Using a Blog to Make Some Money From Home

You may notice that some of my blogs are not just about preschool activities. Occasionally I will do some adverting for a variety of companies or organizations. I am paid for these posts and make a little money each month from them. Since my Smart Mom Team is always trying to help other moms make money from home, I wanted to explain the reasoning for these posts. If you are interested in making some money from your blog, you can start by or click on the Pay Per Post badge on the sidebar of my blog.

I hope you will still continue to read the great activities and maybe find out about a great new website or product that is available.

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Mother Goose Rocks

If you have not listened to any of the Mother Goose Rocks, you are missing some great kids music! You and your kids will love them if you are into pop rock! I happen to catch a song on XM Kids on day and went to look them up on iTunes. They use a twist on names from real bands, like Stung or Dave Math Shoes, and have a song in that artists' style. TOO CUTE! Some samples are available through the website MotherGooseRocks.com (the whole album has samples on Volume 3) or listen in and buy just a few songs on iTunes. They are fun, upbeat songs that will get your whole family jamming! Plus, your little musician will learn the most common children's songs with a bit of a twist!

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Shop the Alzheimer's Foundation eStore

I just discovered the the Alzheimer's Foundation of America has a store with beautiful jewelry and training videos for caregivers of those with Alzheimer's. I am always on the look out for gifts that are different and a gift that can do more. What a great place to buy a holiday gift for someone special. The products are meant to raise awareness and enhance knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses. Proceeds from the sale of these products support the programs and services of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and its member organizations. Not only will you find a unique gift, you will also be supporting a worthy cause. The unique and beautiful Heart of Care necklace and bracelet are great gift ideas, even for those that are not caregivers. But if you know a caregiver in your life, this would be the perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season.

It is so important for the Alzheimer's Foundation to help fund the search for the cure for this terrible disease, but also to provide care for those that suffer with the disease. By purchasing a gift from the Alzheimer's store or by making a gift donation, you can do your part to help those that live each day with the disease.

The Alzheimer's Foundation website is a great resource for anyone that needs more information about the disease, services, care or clinical trials. There is also information on an upcoming screening day to help find those that may have this disease. The Foundation's store helps to support all of these services.

Supporting a worthy cause during the holidays helps you gift do double duty... you give a wonderful, unique, and thoughtful gift as well as give support to those that are in need of help and a cure. That is the gift to yourself- giving to others with a purpose!

My Picky Lunch Eater

I have a picky eater. He does not prefer eating most of the time; he would rather drink chocolate milk (made with Olvatine or Instant Breakfast to get something in him!). Making his lunch to go to preschool this year has been a challenge. He eats strange things, but not always a "main dish." The best thing for us to do is to ask him each morning from the selection we have to provide. The key is to get a well insulated lunch box with some frozen packs to keep cool things cold. We also include milk for lunch too- kept cold- so he can get his fix in the middle of the day.

The biggest change in going to school is having to eat when you are told to eat- morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack. Also, drinking when you are allowed to drink. My kids like to drink, so when I was home with them, they did drink. They also ate, but not at scheduled times!

We now just ask before we pack. Some options are yogurt (well insulated), rice, beans and rice, small pizza slices, frozen chicken (the school does heat food up), pudding made with whole milk, and peanut butter sandwiches- with sprinkles (it is the only way he will eat it- or with chocolate chips or marshmallows- the protein is the important part!). Some snacks are strawberries, a favorite fruit, baked Cheetos, a tortilla, or corn chips.

Sometimes the lunch box comes back almost completely full- except for the milk and usually a snack or two.

And we do not worry about it.

He will not starve.

Mostly, he always has milk!

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Cultivating Giftedness in Preschoolers

Today, my child's teacher told me he was smart. Of course, I knew he was smart. My husband knows he is smart. But how many parents don't think their child is smart??? And how many think their child is gifted?

This year, I returned to teaching in a job that works with gifted and talented students. (Before I taught students with disabilities.) I have learned a lot about the traits of gifted children. I am not diagnosing my child, but many parents and teachers overlook giftedness in their children because they do not want their child to be different or placed in a separate program. Many parents feel they don't know what to do IF their child is gifted. What if the child is smarter than the parent?

My son has a great memory. That may make him smart. But only if he can apply what he has memorized. And only if I can work with his strengths and weaknesses and develop both.

There are some markers to use to gauge if your child is gifted. Any parent would like to encourage the natural talents of their children. Beware of not giving your child too much praise or attention. This may do one of two things: inflate his ego or make him embarrassed.

If you think your preschooler is gifted, use these ideas to cultivate the giftedness. Allow your child to explore and develop at his own pace. Do not try to force your child to read early, memorize facts, or drill flashcards. Preschoolers are still preschoolers and need to develop preschool skills. They may memorize and recite facts to you, but are they learning and understanding. They may read at an early age, but only encourage it if they are interested. If they do not learn it now, they are still going to learn it!

Enjoy your child, no matter what strengths and weaknesses they have. Encourage the love of arts, reading, and learning- not the dislike or worksheets, pencils, and coloring in the lines!

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Teaching Your Preschooler to Write

Teaching your preschooler to write is what most parents work towards first, after learning some colors. We are so anxious to teach our child to write his name especially. However, some children are not ready to write when they are even 4. Furthermore, we often teach our child what the letters look like but not how to properly form the letters.

If you child is beginning to pretend to write, that is a good indication that they may be ready to learn to write his name. First, practice writing basic shapes following the mechanics of proper handwriting- left to right, top to bottom. Then you can make his name in dots (with the internet program or by yourself) and what him write the letters. You may want to start with one letter at a time. Also, be sure to teach capitals as the first letter and lower case for all other letters (when appropriate). Don't teach all capitals. Handwriting Without Tears has a great developmentally appropriate program for preschoolers for purchase. It is a good idea since it is geared towards preschool skills.

Keep an open mind when trying to teach a child to write. It is not important that they do it now. As long as they are drawing and coloring, they are on their way towards good fine motor skills.
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Halloween Safety Tips

For those of you that actually get to trick or treat on Halloween (my city "schedules" it for the closest Saturday), you need to remember you Halloween Safety tips! While Halloween in my small town is relatively safe, we all know that is not the case everywhere.

Since my two children are young, I do not see much benefit in trick or treating. After we got home, the candy remained in the car and they forgot about it (I did bring it it today)! I do not mind them having candy, but what child does not get obsessed about eating it! Not their mother... I had Halloween candy until Easter. While my siblings candy was gone in days. I most remember switching candy with my BFF neighbor the day after to get rid of everything I did not want... even though I did not eat it!

Halloween is fun, but be safe! And have fun on the real Halloween.

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