The Morning Routine: How to keeps kids moving

I don’t know about you, but every parent I know has the same set of challenges when it comes to their morning routine.  And with school just around the corner, I’m dreading it almost as much as my 8 year old.   

The Challenge; get your kid (or kids, as the case may be) up, dressed and ready for school on time, without having to remind them 10 times to put their socks on.  

But it’s not just socks.  It’s the whole morning routine.  

• Wake up and get out of bed (without having to be asked again and again)
• Go to the bathroom to pee, brush teeth, wash face and hands, brush hair (without an argument)
• Get dressed (without supervision and with minimal reminders)
• Get downstairs for breakfast.
• Get the backpack in order, including snack and any homework or books.

Last year, about half way through third grade, I realized that I needed to take myself out of the equation.  Rather than going into her room every morning and waking her up with kisses and snuggles, I took her to PC Richards to buy an alarm clock.

We picked it out together.  She created her own playlist, read the instructions and learned how to set the timer. The next morning, she was up, dressed and downstairs in 3 minutes.  Wow. It was a miracle…..that lasted about a week once the novelty wore off.  Then she slowly went back to spacing out, looking out the window and generally dragging her feet every morning.

So, a few weeks later, we created a responsibility chart.  Each morning, she had to:

1. Wake up without being asked
2. Get dressed with only one reminder
3. Brush teeth and wash up with only one reminder
4. Get downstairs by 8 am.

It was a 4 point system. Each Responsibility was worth a quarter.  Each day that she got to school on time with minimal reminders, she earned a dollar.  At the end of the week, voila, a $5 allowance.  But there are consequences.  If one task is missed, she’s docked .25 cents.

I admit, this works pretty well if you’re the type of parent who is diligently filling out the chart and watching the clock.  But some mornings, if a client calls early, or I’m in some other way per-occupied (because, let’s face it, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree), then we lose momentum.

The best and most consistent way that I have found to get my child dressed in the morning without constant reminders, arguments or tears, is to have a race.  She’s in her bedroom, me in mine.  We shout “ready, set, go”, and continue to update each other on each article of clothing (“got my Ez Sox, undies on” or “shirts on”).  It’s actually fun for both of us and a great way to start the day.  The winner gets bragging rights, although it’s really more about the race.

Between you and me, I do take my time so that she has a fighting chance.  If I finish way before her, the motivation is gone.  But sometimes, now that she’s a bit older, she beats me fair and square.  I don’t mind, since in this game, when I lose, we both win.

Three Ways to End Summer with a Bang for Your Kids

IT IS STARTING. That seasonal onslaught of Back to School information, tips and tricks to prepare you and your kids, along with the ongoing BUY THIS HALF OFF sale and commercials. IT IS COMING.  That day when you drive your kids to school, show them where their backpack goes and leave them in the care of a teacher who by the end of the year will consider them their own.

But summer is not over yet! We still have a full month of fun to be had and to give it up for the crowded shopping malls every day is just no fun at all!

So we have come up with a few ways to make Summer End With a Bang for Your kids!

Have a Baking Day

Yes, we know that this is a possibly messy prospect, but creating something in the kitchen with your kids can be fun and educational too. It can teach them to measure and follow instructions while bonding with mom or dad. Plus anything that promotes creativity is a good thing!

Start with something easy and then add icings and sprinkles and more to create lots of laughter! This is wonderful for those super hot days that end the summer too!

Play Story Games

Even with young children who can not read yet, this is an awesome way to beat the heat and get those creative juices flowing. Sit everyone in a circle, use some fun props - dress up clothes, fun shoes, baby dolls - and you start the story. Once you've started, go around and let each child create their part! Let your child add a scene or new character. The trick is to keep it going. Let them use the props or make new ones. When the story is done, let your child draw or write out what they remember about the story. This is a super fun way to get them to use their imagination, spark their memory and get their young minds working again!

P.S: This is a great car game too!

Go On a Scavenger Hunt

The latest trend in scavenger hunting is Geocaching. Geocaching is a real world treasure hunt that people play with others in their city. Follow the clues and you will uncover notes, trinkets and more that others have left to find. There is usually a piece of paper for you to sign off on when you find the treasure. Use your GPS on your phone or other clues to find the treasure. You can go Geocaching at any time, but beating the heat and doing it early morning or late afternoon is best! It's fun and a great way to get your kids thinking about clues and problem solving.

There are many ways to make Summer have one last push of fun for the kids. You might just find that in planning for their last burst of activity, you will have some fun too!

And, of course, don't forget your Ez Sox for Back to School!

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Co-Parenting: Why Kids Benefit from Both Parent's Participation

American families come in many different shapes and forms.  But no matter the form, when children are involved, the health of the parents relationship - whether married, divorced, same sex or other - is vital to the development of the child.

In fact, studies show that co-parenting can have a positive impact on a child as young as 3 - 4 months old!

What is 'co-parenting' and is it the same as being involved in your children's lives?

Co-parenting is two adults working together as parents to raise a child. Having the same values, goals, rules, boundaries and structure is crucial for a child's well being and growth.  

Parents are constantly trying to manage the pressures and stress that work and family can cause to even the closest of couples. Scheduling at least weekly time for discussions about your child's progress and behavior is a good start to keep your child on the path that is right for your family goals.

Parent involvement is key to family growth and bonding with your child. But it can get tricky.

Going to my son's Karate match and cheering him on by myself,  is not the same as working with my wife and making sure my son gets his homework done and checks his work.  Enjoying the afternoon with just you and your child is a totally different experience from a family outing with both parents.

Different personalities and relationships change the way we react to each other.

If parents don't have a clear understanding of what their goals are for the specific family outing or project, the child can easily sense it. Your child knows when mom and dad are not on the same page. As parents, you must have a clear path so your child has a focused direction to follow, and understands what both parents expect of them.

Our children come to us for advice, knowledge and confidence building that will last them a lifetime.  Each child's needs are different. Good co-parenting skills make the changes needed to match the personality of each individual child. Knowing that parents are still communicating, even if mom and dad don't live together anymore, can be a great strength for a child in times of adversity. When parents work with each other to achieve consistency and trust, our children will feel safe and secure and grow up to be well adjusted adults.  

So what makes a good co-parent?

Communication is key.  The more open and honest you are with your spouse, the faster the complications of working through issues will be resolved.  

You have a partner.  Someone you love and trust. The foundation for a family.  Co-operate. Compromise. Listen. You may even rely on that partnership for work, like my wife and I do with Ez Sox. And that bond is so important in parenting as well.

Good co-parenting will help develop your child's social skills, teach them strong core values and guide them to make good decisions during their developmental milestones.

Get more information on co-parenting and let us know what you think.  How do you co-parent and what are some of the obstacles you face?

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Bullying: A Father's Point of View

My mom always says "adversity is a key ingredient to growth", and I've tried to keep those words in mind as I raise my son. But when it comes to bullying, things get much more complicated. The new norm to teach kids to turn the other cheek , after being hit by the school bully, feels to me that we are teaching them the wrong lesson.

My son is in an aftercare program at his elementary school. My wife and I both work as partners in our company Ez Sox, so we need the extra few hours a day this program offers. Monday through Friday he stays after school for one hour of homework and then free time to play with his friends.

Our son is a good kid. He's empathetic almost to a fault and like all parents I try to prepare him for situations that might arise in his young life. When he was 6 years old another child punched him on the school bus. My gut tightened and my blood boiled as I thought, "I'm his father", I have to teach him how to protect himself. My son is not a fighter. He leans much more towards the artist, dancer, musician type rather than the sports jock, but he just got hit and humiliated and I was going to teach him the art of the sweet science. Boxing.

In my mind there are no rules in a fight. You fight to win. Period.  Luckily my wife is there with good common sense to keep me civilized and aware that he is 9 years old and just needs a few simple moves to protect himself. These were the basics we taught him:

1) No hitting girls even if they hit you first.

2) Always walk away if you get the chance.

3) NEVER, EVER HIT ANYONE FIRST!

Next was my rule, and the code of any father teaching his son the ways of the world;

If a boy hits you first, you punch him straight in the nose. No talking. No questions. This will pretty much end a fight immediately and guarantee that any bully will think twice before he picks on you again.

So, 3 years later, when Harrison got punched by another boy, his immediate reaction was to punch back. That's what I taught him.  Protect yourself. Mano a Mano. Battle of the 9 year olds.

Unfortunately, he was on school grounds and the aftercare program has a strict rule called "Zero Tolerance". No hitting even if you get hit first.

I got the phone call from the head of the program. Harrison will be suspended from aftercare unless he attended their bully program one day a week for 10 weeks. I was livid.  Was my son supposed to just take it?   I tried all rational conversations with the program director which was like speaking with nurse Ratched in "One flew over the cuckoo's nest".  Rules are rules. Even if you get hit first you are not allowed to hit back. You must go to one of the counselors and let them know what happened first even before protecting yourself.

Really? Is this what we teach our children? When they grow up and become adults will this philosophy work in real life, business, jobs or relationships?

Not in the world that I am living in.  Life is full of challenges and it gets more challenging the older you get. Facing adversity and overcoming it, even if it's the school bully, is a part of growing up. We will never completely eradicate bully's from the playground. So rather than punishing the victim, why not teach our children lessons that will prepare them for their whole life? Childhood tribulations are the foundation for the decisions your child makes and the path to how well prepared they are as an adult.

So I repeat to myself and try to teach my son.

Don't give into mediocrity.

Don't follow the pack.

Do what you think is the right thing to do.

Protect yourself.

Learn from adversity.

What do you think?  How do you think this should have been handled?

Tips to Keep Your Kids Academically Sharp This Summer

Summertime can be the best time of the year for kids and families. Vacations, sleeping in and days that go on with no clear schedule can be a relaxing alternative to the demands of the school year.

But one of the pitfalls of the season is that kids generally get out of the habit of learning everyday.  They can easily forget things that they learned during the school year.

Luckily, there are a lot of ways that we can keep our kids learning - and interested in learning - during the long, hot Summer months and none of them have to break the bank.

Most schools offer a free online refresher course of your child's past school year as well as an introduction to their next years program.  This is a great way to give your child a confidence boost and jump start their back to school experience.  Check with your local school district for details.

Another easy way we have found to get our kids thinking and feeding that need to learn are Comprehensive Education books.  They are available at most chain retailers and warehouse stores as well as online.  They are workbooks that range from Preschool to High School and they are awesome for getting those minds thinking again!  Plus they can do the workbooks inside and you can bond with them and learn more about how your children learn just by helping them out with them!

If you have kids that you want to give that extra push to, try entering them in Summer School.  Even if they have excelled during the year, Summer School can give them that refresher that they need to continue their education into the next grade.  Ask your school about the classes offered and the cost, if there is any.  The consistent reinforcement of subjects like Math during a time when kids are not using it much can be invaluable!

In our community our local library has reading hours, math projects and more.  They are free to kids and can be a great source of Summer continued education!  Our library offers everything from story time for toddlers to Elementary School aged kids to teen nights and activities.  Sometimes just taking the kids to the library and letting them spend the afternoon reading can engage their minds and help their love of learning as well.

Create flash cards and games at home that are aimed at the next school year's curriculum.  We found several sites by searching 'Making Kids Flash Cards' that allow you to create some to be made and mailed to you as well as free printables to help you create some at home. Taking a few minutes to quiz your kids during the day not only breaks up the monotony of the day but also gives them something to focus on that is fun and helps their minds embrace the learning process as well!

Just as we value building children's confidence by offering our EZ SOX to families, we also value continued education even as the school doors close for Summer vacation!

We love reading tips on how to keep children learning all summer long.  What have you done this Summer with your children and what tips can you add to our list?  Please leave your best tips below for us to include!

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Announcing Our New Designs for Little Ones to Adults

We are so excited to announce that our new line of EZ SOX are IN!  And we have everything from new designs for your little dinosaur  and ladybug to white sox for the bigger kids and dress sox for adults!

http://www.ezsox.com

Which ones are your favorites?

EZ SOX continues to be the high quality brand that you are used to.  We are the only sock that builds your children's confidence by helping them dress themselves!  Our finger loops on the sides of our durable, colorful socks allow little ones to pull their socks on correctly the first time and every time.

And for the first time ever, these animal print EZ SOX are available for big kids too!

Also included in our new line are our Solid White and Solid Black packs that are awesome for older children!  These are by popular demand and we are so excited to offer them!

We also are thrilled to offer an adult line which includes socks for men and women!  Are you pregnant and having a hard time slipping on cute anklets?  Do you have a hard time bending and pulling on your dress socks?  Then check out our adult line and make that task easier on you!

Our product line will be expanding soon as well to include and AWESOME EZ SOX Gift Pack (look for these to be available next month) and EZ UNDEEZ that could help your kids potty train and build more confidence too!

EZ SOX continues to put children and confidence building first!  Have you purchased our products before? How excited are you for the new designs out now?

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Do you tell your kids Santa is real?

What to say to your children when they ask: Is Santa real?

That ultimate decision is on what to tell your children is up to you.

Some parent’s feel that they shouldn’t lie to their children, while others do not see the harm in a letting a child enjoy in the magical fantasy of Santa.

Some experts believe that if you let children believe that the gifts they receive on Christmas morning are from a magical man with unending resources are less likely to appreciate what they have been given, and the sacrifices their parents make in providing them. Children whose parents who are on a tight budget may feel that they have been overlooked by Santa, or even worse, deemed one of the "bad" boys or girls.  Although it is probably not typical, some children honestly feel deceived and betrayed by their parents when they find out that Santa is not real. Children trust their parents to tell them the truth, and it is our responsibility not to break this trust. If we do, they will not believe more important things we tell them.

This doesn’t mean we must leave Santa completely out of Christmas. You can tell them that Santa is a story of legend and children can still play the "Santa game" even if they know it is all pretend. They can make lists, sit on his lap at the mall, and leave out cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. This will not rob them of their joy of the season, and gives parents the opportunity to tell their children about the good qualities of the real Saint Nicholas, who dedicated his life to serving others.  

On a personal note, Christmas for me was and still is a magical time. I wasn’t damaged by the “lie”. It was so much fun to anticipate Santa! I want my son to have that same wonderful feeling. I still to this day embrace the spirit of Christmas.

Whether you decide to tell the truth or indulge in a little fantasy, remember the true meaning of Christmas. Greed and materialism can overshadow the true meaning of this special holiday season.  It is meant to be about giving, loving, and the hope of peace for all mankind.

I leave with you a letter written by 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon in the year 1897

to the New York Sun Newspaper. She decided the best way to find out if there really was a Santa Claus was to ask the best source she could find.

Virginia's letter and response are shown below:

Written by the Sun editor, Francis P. Church. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus Originally published in The New York Sun in 1897.

Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Signed Virginia O'Hanlon

The answer as published in the New York Sun was: Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, and no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world, which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.