Winter Sports and Activities Safety Tips

Earlier this week we talked about winter activities to do with the kids and safety with kids in the cold weather.  We found some great safety tips for outdoor winter activities. Click here to read the tips.

Keeping The Family Active During the Winter

Winter is now in full swing and you may want to keep your family active with some cold weather sports. Even though it is cold outside, winter can still be a great time to be outside, burn off some energy, and find a new activity for the whole family.

Adults might want to check with their doctor to make sure they are physically fit enough to handle the slips, falls, and overall physical exertion associated with participating in winter sports.  

Below is some information on cold weather sports.

Downhill Skiing: This can be a fun sport for kids. Just make sure you take lessons so you know how to be safe. Lessons can help your child to learn different techniques and which slopes would be best for their ability. Make sure you and the kids where the appropriate safety gear, like a helmet.  

Cross-country skiing: This can be a great workout. It’s slower than downhill skiing so you can take time to enjoy the trip. It’s still important to wear your safety gear and take a lesson or two before you try it.

Snowboarding: This is a winter sport that kids really enjoy. It’s a lot harder to control a snowboard, so expect plenty of falls before you get the hang of it. Lessons should be taken and safety gear is essential.

Snowshoeing: Snowshoes allow you to walk on top of the deep snow. Don’t let the worde walk fool you. This is really a workout. It’s not a fast way to travel so the kids might get a little bored after only a short trip. You might want to try it, just to say you did it.

Ice skating: If you are in a medium sized town, there's probably a ice rink or two close by. Open skate is when rinks allow anyone off the street to come in, rent skates and get on the ice. Many rinks now offer devices to assist new skaters. They look like miniature walkers. You could also have the family take a lesson. The ice is hard so helmets and other safety gear should be worn.

It is easy for the family to sit in the house and watch TV all winter. As an alternative, try a winter sport, or just bundle up for a brisk family walk around the neighborhood.

7 Ways To Raise Confident Kid

Raising a confident child can help with social interactions and academics. Raising a confident child doesn’t always mean telling your child good job or way to go, when you praise them it’s not always about the results. Click here to read tips on raising a confident child.

Starting a New School

Starting a new school can be a traumatic process for both parent and child. Here are a few tips for a smoother transition.

Talk to Your Child

Introduce the idea of of a new school weeks or even a month ahead of time. Talk to child about how they will learn and meet new friends in school. Also, discuss the activities they will participate in and crafts that they can bring home and show you that they made. This will allow your child to get comfortable with the idea of the school.

You might also want to try explaining their schedule on the first day. Explain the following:

• Dropped off and how (mommy, daddy, caregiver) will drop them off in the morning
• Playtime and circle time
• Lunch and
• Pick up - explain how (mommy, daddy, and caregiver) will return to pick them up at the end of the day.

If a child can visualize their day, it may help to alleviate their fear.

Start Gradually

Like any other change that your child will experience starting gradually is a good idea. Begin the process with a few visits to the school. Introduce your child to the staff and let them get acquainted with their new surroundings. Since your child will now recognize their new school facility and staff this may help to make the first day easier.

Allow extra time for dropping your child off for the first few weeks in case she has trouble saying good-bye. Even if your child is upset, it is important that she knows you are leaving instead of you slipping out while she is distracted. Develop and practice a routine for getting ready to go so neither you nor your child are anxious and stressed in the morning.

The Goddard  School understands the importance of your child’s first learning experience. Stop in and see the difference Goddard can make.

Ways to Keep your Family Fit Indoors

Freezing temperatures, freezing rain, snow and other crazy weather means that the kids are stuck indoors.  We found seven tips on keeping your whole family fit this chilly winter season.  Click here to read the tips.

Should You Worry About Bedwetting

Bedwetting, or Enuresis, is a common problem. The frequency of wetting that is necessary to be considered a problem varies. Nocturnal enuresis affects approximately 5 million children in the United States. In most cases, bedwetting runs in families and often the child will become dry without intervention around the same age that the parent became dry as a child.


The National Association for Continence website at www.nafc.org has a lot of great resources and education to help parents and children understand and cope with bedwetting.

Picky Eater Solutions

Maybe one of your resolutions for the new year was to get your child/children to eat me vegetables or even to try new foods. We found some tips that can help your picky eater and you make mealtime a little less stressful. Click here to read the article.

Family Medicine Cabinet

 If being prepared is one of your goals for the New Year, than you should review what’s in your medicine cabinet. Now that winter is here you may have to treat a middle-of-the-night fever or upset tummy. In order to save you from the midnight run to a local pharmacy, here are a few items that are essential for the medicine cabinet.

• Thermometer

• A hot water bottle/heat pack and an ice pack/cold pack to help soothe tummy aches,reduce swelling, and to cool feverish children.

• Cool mist vaporizer for cough and congestion.

• Hydrocortisone 1% and calamine lotion for rashes and itching.

• Antiseptics and antibiotic ointments help stop infection in cuts and scrapes.

• Adhesive bandages for scrapes and cuts.

• Tweezers for splinters and ticks and alcohol to clean the tweezers.

Please remember this is just a guideline and you should discuss the appropriate items and dosage with you pediatrician, who knows your child’s healthy history and can advise you on dosage.

New Year's Resolutions for Kids

Here are some great New Year’s resolution ideas for kids:

Young Children

· I pledge to clean up my room once a week.

· I will be kind to everyone.

· I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before I eat.

Older Kids
· I will eat healthier (reduce sodas and junk food).

· I will try to stay active by exercising or playing a sport.

· I will wear appropriate safety equipment when playing sports or activities.

· I will always wear a seatbelt when riding in a car.

· When driving a car I will never text.

· I will use social media responsibly.

· I will not tease or bully others.

· I will volunteer in the community to help others.


You can find other New Year’s resolutions by searching on the web. Use New Year’s resolutions as an opportunity to reinforce good habits, healthy living, and safety with your children.