This week, my son came home with information and a permission slip to receive the H1N1 vaccine in his school. I threw it in the trash. Before you think this will be a post about why you shouldn’t vaccinate your kids, stay with me because I have a different point to make here.

Whether or not your child should be vaccinated is entirely up to you. And for many parents who can’t get their children the vaccine because they can’t get time off to take their children or because they don’t have health insurance and can’t afford it, these school programs may seem like a godsend. However, I’m grateful that parents are being notified and the decision is being left to them.

In light of what I just read, however, I’m not sure giving vaccines during school hours is the best approach:

New York City’s Health Department said nurses at schools in Brooklyn and Staten Island mistakenly gave the vaccine to two children whose parents hadn’t signed a consent form. The same thing happened Monday at an elementary school in the town of Oregon, Ohio, where a 7-year-old got the vaccine even though her mother had marked “no consent” on a form, then circled it to emphasize her point.

Wow! If I were the parents of one of these children, I would be livid. Luckily, no harm has come as a result, although one of the girls is epileptic and had to be hospitalized to ensure an allergic reaction did not take place. Continue reading…

So, you’ve hit every pumpkin patch, apple orchard and harvest festival in a ten-mile radius. You’ve carved the jack-o-lantern, eaten the doughnuts and sipped the cider. Nothing to do but wait for the first snowfall, right?

No way! There’s still plenty of autumn fun to be had with your kids. Here are some ideas:

• Create a nature table. This Waldorf-inspired activity is a wonderful way to bring the outdoors in year-round, but the fall is a particularly abundant time for natural treasures (and since they’re laying around on the ground they’re easy for little eyes to spot and little hands to grab). It doesn’t have to be fancy: any small table or little corner of your home will do. For inspiration, check out this beautiful example of a nature table by Eren at The Magnifying Glass.

• Make sun prints. Take advantage of those beautiful, sunny fall days by using the sun’s power to make a pretty record of your discoveries! Photosensitive sun print paper is easy to use and even works when it’s not super bright outside. Have your child collect treasures (small, flat items with a little weight to them work best as the item will need to stay still on the paper for up to 5 minutes) and then use them to make unique works of art. Or get really creative and try this idea from Allie at No Time For Flash Cards.

• Rake the leaves. The great thing about yard work? It doesn’t feel like “work” to little kids. They’ll gladly rake (if you can, acquire a child-sized rake or two to make it easier), stuff leaves in bags, pick up sticks, sweep off steps and sidewalks, and of course, jump in piles! Check out this blog post featuring leaf-loving kids by Sarah at Running Mama.

How will you enjoy nature with your kids this week? Please share in the comments below!

Autumn is definitely here. Even though today was sunny and almost warm, there’s a crispness in the air and a crackle underfoot as the first of the leaves begin to accumulate on the ground.

This time of year is my favorite (with late spring being a close runner-up). I was thinking today about how much time my mother and I spent outdoors at this time of year when I was a kid, and the sights, tastes and smells that instantly take me back. I love that some of those same sights, tastes and smells will one day bring my children back to the time we spend together at this time of year.

Here are some of my instant autumn memory-triggers:

Sights:
the brilliant golds, reds, and oranges of leaves changing color on the trees
piles of bumpy, ugly gourds
soft fuzzy sweaters

Smells:
a fresh Mcintosh apple
pumpkin guts
spiced cider
leaves on the ground. (Oh I love that smell!)

Tastes:
that first taste of the first McIntosh apple of the season
warm homemade applesauce (I sometimes cheat and make it by heating up jarred applesauce on the stovetop and adding spices)
pumpkin pie

What sounds, smells, tastes, or sights instantly remind you of the fall? Are you making a point to make your childhood autumn memories into great autumn memories for your kids, too?

Photo credit: bowlingranny from morguefile.com

Growing up, my sister and I were on our own when it came to homework. My mom had to work and my grandfather, who watched us after school, didn’t make it past the fourth grade. So we did our own work, and then when my mother would get home, she’d quickly check it over and help us correct anything that was out of whack.

As far as special projects went, we always did well, but I used to resent the prize-winning science fair kids who had fancy computer print-outs to go with their projects (a big deal back then in the days before having a home computer became the norm), or intricate displays with way too many moving parts for a first-grader to have conceived on their own. In short, even then, I could always tell which kids had parents who did their homework for them.

Now as a parent, I’m fortunate enough to be home in the afternoon to supervise J.J.’s homework time, and I’ve made a promise to myself that I’m going to let my kids do their own work. This is no easy task sometimes. I tend to be a tad on the perfectionist side, so it’s hard for me to let my son paste a picture in his homework book crooked. It takes a lot of willpower on my part to not go find a picture that rhymes with “red” (which would take me 30 seconds), and instead let J.J. leaf through a magazine until he finds a “bed” (which could take 10 minutes). But most of all, it’s hard for me not to take over an art project that I know will be hung up in the classroom next to 15 other parent-perfected masterpieces.

So far, the homework has been reasonable. I’m sure the day will come when he’ll be given assignments that are a bit over the top, and I may have to intervene in some way. And I will to a point. But here’s the thing: I know that if I let my son do the majority of his work on his own, he’ll learn what it feels like to accomplish something (and what a feeling that is!). I also know that the math problems he’s practicing will sink in faster if he’s not using me as his crutch. If I let him cut and paste and practice penmanship without holding his hand steady for him, his teacher will surely know that I didn’t do it for him. And I’m OK with that.

What’s your take on homework? How much help do you offer? Share in the comments below!

-Dawn Papandrea

Autumn is my favorite time of year to take afternoon outings with my kids. The weather cools down but the sun still shines, the leaves change color, and in the rural Midwestern region where we live, it’s harvest time—and that means lots to do, see, and taste.

Here are a few ideas for places to take kids in the early fall:

Corn Mazes. Popularized in the late 90s, these are still a staple of rural Midwestern life and guarantee a fun way to burn off some energy and spend a pleasant fall afternoon. The mazes offer experiences from spooky to goofy: some are geared toward older kids and adults, while others are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Check CornfieldMaze.com for a searchable database of corn mazes across the country.

Fruit Picking. Even little kids can reach, grasp, and pull an apple off a dwarf tree—a staple at many orchards. Check PickYouOwn.org to find a U-pick farm near you.

Hay Rides Many orchards, farms and pumpkin patches offer hay rides, each with their own unique flavor and fun: you might ride behind a pony, a tractor, or even a mule. Check Pumpkin Patches and More to find a farm near you that offers hay rides.

What if you don’t live in a rural area or within an easy distance to farms? Try these cooler-weather city outings:

Walk on the beach. A stroll along the shore can be just as fun in the fall as the summer. Instead of splashing in the water, dig in the sand, skip stones or collect shells.

Go on a leaf hunt. Take your child around the neighborhood and try to see how many different kind of leaves you can find.

Watch the birds fly south. How many flocks of birds do you see heading for warmer climates? Can you identify the birds using a book or the Internet?

What are your favorite things to do with your kids in the fall? Tell us in the comments below!

Kindergarten is here for the Papandrea family — and there’s so much going on this month already! Meetings, pictures, daily homework, school events — I can hardly wait until next summer (did I just say that?). Actually, it’s just that I’m still in summer mode, something that my school mom friends say will never happen again. That’s because, Summer ’09 was our last school break without summer homework assignments. As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, there is a lot more expected of grade schoolers these days, and apparently, that goes for summer vacation homework, too!

My friends with older kids are still recovering from the back-to-school procrastination-induced rush to help their kids finish those summer reading lists, projects, journals, and reports. In fact, they admit, it’s not just the children who put off their summer work — it was them, too! After all, they felt after a tough school year, they needed a break from homework patrol. And who could blame them?

I’m not saying kids should do nothing all summer. But I’m totally for being a little less regimented. The New York Times featured an interesting debate on this topic recently called “The Crush of Summer Homework,”

The pile of books and other vacation assignments appears to grow every year. Is all this homework beneficial or should children be given a break?

The piece goes on to feature opinions straight from top educators. Quite an interesting range of comments to say the least, from they need time to relax, to put them in school year-round. I fall somewhere in the middle.

For starters, I think summer reading is a great time to explore new books, but I don’t necessarily think those books should be assigned. The whole idea is to get children excited about reading, not to force them to read something they are not interested in. As a former English major, I do think certain books should be read by everyone, but exploring literature should be done with some guidance and accompanied by the type of discussion that could only take place during the school year.

I also think it’s unreasonable to expect the same volume of work to be completed over the summer as during the academic year. I don’t like to go on vacation and bring work with me, so why should my kids have to? But some schools assign in such a way that if you don’t work consistently all summer, you’ll fall behind and have to play catch-up in late August.

I can also remember being stressed out to get my book reports done, only to walk into school and have the teacher not even ask about or collect the summer assignments. How annoying is that? I was duped! Perhaps that’s when my anti-summer work sentiments first surfaced… Hmm…

On that note, I think it’s time to say goodbye to summer mode, and focus on helping my son make this kindergarten year a success.That is, as soon as I hear what you think about this topic!

Parents, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Happy September!

-Dawn Papandrea

When it comes to table manners, I am a die-hard supporter and I have some firm opinions on the matter. Manners are a must in my house, and I love the way it’s influencing my kids to be good guests in other homes, restaurants and settings. Are they perfect? Definitely not, but who is? But they also aren’t the kids yelling, screaming and making a scene anywhere. They just know better.

I am certain that my devotion to manners comes from how I was  raised. As a child, I knew the rules and, for the most part, followed them without thinking. Understanding the concept of manners has come in handy in my adult life. On the first day of my first semester at Barnard College, I dined with the president of the college. To be eating with someone so important to my education was nerve-wracking, to say the least. But I knew how to act in that scenario, so there was no added self-consciousness about how I was behaving … only that I would make a good impression.

Right now, someone, somewhere is saying, “Oh please, does this really matter? Who cares if you know the right fork to use?!?” It does matter. When it comes to important dinners and lunches, having good manners mean that how you sit and eat blends into the background and it’s your conversation that gets noticed. On the otherhand, if you have bad manners, that can overshadow anything you say at all. Talk about a bad impression … and really, would you rather be remembered for your excellent commentary on the state of health care reform or unseemly noises you made while you chewed your steak?

So parents, I encourage you. No matter how you were raised, it’s time to raise the bar on manners in your home so that your kids can go out in the world confident and certain in any eating situation. They will be better off for it.

My Top 5 Table Manner Rules

1. Wait for everyone to be served before eating.

2. Do not leave the table unless you’ve been excused or politely excused yourself.

3. No talking with your mouth full.

4. Do not touch your food with your fingers (unless it’s a finger food like corn on the cob)

5. Pause between bites — meals are not a race

The first time I took my oldest two children, Jacob and Isaac, out on a trip by myself, I was totally intimidated and overwhelmed. How on earth would I hold a baby and keep my then-two-year-old from bolting into traffic? What if I had to go to the bathroom? What if we had a poop blowout or other emergency? And how would I get them both around in a crowd?

Obviously, we lived to adventure another day. In fact, we did more than survive, since I’m now pretty unafraid to hit crowds with my larger-than-average family–even on those occasions that my husband’s not with me. It’s funny to me that I feel so much more comfortable now hitting the zoo or park or shopping center with five kids than I did years ago when I just had two, but experience has taught me that even a thoroughly outnumbered mom can keep things under control if she has the right tools. Here’s a look at a few different methods of getting around with your kids:

Strollers

My favorite single stroller for easy maneuvering through busy crowds–even one-handed–is our MacLaren Volo.  I had serious reservations about spending that much on an umbrella stroller, but we’ve gotten so much use out of it and it makes our outings so much easier that it’s been totally worth it.

If you have small kids close in age, double strollers can be appealing, but choose carefully: get one that’s too long and you’ll never make it around corners; one that’s too wide and you’ll hog up the whole sidewalk and won’t be able to make it through narrow doorways. Some doubles that have caught my eye recently include the Graco Quattro Duo (still pretty heavy, but shorter than a traditional tandem double and it can be steered with one hand), the Phil & Ted double jogger (pricy, I know, but just look at how sleek and compact that thing is—swoon!) and the Joovy Ultralight Caboose, which offers older kids an easy up-and-down perch to ride on when they get tired, but weighs in at just 21 lbs and isn’t much larger than a regular single stroller. And Joovy even makes a Caboose stroller with room for three.

Slings, front packs and backpacks

I’m a big fan of babywearing. Putting almost-six-month-old Clara in a sling or pack keeps my hands free to hang on tight to Owen and William (three and five)  in traffic-heavy or crowded areas.

We love our Ergo carrier—it’s so comfortable I almost don’t feel like I’m carrying a baby at all. Other great options include the Mod Mum (simple pouch sling for older babies who want to be up and down a lot), the Maya Wrap ring sling—comfy, customizable fit, great for longer wearing and smaller babies; and the Moby Wrap, which is basically a long piece of fabric you can wear a bunch of different (and very comfy) ways. For long hikes, especially in non-stroller-friendly terrain, a frame backpack can be a lifesaver. We’ve had our REI frame carrier for ten years and it’s still going strong.

Mix it up

When you’re on a long outing it can be really helpful to give yourself several options for carting kids around. Sometimes we bring a sling and umbrella stroller and let Owen ride when he’s tired. When he’s walking and I want a break, I can pop Clara into the stroller.

No matter how great the stroller or sling, shoulders and arms get tired, babies get bored of seeing the world from the same vantage point, and mixing it up keeps everyone in better spirits. Be creative. Our stroller is often used to cart snacks or a diaper bag while the kids are walking or being carried.

What are your favorite tools for getting your family around when you’re out and about? Share in the comments below!

I can remember walking back and forth to school with the world’s heaviest backpack everyday. Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you that it was uphill in the snow. But nevertheless, starting in about the second grade, I carried textbooks, workbooks, notebooks, a Trapperkeeper (remember those?), and other supplies on my little hunched over back. Our generation wasn’t concerned with “backpack safety” or “ergonomic” bookbags, and this is why the massage therapy industry is thriving today, thanks to our bad backs.

For our kids, though, backpack safety is all the rage, which is why every back-to-school season has news agencies reporting smart bookbag shopping tips and proper backpack carrying techniques. If you aren’t familiar with them, no worries — I did the homework for you and scoured for some of the best tips (ones that go beyond the obvious). Here goes…

First, the scary stat: In 2006, there were more than 7,300 backpack-related injuries in emergency rooms in the U.S., according to The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Pretty heavy stuff!

Now the tips:

I, for one, remember feeling very uncool if I wore my backpack on both shoulders, so I’d sling it over just one. Bad move!  Always have your child wear both straps, and select a bag that has extra padding for the shoulders. For what it’s worth, my right backpack-carrying shoulder plagues me to this day when I’m tense… coincidence?

Does your child walk home from school? If so, choose a backpack with reflectors on it so they are more visible to buses and cars.

Load the heaviest items closest to the student’s back to help distribute weight evenly. Good physics-related tip that makes sense, plus the more delicate items like their must-have Mott’s juice boxes won’t get crushed.

Now here’s some math for you: The 15% rule. A backpack should weigh less than 15 percent of a child’s body weight. So if your child is 50 pounds, the backpack should weigh no more than 7 pounds. Natually, you won’t be pulling out the scale every morning, but if your child has to carry an unreasonable amount of books everyday, speak with the teacher about a possible solution. Perhaps there are books that can stay in school or remain at home.

Look for extra compartments and side and front pockets to stow away pointy objects (rulers and compasses, for starters). But let your child know now to leave anything valuable in a pouch that can be opened behind their backs. When I was in grad school (and should have known better), someone stole my digital voice recorder by simply unzipping my bag while I looked the other way.

And, of course, my number one tip: Let your child choose a backpack that’s affordable for you, but also cool for them. After all, they’ll be hauling it all year, and it may feel less heavy with Spiderman or Hannah Montana on it.

So, moms, what is your child’s backpack of choice this year?

My kids and I are out and about a lot, whether on road trips, day trips, or just trips to the beach. Since there are five of them and only one of me and–especially during the summer–we’re often all out together, I often get questions from people who want to know just how we manage to get out the door in the first place, let alone actually make it through a trip without falling apart.

I won’t lie–sometimes it does all fall apart, and I wind up abandoning that day at the zoo for something easier, like an afternoon in the backyard, where it doesn’t matter if one of the kids can’t find his shoes…or his pants.

But most of the time we make it work. How? I have a few strategies that keep us on the move with relatively little fuss.

Be prepared…but not too prepared. When you’re packing a bag for five kids, efficiency matters a lot. Sure, the baby needs diapers, and we’ll probably need snacks and drinks if we’re going to be away from home for a while. But I don’t necessarily need a change of clothes for each child, ten water bottles (heavy!), a bag full of toys, and a full meal complete with protein, starch and vegetable unless we’ll be gone a really long time.

My kids long ago learned the fine art of entertaining themselves with a stick or their fingers because there’s no room in that bag for their Matchbox car collection. When they’re old enough to care about bringing a toy with them, they’re old enough to carry that toy themselves…and they usually make sure it’s something that can fit in a pocket.When it comes to snacks, I think small, portable, and minimal clean-up required, like a piece of fruit or Mott’s no-sugar-added applesauce cup. The less there is to unpack when we get home, the more fun our adventures are for everyone involved…Mom included.

Be proactive. We learned the hard way (“Where are your shoes? What do you mean, you don’t know?!”) that certain house rules make being a family on the go a lot easier. First of all, shoes are always to come off by the front door–no exceptions. It’s easier on the carpet and easier on my sanity, since they don’t mysteriously get lost. Same thing goes for hoodies and coats and mittens and hats. Each has its own special place by the front door and we all take the time to put those things were they go when we arrive home. And since I’ve got a forgetful streak of my own, I found a place by the front door for my keys and purse, too.

Get ready in stages. First, I gather everyone by the front door. Then, I have everyone put on their shoes. Next, (in the winter) it’s coats and hats. Once kids are totally ready, they’re to sit on the sofa and wait for everyone, and we all walk out the door when we’re ready. This keeps the ‘getting out the door’ part from feeling too chaotic and ensures that kids don’t wander off and get absorbed in some project right when I’m trying to get them to jump into getting ready.

Walk whenever possible. Sure it takes longer to walk than to drive, but the absolute worst part about taking a bunch of kids out is getting them all strapped into their car seats, double-checking to make sure nobody is standing behind the minivan before I back out (I’m paranoid like that), finding a parking place, trying to keep some of them from bolting into the parking lot while I’m getting the rest out of their seats, trying to transfer sleeping kids from car seats to strollers…I’m stressed out just thinking about it! Walking isn’t only good for you and a great way to get in some bonding time–it also makes outings a whole lot more hassle-free.

What are your secrets for taking the stress out of family adventures? Share in the comments below!