Yoga Mat Hopscotch

Last week I gave you the recipe for soap on a rope, this time, you and your kids will have loads of fun making this project.

Materials:

• yoga mat
• scissors or craft knife
• number stencils (optional)
• paintbrush
• water-based outdoor paint

Procedure:

1. Cut yoga mat into squares.
2. By freehand or using stencils, paint a number onto each square using white paint only.  Allow them to dry.
3. Once the white have dried, decorate by painting on top of them with other colors.  When you paint the numbers in white first, the colors you paint on top will look more pure.  Let dry.

Soap On A Rope

This simple craft provides fun for you and your kiddos.  Here’s what you will need:

• empty cardboard milk cartons
• cotton rope
• wooden skewer
• block of glycerin (available at craft stores)
• food coloring
• essential oils (optional)

Procedure:

1. Cut off the carton’s top, then clean and dry.
2. Knot a 16-inch length of rope into a loop, drape it over a wooden skewer, and lay the skewer across the carton opening so the knot hangs at the bottom of the carton.
3. According to the directions on the package, melt the glycerin and pour it to desired height.
4. Mix in a few drops of dye (and essential oils, like orange, vanilla or almond, if desired) with a skewer.
5. Let set.  Peel carton away when fully hardened.

*For two-tone:  Add a second layer of colored glycerin once the first has hardened.

Let them play!

One great reason why you should encourage your kids to play more… exercise is a boon for their bones.  That’s according to experts who say jumping rope or playing hopscotch for just five minutes a week can reduce bone-fracture risk later in life.  According to them, 25 percent of bone mass is built during childhood.  Physical activity during this time boosts their body’s production of bone-growth cells, forming protective layers that lower risk of fractures.

Swimmer’s Ear

A whole afternoon in the pool can turn into a painful ear infection if your little ones get water in their ears.  To avoid the ache, try this quick preventive measure:  Set your hairdryer on low and hold the heat source a foot away from your kid, aiming for each ear for 30 seconds.  Otitis externa, more commonly known as swimmer’s ear, results from an overgrowth of bacteria that thrives in wet environments.

Foot Ouch

The number of kids visiting the doctor for foot problems increases during summer months.  That’s because heat and humidity create the perfect conditions for germs to thrive.  Add to that the love of kids to play barefoot around poolsides and backyards, which increases their risk of injury and exposure to infection-causing agents.

One problem you should watch out for is plantar warts.  These are the fleshy growths on the bottom of the feet and are caused by the human papilloma virus.  It flourishes in humid places like poolsides and locker rooms.

To keep plantar warts at bay, have your kids wear sport water shoes.  These will provide a protective layer without raising the risk of fungal infections.  The warts will disappear on their own without treatment but they can be painful.  It may help to apply salicylic acid, it will gently disintegrate viral cells so healthy skin cells can replace them.

Quick Sunburn Relief

Is your kid’s skin lobster-red after staying on the beach the whole day?  For relief, you can skip after-sun lotions and use milk on his skin instead.  The milk will not only cool the skin but the lactic acid will penetrate pores to reduce inflammation while its proteins and fats hydrate skin to prevent peeling.

Here’s what you should do:  Grab some ice cubes then pour the milk and ice in a bowl.  Dip a washcloth in the liquid and use to pat skin for 10 minutes; then rinse.

Weekend Activities

Since my son is taking summer classes for math, all out-of-town plans have been put aside.  It will be so tiring to travel far and just spend a day or two.  When we go out-of-town we like spending some time to fully enjoy the place, four days at least.  Two days is too short considering the long hours of driving.  That doesn’t mean the kids won’t enjoy their summer vacation though.  We still go out around the city and nearby towns during weekends.

They love to swim and go fishing.  Sometimes we go around driving and just enjoy the views.  This weekend, his cousins asked me if he could join them.  They plan to go camping at a friend’s farm.  Oh you can just imagine how happy and excited he got when I said yes.  It’s his first time to go camping and the thought of them (all boys) in a tent and tucked in their Sleeping Bags thrills him.  Though it’s not a real camping adventure, he’s thrilled that he gets to spend a night out with some friends and his cousins.  I wonder if they will sleep at all.

Daughter won’t be going since she’s too old for that, she asked me if we can just go see a movie.  So for hubs, me and daughter, it’s a date at the movies.

Tuck-In Time Spoiler

Are your kids wide-awake come tuck-in time?  Caffeine could be spoiling their sleep.  But don’t just go blaming on colas, the stimulant can also lurk in iced teas, and energy drinks.  According to experts, a child’s body takes six hours to process half of any caffeine it takes in, so even a little bit in their afternoon snacks can keep them wired until bedtime.

To avoid this, allow them to indulge in a caffeinated drink during lunchtime.  When caffeine is consumed before 2 pm, it has plenty of time to be fully processed by the body before bedtime.