Shoe Tying Class at Nordstrom

 

What better place for a kid to learn how to tie their shoes other than at Nordstrom? Its our go to place for shoe fittings as well as most of our footwear- so why not learn how to tie shoes there as well?
 

Nordstrom offers such a class on certain Sundays each month. The class is free but you must sign up for it prior to attending. The age recommendation is 5 and up. We arrived at 9:45am Sunday morning and were greeted by Chris (pictured playing Simon says above!) Nordstrom along with the rest of the mall was closed so we had Nordstrom all to ourselves! 
 

Nordstrom provided shoes with laces for each child to work with. Chloe of course had to swap hers for pink ones.

         Chloe took a tying break, trying on Suri-esque shoes!
                      Ummm...I don't think so Chloe.

 

                                     
                          Back to work-with her pink pair!

 

The Nordstrom staff was awesome! So patient and great with the kids!

     
      Checking out the clubhouse in the children's section!

 

   Chloe and Natalie had a great time playing the game in the  clubhouse!

 

      When in Nordstrom...SHOP! Perfect time to shop for  holiday dresses- especially when your in there practically alone!

Chloe still needs lots of practice tying her shoes, but this was a great introduction to it. We will continue at home using the poem provided by Nordstrom and hopefully she will have it down in no time. She received a "real knotty behavior" certificate with her name on it upon her completion of the class. If you want to give it a go, try using the poem below to start.

                                      

Laces everyone-

ready, set, tie!

 

Calling all kids.

Check out these simple clues.

When one lace meets the other

You can tie your shoes.

 

First, make an x,

And hold it on top.

Put the right lace through the middle

 

 

Think of the bow

Just like a balloon,

Hold it at the bottom

Or it might go zoom!

 

Wrap the other lace around,

Use your finger like a spool.

Pull a loop through this hole,

You tied the bow- how cool!

 

 

 

Nashelle Designs Pay it forward bracelet

Hurricane Sandy kicked many of our East Coast assess. Still powerless, I had to leave my home to keep the kids warm and out of harms way. My house was flooded- fortunately not as bad as most of my neighbors. Some friends in my town lost their entire homes. Very sad and scary. I'm still waiting on an adjuster to come survey the damage before we can get started on gutting my first floor. As I read horror stories of children who died, I hold mine even tighter and realize just how lucky I am. Things are things that can be replaced...my children cannot. I can deal with anything as long as they are okay.

With that said, Nashelle jewelry (who I already loved) is selling a "pay it forward" bracelet -100% of its proceeds will be donated to the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief. It's just $10 and its super cute to boot. Wearing a cute bracelet for a great cause...who would be better than you?

The holidays are coming...this is a great stocking stuffer.

Hope everyone is safe and warm out there....if you are, pay it forward to someone not as fortunate. I ordered mine.

Click here to purchase Nashelle's "pay it forward" bracelet.

Mummy Dogs!

                                                 Mummy Dogs!

I'm not sure if I had more fun making these for Max or watching him eat them! I wouldn't dare offer one to Chloe because last time I tried to feed her a hot dog, she ran away screaming as if I were offering arsenic! She's not far off if using regular hot dogs! I opt for Trader Joe's chicken dogs- they have no nitrates and are much lower in fat and sodium than your average beef hot dog.

What you'll need

1 package of hot dogs of your choice (8)                                            1 Pillsbury crescent rolls
scissors
mustard

What you'll need to do

Preheat oven to 375
Line a cookie sheet with tin foil- do not use spray
Take crescent rolls out one at a time, cutting them into 1 inch strips
Wrap strips around hot dog...there's really no wrong way to wrap!
I kept mine in for about 20 minutes.

Once they come out- let them cool for about 5 minutes before dotting on mustard eyes.

       Your kids will love them- that is, if they don't run away first!

               Happy Halloween & enjoy these fun mummies!

 

Spooky snack for your lil ghouls and goblins!

                    Spooky Apple Mouth!

 

I cannot wait for Chloe to open up her bento box and see these bad boys at school today! I love getting in the spirit of Halloween and these zombie-esque teeth will surely do the trick!

Supplies:

Apples (the bigger the apples- the easier it will be to stick the almonds in) I had to go smaller so the apples would fit in her bento.

sliced almonds

Directions:

1. Cut apples into four

2. Make an inner slit in the skin side of the apple

3.Push the sliced almonds into the apple for teeth!

                 Happy Halloween!!!

10 Activities to Promote Letter/ Sound identification

Cutie match by Cutie Apps for Ipad/Iphone

 

 

         Activities to Promote Letter/ Sound Recognition

Kindergarten is the new first grade. Last year students were expected to leave kindergarten reading on a level B - this year its a D. The expectations and demands are increasing year after year. I'm happy that Chloe's school sends lots of ideas home to parents so we can help them at home as well. The latest handout that was sent home was filled with ideas to promote letter and sound recognition. For Chloe, these activities will help to reinforce what she already knows. I hope you find it as useful as I do.

1. Play concentration- Place matching pairs of letters face down on a table. Your child can turn over two cards at a time in order to find a matching pair. Once they find a match, encourage him/her to say the name of the letter and it's corresponding sound.

2. Play hopscotch- Place one set of a matching pair of letters in a paper bag and the other set on the floor. Tell your child to pull a letter out of the bag and then hop to the corresponding letter on the floor. Please encourage your child to say the name and corresponding sound of the letter each time he/she forms a match.

3. On a large piece of paper write an upper and lowercase letter (Bb). Next provide your child with a magazine or newspaper with large print. Have him/her look for examples of this letter within the magazine. Next tell him/her to glue the letters all around the letter written on the paper.

4. Cut out different shapes such as a triangle, a square, a rectangle and a circle out of construction paper. Start by using only one or two letters to play the following game. Provide oral directions such as: This is b, please put the b on the circle or find the b and put it on the red square. As your child becomes able to identify a few letters, increase the number of letters you use to play the game.

5. Place a tablespoon of pudding or whipped cream on a piece of waxed paper. Begin by telling your child "This is a Cc" as you show him/her a letter card having this letter on it. Next have him/her form the letter on the waxed paper using the whipped cream or pudding. Encourage your child to repeat the name of the letter. As he/she becomes more proficient with letter identification, you can simply name a letter that you want him/her to form on the waxed paper (without showing the letter). They will love the reward of eating the remains!

6. You can hide several cards having a specific letter or magnetic letters throughout the house. Have a treasure hunt by providing oral directions to help him/her find the letters. Each time a letter is found, have your child say the name of the letter. As a challenge, set a timer and see how many letters your child can collect before the bell rings. As your child becomes more confident with letter recognition you may want to hide three or four different letters during the game.

7. Draw a large square on a wipe-off board or chalkboard. Around each side of the square write a different letter. Let your child look carefully at the square for a few minutes. Then have him/her close his/her eyes while you erase a letter. See if he/she can identify the missing letter. If need be, you can prompt your child by asking if it's an Mm or Ss that's missing.

8. Write a given letter of your choice on a 5x8 piece of cardboard. Next, help your child trace over the letter with glue. Then place items that begin with that letter in the glue. For example: beans or button for Bb, cotton balls for Cc, foil for Ff, etc.

9. Letter toss game- You may play this game with a partner. Write letters on wooden clothespins. If your child can identify the name of the letter and its corresponding sound he/she may toss the clothespin into a bucket. the winner is the person with the most clothespins in the bucket!

10. On a large piece of poster board make an oval racetrack of non sequential alphabet letters. let your child race a toy car around the track while he/she names the letters. You can prompt younger children by asking them to look for specific letters while holding up a card with the letter on it.

Although this was given to my daughters kindergarten class to help reinforce letter and sound identification at home, I will  be using many of these ideas with my 3 year old son as well.

I'm buying the wax paper for #5 to do with them tomorrow. Learning and an after school snack combined! Pics to follow!

 

Easy to make Minestrone Soup

 

There's nothing like a warm bowl of soup on a chilly day. At 55 degrees here in New York today, I made my first fall vat of Minestrone. This is one of my go to recipes and a family favorite.

Chloe isn't much of a meat eater but she likes beans so I add cannellini and kidney which are both good sources of protein. There's a great mix of veggies so it's hearty and healthy.

This recipe makes enough soup for some leftovers which you will be thankful for the next day...it's super easy and so good! Pre- chop all the ingredients to make it even easier to follow.

Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

1tbsp. olive oil
1onion, finely chopped
1 leek halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 carrot, finely diced
2 celery stalks, finely diced
1 yellow squash, finely diced
1 green zucchini, finely diced
14 oz. can of cannellini beans (do not drain)
14 oz. can of kidney beans (do not drain)
3 cups water
4 cups of chicken or veggie stock
3 oz of tubetti or pipette pasta
salt & pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, to serve


1. Heat the oil in a large pot over a medium heat. Add the onion, leek, and garlic and cook about 4-5 minutes until softened.

2. Add crushed tomatoes, carrot, squash, celery, zucchini, water and stock. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in beans. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to a simmer, partially covered for 45 minutes.

4. Bring a salted pot of water to a boil for your pasta. Once cooked, drain and add to soup.

5. Add grated parm to soup once bowled.

I hope this soup warms your soul like it does my family!

ENJOY!

    

Peanut free snacks

It's been super busy around here with back to school and now a week of birthdays! Max turned 3 on Tuesday, Chloe 5 on Sunday! I had such an amazing day with my little guy, cold and all- he was a trooper. We started at the diner which he loves! The waitress asked his name and he answered, "buthole"...needless to say, the day started with some laughs! It was a day of reflection for me, thinking back to the day he was born. He slept the entire first night of his life...and has been easy ever since. I am such a lucky mom. He celebrated with his classmates last Thursday! I had such the best time with 13 three year olds! They were adorable. I got to read a story to them which I absolutely loved. I picked Chloe up early so she could come to Max's class with me. She assisted in my reading! She was the proud big sister and all the little kiddies just loved her! Gaga also got in on the action- so it was quite the family affair!

Chloe celebrated with her classmates on Friday! I was so excited to meet all of her classmates as well and share in her special day with them. I read "If you Give a Pig a Party" to them while they ate their pink cupcakes. Chloe wanted to give her Principal a cupcake so we brought one to her office and Chloe got to feed her fish- very exciting stuff! We had a joint party for them on Saturday since their birthdays are so close. Then...for Chloe's actual birthday on Sunday, we had something small at the house with our family. She was so happy it was her day and not Max's!

On top of all this, I am taking a grad course (shoot me now!). I have 2 classes left to finish and promised myself I would. I have been working on cloning myself with out much  luck...but if I do- you'll be seeing a lot more posts in the future!

And now for the actual post! A lot of my mommy friends have been asking me to compose a list of snacks I send to school with Chloe. They know how freakishly into feeding my kids I am! I wanted to work on the peanut free list first because I know those moms are having the hardest time figuring out what to send each day. Luckily, Chloe can bring in anything this year- but I was faced with this difficult challenge during her pre- k year last year.

Peanut Free Snack List

• Danon danimals smoothies
• Mott's Medleys peach apple applesauce (made with veggies too!)
• Sabra individual hummus with riceworks gourmet crisps, pretzels or celery
• Mott's apple slices (comes pre-sliced in individual bags) pack with plain yogurt for dipping!
• pudding cups
• Jello cups
• yogurt
• gogurts
• cereal in container with or without milk- I buy the milk singles (freeze them if lunch or snack is late in the day)
• Ritz crackers, triscuits, saltines with slices of cheese
• Orange slices, watermelon, strawberries, grapes (halved), bananas, pineapple- my kids are fruities so any fruit I send they eat.
• Special K bars
• Nutri grain bars
• Pirates booty
• Goldfish
• Cheese sticks
• Granola with chex cereal and raisins
• Annie's organic Bunny Fruit snacks
• Graham crackers
• Sun snacks mix-ups in berry crunch 7 apple cinnamon (makers of sunchips) sweet mini sunchips, fruity flavored bagel buttons, cereal squares or oatmeal bites in each bag!

Last year for lunch, Chloe lived on Pastina in a thermos!
She also ate faux PB&J sandwiches with I AM Healthy Soy Nut Butter. That is definitely worth a try for your little peanut butter lover.

This year I've been giving her turkey roll ups, bagels with butter, banana bread...whatever she likes and I know she will eat. If I make a big breakfast of pancakes or waffles, Ill cut them up into sticks and put them in a baggies for her snack.

I hope I was able to help those of you in a pickle (another peanut free food...but way too smelly according to Chloe!)

My non allergy list is next to come...hopefully sometime this school year!

Fall in Love...with Nashelle

 

Pure 'Harp' Necklace- Nashelle

 

Even when the kids aren't with me, they are always close to my heart while wearing Nashelle's identity necklace with their initials. This was the necklace that started my obsession with Nashelle's line of handmade designs, created using recycled metals and stones.

 

I have been incorporating pieces little by little to feed my addiction! I now pair my favorite identity necklace with the Pure 'Harp' necklace pictured above. I get so many compliments on this! These pieces transition from summer to fall easily. They are so dainty and can be worn every day either with a maxi in the summer or a blazer in the fall. 

 

 Mostly all pieces are offered in gold fill, silver or brass.

 

 

 

Check out www.nashelle.com and you'll surely fall in love yourself!

 

 

 

 

Pure 'Harp' necklace paired with cupped cushion identity necklace 

Fruity Frozen Yogurt Pops!

Recipe and photo from The National Honey Board 

How awesome do these look? Mine did not come out as pretty or tri-colored! I made them with a refreshing after school snack in mind. The first few weeks back to school are hot and Chloe's school has no air conditioning- so I figured it would be nice for her to come home to something cold and tasty!

She absolutely loved them and ate two!

 These pops are super easy to make! A perfectly healthy after school snack for your little honey!

 

                

                   Fruity Frozen Yogurt Pops

Makes 8 servings

• 1 cup fresh, ripe nectarines, pineapple, or strawberries, chopped
• 1-1/2 cups plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 paper cups (3 oz.) and popsicle sticks or plastic spoons

In a blender, combine all ingredients; mix well. Pour into eight (3 oz.) paper cups; insert popsicle sticks or plastic spoon in center of each. Freeze 4 hours or until solidly frozen.

 

 

 

I should be embarrassed to even show mine! They tasted good- I swear!

 

 

Lunchbots- Love Packing Lunch!

 

One of my readers left a comment on my healthy back to school lunch post telling me to check out Lunchbots. I am so happy she left that comment! Thank you Rachel! I ordered two as soon as I did. These stainless steel containers come in divided sections of two, three or four. I went with the four knowing how Chloe and Max like to pick on a variety of foods. They aren't sandwich kids so I knew this would solve my problems! I absolutely love packing lunch now and love seeing a practically empty container come back home even more!

 

Sliced cucumbers, celery sticks, crackers, grapes, pretzels, trail mix, berries are all foods that fit perfectly into these smart containers and our schools request for healthy lunches. The dividers make the possibilities endless.

 

Lunchbots make packing a healthy lunch easier without all the plastic baggies for the kiddies to take out and fumble over. They fit right inside a standard lunch bag. I place Chloe's right in the pouch inside of her lunch bag.

 

 

 

 

 

Raising Humans: Growing Pains

 

 

 

Almost five years ago, I came home from the hospital with my baby girl. She was born the last day of September so it was early October when we came home. It was a beautiful 90 degree day- unusual for New York that time of year. If the day wasn't perfect enough, the sun shining on my face gave me a feeling of warmth and happiness that I never felt before. I felt like it was our special day and the sun was shining for us, lighting our path home.

 

 

To continue reading about the journey of my Kindergarten growing pains with Chloe, please read with me here.

 

When Tricia from Raising Humans asked me to write for her weekly series, Growing Together, not only was I honored- it was at a perfect time. Her blog focuses on growth. With my daughter starting Kindergarten this week, I am mixed with many emotions from sadness to excitement. We are at the beginning of her educational journey that I find bittersweet...so what better to write about?

 

Tricia, thank you for trusting in me with your blog and your readers. You are an amazing writer and mommy. You asking me to write for you is so gratifying. It validates that my voice is being heard! Thanks again Tricia- for hearing my voice...and sharing it with the world.

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

                            
                             Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins

 

I busted out the Sneaky chef to help get our healthy back on. All of our Summer activities kept us outdoors and me out of the kitchen!  With Fall quickly approaching, I wanted to start the new season on a good note.

 

As you may have noticed, peanut butter is a front runner in our home. I love it as much as the kids. As I was flipping through the pages of the Sneaky chef, I came across Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins and knew I had to make them. These are not your ordinary muffins.

                                                                                                                                                Hidden inside is an orange puree which consists of sweet potato and carrot. Sweet potatoes are filled with antioxidant vitamins C and E, carotene's,calcium, potassium, and iron. Carrots are the richest source of carotene and antioxidants among veggies. The flour blend which the muffins are made with contain 1 cup of wheat germ. Wheat germ is a powerhouse of nutrients that offers an excellent source of iron, protein, B vitamins, folic acid, and vitamin E. The B vitamins nourish the nervous system and may help prevent fatigue and migraines.

 

Like I said, these are not your ordinary muffins!

 

Missy Chase Lapine recommends pre -making the purees to lesson the workload of her recipes.

 

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

 

Orange Puree

1 medium sweet potato peeled and roughly chopped

3 medium to large carrots, peeled and sliced into thick chunks

3-4 tablespoons of water

 

Boil about 20 minutes until veggies are tender.

Puree on high with 2 tablespoons of water- the less water the better (use more if need be)

This makes about 2 cups of puree.

You can freeze what you do not use.

 

Flour Blend

 

2 cups of whole grain pastry flour

1 cup of wheat germ, unsweetened

 

Ingredients

 

1 cup of the Flour Blend

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup canola oil

 

3/4 cup Orange Puree

3/4 smooth peanut butter

8 heaping teaspoons of your favorite jam

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper liners.

 

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Flour Blend, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

 

In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until well combined, then whisk in the oil, Orange Puree, and peanut butter. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until flour is just moistened (don't over mix to avoid dense muffins).

 

Scoop about two tablespoons of batter into the large muffin cups until half full. Place a heaping teaspoon of jam in the center of each muffin. Cover the jam with another two tablespoons or so of batter, filling the cups just over the top.

 

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.

 

 

I made these muffins in the morning when the kiddies were just waking up. Chloe asked what the orange puree was and I told her I was making baby food for my godson! I was so excited for Chloe and Max to try them. I put my blood, sweat and tears into making them! I had to go to so many different stores for the various ingredients, make the Orange Puree...and lets not talk about the cleanup!

 

I give the kids the muffins and Max says "YUCK" and wont even attempt a bite. Chloe takes one bite and says shes full!

 

Chloe ate more of them and continued eating them in the days to follow! My parents enjoyed them, my brother loved the jam in the middle and my husband had his share as well...you couldn't taste a hint of veggies.

 

I am definitely sending these to school with Chloe for her A.M snack. She actually asked me to make them again today...so back at it tomorrow! (I already have the Orange Puree frozen)

 

I highly suggest skipping the minis and making all regular sized muffins- they were moister and tastier.

 

I hope all my fellow peanut butter fans make these muffins! They are worth all of the work-especially knowing you are filling your kiddies bellies with some good stuff.  

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Packing Healthy Lunches for Kids

You've got the school supplies ready to go, but what's your plan for packing healthy back to school lunches? I know this is on the mind of many a mommy- including me. Packing a healthy lunch at home can ensure kids get the nutrition they need without all the fat, calories and salt found on convenience foods and many school lunches. Too much salt, calories and fat can contribute to long term health issues like obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Among children today, obesity is causing health problems that previously weren't seen until adulthood- now that's scary.

Preparation is an important factor in helping your child eat healthily.

 Tips on Packing Healthy School Lunches

Plan ahead! Writing out a list helps me stay to focused on my purchases. Going rogue can be dangerous because your just grabbing at unnecessary stuff.  

Shop your local health store for pre-packaged snacks that are high in fiber and low in fat, sugar and calories. A couple of great options are nuts which are high in protein and pre-sliced apples in individual bags. 

  Write down ideas as you see them. Keep a pad out on the counter until your ready to get to the store. If you see a sandwich idea, jot down all ingredients needed for it.

                                                                                                                                                         Having a variety of containers helps me to pack healthier. My obsession? Lunchbots. They are stainless steel bento box style containers with dividers. I bought one for Chloe and Max. It will make sending in fresh fruits and veggies along with rolled up turkey and crackers a cinch. I bought the quad which has four sections- they also come in three, two or even one sectioned containers...and they are waste free so great for the environment!

Rinse and slice fruits and veggies Sunday night so they are easily accessible all week when your ready to pack lunches.

Cut fruit into shapes for greater acceptance. You can use cookie cutters.

Getting lunches made right after dinner can help the morning run more smoothly.

100% juice boxes with no added sugar (I like fruitables) in the freezer will keep lunches cool until lunchtime.

Watch your portions. Size does matter! Portion size has a lot to do with why our kids are gaining weight. Because there's too much of everything on their plates, our kids are getting far more calories than they need. You may be surprised to learn these are serving sizes:

• 1 slice of bread
• 1/2 cup of rice or pasta
• 1 small piece of fruit (super large apples are 2+ servings)
• 1 wedge of melon
• 1/2 cup of fruit juice
• 1 cup of milk or yogurt
• 2 to 3 ounces of meat, poultry or fish (approximately the size of a deck of cards)

                                                       Health on the Go!
                                                
Hummus now comes in individual snack packs! Send them to
school along with cut up pieces of whole grain pita bread, pretzels, celery, cucumber or carrots. Hummus is a low fat protein source and is high in iron and vitamin C.

Sandwiches can be made healthily on whole grain or wheat bread, pita, wraps or flatbreads. Choose lean meats in low sodium such as turkey or chicken. I love Boarshead low sodium chicken breast. Use reduced fat mayo or mustard to dress it up.

Peanut butter makes for a high protein lunch. I made a PB&H (honey) with apples that my kids loved. Substitute the peanut butter with soy nut butter if need be. I am healthy makes a great one.

Hard boiled eggs are great for lunch- my daughter refuses to take them because they smell! If your child doesn't mind- its a great option!

Low-fat or light yogurt with a side of granola and chopped fruit can make a great lunch or snack! Stay away from yogurts targeted at children because they are high in calories and sugar. My kids love Danon Oikos in Vanilla.

Cereal is great for lunch! Buy individual milk containers or pour some 2% milk into a spill proof container and freeze it the night before.

Look for granola bars that are low in fat and sugar. Choose ones that contain less than 1 gram of saturated fat per serving and no more than 35% sugar by weight. There should be at least 5 grams of protein as well....not all granola bars are created equal!

My peanut butter and yogurt dip is another great option that got rave reviews from not only my children, but most of my readers and their children as well. Click on the link for the quick and easy recipe to make it!



I hope I was able to help some. I know it is not easy- especially for those with picky eaters.

Do you have any healthy lunch ideas you can share? I would love to hear them.

Ways to ease school anxiety

 

Back to school time is filled with many emotions- excitement, anticipation, anxiety for both children and parents. Anxiety is the front runner in my house.  

 

 I am afraid of mentioning Kindergarten to Chloe in fear of the meltdown that follows. I was hopeful that the visit to her new classroom, meeting her new teacher and classmates would help some, but it didn't. Whenever we talk about returning, she cries and says she'll miss me.

 

  Chloe attended a three year old program. It was two days a week, two and a half hours per class. She was a little apprehensive leaving me at first, but to my surprise adjusted quickly. I made up a little song for her knowing how she liked them.

I always come back,
I always come back,
I always come back for you!

I never said it was a fantastic song! For being created on a whim, it worked! Every time I picked her up, she would sing "you always come back, you always come back, you always come back for me"!

The following year, Chloe attended Pre-K. This doubled in both days and hours. She went Monday- Thursday, 10am-2pm. She really liked it but complained of how long it felt to her from September all the way through June. I had trouble getting her there the last month. This came to a surprise to her teacher when I mentioned it. She was doing so well in school, never showing signs of anxiety.

She grew very attached to her Pre-K teacher and is having a hard time knowing she is not going to be her teacher again. To boot, not one student from her Pre-K class is in her Kindergarten class. On top of that, she will be in school for 2 hours longer than Pre-K. A lot of change for a little person.

My mom taught Kindergarten for 25 years and recommended some books to help ease her woes. My favorite is The Kissing Hand. When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him. Mrs. Raccoon teaches Chester that just because he is away from her doesn't mean that she cant be with him in other ways. She shows him the secret of the kissing hand so he doesn't feel lonely at school and knows his mother loves him. It comes with little heart stickers to place in your child's hand to remind them of how much you love them when they're away from home. So cute and Chloe loved the little stickers. She slept with one in the palm of her hand after reading it before bed.

We also read llama llama misses mama. I loved that this story went along with my little song of always coming back. Little llama wouldn't try anything new all day. He wouldnt play, read or eat with his classmates. He was so sad his mom left. When she returned to pick him up, he realized that she will always come back for him and that he does in fact like school.                                       
 
Reading has helped Chloe's anxieties some. We also went shopping for her supplies together- I read that this can help. I thought she would be apprehensive but she was excited to pick out her own lunch bag, backpack and folders...everything princess of course! This helped her realize that its not just talk- that it is in fact beginning soon. She didn't freak out- so I have that!

I also started getting back on a set schedule now- before school begins. Bed time gradually  returned to the 7:30 pm it was before Summer. This will help reduce Chloe's stress. Creating a daily routine has always been a huge part of our family life- it's what keeps me somewhat sane! I am going to create a morning checklist (will post!) to help our mornings run smoothly and organized. Daily things like brushing teeth, combing hair, getting dressed will be on the checklist. This will also allow Chloe to feel as though she is in control of her morning which will hopefully lead to less of us butting heads.

This is not easy! Knowing she is having anxiety is giving me anxiety!

Do you have any tips to help ease the transition from Summer to school? Please share!