Christmas Traditions

1) Elf on the Shelf: If you want to get into the holiday spirit and watch your kids be "extra good because Santa is watching," you'll want to pick up an Elf on the Shelf. The small pixie elf can become a family tradition for you and your kids. This special elf makes an appearance at your house (leading up to Christmas) to be Santa's eyes and ears and report all behavior back to Santa himself. All you have to do is remind your children that the elf is watching! The elf conveniently only speaks to adults and the Christmas magic is released once the elf is given a name. The Elf on the Shelf can be purchased at www.KookyKidzOnline.com or Seedlings.com. Both places are offering special discounts now!

2) Hide the Pickle: A German tradition where the special "pickle" ornament is hidden deep within the branches of the family Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. The child who finds the pickle first on Christmas morning will receive an extra gift or special treat from St. Nick.

3) Watch Holiday Classics: Take a walk down memory lane, pop up some popcorn and watch A Christmas Story, Miracle on 54th Street and A Christmas Carol. These classics are always a hit, year after year.

4) Christmas Crackers or Bon-Bons: Popular in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa - Christmas crackers are like mini fire crackers that help to celebrate Christmas with a bang! Brightly decorated twists of paper are wrapped around a cardboard tube, so that the tube resembles a large piece of candy. The "cracker" is pulled by two people and a small bang erupts from the cracker tube.

Bullying and Stress

Often times when a child is being bullied they don’t know who to turn to. Some are embarrassed to discuss it openly and others are simply afraid the bullying will worsen if they tell an authority figure. To ignore the bullying only worsens the situation; the child being bullied becomes filled with feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and depression. In extreme cases some begin having suicidal thoughts.

The key to understanding bullying is to have open communication. Whether your child is the victim of a bully or bullying others, asking questions and addressing the topic is the best approach to make your child comfortable enough to share any feelings or questions they have regarding bullying.

Watch your child in social situations- you will be able to see first- hand what role they play among their friends. After making some observations, have an open discussion.  Ask them how certain scenarios make them feel and ultimately let them know that bullying is not ok and they can stand up for themselves. If they’re the ones bullying let them know it’s not acceptable to treat others in that manner.

By engaging in an open communication with your child you are able to understand exactly where the inferior or negative behavior is coming from and together you can work through the issues. No child should have to suffer at the hands of a bully. As parents it’s up to us to open the lines of communication and make our children feel safe at home and away from home.

Etiquette: Good Manners Are A Necessity

Good manners are an important part of raising a child. Children need to be taught good manners, and watching the etiquette of those around them plays a role in the manners they will acquire as well. There are areas that may be overlooked and parents can assist their children in learning skills to be well-mannered and respectful.

The Cell Phone: Being on the cell phone is equivalent to talking to a person who is right in front of you. If parents take a call or check their phone while they are in mid-conversation with someone, it may exhibit disrepect and show that the person who is in front of them isn't as important as who is on the phone. Teach your children that answering a cell phone or checking text messages while in communication with someone who is in front of you (unless there's an emergency) is poor etiquette.

Attire: Dressing appropriately for situations shows proper etiquette. A parent who works wouldn't wear gym shorts to their board meeting, so it's critical to teach children that their clothing choices do matter. If they have to wear a uniform to school, it may be met with reluctance but it's important to share with your children that it's the requested attire and the rules for the school.

See our Resources page for more tips on Etiquette!