you
are here
|
Welcome the Kinship Care Newsletter. This quarterly newsletter is put together by the team of Penn State Cooperative Extension Family Living Educators in Northwest Pennsylvania. We hope it will provide timely, useful information on issues that affect you and your family.
|
KIDS NEED TIME AND
ATTENTION DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON |
Life gets hectic and stressful during the holiday season. Children can
also feel stressed from busy schedules, holiday activities and even
from things they see on television including the news.
Children need time and attention from the adults in their lives to teach
them skills to cope with exciting and stressful times.
Caregivers can help children by doing the follow-ing:
-
Spend "one-on-one" time daily with each child.
-
Talk about feelings.
-
Keep routines and schedules the same when-ever possible.
-
Praise a child for something well done.
-
Do activities such as finger painting, playing with play dough and water play.
-
Use art, music, puppets, pretend play and writing as ways to express feelings.
-
Make sure to let children know what you expect them to do.
-
Take time to be silly and laugh together.
-
Have children help with cooking activities - stirring the batter, beating eggs with a hand beater or tearing lettuce for a salad.
-
Be sure there is enough time each day for active play, reading and just plain daydream-ing!
For more information on children's issues for caregivers, visit the Penn State Cooperative Extension Better Kid Care website:
www.betterkidcare.psu.edu
Provided by Darlene Sansone, Lawrence Co. Cooperative
Extension
|
ANGER: COOL OFF THE
HEAT
|
Anger has a "bad" reputation. When we think of something as
bad, we hold a low opinion of it. However, what one person thinks of
as "bad," someone else may consider to be "good."
Think about pain. Pain is often considered to be bad, but if we did
not have pain, how would we know when we need first aid? Similarly,
anger indicates that we feel threatened by a situation and need to find
some "first aid" to fix the problem.
Looking at your child's anger with this view, you may decide to respond differently when your child becomes angry.
When children become angry, they are feeling threatened.
However, children often do not have the experience to know how to deal
with this very powerful emotion. Very young children will hit, bite,
scream or throw a tantrum when they
become angry, simply because they do not know how to react. Older children
may have learned inappropriate ways to respond to anger by watch-ing
how adults handle their anger or by using ways that worked for them
in the past. Our goal is to teach children how to use their anger effec-tively,
which will enable them to be successful in many relationships.
Dr. Charles A. Smith, professor and state exten-sion specialist in the School of Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University, and the sole author of the website The WonderWise Parent encourages parents to teach children to slow down their responses.
Dr. Smith suggests that one way to purposefully cool off the heat is to stretch out time as much as possible. Count to ten (or twenty or one hundred, if necessary). Purposefully slow down the rate of speech, showing care not to infuriate the other person. Move more deliberately and slowly, speaking more softly instead of yelling.
If you want more information on this topic, you can visit Dr. Smith's website: http://www.k-state.edu/wwparent/courses/fireworks/index.htm
Provided by Bibiana Chestnut, Venango Co. Cooperative Extension
|
THE GIC VOICE
|
The GIC Voiceis a newsletter for grandparents and others who
provide care for children of kin.
The magazine is published quarterly courtesy of the AARP Foundation
and is free.
Every issue has tips for parenting, information about AARP-sponsored events and happenings, specific state highlights, and contact information for help of all kinds.
The magazine also has many feature articles about people,
changes, happenings, etc., concerning
kinship caregivers, their difficulties and how they have overcome obstacles.
To subscribe online, go to www.aarp.org/life/grandparents/Articles/a2004-01-20-gicvoicenewsletter.html
You can also subscribe by mail at:
AARP Foundation
Grandparent Information Center
601 E Street NW
Washington DC 20049
A Spanish version is available on request.
The
AARP website (www.aarp.org) also has
much information for grandparents and kinship care providers. Another
good site is www.generationsunited.org
Please give them a try!
Provided by Estella Hyde, Crawford County AARP
|
THE 10-MINUTE CURE
FOR HOLIDAY STRESS |
Well…maybe it's not a cure, but it sure can help!
During the holiday season, the vibrations of peace are very strong: there is a tangible spirit of giving, friendliness, love and joy. However, despite this spirit of warmth and peace, the holiday season too often finds us overspending, overeating and drinking too much. The stores are mobbed and traffic is snarled. Those living alone may feel isolated. Troubled families may see their problems intensified. Suddenly, the peace of the holiday season turns into worry and tension. We make choices that separate us from a deeper attunement to the season's vibrant peace.
What to do about it? Sit down with a few friends and brainstorm about interesting and practical recommendations for creatively minimizing holiday stress. Here is just one idea.
The 10-Minute Cure for Holiday Stress consists
of two parts: a five-minute nighttime session for
developing more peace, and a five-minute early morning session. Each
five-minute period consists of three parts:
Five-minute nighttime peace routine:
-
Mentally scan the day and assess your depth of inner peace during the day. Decide how you can do a better job of being calm and peaceful.
-
Give thanks for the opportunities of the day. Mentally forgive yourself and others for any shortcomings.
-
With deep feeling and concentration, send thoughts of peace and loving-kindness to
all those who come to mind.
Five-minute morning peace routine:
-
Take a moment for quiet time.
-
Visualize the day ahead. See yourself carrying out your activities in a calm, productive and creative way.
-
With deep attention and conviction, mentally repeat to yourself several times: Today will be a calm day. I can handle whatever comes my way.
Try The 10-Minute Cure for Holiday Stress for seven
days straight. Then evaluate how well it has worked for you. Don't be
surprised if you become addicted to it! Why is peace so important? It
is essential to optimal health and the management of stress. Peace is
the origin of kindness, sensitiv-ity and affection. It is the cornerstone
of wisdom and the foundation of all intelligent decisions. During the
remainder of the holidays, say no to hurry, tension, over-scheduling
and over-consuming.
From Home Echoes, a publication of Westmoreland
Co. Cooperative Exten-sion, December, 2003
|
GIFT-GIVING IDEAS
TO LINK THE GENERATIONS
|
As we approach yet another holiday season, people of all ages will be
going out in droves to buy gifts for their loved ones. It is time to
begin our personal quests to find special somethings for those
special someones.
In the midst of all the excitement, however, we barely notice that a dilemma has crept into the world of gift giving; we have increasingly less time and live farther apart. This has a profound impact on all facets of our social lives, not just choosing gifts. Social scientists note that even under the same roof family members are spending less time together. This raises concerns about family cohesion, particularly between the young and old.
At highest risk are young people in dire need of guidance and nurturing. The prospect of "going it alone" is difficult for many elders as well; undesired social isolation is often associated with physical and psychological stress and decline.
Intergenerational studies literature provides many useful
clues for how to reconnect the generations. One principle emphasizes
activities that tie into what people - no matter what their age - have
in common, such as eating, talking, singing, dancing and craftsmaking.
This principle also suggests that activities that accentuate shared
membership in family and community work well.
So
the question now becomes, "What kinds of gifts most readily lead
to quality time spent be-tween older and younger family members (or
friends)?" If we view a gift item as an opportunity to enter into
the rhymes and rhythms of a loved one's life experiences, the quest
for the perfect gift becomes a search for ways to share time and build
relationships. The gift is seen less as a product and more as a vehicle
for bringing people together across geographical and generational
distances.
Drawing from this perspective, here are some gift ideas
that older adults and young people can give each other, as well as gifts
they can develop together for others.
Gifts from Old to Young:
-
A family recipe.
-
An heirloom (as reflection of shared family heritage).
-
A quilt made with material or design that has family significance.
-
Hand down a hobby.
-
Ingredients for a joint baking/cooking session. (Note: this gift is not for the faint-hearted; upon delivery, you might be confronted with that baffled, disappointed, "Huh, what's the big idea" type of look!).
-
A model (at a level of difficulty that will stretch the recipient's problem solving abilities).
-
An incomplete sewing, knitting or crocheting project. The parties will depend upon each other to complete segments of the overall item.
-
Seeds for a garden to work in together. Be-come "plant buddies."
-
A puzzle you can do together.
-
A family album.
Gifts from Young to Old:
-
A package of supplies to make a book about family history or identity. This might include newspaper clippings, photos and stories (written together).
-
An oral history/biographical booklet drawn from an interview conducted with the adult.
-
A computer game. (This is ideal for the com-puter-shy adult, but make sure to be around to help with the installation and review of the instructions.)
- Conduct a presentation, sing a song or play instruments together at
a nursing home, a children's ward at a hospital or as part of a community
event.
- Cook and deliver a meal to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter during
a holiday event.
- Join a community service project. You might help rebuild a park, deliver
meals to the homebound or paint over graffiti.
To conclude, gift giving does not need to be an empty
ritual or an inconvenience that reminds us of how busy we are. The process
can be quite wonderful, meaningful and enriching for both parties. The
essence of the great gift is that it helps us locate the "we,"
not the "me." Let's use this gift-giving season as a time
to journey beyond our private worlds and feel - and be - closer to our
loved ones.
From "Ideas for Intergenerational Living"
by Matthew Kaplan, Ph.D., Asso-ciate Professor, Intergenerational Programs
and Aging, Department of Ag & Extension Education, Penn State University
|
QUICK AND EASY
HOLIDAY RECIPES |
HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE-DIPPED DELIGHT
Prep Time: 20 min.
Total Time: 50 min.
Makes: 10 servings of 3 dipped small candy canes
1 pkg. (4 oz.) Sweet baking chocolate
Assorted dippers, such as small candy canes,
marshmallows, graham sticks, real chocolate chip cookies or pretzels
Microwave chocolate in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH for 1 ½ min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted.
Dip assorted dippers into chocolate; let excess chocolate drip off.
Let stand at room temperature or refrigerate on wax paper-lined
baking sheet for 30 min. or until chocolate is firm.
.
SUPER CHUNK OATMEAL
COOKIE MIX
Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 23 min.
Makes: 1 gift jar or about 2 ½ dozen cookies
(or 30 servings, 1 cookie each)
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Flour
1 Cup Quick-cooking oats
1 tsp. Ground cinnamon
½ tsp. Baking soda
¼ tsp. Salt
6 squares Semi-sweet baking chocolate,
coarsely chopped
Layer sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, soda and salt in a large glass jar or combine in large resealable plastic bag. Top with chocolate. Close tightly and store at room temperature until ready to use or give.
For a Special Extra, add a layer of ½ cup pecan pieces, raisins or dried cranberries.
Attach baking directions to jar (listed below).
Baking Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Beat ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) softened butter, 1 egg and 1 tsp. vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add contents of jar; stir until well blended.
Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 12 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking
sheets 1 minute; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.
HONEYCOMB
TREAT TOSS
Prep time: 10 min.
Total Time: 10 min.
Makes: About 8 cups or 16 (½ cup) servings
4 Cups Honeycomb-shaped sweetened corn and oat cereal
2 Cups Mini bite size chocolate sandwich cookies
1 ½ cups Miniature marshmallows
1 cup Cocktail peanuts
Mix all ingredients. Store in tightly covered container
at room temperature.
Source: www.kraftfoods.com
Mark your calendar!
The Kinship Care Spring Fling is being planned for Saturday, April 21, 2007.
The location and more details will be announced soon.
|
Northwest Region
Cooperative Extension County Offices |
|
| Armstrong County 124 Armsdale Rd., Ste. 112 Kittanning, PA 16201 724-548-3447 ArmstrongExt@psu.edu |
Forest County 2 Highland St. Tionesta, PA 16353 814-7575-3544 ForestExt@psu.edu |
| Butler County 101 Motor Pool Way Butler, PA 16001-3545 724-287-4761 ButlerExt@psu.edu |
Lawrence County 430 Court St. New Castle, PA 16101 724-654-8370 LawrenceExt@psu.edu |
| Clarion County 8 Grant St. Clarion, PA 16214 814-223-9028 ClarionExt@psu.edu |
Mercer County PO Box 530 463 N. Perry Highway Mercer, PA 16137 724-662-3141 MercerExt@psu.edu |
| Crawford County 13400 Dunham Rd., Ste. A Meadville, PA 16335 814-333-7460 CrawfordExt@psu.edu |
Venango County 867 Mercer Rd. Franklin, PA 16323 814-437-7607 VenangoExt@psu.edu |
| Erie County 850 E. Gore Rd. Erie, PA 16509-3798 814-825-0900 ErieExt@psu.edu |
Warren County 609 Rouse Ave., Ste 200 Youngsville, PA 16371 814-563-9388 WarrenExt@psu.edu |
|
Northwest Region
Kinship Care Team |
|
|
Janice Alberico Bibiana Chestnut Lynn Clint Matt Kaplan, PhD |
Carole Toubakaris Phyllis Wright Darlene Sansone
|
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the pol-icy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, fa-cilities, admission, and employment without regard to per-sonal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of dis-crimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Di-rector, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901, Telephone 814-865-4700/V; 814-863-1150/TTY
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied.
This page last updated Friday, December 15, 2006 17:49
Copyright Information
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity University.
This site is a product of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.
Please e-mail us with your questions, comments or suggestions at ErieExt@psu.edu.