By Kristin Dunlap, mom of 3

When I first started having children, the trend was “attachment parenting.” And I quickly learned about the supposed “tension” between stay-at-home moms and those who worked. Of course, I stressed about all of it!

After 10 years of parenting, I am a little more laid back and can better go with the flow compared to the early years. (Let’s see how I’m doing when my kids hit the teen years!).

So I was interested to see the recent Internet interest in British celebrity nanny, Claire Verity’s, interview on the Web.

The interview states: “In America, especially, parents are overcautious. They’re slightly nervous about a newborn and lack confidence. The U.K. parents are more go-with-the-flow. The Americans are slightly more nervous about what they should and shouldn’t do — whether it be sleeping or breast feeding, there’s a huge amount of pressure… At the end of the day, it’s really not important if you do get it right. So what if you can’t breastfeed? Is it really that important? What’s important is that your baby is fed, not what your neighbor three doors down thinks about whether you breastfeed or don’t breastfeed. I think American moms worry too much about what other people think.”

I think I agree with Claire Verity on that point — I am constantly judging and comparing myself to other mom’s and worrying about what others think. Today, I am deciding that it’s my kids’ opinions that matter the most!

It’s not about me as a mom — it’s about how I can help them develop great life skills and facilitate a happy, healthy and positive life approach.

Let us know what you think about which parenting skills and lessons learned have worked the best in your home!

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By JoAnne Pastel, President and founder, Farmer’s Hat Productions co-author Bur Bur and Friends book series

We’ve reached another milestone in my son’s life: his first few days of pre-school! It made me realize how incredibly resilient children are.

He went off to a new place, with new people and a new schedule to learn. And he came home excited, enthusiastic and ready to go back the next day!

At my son’s school, at orientation earlier in the summer, the children planted seeds in the garden. On the first day, they revisited the garden to find corn and carrots and other vegetables.

The kids were jubilant to discover and explore the rewards of their planting efforts. And of course Bur Bur was excited saying, “Let’s eat the corn and carrots!”

The first two days of pre-school underscored exactly what Farmer’s Hat Productions is all about: Inspiring young kids to be active, embrace a diverse group of friends and explore their world.

We’d love to hear anecdotes from others who are transitioning back-to-school.

What new “wisdom” did your child share after the first day? Were they anxious or excited to meet new friends? What did the teacher do to make them feel welcome at their new classroom? Did you encounter any challenges?

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By Kristin, mom of 3

Back-to-school is always a time of mixed emotion for me. Some relief because we will be back into a routine schedule. But mostly, anxiety because I don’t like change much and my kids are growing up so quickly!

It’s usually pretty stressful, too, with ensuring that my kids are well-equipped with all the supplies they need — not to mention shoes that actually fit after another season of growth!

This year, we got organized way ahead of time and it has made a huge difference.

We are spending these last few days before the first day of school hanging out as a family. Going hiking, biking, looking for cool rocks and exploring together at the park are all part of the game plan.

I’m slowly learning that when I relax and am truly “in the moment” with my kids, rather than rushing around and worrying about what’s next — whether it be what’s for lunch, activities or where we need to be — it is much more rewarding for me and my kids.

Anyone else have suggestions or tips for easing the transition of back-to-school?

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By Kakie Fitzsimmons, Vice President and founding partner, Farmer’s Hat Productions co-author Bur Bur and Friends book series

Obesity in kids is a national epidemic. I was a heavy as a child and know the emotional scars that come from it lasts a lifetime. In elementary school, I remember dreading gym class because when the teacher let the kids pick who would be on their own teams; I was always one of the last two or three. I knew it was because of my weight and this is just one memory of many.

Looking back on my situation, there was a combination of factors that led to this. My mom was a single mom with very limited resources. She had to work and there were times when we were on our own between school and the time she got home. It was easy to spend that time in front of the TV, playing video games and eating to pacify myself or to cure boredom.

A new study recently came out for the first time that tracks childhood obesity by state. That study came from the website of The Trust for America’s Health, which is the organization that published the study. I first read about this in an article titled “Americans are tipping the scales” in the Minneapolis Tribune. . –>

By Kakie Fitzsimmons, , Farmer’s Hat Productions co-author Bur Bur and Friends book series

When we founded Farmer’s Hat Productions, we wanted our books and characters to serve as tools/role models that educate kids about healthy lifestyles. Recently some information came acoss my desk involving different kinds of carbohydrates and their purpose. Like anything else, carbohydrates are good when used with a balanced diet.

It got me thinking that there might be a number of people out there that aren’t quite sure what complex carbohydrates are or why they are an important source of energy — especially for children. As a parent who is trying to raise a child as healthily as possible I wanted to share the knowledge. As a result, I pulled some information together to help others navigate the topic of complex carbs.

For the record, let me share. Complex carbs, take longer for our bodies to digest than simple carbohydrates. As a result, when eaten, they hold off your hunger longer and create more effective energy for your body. The best way to benefit from complex carbohydrates are when they are eaten in their natural state. Examples include oatmeal, barley, maize, wheat germ, corn meal, buckwheat, brown rice, legumes and beans, nuts, etc.

When I learned this information it made a difference in the choices I have made for myself and my son. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has some great information you can look up to learn more about these types of foods.

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By Kristin Schumacher, director of Student Leadership & Development at Lewis University and mother of three

My sister and I were recently sharing our parenting stories as we often do. She asked me: “If you had to cite the top 10 things parenting has taught you, what would they be?” It got me thinking and I decided to write it down. I hope some of the information below is as insightful for you as it was for me.

1.) I live by my calendar. Schedules are a GOOD thing! They are concrete and sound.

2.) I’ve learned that “teachable” moments are actually teaching me. In addition, my kids like me at that particular moment.

3.) Human touch can cure just about anything

4.) Stewardship delegation is so valuable. By teaching up front, I can hold my kids accountable for ‘doing’ what was asked of them. It also helps me later because I can delegate later with confidence that I: a.) taught them correctly and, b.) they have a clear understanding of what needs to be done.

5.) Battling with kids about clothes or hair really isn’t about clothes or hair at all. It is about them starting to spread their own wings and make choices about themselves. It is about independence.

6.) Comparing things to God, whether you are Christian or not, gives children a sense that there is something bigger than themselves out there.

7.) When you problem solve together, you-as the parent, are miraculously one of the smartest people on earth. (hint: make sure to let them think they came up with the solution, though.)

8.) If I go to bed within an hour of when the kids go to bed, we all function better the next day.

9.) When I center myself and do the opposite of what I feel in a fit of anger/impatience/yelling; I remain in control of the entire situation. So, if I feel anger, I start to somehow laugh. If I feel impatience, I talk calmly and bend down to their level. If I feel like I am about to yell, I whisper.

10.) If my husband and I are not on the same page regarding one issue or another, the kids will sense unstability and take advantage of the situation. “Mom & dad” vs. “kids” isn’t always a bad thing. It’s about boundaries and kids will undoubtedly always test them.

Please add your thoughts. What are the things parenting has taught you?

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By JoAnne Pastel, President and founder, Farmer’s Hat Productions co-author Bur Bur and Friends book series

This world is changing so quickly and there are a number of people out there that think of race when they hear the word “diversity.” At Farmer’s Hat Productions, when we think of diversity it’s about more than race. It is about choices, lifestyles and how families blend into healthy functioning communities that work for them. We are hearing more and more from customers/patrons/friends about the positive response to our Bur Bur and Friends book series! Thank you for your interest and support. Our world is changing along with our definitions in society of how we traditionally tend to think about families. Given the ever-increasing differences we see in families today, it is rewarding to receive recognition for our efforts.

Here is one recent example of what we are hearing from others:

Dear JoAnne:

Hello. I saw an article about the Bur Bur books in the St Paul Paper today. I just ordered the 3 book series. I am white and my husband is African-American. We have four children ( 16 yo, 14 yo and twins that are 5) . Thank you for doing this. It is so great. I am so happy to see books in print with kids of all varying skin tones. I am going to give this web site to other friends who have multi racial children. I look forward to watching your business grow.

- Julie England

Thank you, Julie for your feedback!

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By JoAnne Pastel, co-founder, Farmer’s Hat Productions co-author Bur Bur and Friends book series

My son, William, is currently obsessed with pirates. In fact, the other day, he boldly instructed my husband to “Walk the plank!” and “Swab the deck!”

After doing a little research, I realized that his pretend play is helping him to enact and explore different emotions. His pirate antics are usually testing out things like being brave, acting powerful or angry and, once in awhile, what it’s like to have some fear or anticipation about the “evil pirates” lurking just around the corner.

This pretend play is also a key part of my son’s interaction with his preschool friends. It allows them to bond on a unique level and test out different ways of interacting. It’s not always total sharing and happiness, but for William, having a friend join him in playing pirates is helping him learn more about taking turns and other coping skills.

One final thought: A key part of our Bur Bur and Friends book series and products is to celebrate diversity and represent multicultural and biracial families through our products. What strikes me when I watch William and his friends is their ability to play with a diverse group. They truly enjoy diverse activities and friendships. This is what we are striving for: to reach kids at a young age and reflect the diversity of the real world.

Below is a photo of my pirate with friends at a recent St. Paul Saints baseball game. It was “Beard and Mustache Day” and we made the most of it!

Please let us know if you have any comments to share about role playing (what comes after pirates?) and nuturing your kids’ friendships.

Pirate Bur Bur and Friends enjoy a day at the ballpark

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We are excited to share that Bur Bur and Friends’ has been getting a lot of media attention since our national product launch in late July!

Most recently, coverage includes articles in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota Parent, Toy Directory (TD) Monthly and numerous local TV interviews.

The Senior Editor of Parents Magazine also noted the Bur Bur and Friends’ book series as a ‘must have, must do, must buy’!

Subsequently, JoAnne Pastel and Kakie Fitzsimmons, the founders of Farmer’s Hat Productions and the Bur Bur and Friends product line, were honored to receive the following e-mail from a professor at the University of Minnesota recognizing the need for their business concept.

Thank you, Professor Mazingo for your positive feedback and to all others who are checking out and supporting what Bur Bur and Friends is all about!

____________________________________________________________________________________

From: Sherrie Mazingo [mailto:smazingo@umn.edu]
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 12:41 PM
To: info@farmershatproductions.com
Subject: Thank You

I just want to say “thank you” to JoAnne Pastel and Kakie Fitsimmons for
publishing these books.

For several years at the University of Southern California, and for the
last 8 years at the University of Minnesota, I taught a course initially
titled “Minorities and the Media,” later retitled (as awareness
heightened), “People of Color and the Media.” Biracial and multiracial
students were always a significant part of the enrollment in each
class. Over the years, we consistently discussed the fact that people
of color were broadly absent from representation in textbooks at all
levels and in all media including news, information and advertising
content.

As one result, I found that the students were often confused about their
identities, their true fit as members of American society, and that they
frequently lacked full self-esteem as well.

I have consistently taught my students that much more needs to be done
in terms of biracial and multiracial representation across all forms of
media, and I have taken steps on my own to address this issue.

You have taken an extremely important step toward correcting this
oversight. Again, I just want to thank you, strongly encourage you to
continue, and offer any assistance if needed. I, along with many others
I am certain, consider your work vital.

Best,

Sherrie Mazingo, Ph.D.
Professor and Cowles Media Fellow (ret.)
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455

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By Kristin Dunlap, mom of 3

When I think of a favorite childhood summertime treat, hands-down, it’s got to be S’mores. Simple to assemble. Messy to eat. And oh so good!

Tonight, Monday, August 20, Bur Bur and Friends are teaming up with Cosi’s Restaurant in Wayzata, Minn., to host a free S’mores night for local kids and families. In honor of the occasion, here are some facts, humor and a couple of S’mores recipes.

S’mores don’t require a campfire anymore — you can toast the marshmallows in the microwave or broil them quickly in the oven and have a “Cook-In.” My kids also like to participate in the assembly process and the opportunity to “build their own.”

Did You Know?
S’mores got their name from frequent requests for “some more” whenever they were made.

HOW GIRLS
MAKE S’MORES
(1) Place Hershey bars on graham crackers.
(2) Toast marshmallows. (3) Place toasted marshmallows on Hershey bars to melt chocolate.

HOW BOYS
MAKE S’MORES
(1) Eat Hershey bars.
(2) Eat marshmallows.
(3) Throw graham crackers at other boys.

PEANUT BUTTER S’MORES
Ingredients
2 pk 1.6oz peanut butter cups, unwrapped
8 graham cracker squares
4 lg Marshmallows

Directions
Place one peanut butter cup on each of 4 crackers. Spear marshmallows on long fork or clean stick, toast over campfire coals or over grill on low heat. Place toasted marshmallow on top of each peanut butter cup. Top each with a graham cracker. Press together and hold for a few seconds to melt chocolate. Enjoy!!

Variations:
- Place banana slices on top of the chocolate bar for an added, healthier treat.
- Spread peanut butter or raspberry preserves on the graham cracker.
- Place strawberry slices on top of the chocolate bar, again, adding flavor and a fruit serving to this treat!

Note: If you broil the marshmallows in the oven it takes approx. 1 minute — watch carefully and turn them periodically to brown them on all sides. If you choose to microwave the marshmallows, it takes about 10-15 seconds on Hi (100%) power.

If you check out the Bur Bur and Friends Web site, you’ll find some great coloring pages (free to download!).

The coloring pages introduce children to the Bur Bur and Friends characters — and give them a chance to express themselves with color, creativity and imagination.

Take a look at some of the colored pages we’ve received from visitors to the site, as well as from kids who attended our national product launch at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., in late July.

We’d love to see more artwork from Bur Bur’s growing network of friends! E-mail or mail them our way! We will be posting them periodically on this site.

By Somby, age 7

By Caley, age 2

By Reegan, age 5 1/2

By Siri, age 7

By Kensie, age 3

By Torie, age 4

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By Andy Murray, swim instructor and coach

As a swimming instructor for the past 15 years, I’ve experienced a lot when it comes to first lessons with young children. It’s not just about what’s happening IN the pool, but also poolside.

Here are some tips for parents that can help make the most of your child’s early pool and swimming lessons.

Do ask questions about the program and instructors
Make sure you are comfortable with the staff. Talk to other parents and children involved in the program. The best report card a program can get is that the parents are happy with the child’s progress and that the children are just happy about swimming.

Don’t ask questions at the beginning or during the lesson
This will delay the instruction as well as be a safety issue, since you are distracting the staff from watching your child.

Do encourage your swimmer
Positive encouragement and questions about your swimmer’s lessons will let them know you think this is important and you are interested in their progress.

Don’t criticize your swimmer about slow progress or mistakes made at lessons
This will make your swimmer more anxious about the lessons.

Do get your swimmer a floatie or bubble to use when in the water outside of lessons
The swimmer should always use the flotation device until he/she can float well. Even with a flotation device, the swimmer should never be unsupervised.

Don’t have the first swim lesson be your child’s first time in a pool
Get them comfortable with water before starting lessons.

Do swim and play in the water with your child
Showing your child that swimming is fun and something you like will give them another reason to want to learn to swim. Have your child show you some things they learned in lessons, but don’t turn it into another lesson.

Don’t expect miracles
It may take years for your child to go from blowing bubbles to the butterfly stroke. Don’t get discouraged or anxious and give up on lessons. Once your child learns to swim, it will be a lifelong skill that has great benefits.

Do enroll your child in swim lessons in the winter
Most swim lesson programs run year-round and there are several reasons why the winter is a good time to start lessons. Winter lessons will give your child several months to learn before summer and classes may be smaller/easy to get into since winter is not when people typically think of swimming. There is no reason not to. The water is always the same temperature and your child will not catch a cold from being in the pool in the winter.

Do encourage your children to practice outside of lessons
This can be accomplished at a community swimming pool, a friend’s swimming pool or in the bathtub.

Andy Murray is the founder of www.SwimLessonInfo.com a children’s swim lesson resource Web site. He has taught children’s swimming lessons for 15 years. He also coaches a youth swim team in Boston, Mass.

By Kakie Fitzsimmons, Vice President and founding partner, Farmer’s Hat Productions co-author Bur Bur and Friends book series
I can’t think of any parent who has never had power struggles with their kids about food. The challenge lies in how to overcome them in a way that makes it a positive experience.

In our crazy world of trying to balance work, social, sports and family life, the last thing we want to do is have an argument with our kids about what they are going to have for dinner. When I was a child, we were poor and we got whatever was placed in front of us or we would go hungry.

Recently there was a post on the Business Week parents blog section called ‘TV NUTRITIONIST WANTS US TO STOP KILLING OUR KIDS’

This article got me thinking about so many issues. What has worked for others? What role can I play? What can we do to empower our children to make good healthy choices and stay active? We all want healthy, happy kids.

I was heavy as a child and the emotional scars it leaves behind are not fun at all. Fortunately, I had a mother, who in her loving way, sent my sister and I to what we now call fondly call ‘fat camp’. I was 12 my sister was 11. Little did we know how it would set a foundation for us for the rest of our lives.

It taught us a lot about the fact that being healthy is about lifestyle choices. It taught us what are ‘normal’ choices, portion sizes. It was amazing to me. Apparently it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to signal your brain that you are full. So that is exactly what they had us do at camp. I got full off of one piece of french toast, a glass of water and a glass of orange juice! Who would have thought that?

There are so many factors that contribute to healthy eating.

1. Balance and and learning what is ‘normal’. I used to know a guy who defined ‘normal’ as ‘the setting on your dryer’ which I think is funny. We all have different thermostats, settings, etc. The bottom line is we each have to establish what ‘normal’ is for ourselves. There is no such thing as one size fits all.

2. Habit - How easy is it to fall into routine? I think we have to create new routines for and with our kids that involve keeping active. We began writing Bur Bur and Friends book series to motivate parents and kids to get moving. Our hope is that our children’s books and the characters featured in them, will make a difference in this world. When was the last time you went outside with your kid to kick the soccer ball around or throw a football, frisbee, basketball, etc? Those are the things that teach our kids about interacting with one another. They will remember those moments. I don’t think it is likely they say: ‘Hey - remember that time we all sat around the house watching TV?” The time to create memories is NOW.

3. Portion size - How do we know what is a serving when american culture teaches ‘more is better’? It is important to teach our children that information. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Recently revised their food pyramid and established a website that can help figure out and track adequate portion size. They even have a special area for kids. My sister used to keep a copy of the food pyramid hanging in her kitchen so she could talk to her kids about it while cooking or eating. You can print out the food pyramid at the site referenced above.

At the beginning of the post I talked about power struggles with food. I don’t have all of the answers, none of us do. Perhaps if we teach our kids not just that they have to eat something, but why it could make a difference.

Please share what has worked for you in the comments section below.

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By Jodi Nelson, Minnesota Mom of 2

Getting my 4 1/2-year old daughter to sleep has been, well, a nightmare. After reading countless books on sleep, visiting a sleep specialist and tearing my hair out for four years, I finally resorted to my own agenda and approach.

We don’t give my daughter candy very often and one day, she was begging for a roll of “Smarties.” I said fine, you can have two now and if you go to sleep right away, with no crying and no getting out of bed, you can have the rest right away in the morning.

She said OK and went right to bed (for the entire night!) and was proud to get the rest of her Smarties in the morning. We continued with various rewards the rest of the week and by the weekend, we were on track. (I try to use stickers, pencils and other novelty, non-candy items as much as possible)

The second week, I started spreading out the rewards every other day, then every couple of days, etc. Eventually, the sleep struggles were under control!

We definitely have had relapses, but when we resort back to the plan for a few days, the bedtime challenge is a non-issue.

The key to the strategy for me is to give special rewards — i.e., things that my daughter doesn’t usually get, so they are very special. If you give in and give them something, it will backfire immediately. These kids are too smart, if they figure out they will get the prize anyway, they won’t bother doing what you ask.

I have used this same technique for other things that I have wanted my daughter to succeed at. Sometimes it works right away and other times it takes a little bit, but in the end, it has worked every time.

I hope this strategy works for others!

P.S.: Don’t forget to put the reward next to your child’s bed or in a special designated spot once they are asleep. If they wake up after doing what you ask and it is not there, they are not as receptive to trying it again the next night. Good luck!

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By Kakie Fitzsimmons, Vice President and founding partner, Farmer’s Hat Productions co-author Bur Bur and Friends book series

When we chose to become authors of Bur Bur and Friends, multicultural children’s books that educate kids about sports, outdoor exploration and active play, it did not occur to us that it would change how we watch these activities.

Now, I find myself taking mental notes and paying closer attention as I watch how the kids play together. It is exciting to see them catching on as they learn more about the sport and teamwork. It has become more intriguing to watch the different ways a coach interacts with the kids and encourages their growth.

As parents, we wander around trying to figure out the whole balancing act thing. How do we define balance? What is it supposed to look like? Is there any one right way? Something happened to me the other night that I think many of you can relate to if your kids are in sports… I felt compelled to share it. Below is an hour and ten minutes in the life of a soccer mom: (more…)