This fundraiser is a 5k run including 10 obstacles through 139 acres of woods, fields and, of course, mud! This is such a great event to participate in. You can use it as an opportunity to accomplish a personal goal, a fun way to get muddy, or maybe a metaphor for a spiritual obstacle. Help Trinity Christian School raise money to better their school and assist students in attending there. A little mud never hurt anyone, right? 

Want to register? Here is the link to their website:

http://www.tcsmud.com/8227.html

Check out KSLA’s coverage on the sneak peek of the course on March 15th.

http://www.ksla.com/category/240198/new-video-landing-page?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8638866

Two Local Girl Scouts Receive Top Honors!

GIRL SCOUTS – DIAMONDS ANNOUNCE GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2013; TEXARKANA GIRLS HONORED

TEXARKANA, AR – On April 20, 2013, two local Texarkana girls received the highest honor awarded to a girl member in Girl Scouting – the Girl Scout Gold Award.  Natalie Jarvis and Destiny Williams joined eleven other girls from the Girl Scouts – Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas’ jurisdiction honored at the Diamonds Council’s Annual Recognition Ceremony Luncheon, held at the Grand Masonic Lodge, Albert Pike Scottish Rite Temple in Little Rock on Saturday, April 20.

            Girl Scout Gold Award recipients are an elite group of girls.  Annually, only approximately 5% of eligible Girl Scouts earn this award.  The Girl Scout Gold Award requires Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts (grades 9-12) to dedicate a minimum of two years to complete all requirements.  With the Girl Scout Leadership Experience at its core, the Girl Scout Gold Award challenges girls to identify issues about which they care deeply and plan and execute a Take Action Project that will leave a lasting impact on the benefiting community.

            For her project, Natalie organized and executed a community garden to provide food for the needy in the community.  After researching, Natalie discovered that Harvest Texarkana, a local food bank, had not been receiving enough produce to provide all those that they served.  Natalie partnered with Harvest Texarkana and through the community garden, provided 200 pounds of fresh produce including summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, fresh herbs and some watermelons for those in need in the community.  Natalie plans to attend Texarkana College and Texas A&M University in Texarkana to pursue a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education.  Natalie is the daughter of John and Larkin Jarvis and she has been a Girl Scout for eleven years.

            Destiny created the Berry Blissful Patch program at Theron Jones Elementary School.  The Berry Blissful Patch was the first small garden to be planted at Theron Jones Elementary.  Destiny’s project combined learning and health by allowing the students to enjoy a healthy snack while learning math and gardening skills that they will hopefully take home to continue the education with their parents.  Destiny’s focus was to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity and encourage the students to grow their own gardens at home.  After high school, Destiny plans to attend college to pursue a degree in social work.  She plans to continue volunteering with the Girl Scouts and Theron Jones Elementary and hopes to someday start a troop of her own.  Destiny’s dream is to start a nonprofit organization to help children in single parent homes, those in homes of low socioeconomic status, and abused children.  Destiny is the daughter of Charles and Ericca Jordan, and Michael and Phronda Williams and she has been a Girl Scout for six years.

            In addition to achieving the highest honor in Girl Scouting, a girl who has earned her Gold Award can immediately advance one rank in any of the United States Armed Forces branches.  Special scholarships are also available for Girl Scout Gold Award recipients who meet certain criteria.

Girl Scouts – Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas serves over 9,000 girls and 3,700 volunteers and encompasses all counties in Arkansas except Crittenden, includes Adair, LeFlore and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma as well as Bowie and Cass counties in Texas. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. 

Carnival Under the Stars Raises Money for Arkansas Children's Hospital

Carnival Under The Stars 

Interested in helping out with a worthy cause? Come join the fun at 
Carnival Under The Stars, benefiting Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Saturday, April 20
7:00 p.m.
Ramage Farms 5600 FM 560, Hooks, Texas

You are invited to an evening full of food, music and more. Ten of 
Texarkana’s finest establishments will be present with samplings of 
their delicious food. Roger Sheppard will be there performing his 
magic, there will be a silent auction as well as a live auction, and 
the band One Night Stand will be playing! Tickets are $50 per person. 
Contact Melissa Massey at 903-293-7734, or any member of Texarkana 
Circle of Friends, to purchase tickets. This is a wonderful 
opportunity to have a fun filled night, while also benefiting a place 
in great need. Come out and help Circle of Friends raise money for 
Arkansas Children’s Hospital!

Celebrate Earth Day Paddling on Caddo Lake

Outdoor enthusiasts can discover new paddling trails, soak in the sun, and explore a baldcypress forest during the 2^nd annual Caddo Lake Earth Day Paddling Regatta on Saturday, April 20.

Canoe or kayaks can put in on the lake near Uncertain, Texas located 20 minutes from Marshall. Three new paddle trails, featured for the Regatta, range from four miles to 4.7 miles. “Old Folk’s Playground’” “Turtle Shell,” and “Cathedral” are part of the new designated trails established by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Registration is $10.00 per boat online at www.caddolakeinstuite.us/Regatta2013.html or in person at the Caddo Grocery at the corner of Cypress Drive and FM 2198 in Uncertain beginning at 7 a.m. on April 20.

Prizes will be awarded from raffle tickets dropped in marked buckets located on each tail. Drawings will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the registration tent located at the Caddo Grocery. Prizes include handpainted cypress canoe paddles by local artists, vintage Caddo Lake boat road markers, a hand thrown mug, t-shirts, photographs and other fun items. Individuals must be present to win.

Caddo Lake, located in northeast Texas on the border of Texas and Louisiana, is one of the best examples in the southern United States of a mature baldcypress forest. The area is known for its exceptional wildlife diversity.

The “lake” is actually a sprawling maze of bayous and sloughs covering 26,810 acres. The average depth of the lake is 8'-10' with the deep water in the bayou averaging about 20.' The Caddo Lake area has 10 trails designated as part of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Texas Paddling Trails system.

Event sponsors include Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area, City of Uncertain, Friends of the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Greater Caddo Lake Association of Texas, Marshall Convention & Visitors Bureau, Texas Master Naturalist Cypress Basin Chapter, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Caddo Lake Institute.

Overnight lodging can be confirmed in Marshall at VisitMarshallTexas.org or information is available from the Marshall Convention & Visitors Bureau, 903-702-7777.

Touch A Truck - This Saturday!

Touch a Truck Blog

This Saturday, April 13th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. get the 
family to Central Mall west-side parking lot (on Kennedy Lane) for 
Touch a Truck to support a wonderful local organization. 

Touch a Truck is an annual family festival fundraiser by The Junior League of 
Texarkana. There will be many different things on wheels to explore, 
such as big rigs, construction equipment and emergency vehicles. There 
will also be entertainment such as interactive children’s 
activities, costumed characters, face painting, safety demonstrations, 
local children’s group performances and refreshments. 

Admission is $3 per person. Children under the age of 2 get in for free. Tickets 
will be available at the door. Don’t miss out on this wonderful 
opportunity for your family. Hope to see you there!

For additional information:
http://www.jltexarkana.org/?nd=tat