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Bart's Artventure Grand Opening: Birmingham Museum of Art

Posted on by Angie

The Birmingham Museum of Art will open the doors to Bart’s ArtVenture, its new interactive gallery designed specifically for children and families on May 19. The colorful, modern space combines high tech art-making tools with hands-on creation stations to give kids and families the opportunity to begin and develop their art education in a creative, communal environment. With its opening, Bart’s ArtVenture becomes one of only a handful of art museums across the nation with a gallery dedicated to kids and families.

“Bart’s ArtVenture is going to transform our Museum experience for visitors with children,” said Gail Andrews, the R. Hugh Director of the Museum.  “This kind of space not only gives families the freedom to create and share art in a safe and fun environment, it also fills a significant void in our community that has been created where budget cuts have eroded many arts programs in our schools. Bart’s ArtVenture offers children the chance to discover art, some for the very first time,” she said.

Somerset, a Huntsville-based design group, worked closely with the Museum’s education department to devise an engaging, modular space divided into two galleries– one children for ages 1-5 and the other for children ages 6-12. Both galleries feature large “art bars” where children can create their own art.

“Our goal with Bart’s ArtVenture is to relate its design to our collection while implementing activities that would encourage group participation and inspire conversation between kids and families,” said Curator of Education, Samantha Kelly. “We want the Museum experience to be fun, easy and accessible for families with children of all ages and see this space as a place where art comes alive, one which serves as a bridge for families to further explore our Museum together.”

Each station surrounding the art bars in the gallery purposefully reflects some aspect of the Museum’s diverse permanent collection. The colorful entrance wall to the space includes art derived from Roy Lichtenstein’s sculpture Brushstroke V.  A green screen lets visitors to virtually step into one of the Museum’s works–such as Albert Bierstadt’s iconic painting Looking Down Yosemite Valley, California–and then email the digital image to themselves. Texture blocks designed for younger visitors are based on objects from the collection, and children can decorate masks nearly identical to those preserved on display in the African, Native American and Pre-Columbian galleries. Even the large customizable image of BMA family mascot Bart The Art Bat, is itself derived from a Pre-Columbian gold artifact on display at the Museum.

The hallway linking the two galleries “Bart’s Art Cave” will be a showcase for local artists, offering various “sensory-based” works during the course of a year. The Museum worked with Bare Hands, Inc. to identify artists for the space that bring the right level of stimulation, innovation, and children-centered art and ideas. The first on display is Heather Spencer Holmes’ ethereal installation of floating jellyfish called Smack.
“Opportunities for young visitors to create their own art, be inspired by new artists, and to be engaged with the masterpieces at the Museum means that Bart’s ArtVenture offers a kid-friendly environment like no other,” said Kelly.  “We want it to provoke conversation about how art, creativity, exploration, and discovery can be a part of your life after the Museum visit.”

Bart’s ArtVenture Grand Opening Celebration Schedule

May 19, 2012 // 11:00am – 3:00pm
FREE and open to all ages

Join Bart the Art Bat for the Grand Opening of Bart’s ArtVenture, the Museum’s cool, new hands-on gallery for kids of all ages!  Be among the very first to explore the cutting –edge technology and art-making opportunities. Step into one of the Museum’s masterpieces via green screen technology. Make an abstract painting with your body on a giant digital canvas. Create your own art and feast on Bart’s birthday cupcakes as we follow Bart on a new Museum ArtVenture! Visit artsbma.org for more information.

10:00-11:00 // Member’s Preview

Become a member today to be the first to see the new gallery!

11:00 // Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Gallery Officially Opens to the Public

11:00-3:00 // Free Family Activities
Art Activities
Bart’s Cupcakes
Family Yoga
Stories in the Galleries
Musical Entertainment
Snacks
Scavenger Hunts

Tis' the Season… For Local Farmer's Markets

Posted on by Angie

We all love some fresh fruits and veggies, and Birmingham Area Farmer’s markets are heating up. If you’re looking for a market to enjoy this Saturday, look no further! Our friends over at My Green Birmingham have compiled and shared this great list of local markets and they’re letting us share it with you!

2012 Birmingham Area Farmer’s Markets:

Alabama Farmers Market is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day,  with the majority of vendors open from 6am-5pm. Located at 344 Finley Avenue, the Alabama Farmers Market has been in its current location since 1956-making it the longest running farmers market in the Birmingham area. See their vendor list for further details on which growers you can find there each week.

Pepper Place Market is open Saturdays from 7am-12 noon from mid April through early December each year. Located at 2829 2nd Avenue South in Birmingham, Pepper Place offers visitors a great assortment of locally grown and prepared goods. Peak summer months usually bring in an average of 30 farmers or more, and a great selection of additional vendors selling other foods, and arts and crafts. Pepper Place also features live music and will often host chef demonstrations throughout the summer months as well. For updates on weekly events, be sure to check the Pepper Place calendar.

Valleydale Famer’s Market is open on Saturdays starting in mid May and runs through September 1st. This market features local growers and vendors including Burnette Farms with a huge selection of peaches, peppers, beans and more, Beasley Mountain, who sells an incredible selection of fresh berries, and Humble Hearts Farm, makers of an assortment of goat cheeses. The Valleydale Farmer’s Market also hosts additional vendors selling arts and crafts and locally prepared food. Located at at 4601 Valleydale Road. Valleydale Farmer’s Market is also a Freshfully Veggie Box pick up location.

Downtown Homewood Farmer’s Market takes place each Saturday through August 24th, from 8am – 12:30pm at Homewood’s SoHo square. Hosted by the Homewood Chamber of Commerce and Urban Cookhouse restaurant, the Homewood Farmer’s Market features more than 15 local farmers and vendors, including Owl’s Hollow Hydroponic Farm, Finer Grind Coffee, and the Dreamcakes food truck-for an extra special treat! For further information and a complete list of vendors, visit Downtown Homewood Farmer’s Market

Farm Stands on the Railroad  is open each Wednesday from 4-6pm, through October 2nd, and is part of Railroad Park’s Get Healthy on the Railroad free exercise program, sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Railroad Park hosts community gardens/local farmers including Jones Valley Urban Farm and other local growers. 100% of proceeds benefit local gardens/farms. Cash only. Stick around afterwards for a free Zumba class at 6pm, and enjoy a variety of other free exercise classes every weekday at 6 pm. Railroad Park is located on 17th Street, Birmingham.

Mt. Laurel Farm School grows and sells more than 75 varieties of vegetables throughout the year. In partnership with Jones Valley Urban Farm, the Mt. Laurel Farm School operates a farm stand located just 1.5 miles from the Mt. Laurel town center. Hours of operation are from 10am-4pm, daily.

West Homewood Farmer’s Market begins the first Saturday in June, and runs from 8am-12noon. The West Homewood Farmer’s Market features area farmers, arts & crafts and more, plus, live music from 9:30-11:30. The West Homewood Farmer’s Market will also host a Saturday evening market from 5pm-8pm on the following dates: Aug. 16th, Sept. 13th, and Oct. 18th.

The Summit Marketwill run on Thursdays from 3pm-7pm beginning May 24th through July 26th. Located in the Summit in front of Urban Cookhouse restaurant, the Summit Market will host local farmers, plus fun kids activities and crafts.

Eastlake Farmer’s Market is open on Saturdays from 8am-12noon, beginning in early May  through October 12th. Located at the corner of 2nd Avenue South and 78th Street in the Eastlake neighborhood (near Ruffner Mountain)., the Eastlake Farmer’s Market features locally grown fruits and veggies, local musicians and artists, cooking demonstrations and fun activities for the whole family. Health screenings and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) coupons are also offered. Go here for more information about SFMNP.

Do you have a favorite market? Which one do you look forward to trying out this season?

Naptime Confessions: May Day! May Day!

Posted on by Angie

May is Busy! Like Crazy Busy.. Moms with school age children tried to warn me, but I wasn’t listening. I forgot to feed my children lunch the other day and feel like a personal ATM – How do you manage to stay organized during the last few weeks of the school year? Any tips to share?

 

Secret Formula to Summer Fun Giveaway, from The World Of Coca-Cola

Posted on by Angie

Summer is here and we’re kicking it off with a giveaway, thanks to our friends at The World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, GA. If you’re looking for an excuse for a day trip or a little weekend getaway, this giveaway is for you!

For over 125 years, they’ve been putting their secret formula into each bottle of Coca-Cola®. Now they are inviting you to feel closer than ever before to Coca-Cola’s most closely guarded trade secret and learn about the intrigue behind the secret formula in the new Vault of the Secret Formula experience at the World of Coca-Cola.

In this new and immersive experience, you will learn about the story of the secret formula and how it is more than a list of ingredients – it represents 125 years of history, special moments, memories and the timeless appeal associated with Coca-Cola.

You will be able to learn and have fun with many interactive experiences that showcase the origins, mystery and magic surrounding the story of the secret formula. You may try to match the perfectly balanced taste of Coca-Cola with a virtual Taste Maker or experience a fun zone of myths and legends. You can have a hand in protecting the secret in a full-body interactive game that takes you to many of the locations where the secret formula has been kept. You can even deepen your knowledge of the secrets behind the secret in our new mobile storytelling experience by using your smartphone.

You can even deepen your knowledge around the secrets behind the secret in the new mobile storytelling experience by using your smartphone. Look for QR codes located throughout this experience. Scanning the QR codes with a QR code reader will give you access to new content within the experience and exciting multimedia features.

To learn more about the history of The Coca-Cola Company, click here.

The World of Coca Cola has given us a 4 pack of tickets to giveaway, to one lucky reader. Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post letting us know your favorite coke product: 1 per person

2. Other than the Secret Formula Exhibit, name one more exhibit you can find at the World of Coca Cola – You can find them by visiting the World of Coca Cola Website: 1 per person

3. Head over to the Coca Cola Facebook page and tell them thanks for offering this giveaway on BirminghamMommy.com: 1 per person

Giveaway will end Thursday May 17th at 6pm. Winner will be announced on Facebook Friday, May 18th.

 

Disclosure: The World of Coca-Cola provided these tickets and those we will use to visit the attraction. As always, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are our own.

Event of the Week: Tails in the Trails – Birmingham Zoo

Posted on by Angie

Get a sitter but don’t tell the kids where you’re going, they’ll never let you out of the house!

The Birmingham Zoo’s Junior Board will hold its 2nd annual spring event, Tails in the Trails, on May 17th from 5:30 to 9pm in Trails of Africa. Guests can enjoy live music, food, cocktails and animal encounters while viewing the elephants on exhibit. To purchase tickets for Tails in the Trails, call 205.879.0409. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Presenting Sponsor – DonohooAuto
Bulwagi Sponsor – Avondale Brewery
Callee Sponsors – O’Neal Steel | Swatek, Azbell, Howe & Ross
Ajani Sponsors – Amari Law Firm | Goodfellas Gaming | Ray & Poynor Properties | Saks Fifth Avenue | StoneRiver Company
Tails Sponsors – EMJ Metals | Maynard, Cooper & Gale

Birmingham Events Calendar: May 13th – May 20th

Posted on by Angie

We hope you are enjoying your Mother’s Day and spending some quality time with your family!

We’ve got a pretty busy week in the Magic City! Tails in the Trails will be going on at the Birmingham Zoo, we’ve got our big movie event this Friday with Brookwood Medical Center. If you weren’t able to claim a ticket before they were gone, don’t worry, we might just have a few to giveaway!

You’ve got Do Dah Day, Family Fun Day at the Birmingham Museum of Art and so much more! Have a great week everyone!

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Sunday May 13th:

Happy Mother’s Day!
We hope you are afforded the opportunity to have a little down time today! Relax and enjoy your day!

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Design a teacup just in time for Mother’s Day!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1:00pm

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Monday May 14th:

Holy Inappropriateness! We couldn’t find any special events happening in the ‘Ham today. Make sure to check our list below for fun exhibits happening daily at our local attractions.

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Tuesday May 15th

Holy Inappropriateness! We couldn’t find any special events happening in the ‘Ham today. Make sure to check our list below for fun exhibits happening daily at our local attractions.

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Wednesday May 16th:

Storytime – Gardendale, Martha Moore Library
Stories, silly songs, and fun with Ms. Lucy & Ms. Molly! All ages welcome!!
9:30am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as for Storytime as we read Bear’s Loose Tooth. Find out what happens when Bear has his first loose tooth. There will be a craft and a treat from our Cafe.
11am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday May 17th:

Tails in the Trails – Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo’s Junior Board will hold its 2nd annual spring event, Tails in the Trails, on May 17th from 5:30 to 9pm in Trails of Africa. Guests can enjoy live music, food, cocktails and animal encounters while viewing the elephants on exhibit. To purchase tickets for Tails in the Trails, call 205.879.0409. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Presenting Sponsor – DonohooAuto
Bulwagi Sponsor – Avondale Brewery
Callee Sponsors – O’Neal Steel | Swatek, Azbell, Howe & Ross
Ajani Sponsors – Amari Law Firm | Goodfellas Gaming | Ray & Poynor Properties | Saks Fifth Avenue | StoneRiver Company
Tails Sponsors – EMJ Metals | Maynard, Cooper & Gale

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Friday May 18th:

Brookwood Medical Center and BirminghamMommy Movie Event – Carmike Summit
We hope to see you out for the premiere of “What to Expect When Your Expecting”
Tickets that you have claimed through EventBrite will be available at our Will Call table set up in the lobby of the Carmike Theater.
We will have swag for the first 100 to arrive as well as a chance to win some great door prizes.
Movie Starts at 7pm, make sure to arrive in plenty of time to redeem your ticket and get your refreshments!

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Saturday May 19th:

Bart’s Artventure Grand Opening – Birmingham Museum of Art
Free and open to all ages. There is something for everyone!

Join Bart the Art Bat for the grand opening of Bart’s ArtVenture! Cheer Bart on as he cuts the ribbon and opens the doors. Be among the very first to explore the cutting-edge technology and art making opportunities. Step into one of the Museum’s masterpieces via green screen technology. Make an abstract painting with your body on a giant digital canvas. Feast on Bart Cake, make cool art projects, follow Bart on a new Museum adventure.
10am – 5pm

Family Fun Day – Birmingham Museum of Art
The Museum and the Indian Cultural Society hosted over 700 visitors for Bart’s Asian Adventure: A Day of Color a celebration of the Indian Holiday, Holi in March. Musicians, performers, and artists from the Indian community filled the day with activity and ended it all with lots of color, of course!
10am – 5pm

Do Dah Day – Caldwell Park
DO DAH DAY is Birmingham’s 34-year-old music festival.

The South’s craziest parade kicks off at 11:01 a.m. on the streets of Highland Avenue in Birmingham’s Southside. Then, spend the day in Caldwell and Rhodes Parks with friends, pets, arts & crafts, kid’s activities, and a lineup of great bands. Oh yes, we have plenty of food and beverages, and collectible Do Dah Day t-shirts.

All proceeds benefit local animal charities.

Tarrant Five Mile Creek Festival – Tarrant Public Library
An all new kidzone stage with carnival rides and inflatable games, live music on the main stage, food, and arts and crafts. Also a hamburger easting contest provided by Hamburger Heaven.

Festival takes place in downtown Tarrant at the corner of Hwy 79 and Ford Avenue.

Schedule of Events
10am Opening Ceremony
10:15 Magic City Diamonds & Gems Drill Team & Drum Squad
10:30 Brandon Bush
11:00 Peanut
12:00 Good Morning Lucy
1:00 Telluride
2:00 Jen Moody Band
3:00 Phil Stacey
4:00 Kryst Lyke

Clay May Days – Clay Community Center
LOTS OF FUN with TOP NOTCH entertainers and events planned for the whole family. NO ENTRY FEE – FREE PARKING. Clay May Days is the annual city-wide family festival held in Clay.

First class Arts and Crafts Vendors from all over the South and in Alabama and locally from Clay will be exhibiting the finest merchandise! Come take a look!

Children’s Activities with live entertainment and Carnival Rides! YUMMY FOOD is exactly what you will get! After a stroll visiting the vendor booths, sit down near the stage and enjoy the music and dancers while you relax.
9am – 4pm

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Re-open again for the season! Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine!
7am – Noon

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Stars. We will find out how you can make your own star and there will be a treat from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday May 20th:

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Design a teacup just in time for Mother’s Day!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
1:00pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Born to Be Wild, & Flying Monsters.

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Happy Mother's Day, Mama's!

Posted on by Angie

From bumps and bruises to fever’s and flu’s, a Mother’s work is never done. We all want our little ones to be happy and healthy and that alone is a full time job. Whether you stay at home, work outside or inside the home,  the hours are long and the nights are often sleepless.

We hope you all have a chance to relax and take a little time out for just you! You deserve it!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you BirminghamMommy’s!

Craft: Mommy TV

Posted on by Angie

This is a great one for the kids to make. A great idea would be for dad to craft this with the kids for a nice gift for mom on Mother’s Day.

Materials:
Cereal box
2 empty paper towel rolls
brown construction paper
tape
photos

To assemble:
All you do is cut a 3×5 inch hole in the cereal box, then cut holes on the the top ends for the paper towel rolls.
Cover the box with brown paper and draw some dials, an on/off switch, etc.
Tape the photos together in a loop.
Place the paper towel rolls in the top holes, linking the photos in them. Add an antenna from the scraps, and VOILA!

Pinspired Bites: Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Posted on by Angie

I never met a mushroom I didn’t like.

As you may know, I love appetizers. This one is super easy and very yummy.

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
http://www.mountainmamacooks.com/2011/02/bacon-and-cream-cheese-stuffed-mushrooms/

  • 8 oz bacon *I was in a rush, a bag of bacon bits worked pretty darn good!
  • 1/2 cup finely minced sweet onion *I omitted this because I don’t like onions
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 16 oz white button mushrooms
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Using scissors or a sharp knife, cut raw bacon into small pieces. In a large sautee pan, over medium heat, cook bacon until nice and crispy. While bacon is cooking, remove mushroom stems from caps and chop stems into small pieces. When bacon is done, remove from pan and set aside; reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease and pour the rest from pan. Sautee onion until soft about 5 minutes, scraping up any brown bits on bottom of pan. Add chopped mushrooms stems and garlic and cook a few minutes longer. Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese and parmesan cheese and stir until cheeses are melted. Add reserved chopped bacon and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Mixture can be made, cooled, and stored, covered, in the fridge for up to two days.) Remove mixture from heat and stuff each mushroom cap generously with mixture. Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes or until mushrooms are soft and filling is nice and hot.

 

The EASY Mushroom

This is another way to make no-fuss appetizers that people will think are more impressive than they are.

Stuff white button mushrooms with goat cheese. Brush tops with butter. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Done. Delicious.

If you’re on Pinterest, Follow us! We’ll be sharing more of our favorite finds!

Parenting with a PhD: Teaching Honesty

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

Your Kid’s Pants Are On Fire!

Chances are, your kid’s a liar – or has been. Most kids go through a lying phase at some point. Before age three, many kids lie because reality and fantasy are already all jumbled up in their cute little brains. By age four, kids may lie for a number of different reasons – often because they realize it keeps them out of trouble and might get for them things they want. In some cases, lying continues into adolescence and adulthood because it can feel easier to invent reality than have to face consequences for poor decisions head on. Fear not – there are things you can do to raise a more honest kid and it’s super easy to do! (O.K. – that last part was a lie. Sorry). Here are some ideas for creating a culture of honesty in your home:

Start early. From the second you find out you’re going to be a parent, you start forming trust with your child. When you respond to an infant’s cries, when you’re consistently present, when you follow through on something you’ve said – these are all behaviors that build trust. Even though your one-year-old may not understand the word “trust” – he can start to grasp its meaning if you use phrases like, “I’ll give your blankie back once I get your pajamas on – You can trust me,” assuming you make a point to give his blankie back once the p.j,’s are on. Building a trusting relationship with your child comes down to a very simple idea: Do what you say you’re going to do. When you’re successful with this, the message that trust is a crucial element for family relationships will come through.

Teaching your child what honesty is. The next step is to convey to your child that you expect him to be trustworthy. With younger kids, it’s best to avoid using the word “lie” because often the intention is not to purposely deceive you. Instead, little ones often say what they wish was the truth or what they think the adult they’re speaking to wants to hear rather than what actually happened. You’re likely to get further in your understanding if you ask a question like this: “Is this what really happened or what you wish was true?” You can help your child learn the difference between truth and fiction by playing games like this: Act something out then make a statement. For example, sit down and then say, “I’m standing on my head.” Now, ask your child to indicate if the statement is true and praise her for correct answers. Get more complicated by doing something objectionable (spilling your water) and then saying: “You spilled the water: true or not true?” You can also try this game using facts your child already knows. Kids learn easily from stories so look for themes of dishonesty and use it as a jumping off place for discussing why it’s important to tell the truth. Some options: “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” (an Aesop fable), Franklin Fibs (Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark, 1992), The Berenstain Bears and the Truth (Stan and Jan Berenstain, 1983), and “The Empty Pot” (Demi, 1990).

Set your child up to tell the truth. One of the biggest mistakes parents make when trying to teach honesty is forcing the child to choose between a lie versus the truth. When you threaten your child with negative consequences, particularly if they’re overly harsh, he’ll feel cornered and desperate to tell you anything that will get him out of trouble. For example, if a father says to his daughter, “If you played with my cell phone after I told you not to, you’ll be grounded for a week!” the child is pretty unlikely to come clean about the behavior. Ultimately, she’ll probably be punished for both playing with the phone and for lying about it. In this situation, the father has set the child up to tell a lie by threatening her with a pretty aversive punishment for the problematic behavior. If, instead, the father said: “I asked you not to play with my cell phone but I see that it has been moved. I think you played with it and feel nervous about telling me that,” the child will realize that her father already knows what happened and that he’s ready to address it. Calmly. In this case, she’s much more likely to admit to the behavior. She may even feel relieved that her dad already knows what she did and that she doesn’t need to come up with a story to explain the phone’s sudden ability to mobilize. The second scenario doesn’t mean there’s no consequence for the behavior but it does make truth-telling easier and more likely. When you set your child up to tell the truth and then she does, you can praise her for doing so, making the behavior more likely in the future. Further, when you respond calmly and rationally to her admission, you’re reminding her that she can trust you with information – even if it’s not information you’re going to like. She knows that your reaction will be measured and not overly harsh or frightening. Because, honestly, if she can’t trust you to react calmly to news that she played with your phone without permission, how can she expect you to handle more serious information like that a friend is cutting herself or that she’s gotten into some kind of legal trouble? A phrase that will set your child up for truth-telling throughout her life might go something like this: “I may not like what you have to tell me and there might be a consequence, but I’ll respect you for telling the truth and will do my best to help.” Consider writing down a similar phrase in your own words to use when you need it.

Walk the walk. You’re not going to love this but one key way to teach honesty is to be honest. Sometimes this requires admitting at check-in that your son was late to school because you were too engrossed in Pinterest (I’ll admit – this has so happened to me). It means no: “Let’s keep this purchase secret from Daddy” or “Don’t tell your piano teacher you didn’t practice all week.” These kinds of little white lies may tempt you on a daily basis and probably don’t cause all that much trouble in the long run. But, children are literal little creatures and, in their minds, a lie’s a lie. It’s a slippery slope from you saying you have a headache to get out of helping at T-ball to your son blaming the broken remote control on his 1-month-old sister. This doesn’t mean you can’t teach your kids to have tact, even at an early age. As my grandfather used to say: “You don’t have to tell all you know.” Refraining from making every comment that pops into your head is different from lying and is an important social skill: one I’ll address in a future column.

The most important reason to promote a culture of honesty in your home isn’t to help you identify who painted the bedroom door with watercolors (my daughter) or who decorated the bathroom with an entire roll of toilet paper (my son). The ultimate goal is to ensure that your children will tell you the truth when it really matters. Because, one day, your child will be faced with a significant problem that he isn’t sure how to handle on his own. The way you handle the small issues today will be a major factor in determining whether you get a chance to help with the big ones. As anyone who’s ever told a tiny little lie for social reasons (or a huge whopper for whatever reason) knows, it takes courage to tell the truth, especially when there are likely to be consequences. The natural instinct is to save face, save your hide, save yourself. Your mission as a parent is to teach your child to be brave enough to tell the truth. But, you also have to demonstrate that he can trust you enough to hear it. Create a culture of trust and honesty in your family. Mean what you say. Do what you say. Expect the same of your kids. Cut them some slack when they fall short.

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

About Kristen:

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates (www.graysonmentalhealth.com). 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 five-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.

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