SmartSitting

The last words from the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.'s final speech. The "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech was delivered at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 3, 1968. The following day Dr. King was assassinated. Today, we celebrate and honor his life and legacy. Click the link to listen to the full speech. ... #BlackLivesMatter https://bit.ly/3oW1njr

ICYMI on the SmartSitting Blog How to Handle Picky Eaters In an ideal world, kids would like everything we make for them. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Whether it’s not wanting to try new things or avoiding anything green, finding a way to make sure your kids are getting the nutrients they need can be difficult. Luckily, there’s hope! We've created a list of easy ways to help combat your child’s selective taste buds. ... Click the link for some helpful advice on how to handle picky eaters. http://bit.ly/2LOD6x2

Running out of crafts to do with your kiddos? We love these crazy cute monsters made from reused tissue boxes! You'll need: Tissue box with a round opening so that it looks more like a mouth but a square opening works, too! Toxic-free paint for the inside and outside of the boxes ... White paper for the monsters' teeth Googly eyes, pompoms, and glue. Click the link for more fun and easy crafts ideas from Best Ideas For Kids. http://bit.ly/3qkTnJ0

ICYMI on the SmartSitting blog Interview with Laura Hart, CEO & Founder of Robofun Robofun offers dynamic workshops for children with the latest technology to promote thinking that enables children to devise solutions to challenges that involve building, programming, and creating in robotics, Minecraft, game design, and stop motion animation. Laura shared with us the inspiration behind Robofun, how parents can introduce more STEM activities into their child’s life..., and much more! Click the link to read the full interview. http://bit.ly/3nk1aVA

Mommy, why does that person look different than me? We’ve all heard this phrase come out of our child’s mouth in one way or another when they notice someone who is different than them. And without fail, we are consistently surprised that our little humans are so incredibly perceptive. Their impressionable young minds are constantly on the hunt for the next but, why question to stump their parents and nannies, and you don't want your answer to look anything like this: ... So what do you say when they ask you why someone’s skin is a different color than theirs? Don’t raise your child color blind. Acknowledge the same differences your child did and point out why these differences make the world a better place. Speak your child’s language. No matter how positively you speak about others, sometimes it’s just plain over their heads. Intentionally choose reading material that portrays characters of races other than their own or buy toys that highlight different cultures. Get creative so you can get through to them! Put yourself and your family in diverse situations. For example, when cities are back to hosting cultural activities and festivals, make a point to take your child and show them how incredible these cultures are. Most importantly, keep the conversation going. Discussing race with your child is not a one-time thing reserved for the off chance they notice someone different than them. Make it a consistent part of conversation in ways that the child can relate to and set your child up for success in a diverse and wonderful world. Check out the link below for ideas on diverse children's books. https://smartsitting.com//books-to-introduce-diversity-i/

Happy Halloween! Check out these 20 great recipes by @delish to make meals a scary good time! https://bit.ly/3omIPsJ

White families: how do you teach your children to better allies? In an @npr segment, Jennifer Harvey, the author of 'Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America,' speaks with Michel Martin about how to approach systemic racism and allyship with children, and the importance of starting when they're young: "I would make sure we were in spaces where we were engaged in anti-police brutality visuals and organizing. I knew they wouldn't exactly understand ...what was going on. But, for example, my 5-year-old one time - after a rally we were at when we got in the car, she started saying, black people are not safe. And I said, yes. That's true. And then she said, white - but we're white, so we are safe. And I said, yeah, that's true, too. And then I said to her, and the reason we went to this rally to be with people is because we're trying to tell the government - that's how you tell it to a 5-year-old - we're trying to tell the government that everybody deserves to be safe. So now, you know, six years later, she's already got deep understanding of this. And so we can talk about what happened to George Floyd and, you know, we were much further along the conversation than if I had waited until she was 14 to start talking about this with her." For the complete interview, follow the link below. : https://n.pr/3kr51zR : https://bit.ly/3jyIfVm

Boo! What are you doing for #halloween2020? @timeoutkids has put together a list of 14 safe and fun Halloween activities From Boo at the Zoo (@bronxzoo) to the Pumpkin Path at @nybg, to virtual events like BAMboo (@BAMstage) and Halloween at Hogwarts (@tinybroadwayinc)! Click the link below to see the full list!... https://bit.ly/3dT3CPX (: @NYBotanicalGarden)

Have you noticed any of the following things in a child you know? -Becoming withdrawn -Changes in personality or behavior -Becoming aggressive... -A poor relationship with a parent -Trying to run away -Ill-explained marks or bruises, -Being particular about dressing modestly -Knowing about adult issues that are inappropriate for their age. Abuse is more common than you'd expect. In this week's blog, we focus on signs that a child may be exhibiting if they are victims of an unsafe or abusive environment. While these signs aren't always the result of abuse, understanding that they could be will help give you the opportunity to assess the situation at hand. Be vigilant and take action when you suspect something is wrong. To read more, click the link below, and for toll-free assistance regarding child abuse, call the Childhelp hotline at 800.4.A.CHILD (800.422.4453). : https://bit.ly/34Corw1

Experts are predicting that 2020 may show the largest single-year increase in divorce due to the financial and political strain of the pandemic. In this week's blog post, we discuss the best ways to explain and work through a divorce with children of every age, from babies and toddlers to preteens. The most important thing while navigating divorce is to show continued love and support to your children and to co-parent the best you possibly can. For more inspiration and to he...ar from other families co-parenting through divorce and after, follow @thecoparentgoals for amazing content that is honest, real, and fun too. : https://bit.ly/3nPZzZq : @thecoparentgoals

It's never too early to begin teaching young children about consent and body boundaries. Introduce consent in small ways, like offering children the choice to give and receive hugs from family, for example. Empower children so that they can have control over what happens to their bodies, and in turn, have empathy and concern for others. The Harvard Graduate School of Education has developed a list of tips for early childhood, elementary school, middle school, and high school-...aged children so that you can begin laying the groundwork for heavier conversations as they get older. For the complete list as well as resources and book suggestions on the topic of consent, click the link below. : https://bit.ly/3odHip6 : @e2epublishing

Running out of ideas for #artsandcrafts and don't want to go down the #pinterest rabbit hole when time is at a premium? Rest your scrolling fingers because we've got a great list to keep your kids entertained for anywhere between 10-25 minutes at a time The best part? You don't need a trip to @michaels because you've already got this stuff at home! This week's blog post features 8 easy craft ideas that won't break the bank, like these paper bag monsters! What is your favori...te indoor craft to do with your kids? : http://bit.ly/SScrafts : @lacountylibrary

Kick that ball. Strum that guitar. Make that mess. Be bored. It's better than okay... it's actually so good for you. : @1000hoursoutside

Looking for the perfect Halloween movie to watch with your family? Some movies are a lot more intense than we remember them being back when we watched them. Has anyone seen Gremlins recently? NOT. FOR. YOUNG. KIDS. Thankfully, @purewow has compiled a list of the 40 best Halloween movies for kids according to age (with details regarding the subject matter to give parents a heads up), and even tells you how to stream them! All that's missing now is the popcorn! : https://bit....ly/3nQ4DwB : https://bit.ly/2H5CKQx See more

How cute are these dough nuts?! Click the link below for this super easy fall treat from @food.com! https://bit.ly/2I7m2k5

For many of us, our bubbles have grown over the summer to include outdoor play dates with friends and families and sending our children back to school. But now that the fall is underway, how should families best prepare for flu season during a pandemic? Barun Mathema, Ph.D., an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City, suggests keeping an eye on local statistics like community transmission and state guide...lines, as statistics change almost daily so there is a "no size fits all" way to approach your families activities. Paying attention to hospitalizations and deaths, Mathema says, may be misleading and not paint the correct picture of how quickly the virus is spreading in your area. So how do we best protect our children and ourselves? Don't give in to "pandemic fatigue" and continue to remain diligent in our awareness of risks. For the complete article by @todayshow, click the link below. : @LittleKidBigCity : https://on.today.com/2SDezeD

Is #Halloween2020 canceled? So far, Gov. Cuomo has said he will not ban trick or treating this year, however, many experts cite that this may pose a higher risk activity. That doesn't mean that all hope is lost, however. Pumpkin carving with members of your household, virtual costume contests, and pre-wrapped goody bags that children can get from the front steps are all viable options to celebrate slightly differently this year. For the complete article by the @nytimes, cli...ck the link below. How will you and your family be celebrating the spookiest night of the year? https://nyti.ms/36GZq4d