Statistics vary, but it is estimated that 1 in 10 students will experience bullying. Schools are trying character-building programs to combat the problem, but they rely on funding. It is our responsibility now more than ever to get involved in the issue and help to make a difference. Our communities can get involved by finding local anti-bullying resources, offering workshops, and advocating for program funding at our schools and in the local area.

Community education about cyber-bullying is also a big piece of the puzzle. The statistics about kids being harassed by others using technologies such as cell phones, computers, and social media websites are horrifying, and cyber-bullying is escalating. According to Do Something.org, nearly 43% of kids experience bullying online. Here are some other interesting facts:

• Girls are twice as likely to be victims and perpetrators of cyber-bullying.
• 68% of teenagers believe cyber-bullying is a big problem.
• 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online.
• 75% of kids have gone to a website that is bashing another student and said nothing.
• And the most disturbing statistic – bullying victims are 2-9 times more likely to consider committing suicide.

We can help bring change by getting involved. FitnessFest Conference and Expo, a leader in providing health and fitness workshops and training for professionals, is now offering a day of workshops for children. FitnessFest Kidz is a day of whole health, fitness workshops and fun. The event includes an obstacle course challenge, a flash mob dance, lunch and a speaker who will be talking directly to kids about ways to combat bullying.

For more information and to register your child:

FitnessFest.org/FitnessFest-Kidz

Phone: 480-461-3888

Some other helpful websites: stopbullying.gov, dosomething.org, aacap.org, athinline.org.

Let’s change the statistics.

Did you know that cold weather could actually stimulate the immune system? What is cold-induced asthma? READ MORE HERE.

Some tips about keeping your children warm after your lesson:

• Bring a towel to dry off right after your child finishes his/her lesson.
• Take a hot shower. All of our pools have a shower in the pool area and additional showers in the locker rooms.
• Bring a set of dry clothes and close-toed shoes.

Reasons to keep your kids in lessons during the winter:

• Active children and adults are less likely to get sick.
• Our indoor pool water is warm and your kids will be moving around, which will warm them up even more!
• Smaller class sizes during the winter sessions means more attention for your child.
• Getting a head start on swim lessons in the colder months will give your child a head start before we reach outdoor pool and water activity weather!

Happy Holidays from Waterworks On Wheels

It has been another great year at Waterworks On Wheels! We’ve been able to share our love of swimming and the necessity of water safety with so many families, and we have enjoyed each and every lesson. It’s so nice to have so many trusted, loyal instructors who love working with the kids. Pictured from left to right are Janice, Elizabeth, Barbara, Lee, Promise, Katie, and Gretchen peeking in the back. Christina, Erin, Carol, Connie and Shay were not able to attend. I (Janice) personally loved the white elephant gift that I got from Promise. It was a homemade gold beaded bracelet that went great with my holiday dress Saturday night! Barbara’s foot is healing nicely and she is excited to get back to the kids. Christina stopped by to say hi and she is also on the mend. We wish everyone a happy and a safe holiday season and hope to see you back in the pool in 2013!

How About a Resolution?

from Scholastic.com

New Year’s resolutions give a perfect opportunity for you and your child to discuss areas in which there’s room for improvement — so don’t miss out! Here are some ideas on how to take advantage of those January 1st declarations.

Getting Started: The sentiment of starting the year anew could be lost on younger kids, so introduce the concept of resolutions to upper elementary-age children (say grades 3 and up). Simply stating your own pledge can open up a rich conversation. Be prepared to discuss, discuss, discuss! More curious kids can go online to explore how the traditions of making resolutions came to be.

The next step, of course, is asking your child if he has any ideas for a resolution of his own. Encourage him by challenging the rest of the family to come up with similar resolutions. For example, if your child wants to improve his reading skills, invite everyone else to come up with one reading-related resolution. You can even put your child in charge of collecting each family member’s resolution and making a poster chart of them. Promote one of these for a happy, healthy, learning-filled year:

I resolve to:

• Be more organized! Your child can make the most of his time by making sure he knows how to take notes, organize his work, and schedule his life with a planner. Once the clutter is vanquished, homework and studying will be simpler…and he’ll have more time for fun. Try some of these super tools and ideas to get started.
• Break a bad habit! Poor posture, biting your nails, too much TV: all are great candidates for kick-the-habit New Year’s resolutions. Quitting can be tough, but with encouragement your child can learn about determination and willpower — qualities that are valuable for years to come.
• Cut down on soda! Ring in the New Year by making sugary, caffeinated drinks a treat, not an all-the-time beverage. After 2 p.m., implement a “decaf-only” rule so your child isn’t wide awake at bedtime. Substituting other liquids (such as water, milk, or juice) at dinner will have a calming effect and make it easier to sit down and concentrate on homework in the evening.
• Eat healthier foods! Encourage your child to get balanced when it comes to eating. Not only will this resolution help your child’s body, but there are benefits for his brain too! And while switching from sugary snacks to nutritional noshes can be a difficult transition for kids, it doesn’t mean treats have to go away completely or forever. Try using the term “cutting back” instead of “giving up” — it’ll make the task less daunting.
• Get a good night’s sleep! Snoozing for at least eight hours per night can increase energy and boost concentration. Encourage reading in the evening, instead of stimulating activities such as TV, Web-surfing, or video games.
• Improve academic habits! While it’s honorably ambitious to declare “I want to get all A’s,” your child might feel crushed if she doesn’t make the grade on her first test. Instead, suggest that she aim to change her study habits, starting with creating a kid-friendly workspace. Try to be involved in her homework routine — listen to the frustrations she might have with a certain subject, and work together to find a solution. Once she feels more confident in her abilities, higher grades will follow.
• Move my body! Exercise is important for a healthy heart and brain, so spend time each afternoon working up a sweat. Even if your child isn’t involved in organized sports, you can still feel the burn with a daily walk together or a fun game (think Dance Dance Revolution).

Holiday Tree Brownies Recipe

Ingredients:

1 box brownie mix (+ eggs, oil, etc. called for on box)

1 cup white frosting

Green food coloring

Red M&Ms or Red Hots

Green sprinkles

Candy canes

Directions: Line your pan with foil so that foil extends about 2 inches over the short sides of the pan. Grease bottom only of foil with cooking spray or shortening. Make brownie mix according to directions on the box. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Remove brownie from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. Cut brownie into triangle pieces (save the leftover pieces for snacking!).

Stir food coloring into frosting. Spoon green frosting into small, resealable food storage bag; partially seal bag. Cut off tiny bottom corner of bag. Squeeze bag to pipe frosting over brownies. Sprinkle with decorations. Break off the curved end of the candy canes and insert the straight piece into the bottoms of the trees for tree trunks!

Personal Notes from Janice…

This is the season of shopping and parties, so it’s hard to be too crabby when these are two of my favorite things! I’ve been either planning or attending lots of holiday parties, making my infamous toffee, and pounding the pavement for those perfect gifts. I have not mastered the online shopping ease, but I’m working on it. I still love to hit the malls and the stores — and sometimes it’s a “one for you, one for me” day! Earrings are my weakness.

Tara and Luke will be home for the holidays, as will my brothers Rob and Joe from Colorado. Our tradition is gifts at our house in the morning with all our kids, eggs benedict with my sister’s family and my mom and brothers, more gifts, cleaning up or a quick nap, then off to (sister) Carol and Bob’s house for Christmas dinner and fireplace songs and fun. I can’t wait for it all to begin!

I had a fabulous trip to Seattle at the end of November. Off the record, it was a business trip to see if Seattle was the place for a future FitnessFest. It was a fact-finding mission with trusted colleagues and health club managers and owners, and a huge overview of the city and outlying areas to visit venues. Seattle has some amazing health club facilities and it was a very interesting and successful trip. It was great to stay with my longtime friend Janet, who used to be my roommate over 30 years ago here in Mesa. She drove me around to tons of venues while I was there. And of course we got to play and have fun at Pike’s Fish Market, and the original Starbucks! Verdict on Seattle as a venue…..to be continued, but looking good!!

Happy Holidays.

Janet & Janice at Pike's Fish Market

]]> http://www.waterworksonwheels.com/december-news-from-waterworks-on-wheels/feed/ 0 http://www.waterworksonwheels.com/dive-into-this-swimming-gift-now-2/ http://www.waterworksonwheels.com/dive-into-this-swimming-gift-now-2/#comments Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:53:50 +0000 gretchen http://www.waterworksonwheels.com/?p=1785 Get Ready for 2013!

Hey there. We know staying organized around the holidays can be tough. We thought we’d help you get a jump on 2013 swim lessons!

Call to register for a February 2013 swim lesson session by December 31st and receive $10.00 OFF.*
(480) 461-3888

*Offer not valid with any additional offer or coupon. Limit ONE $10 OFF coupon per child.

Leave the rule book at home. When parents travel to spend the holidays, they sometimes try to use “home” rules for parenting. But, children and parents both experience very different demands than when at home. Grandparents want to stay up and talk to the little ones. Aunts and uncles spoil children with candy and attention. What parents find inappropriate at home becomes “cute” to others. Parents can find joy by leaving the rule book at home. Relax and allow the laughter and smiles from your children to become more important than keeping order.

Be flexible with schedules. The holidays push parents to be in two places at once. Schools hold holiday events, churches encourage families to attend special services, and offices hold parties for grownups only. These time demands place parents in a position where they must pick and choose. If we are flexible about how we prioritize our time during the holidays, we can release our expectations to please everyone. Instead, joy comes when we go with the flow, and adopt a “do our best” attitude. Parents find happiness, at the end of the day, in the smiling faces of their families.

Pay close attention once per day. Parents find themselves scattered over the holidays. Sometimes we forget that children need our time more than ever when things become hectic. We can give the gift of attention every day, without paying a penny to a toy store. Parents will find joy in the way a child’s eyes light-up during the 15 to 30 minutes set aside to read together or play a simple board game. Those few minutes lay the foundation of connection to children, and show love more than any Lego set or teddy bear.

Looking to 2013

With the holiday season upon us, Waterworks On Wheels is preparing to wrap up 2012 and move on to 2013! We will not offer classes in December so that everyone (our instructors included!) can take a break, spend time with family and re-group for the new year. Click HERE for the 2013 session schedule.

We WILL be offering a FREE refresher class in January for our past clients and a FREE lesson for newbies. If you are currently in lessons, look for more information on these free lessons before the end of your current session. If you are not currently in lessons or have a friend that would like to join us for a free lesson in January, contact us at (480) 461-3888 or email us at info@waterworksonwheels.com and ask to be put on the list. Scheduling will be done in January.

Easy Wall Pop Art Craft

Pop art from FamilyFun.com lends a cool factor to your little one’s room, or makes a fun gift idea for relatives and friends! There’s no rule that says your child’s room decor can’t be cool, so how about a pop art portrait of one of your child’s favorite characters — himself/herself or a family pet!

Materials:

-Photograph

-Colored paper

-Scissors

-Glue

-Card stock or matte board

-Double-sided tape

Time Needed: 1-2 hours

Instructions:

1. Print four black-and-white copies of a photograph of your child’s face on colored paper (ours are 5×7). If the contrast isn’t strong enough, follow your copier’s or printer’s directions to increase it.

2. Cut out the images and glue them to pieces of contrasting colored paper as shown. Mount the photos on card stock or matte board with double-sided tape, then frame.

Personal Notes from Janice…

Thanksgiving. Giving thanks. Thanks for our health, for our family, for our friends, for all the little things in life that we all too often take for granted. Like electricity! God Bless all those who have lost their homes, their cars, their photo albums, even their lives due to Sandy. Perry and I have so many family members and relatives that live in NYC, Long Island, and in Northern New Jersey. My cousin Kathi just sent me a video clip of Long Beach. So sad. That is where we used to walk the boardwalk and hang out on the beach. But everyone is helping out and coming to the rescue, including my brother-in-law Patrick who will be back east with relief efforts (so he will miss our Thanksgiving dinner – a small sacrifice).

On a cheerier note, the Jaicks house is bustling with remodel and updates. We have totally gutted Tara’s room and ripped out carpet and closets to make the room a little bigger. Saltillo tile, yellow paint, new bed and bedding and furniture will uplift this little room tremendously. And new shutters too (we love our southwest shutters)! I’d like to show you a picture, but right now the room is empty…we still have a few days to finish, right?!

I love Thanksgiving. As much as it’s a lot of work to host dinner for 20 and an after-party, it’s family and friends and it is our tradition. Everyone brings their favorite dish to share, and the table is always fun to decorate for me and Erin. Our outdoor fireplace is THE place to gather with coffee drinks and conversation throughout the week. Looks like the weather here in the Phoenix area should be high upper 70s to low 50s! Gotta get down below 70 to enjoy our fireplace outside, right?

Here’s to you and your family at Thanksgiving time!

Most of us just can’t resist having a Pumpkin Spice-something-or-other as soon as fall rolls into town. Whether it’s a yummy candle for the living room or a delicious coffee drink from your favorite cafe — that Pumpkin Spice combo just can’t be avoided!

Here’s a great twist on the Pumpkin Spice Latte from blogger Brittany Mullins on her great blog EatingBirdFood.com.

Healthy Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

1. In a cup or sauce pan, mix together almond milk and pumpkin. Cook on medium heat on the stove top or microwave for 30-45 seconds.
2. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, spices and sweetener, place in a cup and use a frother to foam the milk. You can also use a blender – just process for 30 seconds or until foamy.
3. Pour coffee into a large mug, add the foamy milk mixture on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy!

15 Kid and Toddler Super Foods

By Shaun Dreisbach

Serve up these colorful, tasty, nutrient-packed super foods for healthier meals and snacks!

• Eggs: Eggs offer protein, and they’re one of the few foods that naturally contain vitamin D (which helps the body absorb calcium). Eating protein at breakfast helps kids feel satisfied longer.
• Oatmeal: Research shows that kids who eat oatmeal are better able to concentrate and pay attention in school. Fiber-rich whole grains, like oatmeal, digest slowly, providing kids with a steady stream of energy.
• Fruit: Any fruit is good for your child, providing essential vitamins and minerals. Fruit also has fiber, which keeps kids regular. To reap the nutritional benefits, aim to eat a variety of fruits, like berries, melon, kiwifruit, and oranges.
• Nuts: Nuts are made up of healthy fats, which kids need for growth and development, as well as for heart health. Having a little bit of “good” fat in the morning gives your kids a burst of energy to keep them going.
• Black Beans: “Beans are a great source of protein, as well as fiber and calcium — two things kids tend not to get enough of. The darker the color, the better they are,” says Beller. “They also help guard against heart disease and high cholesterol, which aren’t adults-only problems. I have a nine-year-old patient with very high cholesterol.” Ways to get them in your kid’s diet: Make nachos or quesadillas with black beans, cheese, and salsa; try black-bean veggie burgers, or whip up black-bean hummus.

READ MORE

November Weekday Session – Last Call!

There is only ONE weekday session left until next year. If you are interested in registering for a November session, please click the link below:

• Monday/Wednesday in Chandler: October 31st – November 28th (no class Nov.21st): REGISTER NOW
• Tuesday/Thursday in Gilbert: November 1st – 29th (no class Nov. 22nd): REGISTER NOW

Pizza Mummies

Disguises aren’t just for Halloween. Surprise your family with these dressed-up, spooky-looking snacks any time of year. Kids can help by spooning the pizza sauce on the English muffin and making the mummy face with the cheese and vegetables.

Ingredients

• English muffins
• Pizza sauce
• Black olives

• Scallions
• Red or green pepper
• Cheese sticks or slices

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350º F. For each mummy, spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce onto half of an English muffin (toast it first, if you like).
2. Set olive slices in place for eyes and add round slices of green onion or bits of red or green pepper for pupils.
3. Lay strips of cheese (we used a pulled-apart cheese stick) across the muffin for the mummy?s wrappings.
4. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the muffin is toasty.

Personal Notes from Janice…

It has been a traveling month for me! Late in September, I flew to Iowa to see my son Luke, as he was having ACL surgery. His ACL was ruptured and meniscus had been torn from an old snowboard injury, most likely worsened by football poundings over the years. The surgery in Iowa City went great and I was surprised and pleased at how well he came out of it. I was impressed by Mercy Hospital, the doctor, and the care he received. I gave rave reviews on their post-surgery survey. They were smart to send this before I got the outrageous bill!! We then drove to the small town of Fairfield, where Luke lives and is finishing up school. He should graduate next spring. All is well and I was glad to be there for him. It was nice to see some fall colors, since we don’t see much of that in the Phoenix area.

The weekend after that trip was FitnessFest Tucson. It was fun to stay at the Marriott at University Park with Gretchen, Libby and Connie. The UofA campus area (University Street behind the Marriott) is a fun experience, and it’s nice to be out of town for a work conference and still enjoy it. Since things went so smoothly at the event, there was little stress! It was also great to get some time post-conference to build relationships with some amazing conference presenters and sponsors!

Then came the real fun: a flight to New York City to stay with my daughter Tara! Tara has lived in Manhattan for five years now (she graduated from UofA and went straight to NYC!). Being born in Long Island and having roots back east, New York has always held a special place in my heart. I love the energy of this city!! Tara and I had some great bonding time just talking and hanging out. I love the cafés in Manhattan, the west side and of course Soho and China Town. We ran into a street fair, and also had an amazing nighttime rooftop experience. My cousin Kathi took the train in from Connecticut to stay with us for a day and night. Kathi and I grew up together and are the same age, and try to connect annually somehow. On a somber note, we toured the new 9/11 memorial. Our second cousin’s husband died in the North Twin Tour. The memorial is amazing and it was very emotional and definitely worth seeing what they have done.

Here’s to the busy and festive fall season and the holidays!! We will be hosting about 30 people for dinner on Thanksgiving…so I’ll be sure to report on those shenanigans next time!

Be Well,

Janice

Establishing a Bedtime Routine

Preschoolers sleep about 10 to 12 hours during each 24-hour period, but there’s no need to be rigid about which 10 to 12 hours these are. The most important thing is to help kids develop good habits for getting to sleep.

A bedtime routine is a great way to ensure that your preschooler gets enough sleep. Here are a few things to keep in mind when establishing one:

• Include a winding-down period during the half hour before bedtime.
• Stick to a bedtime, alerting your child both half an hour and 10 minutes beforehand.
• Set fixed times for going to bed, waking up, and taking naps.
• Keep consistent playtimes and mealtimes.
• Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine, near bedtime.
• Make the bedroom quiet, cozy, and conducive to sleeping.
• Use the bed only for sleeping — not for playing or watching TV.
• Limit food and drink before bedtime.
• Allow your child to choose which pajamas to wear, which stuffed animal to take to bed, etc.
• Consider playing soft, soothing music.
• Tuck your child into bed snugly for a feeling of security.

A Note on Naps

Most preschoolers do still need naps during the day. They tend to be very active — running around, playing, going to school, and exploring their surroundings — so it’s a good idea to give them a special opportunity to slow down. Even if your child can’t fall asleep, try to set aside some quiet time during the day for relaxing. (And you’ll probably benefit from a break too!)

The best way to encourage napping is to set up a routine for your child, just as you do for bedtime. Your preschooler, not wanting to miss out on any of the action, may resist a nap, but it’s important to keep the routine firm and consistent. Explain that this is quiet time and that you want your child to start out in bed, but that it’s OK to play in the bedroom quietly if he or she can’t sleep.

How long should naps last? For however long you feel your child needs to get some rest. Usually, about an hour is sufficient. But there will be times when your child has been going full tilt and will need a longer nap, and others when you hear your child chattering away, playing through the entire naptime.

Sleeping Problems

Preschoolers may have nightmares, or night terrors, and there may be many nights when they have trouble falling asleep.

It may help if you create a “nighttime kit” to keep near your child’s bed for these times. That kit might include a flashlight, a favorite book, and a cassette or CD to play. Explain the kit, then put it in a special place where your child can get to it in the middle of the night.

Objects like stuffed animals and blankets also can help kids feel safe. If your child doesn’t have a favorite toy and getting to sleep has become consistently difficult, then it might be worth going out together to pick out a warm, soft blanket or stuffed animal.

Some parents get into the habit of lying down next to their young kids until they fall asleep. While this may do the trick temporarily, it won’t help sleeping patterns in the long term. It’s important to provide comfort and reassurance, but kids need to fall asleep independently for when parents aren’t around. If you establish a routine where you have to be there for your child to go to sleep, then it will be difficult for both of you — and unfair to your child — if you start leaving beforehand.

If you’re worried about your child’s sleeping patterns, talk with your doctor. Although there isn’t one sure way to raise a good sleeper, most kids have the ability to sleep well and work through any sleeping problems. The key is to try from early on to establish healthy bedtime habits.