How to Keep Safe While Riding Bikes

Wear Helmets

Make sure your kids have a helmet that fits snug around their head. Not too big or too small. Make sure the strap is always buckled and pulled tight so it can’t fly off.

Keep Your Bike in Good Repair

Make sure the breaks work well and you have good air pressure in the tires. Prevent the chain from becoming worn out by oiling it regularly. Mount reflectors to the back and front of the bike.

Ride a Bike That Fits

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, when standing over your bike, there should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top bar for a road bike and 3 to 4 inches for a mountain bike.

Wear Fitting Attire

Dress your kids in bright colors that can easily be seen. Avoid pants that can get caught in the chain and always have them put on their shoes. Sandals and flip-flops don’t have a good grip, so lace up the sneakers!

Tell Them When and Where

Inform your kids about where you want them to be riding and how far you want them to go. Avoid areas with busy streets and stay on the sidewalk. Always walk your bike across the street and don’t ride at night.

Teach Them Why

Make sure your kids understand why they need to take precaution when riding their bikes and that it is dangerous to ride without doing these things.

Make it Fun

Get your kids excited to wear their helmets by letting them decorate them however they want. Teach them how to care for their bikes, so they feel like they can do it themselves.

How do you keep your kids safe when riding their bikes?

Traditions don’t have to revolve around holidays or a particular day. We didn’t set out to make this one a tradition; this one just happened naturally. It happens every spring and, not surprisingly in this house of boys, involves food and the opportunity to get a little dirty.

Picking Strawberries with the Family

On a warm spring day (with no rain if we can help it), we head to a local farm to do some strawberry picking.

A perfect day for strawberry picking.

The strawberry farm we go to allows you to bring your own container, so my boys personalize theirs.

We wouldn't want to get their strawberries mixed up, now would we?

We’ve also learned that it’s best to have “strawberry picking clothes,” which should include a red shirt to better hide the strawberry stains. Trust me on this one.

The boys have their strawberry picking technique down: you twist and then pull. They know they can pick as much as they can carry but can’t eat any until we wash them. But it’s a hard lesson to teach, especially when even I am tempted by the sweet juicy fruit in my hot little hand. We wander up and down different rows, allowing them to decide which berries they want to pick.

He has that twist-and-pull technique down.

When they are satisfied with their amount of strawberries, we store the berries in our van and explore the farm. We take a hayride, pet the animals, climb on tractors, and check out the treats in the market.

The first year we were there, my oldest spotted some bright flowers and insisted “Mommy, this is for you!” Each year since, they have picked out flowers for me and for their grandma, too.

Pink for mom, red for grandma.

When we are all good and tired, we head home where we immediately wash the strawberries while the boys practically dance around the kitchen with excitement.

Then we head to the backyard, spread out a blanket and have a picnic of strawberries and homemade lemonade (okay, lemonade we picked up from Chick-Fil-A on the way home). We eat ’til their bellies are full and then enjoy the spring weather. In little boy terms, that means chasing each other around the yard and inventing games that have me wondering which of them will be the first to break a bone.

Broken bones aside, strawberry picking day is always a fun tradition for our whole family.

What spring traditions does your family have?

Shell- known as @shellthings on Twitter- wrangles chaos and mayhem on a daily basis (otherwise known as raising three boys). When she’s not breaking up wrestling matches or ducking Legos, she spills her thoughts on her blog, Things I Can’t Say. Featuring the popular weekly link-up “Pour Your Heart Out” and a guest post series titled “Things They Can’t Say,” Shell’s blog is all about encouraging community and support among bloggers. In her free time (ha!), Shell is cofounder of Other Half Media, which takes on blogging and social media projects for bloggers and companies alike. She also team-teaches classes for bloggers on How to Rock Your Blog.

That was the consensus, at least, among tweeters at a MomItForward Twitter Girls’ Night Out just after the New Year. Sponsored by Together Counts, a nationwide program inspiring families to live healthier and more actively, it was a party of support and fun as tweeters shared recipes and tips that have worked for them.

Top 10 Tweet Tips for Staying in Shape During the Winter

1. Pick a different body area or life area to work on each month, and then blog about your journey. @ScrappinMichelle did this, labeling the whole thing “Project Balance,” and talks about her progress at ScrapsOfMyGeekLife.com.
2. Start or join a running group.@GGretchko says: “Group runs are motivating. I learn a lot from others.” If you need help finding or starting one, go to Meetup.com and search for running groups or clubs.
3. Keep an eye out for diaper dashes and kiddie races that are often free when attached to races. @Bodhi_Bear says her running club does this.
4. Try balance boarding while working at home. @DarrenLister says it’s “awesome” and @JennSutherland says it’s her favorite way to pass time on conference calls.
5. Only weigh yourself once a week, on the same day. “If you do it more often,” says @CountryPoohBear, “you’ll get discouraged.”
6. Add a little bit of fresh ginger to your family’s smoothies, advises @Jenn Sutherland. Ginger tastes great and is a terrific source of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system;magnesium, which helps keep blood pressure normal, bones strong, and the heart rhythm steady; and potassium, which reduces high blood pressure, maintains muscle strength, and reduces anxiety and stress.
7. Get an Xbox 360 with Kinect. While some may scoff at this as a way to stay in shape, it was a surprisingly hot topic during this Twitter party. Games like Kinect Sports Season 2 and Michael Jackson: The Experience were the favorites.
8. Hide the veggies in really good tasting stuff. We’ve talked about this before, but it bears repeating because of its effectiveness. @Byrdy1999 recommends “anything out of the Jessica Seinfield’s Deceptively Delicious cookbook…she can really hide her veggies…yum!”
9. Try Peasant Salad. @ForestofWishes says it’s her family’s new go-to recipe. “It’s so healthy, hearty, and we all love it!” She also recommends Potato Leek Soup. If you want to add creaminess, try slow-cooking it and adding a bit of milk.
10. Add quinoa to just about any soup, recommends @AwakeCreativity. Quinoa is high in fiber and protein.

If you do whatever you’re going to do to get or stay in shape with your family, your chances of success are higher. As @GFaccenetti says: “Anytime we can get out and have fun together accomplishes two things at once: family time and exercise.”

What are your favorite ways to get you and your family active?

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Jessica went back to school on her birthday after being out for a few days. She looked pale, had lost weight and genuinely was not feeling her best. There was a part of me that thought, this is going to be a low key birthday. I was actually relieved to think that I didn’t have to have to make huge plans or make a big fuss. I know, I don’t sound like a very fun mom, but I literally have been swamped with work and other projects.

My good friend called and asked what fun plans I had for Jessica’s big day. I sounded like a lame mom when I told her that Jessica had missed so much school already from being sick and that I was just hoping she would just make it through the day. In other words, I had not made any special plans for my only daughter. My friend immediately told me that this was not okay. Jessica needed a birthday surprise and we needed to make it happen!

Don’t you just love a good friend? They tell you like it is, and don’t hold back. My friend suggested checking both her daughter and Jess out of school and taking them to a surprise birthday lunch. I immediately starting making plans.

Parties and activities do not need to be planned out. I literally threw these lunch plans together in 20 minutes. My friend went and picked up the girls at school and I went to the store to buy flowers and a card. We met at the restaurant and had a super fun birthday surprise lunch.

The important take away from this is to remember it isn’t about how big we make things, but that we make little things BIG. Today was a good reminder that being spontaneous is important and fun! These types of activities can make a real difference in your life and in the life of those you love. Even though my daughter is still sick, I hope that today brought her joy. She was surprised in a small and simple way, and she more importantly knows she is loved and special. Priceless!

What have you done lately to surprise someone you love?

Jill Greenlaw has a banking background. She gave that up 17 years ago when she got married and started having kids. She loved being a stay-at-home mom while raising her four beautiful children. A few years ago, Jill went back to work in sales. She is now working for the Mom It Forward team as their Community Manager. She loves her job. Her interests include camping, motorcycling, boating, photography, reading, cooking, and traveling. Put her in flip flops anywhere warm and she is happy.

That being said, it is still important, perhaps even more so during this time of year, for kids to get Vitamin D exposure and the kind of exercise they can only get from being out in more open spaces. According to research quoted by @Balmeras, kids who play outside:

• Become fitter and leaner
• Develop stronger immune systems
• Watch less TV and have more active imaginations
• Have lower stress levels
• Play more creatively
• Have greater respect for themselves and others

So what can they do? At a loss for ideas? We’ve suggested a few things in previous posts, like geocaching and dirtbiking. Many more were suggested at a MomItForward Twitter Girls’ Night Out (#gno) party in January sponsored by @SanbornCamps. Here are a few of the best:

7 Tips for Outdoor Winter Fun

1. Have a Norwegian Waffle picnic. ActiveKidsClub.com, says @SlowFamily, has a recipe and more winter fun ideas.
2. Have them make and navigate an obstacle course. Obstacle courses build important gross motor skills, develop muscles, develop coordination, help motor planning, increase endurance, and increase confidence, says @ImaginationSoup, who provides these recommendations for supplies, etc.
3. Make rain art, with drops of food coloring on paper plates and rain or snow. Check out NatureRocks for instructions and more ideas, says @Balmeras.
4. Build fairy houses. Says @Kaboom, “It has a touch of magic and imagination too.”
5. Make ice gardens like these done by @SanbornCamps.
6. Join a Family Nature Club, sponsored by the Children and Nature Network. @Danishaw has one.
7. Play the real-life version of Tron Deadly Discs, which is dodgeball with frisbees, says @DavidAndrew1987.

Ultimately, it comes down to attitude and attire. @PlayCrane says: “Ive always heard there’s no bad weather. Only bad clothing.” I have to agree, as I sit here writing this post, outside, warmed by my coat and the heat of my laptop, while my son enjoys riding his bike around.

What are some of your favorite outdoor activities?

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

5 Fun Things To Do in the Winter Months:

We’ve come up with our Top 5 favorite things to do during those chilly months of the year. They’ve been tried and tested by our families and they all get two “thumbs up!”

1.) Create a Drive-In Movie Experience

Follow the simple steps outlined below to create a drive-in movie experience for your kids right in the comforts of your home:

1. Start with a cardboard box, large enough for your child to sit in comfortably. This is their “car.”
2. Cut two circles in the bottom of the box, big enough for their legs to fit through.
3. Cut out two paper “headlights” and glue them on.
4. Attach a paper plate for a steering wheel.
5. Use markers or paint to decorate the car.
6. Add stickers, door handles, get creative!
7. “Drive” to the “snack bar”….popcorn, candy, nachos, apple slices…you name it! Don’t forget the drinks!
8. Head over to the “Drive-In” and park the car! Remind your little ones to slide their legs out of the holes and into the car when they sit down…or it could be a little uncomfortable!
9. Turn off the lights, put in the “feature presentation” and enjoy the show!

2.) Go on a Winter Scavenger Hunt

This can be done a few different ways. Find the items and take pictures; play it “I spy” style and cross the items off your list as you spot them; or collect the actual items. They should all be Winter-related (e.g. snowman, sled, hat, boots, mittens, scarf, icicle, snow blower, snow plow, snow shovel, rock salt, coat, skis, snowboard, hot cocoa mix, snow scraper, snow shoes, etc.). Involve your neighbors too.

3.) Go Sledding or Tubing

Bundle up and head for the hills. If you can’t change the weather, you might as well make the best of it.

4.) Host a Winter Blues Bash

There’s no reason to sit at home feeling blue just because it’s cold outside! Gather your friends/family and warm up together with a “soup-er” potluck party! Have everyone bring a pot of their favorite soup to share or anything else that will bash those blues away!

5.) Make the Best of a Snow Day

Head outside and make a snowman, then warm up with some hot chocolate! If you live in an area without snow, build a snowman using styrofoam balls or make one out of paper. Next, it’s time to make a “Snow Cave!” Drape a white sheet over tables, chairs, etc. to create a cave in front of your television. Decorate it with paper snowflakes. Grab a pillow and blanket, snuggle up in your cave, and watch “Frosty the Snowman” or one of your favorite Winter shows!

There are a lot of new memories to be made with these fun and free traditions!

What are your family’s favorite winter traditions?

Jen and Kim are two fun-lovin’ Moms who think that every day deserves to have a little bit of fun thrown in the mix….especially when it’s Free!  Jen is married to her favorite Fireman, Todd. She spends her days chasing a two year old and has #2 on the way! She enjoys anything that gets her creative juices flowing, plus Zumba, reading, writing and stirring up some trouble in the kitchen! Kim is married to her favorite Football coach, Scott. She spends her days trying to figure out how her children, now 18 and 21, grew up so fast! When she’s not figuring out how she can keep them around a little longer, she enjoys writing, pumping iron (not the kind that takes the wrinkles out of your clothes), entertaining her little “Princess” — a beautiful Husky named Shyah — and mixing in a little cooking/cleaning along the way.  Did we mention Kim and Jen are sisters? Yep, two fun-lovin’ beach bums from So-Cal that somehow landed in the Rocky Mountains of Utah! They’re often seen aimlessly wandering around looking for a beach or searching for more fun, free activities! Jen and Kim are the co-founders of Free Family Fun.

• http://freefamilyfunactivities.blogspot.com
• http://facebook.com/freefamilyfun
• http://pinterest.com/freefamilyfun
• Twitter ID: @Free_Family_Fun

“At least this up and down weather is interesting,” she recently posted, after we’d had a snowstorm one day, thunder and lightning that night, and a big Spring-like melt the next.

Like my friend, I attempt to maintain a positive attitude, even when the weather is less than optimal and my four kids have a holiday or “teacher work day” to keep them home from school.

When yet another three or four day weekend is looming, I get creative. Over the past several winters, I have thrown everything from elaborate Groundhog Day celebrations to birthday parties for J.R.R. Tolkien. I have commemorated Presidents’ Day with cherry pies (a nod to our first president) and old-fashioned games such as Dominos to show my children what games were played hundreds of years ago.

4 Staycation Ideas for President’s Day

As Presidents’ Day (and another four-day weekend) approaches, we can all start planning playful (and, yes, educational) ways to commemorate it.

Decorate the House

Set the mood for the day by surprising your kids when they wake up on Presidents’ Day. Pull out the American flags you usually reserve for the Fourth of July. Hang red, white, and blue streamers. Visit a teacher supply or dollar store to buy (or cut out your own) simple shapes to replicate George Washington’s recognizable profile or Abe Lincoln’s top hat. (Those figures are, of course, the two presidents whom we celebrate on the third Monday of February.)

Learn About the Presidents

Although Presidents’ Day usually points to Honest Abe and the Father of our Country, it’s appropriate to learn about the other POTUSes on that day as well.

For a complete list of our presidents, visit this site. Click on a president to read their inaugural addresses or other historic documents. More recent presidents can be seen and heard delivering their most famous addresses. Create a quiz to teach “fun facts” about various presidents.

Create Craft Projects

Pick your favorite president and have a little fun. Build a pretzel log cabin. Watch this video to learn about Abe Lincoln’s famous log cabin and how to make your own edible version. For a construction project that is a little less sticky, consider making your own George Washington wig. Nibbling on a piece of Mamie Eisenhower’s fudge while watching Dwight D. give his “military/industrial complex speech” on the POTUS site certainly would make it a little sweeter.

Watch Presidential-Themed Movies

Presidents’ Day is a perfect occasion to introduce teens to classic political films such as “All the President’s Men” and “Wag the Dog.” Lighter political fare for tweens includes Kevin Kline’s comic “Dave.” I like watching “1776” with my children on Presidents’ Day to reflect on our country’s origins and the benefits of our system of government. Musicals make me happy and brightening my mood in the depths of winter makes the whole family more sunny.

What’s are your fun ideas for celebrating Presidents’ Day?

Featured photo courtesy of Flickr.

Parenting writer Jennifer Grant’s first book, “Love You More: The Divine Surprise of Adopting My Daughter” was published in August 2011. Her second, also a memoir, is titled “MOMumental: Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family” and will be released in May 2012. “MOMumental” is a “humorous and candid memoir that shows would-be supermoms how to create a realistically balanced family life without losing their minds.” Find Grant online at jennifergrant.com.

So, what will we do if there is going to be six more weeks of winter? Never fear, friends. There is plenty to do that will help you get through the next six weeks!

3 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

Turn Off the TV and Computer

We know being active and maintaining a healthy diet are important parts of self-care, for ourselves and our children. Instead of watching the tube mindlessly or checking our Twitter account while munching on comfort food, let’s make a pact that we’ll be active every day this winter. Need inspiration?

• Have a snowball fight or build a snowman.
• Have a dance-off contest or set-up an indoor obstacle course.
• Play board games or Twister.

Get Crafty

• Make Valentine handprint cards.
• Make a living room A-frame tent.
• Paint the snow.  Fill bottles with food coloring and water; go outside and paint.

Do Good

Local heroes, the needy and sick, senior citizens, and children are just a handful of the people you and your family can connect with on a regular basis. Not sure where to start?

• Spread bread.
• Provide love, warmth, security and comfort to a child with Project Linus.
• Organize a makeover/fashion show event for a local senior home.

What does your family do during a long winter? What have you incorporated into your family that you did when you were growing up?

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Desiree Allen is a thirty-something single parent with two children. A native of Denver, Colorado, she lived there until 2009, when she moved across the country to northern New Jersey with her kids. She is doing her best to avoid ‘picking up’ a Jersey accent, but she’s not making promises that she won’t eventually start sounding like some of her new friends. You can find her blogging at Writing to Sanity and tweeting @writingtosanity.

To create special and memorable moments with your kids, you do not have to spend a fortune!

5 Date Ideas for You and Your Kids

The following are a few ideas that we have done in the past and plan to do again this year:

1. Outdoor Fun

During the summer, my kids and I try to visit a new park each week! I call it the park tour. Sometimes we pack a lunch, enjoy a treat or ice cream, or invite friends to play! You can make it as individual or social as you want!

2. Indoor Fun

If your climate doesn’t allow for outdoor play this time of the year, hit up a mall playground. To make it more exciting, you can let your child choose the mall you visit! Remember, you can pack your lunch or a special treat to eat in the mall as well! You do not have to buy an expensive treat!

3. Nap Time Fun

If you have more than one child, utilize nap time! When your younger child lies down for a nap, take that time with your older child and make it special and individualized. Maybe you get out a board game, read some special stories, or do a messy art project — do whatever will make nap time unique for you and your kid.

4. Sweet Treat Fun

Sometimes slowing down and sharing some baking/cooking together can generate some great conversations! Not only will you be working on life skills (cooking) but you will be able to talk as you prepare the treat and of course take a little extra time to chat while you enjoy the yummy treat!

5. Movie Night Fun

This fun time could be adapted in so many ways! You could surprise the kids with a morning movie while they are still in their PJs. Or, you could do an afternoon viewing of their favorite movie or simple early evening cuddle with their favorite flick! Pop some popcorn for a crunchy snack or pop a frozen pizza in the oven!

These are just a few of my favorites! Be sure to start your own ‘list’ of dates you want to have with your kids! Let’s make this year special by creating some memorable times with our children!

How do you make special memories with your kids?

Photo courtesy of flickr.

3 Ways a Parent Can Volunteer

Consider these three tips when searching for volunteer opportunities for your family:

Consider Your Child’s Interests

As tempting as it may be to schedule a volunteer activity you enjoy, look at your child’s interests to help determine an appropriate place to serve. I love the outdoors and a few years ago, I thought it would be fun to take garbage bags to a nearby park and have a mini park clean-up.

The idea sounded fabulous, but I didn’t take into account that my kids would see the playground and have no interest in the pick-up. I also missed the fact that my kids would view picking up trash as a required chore, while other kids at the playground had the time of their lives on the monkey bars.

Pay attention to the activities your children enjoy and combine their passions with service. Does your daughter love animals or create art? Maybe watching a neighbor’s dog or making Valentines for hospital patients would be a perfect experience. Does your teenage son enjoy working with his hands? Maybe assisting an elderly neighbor fix a broken lawnmower would be viewed as both helpful and fun.

Consider Your Child’s Abilities

I signed-up my daughter and I to work a two hour shift at a local food-bank. Two hours seemed like a reasonable amount of time until twenty minutes into our shift when my eight year-old started asking if we would be given water and a snack on our break. A break? Was she kidding? We were just putting cans in boxes and working at a very slow pace. Two hours of sorting canned goods is nothing for me, but the task proved too long and tedious for my eight-year-old.

Think about the limits your child possesses and don’t dismiss things such as attention span or physical limitations.

Consider Kid-Friendly Organizations

Let’s face it, not everyone is going to see the value of bringing a young child to assist with volunteering. That’s why some organizations set age-requirements and suggested guidelines for those who volunteer. Make a point to follow them! Seek out organizations that recognize the importance of education and experience over productivity.

It takes more effort to incorporate your child’s interests and abilities when scheduling a volunteer activity for your family, but by doing so and also searching out child-friendly organizations, your kids will have a positive volunteer experience that will leave your family longing to help others again.

What tips can you add to this list to ensure volunteering with children is both helpful and instills the desire to volunteer again?

Photo courtesy of flickr.

Can one beyond blessed family move from addicted to themselves to devoted to others? The author of this post shares honestly at Amy L. Sullivan about her family’s attempt to become less me, me, me focused and more others centered. Amy writes for print and online publications and is also writing a nonfiction book about serving others.