March is also the birthday month for my husband, son-in-law, a cousin or two and lots of friends.  That got me thinking it MUST be the most popular month for being born in the United States.  But no, the month for that distinction is August!  I think it would be a fun classroom activity to make a chart of children’s and teacher’s birthdays.  And that could lead to a discussion of the best birthday memories and why.  It’s not always about presents.  Except in my case, of course!

New and exciting vocabulary words are just a page away, and new concepts like protecting wetlands, cleaning up beaches, and conserving water and electricity are presented in rhyming words and colorful illustrations little kids can understand. The book ends with that wonder of all wonders, gazing at the stars above.

All the white stuff got me thinking about kids and snow, parents and snow, and teachers and snow.  Watching children make snow angels is delightful, and children are so creative in the things they build.  They’re daredevils sliding down hills, and woe to anyone caught in the middle of one of their snowball fights.

The downside?  It’s those coats, snowpants, mittens, hats and scarves.  And, of course, always make sure they make a trip to the bathroom before you zip them in and wrap them up!

Mission Impossible:  Putting an End to the Naked Doll Syndrome

Teachers of young children understand “The naked doll syndrome.”  Dolls are thrown into cribs, naked.  They’re found in the block corner naked.  They even end up in the refrigerator or oven, naked.  Simply stated, these dolls make it look as if an orderly classroom is not a priority, or that children have not been taught to properly care for their toys.

Hundreds of regulators, inspectors, parents, and teachers have in the past failed miserably at the seemingly simple task of keeping dolls fully clothed.  The following mission statement has been written to simplify and clarify.

Your mission, should you wish to accept it:  Put an end to the “naked doll syndrome.”

At the end of the day each and every doll in the classroom must be suitably dressed.  There will be no exceptions.  The term “fully dressed” is used loosely.  Gender issues are not relevant––girl and boy dolls may share clothing.  Baby dolls are considered fully dressed if they wear a diaper or even a blanket.  It’s difficult for small fingers to dress miniature dolls, so they are considered fully dressed if they wear a string of beads or a pair of shoes or boots.

And finally, the clothes do not have to be mended nor do they have to fit.  They do not even have to be clean.  They do, however, have to be on the dolls.  Good luck!

Thanks to you all for caring about Haiti. It’s overwhelming watching the coverage, isn’t it? Someone asked me about the baby I’m holding in the first post on Haiti on Wednesday, January 13th..  Her name is Ester, I remember that, unfortunately I can’t find in my notes the name of the orphanage I was visiting.  She had been brought in to the orphanage with all kinds of problems and they thought of her as a miracle baby because she lived and was thriving.

Update on Mercy and Sharing (mercyandsharing.org)  Susie Krabacher will appear on CNN Morning Show, the first hour.

Update on Gods Littlest Angels (glahaiti.org)  Dixie Bickle was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer.  I haven’t caught it yet, but hope to.  Dick (my husband) tells me she has a blog now on her web site

The most amazing thing that lifted my spirits today was seeing Ashley Judd on Larry King drink water that had been purified by a packet that cost just a few cents for gallons of water.  Clean water as a major problem in Haiti.  There is no infrastructure for water, sewers, etc.

There has been no further information on whether the children were in the church/school when the earthquake hit.

I think I was particularly impacted by his death because I was a college student in Nashville, Tennessee when Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis.  The news was shattering.  I’ve visited his memorial in Atlanta twice and find it peaceful and inspiring.

My personal goal is to celebrate his life not only on his birthday but every day.

Our Holiday Traditions publication offers more information on Dr. Martin Luther King as well as activities that relate his life to children in a hands-on approach.

The poverty in Haiti is devastating and unimaginable–– hundreds of thousands live in homes made of cardboard and tin.  People are desperate and hungry.  Their circumstances are heartbreaking but the people themselves––their humor, faith, and resolve in the face of despair is heart warming.  These families have always needed our help, but now more than ever.

I can only imagine the number of orphans that will be added to the already alarming number.  When we visited orphanges we attempted to bring a little light with a few school supplies and some lollipops––yes, sweet tooths in small children seem to be universal!   A few years ago Dick and I met Dixie Bickle.  She runs an orphanage in Haiti and was interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today show this morning.   I’ve never visited her orphanage, God’s Littlest Angels (it didn’t exist when I was there) but I have spoken with her about her programs and about volunteering at the orphanage.  The great news is, all of her children are safe although they had to spend the night outside.  Check out her interview on the Today web site and also learn more about the orphanage and international adoptions at her website: glahaiti.org

Update – Jan 17th  Dixie appeared on Larry King.

Update -  Jan 18th  Dixie was on CNN.  She had amazing news––the government is releasing orphans that have already been adopted.  Sixty were going to the Netherlands, some to the U.S. and some to Canada.  When those children are gone she says she will go down to the streets of Port au Prince to bring orphans back to Gods Littlest Angels.  Funding for GLA is crucial.  Dixie is amazing.  Her spirit draws you in.  If you can help, I know glahaiti.org is worthy!

And here’s another site I think you will appreciate.  It’s another orphanage, Mercy and Sharingin started by another amazing woman, Susie Krabacher.  Her personal story is inspiring––from former Playboy centerfold (read some of the archived information on her website, haitichildren.com) to award winning humanitarian.  She also takes care of special needs children who have no home, and she has an abandoned baby unit in a hospital.

Update Jan 17th   Some of her orphanges and schools have survived, others she’s not sure about, and she is concerned about the children and her staff.

As you can see from our pictures, the children of Haiti are beautiful.  They have ready smiles and are adorable dressed in their crisp school uniforms ready to learn!  Children sit on benches, shoulder to shoulder with very few supplies––that’s how 400 can have classes in a church basement.  And though this is a private school, it costs only dollars a month and is attended by very poor children.  Thankfully, when the earthquake hit, most likely school was not in session.  We pray that the church is still standing and that there were no injuries at that location.

Update Jan. 21   Dick just found out that the church/school collapsed.  We do not know if anyone was inside.

This Spanish program has won awards galore!  And it’s no wonder.  Whistlefritz, which produces The Spanish for Beginners series is irresistible.  I watched Adentro y Afuera (Inside & Out) with my daughter and twenty-two-month-old grandson.  He had a one word response, “more” which I’m sure he will be saying in Spanish soon!  And my daughter wanted to borrow the video until she could purchase it.

The DVD features a proven Spanish immersion technique.  It engages children immediately with teacher Maria, an adorable group of children, and Fritzi the mouse.   We learn all around the house and if that’s not enough fun, we go outside for picnics, playground adventures, and hide and seek!  While children watch, they are learning Spanish in a hands-on way that is meaningful in their world.   Whistlefritz is a great Spanish immersion program for individual families, but it’s also perfect for preschools, schools, and other child care programs.   Check out the website: whistlefritz.com to order and to learn more about their other products.

Take for example today.  It was a great day, but busy.  I wanted to post a blog for the beginning of 2010, but, you know, busy, busy, busy.  So I came up with a plan.  Pick up the computer,  lift the lid, turn it on, click on blog, start writing.  And it worked.  I am now wishing all of you a very Happy New Year!

Now if I could just get to the carrot eating, the walking, the recycling, the helping . . .

I think the internet has reinvented the world of philanthropy.  I like hands-on volunteering in organizations around town, but that’s limited because of that pesky 24-hours-in-a-day universal truth.  This book, How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist, by Nicole Bouchard Boles is so packed with ideas of how you can make a difference that you’ll want to share it with everyone you know!  You don’t have to add hours to your busy day or be wealthy.

A few examples:  By simply clicking through on websites like HungryChildren.com, The ChildHealthSite.com, or Care2.com, advertisers donate money.  There, I just did it!  It was easy, I helped someone, and I haven’t even finished my cup of tea.

Or how about sending an old pair of eyeglases to neweyesfortheneedy.org or sending a card to our troops overseas at ourmilitary.mil.  Want to get your hands dirty?  Check out guerillagardening.org.  Provide free reading service for the blind and visually impaired through Read This to Me (readthistome.org).

After looking through this book, one review will simply not do.  I’ve decided to feature it in an upcoming issue of Parent Pages newsletter.  That way I’ll have room for more examples, and maybe thousands will find out about the book, read it, and pass it on!

Mother Teresa once said, “We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”  Now that’s empowering!  Happy New Year!