BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIPS

It’s that time of year again: back to school. It’s a time where the hectic morning routine returns and parents everywhere start to get more than a bit frazzled. Here at ChicaCircle, we’ve come up with some tips to make the transition to the daily routine just a little bit smoother for kids and parents alike. 
 
One of the most important tips for getting back into the swing of school is to ensure that everyone in the family is getting enough sleep. Without adequate sleep, mornings will be rushed, and everyone will be cranky and sluggish. Keep in mind that kids age 5-12 generally need about 10 hours of sleep, while older kids need about 9 hours of sleep to ensure maximum energy for learning and staying focused in school. Get to bed early, and try to pack lunches and snacks the night before, to reduce stress and leave more time in the morning for a good breakfast. Here’s a great list of kid-friendly lunches!
 
The most important meal of the day can also be the most stressful meal of the day. With the rush to get to school, it can be hard to find time to make a healthy breakfast. Here are some quick, easy, and protein-packed breakfast ideas from Better Homes and Gardens  that are perfect for any school-age child:
 
Berry Banana Smoothie
1 banana, peeled, cut and frozen
¼ cup of berries (fresh or frozen)
1 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons of vanilla low-fat yogurt
Blend all ingredients in the blender until smooth. Makes 2 8-ounce servings. 
* optional, add 1 scoop of protein powder 

Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
1 8-oz carton of plain, low fat yogurt
1 cup of fresh fruit (peaches, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, etc)
1 tablespoon of sliced almonds
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of honey or light pancake or waffle syrup (maple flavor)
Dash of cinnamon
Combine yogurt, cinnamon, and vanilla. Add fresh fruit on top, and garnish with sliced almonds. Drizzle honey or syrup on top, and enjoy!

Smiling Oatmeal
1 pack of Instant oatmeal (any flavor)
Fresh fruit (Strawberries, bananas, peaches, blueberries)
Sugar of honey (if oatmeal is unsweetened)
Make oatmeal according to instructions on packet. Add sugar or honey to taste. Arrange fruit in the shape of a smiley face on top of the oatmeal. Serve and enjoy!

Finally, be sure that your child has a place to study when they get home from school. Designate a study space and study hours that fit your child’s needs. Keep the area organized, well lit, and free of all distractions. Also, be sure to communicate with your child’s teacher. Introduce yourself and your child on the first day, and discuss your child’s strengths and weaknesses with the teacher. Have the teachers name, phone number and email address visible in the home study area, so that when your child is struggling with homework or a certain subject, you can make a note of it and discuss it with the teacher. Communication and involvement are tools for your child’s academic success.  

We hope you have a great school year!


Post by Khassaundra Delgado

STAYCATION IDEAS!

As summer winds down, many families find themselves having never taken the summer vacation they planned – and in this economy, a big vacation just doesn’t seem feasible for many families. A delightful alternative to a vacation is a family staycation. As August begins and back-to-school draws closer, a staycation is a perfect way to plan a relaxing getaway without the stress and expense of a big vacation. Here at ChicaCircle, we’ve come up with some great ideas for an end-of-summer family staycation!

Supereco has a great list of staycation ideas. Some are traditional, such as planning a weekend trip to the local zoo, museum or amusement park. They also have some great ideas for non-traditional staycations. For example, one staycation tactic is to visit your local chamber of commerce website, and plan a “tourist” trip of your city, hitting all the tourist spots suggested by the tourism board and city chamber of commerce. It’s a great way to see your hometown in a new light!

Another great staycation idea is a stargazing trip. Drive out past the city, the local suburbs, and find a remote but local area (rest stops are a great place to stargaze), since they are often remote but well-lit and not completely isolated). Pack a telescope, binoculars and some snacks for a nighttime picnic. Try making star-shaped sandwiches, using a star shaped cookie cutter on a sandwich of your choice. Another yummy picnic recipe is Astronaut Pudding, courtesy of BabyZone.  

What you need:
One box of instant pudding (any flavor)
Zip lock sandwich bags
Mix the instant pudding according to the recipe on the box and chill. Scoop pudding into zip-lock bags and seal tightly. Then, snip one corner off of the bottom of the zip-lock sandwich bag.  This is where you can suck the pudding out of the bag, just like astronauts do with their food in space! No mess and it’s a delicious stargazing snack!
 

Family Education also offers great staycation ideas. One suggestion is a state park day trip. If you’re fortunate enough to live close to a state or regional park, they can be an ideal spot for a staycation. They often offer trails for hiking and backpacking, as well as small lakes where you can rent pedal-boats or go fishing.

Of course, the usual staycation spots – the local zoo, museum, or amusement park – can also be a blast for the whole family. Many zoos offer a “backstage” tour of the zoo; it’s a great way to see a local spot from a different perspective. Museums and amusement parks may also have summer deals and group rates. To make a day at the local zoo or museum feel like a real getaway, try staying at a local hotel for one night to add to the experience. Slash in the hotel pool, take pictures, and enjoy the home away from home for one night! 

Can't leave home? Try camping in your own backyard. Roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories, sleep out in the good outdoors.

All of us at ChicaCircle hope you have been able to take the time this summer for a family vacation, even if it is a staycation! A vacation is what you make it - time away from your normal work/school schedule spent together as a family, no matter where it is, can be a spectacular memory making adventure.

Post by Khaussandra Delgado

WE DANCED, WE CELEBRATED, WE ♥ NATIONAL DANCE DAY!

Last Saturday morning, Maggie and I woke up early and made the drive to the Music Center in downtown LA. We became a part of the at least 1000 people who participated in the LA location for the flash mob dance to commemorate National Dance Day. There were a lot of dance troops and groups who showed up, so it was a little intimidating at first to join in. Maggie got a bit of stage fright initially, and we hung out and watched the crowd and the many camera crews filming different groups of dancers. Once we saw one of our favorite choreographers, Tabitha and Napoleon, walk out and engage the crowd, I think we were both in awe and happy to join in. Oh, and of course, we loved seeing Adam Shankman and Mia Michaels too. If you are fans of SYTYCD, you would appreciate it when I say, we were so excited to see them so close, in person, and not through a TV screen.

All in all, I am so glad we decided to participate. Maggie rocked the dance, and I didn't do so bad myself. There is comfort in numbers, and the crowd was definitely a mixture of people all with the common but simple goal to celebrate dance. It was great to be a part of that energy and just express the sense of community through dance.

The celebration ended with a great performance from a young dance troop, "Rage Crew". They will also be performing at the upcoming Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala Event, "A Celebration of Dance" on Aug 21st.

You can check out more great photos from the event here via Idolator. Keep on dancin'!