Mind Your Manners

We teach our children to say "please" and "thank you" but good manners require much more than just saying the "Magic Words".  Teaching your children good manners gives them lifelong survival skills and the tools to build, strengthen, and maintain relationships with others.   Below are some activities you can do with your child to reinforce good manners.

1.  Show your children the manners you expect at home first.  The next time you eat dinner together, have your children pretend they are eating at a restaurant.  How should they talk to each other?  What should they say when the waiter brings their food?  How do we sit in our seat?  What do we do if we finish eating before the rest of the family?

2.  The next time your children mentions something nice that another person did for them.  Discuss how did that person's actions made them feel. Then suggest they write a thank you note to express their appreciation.  A thank you notes doesn't have to be a lot of words; it can even be a picture.

3.  You can write short thank you notes to your children for things they do that you appreciate.

4.  Explain to your child the importance of taking turns.   Practice taking turns with a favorite toy or activity.  For example, if your child absolutely loves swinging, practice swinging for a prescribed amount of time then moving on the another activity, in an effort to allow another child the opportunity to swing.  This will be a beneficial skill to possess on the playground, and in school yards.

5.  Meetings, Greetings, and Good-byes make for a fun family game that can give your child an opportunity to practice polite ways to meet new people, greet people they know, and say good bye.  With your child, role play meeting new people (peer, adult, teacher...).  How do you greet a friend, relative, or pediatrician?  What are some of the ways you can say goodbye after spending time with someone? 

Children can benefit from learning that little acts of appreciation, caring, and respect can make others feel really good.  And manners are a part of appreciating, respecting and caring for the feelings of other.  Try fun learning activities and role playing at home to instill good manners in your child.  Good manners start at home and spread abroad.

Alphabet Jam: Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

X,Y, Z is for Zucchini!!! Turn your next trip to the commissary or grocery store into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Happy Hunting!!!!

For PC: Right click on the image below and select "Print Picture".


For Mac: Right click on the image below and select "Open in New Window". Click on the image to zoom out. Then print.

VideoJam: Make a FREE Personalized Video Message from Santa!

Today, I witnessed the magic of Christmas in my son's eyes as he watched his very own video message from the Man in Red himself, Santa Claus!  Parents, it only takes a few minutes to enter your child's information and upload a couple of pictures to make this wonderful Christmas keepsake.

Visit http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home to make your child's free personalized video message from Santa!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Craft Jam: "Christmas is Love" Soup in a Jar.

Three years ago, I received one of the best Christmas gifts from one of my KinderJammers and her Grandmother.  They gave me soup in a jar.  I really appreciated the adorably packaged gift and gave my usual thank you.  However later that week when I was looking for something to cook for my family for dinner, I decided to make the soup in the jar.  It was so yummy and my family absolutely loved it.  The next time I saw the Grandmother, I told her how wonderful the soup was and she shared the recipe.  That year, my three year old and I made an assembly line and made all of his teachers and our friends and loved ones "Christmas is Love" Soup in Jar.  Not only is the soup in a jar an economical gift choice, but it also provides my family with a wonderful activity that we can do together during the holidays.  The thing I love most about this gift is that it gives the recipient a gift twice; once when they receive the pretty package and again when it gives their family a warm and yummy hug at dinnertime.

"Christmas is Love" Soup in a Jar

Layers for a 16oz. Jar:

• 2 tsp. salt
• 3 tsp.  dried minced onion
• 1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice 
• 1/4 cup dry green split peas 
• 1/4 cup pearl barley
• 1/4 cup dry yellow split peas 
• 2 tsp.  dried parsley
• 1/4 cup dry lentils 
• Then add tri-colored pasta up to the mouth of the jar and pack tightly.  Then seal the jar.

Items for Packaging:

• 7"x7" square of fabric
• small rubber band
• ribbon
• gift tag/soup directions

Directions for Packaging:

1. After the jar is tightly sealed, place your 7"x7" square of fabric over the top of the jar and place a small over the fabric, under the lid of the jar.  Trim fabric for neatness if necessary.
2. Punch a hole in the corner of your gift tag/soup directions and insert your ribbon through the hole.
3. Tie your ribbon tightly under the lid of the jar. Then tie a bow.

Gift Tag/Soup Directions Reads:

“Christmas is Love” Soup

1. Pour the contents of this jar and 8 cups of your favorite broth into a pot.
2. Chop one stalk of celery. Slice one carrot. Add to the pot.
3. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat until the vegetables are tender (about an hour).
4. Before serving, and one cup of diced tomatoes.
From our family to yours, Enjoy!!!!

*This is a great idea for teacher, command, or FRG gifts.  You can select fabric the base on the occasion of the gift.

 Printable Gift Tags:

For PC: Right click on the image below and select "Print Picture".

For Mac: Right click on the image below and select "Open in New Window". Click on the image to zoom out. Then print

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

W is for Watermelon!!! Turn your next trip to the commissary or grocery store into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Happy Hunting!!!!

For PC: Right click on the image below and select "Print Picture".

For Mac: Right click on the image below and select "Open in New Window". Click on the image to zoom out. Then print.

Kidpower: Every Child Deserves to Feel Safe

Kidpower Workshop in Palo Alto, CA

Today my family and I attended a play date with several other families of children ages 3 to 5.  We have family outings all the time and generally walk away with wonderful memories and great pictures.  However, today we walked away from a play date with life lessons and strategies the will assist my husband and me on our mission to keep our son safe.  As adults, we are aware of the dangers that lurk in the world we live in and know we must keep our little ones safe.  I battled with wanting to prepare my 5 year old for individuals who would attempt to infringe on his personal safety but I did not want to rob him of his angelic innocence.  The workshop that our play date host invited us to today helped me with that battle. The Kidpower workshop gave us a gentle way to discuss and practice personal safety measures that were relevant to our preschooler.


Kidpower is a non-profit organization that works to help kids and adults feel personally safe.  They have locations across the nation.  I would encourage you to research their organization and plan your next play date with Kidpower, if there is one in your area.  It's FREE!!!!!  Visit Kidpower at www.kidpower.org.