Help Your Kids "Measure" Up This Summer

...and by "measure" up, I mean help reinforce measurement skills this summer. It's so easy, and the kids won't even know they're doing math!

In my latest CHEX Daily segment (just days before my first anniversary as a guest on the show) I chat with hosts Teresa Kaszuba and Mike Judson about all of the ways we use measurement in our daily lives...all you need to do is bring the kids in on the conversation!





A few additional points:

• The biggest issue kids have reading non-digital thermometers is the scale. If the mercury goes one notch above the 20, they assume it's 21...even though the notches may be going up by 2s or even 5s. Remind them to figure out the scale before coming up with the temperature.
• Many parents ask if it's okay for kids to start with digital watches and clocks. My personal/professional answer is...absolutely. It gives them a great introduction to what times "look" like, they see the pattern of minutes starting over after 59 and hours starting over after 12, they start to "read" times properly, and get a sense for what activities happen at what point in the day. (On a parenting note, digital clocks have earned me many extra zzzzzs. My girls were very young when I set them up and taught them that they could not leave their rooms in the morning until the time started with a "7"!) That said, it's still essential that they learn analog clock skills when the time is right.
• Finally: when it comes to measurement, estimating is a very important skill that we work on a lot at school, and kids need to realize that it's OKAY if their estimates are incorrect...even by a long shot. They don't need to erase or backtrack on answers to prove themselves smart. Good mathematicians learn from their errors and use that information to do better next time. Never mind mathematicians, that principle applies to people in general.

Now for some fashion fun (note that the beautiful apple necklace and gold chain were given to me by a student at the end of the year):

If you can't see the photo, click on the Instagram caption to bring it up.

Headed to CHEX Daily - first time wearing my green dress from Simons in Montreal (yes, a real green dress, cruel or not).

A photo posted by Kate Winn (@katethismomloves) on Jul 14, 2015 at 1:37pm PDT

My Girls Model Limeapple Active Girls' Apparel

When I told the girls they could each choose a dress from Limeapple, they were like kids in a candy store checking out the website. There was a lot of discussion (my older daughter made it quite clear that her sister could not choose the same dress she had chosen) but finally they made their picks.

Shipping was pretty quick, about a week (with a holiday thrown in there). When the package arrived, I laid the dresses out on their beds for them to find when they arrived home that day, and they squealed with delight! (Especially Frannie. I have a little fashionista on my hands with her.)

We waited a couple of days for the right occasion, and then got all dressed up for a family afternoon spent in beautiful Bobcaygeon, Ontario - starting with an impromptu photo shoot at home!

As you can see, Limeapple is big on colour and colour-blocking, which looks so great on kids. (I'm trying to branch out, but there's a LOT of black in my wardrobe!) The fabric is super-comfortable - no complaints about anything "feeling funny'.

Limeapple is described as "the premier lifestyle brand for young girls and preteens". Their clothing comes in sizes 12 months to 14, and based on the response at my house, it certainly appeals right through 9 years old at least. Their lines include active wear (lots of dance pieces), swimwear, casual clothing and even fancier looks for special events. 

Limeapple wants to empower girls to lead positive lifestyles...which (as I mentioned last time I wrote about them) is certainly a philosophy I can get on board with!

The girls actually received a couple of compliments on their dresses that afternoon from strangers, as we had a wonderful lunch at Just For the Halibut and did some shopping on the main street of Bobcaygeon (the Visa was well-used at Bigley's Shoes and Clothing).

I already had a chance to test out the washability of the clothing, as some of  the Kawartha Dairy Death by Chocolate ice cream happened to make its way onto both dresses. I did a quick pre-treatment spray just in case (I find, from extensive experience, that chocolate ice cream can be tricky to get out) and regular cold water wash worked very well.

Frannie also chose a sporty swimsuit from Limeapple (shown on a model below). I was impressed by the variety in swimwear, whether you're looking for one or two pieces (including long-sleeved), athletic or frilly.

More good news? Shipping is free to Canada and US for purchases over $25.

I knew the Limeapple dresses were a hit when one of the girls gave me a big hug and said, "Mommy, thanks for starting a blog!"

Disclosure: We were provided with the above items for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, our own.

"Cold Drinks!" (All About My Entrepreneurial Daughters)

As much as they adore school, my girls have been talking about summer for months now, and one of the most exciting things for them has been the prospect of setting up a cold drinks booth for people driving by.

Right from the beginning, they knew they wanted to donate some proceeds to charity, but they weren't sure which charity or how much to donate.

One wanted to share with a children's hospital, one with the local hospital ("since we were born there and Grandpa died there") and then my brilliant grandmother suggested a compromise: they could give the money to the children's floor at the local hospital. Decision made.

The breakdown of profits was a different discussion. Should we allow them to keep some of the money they made? They didn't even care, but I actually thought it was important. Now let me be clear: we are not hard up for cash, and as parents we're not touching any of the girls' earnings ourselves. However, I really do think that from an early age it's beneficial for kids to learn to work for their money, and let's be honest: it's a motivating factor for adults as well. The fact that charity was foremost on their minds tells me that we've done something right, and we decided it would be fair if they kept half (really 25% each) and donated the other half of the profits. (They're not advertising any affiliation with the hospital, since not all of the money is going to them, and we didn't get any sort of official permission.)

On the weekend, we added the girls' drink selections (Coke, Diet Coke, ginger ale and water, to start), to the grocery list at a grand total of $15, which they promised to repay as soon as possible. Grandpa was enlisted to build them a couple of plywood signs they could place at the side of the road to attract traffic, and card tables were borrowed.

This afternoon they were finally ready to open shop...and it went very well for them!

Their strategy: wave and smile at every approaching vehicle ("Who can resist this cuteness?" one of them joked). In two and a half hours, they made more than enough to repay their investment (sales were good, but the generous "tips" they received certainly helped), and they still have enough product left to go back out tomorrow (they kept a tally chart to keep track of the merchandise sold). I actually had to drag them in to have supper, they were having so much fun! They're considering adding a table of "yard sale" type items for sale (books, toys, etc.) but I'm not sure that the clientele will be interested. We shall see!

The teacher in me is loving the math lessons offered by their new business (e.g., they learned that water has the highest profit margin, so it's great that it sold the most), and as an added bonus, if they keep this up on a regular basis, my yard and gardens will look better than ever, since I stay outside and close enough to keep an eye on the transactions and assist in case of a problem while they're at the table.

Have your kids tried any money-making ventures? I'd love to hear about them!

Kate's Favourite Things - July 2015

Here's a list of my current favourite things - with a heavy focus on entertainment this month!

BOOKS:

The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza: especially if you're interested in the writing/magazine world, and the young-protegee-tries-to-step-over-the-boss theme

The Pocket Wife by Susan Crawford: a psychological thriller - did Dana murder her friend during a blackout?

A Better Man by Leah MacLaren: this one's original - in order to negotiate a better divorce settlement, Nick Wakefield plays the role of the perfect husband...but then realizes he wants to keep his family. Is he too late?

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion: a sequel to the bestselling The Rose Project, I found this one almost as enjoyable

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley: this one is a classic, recommended by a friend. I found the start pretty slow, but I was glad I stuck with it because it got much better. A favourite passage:

"Had I faced all the facts? It seemed like I had, but actually, you never know, just by remembering, how many facts there were to have faced. Your own endurance might be a pleasant fiction allowed you by others who've really faced the facts."

Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan: it's light, but I loved it. Polly leaves the big city after her relationship and business fail, and ends up in a small seaside village. She distracts herself from loneliness by baking bread...can you see where this is going? The author has written many books with titles that include "Cupcake Cafe", "Chocolate Shop" and "Sweetshop"...so be prepared to have your mouth water.

MOVIES:

Aloha: I love Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone and Bradley Cooper, so they really couldn't go wrong here. Some of the satellite-into-space plot lost me, but I was definitely pulled into the relationships. You also can't beat Hawaii for a setting. (I don't even forward through the opening credits of Hawaii 5-0 because I love to see the shots of the scenery. Okay, and maybe Alex O'Laughlin, too. But now I'm just getting off topic).

Selma: While I would like to see more about the final years of Martin Luther King, Jr., this movie, as the title indicates, focuses on the time period of the march from Selma to Montgomery. Very entertaining, while at the same time a learning experience. Decide for yourself how unjust the Oscar snub was.

McFarland: While I didn't watch this film (a true story with Kevin Costner playing a high school Cross Country coach) with my kids, I'd definitely consider it a family movie to watch with tweens and teens. (I'm not sure all of the subject matter would have held my nine-year-old's attention). 

Spy: We saw this one in theatres, and I can see why it topped the box office. Melissa McCarthy has a great comedic role, and surprisingly so does typical action hero Jason Statham. 

MISCELLANEOUS:

The Yell Jar: A few weeks ago we instituted a "Yell Jar" (actually a mug that one of the girls painted), and established a fine of 25 cents for every infraction. I'm telling you - it works! The first week a few quarters went in, but there has been a huge improvement in our home in terms of raised voices. Sometimes it was girls fighting, sometimes it was just one of us (including me) using volume instead of going directly to speak to someone, but either way we've all made a concentrated effort and I'm pleased with the results! As I said on Facebook, I don't want to be "that mom" - the one who's always yelling at her kids (especially since they're pretty darn good kids to begin with). This has really helped, not because the quarters mean that much to me, but the cause certainly does!

COMING NEXT MONTH:

With my birthday tomorrow and some Chapters shopping planned soon (thanks to some generous gift cards from students), I hope to have lots to share with you in the August edition of Kate's Favourite Things!

July 1 - BOGO at Limeapple Girls' Apparel!

I'm always on the lookout for companies with great kids' products, so I was excited when I was contacted by Limeapple. They're sending some fashions (dresses and a swimsuit) for my girls, which we'll review soon, but I didn't want you to miss out on the huge sale they're having.

On July 1, for one day only, it's buy one, get one free on ALL summer boutique and swim items. I find the regular prices reasonable (most summer dresses and swimwear are around the $50 mark), so you're getting a great deal when it's two-for-one. Plus, they offer free shipping to US and Canada on orders over $25, which is fantastic.

Limeapple is described as "the premier lifestyle brand for young girls and preteens". Their clothing comes in sizes 12 months to 14, and I can tell you my 7 and 9-year-olds were in love with the styles on the website. Making selections was quite a process for them! The Limeapple brand is all about colour (lots of trendy colourblocking) and their lines include active wear (lots of dance pieces), swimwear, casual clothing and even fancier looks for special events. 

Limeapple wants to empower girls to lead positive lifestyles...which is certainly a philosophy I can get on board with! I'll be back with all the details after my girls try out their own looks, but for now, head over to Limeapple yourself and take advantage of their summer BOGO sale!

Disclosure: We are being provided with Limeapple items for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, our own.

My Interview with Sarah Allen from Global TV's Remedy

A few months ago I had the chance to interview Canadian actress Sarah Allen, from the Global TV medical drama Remedy. When we chatted (for Parents Canada magazine), she was still weeks away from giving birth, and we talked all about maternity wear, pregnancy rules and her flexible birth plan. While some stars are hesitant to get personal, Sarah had no problem elaborating on her responses to all of my questions.

Sarah has since given birth to a baby girl. Daughter Rae was born at home on May 12, 2015 weighing 4 lbs 10 oz. After a few days in the hospital to "fatten up", she returned home and began "eating like a machine", according to her proud mama.

We've recently learned that Remedy will sadly not be returning for another season, so we'll have to look forward to seeing Sarah elsewhere on the small (or big screen) in the future!

You can find highlights from the interview here on the Parents Canada website, and follow Sarah Allen on Twitter.

Parents: 5 Tips For Fostering a Growth Mindset in Your Kids

I've written about (and gone on TV to talk about) growth mindset before, and I recently had the chance to write an article all about it for Oxford Learning.

In the article, I'm sharing what it means to have a growth mindset and why it's so important for your kids (and you!) as well as five tips for parents.

Check it out here: 5 Tips For Helping Foster a Growth Mindset

School Year Wrap-Up Ideas For Parents (TV segment)

In case you haven't noticed, the school year is quickly winding down! Last night on CHEX Daily, I chatted with hosts Teresa Kaszuba and Mike Judson about some things to keep in mind as your child's school year draws to a close, such as:

• the number one question to ask your child's teacher before the year ends 
• if you should be making requests for next year's class/teacher
• an idea for what you can do with all that artwork that comes home
• the best way to thank the teacher (with a SavvyMom.ca idea; my free printable can be found here)
• some last-day-of-school traditions

I really went wild with my look for the last CHEX Daily appearance of the 2014/2015 school year, as I noted on Instagram (seen below):

My idea of risk-taking: wearing my hair up on TV! (I much prefer to wear it down, as anyone who knows me in real-Iife or online would be able to tell!) The dress is amazing though: $38 from Simon's! Maybe I should show it in another pic...

A photo posted by Kate Winn (@katethismomloves) on Jun 16, 2015 at 1:37pm PDT

By the way, here's how my 9-year-old's thank you letter turned out - please don't tell her teacher!

So, enjoy these last few days! It's barely a week until my last-day tradition, when I will read Thank You, Mr. Falker and cry in front of my class. Good times.