A Whole Lotta Fun for a Really Good Cause!

Male or female, young or old, there’s something for everyone at the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley’s annual Trucks & More event.  My family certainly had a great time!  I admit, my son is a truck fanatic, so we knew we’d have fun.  But my daughter also loved

seeing, sitting in, and honking the horns of all of the cool vehicles at this event!  Trucks & More is an annual fundraising event for the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley.  At this event there are fire trucks, ambulances, dump trucks, tractor trailers, bulldozers, and so much more!  This year, the MedEvac helicopter was even there, and kids were allowed to climb in it!  There was also a K-9 police officer who did a presentation about his dog.  As soon as we arrived at Allentown Fairgrounds, my son spotted the Air Products tanker truck and began yelling “a tanker truck, a tanker truck. Look, a tanker truck!”  And that was just the beginning!

At a cost of just $5 per person, this amazing event was quite a bargain! The smile on my son’s face as he got to climb into a dump truck and honk the horn is a memory I won’t soon forget.  My daughter giggled like, well… like the little girl she is when she saw the remote control ambulance brought by Cetronia Ambulance Corps.  We walked around to all of the different vehicles and meeting the men and women who drive these vehicles.  It was fascinating for my husband and me to see the fire truck ladder 70+ feet in the air and talk to one of the firefighters who climbs that ladder when necessary.  We got to talk to and learn about a high-tech trailer that Lehigh Valley Health Network has that enables them to communicate with multiple emergency organizations at once.  We even got to learn a little bit about how some K-9 police dogs are trained.  Each child also got fitted for and given a free bicycle helmet after being educated about the dangers of head injuries.  And of course, no event would be complete without a little treat as well.  There was a truck there selling cupcakes that the kids loved!  It was truly a fun and educational morning for all of us, and my son hasn’t stopped talking about it!  The bonus is that it is also for a good cause!

The Junior League of the Lehigh Valley is a non-profit group that trains volunteers and works toward bettering the community, and educating and helping women in the area.  This amazing organization has donated approximately a million dollars to various Lehigh Valley charities, grants and projects over the past ten years!  Trucks & More is just one of its annual fundraisers.  Each Spring, the Junior League also hosts an American Girl Fashion show showcasing historical and current fashions for women.  This event was held in March of this year, but watch for it for next year!  They also hosted a Bunco Bash this spring to help with fundraising for their many generous programs.  Though these 3 big events have taken place already for 2013, they are annual events and will be sure to be a hit again next spring!

The Junior League uses the money raised at their fundraising events to provide amazing educational programs throughout the Lehigh Valley.  One of these programs is their Strong Moms Strong Girls program for tween girls and their caregivers.  The goal of the program is to empower these girls and women to handle conflicts and bullying appropriately.  What an amazing program!  They also have a Kids in the Kitchen program that helps teach kids and families about healthy eating!  These are just a few of the wonderful programs and fundraisers done by this extraordinary organization!  Check out their website to learn more about them and to find out what other fun events they have coming up!

Sign Language: Helping Babies Tell Us What They Want Without the Fuss

Six years ago, when my sister-in-law mentioned baby sign language to me, my initial thought was, "Really? That seems sort of hokey." Two kids later and this mom is very happy that both of my girls learned a few important words to sign. As a baby, we taught my 5 1/2 year old to sign and now she teaches her 18-month old sister "words," too.

My daughter learning how to sign Yogurt.

Baby signing has been a blessing and saved us from major tantrums! As parents, my husband and I began introducing signs when our girls were nearly 7 months old. Every time we offered a bottle, we would use the sign for Milk. By 10 months, both girls were using the sign for Milk when they wanted a bottle. Slowly, we began introducing more and more signs.

Dena Ruege is a Certified Instructor with My Smart Hands, and teaches sign language classes for hearing babies and children, ages 0 to 5. Recently, my family attended a free session at the Parkland Community Library to see what My Smart Hands was all about.

 

TOP BENEFITS TO TEACHING YOUR BABY TO SIGN

From my own experience, I can tell you that signing greatly increased my children's abilities to communicate. By giving them signs to use, such as Milk, Nap, All Done, More, Please, Food and Potty, they could tell me what they wanted without pitching a fit.

According to the My Smart Hands program, research shows that babies who sign:

1. Talk sooner
2. Have increased cognitive development
3. Have larger vocabularies and word retention
4. Experience less frustration, crying and tantrums
5. Show more interest in books
6. Engage in more complex play
7. Score higher on IQ tests (when tested around ages 7 to 8) 

 

SIGNING IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMUNICATION & FRUSTRATION

Dena teaches the group the sign for Cheese

I thought that Dena put it best when she said, "Signing offers more communication and less frustration." That's absolutely the truth! Just think how different each day would be if your little one could tell you what he or she wanted.

During the 30-minute class, we learned how to sign the song "On Top of Spaghetti," as well as signs for various foods, including Grapes, Cheese, Milk, Cake, Cookies and Ice Cream. She also taught the parents and kids how to sign Thank You, Again, Hungry, Eat and many other everyday words.

 

WITH SIGNING, PATIENCE & CONSISTENCY ARE KEY

Kids will not pick up the signs after one introduction. It takes time and consistency to build up the association between the sign and the object. So, every time you offer your baby milk .... sign Milk. When you offer food ... sign Food. When you put them down for a nap ... sign Nap. Then, one day -- when you least expect it -- your child is going to sign and tell you what's on their mind.

And THAT is an awesome moment in parenting!

 

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

My Smart Hands is the first baby signing program to receive the Parent Tested Parent Approved award of excellence for their American Sign Language curriculum, and the program is available right here in the Lehigh Valley!

Dena offers an 8-week "Level I" class on Friday mornings and plans to start a weekend class soon. For families looking for more one-on-one time, she also offers private lessons at an affordable cost. More information is available at www.mysmarthandslehighvalley.com or by emailing Dena Ruege.

Get Creative... Go to Roey's Paintbox Parties!

Do you have a child who loves to paint, draw, etc?  Perhaps this child is a budding artist with true talent, or maybe they are just a preschooler who always wants to smear paint all over the paper. 

Have you ever dreamed of being an artist?  Maybe you’re already pretty good.  Or maybe, just maybe, you’re like me and realize that even your stick figures are pretty terrible!  Whatever your or your child’s level may be, you could be an artist and create a beautiful canvas at Roey’s Paintbox Parties.

I had never heard of Roey’s prior to my visit, but I can easily say that I will be telling all of my friends, family members, and anyone who will listen to check this place out!  I also can safely say that I will be going back there, both with my kids and without them sometime!  When I went recently, I was there with a mom’s club, so the focus was on the kids.  My daughter loves to paint and draw, and my son loves to get messy while pretending to paint or draw!  Needless to say, they both loved going to Roey’s Paintbox Parties, and they both came home with incredible paintings that we will all cherish! 

 Roey’s is located conveniently on Main Street in downtown Bethlehem.  It is just down from Hotel Bethlehem.  Upon arrival, I immediately was taken aback by the beautiful paintings on all of the walls, the doors, and even the steps.  I think my creative juices started flowing just by entering the unique and gorgeous rooms there.  When everyone had arrived, the kids were given smocks to wear and were instructed to sit in front of a blank canvas to get ready to paint.  Roey gave each child the paint they needed for the first step, and then she explained and demonstrated what the kids should do first.  And they were off!  With Roey’s clear instructions, the kids were easily able to paint beautiful cherry blossom trees! Although they were given step-by-step instructions so that their paintings really looked like cherry blossom trees, there was also room for creativity.  Each child’s painting still had its own unique flair! 

 

Approximately half way through the paintings, the kids took a break to allow the paint to partially dry.  While the paint was drying, Roey read the children a few books with beautiful painted illustrations.  The kids were captivated by Roey’s enthusiasm and energy while reading.  She was really great with the kids!  When the stories were finished, the kids returned to their canvasses to complete their masterpiece.  My daughter did her painting completely by herself, while I helped my son a little bit.  In the end, I brought home two happy children and two amazing canvas paintings that are now hanging in my living room! (Yes, they are actually THAT good thanks to Roey!)

Roey’s isn’t just for kids either!  There are open paint sessions every weekend, and often there are BYOB paint parties throughout the week and on weekends.  All sessions can be reserved through Roey’s Paintbox Parties website, but walk-ins are welcome as well!  There is a theme each week, and you can choose to paint the specified theme or create your own painting.  These programs range in price from $5 to $40, and it’s worth every penny!  You’d easily spend $40 on some mass-produced canvas “painting” at a department store, but you can create your own (along with the memories) at Roey’s for that much or less!  Plus, imagine the laughs and the joy you could have by painting with a bunch of your friends, or doing something unique on date night instead of the same old dinner and a movie!  Show that special someone your hidden talent instead!

As I mentioned, I attended a preschool program with a mom’s club.  Roey’s does lots of private parties for all different age ranges, but the preschool one was great!  Even if you just want to get a bunch of moms together and reserve a private party for the kids, it would be a blast!  And the preschool parties (you’re never going to believe this) are just $5 per child!!!  That includes the painting experience, the story time, and taking home a canvas masterpiece!  Now that’s a deal!  And just imagine your child’s face when he or she sees the canvas they painted displayed prominently in your home!

What are you waiting for?!  Check out Roey’s Paintbox Parties and show off your creative side!!

Great Playgrounds Abound in the Lehigh Valley

Spring is finally springing here in the Valley! And, it's about time. I don't know about you, but it feels good not to be cooped up in the house anymore. As a mom of two little ones, going to the playground is a welcomed treat, as well as great exercise and bonding time. With so many great playgrounds peppered across the Lehigh Valley, sometimes it's hard to choose which one to go to.

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY

• Lone Lane Park in Upper Macungie: This is a great place to play and one of our favorites. Lone Lane has soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts, a huge playground and a running / walking path through the woods.

• Cedar Beach Playground in Allentown: Every time we've been here, the playground is very crowded, as is the parking lot. However, my 5-year-old loves it! There is a lot to slide, climb and jump on, and the playground is right next to a walking path. To wind down after some serious playing, we like to take the girls to the nearby lake to see the ducks.

  

  Fall 2012 at Cedar Beach

• Bob Rodale Fitness Park in Trexlertown: While there is no playground, there is a huge ... no HUGE ... sandbox for the kids to play in. If you haven't been here before, it's worth going to. This is also a great park for family walks, jogging and bike riding.

• Macungie Memorial Park in Downtown Macungie: We used to live within walking distance of this great playground. Not only can the kids burn off some serious energy, the train runs by periodically for some added interest.

Here are some additional playground ideas from The Morning Call. 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLAYGROUND FUN

Here's a little insight: I get nervous when I take my kids to crowded places. Therefore,  I dress them in bright colors when we go to the big playgrounds. This helps me easily spot them while they are running around like crazy banshees or playing hide-n-seek on the equipment with other kids. Other ideas include:

1. Dressing in layers. It's still a little chilly out, so I have been dressing the kids in layers. This way, as they start to sweat, we can peel off layers. 
2. Bringing water bottles. I've seen so many parents without water for their red-faced kids that have just ran non-stop for 30 minutes. It's important for the little ones to stay hydrated ... pack a water bottle and remind them to take water breaks. 
3. Giving a 10-minute warning. Before you're ready to pack everyone back up in the mini-van, let them know the end is near. I've seen plenty of children pitch royal fits when mom or dad says, "Let's go now!" Kids need a little heads up when the fun's about to end; try to avoid being so abrupt with your little people. 

Climbing high at Lone Lane Park

WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO PLAY?

What are some of your kids' favorite playgrounds? Do you have any recommendations for our readers? 

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.