This Halloween was one for the records. I have never before seen so much candy that was not on a candy isle at the grocery store. My kids have been in sugar heaven for the past week and I finally decided that something had to be done before they became toothless. After some research I found some awesome ideas to get rid of the excess candy while keeping my kids happy.

• Share it! Visiting our neighbors is one of those things that my kids find fascinating. If I ever need to run next door really quick they are right on my feet. One of our favorite things to do is share treats and recipes which has come in handy with all the extra candy we have. This week we made tootsie roll fudge and snicker apple dip that we wrapped up and shared with as many neighbors as we could. Not only did it shed some extra candy weight but it also helped us catch up with our friends and neighborhood.

• Visit from the Switch Witch. A popular idea I have heard about lately is a witch who comes to collect all your extra candy and leaves a non-edible surprise behind. I wasn’t so sure about this idea at first because I am not crazy about buying toys for no reason. But, I have seen lots of kids receive a family movie, or needed school item, etc. This would be a really awesome way have your children happily trade something they do not need for something they do. Win win!

• Donate it. Our local police and fire station take Halloween candy donations and seem to love receiving it. My kids enjoy visiting these places as well as the feeling they get for giving something to others.

• Send it to Troops. There are many different ways to donate to our troops but Operation Gratitude have many different donation places across the nation for Halloween candy. Our local school board building is our drop off place and it was moving to see how much candy they had received to send to soldiers. This is such an easy way to brighten our troops day.

Whatever you choose to do… involve your kids! Let them be a part of making someone else’s day better!

About Grace:

Grace was born and brought up in Bessemer, Alabama but has a great love for exploring new places. She has been married for 8 years and has 3 kids, expecting number 4 in December. Having been  a student off and on for the last 10 years she is excited to say that she is finally graduating from BYU-Idaho with a degree in Marriage and Family Counseling this year. She loves to learn and share what she learns with as many people as possible. Strengthening and encouraging positive relationships with couples and families is a life goal and passion. Her biggest hobby is her family and finding new and fun ways to accomplish the above life goal in her home.

The all new Sesame Street Live! is headed to the Magic City and everyone is invited to take part in the sunniest and funniest street celebration in Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party!

Sesame Workshop features favorite Sesame Street pals Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and more in a brand-new sensory adventure live on stage.

From the moment the curtain rises, parents and children alike will be on their feet dancing along to a pop-infused soundtrack with new Sesame Street friends and live emcees Casey and Caleb. Planning a party isn’t easy when everybody has a different idea of fun, but with some help from the audience, it becomes the ultimate reflection of what friendship plus teamwork can accomplish. Party guests will sing along to new and familiar songs, like “I Love Trash” and “C is for Cookie,” with Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster; dance to the beat with Elmo; explore a wintry wonderland when Abby Cadabby’s magic goes awry; take flight with Big Bird to learn about some of his fabulous feathered friends; and discover new cultures in an interactive Spanish lesson with Rosita. A unique, up-close- and-personal pre-show experience will be offered at an additional charge prior to select performances, allowing families the opportunity to tour the on-stage neighborhood of their favorite, furry friends before they arrive for the main show. The fun doesn’t end there. A variety of interactive activities give children the chance to create, discover and learn as they help decorate for the upcoming party.

Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! visits Birmingham, AL on November 17th – 18th for three performances at BJCC Concert Hall.

BirminghamMommy has a special giveaway for one lucky fan! A family 4-pack of tickets AND a family 4-pack of pre-show passes to the Friday Night 6pm show, November 17th.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Correctly answer this trivia question: How Tall Is Big Bird?

A winner will be drawn at random from all correct answers on Wednesday, November 8th at 6pm and notified via email. No purchase necessary. Sesame Workshop is not a sponsor, endorser or administrator of this promotion.

Tickets for Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party start at $15.00. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at the BJCC Concert Hall box office or by calling 800-745- 3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For group rates and information, reach out to Group Tickets Plus at (888) 305-9550.

Stay current on the latest developments through social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SesameStreetLive

Twitter: @SesameStLive # SesameStreetLive

Instagram: @SesameStreetLive

All the recent talk about sexual assault has many parents wondering how to protect their kids from being victimized; however, just as important is raising children who respect boundaries, understand that no means no, and are willing to stand up for others when needed. One of the best ways to introduce kids to complex and adult topics like sexual assault is through children’s books. Teaching our girls (and boys) to protect themselves against sexual assault may make them less likely to be victimized but setting the foundation for healthy consensual relationships in childhood will reduce the overall problem of sexual assault. It’s especially important that parents remember that sexual assault is not a “women’s issue” but whole society issue. Consider adding some of the following books to your children’s library to help them learn more about important topics like consent, boundaries, and body ownership.

No Means No!: Teaching Children About Personal Boundaries, Respect, and Consent by Janyneen Sanders. Best for children aged 3-9. The goal of this book is to “Empower kids by respecting their choices and their right to say, “No!.” Obviously, the book doesn’t teach kids that they are allowed to refuse to go to bed – my kids wish there was a book that said that. Rather, the book highlights that kids’ bodies belong to them alone, that they don’t “have to” hug or kiss anyone if they don’t want to, and that they need to get consent before touching anyone else’s body. The book prepares children to respond to typical approaches used by sexual abusers but in a kid friendly, non-scary way. Ultimately, this book teaches kids to trust inner feelings that say a situation is weird or dangerous and to get help from someone they trust. For further ideas when talking about these issues with kids, find the discussion questions in the back.

I Said No! A Kid-to-Kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private by Kimberly King. Best for ages 4 and up. This book provides appropriate responses to situations when kids feel their boundaries aren’t being respected. Topics covered include what kind of touches are appropriate and from whom, how to recognize inappropriate behavior and what to do about it, and how to keep asking for help until you get it.

Do You Have a Secret? (Let’s Talk About It!) by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos. Best for preschool for grade 3. This book details the difference between good and bad secrets, and how to get help if you have a “bad secret.” This option isn’t specific to issues of sexual abuse/assault but can also be helpful for kids dealing with family and social issues, bullying, etc. Essentially, the book sends the message that kids shouldn’t try and deal with big, upsetting issues all by themselves and that asking for help isn’t just O.K. – it’s the right thing to do.

Miles is the Boss of His Body by Samanta Kurtzman-Counter. Best for preschool through 2nd grade. What I love most about this book is that it focuses on relatively harmless touches (e.g., pinches, too tight hugs) but illustrates that the main character is allowed to say no to them if he wants, even though the touchers are family members. In fact, no one gets upset with him for saying no – rather, he is reinforced for asserting his boundaries. Kids will love the comic book style and parents will appreciate the light-hearted delivery of important lessons.

An Exceptional Children’s Guide to Touch: Teaching Social and Physical Boundaries to Kids by Hunter Manasco. This book is particularly helpful for reading to children with  special needs who are at heightened risk for abuse. No specific age range is given but it’s generally recommended for elementary-aged kids. The stories presented highlight the importance of boundaries and how boundaries change according to situations. The book does a great job of teaching kids how to advocate for themselves when they’re in uncomfortable situations.

Other books to consider:
My Body Belongs to Me From My Head to My Toes from pro Familia
It’s MY Body: A Book to Teach Young Children How to Resist Uncomfortable Touch by Lory Britain
Your Body Belongs to You by Cornelia Spelman

Parents can reinforce the messages in these books in the following ways:

Never require your child to give hugs, kisses, high fives, etc. Your child should be respectful of others and acknowledge them when being spoken to but should not be forced into any unwanted physical contact. If needed, you can give a short explanation to the adult in question but avoid apologizing or guilting your child. It’s a good idea to note that there are a few exceptions like when your child has a check-up with the doctor or needs help from a parent with his bath.

When siblings hit each other, include lack of consent when you’re pointing out what they’ve done wrong. You might say, “You’re going to your room for 20 minutes because you touched your brother without permission and you hurt him.” Avoid blowing off complaints about siblings’ conduct, even if you didn’t see what happened. Whether you believe the child’s version or not, you can give a quick empathic statement and a promise to watch for problems: “You told me your sister kicked you and you look really angry. I didn’t see it happen but will be watching her.”

Avoid forced touching in the family, even if it’s done in jest. For example, if you continue to tickle your child when he asks you to stop (even if he’s laughing) or kiss her when she says she doesn’t want a kiss, you’re reinforcing the idea that kids aren’t allowed to set their own boundaries about their bodies – a very slippery slope. Insist that others in the family respect boundaries, too. If siblings are play wrestling and one asks to stop, insist that the others leave him/her alone immediately.

Allow and encourage your kids, even/especially your sons, to express their emotions. Provide empathy for feelings – even if you don’t understand why your child feels as he does. Give guidance on appropriate ways of expressing strong feelings. You might say, “I’m sorry you’re feeling so angry. It’s always O.K. to tell me you’re mad but it’s never O.K. to throw the remote.” Avoid making statements to your son suggesting that expressing emotion is “feminine.” Not only is it untrue that only girls have feelings or should express them (duh), but also it’s hurtful to our daughters when we suggest that boys should try not to be like them.

Intervene when you notice your child being disrespectful of someone else’s boundaries. Communicate to your child that it’s his responsibility to notice when he’s made someone uncomfortable and to stop doing what the other person doesn’t like, whether he understands their complaint or not. Provide consequences consistently when your child continues to violate someone else’s boundaries.

About Kristen:

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages ten and four, and seven-year-old son.

By: Shane Nicholas
Owner, StickandStrum Academy

A call to all of those weird, quirky, introverted, awkward, awesome kids out there..

You know the kids I’m talking about. The ones that seem like a round peg in a square hole. They see things through a unique filter and interact with people a little differently. Though they may not always fit in, we know the truth: These are the awesome kids. The ones that will make a difference once they find their place to shine. Maybe you have one in your family. Maybe you were one.

My story isn’t an uncommon one. I came from a broken home and struggled to find my way during my pre-teen and teenage years. I wasn’t really into sports. I didn’t join all of the clubs at school. I was introverted and awkward. I was just kinda…there. Though I played sax in the band I wouldn’t consider myself musical. I picked up a guitar at age 14 and everything changed.

There was just something magical about it. It was something that I could work on and see growth and improvements, which really clicked for my task-oriented personality. Guitar was unabashedly cool and I could still work on it in my own bubble without people judging me.

Sports and clubs were hard because to improve and grow I had to do it in front of other people. For an awkward kid like me that was rough. Music became an outlet for all of my awkward teen feelings and struggles. I could just lock myself in my room and play for hours and I loved it. It became an escape. But then something cool happened.

I joined a band. You won’t see us on the Grammys anytime soon but it was life changing. Suddenly I had an outlet for everything that I had been working on in isolation. We wrote songs and I was able to express some of the things I had been feeling. We played gigs and I found myself becoming more confident and conquering my fears. Playing with some friends became something that really clicked and led all of us onto a lifelong love of music. Three of us actually pursued careers in music.

What I love about music lessons is that it gives an outlet and validity to some of those emotions and feelings that can otherwise go unchecked.

I realized that music lessons are so much more than teaching people about music.

It’s about building confidence.
It’s about providing an outlet.
It improves test scores, increases IQ, and benefits language development.
It’s about helping kids to feel accepted and valued.
It’s about kids realizing that they are heard and understood.
It’s about creating something that can be used their entire life.

At Stickandstrum Academy we work hard to get instruments into kid’s hands as soon as possible and offer classes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers all the way through elementary school, teens, and adults. I wonder what would have happened if I had first picked up a guitar when I was 10 or 7 or 4 instead of 14. My son is 3 and I am already loving the results of having him in our group classes and even private piano lessons.

He’s a happy, inquisitive, outgoing, and kind kid and I can’t help to think that part of that has been due to his exposure to music at a young age.

Not only do we offer lessons but we really focus on groups and community with lots of options for students to get started. We are a no pressure, no judgment kind of place and families really seem to enjoy that. Stickandstrum has group options for kids who are still figuring out what instrument they want to play, including our popular Intro to Instruments class and our Jam class where complete beginners get to play in a band together. We include all instruments and supplies for these classes so parents don’t have to buy or worry about anything.

Our amazing teachers can also meet you where you are if you are more advanced or are just ready to take it up a notch. More than 10% of our studio is made up of adult beginner students so it’s never too late.

I didn’t pick up a guitar until I was 14 and I normally hear one of these two statements from parents when their kids begin taking music lessons with us:

“I used to play piano as a kid. I wish I hadn’t given it up.”
“I always wanted to play an instrument but just never got around to it.”

So…what are you waiting for? Let’s rock!

Our Sponsor:

Shane Nicholas is the owner of Stickandstrum Academy in Riverchase. Stickandstrum offers group and private lessons in guitar, piano, voice, drums, ukulele, electronic music, banjo, sax and clarinet, and more. For more information check them out on Facebook, Instagram, or their website.

Gift Certificates are available for the holiday season and make great stocking stuffers. Stickandstrum has options for group classes for as low as $100.

Check out their Holiday Ukulele Class for Families. For $100 each, you and a child get to learn Christmas songs on ukulele for four weeks and the class includes a ukulele that you get to keep!

This class for absolute beginners starts on November 7th and you can sign up or get more info here

205-690-1521
info@stickandstrum.com
Stickandstrum.com
facebook.com/stickandstrum