Regina

Winter is on its way. For many of us, that’s not one of the
things we really like to hear. Winters in Wisconsin can be pretty extreme –
last winter definitely fell into that category. But have you ever thought about
how your own negative cold weather talk could be affecting your children?

Negativity is unbelievably contagious. Think about how it
sounds to your children, (and other family members and co-workers) when this is
what they hear all winter:

“It’s WAY too cold out.”

“I HATE winter.”

“The roads are going to be terrible!”

“Another gray and gloomy day….”

“This is NEVER going to end.”

For many children, winter is a favorite time of year. Snow
has a magical quality and when it appears one day, it offers all kinds of new
play opportunities. Rather than jump on the negative band wagon this year, help
your family and yourself by some intentional “re-framing” of the cold weather
season. Make it a point to notice and comment on the pluses like, “The
snowflakes are so beautiful when they’re this huge.”  “I love how cozy our house feels when the
wind is blowing outside!” “It’s a great day to make hot chocolate and watch a
movie.” Better yet, dress for the weather and get everyone out for a walk on a
sparkling and glittery night when the snow is falling.

It happens every year. Winter shows up for ALL of us in
Wisconsin – the lovers and the haters. Make this the year that you choose to
ride it out with a more positive outlook and before you know it, well, you know
what comes after winter……

-Regina

When you ask
a group of adults to share some of their favorite childhood memories, very
often the answers will involve time spent outdoors. At a recent staff meeting,
we did just that and teachers shared great stories about camping trips, fishing
in small streams, playing with sticks and mud, and laying in the grass to watch
clouds, among other things. Just hearing about the remembered positive
experiences created a relaxing and uplifting mood for all of us.

So what will
our children (and grandchildren} say? Are we giving them opportunities for the
same kind of relaxing time in nature that we all remember so fondly? In too
many cases, we are probably falling short of what we would like to say. So many
families find themselves with very busy and very structured lives that don’t
include enough outdoor time.

How can we
help children reconnect with nature? It might be easier than you think.
Following are some simple suggestions. Start small and make it a point to add
more experiences as you go.

Plan
family outdoor experiences like after dinner walks, picnics, or trips to parks
and beaches.Provide
your child with outdoor toys like butterfly nets, binoculars, bug catchers,
sand boxes and sand toys, kites, etc.Take
your books outside! Create a family outdoor reading area. Start
some simple gardening.Dress
your children for the weather so they can enjoy being outside in all four
seasons.Go
outside after dark and look for stars, fireflies, or the moon.Bring
some nature inside. Decorate with plants, seashells, driftwood, and interesting
stones.Play
relaxing “nature sound” music in your home to set a peaceful tone.Watch
for outdoor events like concerts, craft fairs, food events, or charity walks.Eat
outside when you can!Help
your child notice their surroundings – trees that are budding, birds in the
trees, cloud formations, etc.

The best
thing you can do to encourage a reconnection with nature is to reconnect
yourself […]

Losing A Pet

As parents,
one of the hardest things in life is watching our children experience pain and
sadness. When a treasured family pet dies, many children are faced with their
first introduction to death.

Death is a
difficult subject for adults and when we struggle ourselves with the concept,
it makes it even harder to know how best to handle explanations with our
children. Religious beliefs definitely come into play when you determine
how/what you will share, but following are some basic Do’s and Don’ts to
consider.

DON’T

…tell
children the animal was “put to sleep” or didn’t wake up from sleep. Children
may develop a fear of sleeping themselves.….minimize
the event by saying things like, “It was just a cat.”….stop
talking about the pet. At first it may be painful but it’s an important step in
being able to remember the happy memories and to show that there is value in
all life.….tell
children not to cry. Expressing their sadness is important.…rush
into getting another pet immediately. One animal does not replace another.

DO

…encourage
children to talk about the pet that died and about their feelings.…discuss
dying, death, and grief honestly, but don’t dwell on it. Children may need only
small amounts of information at first if they are very young. …be
clear about the permanence  of death.…watch
for signs children are struggling – loss of appetite, withdrawal, toileting
lapses, nightmares or other sleep disruption.…understand
children may return to the subject repeatedly as they process the death.…consider
holding some kind of small “good-bye” ritual.….find
a special way to remember the pet.