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More healthy recipes can be found atwww.superhealthykids.com

Warm up With a Cup of Hot CocoaKids (and some adults alike) love going sledding and making snowmen in the winter months. But, once inside, they are ready for some hot cocoa! Enjoy warming up with this healthy version:

Healthy Hot Cocoa

Ingredients:1 cup low fat milk1 TBL Agave syrup (or honey) *If your kids are used to Nesquik or other sweeter cocoas, you may want to use 2 TBL2 TBL cocoa powder (the 100% cocoa powder)

Mix together over the stove, or in the microwave until warm and dissolved.

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DoodlebugBiz Bits

KindermusikOnce again, research proves what we parents have known instinctively for a long time that playing music and singing lullabies has the power to soothe, lower stress, strengthen bonds, and improve sleeping patterns.Kindermusik has long recognized the power of music especially when it comes to child brain development, but we specifically use lullabies because of the emotional and health benefits. In fact, we include a lullaby or rocking song in every one of our baby music classes and toddlers classes. And just in case youre wondering, some of our favoriteKindermusik lullabies include:

You Are My Sunshine Golden Slumbers May There Always Be Sunshine Hush, Little Baby Tell Me Why Thats An Irish Lullaby

By the way, what researchers found mostimpacting was for these little ones to hear the voices of their loved ones singing a special reminder that the most important people in a childs life are his/her parents and close family members and that nothing is sweeter than the sound of your voice in your childs ears.

Compiled by Theresa Case, Kindermusik Educator

DEC/JAN 2014DOODLEBUGDIGEST.COM

For More Information Contact Miss Barb's Music Studio at 419.842.8331 MissBarbs@bex.net www.MissBarbs.kindermusik.net

Better Than WordsI was honored that Chicagos WGN television presented, in theirbroadcast, a little feature about my work yesterday. Since the holidays are nearing, I had been asked to prepare to offer parents, as part of the segment, a helpful tip about play to keep in mind.

The interviewer never got around to asking me for my tip, so I thought I would offer it here. I cant let all of my preparation go to waste!

As you are putting together the gift list and trying to picture your child playing with those gifts after the holidays...put yourself in that picture.

Over the years the toy and game industry has, successfully, "sold" parents on the idea that the play value of a toy is measured by the amount of time that children can be off on their own.....leaving the adults to enjoy a bit of their own time.

It is certainly exciting when young children enter that magical world and get lost in play for hours on end. But it is important to remember that the young children who have had a caring adult "in the picture," joining in the play for a time, are the ones that become the most competent and, eventually, the most independent players. The little things that parents do to help young children, in the beginning, learn about the possibilities for play often go unnoticed, even by parents themselves as they are doing it.

DoodlebugNotes

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When parents put themselves in the picture for a time, the rewards last a lifetime. Child development experts will tell you that the children are rewarded with enhanced developmental abilities. The parents are rewarded, as well, with more capable children and great memories of time spent together.

I never got around to sharing those remarks and, frankly, I am thankful for that. The parents and children that joined me on the television set provided, by their example, an even more significant lesson. I am thankful to them for showing, through their family play, what my words would have missed.

Of course there are developmental benefits to play, but around the holidays it is best to remember what we know in our hearts.

More than any toy or game, children will look back and remember the time they spent playing with the ones they love. And, for the rest of their lives, they will own those memories and expectations about how we act towards those we care for.

Article written by Jim Gill. Jim Gill is a musician and author with unique credentials among children's artists. Jim is a child development specialist, completing his graduate studies in child development at the Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play. For this reason, each of Jim's recordings and books is created as an opportunity for playfulinteractions between a child and a caring adult. Over the years Jim has shared his expertise and ideas on music,

play and literacy with organizations such as Head Start, The National Association for the Education of Young Children, The National Association for Family Child Care and the Chicago SymphonyOrchestra. Learn more at jimgill.com

Reprinted with permission.

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Angelina PyleTHE HAIR DEPOT5431 Monroe StreetToledo, Ohio 43623

www.AngelinaPyle.com or (567) 322-7722

DoodlebugGames

Chef Solus Naughty or Nice Food GroupsWere you naughty or nice this year? Show Chef Solus and Santa that you were good this year and ate foods from each of the food groups. Cross out the foods that are not part of the food group.

Visit www.ChefSolus.com for free printable worksheets for kids, nutrition education games, healthy eating tips, exercise and healthy goals, food/dairy and more!Copyright Nourish Interactive, All Rights Reserved

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DoodlebugDid You Know?

How to Write a Family Mission StatementFortune 500 companies have mission statements.Non-profit corporations have mission statements. Why notyour family? Create a mission statement for your family, which helps define specific values and goals, guides group decisions and encourages belonging. Whether a family of two or ten, creating a mission statement gives everyone input and helps keep the family on track.

Instructions

Things You'll Need Pen Dry erase marker and dry erase board or chalk and chalk board Paper

1. Gather all the family members that live in the same house. Include small children, children who only visit on the weekends and grandparents who might live in the home.

2. Explain that together you will be creating a family mission statement. Describe the benefits of having a mission statement and how it keeps the family moving in the same direction. Describe it as a road map, rather than a list of rules orrequirements.

3. Define your specific family by asking everyone to suggest adjectives that fit your family. Suggestions could include funny, smart, caring, active or quirky. Make sure everyone throws out an adjective or two. Write these on a white board for everyone to see.

4. Brainstorm ideas to be included in the mission statement. Alloweveryone to contribute and do not censor any ideas. Start off thediscussion with some examples and questions. What would a stranger think when they saw your family interact? What inside jokes or stories does your family have? What goals do you have as a family? What traits are admired and what is unacceptable?

5. Put several of these ideas in sentence form. Write as many sentences that are necessary. An example might be "The Smith family accepts everyone as they are but encourages change and growth for the better. We speak to one another in respect and show consideration at all times. We value privacy and trust. We agree that there are consequences to all of our actions and we agree to take responsibility for our own actions. Together we can impact each other and our community for the better.

6. Edit your statement until everyone is agreement with both the words and the sentiment. Hone the words down to the bare minimum to express your statement.

7. Craft a family motto. This should be one sentence that encapsulates your family's mission statement. It should be easy to remember and touch on at least a few of the points in your mission statement. It could be "Do unto others as you have them do unto you" or "Return with honor." It also could be funny or in code, as long as your family knows what it means and represents.

8. Print out your motto and family mission statement. Have everyone sign and date it. Post it somewhere so it can be seen and referenced. As good or bad decisions are made, tie it back to the family mission statement.

9. Revise your mission statement as time passes. Perhaps every New Year or anniversary date, you might need to edit the statement to grow with your family.

For more eHow articles, visit their website at www.ehow.com

Print out the mission statement and motto onto small business cards. Have both the adults and children carry them in their purses or wallets.

How to Have a Happy MarriageWhen You are Busy Being ParentsIs your marriage everything you ever hoped it could be? Or has it been pushed down your list of priorities since having children? Lets face it, parenthood is a full-time job, and it dramatically changes your marriage relationship. But marriage is thefoundation upon which your entire family is structured. If your marriage is strong, your whole family will be strong; your life will be more peaceful, youll be a better parent, and youll, quite simply, have more fun in your life.

Make a Commitment. To create or maintain a strong marriage you will have to take the first critical step: You must be willing to put time, effort and thought into nurturing your marriage. The ideas that follow will help you follow through on this commitment. You may fall in love with your spouse all over again. In addition, your children will greatly benefit from your stronger relationship. Children feel secure when they know that Mom and Dad love each otherparticularly in todays world, where 50 percent of marriages end in divorce; half of your childrens friends have gone, or are going through a divorce; or maybe its your kids who have survived a divorce and are now living in a new family arrangement. Your children need daily proof that their family life is stable and predictable. When you make a commitment to your marriage, your children will feel the difference. Theyll blossom when your marriage-and their homelife-is thriving.

Look for the Good, Overlook the Bad. You married this person for many good reasons. Your partner has many wonderful qualities. Your first step in adding sizzle to your marriage is to look for the good and overlook the bad. Make it a habit to ignore the little annoying things dirty socks on the floor, a day-old coffee cup on the counter, worn out flannel pajamas, an inelegant burp at the dinner table and choose instead to search for those things that make you smile: the way he rolls on the floor with the baby; the fact that she made your favorite cookies, the peace in knowing someone so well that you can burp at the table.

Spend Time with Your Spouse. It can be very difficult for your marriage to thrive if you spend all your time being Mommy and Daddy. You need to spend regular time as Husband and Wife. This doesnt mean you have to take a two-week vacation in Hawaii. Just take small daily snippets of time when you can enjoy uninterrupted conversation, or even just quiet companionship, without a baby on your hip, a child tugging your shirtsleeve or a teenager begging for the car keys. A daily morning walk around the block or a shared cup of tea after all the children are in bed might work wonders to re-connect you to each other. And yes, its quite fine to talk about your children when youre spending your time together, because, after all, your children are one of the most important connetions you have in your relationship. When you and your spouse regularly connect in a way that nurtures your relationship, you may find a renewed love between you, as well as a refreshed vigor that will allow you to be a better, more lovin parent. So take my challenge and use these ideas for the next 30 days. And watch your marriage take on a whole new glow.

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Kid Cooperation

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DoodlebugLearning

Educare Academy Truly RollsLearning & Fun Into One!Educare Academy Child Development Centers, which currently have eightstate-licensed sites in and around the Toledo area, have gone the extra mile in offering educational enrichment services for young children.

In addition to participating in Ohios Step Up to Quality program, whichrecognizes those centers that have voluntarily gone over and above basic child care licensing requirements, Educare Academy is piloting two different educational enhancement programs. Both programs are included free of any additional charge to parents.

At their South Toledo location, at 2303 Cheyenne Boulevard, the infants, toddlers, and preschool children have been enjoying the Music and Me program since October, which brings a qualified music educator from Kindermusik into their classrooms every week. Through music, young children develop and enhance a variety of developmental skills, including language and listening skills. Parents also receive a weekly report sharing what their children have been experiencing through the music program.

Meanwhile, across town at their North Toledo site, at 3580 Lagrange Street, that center is participating in their third year of the Early Childhood Partnership program, funded through the United Way of Greater Toledo, which was developed to enhance social, emotional, language and literacy skills in infants, toddlers, and preschool children.

Through a partnership consisting of the YWCA Child Care Resource and Referral, Harbor, and Read for Literacy, children enrolled in Educare Academy have been enjoying literacy enriched learning environments, visits from volunteer readers (who come in and read to the preschool children on a weekly basis), as well as teachers who are receiving coaching and support to better respond to and provide environments and interactions to strengthen childrens social and emotional well being! Families are also included in the programming, with special events and informational newsletters and books regularly sent home.

Educare Academy Child Development Centers are more than just child care centers. They pride themselves on not only serving the needs of parents seeking safe, quality child care services for their children, but they go the extra mile to integrate and provide additional educational programs and services that help make Educare Academy stand out as both child and family-focused centers! Plans are to continue expanding these types of learning enrichment programs to each of their already quality-rated sites.

Written by Tami Matthews