Sherry Alexander's Blog, page 5

Kids: Why Do I Feel Sad?

Are you unhappy?  Got the blues? Depressed? Or, just feel like crying? If so, you are not alone. Thousands of kids have moments of sadness every day. It is a natural part of life, and just like happiness it can come and go at a minute's notice and it can last for hours or even days. So what could be making you feel sad, and what can you do about it?
Sadness can be caused by many things. A friend is moving away. Your soccer team lost the game. You overheard your parents arguing. You are starting at a new school. You lost your favorite backpack. No one would play with you at recess. Or, your puppy is sick. These are just a few of the things that can happen that could make you feel a little down. With so many things bombarding you every day, how can you handle your feelings when they turn from happiness to sadness?
First, you need to remember you have the power to change how you feel. Yes--YOU! You are strong, resilient, and are able to leap tall buildings at a single bound. Well, maybe that's Superman, but you are a Superkid.  You can cope with your sadness and make it go away if you remember that it is alright to feel sad--for a little while. 
Second, identify why you are sad and create ways to cope with it. It's easier to solve a problem if you know what the problem is. So if your friend is moving away, figure ways that you will be able to stay in contact. Exchange phone numbers, get her/his new address, write each other, send emails, send pictures, and see if you can arrange to visit each other. Whatever the problem, try to come up with some creative solutions. Think positive. Remember, I said you are a Superkid and you are.
Third, if you just can't shake the feeling on your own, ask for help. Find someone you can rely on to hear you out. That may be your parents, teacher, big sister, big brother, aunt, uncle, or coach. Tell your trusted person why you are feeling sad, and ask for his or her help to find ways to cope with the way you are feeling. You might be surprised how much better you will feel when you share that feeling with someone who really cares about you.
While sadness may be a natural occurrence, it is not an easy feeling to deal with, so give yourself time to think about it. Then, do something that you know will make you feel better. Go for a bike ride, a walk, play a video game, talk to a friend, visit a friend, go to a movie, put on your favorite song and dance the afternoon away, or read a book. The point is--do something that will make you feel better. You are a Superkid, after all. And, I believe in you!

Note: Images courtesy of Clipartpanda.com

A Hullabaloo of Hippos: A Lollapalooza of Language from A to Z

A Hullabaloo of Hippos written by Mary Moodey and illustrated by Sam Moodey is not your everyday alphabet picture book. 
It is better!
Ms. Moodey doesn't just give the reader the usual "A is for Apple". She introduces wondrous animals in exciting rhyme. The book introduces Liam, a small boy, who loves the way language plays with the tongue and excites the imagination.
It begins with, "Liam loves language and captivating words--from ambling armadillos to zigzagging zephyrs buffeting bobolink birds", and from this point on the reader is dazzled by language that is fun, entertaining, and educational. Seventeenth century English playwright and poet, Joseph Addison, said, "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body," and Hullabaloo of Hippos will not only exercise the mind but it will also exercise the tongue. 
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is the perfect book for parents to read with their kids, and for kids--even you older kids--to discover the wonder of words. Hullabaloo of Hippos is available MarMoo Works. Get a copy today. You won't be disappointed.
Author, Mary Moodey 

Kids: Why You Should Set Goals

What goes through your mind when you hear the word "goal"? Is it the two posts and a net as in soccer? Or, is it a target that you want to hit? The answer usually depends on the time of year. Right? Well now is not the time to think about soccer. Instead, it is time to set a couple of goals for 2016. Why? Because goals can help you achieve your dreams. Dreams? How?
Have you ever listened to Katy Perry and wished you could sing like her? Maybe, you've actually dreamed that you were on a stage singing "Firework" to your adoring fans. "Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?"
 Or, maybe you've dreamed of catching a pass thrown by football great, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, then running for the touchdown. So how are you going to make those dreams, or at least part of them, come true unless you set a goal? 
Most of you already set goals. Some are small goals like completing your homework before dinner. Others are larger goals like making first string on the football team or running a 10K. In each case, you wanted to accomplish something--a goal--and then you worked, or took some action, to make it happen. Hooray! You've learned that setting a goal--any goal--can help you focus your time and energy toward making that dream a reality. But if this is your first time at setting goals, here are three tips that might help:Be realistic. If you've never driven a car, "I'm going to get my licence next week" is not something you can expect to accomplish. It's not realistic or achievable. However, "I am going to study the manual and get my permit before spring break" is achievable.Start small. Every change in your life, whether it's making your bed before breakfast or running every night before dinner, takes time to make it part of your daily routine. It needs to become a habit, or a pattern that you've developed through daily repetition. Setting a small goal is easier to accomplish, and small goals can work into larger ones.Write it down. Put it on the refrigerator or hang it on your bedroom mirror. Seeing it each day will help you work the action part into your schedule, and make it easier to become a habit.Finally, if you slip up it is not the end of the world. Everyone does it. The key is to get back on track, and not give up. So don't beat yourself up if you forget to work on your goal for a day or two. Just remind yourself why you set the goal, why it's important, and then pick up where you left off. 
Next week: A review of a new book by Mary Arete Moodey, "A Hullabalo of Hippos"

The Great Camel Experiment of the Old West 2nd edition

Kids: Thank you for making this a season of sharing.

When so much is heard about the wants and dreams of kids, it is time to say thank you to all the kids who see a need and fill it with their sharing. 
Sharing is giving something to someone else. It can be as simple as giving your time, or your energy, or something that you own or have, or your help.  It's a skill everyone--I hope--learns before you even walk. A baby learns to share a toy with a parent. A toddler shares crayons with other toddlers at day care. Students share their time, their ideas, and their supplies with classmates. But does sharing stop there? For some the answer is yes, but for the kindhearted giving persons that I find most kids to be, the answer is "No". 
It has been my pleasure to watch many acts of kindness--or sharing--initiated by kids. I've seen kids drop their money into contribution boxes, kids who have noticed that someone does not have a lunch at school and have shared theirs, kids who have packed food baskets at food banks, kids who have spent time reading stories to the elderly, kids who have collect coats and blankets for the homeless, and kids who have given their own toys to boys and girls without any. 
Every time I witness these acts of sharing, I am blessed and so is the rest of the world. For I truly believe that one act of sharing deletes one act of selfishness. So, thank you to all the kids out there who have made this a season for sharing. I am confident that our future is secure in your hands.

Kids: Is it time to write that essay paper?

This is the time most teachers start requesting you to write a paper. So what is the first thing you think of when your teacher announces that you have a paper due? And, no, "YUCK!" doesn't count, and neither does, "I think I am going to be sick."
Writing a paper, any paper, is not as difficult as you might think. In most circumstances, and for those of you in elementary or middle school, you can complete your assignment in five paragraphs. But before we discuss what goes into those five paragraphs, there three things you must decide. First, what is your paper about? What topic were you given or did you choose? An event in history? Your latest hobby? How you maneuvered your board to carve the perfect turn in the snow? Or, who your favorite superhero is and why? 
Now that you've chosen your topic, your second step is to develop a simple outline. Why? An outline will help you organize your thoughts. Let's take the snowboarding event as an example. If my topic is "How to Make a Perfect Carve", then my outline might contain things like: What does the term "carve" mean? What did I do to get myself ready? What equipment did I use? Where did I go? What did it feel like? What happened the first time I tried make a turn in the snow with my snowboard? Why was cutting a thin groove in the snow so important to me? How did I feel when I made it? 
Your outline will become your blueprint for your paper, but it will also help you decide what type of research you need to do. Okay, not everyone enjoys research. But, did you know that a good paper always starts with research?  Even if you are writing a personal experience, you still need to jot down a time line and fill it in. Sometimes, you might not be clear on exactly what happened, so you ask your parents, your sibling, or a friend to refresh your memory. 
Questioning the primary source, or the person who witnessed the amazing carve you performed on the slopes, is considered research.  Books on the subject, magazine articles, and web pages are also considered sources for research. Your trip to the library, the internet, or the snowboarding instructor takes time, so you need to plan when and where your research will take place. Once this third step is completed, you are ready to write your paper. Here are what your 5 paragraphs should look like:
The first paragraph is sometimes called the Introductory paragraph. It contains your strongest statement or exciting idea about the topic and 3 things you want to discuss in your paper.
The second paragraph describes the first point you want to make about your topic. Remember that each of the three paragraphs should use a transition. Transitions are words that help the reader move from one point to another. The words, next, first, second, third, and then are all transition words.
The third paragraph is for your second point. Make it exciting by providing details. For example. on the snowboarding piece, I would include how the snow felt or sounded.  Was it hard and cold? Was it wet and mushy? Or was it dry like powdered sugar? Did it make a sloshing sound against my boot, or was it like a cracking sound?
The fourth paragraph described your third and final point.
The last paragraph is your wrap up paragraph. It concludes your paper, and it allows you to mention your topic and your three points one more time. So, start writing. You may be surprised how easy it really is.

Kids: Do you exercise your brain?

 Did you know that you have an amazing brain? Your brain is the control center of your body. it tells your body what to do. Everything from blinking your eyes to taking a breath, from dreaming at night to waking up in the morning wouldn't happen if it wasn't for that powerful computer you've got sitting inside your head. So what does that amazing brain need to take care of you? Would you believe exercise?
Did I say exercise? Yep! You know that exercise gets your heart pumping faster, speeds up your breathing, builds your muscles, and even makes you feel better. But exercise also helps your brain. 
When you are exercising--skating, playing basketball or football, kicking a soccer goal, running, or even climbing the jungle gym--you are sending more blood and oxygen to your brain. When that oxygen rich blood combines with other natural elements in your body, you brain cells grow which makes your brain feel better. And when it feels better, it helps you find the answer to that math problem no one else seems to be able to solve. 
So, if you want to take care of that amazing computer called your brain, exercise your body. Get up and get out.  

Kids: Who do you see in that mirror?

"Mirror, mirror, on my desk, am I really that grotesque?"
According to several recent surveys of teens, it seems that almost half of you feel that you are anything but special, unique, or beautiful. Now I know life is difficult, and most of you deal with self-image issues on a daily basis.  And, I know there are people who constantly tell you that you should do more, be more, feel more, and succeed more. All of that is well and good as long as you don't buckle under the pressure and start to feel that you will never live up to expectations. But maintaining a positive self image and realizing just how beautiful you really are is important. 
What's a self-image?To put it simply, it's the picture of yourself that you carry in your mind. It's what you think and feel about yourself. It's the person you think you see in the mirror every day. Well I am here to tell you that you are beautiful inside and out.  But you need to tell yourself that, too.  How can you change that image from grotesque to gorgeous? Here are four ideas. If you have other ideas, let me know. Send me an email to www.sherryalexanderwrites@gmail.com, and let me know what you do to remind yourself just how important you are. 

Make a list of all your positive qualities. Yes, you have them. Are you kind? Are you smart? Do you help other kids? Do you help your brothers or sisters? Put all of that down.List your strengths. Do you work well with others? Do you read books? Do you illustrate comic strips? Are you a good listener? Are you responsible?  Can you spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?List your hobbies or things you like to do.Make a picture collage of you from birth until now. Pick out funny pictures, happy pictures, school pictures, family pictures, vacation pictures, any picture that makes you smile when you look at it. Pin it on the back of your bedroom door so you see it every day. It will help you see the real you. The fun you. The Happy you. The Family you. The Beautiful you.

Kids: Are You What You Eat?

How many times have you heard "you are what you eat" from your parents, school, or your family doctor? Dozens of time? Hundreds of times? Well, you won't hear it here. Instead, I will just tell you to be watchful of what you eat and be educated on the nutritional value of that afternoon cookie and morning "Caramel  Macchiato with extra caramel sauce." However, there is a movement that I think you, as young consumers and eaters, need to know about. What is it? It's a campaign to put a fast food infomercial in school as part of your nutrition education.
Now, this isn't a new idea. Many fast food chains have worked to get their name and their products in schools. And, I can bet that the majority of you out there don't really care one way or another. In fact, I would imagine that by the time you are in 3rd grade, most of you have already determined what you like to eat. However, it is still easy to change your eating habits given the right push or a bit of education that makes something look like you can't wait to try it. 
The infomercial I am speaking about is one developed by McDonalds. It is based on an experiment a high school science teacher conducted over 90 days. During that time, he ate nothing but McDonalds, and he lost weight. He published a book on the experiment, and became a paid ambassador for McD's. In turn, McD's created a video "540 meals" they want to use as nutritional education in both middle and high schools.
In response, some parents are outraged, and there is a petition to stop the video before it starts. This is the part you need to know, and I speak from experience--we make ourselves fat and unhealthy from the choices we make. You, however, are just learning what power you have to make your own choices. Is it healthy to eat nothing but fast food, I would have to say "No". But, it's also unhealthy to eat nothing except beans and fried potatoes. I know your "YUCK" meter just went off (sorry, but that's what I grew up on). 
Anyway, my whole point of this week's blog is to inform you so that you can make your own decisions. Is it good to let McDonald's share their video with you as part of your health education? Or, is it better for fast food companies to stay out of schools? Here's a link to find out more.  The Lunch Tray Blog
And just so you have the facts: a homemade chocolate chip cookie contains 78 calories (41 of them from fat); a 12 oz. Caramel Maccchiato contains 140 calories (9 of them from fat) the extra syrup can run up to 100 calories per pump unless it's sugar free. In my book, that isn't that bad, but then what do I know (LOL).

Paying it Forward

The other day at school something happened that made me rethink my own actions. School was out for the day, and as always there was an onslaught of kids and parents making their way to the front door. This is a time when everyone is in a hurry and usually the time when someone pushes their way through the crowd. A little girl, who I recognized as a kindergartner, was in the lead but instead of flinging the doors open and escaping for the day, she turned and held them for the other kids. Her mom was nearby and asked her to let the doors go and follow her. The little girl shook her head and said, "Mom, I can't. I'm paying it forward."
Now I've heard the expression many times, and I have been on both the giving and the recieving end. However, I've never thought of it in terms other than an "adult's" random act of kindness. Shame on me for not remembering that paying it forward is not an adult's original idea, but one created everyday by you--the kids and teens of the world. What is paying it forward? It's basically doing a good deed for someone else when one has been done for you, and there are hundreds of ways you kids do this all the time. 
Now, I know you pay it forward without thinking about getting a reward. And for the most part, it is impossible to reward the hundreds, thousands, and even the millions of you who step forward to help someone out of the kindness of your heart. But, I need to say thank you. So THANK YOU FOR . . . 
helping another kid with mathopening the door for someoneoffering your friendship to the new kid in classsharing your study notes with someone who was absenttutoring a younger siblingplaying with a younger siblinghelping out at homevolunteering whenever and wherever you canlistening to someone who has a problemplaying ball with someone who isn't as good as youwalking someone to schoolsharing your lunchclearing someone's garbage off the lunch tableand, a thousand other random acts of kindness you do every single day throughout the world.So, who will you pay it forward to tomorrow?