summer Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Happy Healthy Kids

5 Common Summer Ailments in Kids

July 16, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

Most of us associate sick days with wintertime. That’s when storefronts and commercials are dominated by cough syrup and Kleenex; not now, when sunscreen and beach balls take center stage. So when our kids spike a fever or complain of a sore throat on vacation, it may take us a bit longer to catch on—and, frankly, accept—that they’re under the weather.

As much of a drag as summer ailments are, it’s important they’re on every parents’ radar. Some health problems that go along with warm weather are as, if not more, serious to kids’ health than the coughs, colds, and flu that circulate during the school year. To get the scoop on what pediatricians are seeing in the office right now, I talked to my friend Laura Scharf, M.D., a pediatrician at Quincy (Ma.) Pediatric Associates who also serves as a physician at Camp Becket in the Berkshires, as well as HHK’s advisors Naline Lai, M.D. and Julie Kardos, M.D. of Two Peds in a Pod. Here, they weigh in on how to recognize and treat some of kids’ most common summer ailments. (In each case, be sure to consult with your child’s own healthcare provider for individualized treatment.)

Coxsackie (Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease)
Common in kids, Coxsackie often spreads around pools, sprinkler parks, public bathrooms, and other “wet” places. Part of the large family of enteroviruses that live in our gut, different Coxsackie strains cause different symptoms, but hallmarks are a high fever and small, sometimes painful blisters around the mouth, hands, feet, and sometimes buttocks. “A new strain we’re seeing can also cause a more extensive rash, often on the lower legs,” says Dr. Scharf. Kids can also get runny noses and pinkeye.
How to treat: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen (administered as directed on the label) can control fever and pain. Soft, cool foods and drinks like yogurt and milkshakes can help soothe blisters in the mouth and throat. Symptoms usually go away in 3-7 days.

Summer Colds
Believe it or not, we’re seeing a lot of colds in the office, says Dr. Lai. Often caused by different enterovirus strains than the ones that cause Coxsackie, these colds may bring on a fever and cough. They circulate where a lot of kids congregate, like camps and daycare. “So it’s not surprising we saw a spike after the July 4th holiday,” Dr. Lai says.
Prevent and treat: Viral colds can’t be eradicated with an antibiotic. Rest and lots of fluids is the best prescription. Your child should feel better within a week; if not, see a doc.

Lyme Disease
Prevalent in the northeast, Pacific northwest, and midwest, particularly in woodsy areas (but not always), Lyme disease is the most common illness spread by infected ticks. (Other tick-borne illnesses include babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. For a complete rundown, with geographic trends, check out the CDC’s page, here.) Kids who end up testing positive for Lyme come to the doctor’s office with a nagging fever, aches and pains, and sometimes a bulls-eye-shaped rash. Read more about diagnosing and treating Lyme in this previous HHK post I did with Lyme expert Nevena Zubcevik, D.O.).
Prevent and treat: Apply sprays with 20% picaridin or 30% DEET on your child before he or she goes outside for long periods, especially around wooded or grassy areas. See a doctor right away if he or she has a strange, circular rash or unexplained, recurring fevers or achiness (without other symptoms). Lyme can be diagnosed through blood tests (though false negatives are common, so be sure to follow up if symptoms persist), and treated successfully with antibiotics, especially if caught early.

Rashes
“Summer is rash season,” says Dr. Scharf. Some skin flare-ups are associated with illnesses, such as Coxsackie or Lyme, above. But our peds are also seeing a lot of bumps and welts due to photosensitivity (a reaction to excessive sunlight), contact dermatitis (sensitivity to a material or a product, often a new sunscreen), heat rash (when sweat gets trapped under clogged pores), poison ivy, and bug bites.
Prevent and treat: Limit sun exposure, especially if you have a sun-sensitive kid, and do a patch test to make sure a new sunscreen or product agrees with your child before sending him or her out for the day (sensitive kids often do best with mineral-based sunscreens with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.) Teach your kids to avoid overgrown wooded areas and keep to paths to avoid poisinous plants. Dressing your child in loose, lightweight clothes can help ward off heat rash. If rashes develop, consult your pediatrician or dermatologist; treatments range from calamine lotion to topical steroids in more extreme cases, to temper welts and stave off itching. It’s important to keep sores clean with soap and water, and to teach kids try to avoid scratching too much, especially with unclean hands. “We see a lot of infected bug bites from this, “says Dr. Lai.

Stomach Bugs
Foodborne illnesses peak in summer months. Bacteria on food grows fastest in warm, moist conditions, and people are often cooking and eating far away from refrigerators and trusted heat sources that can regulate storage and cooking temperatures (think of picnics and beach barbecues). Illnesses usually strike within minutes or hours of eating a contaminated food, and can be mild or severe, causing abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and sometimes fever. Kids can also pick up bugs from swimming in—and often swallowing—contaminated water. Between 1978 and 2010, norovirus was the second-leading cause of illness outbreaks associated with untreated recreational water, such as lakes, according to the CDC.
Prevent and treat: Clean hands frequently when preparing food, and be sure to keep food that’s susceptible to bacteria (like raw meats) packaged tightly and separated from other edibles. Keep raw produce and meats cold with frequently changed ice packs if outdoors, and cook foods to recommended temperatures (145 for beef steaks, 160 for ground meats, and 165 for pork). The USDA recommends bringing a meat thermometer to picnics and cookouts. If a queasy stomach strikes, keep a child hydrated with plenty of non-acidic, non-dairy fluids. When kids are swimming, especially in untreated lakes or ponds, make sure they avoid swallowing water, and wash up afterwards.You can also replenish them gradually with small sips of oral rehydration solutions made with electrolytes.

Photo credit: Dave Jacquin via Flickr, cc license 2.0

3 Summer Cookie Recipes

July 14, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

When it comes to summertime treats, cookies are hard to beat. They’re easy to pack for picnics, camp lunches, and road trips, and they can withstand hot temps and grabby hands in a way that most other desserts can’t.

And yet, a “summer cookie” search on the Internet yields mainly big, hard sugar cookies professionally frosted to look like hot-day doodads—flip-flops and what not—that are as impossible to make as they are unpleasant to eat (believe me, I’ve tried).

Over the past few summers, I keep coming back to three cookie recipes that are easy to make and perfect for warm summer days: S’more Cookies, Lemonade Cookies, and Flower Jam Thumbprints. They aren’t the healthiest snacks in the world, but that’s why we reserve them as “treats.” With a big glass of lemonade or a cold cup of milk at a BBQ or after a long day of sports camp, they really hit the spot.

S’MORES COOKIES

There are many ways to make these spinoffs of the campfire treat, but this is our favorite. The ground graham crackers disappear into the cookie, and adding the marshmallows at the end of baking prevents them from melting and making the cookies sticky and over-chewy. Makes about 24 cookies.

Ingredients
1 stick slightly softened butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup finely crushed graham crackers
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, cream butter and sugars, and add egg and vanilla. In separate bowl, stir together flour, crushed graham crackers, salt, and baking soda. Add dry ingredients into wet and mix until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough in bowl for half hour or freeze for 10-15 minutes until stiff but still workable. Drop rounded, heaping teaspoons on baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Take cookie sheets out, and gently push 2-3 mini marshmallows into the top each cookie. Bake for 4-5 more minutes until cookies are just golden on edges and marshmallows are just softened a bit. Don’t overbake.

LEMONADE COOKIES
With just six ingredients, these couldn’t be easier. Just like a sugar cookie, only softer than most and more refreshing. Makes 28-30 cookies.
Ingredients
2 sticks slightly softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup thawed frozen lemonade concentrate
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar, and add egg. In separate bowl, stir together flour and baking soda. Add dry ingredients into wet, alternating with lemonade, and mix until smooth. Refrigerate dough in bowl for half hour or freeze for 10-15 minutes until stiff but still workable. Drop rounded teaspoons onto baking sheet and bake for 8-9 minutes. They will stay lightly colored. Don’t overbake.

Our (edible!) garden nasturtiums.

FLOWER JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES
Inspired by a recipe over at Butter, Sugar, Flowers, these are just basic, delicious thumbprint cookies, with the added fun of mixing edible, just-slightly spicy nasturtium flowers into your favorite jam or preserves. (Nasturtiums are one of my favorite garden plants to grow on a windowsill or garden. You can also buy them at most farmer’s markets or specialty grocery stores.) Feel free to omit the flowers. They’re still great tasting and fun to make with kids. Makes 24 cookies.
Ingredients
2 sticks slightly softened butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
1/4 cup favorite preserves (I used raspberry, but apricot is great, too)
5-6 nasturtium flowers
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons fruit juice (orange, cranberry, lemon, etc.)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325. In large bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar, and mix in flour and salt until smooth. Refrigerate dough in bowl for half hour or freeze for 10-15 minutes until stiff but still workable. While dough is chilling, mince flower petals into tiny pieces. In small, separate bowl, stir together jam and minced flower. Drop rounded teaspoons onto baking sheet. Push thumb tip or finger tip just slightly into top of cookie to make an indent. Drop a quarter teaspoon of jam mixture into each well. Bake for about 18 minutes, until edges of cookie are just golden. While cookies are baking, mix powdered sugar and fruit juice until smooth. Put mixture into plastic bag, snip tiny hole in corner, and squeeze gently to drizzle over completely cooled cookies.

How to Choose Kids’ Sunscreen

July 1, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

Step into just about any pharmacy in America right now, and you’ll see an aisle filled with neon-colored sunscreen bottles—and a bewildered-looking mom or two standing in front of it. I’ve been there—just last week, in fact, when I realized that my boys needed to pack their own sunscreen bottles for camp. But what was supposed to be a five-minute stop at CVS turned into a 30-minute morning-spoiler, in which I alternately studied labels and scanned scary website reports about how listed ingredients might throw my kids’ hormonal development out of whack.

We all know by now that sunscreen is essential for protecting our kids from skin cancer and future sun damage (after a childhood spent comparing sun blisters with my cousins every July 4th, I count this as major progress). But it remains frustratingly difficult to find straightforward information about what formulations, among the sea of choices at the store, we should be using (or avoiding). In search of some trustworthy advice, I reached out to Albert Yan, M.D., the chief of dermatology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, with whom I’ve worked on articles about kids’ skin problems in the past. Thanks to insights from Dr. Yan and my friend Julie Karen, M.D., a mom as well as a dermatologist at CompleteSkinMD in New York City, I’ve come up with five facts every parent should know before stocking up on sunscreen for summer’s most scorching month.

1. Narrow your choices down to sunscreens with SPF 30 and “broad-spectrum” coverage.
Theoretically, the higher the SPF, the longer you’re protected against sunburn-causing UVB rays; but beyond SPF 30, especially, gains are negligible. “Broad-spectrum” sunscreens are essential for protecting skin not just from sunburn-causing UVB rays, but also dangerous UVA rays. Sunscreens that provide broad spectrum protection will say so on the label (the FDA monitors this), but you can also check for zinc oxide, titanium oxide, Mexoryl SX, or certain chemical combos (such as homosalate or octisalate with avobenzone) in the list of active ingredients. Don’t assume you have to buy ‘kids’ sunscreens: these formulas aren’t necessarily different than others.

2. Mineral-based sunscreen is ideal if your kids tolerate it, but chemical sunscreens are also safe for most.
Because titanium dioxide and zinc oxide work by providing a physical barrier on top of the skin rather than being absorbed into it, sunscreens made from them are great for those with sensitive skin (like babies and children with eczema). But many kids dislike titanium and zinc’s thick feel and the white-ish cast they leave on the skin—and as a result, they or their parents may apply formulations hastily, and resist reapplication. If this tends to be the case, and sensitivity isn’t an issue, Drs. Yan and Karen recommend chemical sunscreens instead. “Above all, I ask families to buy something that their kids will tolerate and be willing to use,” says Dr. Yan.
What about the chemical ingredient oxybenzone, which the recent Environmental Working Group (EWG) report on sunscreens was chiefly concerned about? “When administered at high doses to animals, it has shown to mimic the effects of estrogen, but the doses were extremely high and used over a long period of time,” says Dr. Yan. A recent editorial on the website of the Skin Cancer Foundation reported on a CDC study that found that oxybenzone is already prevalent in our bodies and “has not been associated with adverse health effects,” but did note that researchers called for more studies into the chemical’s effect on human bodies. For parents who are skeptical, Dr. Yan recommends sticking with zinc or titanium or choosing a chemical sunscreen that doesn’t contain oxybenzone. (Our current household favorite is Ocean Potion Protect & Nourish SPF 30, which spreads well, smells great—like lemon layer cake—and contains no oxybenzone.)

3. Sunscreen sprays can be used—with caution.
Sprays have gotten a bad rap lately, mostly over concerns that children might inhale aerosol particles when they’re being applied. The FDA is in the process of investigating the safety of aerosol sprays, but has yet to come out with definitive guidelines on their use. In the meantime, my doc sources say they like sprays for their ease of use and light feel, but with some caveats. Dr. Karen worries about how well they cover the entire body, so usually starts with a good lotion-based sunscreen on her kids, and relies on sprays for easy reapplication. When kids are in and out of water, Dr. Yan prefers the thicker coverage of a lotion or gel, but in other circumstances, gives parents the green light on sprays. To reduce the possibilities of inhalation when using on facial areas, he does suggest that people apply aerosol sprays to their own hands and then rub it on the face, or look into newer, non-aerosol sprays (they look like pump bottles).

4. Reapply more than you think.
When patients’ parents say their kids are burning even though they’re putting on sunscreen, Dr. Yan usually discovers they aren’t reapplying often enough. Diligent reapplication every 2 to 4 hours, especially during water-based activities, is key. And don’t skimp when it’s cloudy. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 70-80 percent of the sun’s rays—above all, UVA rays—go through clouds and fog.

5. Don’t rely on just sunscreen for sun safety.
Warwick Morison, M.D., chair of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s photobiology committee, calls sunscreen “just a part of a package of protection.” Hats, rash guards or tightly woven shirts, and frequent breaks from the sun can go a long way toward keeping kids safe and happy during a long day at the beach, park, or pool.

How to Take Great Photos Of Your Kids

May 28, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

There’s nothing like a beautiful or funny photo of a child to help remind us of the big-picture joys of raising kids. Even as years and legs stretch on, a photo will capture a stage or moment that may otherwise be stolen by the messiness of day-to-day life.

When it comes to memorializing our kids in 2-D, smartphones are a mixed blessing. The good: We can take tons of pictures, at any given moment. And the bad: We can take tons of pictures, at any given moment. We’ve devolved from point-and-shoot to point-and-tap, and too often, quality gets lost in quantity.

After discovering about three dozen crummy shots of blurry kids with blank expressions on my iPhone the other day, I decided it was time to get some legit advice on taking better pictures, before these irresistibly cute years pass by with few great photos to show for it. So I talked to the three moms I know who take the most unbelievably gorgeous, and seemingly effortless photos. My sister-in-law Susannah and friend Beth are amazing amateurs who are constantly taking and posting enviable shots of their children (they each have three). My high school friend Carolyn is a professional photographer who specializes in children’s and family portraits in Cincinnati (check out her website, Carolyn Bowles Photography, here.) They were kind enough to share their secrets to taking great photos of their kids and others’. Print out these tips and share them before summer vacation rolls around!

Susannah’s Tips

What’s your camera of choice? I always use the Canon EOS Rebel T3.

What settings do you use? I usually shoot in “full auto mode” (it automatically focuses, adjusts brightness, etc.) especially when taking photos of the kids on the move. I use portrait mode for holiday card photos, framed photos, etc. These are definitely my go-to, but in certain environments (beach, whatever), landscape and sports modes are also handy.

What time of day or positioning of sun is best? I always shoot with the sun behind my back so that it provides good, natural lighting. If you shoot with the sun facing the lens, you get hazy photos with lots of glare.

Stolen moments: Susannah took this photo of my oldest son and me in Martha’s Vineyard.

How do you get kids to look like they’re not being tortured in a photo? I generally take candids, which means I try to stay in the background, be as invisible as possible, and capture my kids in motion. I like to use my zoom feature, and take close-up photos of my kids’ faces, even when I’m far away. This allows me to capture really great, genuine moments without the groaning. For “staged” photos, my husband stands behind me and makes the kids laugh (pretending to trip over furniture is a go-to tactic). This helps generate genuine smiles in a staged setting.

What mistakes did you used to make? As I’ve become more experienced, I’ve really become more conscious of avoiding odd eyesores in the background (lawn furniture, bystanders, etc.)

Last piece of advice? Don’t be afraid to experiment and involve the kids—they love taking a picture or two.

Beth’s Tips

For water shots, Beth uses a Fuji Fine Pix point-and-shoot.

What’s your camera of choice? Sadly, most of my pictures end up being taken with my iPhone 5s, then cropped and edited. But when I’m really out to take pictures, I use a Nikon D40 SLR, most often with a 55-200mm zoom lens. You need to shoot from a distance with this, but that’s exactly why I love it: I can stay far away from the kids and get better candids, and I can really focus on details. I personally would rather capture the spark in one eye when a child is looking at something, than capture the 40 other things that could be going on in a standard frame. I also use a Fuji FinePix point-and-shoot in places where I don’t/can’t use my Nikon or iPhone—usually water-oriented things.

What settings do you use? As much as I can, I avoid using the flash, because I can never get the right tones. But if I have to use flash, then I deflect it/soften it using a bent index card. On my Nikon, I rely heavily on the automatic settings when I want dependable results, liking the portrait and action settings mostly. I also use iPhoto editing tools for adjusting color balance, cropping to get a better shot, etc. Very little that I share has not been at least re-framed.

Don't be afraid to break "the rules" of lighting.

Breaking “the rules” of lighting: Beth’s daughter at the Cape.

What time of day or positioning of sun is best? My favorites are the start and end of the days—it’s just good light. A full shadow is better than dappled shadows, and an overcast day is easier to shoot than a super sunny day (especially on snow and sand.) And some of my favorite shots break all the rules of lighting … I love evening backlighting and getting really dark subjects, especially if the kids are at play. And, when something is close but not quite right, playing with exposure and contrast after the fact can make a huge difference.

How do you get kids to not look like they’re being tortured in a photo? After a few horrific portrait sessions, I decided I’d rather have happy candids than “perfect” portraits. For those family pictures, though, it’s key that kids not be hungry, tired, or forced to sit while other kids are throwing a frisbee or eating ice cream. And not before opening gifts on Christmas morning. The best pictures tend to be taken at places where the kids are authentically happy anyway: with friends, at the beach, during an Easter Egg hunt or a birthday party.

What mistakes did you used to make? High expectations are the seed of disappointment: I no longer tell the kids that this is important to me. That’s the kiss of death. One mistake I have made again and again is waiting until the end of an event to try for a “memory” shot” (“Great Grandma is here, let’s get everyone in a picture..”). But the kids have been excused, Great Grandma is worried about the time, and no one is happy—and no one looks happy—even if you manage to get the shot. Do it at the beginning, or while everyone is sitting and eating. It’s way easier to put a plate down for 30 seconds than to reconvene everyone for a forced photo once the event is waning.

Last piece of advice? You can’t get good pictures if you don’t take pictures: Always have a camera with you, and take a lot of shots. And take a lot of them at once: On the iPhone, use the burst feature. A lot of point-and-shoots and SLRs have a version of it, too. Even if you get no perfect shots, they’ll have been taken so closely together that you have decent odds of photoshopping open eyes into a picture where one kid is caught mid-blink and everything else is great.

Carolyn’s Tips

What’s your camera of choice? I love the Canon 5D and it has been my go-to camera for many years. It’s amazing when paired with a lens like my favorite, the 50mm 1.2. I always tell people a great lens to start learning about photography is the 50mm 1.4, either Canon or Nikon. It’s called a prime lens because it’s at a set focal length. So, you move on your feet to move close to or far away from your subject. It’s an amazing lens and really helps you learn how to shoot in manual mode.

What settings do you use? I always set it on manual and make adjustments between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The great thing about digital cameras is that you can practice, practice, and practice some more without wasting money on film. Plus, you can get instant feedback by checking the back screen so you can make adjustments and get the exposure right.

Carolyn Bowles Photography

What time of day or positioning of sun is best? My favorite is a few hours before sunset. I love that soft, glowy, even light that you get when the sun starts to go down for the day. Now, while I encourage all my clients to choose this time of day, sometimes it just doesn’t work out and we have to shoot mid-day. In that case, I’ll find nice open shade so I don’t have to worry about the sun. I may need to move around my subject multiple times to find the most pleasing light before I start snapping away. Take your time to get the set up right with the light and you’ll be so happy you did.

How do you get kids to not look like they’re being tortured in a photo? I like to start every session by telling the kids how much fun we’re going to have. This is in big contrast to some parents who want to tell their kids to quickly smile and then they can get a treat. In my experience, that tactic rarely works because the child never fully settles into being photographed. He/she instead does a fake smile super quick just to get to the treat. But if you make the session fun by playing games, blowing bubbles, going on a nature walk,

Carolyn Bowles Photography

swinging with parents, running in circles, having a tea party, or whatever is of interest, that child will have a blast and be engaged and forget that he/she is even being photographed. That’s where the magic starts and you get genuine, documentary style portraits that every parent wants to have of their child. That’s not to say that kids don’t have meltdowns, get upset, or feel tired. In that case, I always encourage parents to have snacks and drinks on hand. Sometimes we even stop a session to read a book and just take a break with no photos. When we have a specific pose in mind or something we want to accomplish, I find that hardly ever goes well. But if we see where the photos lead us and what the kids do, it leads to unique portraits that tell the story of that individual child.

What mistakes did you used to make or do you see other parents make? A mistake I often see parents do is to start to get upset themselves that a photo session may not go as they had planned. Again, it takes much patience, ease, and go-with-the-flow attitude when photographing children.

Any final tips or tricks? One, I would encourage everyone to try moving toward manual mode. Start by setting your camera to AP mode (“aperture-priority”). In this case, you choose the aperture (how much light comes into the camera) and then the camera chooses the shutter speed and ISO. It’s the first step into seeing how these three technical things work together. Once you get the hang of it, you can eventually get into manual mode and see your photography start to take off! Two, get a good photo management system to help you organize your photos and not hog space on your device. After I take my photos, I upload them immediately to Lightroom (an Adobe app), choose my favorites to process and delete the ones I don’t like. Finally, print your portraits! Get them off your hard drive and actually enjoy them. The look of joy when I hand over a wall gallery of prints, a masterpiece canvas, or an album of a session to a family is priceless and always reminds me to print my own photos.

Nurturing Selflessness in a Selfie Generation

May 15, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

I was really moved by the recent news story about the high school quarterback who made good on a fourth-grade promise to bring his friend Mary, who has Down Syndrome, to prom. For so many kids, prom is a living selfie, in which painstaking choices of date, dress, transportation, and after-party are all made with an intent to prove to peers just how fabulous they are. This kid decided to make an old pal feel fabulous instead (and isn’t she just about the prettiest prom date you’ve ever seen?)

Some uplifting research suggests that humans—Ayn Rand be damned—are wired to think beyond themselves and their own needs. One well-reported study of 18 month-olds in the journal Science found that toddlers are quick to help others who are visibly struggling with a task—such as pick up a book that a grown-up has dropped—without being asked. But I fear we may be raising a lot of kids whose altruism is less instinctive, and more reactive—a means to a bigger allowance or better resume. Studied selflessness is certainly better than selfishness, but still, wouldn’t it be great if we could nudge more kids into more good deeds for no other reason than because they feel it’s the “right” thing to do—or simply because it might put a smile on someone else’s face?

In a previous post, I shared some tips from the Parent Management Training Institute about the importance of modeling generous behavior and becoming a “storyteller of kindness” to help nurture empathy in very young children. Last week, at our local bookstore, I spied a slim, not-so-new little paperback that might help slightly older kids start thinking beyond themselves independently. Written a few years ago by Suzy Becker (better known lately for her Kate the Great series), Kids Make it Better presents young readers with 24 problems and asks them to write their ideas for a solution and draw a picture about it. Some examples: “Things are not always equal for boys and girls. What would you do to fix that?” Or, “What would you do for people who don’t have homes?” And, “Some people are always shy and everyone is shy sometimes. How can you help a shy person feel less shy?” At the end of the book, there’s even an action plan section which helps kids put their ideas to work in real life. While it’s probably ideal for grade schoolers, the language is so simple and kid-friendly that you could easily read the book aloud to pre-readers and prompt them to share their thoughts verbally and through pictures.

It occurs to me that even more than camps, classes, trips, and Xtra Math, this might be a worthwhile activity for the kids to do this summer. I’m tucking this away on the shelf to bring out on summer evenings, when everyone could stand for a little quiet, calm, and reflection. I can’t wait to hear their ideas.

Photo credits: Noo via Flickr ; Lisa Troutman Moser via Facebook

Create a Fairy Garden (or Wizard Garden)

April 24, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

With three boys, I never had much hope for getting my kids interested in dollhouses. But recently, in our favorite local garden center, we came across something better: fairy gardens.

Apparently, these miniature gardens are developing a cult following. While it may seem a bit twee as a grown-up hobby, it’s a terrific activity to do with kids. Like dollhouses, you can create a pretend world, but this is a much more magical, mystical, living world, with growing plants and water and other natural items amid little figurines.

If you have a child who’s firmly against anything to do with sprites in gauzy, pastel dresses, know you need not make “fairy garden”; you can, as we did, make a wizard, elf, or gnome garden, with magical men and spooky little plants, like cactuses and interesting vine-like ground cover.

Fairy or Wizard Garden How-To

1. Find a tray, pot, or a base that is at least four inches deep. If you want to make a larger fairy garden, consider a galvanized tub or even a wheelbarrow.

2. Fill with several inches inches of good potting soil and, if desired, some moss.

3. Decorate your garden with 2-3 small plants per square foot. Make sure the plants have similar sunlight and water needs. Miniature succulents and ground cover plants work well.

4. Use or purchase miniature figurines at a garden store or online. Our local garden center, Volante Farms, sells products made by Georgetown Home and Garden (including the cool wizard, below left). Plow and Hearth, Enchanted Garden, and The Fairy Garden Store also have a great selection. Pet stores also sell little cottages and colorful rocks in their fish section.

5. Use found rocks, chipped pottery, or tiles to make pathways or other designs throughout your garden.

6. Let your child place the tray in his or her windowsill, the kitchen, or in a protected area outside, and set a spray bottle or little watering can nearby as a reminder to keep the soil moist. Make a watering schedule he or she can stick to.

New Kids’ Clothing Line—and Free Shipping!

March 31, 2015 by Kelley 2 Comments

At some point in the past decade, well-made, simple kids’ clothing became a seriously endangered species. As soon as you think you’ve landed on a perfectly nice blue shirt, you discover it’s covered in bubble letters, or leprechauns, or Phineas and Ferb. Dresses seem styled either for a baby doll or a Pussycat Doll. Even khakis are complicated, with buttons that stymie even nimble-fingered grown-ups. And just about everything—just ask my oldest son—is scratchy.

That’s why I’m grateful for the launch, today, of Primary, a new, totally original, basics-based clothing line that combines practicality, cuteness, comfort, and value. The company is offering 32 “essential” pieces in soft, long-wearing materials and delicious colors, from pool to petal to sunshine, all online. Everything is under $25. And when you enter the coupon code HHK at checkout anytime between now and May 15, you get free shipping on that order and all others—no minimum—for a whole year.

Full disclosure: Co-founder and CEO Galyn Bernard was my college roommate and is a dear friend of mine. Does that make me biased? Yes, but for the best of reasons: Galyn is just about the smartest, savviest, hardest-working and fun mom I know. If anyone is going to reform the overpriced-cheetah-print landscape that is kids’ clothing today, it’s her and her equally accomplished partner, Christina Carbonell, with whom Galyn worked in brand development at Quidsi (which owns and operates Diapers.com, YoYo.com and others). I asked Galyn a few questions to get a better sense of what’s in store for Primary.

Q: Why Primary?

A: After more than a dozen years shopping for clothes for our own kids, Christina and I still didn’t have a go-to for the stuff our kids wear every day. Everything in the market just seemed more expensive and harder to shop for than it should be. I think we were especially sensitive to it because we spent so much time at Diapers.com figuring out how to get busy parents their diapers and formula as quickly as possible. And we just wanted to be able to shop for basic kids clothes the way we used to shop for diapers—where it is incredibly easy to find the kind you like and buy more of them in bigger sizes whenever you need to. No other kids clothing brand is focused on this kind of easy experience. Through an online only sales model and a direct supply chain, Primary will offer quality, essential clothing for kids (newborn to 10 years), all priced under $25.

Boys’ polo, $16

Q. What were the very first Primary items you wanted to design for your own kids?

A. Sundress, girls’ shorts, and a polo were at the top of the list. Our girls wear a sundress everyday when it’s warm, and we wanted a well-priced classic version that was easy for school, playing, or going out to dinner. Plus, ours is reversible! Our kids refused to wear shorts that weren’t gym shorts because stiff fabrics and fussy closures, so we rethought a “nice short” that is comfortable and easy to wear. Finally, a nice, relaxed modern jersey polo for boys and girls was a must.

The dress, $16

Q. What are 1-2 must-have items for spring?
We really curated the assortment so that everything is a must-have, but if you have to choose, go for the boys’ jersey polo (soft, easy version of the classic in a ton of colors); boys’ gym short (slightly slimmer cut and great quality fabric work just as well outside of basketball practice); girls’ knit dress (amazing colors and price point and a no brainer for getting out the door fast and being happy all day long); and the girls’ capri legging (great, wide no-roll waistband and soft fabric with lots of stretch).

There you have it. Happy spring shopping, all. Don’t forget to plug in HHK when checking out before May 15 for a year’s worth of free shipping.

Gardening with Kids: Start Now!

March 24, 2015 by Kelley 1 Comment

Let’s face it: We all like and value spending time with our children, but you can play only so many games of hide-and-seek before wanting to crawl under the bed and never get found. A few years ago, I discovered an activity with children that combines the best of all worlds: fun, education, kid-friendly messiness, and adult-friendly productivity. It’s gardening—and not the plant-some-pansies-in a-sunhat sort. Last year, the boys and I grew enough romaine, baby carrots, and cucumbers to keep these items off the grocery bill for the better part of spring and summer.

Science makes a case for gardening with kids, too. Studies have shown that gardening can boost kids’ self esteem, a sense of ownership and pride, relationships with family members, a taste for fruits and veggies, and even academic performance.

My first year of gardening, I made a lot of mistakes, and almost gave up. Like baking, gardening is a science, and small missteps, not to mention weird weather and days when life gets in the way of watering, can mean curtains for a crop. I overwatered and drowned seedlings; I forgot to regularly pick my basil and it bolted and got tough; I crowded my carrots and they grew skimpy and stringy; and nothing became of the raspberries at all. There’s still a patch in the upper left hand corner of our tiny garden where, mysteriously, nothing but weeds will grow. But I keep at it, because it’s something the kids and I genuinely enjoy doing together three seasons out of the year. Here, on the right, is what our little patch looked like at the end of last summer.

Chioggia, golden, and bulls blood beets, grown by Marion Mass and her kids to sell to Puck Restaurant in Doylestown, PA.

Last week, I had the pleasure of talking to Marion Mass, M.D., a pediatrician at Jellinek Pediatrics in Doylestown, PA and a contributor to Two Peds in a Pod. Dr. Mass is a green thumb and then some: she and her three children have been growing—and growing, and growing—a garden for more than five years now. At first, they planted just four or five veggies in a small patch; now, they have more than 1,500 square feet of plants, including heirloom potatoes, tomatoes, and beets, among other exotic vegetables, to sell to individuals and one local restaurant.

Marion Mass’s daughter and friends, planting potatoes

With Dr. Mass’s help, I’ve made a checklist of all things you should be doing now to get a successful garden going this spring. We know this checklist, below, might sound daunting, but trust me, it’s doable, and worth it. And above all, says Dr. Mass, don’t give up. “Too many people start a garden, fail with one vegetable, and decide they can’t do it,” she says. “But you have to think of each planting as an experiment.” And what better message to send to your child then to try something new, have something fail, learn from it, and try again?

Gardening with Kids: Late March-Early April Must-Dos

	Select a spot for your garden. For your first year, 16-24 square feet (4x4, 2x8, 3x7, etc.) is plenty big enough. It should be in a place that gets about six hours of sun per day, has good drainage, and is close enough to a water source that a long hose can reach it.
	Decide what you want to grow and eat, and when. The Farmer's Almanac has a great site that allows you to plug in your zip code and see what you can successfully grow at different times of the year. They even have kid-friendly vegetable graphics on the chart that will help kids follow along. Don't be overly ambitious: Start with 1-3 veggies and maybe some herbs in the early spring and again in late spring. For an easy-to-grow first year, Dr. Mass recommends planning for lettuce and radishes in the early spring and tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans in the late spring/early summer.
	Purchase seeds. Home Depot and Loews carry a big selection. You can also find relatively affordable organic seeds at Burpee, Peaceful Farm and Garden Supply, Seeds of Change, and even Amazon.
	If you want to get a jump start on growing and get kids excited, start seeds indoors. This is best for plants with a long growing season, like tomatoes. It requires a sunny windowsill, some small starter pots or trays, and a seedling starter mix. Follow seed packet instructions and have kids help you mist with a spray bottle to keep moist (but not soggy) once or twice a day. Don't sweat it if seedlings fail; you can start seeds directly in ground according to planting guide above, or later in the spring, purchase seedlings from your local gardening center.
	Buy supplies, if needed, to prepare your garden plot. I used empty space in a mulch bed on the side of the house, and edged the space with these surprisingly real-looking, easy-to-install polyethylene "rock" strips from Home Depot. If you don't have that, you can dig up grass in your chosen plot (good instructions here), or opt for an easy raised bed, which sits right on top of the grass. Home Depot carries easy-assembly raised bed kits like this 4x4 plot by Greene's Fence. No yard? Put a tiny elevated bed on a sunny deck or patio space and plan for 1-2 vegetables and 1-2 herbs.
	Buy tools. Keep it simple: a trowel for working the soil, a hand rake, and a spade (for everyone in the family) works. Try this ergonomic four-piece kit for you and older children and this kid-friendly set for little ones. Soft, not-too-thick gloves are a must. Add a long hose if yours won't reach your spot, and a Dramm Wand in your kids' fave color to attach to your hose for easy, gentle watering children can manage.

This week, we planted seeds for baby romaine lettuce, nasturtium flowers, and our kids’ very favorite thing to grow and pick, Danvers 126 6-inch “half carrots” (named after the Massachusetts town where the market gardeners who developed them lived), in pots on the windowsill. There’s still snow on the ground, but as soon as it melts, we’ll clean out the garden, work in some fresh compost, and plant lettuce. What are you planning on growing? Send me your pics and tips—I’ll be doing gardening posts every month or so from now through the start of the next school year.

Top photo credit: Shutterstock

Orange Juice Sherbet

August 22, 2014 by Kelley Leave a Comment

Not all kids love fruit-based ice creams—one of my sons once wondered why the strawberries in ice cream “are hard like rocks”—but I have yet to meet a kid who doesn’t say yes to sherbet. There’s something about the creamy tang and bright colors that appeals to little and big kids both.

(A quick aside: Sherbet—not sherbert!—is typically made with pureed fruit or fruit juice, sugar, and milk or cream. Sorbet is the same, minus the dairy, and thus, not nearly as rich or delicious. I’m sorry if this is obvious, but I made and scooped homemade ice cream in a Jersey Shore town during one college summer, and seize every opportunity I can to drop some frozen-dessert knowledge. Don’t even get me started on water ice.)

Ok, back to sherbet: The beauty of it, other than the fact that it contains a few extra vitamins than your average ice cream given the fruit juice base, is that it’s super-easy to make. No ice cream maker needed, at least for my recipe. This is important to me, since a decade of living in closet-sized Manhattan apartments prevents me from comfortably acquiring any appliance that I won’t use at least once a week. (You will need a food processor, which I suspect is a tool that most moderately dedicated home cooks own due to its utility for many basic recipes, like soups and sauces and such. If you own an ice cream maker and not a food processor, my instinct is that you are probably a really fun person, and that I’d like to get to know you one day. But you might look for a different sherbet recipe here.)

My favorite type of sherbet to make is orange sherbet. Why? Because there is a 98% chance that you have every single ingredient needed in your kitchen right this instant, no matter what time of year it is or where you call home. You need OJ, whole milk or half and half, sugar, and a pinch of salt. That’s it! I’ve adapted this recipe from The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook, which I received from my mother during my first year out of college and still use more than any other cookbook to this day. Start the process in the morning because there is a ‘fridge and freezer transfer to undertake, and if your kids catch wind that you are making homemade sherbet, you’d better have it ready for after-dinner dessert.

Orange Juice Sherbet

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups milk (whole is best, or half and half)
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups orange juice (I use grocery-store-brand freshly squeezed, but any kind, especially homemade, works)
1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Combine milk and sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium heat and stir for about two minutes, until small bubbles form around the edges of the liquid and sugar is dissolved. Pour into a medium bowl and press plastic wrap on the surface. Refrigerate until chilled, 1-4 hours.
Stir O.J. and salt into cooled milk mixture, and pour it into a 9-inch square metal baking pan. Cover and freeze until firm, 4-6 hours.
Scrape frozen sherbet into food processor and blend until smooth (but still frozen). Return to pan and freeze for another hour or two.
Let sherbet sit for about 10 minutes on counter just before serving, so it's soft enough to scoop.
Makes about 8 servings.

https://www.happyhealthykids.com/orange-sherbet/

Summer Berry Corn Muffins

August 17, 2014 by Kelley Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t love a good corn muffin? With a big cup of milk, few things hit the spot more. Problem is, store-bought corn muffins tend to be high-calorie, low-nutrient fat bombs with truly inscrutable ingredient lists. Dunkin’ Donuts’ version, for instance, is a fun treat in a pinch, but it’s a rare kid who’s going to benefit from starting the day with a side of gelatinized wheat starch, artificial butter flavor, Polysorbate 60, and Propylene Glycol. I love Double D as much as the next New Englander, but I think we all agree there must be a better way.

August is a perfect time to make a big batch of homemade corn muffins. Berries, which pair deliciously with corn, are widely available from our local farms, and can be whipped into a muffin that can be easily frozen to retrain freshness, and later defrosted, either on the counter overnight for breakfast or in a lunchbox throughout the morning. What’s more, in the realm of baking, muffins are perhaps the easiest to make and the hardest to mess up. (Mixing too thoroughly is probably the worst thing you can do.) The only thing you may need to add to a moderately stocked pantry is cornmeal (which happens to double as delicious coating for chicken and fish, so it won’t go wasted.) I sampled from the incomparable Ina Garten (and her original and best-ever Barefoot Contessa Cookbook) for this recipe, but substituted yogurt for whole milk, since we always have it around and it lends a nice, subtle tang to the mix.

Summer Berry Corn Muffins

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups plain European-style (not Greek) plain yogurt, whisked briefly to runny consistency
1/2 pound unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 extra large eggs
1/2-1 cup berries (firm, not overly ripe raspberries or blueberries work well)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line 12 large muffin cups. Using electric mixer or strong whisk, mix together the flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Blend yogurt, butter and eggs in a medium bowl. Slowly pour wet ingredients into dry ones, and beat gently by hand until flour just disappears. Fold berries in carefully. Pour muffins well about 3/4 full and bake for 30 minutes.

https://www.happyhealthykids.com/berry-corn-muffins/