Informative
National School Success Month: 6 Tips for a Successful School Year 0
September is the National School Success Month. It’s the perfect opportunity to plan for the goals for the commencing school year. This month is ideal for preparing for the success of the student. But it doesn’t mean that you will only focus on student success in September. It is good to have a clear road map of success that outlines goals to be achieved every month so that you can have a successful school year.
There are different ways to measure a successful school year. It could be learning a new language or achieving a good GPA. But all the goals differ for every student. They should set achievable goals with a clear roadmap for success. This article gives you tips to help your child achieve their goals throughout the school year and how you can support them. Read on to find tips and tricks to help your child set and achieve goals this school year.
Help your child set achievable goals
September is National School Success Month, and it’s a great time to help your child decide on the goals to achieve this school year. Setting goals is a significant motivator for working hard. It also helps to boost confidence and self-esteem. When children achieve goals, whether small or big, it helps them develop a sense of discipline, even when they grow older.
As a parent, you can help your child set both short term and long term goals, and talk through their strengths and weaknesses to help them set those goals. They should come up with a list of goals, because writing down the targets makes it easier to achieve them.
Goals must be specific and have a timeline. The goals can be for classwork or athletics. If your child wants to be a ballet dancer in the future, help her set both short term and long term goals that will guide her on the right path. Help her set smaller goals that she can manage, and then have a training plan that keeps pushing her confidence and poise as she practices every day.
Having clear goals will help your child manage any obstacles, too. Remember not to push them too hard so they don’t suffer burnout. Keep checking in with them and keep them accountable for their goals. You can review the goals periodically and offer help where they are stuck.
Establish a routine
Children perform better with a routine at home. In school, the routine is pretty much already decided, and the children abide by it. A consistent routine at home helps to create good habits and ensures the success of the child. Children thrive on set routines, because they get comfortable and secure. It also prepares them to follow the routine set in their school.
Set routines that have a consistent time for when they wake up, do their homework, have their meals, and go to sleep. Establish rules regarding TV, phone, and computer usage to avoid over-dependency. Every time the child is watching TV, it takes attention off family time and time needed for physical activity and homework. You can limit watching time to, at most, an hour every day. As a parent, put away your phone when you get home. Children need attention. If you stay for too long with your phone, they may take up the habit, as well.
Review progress reports
Avoid focusing too much on the grades. Encourage your child to maximize their gifts and talents. Discourage too much competitiveness since every child is unique, and you should not compare them to their siblings or classmates.
Be their motivator and express positive views about school and show that you’re confident in your child. Express your excitement that they are going to a new grade this school year and that you believe in their abilities to achieve the goals they have for this school year. Let your messages about school be positive and hopeful.
Children adopt the environment they live in. Make it positive and optimistic. Ensure that they do their homework or coursework as required by the teacher. Expose your child to art, music, and drama depending on their talents, since it boosts performance in math and reading. It also helps your child have high self-esteem and in learning to work with others.
Encourage healthy eating
Ensure that your child eats breakfast every morning. It is the most important meal to jump-start the metabolism and fuel up the body for the day’s tasks. Eating breakfast helps children have better memory and concentration, which helps them to achieve good grades. Pack them healthy snacks and discourage eating highly processed foods. Breakfast ideas include scrambled egg with toast or smoothies made with yogurt, mangos, and bananas. Have a weekly plan of the food your child will eat at home and in school.
Connect with your child teachers
Make a point to attend parent-teacher meetings in school or orientation events. Introduce yourself to your kids’ teachers and ask about the activities for the year. You can follow up with an email or phone call or make visit appointments. Attending meetings is a great chance to see how your child is performing in school and plan how to help them achieve more.
Ensure your child has a restful night
Children need a good night’s sleep for excellent performance in school the next day. Ensure that they get to bed early so that they can wake up early the following day, but so they will also have rested well. A good night’s sleep also helps to boost energy and alertness for the next day’s learning.
To prevent the rush the next morning, have your child pick the clothes to wear the night before. It will help to save time in the morning. Being organized will reduce stress and having to rush to finish up the activities. Limit the activities that they have to do when they come home so they can sleep early.
The start of school is exciting for students. It is time to catch up with their friends after the holiday break. They’ll also need your help to perform when in class and co-curricular activities. With these six tips and tricks, you definitely are ready to help your child have a successful school year.
We wish you a happy National School Success Month from Mother Earth Products.
References
10 Exciting Grandparents’ Day Ideas To Do With Your Children 0
September 8th is National Grandparents’ Day. Grandparents play a crucial role in raising their grandchildren. About four million children are raised by their grandparents, while five million children live with their grandparents at their parents’ home.1
The purpose of National Grandparents’ Day is to honor them for their immense contributions in raising their children and grandchildren. It also creates an opportunity for grandparents to express their love for their grandchildren. Children also get insights and guidance from their elders. Celebrating National Grandparents’ Day is a great way to bring the family together and affirm the value that children bring to their parents.
Observance of National Grandparents’ Day is essential. It can be celebrated at school or in a private family gathering where grandparents can have time to share their favorite stories and pass wisdom to their grandchildren. If you’re looking for fun National Grandparents’ Day ideas that children can do you are in the right place. These ideas can be used by teachers, parents, and children to appreciate their grandparents.
Make their favorite food
Treat your parents to their favorite food with the help of your children. Help your child make their treat, preferably a sweet dessert with sprinkles, nuts, or fruits to sweeten National Grandparents’ Day. The National Grandparents’ Day idea works perfectly even if you live away from them. If you travel, choose a recipe that will put that into consideration. Let your children cook with their grandma a special dessert or a healthy meal. It will be fun, and your children can learn new recipes to make for you during Mother’s day or Father’s Day.
Take your children to visit them
Most grandparents would love to have their grandchildren home with them on National Grandparents’ Day. Preplan the best day for your parents and children. They can sleepover at grandpa or grandma’s place, and you can pick them the next day. In case they cannot sleep over, you can plan for a lunch date or picnic at the park. It is the perfect day for your child to learn about grannie’s hobbies and do it with her. You never know, it could be the chance for your child to discover new interests and talents.
Plan an interview for grandparents
Most grandparents have fascinating stories to share, and they love telling stories. Help your child come up with a list of questions they can ask their grandparents. The questions will help your children know more about their grandparents: where they were born, or where they went to school. They can share their experiences with school and work. They can share their favorite memories about their lives and share their advice on life. You can record the interview so that the children can keep this memorable conversation.
Play fun games
Your child and their grandpa or grandma can play puzzles that have word searches or crosswords with National Grandparents’ Day words. They can also spend time together outside and play soccer, go fishing, or visit a park.
Accompany your parents for grandparent’s day at school.
You can frame the coloring pages that your children and their grandparents made so that they can all remember the special day. If the school celebrates National Grandparents’ Day, it is a great idea to join your parents at the school. The grandparents can share historical events before the children were born. There can be a contest where children write essays on why their grandparents are the best. The writer of the winning essay can get an award for their grandparent.
Create a family tree
It’s an excellent time for students to learn about their family tree. It is a great activity that children can do with their grandparents. It involves drawing a tree on a large paper. Then put up the branches with the names of their family members, according to their age. The children can organize their relatives to illustrate their ancestral history. Cut out the names of every family member and then pin it in the tree. You can help your child to do this.
Create a photo book
Make a scrapbook that includes your child photos with their grandma or grandpa. Your child can select their favorite images to add to the book and present it to their grandparent. It is a memorable gift that they can make in little time. Get a simple photo album and print the favorite photos with date stamps. Then let your child add a note on the first page of the album. It is a good practice, because you can keep updating it every year with new family members with the oldest and latest grandchild.
Singing
Teach your child one of the favorite songs of their grandparents that you can sing along with them, and serenade them. Record the performance for memory. The video will be a beautiful memory in years to come.
Give them customized gifts
Design t-shirts with the drawing that your child made of their grandparents and present to them together. There are useful sites like cafepress.com and customInk.com, where you can check out. You can also purchase a personalized mug, phone case, or pillow with a photo of your child and their grandparents.
Make them a card
You can design a card together with your child and present it to the grandparent. Alternatively, the children can decorate the cards with their grandparents. They can print a poem or a personalized message to appreciate the support of their grandparents and pin it to the card; then they will read it together. Writing poems is good practice for your child to learn how to express themselves.
Create a family tradition for National Grandparents’ Day where you set the activities and games to play. Then, later on, you can exchange gifts. These National Grandparents’ Day ideas are fun and exciting. It will open the eyes of your children of the contributions of their grandparents. We wish you and your family an exciting National Grandparents’ Day from Mother Earth Products.
References
How to Celebrate Senior Citizen's Day The Thoughtful Way 0
Read any magazine or watch an infomercial these days, and you'll think that the world is tailored to the needs of millennials. But, here's a fun fact: Senior citizens, a.k.a. all those folks who have been on this planet for more than 65 years, are the fastest-growing demographic in the world(1) because they're expected to outnumber children by the year 2030 (at least, in the U.S.A.).
And even though that means we'll get to spend more time with them in the future, we often neglect to pick up the phone and call them. If you think it's high time you made some time for the older people in your life, there's no better day to start caring than on Senior Citizen's Day. If you can't think of a fun way to celebrate this day, these 8 thoughtful ideas are a great place to start.
Friendly reminder: “Nothing is more beautiful than a smile that has struggled through years and tears”; whatever you do on August 21st, make some time and visit your grandparents. After all, they're the reason you're here today!
Generation S (As In Senior) – The Need-to-Know
Celebrated on August 21st, Senior Citizen's Day is an annual celebration that honors the people of the Third Age, and their contribution to the world. Specifically, the purpose of this holiday is to raise awareness on all the issues that affect the elderly, from their naturally deteriorating health (both mental and physical) to the way they're treated by others (yes, elderly abuse is a thing, and we should all address it).
More than that, the celebration's goal is to remind us that past generations have accomplished a lot throughout their youth, and that's why they deserve to be treated with respect. Sure, this holiday is not as old as Father's Day since it dates back to the 80s (1988, in particular) when President Ronald Reagan declared August 21st as Senior Citizen's Day(2). But, in our opinion, it's just as important.
1. Make Them Dinner
As simple as it sounds, sharing a meal with your grandparents (or any senior, for that matter) means the world to them. From getting to spend time around you to trying out new flavors, they always enjoy a meal out with the family. Of course, if you're thinking of going the fancy restaurant route, we're here to remind you that nothing beats the comfort and coziness of a home-cooked meal.
And if you think prepping a wow-worth dinner is time consuming and, well, exhausting, good news: it's not! Why? Simply because you can easily ditch all those dishes with the double digit ingredients and opt for these five easy freeze dried veggie recipes that take the hours long prepping out of the picture.
Fun idea: If they're up for it, you could always ask them to help you around in the kitchen or let them take the lead and treat you to their specialty.
2. Make A Photo Album Together
With digital photos being the new norm these days, it's often hard to keep the tradition of photo albums alive. So, this is your chance to bring the nostalgic habit back to the spotlight by taking advantage of the seniors' photo album making wisdom.
All you have to do is buy yourself a beautiful photo book, gather all their photos, and have them sit by your side. You can sort the pics by chronological order or any way you/they like. The best part is that you'll get to know more about them as they tell you the story behind each pic.
Oh, and one more thing: This activity is not a one-day task. It may take days or even weeks to put the photos in the right order, so make sure you have enough time to spend on them as letting them finish it on their own isn't an option.
3. Play Games
Between their basic daily schedule and the lack of new stimuli, it's no wonder the elderly's brain health grows weaker by the day. Of course, that doesn't mean your grandparents are stuck in an Alzheimer's bound path. Studies(3) show that you can help older people sharpen their brain simply by playing games with them. Cards, board games, chess - you name it! Any game that recruits their short term memory and thinking is fair game.
4. Get Them Acquainted With Technology
It's true: Technology plays a massive role in our lives these days, but that doesn't mean seniors are as familiar with it as we are. That said, you can give them a one-on-one “lesson” on technology this Senior Citizen's Day and teach them how to use a modern-day gadget, whether that's a PC, a laptop, a tablet, or their smartphone. Fun fact: Research(4) suggests that computer games (and truthfully, any technology-based activity) can increase their cognitive skills down the line. So, it's a win-win no matter how you see it.
5. Go For A Walk
We hear doctors(5) say over and over again that physical exercise (even low-intensity) is synonymous to a healthy heart. So, why not take your older friends/relatives on a walk and give their heart a much needed boost? Stroll through the nearest mall, visit your local park, or take a walk by the beach. And don't forget: This whole thing isn't about taking them outside the house, it's also about enjoying each other's company without the distractions of the modern world, and that's priceless!
6. Watch A Movie Together
Watching a movie with your grandpa, grandma, or even the friendly lady from next door may not sound that appealing (after all, their idea of fun could be different from what you have in mind). But, you can readily turn an otherwise awkward evening into a fun experience if you just pick the right movie. Pick something that you'll both like, perhaps a classic like “Back to the Future,” or back even further into the era of black and white movies. Hint: 1939 had some great movies that your elderly loved one might remember and love.
7. Take Them to a Local Coffee Shop
If there's one thing all generations can agree on is that coffee is awesome! If the seniors in your life share the same passion for the beverage as you do, treat them to a cup of Joe at your favorite coffee shop. And if they're up for it, you could take them to a fancy coffee chain like, say, Starbucks, and have them try one of those fancy blends. Who knows? Maybe they'll find their new go-to brew in that pile of lattes.
8. Throw A Picnic Party
Sure, throwing a picnic party ain't no... well, picnic, but since Senior Citizen's Day is celebrated in August, it's the perfect chance to gather the whole family and spend some precious time outside the house. And since you'll have to mind the diets of everyone present (from children to golden-agers), these healthy eating tips will definitely come in handy.
How do you plan to celebrate Senior Citizen's Day? Let us know in the comments down below!
References:
- https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/cb18-41-population-projections.html
- https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/national-senior-citizens-day-how-celebrate-day-history-inspirational-quotes-1462022
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256163/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4130645/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3098122/
National Culinary Arts Month - Celebrating Chefs in an Exceptional Way 0
Food and dining have experienced drastic changes and have metamorphosed from pure necessity into a creative expression. Culinary art is a delicate balance of taste, science, and the food presentation. It's the unique way of transforming simple ingredients into an elaborate dish with unique flavors.
All you need to know about the National Culinary Arts Month
The National Culinary Arts Month has been celebrated since 2002. Every year, the month of July is set aside to acknowledge superb meals and celebrate chefs, bakers, and cooks who come up with innovative cuisine.1 Most culinary artists use natural spices obtained locally and make fresh foods available to individuals. Through their expertise, experiments, and love for cooking, they make the world a better place for all; therefore, it’s no surprise that restaurants, culinary institutions, and kitchens devote the whole month to honor all the chefs for their accomplishments.2
What are the fascinating realities of culinary arts?
People know that culinary arts revolve around food and include multiple things, such as: restaurant management, food science, and food safety. Anyone working in these areas is referred to as a "culinarian," which includes food service employees to the inventors of the beautiful pastry arts.
Historical facts
The history of culinary arts is quite long; some historical facts concerning culinary arts include fantastic facts. For instance, in the U.S.A., the first school for culinary arts opened in the 1800s.4 However, culinary art has been present in Europe since the Medieval Period; there are various books published from then. Even in modern times, collecting recipes, publishing recipe magazines, cookbooks, and cooking institutions have continued to gain fame.
Cooking schools
One of the best places to learn intriguing facts about culinary arts is some of best cooking schools. Apart from preparing students for careers in food and beverage, they also provide various opportunities for learning. They extend lessons to homes to make them more accessible and have online and evening classes to enable students to learn as they pursue other careers. Some prestigious cooking institutions include the Le Cordon Blue Schools and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). John & Wales University is also popular.
A Career in Culinary Arts
If you wish to study more about culinary arts, you can join a class at your local cooking institution or watch the Food Network. They both provide instructions for all levels on how to start and see if a career in the culinary arts is the best for you. If you're interested in the culinary arts, it's worth noting that a career in culinary arts is much more than food and beverage. The best chefs host cooking shows, write cookbooks, and even travel all over the world in the quest of culinary adventures.
How best can you celebrate the national culinary arts month?
The best way to commemorate chefs is to send shoutouts to your favorite chef or cook and let them know that you appreciate their efforts and skills, and which of their meals you fancy the most and why you keep coming back for more.2 If you are a chef, you can use this chance to show off your skills, because food lovers want to see your best food selfies.
What are some of the helpful hints for beginner chefs during the holiday?
If you're not a pro in kitchen matters, the holiday gives you an excellent opportunity to try your hand at cooking. Here are some helpful tips for new chefs:
1. Have the necessary kitchen appliances - Invest in several sharp knives and remember to maintain them. Also, you'll need quality pots, pans, glass baking bowls, and measuring spoons and cups. Smaller appliances, like a hand blender, will come in handy as you master the tricks of food preparation.
2. Try out new recipes - Begin with easy recipes and start small by choosing a recipe with a few ingredients. You can incorporate freeze dried strawberries, sweet potatoes, pineapple, mangoes or apples in your recipes, since they take less time to prepare.
3. Familiarize yourself with standard cooking terms - Research and learn different cooking terms. For instance: if you're not sure of the difference among boiling, roasting, poaching, and braising, an online dictionary will come in handy.
3. Ask for assistance - Don't shy away from requesting help from friends, loved ones, or any master chef you know. Take time to observe them as they prepare meals. Consider taking some classes at any community college.
4. Have fun! - If you make mistakes along the way, don't stress. Keep trying. Besides, all chefs need assistance. Allow your children, friends, spouse, or neighbor to help you. Also, listen to your favorite music as you chop, cut, chop, or dice.
What are some of the culinary travel activities for kids for the National Culinary Arts month?
Introduce your kid's palate to a world of flavors than with a culinary travel event! Kids are attached to the food cultures surrounding them as they learn how food is grown, produced, and prepared. Here are some of the kid-friendly activities for this holiday:
1. City food tours - Food tours are famous and an excellent way to view various stops you might be interested in. Furthermore, an expert can share his/her opinions on the vendors or restaurants you may not be aware of.
2. Cooking classes - If your family is the type that likes to get their hands dirty in the kitchen, then a cooking class may be suitable. Many luxury resorts offer kid friendly cooking lessons, and this is an excellent way to have your kids enjoy the holiday.
3. Market experiences -You can plan a local market experience. Since guides are not necessary for this activity, you can organize an outing with your loved ones and allow them to make purchases according to their preferences. Also, you can invite your friends and prepare delicious meals using the ingredients sourced from the market.
4. Foraging for food - You can opt to skip the market and go straight to the source for your favorite meals. You can try a truffle hunting tour, or go fishing for the catch of the day. Furthermore, some of the hotels permit you to help in the garden where you can take gardening lessons and greenhouse tours.
Happy National Culinary Arts Month from us at Mother Earth Products. Don’t forget to try our freeze dried fruits and vegetables in your recipes this creative month!
References
2. https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-culinary-arts-month-july/
3. https://cobornsdelivers.wordpress.com/tag/national-culinary-arts-awareness-month/
4. https://www.lincolntech.edu/news/culinary/culinary-arts/national-culinary-arts-appreciation-month
Introducing Discounts for Military, First Responders, and Teachers! 0
We are proud to announce that we are offering discounts for Military, First Responders, and Teachers. Mother Earth Products is a veteran owned company and we really appreciate the work of our military, first responders, and teachers. Our military keeps our country safe, our first responders make sure we all get the help we need in an emergency, and our teachers make sure our children develop into good world citizens. We love the work all of you do.
The discount is 10% and is underwritten by VerifyPass. There is a link on the footer of our website or click here to go to our registration page. Just create an account from the pop-up window. You can use your Facebook or Google+ login, or you can simply create an account using your email address. The discount cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.
The Military discount eligibility includes Active Duty, Veteran, Retired, Disabled, and Dependents.
First Responders, eligibility includes Law Enforcement, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician/Service.
Teachers eligibility includes K-12, University, and Pre-K.
To all of you, thank you for your service!
Sincerely,The Mother Earth Products Team
The Surprising History of Father's Day 0
From whipping up all kinds of healthy treats to searching for a wow-worthy gift weeks in advance, Mother's Day is the perfect chance to thank our mothers for all the hard work they've done raising us and teaching us right from wrong. But, let's be honest: Even though moms are the best, it's high time we gave the unsung heroes of every family, a.k.a. the dads, the attention they deserve, amirite?
Celebrated annually on the third Sunday of June (in most countries), Father's Day is a celebration dedicated to dads everywhere, honoring them for protecting, providing, and caring for their families. Of course, the holiday these days has nothing to do with how it all started back in the 20th century. So, if you want to let your dad know how come he's being pampered and showered with gifts every June, this brief history of Father's Day will do just the trick.
Moms Paved The Way For Dads
Considering most aspects of society were dominated by men during the 19th century, it was pretty tough for women to stand out. However, their role as mothers inspired many to dedicate a day solely to them and that's how Mother's Day came to be (in its unofficial form, at least). But what does this have to do with Father's Day?
Well, seeing that mothers get the lion's share of attention compared to dads, a woman from the state of Washington (her name was Sonora Smart Dodd(1) if you're curious) thought of honoring her father while listening to a Mother's Day sermon at church in 1909. She did that out of pure respect of him as he was a Civil War veteran and widower who managed to raise six children on his own after his wife passed away giving birth to their last one.
Lore has it that to guarantee the success of her quest, Sonora reached out to various local authorities, from churches and the YMCA to shop owners and government officials. That explains why her idea of "celebrating fathers and not just mothers" was a huge success. It's also worth noting that this concept may have resonated with a lot of people at the time, considering many had lost their parents (fathers, in particular) during the Civil War. So, coming 19th June 1910, Washington was the first state to officially celebrate Father's Day.
But, that wasn't the first time dads found themselves in the spotlight. A year before Sonora's praise-worthy attempt, in 1908, a Methodist church in West Virginia held a Sunday Sermon to commemorate 362 men (250 of them were fathers) who died in the previous December during an explosion at the Fairmont Coal Company mines in Monongah(2). This commemoration was initiated by Grace Golden Clayton, who shared her idea with the local church to honor the fathers lost due to this tragic incident.
However, the celebration was a one-time thing since it happened with the sole purpose of honoring these men. So, unlike Sonora's "campaign" (if we can call it that), this celebration didn't mean to last.
To sum up, Mother's Day (or at least the acclaim moms were receiving through this holiday) made many people think that fathers deserved just as much attention. And that's pretty much why more and more people embraced this holiday as the years passed by.
And Then Came Parent's Day... Or Maybe Not
But, it wasn't smooth sailing from there. You see, despite the purest of intentions to dedicate a day on dads alone, History.com states that several activists during the 1920s and 1930s tried to scrap both Mother's and Father's Day and instead create a celebration that honors both parents equally. Dubbed as Parent's Day, this new idea didn't hit home with most folks, and that's why it never really took off.
Making Things Official
So, for several decades, Father's Day was only celebrated locally, making a name for itself as a national institution rather an official holiday. In fact, it took more than 60 years for the government to recognize Father's Day as a federal holiday. To be exact, it was 1972 when Richard Nixon signed a proclamation that made Father's Day an official holiday. Fun fact: If we're being honest, Lyndon B. Johnson paved the way for this Nixon proclamation by designating the third Sunday of June as Father's Day in 1966 through an executive order.
Father's Day: Commercial Gimmick or A Sign of Affection?
While the holiday started out with the best of intentions (at least on behalf of some individuals), most Americans resisted it - especially during the first two decades- thinking it was more of a commercialized replica of Mother's Day. This way, merchants could cash in on the popularity of the celebration, all in the name of fatherhood.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason Father's Day was sort of... dissed back in the day. You see, stereotypes surrounding the macho, manly man were thriving back then and, thus, many guys saw this celebration as an attempt to squash their manliness by forcing them to show a rather affectionate side. Luckily, such beliefs aren't an issue these days because guys are more acceptive of their emotional side, which is why Father's Day has grown on us.
So, that was the history of Father's Day. What do you think? Do dads deserve all the attention or it's all just a commercial gimmick? Feel free to share your thoughts in the section down below!
References:
