Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Nationally-recognized program has been instituted in the entire Oak Creek Franklin School District this year.
Having children in the Oak Creek-Franklin School District, the first week of school brought much excitement about the new Positive Behavioral Intervention System (PBIS) that is being instituted throughout the school system. Letters went home with each student briefly explaining the program and the behavioral expectations for the students. Both parents and students were required to sign the expectation contract and review the framework proposed by their school. I had the opportunity to speak in depth about PBIS with Katie Ramos, interventions coordinator for the Oak Creek-Franklin School District. We talked about where it came from, how it is monitored and how it will benefit the school district as a whole. About four years ago, the system …
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Potty training is a huge milestone for parents and children alike. But how do you know if your child is ready?
Potty training can be a very stressful time for everyone in the family. This is one of those times, like when you announced you were pregnant, that everyone in your life will have an opinion on the “right” way. Even people that have never had children will have an opinion. Don’t be discouraged and don’t get too uptight and worried about the “right” way. Quite frankly, there isn’t one. Potty training is as unique to each child as their personalities. Don’t get me wrong, there are many techniques to consider and guidelines to follow, but the important thing is to remember they are just guidelines. Patience and consistency, whatever the method used, are the key to success and a less stressful experience for everyone involved. When it comes …
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Chances are that if you are asking yourself that question, the answer is yes.
Except for the more obvious eye problems like "lazy eye" or "crossed eye," the majority of vision problems in children can go undetected for many years. In fact, it is often not until they get into school that a problem is noticed. Even then, many vision problems go undetected. One in four children have an undetected vision problem that may be affecting their education. Eighty percent of what we learn is through visual cues. Simple screenings held in schools and in pediatrician's offices only identify about 5 percent of vision issues in children. There are warning signs of vision problems in children that you can look for, like squinting and closing or covering one eye. Kids will sometimes tilt their head to one side to help focus or …
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
As moms we're used to juggling many things at once, but are we setting ourselves up for deeper problems?
As a mom who is very busy with children's activities and volunteer positions, my interest was piqued when I heard a short blurb on the news about "supermoms" and the mental health of working moms vs. stay-at-home moms. I then found many other articles covering this very topic. In a study done by Katrina Leupp, a University of Washington sociology graduate student, findings seem to point to a couple of things. One is that working moms who have a balanced outlook on work and family life tend to have better overall mental health than stay-at-home moms. Secondly, working moms who have the thought that they can do it all without making sacrifices, a "supermom" of sorts, have a higher chance of experiencing depression. Raising a family is a …
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Some families have to choose between paying the rent and putting food on the table.
Hunger at Home: Crisis in America is an ongoing, eye-opening ABC News special worthy of discussion. Every year, about 17 million children in America suffer from food insecurity, meaning they don't get enough to eat and often go hungry. Not getting enough food for children is more detrimental than just having hunger pangs. It can affect their growth and development in their bodies as well as their brains. School is starting and kids will at least get a hot lunch. Many schools offer a discounted or free lunch program as well as a breakfast program for families in need. There is an application process to qualify. In some cases, these are the only meals children get due to their family's financial status. One in six families are affected by …
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Choosing the right pet for your family can be a difficult decision.
Your family is thinking about getting a pet, but knowing what type of pet will be the best fit for your family can be challenging. There are so many factors to look at when making the decision to add a pet to your family structure. The last thing anyone wants to do is bring a pet into the family and then realize it was the wrong choice. Knowing what you are getting into will help foster a happy pet, a good relationship between the family and the pet, and make any challenges easier to deal with. There are many types of pets and each one is different in terms of care, housing, behaviors, feeding, needs and - let's not forget - cost. In these economic times, cost is very important. Shelters take in far too many animals each year due to the …
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Back-to-school sales have begun; retailers project less traffic but greater spending.
Back-to-school shopping has begun and the sales are endless. All the local stores are now set up to handle the back-to-school rush. Backpacks for 99 cents after rebates at Menards, 17-cent folders of every color at Walmart, 50-cent pencil boxes and 99-cent notebooks at Target, and a free lunch tote with backpack purchase at Toys R Us. Then there's K-mart, Walgreens and the Dollar Store and Dollar General, all with specials on school supplies. Back to school time is a multi-million dollar industry for many retailers. Every Wednesday and Sunday newspaper is filled with insert ads for back-to-school clothes, school supplies, shoes and backpacks. Everything you could possibly need to be the coolest and most up-to-date person in class. On one …
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
During this week of heat advisories and excessive heat conditions there are a few things to keep in mind.
Will there ever be an end to this extreme heat? Well, according to the weather reports it looks like we will continue to be hot and humid at least until the end of the week. With the heat index getting up into the 100s, now more than ever is the time to be careful about too much exposure to the heat and seek out cool spots to get some relief. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can come on quickly and with little warning. All around Oak Creek and the surrounding areas, outdoor activities are being cancelled and cool spots are extending their hours in an effort to prevent dangerous heat-related issues. The South Milwaukee Fire Department even cancelled their Heritage Days Spaghetti Dinner on Wednesday due to the weather. The Oak Creek Parks and…
Thursday, June 16, 2011
That's a question I am sure most of us have asked a time or two before.
I am certain that all of us, at one time or another, have asked ourselves, "Where did the time go?" I know I have on many occasions. Seems like just yesterday I was painting and setting up furniture in the baby's room for my boys, who are now in third and seventh grade. Wow, where did that time go? It doesn't seem like much earlier than that I was getting married and starting a new life with my husband and step-children, all of whom have grown up, gone to college and started a life of their own. Some have had children already. My youngest was only nine when she moved in and now has two children of her own. The second-oldest son and his wife just welcomed their second child into the world this last Sunday. Holy smokes. Where did that time …
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
As the heat rises, there are a few things to remember.
Welcome to Wisconsin, where the temperatures go from the 50s to the 90s in less than 24 hours. Now that it is beginning to feel a lot like summer, and the heat and humidity seem almost unbearable, it's time to review the dangers of the extreme temperatures of summer. Children and the elderly seem to be the most affected by extreme temperatures. During this sweltering heat, it is important to take precautions, not only for ourselves, but also in looking out for our neighbors and family members. Heat-related illnesses and injuries, besides severe sunburn, include heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, all of which can be prevented by taking some very simple precautions. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Hydrate your skin with a minimum of 30…
Holly S
4:50 pm on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Target had notebooks for 20 cents! more ›