What to do when your kids won't sleep - a book that helped us

My 7 year old is a lot like me - a night owl. Every night he would lie in bed and wiggle around and simply not be able to fall asleep.  I sympathize 100% - I still feel that way most nights.  But while I sympathized it also made me more than slightly crazy.

He was up past 10 every night, impossible to wake up in the morning and a grouchy and frustrating person; we were all at a loss at what to do.  A google search suggested a book: What to Do When You Dread Your Bed: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Problems

I was honestly at a "what is there to lose" point so went ahead and bought it.  This book saved the day.

How it works

It's a workbook for a child so the kid in question should probably be in the 6-12 year old age range so he/she can work through it themselves and really understand the concepts.  It wouldn't work for my four year olds.

It goes through all kinds of concepts on why sleep is important, how habits are formed, and how to overcome fears. The best part?  It reinforces a lot of those lessons with MAGIC TRICKS!

It gets the child to make decisions about what will work and what won't and then they follow through an action plan of a consistent routine.

How are things now?

I don't know if this will work for everyone, but our son bought in to the logic behind everything and ultimately he was willing to implement the suggestions in the book.  It took a couple of months to slowly implement but we are now rarely hearing from him after 8:30 pm and he's actually usually asleep by 9.  He's become a far more pleasant person, often running around in the morning helping to make lunches and get everything organized instead of dragging around, crying and complaining of a stomach ache.

It worked for us.  If you have any questions, leave a comment I'd be happy to offer any extra insight.  If you had something help with getting your kids to sleep better also please leave a comment.  I know so many parents who struggle with kids who just can't seem to get to sleep.

Programs for potential Power Rangers and more in the City of Ottawa Recreation Guide

By Wendy Given the number of Power Rangers shows in our Netflix instant queue and Star Wars light saber battles that rage through our family room, it comes as no surprise that my 7-year-old son’s career ambition is to become a Samurai.  While it seems a noble profession (assuming you have aspirations to be a Jedi Knight rather than a Dark Lord of the Sith), where does one get the hands on training to know if you’ve got what it takes?

Scanning through the on-line City of Ottawa Fall-Winter Recreation Guide in September, I was pleased to stumble upon a program for aspiring Samurai.  Shoshin Kendo - the “Way of the Sword” or Japanese fencing - is offered at the Plant Recreation Complex for girls and boys ages 7-16.  The cost for thirteen 2-hour classes is $125 (less than $5/hour), and the purchase of a Shinai (bamboo practise fighting sword) is approximately $35-40.  The somewhat intimidating - but very cool looking - Kendo bogu (fighting armour) is not required for the first year of training, which is great if your young padawan may not be committed to making a career move quite yet.

Kendo classes typically begin with demonstrations of respect to instructors and the do-jo (training hall), followed by warm-up exercises counted out in Japanese, and drills emphasizing foot and sword work.  Younger members practise strikes against bogu-clad teen/adult class mates or a mannequin, always accompanied by blood-curdling cries (great for the abdominal muscles, so I am told!).  Part way through training, less experienced members are separated from more highly-skilled practitioners to receive instruction on technique appropriate to their respective skill level; the adults and teens actually engage in full-fledged fencing battles!  Classes generally end with some good clean fun; playing dodge ball and other games that help develop speed and agility and that – as a bonus – leaves the aspiring Samurai perspiring and tuckered out.

In addition to providing a great outlet for energetic kids, there are many physical and mental benefits associated with practicing Kendo and martial arts in general.  Improved strength and balance; respect for self and others; increased mental focus and concentration; self-discipline and self-control; goal-setting; socialization with peers; and improved self-confidence are just some of the great benefits of martial arts training - and there are a range of programs in the Ottawa Recreation Guide to choose from.  Check out the Guide here  for brief descriptions of their martial arts programs, which include Aikido, Capoeira, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Karate, Kung Fu, and Taekwondo.

No would-be Ninjas in your household – no problem!  If martial arts are not your child’s passion, there are plenty of other City of Ottawa programs that span performing arts (dance, music, drama), creative arts (writing, drawing, crafts), a wide variety of team and independent sports, as well as certification programs and workshops on babysitting, being home alone and street-proofing, among others.

Registration for winter programs starting in January 2014 is ongoing.  Click the following link for details, including instructions on how to get your Family PIN and Client Codes required for registering here.  Note that costs cited in the Guide are typically for registration fees only, and additional costs may apply to purchase a uniform and/or equipment.

What City of Ottawa program(s) do your kids (or you) love?

Wendy is mom to Benjamin (age 7) and Evita (age 3).  She achieved the level of 2^nd Dan black belt in Taekwon-do before the birth of Evita, and hopes to get back into it…one day. 

Making New Year's Resolutions With Your Kids

I love the idea of making New Year’s Resolutions with my kids. I think it’s a great way to reflect on what they were proud of in the past 12 months and think about what goals they still want to work on for the next year. So this year, as you think about what you want to work on for the next year, try including your kids, no matter what age. Here are some tips to help your kids make valuable goals and work to attain them:

• Make sure the idea is their own
• Make sure it’s realistic
• Make sure it’s manageable
• Help them think of ways to make their resolutions work
• Help them refine it if necessary
• Help them deal with setbacks

New Year’s is the perfect time to connect with your kids and help them to see that life is about being introspective, taking a look at who we are and trying to change for the positive. Making resolutions and working towards them is a way to put that into motion, no matter what their age.

Do you make resolutions with your kids? What are your resolutions for this year? 

Follow Santa's Path Tonight

 

Christmas Eve is now upon us and as we all settle down with family and friends, there's still one guy who has lots to do.

You can track Santa’s whereabouts with NORAD’s track Santa site. It's easy. You can log on, show the kids where Santa is busy delivering his gifts and then tuck them into bed. (Remember Santa doesn't come if you're awake!). There are also games and links and you can see what's up at the North Pole.

From our Kids in the Capital family to yours, we wish you a holiday full of peace, love and lots and lots of joy.

Great Holiday Book Ideas from the OPL

By Jennifer Evans,  Children’s Librarian at the Hazeldean Branch of the Ottawa Public Library

A Big Guy Took My Ball! By Mo Willems (2013).

Gerald and Piggie are back for more adventures in this silly but relatable story. Piggie finds (and quickly loses) a most excellent bouncy ball – can Gerald get it back? Fans of the Elephant and Piggie series will delight in their 19th outing. This is a great series for early readers, as it features lots of word repetition amidst wacky story lines.

Clementine and the Spring Trip by Sara Pennypacker, with illustrations by Marla Frazee (2013).

I recommend Pennypacker’s Clementine series every chance I get, so I think it would be wonderful if it made its way onto some shopping lists this holiday season! Clementine is this generation’s Ramona Quimby. She is smart, silly, creative beyond words, and always seems to find herself in outrageous situations. For new readers to the series, start with Clementine. The newest addition to the series is Clementine and the Spring Trip, in which Clementine unravels the secret rules of Grade 4 and tries to find a way to survive The Cloud on Bus 7.

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman (2013).

Gaiman won the prestigious Newbery Medal for another children’s book (The Graveyard Book), so you can’t go wrong picking up this story, which is geared towards younger readers. While going out to buy some milk for his children’s cereal, a father is abducted by aliens (I know what you’re thinking: typical Monday). As a result, the father is taken on a wild journey through the space-time continuum, meeting up with pirates, space aliens, dinosaurs, and volcano gods. This makes a great read-aloud for children ages 7 and up. Check out the author reading an excerpt here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMEC87U1gT0

Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury by Arnold Lobel (2013).

If you often find yourself doing some last-minute holiday shopping, you’ll want to keep this title in mind (it won’t be released until December 23rd). However, Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad are worth the wait. This treasury brings together many of our favourite Frog and Toad tales, including Frog and Toad Are Friends and Frog and Toad All Year. This would be a lovely addition to anyone’s personal library, young or old.

LEGO Play Book: Ideas to Bring Your Bricks to Life by Daniel Lipkowitz (2013).

For the builders in your family, you will want to get a copy of this colourful guide to everything “LEGO”. The recently published LEGO Play Book suggests ways to improve building techniques, provides fun timed challenges, and features ideas from some of LEGO’s biggest fans. With easy, medium, and more difficult challenges, this book will appeal to builders of all skill levels.

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson (2013).

If you loved Herve Tullet’s Press Here, you’ll want to add this book to your holiday shopping list. In Tap the Magic Tree, readers are asked to help a tree move through the four seasons by tapping, rubbing, and wiggling the pages. Children will love the chance to participate in helping the story unfold – simply put, it’s pure magic.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants Now in Full Color by Dav Pilkey (2013).

Everything old is new again with Captain Underpants, as the formerly black-and-white series gets a blast of colour. If you’re unfamiliar with the series, it tells the story of two fourth-grade boys who hypnotize their school principal to run around town as the hero of the comic books they’ve written (enter Captain Underpants). Silly? Oh yes. But its popularity can’t be denied. The action, humour, and blend of text and pictures all come together to create something truly special.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, with illustrations by Oliver Jeffers (2013).

Like many young children, Duncan loves to colour and draw. However, his crayons have a few complaints about how they’re being used, and leave him a stack of letters outlining their protests. This is a delightful and funny picture book, with expressive illustrations provided by the always enjoyable Oliver Jeffers. This story is sure to appeal to a wide age-range.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, with illustrations by Barbara Reid (2013).

While there are dozens of versions of this quintessential children’s Christmas story, this is my new favourite. Barbara Reid has lent her creativity to the story, providing beautiful and intricate Plasticine illustrations alongside the classic text. Read this story with family and friends, and don’t forget to spend ample time poring over the pictures – Barbara Reid likes to hide lots of little details to reward the attentive reader. Watch the book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rl4HEuxV8A

Who Goes There? By Karma Wilson, with illustrations by Anna Currey (2013).

Snuggle up with your little ones to read this cozy book by Karma Wilson. Lewis Mouse has moved into a lovely new nest just in time for winter, but something seems to be missing. Before he can figure out exactly what his new home is lacking, he starts to hear mysterious noises outside his nest. Will Lewis be able to figure out what’s making all this noise? A lovely surprise will help him to make his house a home. The story is comforting and feels familiar, which makes it a perfect story to share on a cold winter night.