• Confidence: Children who feels good about themselves will believe that they can succeed. Children who are confident are more likely to try new things. They are also less likely to give up or get frustrated if they don’t succeed on their first try.
• Independence: Children must learn to do things for themselves and must be encouraged to do so.
• Motivation: Children must have a desire to learn.
• Curiosity: Children are naturally curious and will get the most from the learning opportunities that are presented to them, if this natural curiosity is nurtured.
• Persistence: Children must learn to finish the things they have started.
• Cooperation: Children must learn to get along well with others, share and take turns.
• Self-control: Children must learn what behaviors are appropriate and what behaviors are not. They must learn to control negative behaviors, such as biting and hitting.
• Empathy: Children must have interest and concern for other people’s feelings.

Parents can help their children develop these qualities by:

When you are enthusiastic about school and learning, your child will be too. As they enter kindergarten (and even as they continue on through grade levels), talk to your child about the exciting things that they will do. Describe some of the important things that he/she will be learning from their teacher, such as how to read, count, and measure things. Your enthusiasm goes far to ensure that you have a child who loves school and succeeds.

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Mari Peckham has been teaching creative movement for infants through preschool aged children in the Chicago area since 2001. She also teaches middle eastern dance for adults. Mari is currently pursuing her BA in Holistic Wellness with a minor in Metaphysics. Visit her blogs at http://www.FamilyandChildrenBlog.com and http://www.GoddessMari.com to learn more.

Research has shown that children who have supportive and loving families are more likely to succeed at learning than those who don’t. Families set an example for learning and those who involve their children in activities that allow them to talk, explore, and experiment show their children that learning is not only important, but also fun and enjoyable.

Make sure that your child has a good start in life by ensuring that they eat nutritious foods, get enough exercise and receive regular medical care. This lessens the chances that your child will experience serious health issues or learning problems later on.

Food

Preschoolers need a healthy diet to ensure that they are growing properly and to maintain good health. Children ages 2 - 5 generally can eat the same foods as adults. You and your child should be eating a well-balanced diet that includes grains and cereals; fruits and vegetables; meat, poultry, fish and/or meat alternatives, such as eggs and legumes; milk, cheese and yogurt. Fatty foods and sweets should be limited.

Exercise

It is important that preschool children be given ample opportunities for exercise. Physical activity allows your child to learn to control and coordinate the large muscles in his/her arms and legs (gross motor skills). Activities such as throwing and catching balls, running, jumping, climbing and dancing to music are not only fun but also important to your child’s gross motor development. Fine motor skills (controlling the small muscles in hands and fingers) are developed when your child colors with crayons, puts together puzzles, used blunt-tipped scissors, zips his/her jacket and picks up and grasps small objects, like coins or beads.

Medical Care

Stay on top of the required medical checkups and immunizations for your child. Early immunizations can help prevent many diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio and tuberculosis. These diseases can have serious effects on your child’s mental and physical development and should be given in the proper time frame.

Also, be sure that your child is seeing a dentist for regular checkups by the time they are three years old. Regular dental care is very important to a child’s overall health and well-being.
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Mari Peckham has been teaching creative movement for infants through preschool aged children in the Chicago area since 2001. She also teaches middle eastern dance for adults. Mari is currently pursuing her BA in Holistic Wellness with a minor in Metaphysics. Visit her blogs at http://www.FamilyandChildrenBlog.com and http://www.GoddessMari.com to learn more.

Here are some quick and healthy snack ideas that can be prepared ahead of time and stashed in your purse, diaper bag, or car for a satisfying snack that you can feel good about eating. You might not even mind sharing them with your children!

1. Cereal - Snack-sized baggies make carrying your favorite cereal a snap. Look for high fiber cereals that stave off hunger longer and cereals fortified with essential nutrients to make sure you are getting your daily allotment of the good stuff. Toss in some nuts or dried fruit for extra flavor and more nutritional value. One of my personal favorites: Heartland Granola Cereal with some added dry fruit. A snack sized 1/4 cup of cereal is just 120 calories, 3 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams protein. The added fruit gives me that sweet taste I want while keeping it healthy.
2. Rice Crisps - If you’re a chip lover, this might be the answer for you. This crunchy, yummy snack allows you to “get your crunch on” without the guilt of downing other greasier varieties of snack. One of my personal favorites: Aldi’s “Fit and Active” brand Rice snacks are just 60 calories a serving, zero fat, and 1 gram protein to help fight off hunger. Plus, the kids love them, as well!
3. Yogurt Smoothies - Yo plait Light and Dannon Light & Fit both offer delicious smoothies for less then 100 calories and zero fat. You also get the crucial calcium and protein your body needs. Although they need refrigeration, they are perfect for a quick “grab and go” breakfast or afternoon snack.
4. Edamame - These baby soybeans are a wonderful quick and satisfying snack. High in fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids, snacking on edamame will keep you cheery and stave off mid-day hunger. You can also purchase edamame in kid-friendly pouches (such as Sponge Bob and Dora the Explorer), which may just encourage your picky eater to try something new.
   
   
5. 100-Calorie Chocolate - If you’ve got a chocolate craving, it’s usually best to feed it before it gets out of hand. With all the 100-calorie snack options out there, it’s a lot easier to find a suitable option that won’t ruin your diet. Personal favorites include: CocoaVia’s 80- to 150-calorie chocolate bars, Hershey’s 100-calorie chocolate bars, or a couple Dove Promises dark chocolates.
6. String Cheese or Low Fat Cheese Snacks - String cheese is a fun-to-peel snack that is easy to take on the go. A part-skim milk cheese stick is just 50- to 70-calories and just 4-5 grams of fat, along with calcium and hunger satisfying protein. Add some whole grain crackers for a well balanced and filling snack. Personal favorite: The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss (35 calories, 2 grams fat, 2.5 grams protein) on Wasa Light Rye Crispbread crackers (60 calories, zero fat, 3 grams fiber, 2 grams protein) is just 2 points on Weight Watchers.
7. Fruit - Sturdy fruits like apples, pears and oranges are easy to toss in your bag for a quick snack later. At 100 calories or less, these fiber-rich snacks will keep your energy up and your hunger at bay. For quick snacks at home, try some of the new string of fruits hitting your produce section. My personal favorite: The new pluots (a cross between a plum and an apricot) or mango nectarines (makes a mango a simple to eat snack). These options bruise easier, so aren’t as bag friendly, but can really satisfy your sweet tooth while giving you essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
8. Whole-Grain Snack Bars - Snack bars are a wonderful option when you are too busy to think. But take a little time to look at the nutritional information before you bring them home! Some are loaded with more fat, calories and sugar than you might expect. Personal favorite: I love the Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bars. My choice of Honey Almond Flax bars offer whole roasted almonds, flax seeds and a touch of wildflower honey with 4 grams of fiber, 7 grams of protein and 300 mg Omega-3 fatty acids.
9. Almonds and Walnuts - Get out those great little snack bags again and pre-pack snack sized portions of your favorite nuts! Almonds are rich in healthy fats, along with potassium and magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. Walnuts are rich in essential Omega-3 fatty acids. Watch your serving sizes, and steer clear of “roasted” or “salted” varieties, which can pack in the calories.
10. Instant Oatmeal - Got a plastic cup and some hot water? Then you can make oatmeal! For just 100- to 160-calories per serving, oatmeal is a top source of heart-healthy whole grains that will keep you from feeling hunger pangs. Personal fav? Trader Joe’s Clover Honey Instant Oatmeal is just 60-calories with zero fat. I like to toss in a few almonds for a bit of extra crunch.
11. Dried Fruits and Veggies - Although a lot of dried fruits and veggies pack in extra sugar, salt, or preservatives that you don’t want in your diet, Just Tomatoes and Bare Fruit brands take a more wholesome route. Both companies use special processes to dry fruits and vegetables without removing the nutritional values, leaving you with fiber, vitamins and minerals and none of the bad stuff. You can find fruits like bananas, mangoes, pomegranates, cherries and pineapple and veggies like peppers, carrots, tomatoes, corn and peas ready to travel and help you get to your recommended 5-9 daily servings.
12. Microwave Popcorn - Low fat microwave popcorn is a great snack. Stock up on individual 100-calorie bags, or brands that are low in fat and added salt. You get healthy whole grains in a low-cal snack that’s yummy and easy to tote. Although against the rules, I often sneak in my own low fat popcorn into the movies! It helps keep me away from the tasty, but oh-so-bad-for-you movie variety.
13. Fresh Vegetables - Keep a variety of cut up and ready to eat fresh veggies in your fridge. I always have carrots, snap peas, broccoli and cauliflower on hand and ready for a quick snack. Prepared in advance, it can steer you away from less healthy options you might find at hand. You can always buy prepackaged servings of veggies in your market’s produce department. These make quick and healthy “grab and go” snacks.

Your own diet and snacking is every bit as important as your child’s. Keep in mind that you are setting an example for healthy, or unhealthy, eating. The benefits of healthy eating and snacking far outweigh the convenience of the local drive thru. You’ll feel more energetic, see improvements in your hair and skin, and get to that healthy weight you desire. So snack away, but do it wisely!
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Mari Peckham has been teaching creative movement for infants through preschool aged children in the Chicago area since 2001. She also teaches middle eastern dance for adults. Mari is currently pursuing her BA in Holistic Wellness with a minor in Metaphysics. Visit her blogs at http://www.FamilyandChildrenBlog.com and http://www.GoddessMari.com to learn more.

“Want is a growing giant whom the coat of have was never large enough to cover…”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Recently, I have been thinking and talking a lot about gratitude.

It seems that so many of us want more than what we have. It’s not that we aren’t happy with what we already have in our lives, we just want more. We want a better relationship, we want more money, we want a bigger house, we want, we want, we want.

But what about being thankful for what we already have?

A few months ago, I received a Gratitude Journal as a gift from The Secret. The journal is encased in a beautiful heavy leather, tri-fold binder. I really liked it because it had a private, secret feel to it. Like what I wrote would be just between me and God. The journal itself is divided into two sections; ‘Gratitude Now’ and “Gratitude Intentions’. Each page of the journal has quotes that relate to gratitude.

Receiving the Gratitude Journal seemed like God offering me the “next step” on my journey. But I found it really hard to get started. It wasn’t that I wasn’t thankful…it was just finding a way to state the gratitude. And the idea of being thankful in advance for things that I wanted but didn’t have was almost not conceivable to me. So the journal sat on my shelf.

About a month ago, the journal called to me. So I took it off the shelf and opened it up, staring at the blank pages. It was hard, so I just started with the obvious. ‘Thank you, God, for giving me loving and interesting children. Thank you for the beautiful children that I work with and the joy they give me each day.’ Then, I thanked God for putting people in my life that made me want to be a better person. And that was it. I couldn’t make it past that.

I read and meditated on what I had written every day. I said the words of gratitude in the quietness of my mind and aloud. I remembered that, if God were indeed everything, then I was also a part of God, however miniscule. I reminded myself that my thoughts could become things.

And just about a week later, things started to happen. My life began to change. I began to find people in my life who were suddenly making me really look closely at myself; to question the strength of my own beliefs; to evaluate my purpose/ to find my true relationship with God, the Universal Mind.

I found that the gratitude started flowing so much more easily. When I was sad or frustrated, I found things to be thankful for instead. It wasn’t easy, but I saw it manifesting huge changes in my life. Just a little gratitude for what I already had.

I have this friend who is fabulous in many ways. He’s young, he has a great job, he’s handsome, and he owns his own home. He has what I believe to be a good relationship with God and seems to try to be very faithful. Looking in from the outside, he seems to have a pretty perfect life. But what he doesn’t have that he really wants more than anything is a wife and a family. In the relatively short time I’ve known him, it’s been an ongoing conversation. He is so concerned with what he doesn’t have, what he wants, and the reasons that he doesn’t have it, that he overlooks how wonderful his life already is, even without that.

Last week, I told him a story from a parent’s point of view. As a mom, I give my children everything that they need and a lot of things that they want. They don’t usually have to ask me for things…I sort of just supply them. On occasion, though, they want something else. When they are so focused on that one thing that they forget what a great life they actually already have, I don’t give them what they want. After all, they don’t even recognize how blessed they already are! On the other hand, if I know that there is something that they want, but they not just focused on getting it, but instead are enjoying all they have in their lives, then I give it to them, if I can. I think that God, as a parent, must be much the same way. He just wants us to appreciate all that he’s already given us without always wanting something else.

I, for one, am extremely blessed. I have great friends who are always there for me; an awesome family; my children are bright, intelligent and interesting. I have a home, I have a car, and I have food on my table. I have talents. I am blessed. Yet still, I too find myself wanting more. But what could I possibly need that God hasn’t already given me?

Want is indeed a growing giant. When we get what we want, we just want more. So many times, we forget to stop and just be thankful for what we already have. Gratitude is such an amazingly powerful gift. Use your gratitude as often as you can and you’ll soon find that you are given more than you could even ask for.

Peace.

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The Goddess Mari is a belly dance instructor, performer and choreographer from the Chicago area. She has been working online for almost 8 years and manages multiple websites. She owns and operates ArticleFocusBlog.com, which is a pay-to-post, high quality article blog.. In this series, she chronicles her own search for a greater existence.
Visit her at GoddessMari.com

Somewhere Near the Beginning

About a year ago, I realized that I had lost myself somewhere along the course of my life. This was a very disturbing realization, as I had always looked at myself as a rather “together” sort of person. But I woke up one morning and realized that my trouble marriage wasn’t really getting any better in spite of therapy, I was in more than one codependent relationship, I had no spiritual focus, friends who I thought were my best friends really weren’t my friends at all, and I didn’t even know what I wanted from life any more. Not a good place.

This realization made me see that I had been focusing on fixing the wrong things. I was trying to fix my relationship with my husband; I was trying to fix the problems in my friendships; I was trying to fix my life. But I wasn’t trying to fix myself. It was time for me to take the focus off the things that had gone bad in my life and start working on the things that had gone bad in me.

“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” Luke 6:42

Having been raised in a very strong Christian family, I had always felt strongly about spirituality. I have never been a strong supporter of religion, though, even as a child. I found myself questioning throughout my life. I attended different denominations, finding comfort in what my family called a “non-church” Unitarian Church. I’ve always wanted to talk about God, but not have someone else tell me how to believe. With no Unitarian Church around me and nowhere else I felt comfortable and welcomed in the truest sense, I sort of let my own spiritual upkeep go.

Flash forward to a confused and lost goddess who no longer remembers that she is a part of God. She wants to find her way again.

My search began at the local bookstore. At one point in my life, I had found meditation to be a really powerful force for me. So I started in the music section looking for guided meditations that I thought might be good for me. I found “The Secret Universal Mind Meditation”. (Please visit http://www.GoddessMari.com/recommends.html for more information on recommended items.) This has been a life-changing meditation for me. I referred to the meditation as “positive brain washing”. Yes, brain washing can be a bad thing, but it doesn’t have to be. I wash my body every day. Why not take a little time to wash all the crud out of my mind too?

I watched “The Secret”. And then, as the continual student that I am, I started reading books and listening to CDs, hearing lectures, and going to discussions. I started reading the bible and devotionals. I started seeking out friends who were willing to spend time discussing their ideas and ideals with me without passing judgment. I even ended a few friendships that had taken a bad course and were counter productive to my personal growth. That was the hardest thing for me to do.

The thing is that I began to really see the power of manifestation, of the Law of Attraction, of prayer. I had some very negative friendships that were making me feel bad on any number of levels. There was a friend who was so verbally abusive to her children that I felt nauseous after seeing her. There was a friend who was so verbally abusive to me when upset that I began doubting my own value and self-worth. I realized that as long as I allowed myself to be used, disrespected, or just continued to hang around people that didn’t have the same values as I did, I would not be able to put my life and my own mind in order. Back to the “first take the log out of your own eye” thing…how could I help anyone become a better person, find fulfillment in their life, or discover their own self-worth if it was all a struggle for me?

This is where this series begins. With an eternal being, a part of God, a person created from energy and pure thought…who had forgotten who she was and who thought she was only a limited human. Me. This series is my journey — however crooked, curved, bumpy or beautiful and divine the path might be. Take this journey with me. You don’t have to agree with what I say or think. Just remember, you are also an eternal being, a part of God, a person created from energy and pure thought. And remember to work on yourself before you try to work on others. That includes me.

Peace.

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The Goddess Mari is a belly dance instructor, performer and choreographer from the Chicago area. She has been working online for almost 8 years and manages multiple websites. She owns and operates ArticleFocusBlog.com, which is a pay-to-post, high quality article blog.. In this series, she chronicles her own search for a greater existence.

Visit her at ArticleFocusBlog.com or at GoddessMari.com

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