Lily's Summer Story

For most of us, especially Lily, the summer went by like a flash.  As we know, Lily has boundless energy, and she didn’t waste a second of her summer vacation.

So how did Lily spend her time this summer?

Lily picked up where she had left off in the first Superheroes Club book. (Link to preorder the book on Amazon).  Reading about and hearing numerous stories of kids and their families who are in need inspired her, and Lily was eager to collect and donate even more clothes and toys to a local charity.

Since Lily is very methodical, she made sure she was well rested and well nourished before she began her herculean (link to definition on dictionary.com) task of sorting through all her things again.  Lily rummaged through her entire closet, collecting clothes, toys, and books.  She then proceeded to go through other parts of the house to seek out things that either weren’t being used by anyone or had already been set aside as a donation.

Lily piled all the things she had selected on the living room floor, anxiously waiting for her mother to marvel at what she had accomplished.

When her mother came home and saw the huge donation pile, she was speechless!  Lily had done a super job of de-cluttering every room in the house.  So many items of clothes, toys, and even small electronics and appliances were piled high, all of them still in good condition.

Lily explained that other families could get use of these items, which she believed was better than having them just collect dust around the house. Her mother agreed, and Lily’s first great summer project was off to a good start.

Lily and her mother set aside a special day to drop off the items at a local charity, and now Lily focused on some final summer activities. 

Lily spent time in her backyard organic garden, played next door with Alex and Meatball, caught up on her summer reading, and spent a few days of lazy summer fun.

But Lily was eager to find a new project.

Lily thought, “What can I do next?”

When she reached out to the rest of the Superheroes Club members, she found that they were also eager and ready to help out in the community.

The superheroes met at Lily’s house and decided that before the new school year began, they wanted to organize a major cleanup event at their neighborhood park, Wilbarmel Park.  In Lily’s mind, she imagined it was going to be the biggest event ever!

It is inspiring to know that when kids set their minds to doing something, they can accomplish many things! 

Lily thought it would be great to ask her teacher, Mr. Thomas, to help, but he was still on vacation traveling and unavailable.  So, the superheroes reached out to Miss Angela, the teacher’s aide in Mr. Thomas’ room, to help.  She was not only eager but also excited to join the superheroes and help in the community.

After one enthusiastic meeting in the park, the Superheroes Club and Miss Angela organized a major park cleanup day.  Lily was happy to be with her friends and participating in the cleanup.  They were all doing their best to make a difference in their neighborhood.

Although everyone was completely exhausted at the end of the cleanup, it was well worth it.  Everyone spent a fun-filled day and helped beautify (link to dictionary.com) the community at the same time.

Lily spent the remaining two weeks of summer vacation thinking of new activities and ways to share and care during the next school year.

“I’m sure I’ll meet a new friend at school this year!”  Lily told her mother.

With the new school year upon us, Lily is ready to make any new or shy student (Link to blog 14 on welcoming the new kid) on the playground feel welcome at school.

What did you get to do this summer? Let us know!

Wonder In Everyday Life

In a world that has become increasingly individualistic, it is so easy to think only of oneself and ignore those around us.  After all, it seems safer, and we don’t run the risk of confrontation if we leave each other alone.

But then we become apathetic to what is going on around us, and we miss what makes life worth living – learning from our environment and from the many people who enrich our lives. 

So how do we avert the trap of apathy ourselves and teach our children to develop an interest in the world and the people around them?  How do we help them understand the importance of becoming everyday superheroes? 

It might sound difficult to achieve, but here are some simple ideas that pack a powerful punch in teaching this lesson to our kids. Here are some ideas on how to find wonder in ordinary things and understanding for the people around us. These ideas will help bring out those “superhero” powers Lily and her gang of “superheroes” so easily display.

1. Appreciate Nature 

Visit your city zoo, the aquarium, bird sanctuaries, gardens, parks, observatories, lakes, and oceans. Instead of speeding through these locations like many of us often do, why don’t you stop and really take in the sights and smells? Pull over for a ten-minute break to smell the grass and look at the clouds through the trees or pick a few wildflowers with your kids. Encourage your children to create drawings or make up their own stories about the animals and plants that live in these areas and about the small details we never notice. Read about some of those special creatures with them and discuss why they are such an important part of human life and our planet. 

Not only are you going to spend quality time with your child, but also these are great ways to introduce children to causes that matter.  It provides an opportunity for them to understand their environment and how we are all so interconnected.  In addition, they will come to better understand the importance of conserving our natural resources.

2. Appreciate History

Visiting the history museum in your city is another way to avoid falling into the “apathy trap.” 

It’s always fascinating to learn about how people used to live in the past or to study about the early explorers to the “New World,” especially the lives of the children.

The exhibits in your local museums offer you and your children an excellent window into how people lived then, compared to how we live today. It also is an excellent way to learn/teach about the tragic moments of history. The lessons of the past can provide an important opportunity to discuss and deal with the environmental and social issues we are dealing with today.

If you don’t live near a good historical museum, the internet is an ever-expanding and exciting resource for historical exploration.

3.  Appreciate People of All Ages 

The beauty of life is that you can learn so much from everyone!

The elderly or the people a year older or younger, all have something to teach us about their experiences. The elderly, especially, are such rich living museums of information and inspiration. What is it about their life’s experiences that can help bring out our inner superheroes? We’ve talked about volunteering at assisted living facilities or adopting an older neighbor, and we can take that a step further by having our kids make stories or artwork about the days when these seniors were the same age as our children. 

4.  Appreciate Family

It’s incredibly easy to get so familiar with family members that we don’t see what can be learned from them. This should not be the case. 

Obviously we can do many things in our family unit to help out and learn - helping with a new baby, helping with an ill parent or sibling, helping with household chores, helping with a family yard sale - there are so many powerful life lessons to be learned from one another to inspire and empower us to become superheroes.

Become creative and host a family career day where the different professionals in the family talk about what they do in their professions (include extended family members such as grandparents, cousins, and others.)  This is just like a school Career Day, but even better, because the information will be coming directly from those closest to you.

Such an event can become a massive educational opportunity and encourage children to expand their thinking about their own journey in life. 

Caring about the people and things around us in ways that inspire us to act and contribute to our communities does not always come naturally to everyone. However, incorporating some of these ideas into your family’s routine is sure to spark additional levels of creativity and build a growing sense of wonder in the lives of everyone involved, while averting the “trap of apathy.”

Overcoming Shyness: Making Friends With Others

There are many reasons why young children might be shy and making new friends seems like an impossibility. They could be naturally quiet, or they could be new to the school or the neighborhood and don’t have the confidence or the tools with which to reach out to other children to make friends.  Birth order, whether a child is an only child or one of many, can also be contributing factors.  Children who have some physical or emotional issues may also feel uncomfortable about being around other children whom they don’t know.  And, in some cases, children may be hesitant about making friends because the other children aren’t friendly or welcoming. 

The reasons that keep children from connecting to other children in a happy and healthy way are numerous.  Identifying those reasons is the first step in helping your child overcome his or her shyness and the first step in ultimately helping your child make friends.

When we think about our superhero, Lily, we notice that she is very confident.  She goes around singing, “I am me, I like me, that’s who I am.”

The question is, “How can we instill that kind of confidence in our own children?”  It’s obvious that Lily has an outgoing personality and is the one at school who reaches out to other children and befriends them.

But not all children are like Lily.  Consider some of the suggestions below for helping your child gain the confidence to deal with his or her shyness and, ultimately, reach out to others and make friends.  Also listed are some strategies your child could practice when attempting to make new friends as well.

1. As Lily inspires her friends to see the heroic potential each of them possesses, it’s also important for you to help your child identify those special character traits that makes him or her unique. You can further help your child understand that it’s those traits that will attract other children to be friends with your child.   
   
   So, for example, if your child is good at sports, others will want to engage him or her in a sports activity. If your child is a wiz in a certain subject in class, others will want to partner with him or her on a project. If your child is funny and fun to be around, others will naturally gravitate to your child. Even if your child is quiet, but has a great smile and is friendly and kind, others will embrace your child.  Explore together what would make your child a good friend to others, and discuss why someone would want to be your child’s friend.
    
2. Unfortunately, there are times when your child is too stressed or anxious about the process, and it becomes a major hindrance to forming those important friendships.  This is when it’s important for you to provide your child with the tools on how to engage other children in a meaningful way.  So, for example, you might want to role-play some possible scenarios on helping your child start a conversation with another child. 
   
   Discuss possible topics such as a food that he or she loves, a new book, an upcoming movie, the latest toy craze or a sports personality or other celebrity that he or she follows on social media.  Help your child feel confident about discussing and sharing something that he or she loves, is interested in, and would probably interest other children as well.  Helping them learn to ask questions about others is a great way to teach them friend-making skills that will last them a lifetime.
    
3. Stress and anxiety can also be a factor in forming friendships if your child is new to the school and especially before social and other school events.  So, as a parent, “What can you do?”  Whatever you choose to do, it is probably best to do it in advance.  Discussing expectations of what the social or other school events might be, as well as possible scenarios of how to handle the new situations, can help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety.  If, for example, you are bringing you child to a new school, arrange for your child to visit the school and possibly meet with the teachers, administrators and even custodial staff, before the first day of school. 
   
   Before a social or other school event, find out who, of your child’s classmates, will be attending and what your child can expect to experience at the event.  Perhaps it’s possible to carpool to the event so your child is already part of a group, and it eliminates that awkward feeling of walking into a crowded room and having to seek out someone you know.  The more your child knows about what to expect, the more comfortable your child will be, and the more likely he or she will make friends.
    
4. If your child is new to a school, inquire what steps are in place to integrate new students into the school community.  Are there “buddy” programs?  Are you matched up with a mentor family that has a child your child’s age?   Is there a visitor’s day when your child shadows another child throughout the school day and before he or she actually starts his or her first day?  Does your child get to meet the school faculty and staff?  Doing your homework about the new school your child will attend, can be particularly helpful to you and your child. 
   
   As mentioned earlier, the more you know about a new situation, the more comfortable you will feel, and so will your child.  It’s also important for you to communicate regularly with your child’s teacher and other important school personnel, in order to address any adjustment issues immediately. 
    
5. We all know that we are happiest and feel most comfortable when we are doing something that interests us and that we love.  Your child is no different.  That’s why we are always told to get our kids involved in school activities.  In order for your child to feel part of the school community and meet and make friends, it’s important for you to take steps to get your child involved in school activities. Probably one of the best strategies to help your child avoid the natural pitfalls of being the “new” kid is to get involved in the school community, as soon as possible. 
   
   Encouraging and supporting your child, with the help of teachers and others at the school, is critical in helping your child if he or she is shy and stressed or anxious because of it.
    
6. If you have a child who is like Lily and is very outgoing and very open to meeting new friends, you might suggest ways that he or she can seek out those shy children and befriend them.  It’s empowering for your child to take a leadership role when he or she reaches out to other children.  More importantly, it helps your child find the heroic potential that Lily believes all children possess.  What a tremendous life lesson this can be.
    
7. There are times when your child’s ability to make friends may be as simple as his or her negative attitude about his or her ability to make friends.  Your child may have had a bad experience in the past and has convinced himself or herself that they can’t make friends.  It becomes a “self-fulfilling” prophecy that we hear referenced so often.  Your child begins to believe it, and it becomes a major hindrance to making friends.  As a parent, it’s important to address the issue and try and reverse those negative feelings and self doubt that your child is experiencing. 
   
   As mentioned earlier, this is when it’s important to help your child build self-confidence and begin to see himself or herself as worthy of having friends and being a good friend.  Begin by focusing on the things that make your child special and unique.  You might try something as simple as having your child identify his or her special character traits and repeat those positive affirmations throughout the day.   Positive reinforcement can be very powerful for young children.  As parents, it is an effective and simple parenting strategy to help your children feel good about themselves.
    
8. As your child gets more and more involved in school activities and begins to form friendships, you want to make sure you keep that ball rolling.  Perhaps hosting a family gathering, of school friends, at your home and frequent play dates, will help build even stronger bonds of friendship for your child.  With your ongoing love and support, combined with your outreach to members of the school community, your child should begin to feel confident and a sense of belonging. 

When a child feels confident and has friends, he or she is able to reach out to others.  It is then that your child can become a superhero, like Lily.

How to make friends: Making the New Kid feel welcome

Being new in school or moving to a new neighborhood is not easy! Whether we remember being the new kid ourselves or we remember seeing that new face on campus, we can all empathize in some way.

Whenever we see someone who looks like he or she needs a helping hand or a smiling face, let’s pause and imagine what Lily, from Superheroes Club, might do herself or enlist her friends to do. In this post, we’ll explore some ways for kids to make new friends or help a new kid feel comfortable and welcomed in his or her new situation.  

We certainly can’t make friends FOR our kids.  What we can do as parents, teachers, coaches, or mentors is to teach them the social skills necessary to reach out and connect with their peers and with the adults at school and in their communities.  These are important life lessons that will help them form and maintain their social relationships from their early schoolyard days well into their adult lives.

Consider the following:

1. Be a Buddy

Seek out a school or program that has a “buddy system” or a similar system in place. This provides the structure within which the adults in charge find a suitable partner (buddy or mentor), to help the new kids adjust to their unfamiliar surroundings.  With adult guidance, it is a great way for kids to make new friends and be helpful - even it is may feel strange at first.

2. Some kids are extremely friendly.

If you know you have a “Lily” on your hands, then encourage him or her to be the “friendship ambassador,” or even start a “Superheroes Club,” giving him or her a platform to reach out and meet the new kid(s).

3.  Encourage your kids to say “Hello.”  

When there are new faces at school, kids should know that they don’t have to wait for permission or encouragement from an adult to reach out and get to know the new student. Just by saying, “hello” kids can help new kids feel comfortable and welcomed.  Even a simple wave and a smile can be very powerful.

4. Every kid is different.

It’s important to understand this, to be patient and to allow new students to adjust to their new situations, in their own way and when they’re ready.  Reaching out is always a good idea, but it is equally important to back off when the new kids aren’t quite ready to participate in all activities or become part of the group.

5. Be yourself!

Remind your kids that lasting relationships are based on honesty and simply being themselves. We should also remind them that accepting other kids for whoever they might be is also important in forming relationships and maintaining social interactions at school, on the playground, and in life.

6. Invite, invite, invite!  

If kids are shy and don’t want to interact, they won’t. The key is to understand their reluctance and provide a variety of opportunities to get them involved.  Here, too, it takes patience and a friendly outreach to acknowledge acceptance and encourage participation because new kids need time to adjust.  Have your kid be the one to organize friends, old and new, to a Friday afternoon at the skate park, or a group activity in class, or a game on the playground, or even a new kids’ lunch.  The one thing to remember is that friendly, outgoing kids shouldn’t be discouraged when an invite doesn’t get much of an enthusiastic reaction.  It will eventually, and everyone responds to friendship in different ways and at different times.

These are just some suggestions to how we, as adults, can help guide the kids, in our lives, to make friends and be friends.

If you have any suggestions of your own, we believe Lily and the rest of the Superheroes Club could benefit from them! Let us know!

Ramp Up For Fall

Getting involved in the community is super easy in the summer because the kids have time off. But how about when the fall rolls around and school is in session? How do you get the kids involved then? As you ramp up for an exciting new school year, it’s great to keep the children involved in serving others.

Here are 10 ideas to consider:

• Homeless Shelters

Homeless Shelters are open year-round and are always looking for people like you to help. Find out of your local homeless shelter could use some help over the weekend and spend a weekend per month volunteering.

On Thanksgiving morning, how about taking the kids over to the shelter to pass out meals? The lesson of being grateful will be further strengthened.

• March of Dimes

The March of Dimes is an organization that supports research into health care therapies that help save the lives of premature infants.

You can donate money or walk with your family to support the cause.

• Local community center/church activities

Find out from your local church or civic center what activities they have planned to reach out to the less fortunate in your community and get on board with those! Often canned food drives and other collections for homeless shelters and food banks are ongoing throughout the year and especially in the fall. Challenge your kids to collect a certain number of cans or blankets and set a goal as a family. 

• Donate old household items

We always talk about “Spring Cleaning,” but how about a “Fall Cleaning” just before school re-opens to declutter? You and your kids can then donate those old clothes, gadgets, toys, etc to Goodwill or The Salvation Army. 

• Peer Tutoring

This one is great if you have older children (5th grade or higher is great). You could start your very own community peer tutoring program where kids who are struggling with school come to get tutored by other children who have been through the same grades as them.

Both sets of children - tutors and tutees - will learn a lot from the experience. As a matter of fact, according to this study, students who knew they would have to tutor others performed higher and recalled more material on a test than their counterparts who did not have to tutor someone else.

• Volunteer at an Adopt-A-Pet Event

PetSmart and other companies like it regularly host Adopt-A-Pet weekend. If your child is a pet lover like the little girl in this video, you can get them to volunteer and help out at one of these events.

Who knows? Volunteer projects like these could be the doorway to helping your child discover their future career in veterinary medicine.

• Community decorations

Fall is the season for all things decorating. If your city puts up lights or a tree during the Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah season, this is an excellent way to get involved for the whole family.

You can also help your neighborhood with decorating, especially any elderly neighbors or busy single moms who may not be able to decorate themselves. Your kids can spread seasonal cheer by helping these people. 

• Deliver Cupcakes To Cops and Firefighters

A sweet gesture to show we appreciate the police officers and firefighters in our community. Have your child deliver a tray of home-made cupcakes to your local precinct or fire station one of these days.

• Spread Holiday Cheer

Caroling, preparing gift bags for sick children in the hospital or the lovely old folks at your local home and letters to dads and moms in prison are all excellent ways to get the kids involved in serving others other than themselves during this season when so many are lonely.

• Sponsor a soldier

Our armed forces work hard each and every day to keep our country safe. Teaching kids to appreciate our men and women in uniform is the least we can do to show our support. Connect with programs that allow families to sponsor soldiers who are at home and abroad.

Our schools are often great at keeping our kids busy and engaged with their peers during the school day, but reinforcing the value of helping and serving others during the rest of the day and weekend is just as important. These activities are great ways to start, but we’re sure you can think of an endless list of other ways. We’d love to hear your ideas!

5 Activities for Younger Kids

Summer is finally here! Your little superheroes are all on break from school, after school activities, clubs, and homework.  Although Lily usually finds endless activities to occupy herself, there are times when she looks for new and fun things to do.  Her parents help by providing some simple activities to keep her occupied on some of her quieter days.

So, below are some suggestions during those moments when your younger child complains, “I’m bored, what should I do now?”  The key is to get them moving their bodies and using their imaginations.  (For ideas to keep your older kids occupied and stimulated this summer, check this out!)
 

1. The Big Red Ball:

Check out your nearest store that sells toys, and if you don’t already have one, buy a giant red rubber ball, like they have on school playgrounds. Your kids will be thrilled that they will have one at home, just like the one at school. It is so basic, yet your kids can spend hours amusing themselves with it.  You can help them initiate endless games that get them moving, active, and away from any screens, tablets or other electronics.  Below are just two suggestions to get them started:

• Footsie:

All players (the more the better), lie on the floor (or grass), with their legs up in the air.  Once the ball is introduced into the game, each player tries to throw, catch, or pass the ball to the next player, using only his or her feet.  Together, you can make up whatever rules you want to make it competitive, but also fun.  If adults are around, having them participate with the kids will just add to the fun and provide an opportunity to spend quality time together.   That should keep everyone busy and laughing for a while.

• Kickball:

You can recreate rules for this classic game and add fun elements; such as having kids make animals sounds as they head toward any bases.  Kids are only limited by their imaginations, and it’s important to encourage them to make up all sorts of games.   

2. Master Chef Junior:

We are all more conscious about what we eat these days, and our children are more vocal about their food choices as well.  So spending time with them in meal planning, shopping and food preparation involves them in activities that become life-long lessons.  Plan an afternoon or evening when the entire family participates and is actually responsible to prep and/or cook part of the meal.  This way your child can not only explore his or her creative side in the kitchen and become a Junior Master Chef, but can also learn something about food preparation and nutrition.

At a time when child food allergies are on the rise, and when we are more concerned with eating organic and limiting artificial additives, it is never too early to involve our children in food related issues.

3. Mix and Match:

Take items from your home that come in pairs like a pot with a lid or pillow that goes on the couch and not the bed, etc. and have your kids match them to the right place or, have them come up with alternative ways to mix and match the items.  This activity is also only limited to one’s imagination to explore and discover.

4. Children’s American Ninja Warrior:

Take sidewalk chalk and draw an obstacle course or fun path for your little ones to bike, walk, crawl or jump through. The object of course is to not touch the lines!  Want to make it more fun? Set up actual obstacles, as well, such as boxes, pillows, or even pots and pans, filled with water.

Your child will love the challenge of completing the course, but even more fun if he or she falls on a pillow or tips over the pot filled with water.  The key here is also about concocting simple, creative games to have fun and pass the time.

5.   Indoor camping/indoor clubhouse:

This is a classic summertime, or anytime, fun activity.  Give your kids blankets, a broomstick, chairs - whatever you have handy and what they need to build a campsite or clubhouse in which they can play during the day and perhaps campout at night.  They can sleep under the stars (of a flashlight) indoors, to get an alternative camping experience, without actually being outside.  Or, if you’re really adventuresome, pitch a tent in the backyard and actually sleep under the real stars.

These are just a few ideas for parents with young kids. Keeping your child’s body and mind active and encouraging them to think of new and fun things do is a great way to inspire their imagination.  They’ll be invigorated and excited by the new adventures they helped create and experience, and be more energized, when it’s time to go back to school after summer vacation.  

We know Lily would love some of these activities, and she probably has many of her own ideas as well. Have you tried some of these or others? Let us know!  We would love to share some of the fun and exciting things you’ve done. 

Teaching Kids Empathy

em·pa·thy
[ˈempəTHē]

NOUN
1. the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

If there was ever a time when it has become absolutely imperative that parents and teachers emphasize teaching kids empathy, it is now.

Empathy is a necessary quality for children to learn so they can develop meaningful relationships and become sharing and caring young people in the sometimes complex and confusing world in which they are growing up. Children with empathy become adults with empathy.

But how do we teach empathy and help children learn to value it?

Here are some tips to consider:

1. Help identify your child’s own emotions

When something happens that causes a particular emotion, ask your child “How do you feel about that?” Then give them an opportunity to talk about those feelings. If they are at an age where they don’t know the whole spectrum of emotions (or the words that describe that emotion), assist them by saying something like “You look mad/surprised/happy/sad”. Mimicking emotions with facial expressions or even using colors and pictures to help identify different feelings can help, too. 

This action gives children the opportunity to identify these feelings in themselves, and if you mention that someone else is feeling those emotions also, they can understand. 

2. Help your child resolve conflicts with his/her siblings and/or friends

The next time your child gets into a misunderstanding with one of their siblings or a playmate, help them remember a time when they were sad, frustrated, or uncomfortable. Help them explain how they felt and why.

If your child is the one who caused the misunderstanding, giving them an example of a time when they felt those same negative feelings may help them to identify with what the other person is feeling.

Helping your child realize the negative feelings associated with the misunderstanding will motivate them to find ways to resolve their conflicts. 

An even more effective way to teach your child to resolve conflicts is to let them see how you resolve conflicts in everyday life.

3. Teach them to read body language

Yes, children can be taught to read body language too, especially by focusing on different facial expressions and body cues that show that a person is experiencing a particular emotion.

Consider, for example:

• Crying with slumped shoulders could indicate that a person is sad.
• Wide open eyes and mouth could indicate surprise.
• Clenched fists, heavy breathing, and arms folded across the chest may suggest anger.

Teaching children these simple body language indicators are a great way to get them to recognize the emotions that others are feeling and help them learn to empathize.

4. Capitalize on a really great moment.

We all know how it feels to feel happy, valued, and safe. During a moment where your child is very happy, remind them to take stock of that feeling and to always make sure they help others feel this way. Help them explain why they feel the way they do, and connect to other times they felt the same way. What did others do that made them happy? How can they make others feel that way through actions? 

5. Use tools to help

You’re not sure how to start the conversation on empathy with your child? Using tools that have already been created by others can be great conversation-starters when it comes to the subject.

One of the reasons I wrote the Superheroes Club series was to provide parents and teachers with a tool that would help to begin or continue a dialogue about the ideas of helpfulness, respect, adding value to others, and empathy for children, and more.

Some children’s television shows and movies are also an excellent resource. One of the best ways to use these tools is to watch some of these TV programs or read this book with your child. 

When it is over, ask them “What do you think about that?”  “What do you think the message was in the TV program or book?” 

Allowing your child to verbalize their thoughts on the actions of the characters in a book or TV program might help them begin to understand and adopt those actions as their own Gestures, facial expressions, colors, drawing, storytelling, etc. are all great tools that can be used together to help children gain deeper understanding of their own emotions, the emotions of others, and how each of us has the ability to impact those around us in positive ways.

5 Activities for Older Kids

Lily and the rest of the Superheroes Club aren’t exactly pre-teens just yet, but someday they will be.  If they have this kind of go-getter energy now, with plenty of desire to help others and take action, we can only imagine how they might be super anxious to do lots of things this summer!

If you have pre-teens or older kids, here are some great ways to involve them in diverse activities this summer without specifically giving them something “to do,” yet providing age appropriate opportunities.

Brunch!

Studies show that at various ages, children’s sleep patterns change, and your pre-teen and older kids are no exception.  During summer, this can be especially problematic because they want to stay up late and spend more time in activities that excite them and invigorate them, especially before bedtime.  This leads to your pre-teen sleeping in most mornings and you wondering, “Is this how they’re going to spend their summer?”  Consider a compromise where you allow them one or two mornings a week to sleep in, but on those mornings they are responsible for making a big breakfast for everyone when they wake up. This could be a clever way to get them to try their hand at culinary arts and engage them in a family, friendly activity, with the added benefit that you might help create a future budding chef or at least someone who feels comfortable in the kitchen.

Invention/creation bag

Fill a bag with items you might have on hand, in the garage, or even from the local hardware or craft store.  Present your child with the bag and challenge him or her to actually invent or create something that can be used by a family member or even donated to a needy organization.  Maybe identify some problems around the house and see if your child can come up with a solution and be your Superhero with his or her new invention or creation.  It might also be exciting for you to sit down and try to problem solve together.  Any activity that encourages children to identify problems and then attempt to solve them, is an important skill and life lesson for children at any age.  Pinterest is a great resource for ideas.

The Comic Book

Could there be a budding artist or writer in your house?  Consider giving your pre-teen or older child an opportunity to explore his or her creative talents by encouraging your child to design a comic book or other creative project, for example.  With the abundance of electronic devices and software available, as well as ordinary paper, pencils and other art supplies, it’s easier than ever for your child to consider this as a possible summer activity.   What a sense of accomplishment and pride your child will feel when he or she presents a completed project to family and friends at the end of the summer.

Wash the car

This may be a perfect outdoor, summer activity for your child or for you and your child together.  So many pre-teens enjoy the classic “wash me” written in dust on a windshield.  Summer is a great time to encourage your child to wash the family car(s) and also learn how to conserve water in the process.  Make it more appealing by offering to pay for the car wash. Discuss the idea of repurposing the water directly into your garden or lawn or saving the water in buckets to use at a later time.  This is also a great opportunity to discuss having to wait until your designated watering days (if you have them) or waiting until after a designated hour and the responsibility that all of us have to conserve and use water wisely and responsibly.  Washing cars can take several hours and can be a great way to have fun and bond with your child. It might even awaken their entrepreneurial spirit to sell their services to the neighbors, friends and other family members.

Clean up 

This is a big Superheroes Club to-do activity!  Consider signing your older child up for a community outreach or cleanup program. There are so many, and the summer is a great time for them to participate in one or more.  It’s an excellent opportunity to take part in an activity in which the entire family can participate as well.  It also opens the door to meet new friends, from other communities and schools, who share similar values and believe it is important to be socially aware and give back to the community in a meaningful way.  So, together with your child, research which organizations are sponsoring such events and together decide which community clean is one you would all like to participate in.  It too could be a fun and unique way to spend a morning or afternoon and a way to model the positive ways to help one’s community.  It also gives, you, the parent, the opportunity to see how your child is becoming a caring and sharing member of his or her community.

From community cleanups to creating comic books or other creative projects, and with your guidance and encouragement, your pre-teen and older kids won’t have a shortage of things to do this summer.

What's Your Superpower?

YOU are a superhero. You may not know it, but your superpower can help the world.

One of the central themes in the Superheroes Club series is the fact that Lily is a confident, independent and spirited little girl who loves life and is eager to make other people’s lives better, especially children. 

Those are some of Lily’s strengths that make her special and unique. But Lily also recognizes the special and unique qualities in her friends, and she enlists their help to use their strengths to help others as well.  

It can be challenging to find your own strengths and help your child find his or hers. But we can help with some ideas through this blog and of course, the book.  

Helping Your Child Discover His/Her Superpowers

It’s never too early to help your child discover his or her strengths and find out how he or she can use those strengths (we’ll codename them “superpowers”) to serve their communities in school, in their neighborhoods, and even around the world.

Start a conversation with your child about his or her superpowers. These questions should help you get the conversation going - 

1. What do you think you’re good at? – There is no right or wrong answer here. Allow your child to communicate to you what they think they are good at. Does their answer align with what you have observed they are good at? Watch how they answer this question. Write their answers down or have them create a piece of art out of it. 
2. What do you like to do when you are not in school or playing? – Your child could be good at something but it may not necessarily mean they enjoy that activity. Have them tell you what they love to do! You have probably observed them enjoy activities they may not even think about listing. Keeping track of when your child smiles, laughs, and asks to do activities again and again can make this process a little easier.
3. How can you use the things you are good at or the things you like to do to help your friends at school/at home/in your community? – The whole point of figuring out what we’re good at is so we can appreciate our uniqueness as well as find out how we can serve the world around us to make it a better place.  Helping kids discover all the ways they can serve their communities, with their abilities, is a great way to set them up to become sharing, caring, empathetic adults.

Building Confidence

The other piece of the equation when it comes to helping children discover their unique skills and talents is building up their confidence to use them.

A child who is excited about the environment needs to be encouraged by parents and/or teachers to not be embarrassed by their love for the environment, even if it is not a popular theme among their peers.

How do we build that kind of confidence in them?

The best way to teach confidence to our kids is to begin by modeling confidence as adults. It is well proven that children adapt to what they see consistently. If they grow up in an atmosphere where unique abilities and diverse interests are celebrated and encouraged, and they see their adult models living and feeling confident about themselves, they will learn to embrace those attitudes as well.

And similarly, if they are discouraged to explore and discover what interests them, even if it may be out of the norm, they may not develop the confidence to reach their full potential in life and certainly not be able to make a difference in the world.  

A second way to help children build up their own confidence is to celebrate their efforts in trying new things, even if they fail, and to avoid comparisons with other children that put your child down or make them feel inadequate.

Start the conversation with your child around that which makes them special and unique early. Encourage your child to use his or her strengths to make their world a better place and something that will certainly help their confidence. Encourage them to be imaginative and creative about exploring their strengths, practicing what they are interested in, and interacting with others who need help. Finally, avoid the comparison game, particularly between siblings, friends and other children. 

Following some of these strategies will help your child discover and use his or her heroic powers in the most special ways.

Different Yet Same

In some ways we are different. And in so many ways we are the same. - Daniel Tiger

By 4 or 5 years of age, children already notice differences of gender, race, and physical disabilities in other children.

They differentiate between boys and girls. They differentiate those around them based on appearance, sound, mannerisms – even abilities or disabilities. 

They’re curious about the differences of skin color and hair texture among themselves.

They’re curious about differences in dress and cultural and religious beliefs and celebrations.

And they’re curious about children who may have disabilities.

This curiosity is an excellent opportunity for teachers and parents to explore and discuss these differences in a meaningful way and to celebrate what makes each child unique in his or her own way.

Although children notice and are curious about these differences, they still find common ground in which to interact and play together.

If you notice children in a playground or schoolyard setting, their main focus is usually the same – a desire to be included and an eagerness to participate in whatever activity interests them at the time. 

Children play ball together, ride their bikes, climb on the playground equipment or just run around with whomever wants to engage in the same activity. They smile and laugh when they’re having fun and are sad and cry when they are left out or get hurt.

And, on a more basic level, children are also all the same.

• They all get hungry and want to eat.
• They all get tired and want to sleep.
• They all want shelter when they’re cold or wet.
• They all want to be comforted when they’re sad or afraid.
• They all want to be loved and cared for when they’re lonely.    

Children of all genders, races, religions, or physical ability want to experience the joys of being kids – and hopefully parents and teachers will encourage their active participation to do just that.

Thankfully, the innocence of childhood sees no negative barriers in the differences in children, but rather accepts diversity as an opportunity to be curious and learn.

The similar things connect us and the different things help us appreciate what makes our world so fascinating and exciting. Teaching our children to understand this can help us relearn it ourselves if we have forgotten.

This is the fact of life we need to be teaching our children from the very beginning – we are the same, but different. 

How can you help your child appreciate the differences in others?

Here are a few ideas:

1. One day, your sweet little one will ask why another child in your neighborhood has dark skin, or curly dark hair, or beautiful slanted eyes. This is an opportunity for you to share with them that there are different groups of people in the world, all of whom look different, but never-the-less make the world a more beautiful place to live in.
2. Take advantage of cultural events in your community. Civic centers and local groups all over the US have days during which various cultural, ethnic and religious groups celebrate their uniqueness. You can typically find these in your local newspaper or online, and they are usually free or fairly inexpensive. Find ways to take your children to these types of events and give them the opportunity to see clothing, dances, and ways of life that maybe are unfamiliar to them.
3. There are different foods in the world. Visit local restaurants that serve foods from around the world and have your child try something new! 
4. Languages are fascinating. The younger a child is, the easier it is for them to pick up a language. Pick up some language books from your local library or use apps like Duolingo to learn a few phrases in other languages.

Teaching children to appreciate the similarities and differences that are all around us is as important as ever. I am passionate about this message, and you can expect Lily and her friends to communicate this message throughout the Superheroes series.