PanayiotisArvanitili

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new." - Steve Jobs Death is a part of life; its a reality that everyone has to face. Although loosing a loved one is a natural part of life, the flood of emotions and instability that accompany a person after a loss can run deep, even if a loss is expected. For children this is a hard concept to grasp. They will most likely feel fear  and sadness about loosing someone but its hard for them to connect all of the dots associated with such a traumatic event. They may not be able to wrap their minds around the true meaning of death. If a loved one that has passed was close to your child, they were probably close to you as well which means while your ...

Photo 1 This book was written by A. H Benjamin and illustrated by Jane Chapman. Its a clever book that explains the role of each farm animal on the buttercup farm. The animals in this book start to get anxious when they hear that a kangaroo is joining their farm. They have no idea what a kangaroo does! The cow worries that the kangaroo will make creamier milk than her and the dog worries that the kangaroo will herd the sheep better than him. What will they do if the farmer likes the kangaroo better? Will the kangaroo be their friend?  After reading this book have your child make their own kangaroo. Complete with a pouch! Print a coloring page, color the 3 different pieces and then cut them out. Attach the pouch onto the large kangaroo with some elmers glue. Only put glue on the bottom, left and right sides so the small kangaroo can fit in the pouch. Have fun! Printable Kangaroo

" Kids Choice Consignment is a semi-annual consignment event selling "like-new and gently-used" children's clothing, shoes, books, toys, baby equipment, furniture, and more. [They] have everything you need for your children at great prices. [They] bring shoppers and consignors together in one location two times a year." The next event is August 9th and 10th in Pleasant Grove, Utah.  Sign up by July 31st, 2013 to be a consignor or just show up to be a shopper! This is a great way for you to get rid of the things you no longer need and grab a few cheap items that you do need.  Location: The Old Pleasant Grove Recreation Bldg 65 East 200 South Pleasant Grove, Utah  Photo 1

Picky Eaters Vitamins and minerals are crucial to the development of a body. Although there is high importance in obtaining vitamins and minerals, the actual amount of each vitamin and mineral needed is relatively small. Because of this we can usually get the adequate amount from a regular diet. This is easier for middle aged children, some teens and adults (since we know the importance of it and like a larger variety of foods) but sometimes this can be difficult for young children. Why? Babies naturally develop sweet taste buds in the womb and this continues after birth. Their pallet is influenced by what mom eats since those aromas and flavors are passed on during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. It's important to introduce a variety of foods during pregnancy, breastfeeding and early on in a child's life to help your child become an open-minded eater. It's also important to introduce new foods several times. Don't give up after just a few tries.  But what if your ...

This weeks book review corresponds to a post from last week on emotions.Understanding and expressing emotions as a little child is a learned skill. Children have a hard time expressing multiple emotions or going from one emotion to next in a short amount of time. This book is a great visual to help children understand their feelings and emotions. The use of colors and lines helps children understand what different feelings look like and how they can be expressed. Just looking at the artwork sparked a bit of each emotion in me.  Click here to purchase this book on Amazon Here is an activity to do after you read this book. It's not just a one time activity either.  Use art to help your children express their emotions. Have your children use colors and lines to show what emotions they are feeling. Talk about the difference between jagged lines and wavy lines. What emotions might those lines represent? Discuss what light and dark colors might represent. Later if your child is ...

Happy 4th of July! Here's some fun things to do in a playgroup or just with your own kids to make the 4th a special fun day. Start the morning off by painting  Decorating  white stars on the grass in your front yard. Use a poster board or a large piece of cardboard as a stencil. Use white spray paint to fill in the star shape. The paint will eventually wash off or be cut off next time you mow the lawn.  Snack Then go inside to cool off and make some fruit kabobs with blueberries, strawberries or raspberries and bananas as a snack.  Craft Finish off the morning or afternoon with some some patriotic wands. Tie ribbons to the top of a chop stick or skewer stick. These will be fun toys to use while watching fireworks.