PotreroHillParents.org

The first 4 or 5 months are simple, babies only need formula or breastmilk and they’re as happy as can be. Then it’s time to introduce solid foods. It can be a big decision. Is it hard to make baby food? How bad is the jar food? Will my baby develop bad habits depending on what he eats (or doesn’t eat) first?

Although it sometimes seems like there’s never enough time to do anything these days, the article below explains how important early nutrition is, and also how making healthy food for your baby is not all that hard or time consuming. Of course, I always keep a couple of jars on hand, just in case.

A Fresh Start to Healthy Eating

Introducing solid foods is a very important step in your baby’s development and well-being. In fact, studies show that babies who are fed nutritious, healthy diets grow into stronger kids and better-adjusted eaters than those who are fed poor diets.

Many parents don’t realize that making baby food at home is a simple and economical plan to provide your baby with the best in quality, nutrition and taste. It makes it easy for you to ensure your child gets the best start possible. Making baby food using fresh, all-natural ingredients has many benefits, including:

* Increased nutritional value
* Elimination of additives
* Improved freshness
* Added variety
* Enhanced control
* Lower costs

Read more…

With Mother’s Day just passed, we find an interesting story that’s still timely.

Be grateful to your mom. Not only did she carry you around for nine months, but now new research suggests that her mothering style may have triggered genes that help determine your parenting style.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

New research reveals that a mother’s touch early in life could trigger a child’s future mothering skills. Columbia University neurobiologist Frances Champagne says that previous research across species showed that maternal behaviors are passed down from mother to daughter.

ScienCentral News has the story.

In advance of Marion Nestle’s upcoming Potrero Hill event to discuss her new book, What To Eat, PotreroHillParents.org had the opportunity to ask the author and well-known nutrionist some questions about food, health and parenting.

Here’s our exclusive interview:

PHP: In your latest book What to Eat, you mention that there’s not just one single nutrient that will make you healthy. Can you give us a few examples of how we can make sure our kids are eating healthy?

Nestle: Oops. That isn’t quite what I meant. One single nutrient alone won’t make you healthy. You need enough—but not too much–of all of them. Since there are more than fifty nutrients required for health, you would go crazy trying to keep track of them one at a time. The great thing about food is that you don’t have to. Unprocessed foods contain loads of nutrients, although the proportions of single nutrients differ. That’s why eating lots of different kinds of foods is a really good idea. If you can encourage your kids to taste and try many different foods, even eating small amounts of them, you really don’t need to worry about single nutrients (and if you still have nagging doubts, give them a multivitamin).

PHP: From unhealthy school lunches to being bombarded by television ads for junk food, we recognize how “tempting” it is these days for kids to eat the wrong foods. What advice can you give parents to keep their children on track nutritionally?

Nestle: I see three problems with junk foods. They are heavily advertised to make kids want them, they are highly processed so they are not as nutritious as “real” foods, and they are loaded with calories which today’s kids don’t need. Worse, the advertising is designed to make kids think they are supposed to eat those foods, and not the foods that you eat. Kids should be eating foods for grownups, just smaller amounts and not heavily salted or sugared. If you don’t want your kids eating junk foods, don’t have those foods in the house.

PHP: How can parents get involved to create real change in the way schools feed our kids?
Read more »

Submitted by Allison Curletto

Remember the worm-tunnels in that silly 80’s movie, Tremors? The group of young scientists that went out into the desert and discovered these weird giant gopher-looking trails? It takes them until half-way through the movie to figure out what makes them, and, when they do find out, the creatures are totally alien-looking monsters.

That same storyline is taking place on the top of my belly. During the Easter Sunday service, for example, I sat in my pew and looked down at my belly as I feel the all too familiar twitches of baby movement. I wore a silver silk dress my cousin lent me that day and it lay smoothly against my skin. The little lump that was twitching under my skin suddenly started visably traveling a couple inches to the right. I elbowed Paul in enough time for him to see Baby B’s fist make the trip back, like a moving worm-hole, toward my center again at the end her stretch. Kind of an errie occurance to watch – especially at church when you imagine a rebellious exercist baby fighting the sounds of godly hymns and prayer (taking after her Dad, I guess, who squirms through most church services!).

Paul finds these movements a bit unnerving. I’ll put his hand on a hard lump and, at first, he’s curious – he’ll keep it there and wait. But, as soon as the lump starts traveling somewhere or moves up toward him, his “heebie-jeebie” factor becomes too strong. His hand flies off and he’ll mutter something while shaking his head. Sort of like those scientists in the movie Tremors who have this curious, but terrifying experience with their discovery.

I, on the other hand, have become more like Bill Murray in Caddyshack. I’m constantly seeking those hard lumps, trying to figure out where “the gopher” will be next. I’m fascinated, nearly obsessed, trying to figure out what the lump is: a foot, an elbow, a head, a bum? Read more »

This is a touching story with a strong message.

It was one of those unexpected moments in parenting when you are able to break through and possibly make a lasting difference in the life of one of your children. It seems moments like these just happen—they are never planned or expected but occur when circumstances suddenly align.

I was installing a motion detector light on the front of our house. My 9-year-old daughter was standing beside the ladder watching. Occasionally, she would hand me a tool or ask a question. No big deal, really. Then I realized I needed to run to the hardware store to buy an electric box. They cost less than a dollar, but I didn’t have one and had no choice but to drive around the loop to get it.

That’s when it happened. Savannah wanted to ride with me. So we hopped into my truck and began our quest. The good thing about a trip like this is there is time for conversation. No one is in a big hurry or fretting about the trip. It’s a great chance to talk and listen, so that’s what we did.

READ MORE…

Resource: Dads & Daughters

(via KidsHealth.org)

Any kid worth his or her salt will generate a little chaos and disorganization. Yours might tear through the house leaving a trail of toys, backpacks, shoes, and empty drink cups. Or flit from one thing to the next - forgetting books at school, leaving towels on the floor, and failing to finish projects once started. You’d like your child to be more organized and to stay focused on tasks, such as homework. Is it possible?

Yes, it is. A few kids seem naturally organized, but for the rest of them, organization is a skill learned over time. Does your child seem especially resistant to living in an orderly way? With your help and some practice, your child can develop an effective approach to getting stuff done. And you are the perfect person to teach your child, even if you don’t feel all that organized yourself!

Easy as 1-2-3
For kids, all tasks can be broken down into a 1-2-3 process.

1. Getting organized means a kid gets where he or she needs to be and gathers the supplies needed to complete the task.
2. Staying focused means sticking with the task and learning to say “no” to distractions.
3. Getting it done means finishing up, checking your work, and putting on the finishing touches, like remembering to put a homework paper in the right folder and putting the folder inside the backpack so it’s ready for the next day.

Read more »

I sometimes consider myself a real cupcake “snob”. Growing up on only home made treats as a kid, I find it tough to even like most bakery cupcakes. That was until I went to NYC and tried cupcakes by Magnolia Bakery — never dry and they have lots of (well my favorite) buttercream frosting!

A copy of their recipe is below (and here’s the link, since they look so pretty in the photo). I have one of the Magnolia cookbooks and have made the cupcakes about 4 or 5 times now.

If you follow the recipe exactly, they come out wonderful!! Disclaimer: I have to admit that it’s temptingly dangerous to have them around — in fact, I’m waiting for my daughter’s first birthday in August to have an excuse to make them again. Not that excuses are needed.

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Everyone is always asking us which is the most popular cupcake at the bakery. Most people are surprised that it is what we call the vanilla vanilla - the vanilla cupcake with the vanilla icing (and the most popular color for the icing is pink). Makes about 2 dozen cupcakes (depending on the size of your cupcake papers and muffin tins) Read more »

Submitted by Jensa Woo

LIBRARY NEWS
May 2006

A NEIGHBORHOOD CELEBRATION
The 51st Annual Potrero Hill Artists’ Exhibition was on display last month at the Potrero Branch Library and was well-received by folks who stopped in to view the artwork. This year, artwork was submitted by eight-one artists who live, work, or study on Potrero Hill. A show like this would not have been possible without the help and support of many. A hearty “Thank you!” to all who worked to make this year’s exhibition and opening reception a memorable one:
Read more »

In theory, it should be easy for kids to get plenty of excercise- with all of that boundless energy, they never sit still! Yet, childhood obesity is at an alarming rate in the United States.

Video games, TV and the increased pressures to excell academically all add to this problem. Sometimes we forget to let our kids get out and just “run around”.

Below is an interesting article on why excericise is important and essential to a healthy childhood.

When most adults think about exercise, they imagine working out in the gym on a treadmill or lifting weights. But for children, exercise means playing and being physically active. Kids exercise when they have gym class at school, soccer practice, or dance class. They’re also exercising when they’re at recess, riding bikes, or playing tag.

The Many Benefits of Exercise

Everyone can benefit from regular exercise. A child who is active will:

* have stronger muscles and bones
* have a leaner body because exercise helps control body fat
* be less likely to become overweight
* decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
* possibly lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels
* have a better outlook on life

In addition to the health benefits of regular exercise, kids who are physically fit sleep better and are better able to handle the physical and emotional challenges that a typical day presents - be that running to catch a bus, bending down to tie a shoe, or studying for a test.

Read entire article