Everything You Need to Know About Fostering Animals

by Kenzie KramerMay 14, 2021

Thinking about bringing a furry family member into your life? Fostering a pet from a shelter or rescue organization may be the perfect way to ease into pet parenthood. Not only do you get to experience caring for a pet before making a long-term commitment, but you’re providing safe, temporary housing (and much-needed TLC!) to animals in need before they find their forever homes. If you’re considering fostering a pet, read on to learn what you need to know to prepare.

See how Hill’s science-backed nutrition can give your best friend their best life.

Why Do Animals Need Foster Care?

While there are many reasons dogs and cats need foster homes, often it’s because a shelter doesn’t have the capacity to fit every abandoned animal they bring in before an adoption takes place. Fostering is especially beneficial for animals who have a hard time adjusting to shelter life, need extra help socializing with people or are recovering from an illness, procedure or injury. You may also be able to foster orphaned kittens and puppies (however, there are certain requirements the organization you choose may have!). Fostering not only frees up space for a shelter organization to take in more needy animals, but it gives your foster pet the time he or she needs to be ready for adoption. Being around people (and perhaps other pets!) helps timid animals feel more comfortable and let their true colors shine.

How Do I Find a Foster Organization?

Aside from good old Google, ask friends and neighbors if they’ve worked with shelter organizations nearby. You’d be surprised at how many people in your area are involved with these lifesaving groups. Once you find a local spot that feels like the right fit, you’ll most likely fill out an application and questionnaire so they can begin the process of pairing you with a foster pet. You may then have a phone screening followed by an at-home visit.

See how Hill’s science-backed nutrition can give your best friend their best life.

What Can I Expect?

A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to match people with foster pets. Organizations make sure you’re compatible and well equipped to take on the needs of your new buddy. Animals will have received veterinary care and been temperament tested. You’ll be provided with any medication the animal requires, their medical record, as well as guidance on how to best care for them. You’ll want to know if there are behavioral issues to be aware of. And before you go on a shopping spree, find out what supplies are included. Your pet visitor may come with a collar, leash, crate, tags, medication (if need be) and more. You will be responsible for food, toys and any other extras to spoil your little guy or gal.

Expect the first couple of days to be an adjustment for all of you as your foster pet adapts to their new space and new people! Don’t be surprised if that sweet pup hides under the coffee table for the first few hours before making his way to your lap. Have an open mind and be respectful (new humans can be overwhelming!). Creating a daily routine for food, rest and exercise can be helpful.

While you’re busy providing love and attention, the shelter organization will be hard at work on the adoption process. You’ll most likely be required to bring your pet to an adoption drive/event or have potential adopters come to your home. Fostering may last just for a few days, a few weeks or longer. It’s good to be flexible about the commitment since the time frame is never certain.

If you're considering fostering, Hill's Pet has helpful resources of with how to prepare for fostering, and how to become a foster family for a cat!

What if I Want to Adopt My Foster Pet?

You may go into fostering convinced this is a short-term situation. Then… you fall in love. (Yep, it happens All.The.Time. It’s lovingly referred to becoming a member of the “foster fail club.”) Foster parents often have the option to adopt, but each organization has its own policies. Check with the group you’re volunteering with beforehand to know if you’ll be able to turn temporary into forever should your circumstances head in that direction!

No matter what, fostering is a rewarding, feel-good experience. Whether you prepare a pet for their new home or decide to add that cuddly creature to your crew, you’ve made life better for an innocent animal in need.

See how Hill’s science-backed nutrition can give your best friend their best life.

21 Random Acts of Kindness to Inspire San Diego Kids

by Beth SheaMarch 3, 2021

Today, Feb. 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day 2021, so we’ve made a list of 21 easy yet impactful ways to spread some love around San Diego with your kids. These small acts of charity will make a big difference in the lives of many––and we’re certain your little do-gooders will have warm hearts and soaring spirits for helping out. Read on for where to start creating a culture of kindness.

1. Visit Children’s Nature Retreat to feed over 140 rescue animals. Kids will practice kindness while interacting with amazing creatures including zebra, horses, camels and pigs.

2. Incorporate Meatless Mondays into your family’s dinner plans. Here’s our great list of plant-based recipes to get you started.

3. Even the youngest tots can learn animal empathy at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum’s Fun Animal Fridays. This month they can meet a gecko and a python!

4. Donate pet food to AniMeals. Your donation will help local pet owners who need assistance paying for their pet food. Find a drop off location for donations near you.

5. Make ‘Welcome Duffle Bags’ for San Diego Center for Children so kids and teens placed in foster care will have some items to call their own.

6. Visit one of our favorite donut shops with the little ones… and buy an extra dozen to give to the administration office at your kid’s school.

7. Eat locally-grown foods and shop at one of San Diego’s Farmer’s Markets to support local growers.

8. Go thru a local coffee shop's drive thru with your kids and buy drinks for the people in the car behind you.

9. It’s Girl Scout Cookie time. Donate a box to troops via San Diego’s Operation Thin Mint when you order your cookies.

10. Volunteer as a family at one of these San Diego charities and non-profit organizations.

11. Get a jumpstart on your spring cleaning and donate your kids’ gently used toys and outgrown clothing to a local charity.

12. Leave some healthy and delicious packaged snacks and drinks and a thank you note in your mailbox for your mail carrier or at your front door for Amazon delivery drivers.

13. Join forces with local organization Surfrider Foundation to protect the ocean and beaches. See how to volunteer here.

14. Not enough time to garden? Order up a weekly CSA box of farm fresh produce and know that your veggies are fresh, sourced locally, and helping farmers in the community make a living.

15. Teach your kids to be kind to themselves and practice mindfulness and meditation through the practice of yoga. This creates an outward ripple effect for them to create love and joy in the world.

16. Drop off flowers or a lovely plant for a neighbor or family member who is feeling isolated.

17. Help an elderly neighbor weed their garden––or mow their lawn or start them a garden featuring their fave vegetable.

18. Check out the San Diego Humane Society's Wish List and donate an item or two to help animals in need.

19. Plant a fruit tree in a communal area of your neighborhood so everyone may reap the rewards of fresh picked fruit.

20. Lend a hand to San Diego North Coast Knitters Guild by knitting a hat, scarf, mittens or slippers, etc. for a variety of worthy recipients who cherish the items.

21. Adopt or foster an animal. Here are some great places to adopt a pet, and most organizations need foster parents for pets too.

––Beth Shea

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7 Ways to Spread the Love on Valentine’s Day

By Natalie Silverstein

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

February 2, 2021

Photo: Simple Acts Guide

Valentine’s Day is a sweet opportunity for kids to share love and kindness with friends and family. It’s a day filled with hearts, flowers, and candy and serves as a bright spot during the long winter months, especially this year. Like most holidays, it has been commercialized over the years, with store shelves filling with boxes of chocolate, cards, and gifts starting in early January. Americans will spend over $21 billion dollars celebrating Valentine’s Day this month. Not surprisingly, most people (73% of those surveyed) feel it is even more important to celebrate the holiday this year as we struggle to find happy moments in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.

Showering love and affection on our children, partners, and loved ones is so important, but I’d like to suggest that we re-focus our Valentine’s Day celebrations just a bit. We can make our kids feel special while also giving them the opportunity to spread the joy of the holiday to others. We can move away from spending lots of money on gifts that people don’t really need and flowers that will end up in a landfill while helping kids flex their “empathy” muscles and experience the warm, wonderful feelings that come from helping and caring for others.

Here are a few ways to spread the love of Valentine’s Day to those who might be struggling in your own community and around the country.

1. Create Cozy Nights for Kids in Need: Donate new pajama’s to children who are homeless, in foster care, or living in domestic violence shelters in your community. The Pajama Program is a national nonprofit organization that promotes and supports a comforting bedtime routine and healthy sleep for children facing adversity. Since 2001, they have provided over 7 million cozy pajamas and inspiring storybooks to children, as well as critical resources for parents & caregivers to support children at bedtime. The Pajama Program provides resources to help you host a donation drive, and identifies a local organization that will accept your donations. Financial donations are also always welcome. You can donate to the Pajama Program or to a similar organization, Family-to-Family, which provides new pajamas, a soft blanket, and a cuddly stuffed toy to children living in poverty.

2. Give Warmth & Snuggles to a Child in Foster Care: On any given day, there are more than 400,000 children living in foster care in the United States. Together Rising is a national nonprofit working to transform the way children experience foster care. Around Valentines Day, they spread love and hope by giving 500 Snuggle Kits, which include a stuffed bear and soft blanket, to children in foster care. Through the buy one/give one program, you can purchase a Snuggle Kit for a special child in your life, and they will give one to a child entering foster care (or you can donate both kits).

3. Connect with an Isolated Senior: Create colorful, simple valentines with messages of friendship, kindness, and support and deliver them to a local nursing home or senior outreach program. You can also bundle up a stack of letters and send them to Love For Our Elders or Letters Against Isolation. Both websites provide more detailed instructions and information.

4. Give Dignity & Beauty to Women in Crisis: With just a few small toiletry and beauty items purchased at a dollar store, you can create beauty bags for women living in homeless or domestic violence shelters in your community. Items can include lipstick or lip balm, shampoo, a toothbrush and toothpaste, fuzzy socks, hand lotion, or soap. You can use a gallon zip lock bag, or a small paper gift bag decorated with stickers. Be sure to include a cheerful note wishing the recipient a Happy Valentine’s Day and reminding her that she is beautiful.

5. Create Valentines for Our Veterans: Our veterans and active-duty military often spend holidays alone or far from loved ones, and receiving a cheerful message from your family can brighten their day immeasurably. Soldiers Angels is a military support organization with a simple motto: May no soldier go unloved. You and your kids can create cheerful valentines expressing love and support, and mail them (along with a $1 donation per card) to Soldiers Angels. The $1 donation helps to defer the cost of packaging boxes of valentines and sending them to deployed troops around the world and VA hospitals here in the United States.

6. Recycle Those Flowers: Have you ever wondered what happens to all of the Valentine’s flowers that remain unsold at the end of the day on February 14th? There are organizations around the country that collect and repurpose floral arrangements, keeping them from landfills and providing cheerful bouquets for seniors in nursing homes and hospitalized children. Some examples include Bouquets of Kindness, Random Acts of Flowers, and the Reflower Project. Through a quick internet search, you might find one of these organizations in your own community.

7. Notice the Heroes All around You: Encourage your kids to write notes of gratitude to all of the many people who keep them safe, teach, coach, and help them, every day. From the crossing guard or security officer at school, the classroom teacher (whether virtual or in-person), the doorman or maintenance worker in your apartment building, the postal carrier or delivery person—anyone who interacts with your child on a daily basis would be delighted to receive a heart-shaped note, a small box of candy or even a sticky note with a few scribbled words of appreciation. Never underestimate how a kind word or action from you and your kids can change someone’s day and make them feel loved, which is, after all, the purpose and power of Valentine’s Day.

Natalie Silverstein

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Natalie Silverstein, MPH, is the NYC coordinator of Doing Good Together. She is a writer, speaker and consultant on the topic of family service. Her first book Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back was published in 2019 and her second book for teens will be published in 2022.

15 Incredible Kids Who Stepped Up in 2020

by Jeff ToteyDecember 28, 2020

While COVID-19 has rained on a lot of our parades, it hasn’t dampened the spirits of these 15 kids. Whether it be singing a song of encouragement, sewing masks for first-responders or even creating videos, these kids are doing good deeds and helping others, showing us how they can make a difference in our world if given a chance. Keep reading to learn more about these young community leaders.

Alex and Ben Joel Started an Online Tutoring Service for Kids

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools online, Alex and Ben Joel were concerned by the articles they read about potential learning losses due to distance learning. So they did something about it. Their motto is simple: Bridging the educational divide with free, online, one-on-one tutoring for elementary school students. We caught up with the dynamic duo to find out more about their service, what inspired it, and how Intutorly is helping change the world, one kid at a time.

Curtis Rogers Created His Own Prom

Talk about special. Curtis Rogers, a seven-year-old boy, felt bad that his babysitter would not be able to attend her prom due to the coronavirus, so he decided to create one himself including a “promposal” banner that read, “Mini-Prom is not today, but will you join me on Monday?” Of course, Rachel Chapman said yes. "I decided that we should just do this now because the coronavirus has people down in the dumps," the boy told CBS News.

He dressed in a suit and bow tie, and she wore an elegant gown, and they stood six feet away from each other with the help of a pool noodle. The table was decorated with fresh flowers and a meal of Chick-fil-A, and smoothies were served followed by dancing. He’s a keeper.

Avi Made a Website

Back in December, 17-year-old Avi Schiffmann decided to use his computer knowledge and create a website that tracks the coronavirus before the virus had even left China. The NCOV2019 website contains information on global and local stats, a preparation guide, a question and answer section and a map showing the outbreaks of the virus. It’s pretty incredible.

“I noticed there was so much misinformation,” Schiffmann told the Mercer Island Reporter. “It was so hard to just get clear and concise data. So I thought, ‘Well, I can do better than the government,’ so I just made it. I reached out to news agencies, just for fun. None of them replied. And now they’re coming back to me, which I find so funny.”

Lucy Made Blankets (& Masks)

Over in Tennesse, Veronica Blaylock taught her daughter Lucy how to sew when she was just eight-years-old. Together, they started making flannel “love blankets” for other kids each with a signature Lucy heart sewn in. The blankets have been shipped to 13 countries and given to children who have been bullied, have been fighting cancer, have lost a loved one, etc.

Lucy is 11-years-old now and busier than ever with Lucy's Love Blankets, but things have changed a bit this year. “Because of COVID-19, we decided to put the love blankets aside for a minute and start making masks,” Lucy told The Tennessean. Together, Lucy and her mom have sewn and given away hundreds of masks to healthcare workers. In fact, on May 26, Lucy had sewn her 1100^th mask!

Sydney Made a Video Series

Sydney Dilling’s reaction to COVID-19 wasn’t much different from other 10-year-olds. She became nervous and uneasy. Knowing that she wasn’t the only one with these types of feelings, she and her mother decided to do something about it. Together, they wrote, recorded and even animated four short videos entitled, “Kids Coping with COVID-19” right in their own living room. They can be found on YouTube.

“I hope our animations can help kids everywhere,” says Sydney on episode three of the series. She also requests that local schools donate surplus supplies too since they aren’t using them. “It never hurts to ask!” Sydney told Good News Network.

Dominic Gave Out Food

In New Jersey, 12-year-old Dominic Mercado decided to forgo the usual birthday festivities this year and instead, he asked for boxes of pasta and jars of spaghetti sauce for the local food kitchen in his hometown. Spirit & Truth Ministries told ABC 7 TV that his donation was by far the largest they’ve seen in years. It took five SUVs just to haul of all of the food away. His effort even caught the attention of New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy. Over 100 people drove to Dominic’s home to deliver the goods.

"They might already have food for this week and next week, so these items won't expire for a while. (The food) won't perish for a while," Dominic said.

Layla Sang to Her Teacher

Sometimes it’s the simplest things that make the biggest impact. Take, for instance, nine-year-old Laya DeMayo from Long Valley, NJ. She heard that her teacher’s favorite song was “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey and decided to give Mr. Dauchert his own private concert on Ukelele.

“It meant more than any gift that I have every unwrapped in my life,” Dauchert told ABC 7 News. “And just thinking that during these challenging times, ‘Don’t Stop Believing,’ how appropriate is that?”

“I hope that during this hard time that we are going through right now, I hope that this song makes everyone a little more,” says DeMayo.

Marley Made Masks

In Seattle, young entrepreneurs 13-year-old Marley and 16-year-old Zoe Macris began their Scrunchies By Mar business in March of 2019. Then COVID-19 hit, and the girls decided that they would need to pivot a bit. They put aside their scrunchies and made room to sew face masks for nurses, firefighters, the police and others on the frontlines for free using donations given to them from others. They made 300 masks in just the first few days of operation.

Working together isn’t always for the pair. “We’re sisters, it’s not always the best thing in the world but we make it work, Zoe Told Seattle Refined recently. “We have our moments, but for the most part we really get along.” And Marley agrees, saying, “It feels good knowing that you’re giving back to the community.”

Chelsea Gave Out Art Supplies

According to her mom, Chelsea Phaire has been begging her to start her own charity since she was seven years old. This year when she turned 10, she got her wish. When the girl from Danbury, Connecticut sent invites for her friends to attend her birthday party, she requested that they bring art supplies so that she could donate them to others. Today, Chelsea's Charity has sent over 1,500 art kits to homeless shelters and foster care homes to give these kids a little boost. Contained in sturdy plastic boxes, these kits contain markers, crayons, colored pencils, paper, coloring books and gel pens.

"I feel good inside knowing how happy they are when they get their art kits," Chelsea told CNN. "I have definitely grown as a person because of this. Now my dream is to meet every kid in the entire world and give them art. Who knows, maybe if we do that and then our kids do that, we'll have world peace!"

Stephen Made a Hand-Washing Station

Even though his village, Mukwa, in Bungoma County, Kenya, hasn't seen a single case of COVID-19, nine-year-old Stephen still wanted to help. He designed a hand-washing machine that tips water from a bucket with the use of a foot pedal to avoid touching surfaces to help reduce infections. Stephen told BBC he came up with the idea after learning about preventing infection on the TV. "I now have two machines, and I want to make more," he says. On June 1st, he was Presidential Order of Service, Uzalendo (Patriotic) Award. Stephen says he wants to be an engineer when he grows up, and his father says the county governor has promised him a scholarship.

Brianna and Ashley Made Keychains

Two years ago, Brianna and Ashley Wong received a catalog during Christmas time that would donate ducks and chickens to people in need in other countries, and that really struck a chord with the girls.

“Since we didn’t have enough money from our piggy banks, we decided to earn money by making bracelets and other things," says nine-year-old Brianna, who started the company Duck + Chick with her six-year-old sister. “We use part of the money we make to donate to different organizations. So far we have donated to Heifer International, World Vision [and] Compassion.”

When COVID-19 hit, the East Bay kids switched gears and starting making keychains to raise money for their local No Kid Hungry program while their local schools are closed. The girls recently posted a video on their Facebook page showing other kids how to make leather nametags.

Christian Made Some Phone Calls

After noticing the effects of COVID-19 had on his community, 12-year-old Christian Willis decided that he wasn’t just going to sit back and watch. He was going to make a change.

“He independently ran everything himself, and I was just like really proud of him,” his mother Shante told WTOP News. “To him, it’s like, a loaf of bread can get them sandwiches for a week. I think it made him realize that he is making a difference.”

Christian simply picked up the phone and began calling friends and family asking them for donations for the House of Mercy in Manassas, VA. Those calls paid off as he was able to collect $900 for the cause.

Stella Wrote a Novel

Stella and Patrick Bonner — Patrick Bonner Facebook Page

The tale begins like this … before COVID-19, Patrick Bonner would make up bedtime stories for his daughter Stella to help her get to sleep. After adding on “chapters” to this never-ending story, the ten-year-old suggested that they write down their thoughts on paper. When they got quarantined together, the two got serious creating “Darien the Librarian.” The 50,000-word book is about a girl who can magically jump in and out of books.

“My dad wanted to publish, it but I didn’t want to,” Stella told WCVB5 News. “I wanted to make a fundraiser about it because we already have all the money we need. What would we do with the extra? Some people can’t put food on the table.” The initial goal was to make $500 that they could give to Feeding America. As of May 26, Stella’s book had raised over $26,000 on their Facebook page.

—Jeff Totey

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New LeSportsac x Sesame Street Collab Is All About Fun

by Karly WoodSeptember 24, 2020

LeSportsac is teaming up with nonprofit organization, Sesame Street on a colorful and fun-filled capsule collection for this winter! Launching in November, the line will feature five unique patterns with a variety of styles.

The new collections include Sesame Neighbors, Sesame Park, Sherpa, Friends on the Block and Sesame Street Friends. Prices will range from $18 for small items, up to $168 for larger bags.

The collab comes from LeSportsac and Sesame Street’s commitment to “spreading joy, creating community, and celebrating families.” So you will you expect to see adorning the new collection? Keep an eye out for Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Elmo, Bert, Ernie and of course, Big Bird!

LeSportsac and Sesame Street are also donating care packages and product from the collab to Comfort Cases, a non-profit organization that focuses on assisting children in foster care with essentials.

The collection launches in November and will be available at LeSportsac retail stores and on lesportsac.com.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of LeSportsac

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5 Genius Parenting Hacks That Will Change Your Life

By Eileen Manes

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

January 28, 2020

There are numerous behavior systems and methods of parenting out there—just take a peek at Pinterest under “Parenting.” While these long-term systems and techniques generally provide some manner of relief in the long-run, sometimes you just need an in-the-trenches, how-the-heck-do-I-handle-this-right-now solution. Here are five tried-and-true methods for stopping that behavior in its tracks.

1. The Whisper. Tired of yelling, especially when nobody is listening?

How it works: Instead of yelling your next instruction or correction, try whispering it. You’ll have to get in their space and on their level to make this one work—which is part of the reason why it works so well. That momentary connection is sometimes all it takes.

Remind them that if they want to say something back, they’re in a whisper-only zone. Before you know it, those grumps will change right into giggles.

2. The Secret Code. The no-nag, embarrassment-proof method to calm.

How it works: When everyone is in a good mood, have a discussion about a secret word that you can say when a behavior needs to be changed. This way, instead of nagging, all you have to do is say the secret code word when behavior is starting to go astray.

This works especially well for kids who don’t do well with being called out in front of peers (#everyone), anxious kiddos, and for behaviors that aren’t necessarily on purpose (maybe you notice someone has hurt feelings, but nobody else has noticed). It also teaches kids self-reflection, as they are the ones who have to identify the behavior that needs stopping.

3. The Show Them Where You Need Them. This works best for visual learners.

How it works: Kids are in loud, hyped-up scenarios all.the.time. Telling a kid they are being loud doesn’t necessarily mean anything to them. Try showing them with your hands. Raising your hands above your head, say “you are up here,” then lower your hands to shoulder, chest or hip level and say “and I need you down here.” This is a visual reminder of exactly how loud they are being, and how much quieter you need them.

Full disclosure: I stole this one from our foster care case manager/trainer. Thanks, Aaron!

4. The Interrogation. So many needs, so little time.

How it works: Remember that last time you were hangry in a work meeting, and every idea seemed awful, or every comment seemed critical? That happens to kids on the regular. The next time they are acting up, try asking a series of rapid-fire questions.

“Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Are you tired? Do you need something?”

Usually they get annoyed and say no to everything…until they stop themselves and say “yes! I AM hungry.” Talk about that poor behavior over a snack, once everyone is feeling a little less monstrous.

5. The Countdown. This isn’t your Grandma’s counting to three.

How it works: Start at twenty and count down toward zero. If they get to zero, they get a consequence.

Counting is a cue that an unwanted behavior needs to stop. But it puts kids in control in a small, simple way. They decide when to stop. It’s a tiny risk-reward scenario (i.e. Can I stop before mom gets to zero? What if I don’t?) that happens each and every time you count. Even more importantly, it gives the counter something to focus on other than the behavior. Remember that technique of counting to ten when you’re mad? It’s built-in!

Note: if hours have passed since the last countdown, go ahead and start back at twenty. But if it is a series of events in rapid succession, pick up right where you left off, whether 13, 9 or 2. They have less than twenty seconds, but it signals to them that the behavior is continuing, and they aren’t doing a good job addressing it.

Eileen Manes

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Eileen Manes is a writer for kids, a five-going-on-fifteen-year-old wrangler, a reader, a Lego aficionado and a fuzzy puppy lover. If she's not reading, writing or revising, you'll find her procrastinating by redesigning her blog (or living room), hiking or Zumba-ing. But definitely not doing laundry.

All the Ways to Help Keep Your Kids Healthy

By Jennifer Landis

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

October 29, 2019

Photo: The Honest Company via Unsplash

Your children look to you to set an example. And the habits you instill when they’re young will last a lifetime. If you want them to enjoy a healthy, happy existence, you need to practice early.

What should you teach your children? Begin with the good habits you follow yourself and when you do certain activities together, you bond and create a closer relationship.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Do you use food as a reward? While it’s okay to do this every once in a while, regularly promising children a sugary treat for good behavior teaches unhealthy coping skills. This practice can lead to obesity as they eat not to nourish their bodies, but as a response to emotional stimuli.

Children need to consume a balance of carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats to thrive. Teach kids to fill half their plate with fruits and veggies at each meal. Let them help you prepare family dinners and teach them about the nutritional properties of what you cook. When you go to the grocery store, have your little ones select foods, and discuss the merits of each choice.

Exercise Regularly

Many children fail to get the full hour of daily exercise recommended by experts. Kids need movement to develop their muscles and coordination. Additionally, those who develop a love of fitness at an early age go on to become active adults, which helps prevent obesity.

Whenever the weather permits, take your children to the park or playground and let them run and jump. When it’s frightful outside, put on your favorite songs and dance around your living room. If your children are old enough to go to school, walk or bike instead of idling in the parent drop-off area. End the day with a game of catch after dinner.

Wash Your Hands

Proper hand-washing helps prevent colds and flu. Many children bring every little germ home with them from school or daycare. While you can’t prevent every bug, proper hygiene helps prevent many infections.

Teach children to lather well and scrub their hands for 20 seconds before rinsing. Have them sing Happy Birthday twice through to measure time—make it a game and do it together.

Label Your Feelings

Children often act out when they feel frustrated or tired. If they can’t express in words how they feel, they demonstrate it through behavior.

Teach your children to identify their emotions by using picture books. When they begin misbehaving, ask them how they’re feeling. If they can’t find the right word, help them. If they need time to calm down, allow them to. Then regroup and discuss what happened.

Treat Others Kindly

Many parents mistakenly believe empathy is an inherent trait. In reality, you can foster care and concern for others in your little one.

Teach children about how people are different and how they’re similar. Ask them how they know if another child is upset. Brainstorm things you can do to make someone feel better when they’re down.

Take Time Outs

Even adults get overwhelmed and flustered. Imagine how children must feel sometimes. Foster emotional intelligence in your children by teaching them to take time out and practice mindfulness.

Sit with your child and have them close their eyes. Have them focus on their breathing and find a quiet space within themselves where they can think clearly. Explain this space is always with them, and they can summon it by focusing on their breath and observing their thoughts.

Read Every Day

It’s essential to instill a lifelong love of reading in your child. Doing so helps them excel in school and opens a world of information to them. Take time every night to sit and read together for 15 to 20 minutes.

Take your children to the library and let them select the books they enjoy. Make sure they see you enjoying reading, too.

Brush and Floss

Taking care of your children’s teeth isn’t only a matter of aesthetics or preventing cavities. Experts link poor oral health to other illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, though there’s no definitive proof.

Teach children to brush twice daily for two minutes at a time. Remind them to reach all areas, especially along the gumline. Help them to floss once per day. If they complain that the string hurts, opt for the softer, tape-style variety.

Get Adequate Sleep

Blue lights from electronic devices interrupt melatonin production, making it harder to get adequate rest. Make it a habit to power down all electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

Install a family charging station in the kitchen or living area to cell phones out of bedrooms. Try to put your children to bed and wake them up at the same time daily.

Jennifer Landis

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Jennifer Landis is a mom, wife, freelance writer, and blogger. She enjoys long naps on the couch, sneaking spoonfuls of peanut butter when her kid's not looking, and binge watching Doctor Who while her kid's asleep. She really does like her kid, though, she promises. Find her on Twitter @JenniferELandis.

Feel-Good Adoption Stories That Will Make Your Day

By Jennifer Landis

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

October 22, 2019

Photo: Chayene Rafaela on Unsplash

Who doesn’t love a good story about a child finding a loving home? Adoption is one method for growing your family, but it’s so much more than that. For orphaned or abandoned youth, it presents a chance to receive and benefit from consistent support and care.

Some of these tales involve children rescued from horrific conditions. Others simply warm your heart and restore your faith in humanity.

1. A Special Present Under the Tree

Ask many children what they want for Christmas, and they’ll tell you “a bike,” or “a videogame console.” But the three daughters of Courtney Solstad received an even better gift—an adopted baby brother! Solstad hid the secret from her three daughters. She met her children at the door and told them she had been out “shopping” for a very special gift the three of them could share. When she revealed their baby brother, Nathan, the trio squealed in delight and jumped for joy.

2. Adopting 26 Kids With Special Needs

It’s difficult for even one child with special needs to find a loving home. Imagine the heart Utah resident Christie Johnson has—she’s adopted 35 children in total, 26 with disabilities. After having two biological children, Johnson and her spouse decided to open their home to more.

Parents who adopt special needs children must meet additional requirements. They need to prove they have sufficient financial resources to pay for care. They have to open their homes for inspection and meet with adoption counselors to determine what types of children are the best fit. For Johnson, the child’s health didn’t matter—she welcomed them all.

3. An Incredible Journey Ends in Adoption

If you’ve ever struggled to conceive, you can imagine the angst Dennis and Carita Chen felt. They tried for nine years to get pregnant but decided to adopt when it became clear they had fertility issues. They felt overjoyed when an adoption attorney informed them she had a client wanting an Asian couple to adopt her child.

When the big day first came, the birth mother changed her mind, wanting someone from her own family to adopt the child. But that arrangement fell through and she asked the Chens to reconsider. The couple traveled from Texas to California, all the while aware plans could suddenly change again. But when they finally saw their new child Jacob, they wept with joy.

4. Seven Foster Children Find a Home

Jim and Katrina Baldwin knew the challenges of raising multiple children well. They had five of their own and seven grandchildren to boot, but with the house nearly empty, they felt it was time to welcome more children.

The couple started by taking in two foster children but soon started receiving calls regarding their five siblings. Once all seven siblings felt comfortable in their new place, the Baldwins couldn’t imagine separating them again. They adopted all their charges and now adore having a full house once more.

5. A Mission Trip Leads to a New Family Member

18-year-old Lexi Geiger went on a mission trip with her church to Uganda. While there, she met an orphaned girl named Ester in desperate need of a home. She posted the story on social media, where it was soon shared by an adoption advocate in search of potential families. She found nine. However, eight of the interested mothers backed out when they discovered the child had special needs.

Tammy Stonebrook stayed the course. She’s currently working with immigration officials to bring Ester and another child from the same orphanage home. Once she receives confirmation from U.S. Immigration, the three can begin family life together.

6. From CPS to Loving Home

Child Protective Services needs all the help the agency can get. Because the organization removes all children from an abusive home, siblings face the prospect of splitting up on top of the trauma they’ve already experienced. For one person though, she couldn’t imagine separating Moises, Angel, and Alex. She first took the brothers to McDonald’s where they talked about school. One month later, she brought the boys home to stay.

7. Over a Year in Foster Care Finally Ends

Imagine spending over a year in foster care. Little Elijah spent that time adrift with his siblings until a Houston-area mother saw his photograph. She welcomed Elijah home with open arms.

Fortunately, his siblings also found a home with family friends in the same community. Although they don’t all live together, they get to maintain their close connection.

8. From Russian Orphanage to an American Family

13-year-old Hannah began life as Anna Sinyaeva, born to an unknown father and an alcoholic mother in Russia. Her doctor suspected she suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome and labeled her as developmentally disabled. She could have lingered in an orphanage for life—but Mary and Bob Rocklein stepped in and adopted her at the age of three despite doctors’ concerns.

Although the couple later divorced, Hanna glided through the transition. She works hard in school, loves her siblings and enjoys a good adventure.

9. International Adoption Leads to Advocacy Against Trafficking

Many families like the Perkinses adopt children from overseas. The conversations surrounding international adoptions have evolved over time, however, with more concern expressed for the welfare of the children and birth parents. Now, international critics decry some adoptions, fearing the trauma both the child and birth mother endure.

Mitali Perkins understands this trauma, having adopted two brothers from India. In her thoughtful HuffPost essay, she reflects on this changing conversation and expresses her commitment to activism. She has a forthcoming novel dealing with the challenges these children face upon reaching adulthood and hopes to raise awareness of human trafficking issues.

Hopefully, these stories served as your daily refresher of faith in humanity. Whether you adopt or not, you can sleep a little more soundly knowing these children found the loving home all youth deserve.

Jennifer Landis

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

“Sesame Street” Helps Kids to Tackle Parental Addiction

by Erica LoopOctober 18, 2019

Sesame Street doesn’t shy away from tough topics. The beloved children’s show has tackled challenging subjects in the past and this time, with the help of a six-and-a-half-year-old Muppet, it’s helping kids affected by parental addiction.

The educational children’s classic recently introduced a new series of videos and other content featuring Karli, a Muppet whose mother is dealing with addiction. You may remember Karli as a new face on Sesame Street last May. Karli, who was first introduced as part of the Sesame Street in Communities foster care initiative, was in foster care. With this new initiative, the Muppet’s storyline has expanded to dig deeper into her mother’s addiction and recovery.

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Favorite friends, such as Elmo and Abby Cadabby learn about addiction and help Karli to cope with what she’s going through. Sherrie Westin, President of Social Impact and Philanthropy, Sesame Workshop, said, in a press release, “Addiction is often seen as a ‘grown-up’ issue, but it impacts children in ways that aren’t always visible. Having a parent battling addiction can be one of the most isolating and stressful situations young children and their families face.”

Westin also added, “Sesame Street has always been a source of comfort to children during the toughest of times, and our new resources are designed to break down the stigma of parental addiction and help families build hope for the future.”

Learn more about Karli and how she can help children impacted by parental addiction at www.SesameStreetinCommunities.org.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Sesame Street in Communities via YouTube

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Non-Traditional Baby Making: 6 Potential Obstacles To Bear In Mind

By Dr Bethany Cook

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

October 17, 2019

Photo: Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

When one imagines starting a family, it’s usually an intimate moment experienced by two people in love. However, for me and most other same-sex couples who want to have children (and even some hetero couples that are struggling), the experience is far less romantic and much more stressful. Starting a family is often the beginning of a long, emotional, and usually expensive endeavor.

Here are some potential obstacles for those who are embarking on a journey of non-traditional baby-making.

1. Learn to ignore outside opinions such as “Why can’t you guys just adopt?”

The number of times people would say this statement to myself or partner when we discussed starting a family was…let’s just say 10 times too many. I’m adopted. I know it’s an option. Everyone will have their own personal reasons for wanting to create a baby. If someone says this to you just say “Thanks, I know.” If you feel comfortable or want to educate this person on why you want a biological child, share on. If you want to shut the conversation down add the words “I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

2. Finding resources and considering legal rights.

No matter how you do the math, two individuals of the same sex are currently unable to have a child that would contain 50% of the genes of both parents. As a result, couples need to seek out an egg donor, sperm donor and/or a surrogate to carry the baby. Each couple will have names for individuals whose DNA helped create or carry their baby. For instance, we say “donor dad” when referencing our children’s biological father. The “donor dad” can be friends or anonymous donors from online banks. Some of these online donors are “open donors” meaning when your child is 18 years old if your son/daughter wishes to lookup their biological “other,” they can.

As for the legal stuff, I suggest finding a lawyer (many offices provide free counseling to those who qualify). We chose to use an online donor who had already given up any legal rights to our children. Each state has slightly different laws regarding same-sex couples so do your due diligence and double-check. In my situation, my partner needed to adopt the children ASAP. If I had become incapacitated for any reason my partner would not have had any legal rights to our children (even though her name is on their birth certificates) and they could have been put into foster care. Yes, our system of government regarding the rights of non-traditional families needs to catch up.

3. IVF and IUI are expensive.

Even with a top-of-the-line health insurance policy, getting pregnant via IVF/IUI is expensive. I just checked an online sperm bank and a single vial of sperm can cost up to $920! When I went the IUI path nearly 7 years ago it was routine to use two vials per attempt. Eggs and surrogates cost much more than sperm, then add into the mix all the additional medical visits for blood draws, ultrasounds, etc. You can see how the price can quickly skyrocket and require extra time away from work.

4. IVF/IUI medical visits add additional stress to your life and work balance.

Luckily I had an understanding boss and my work schedule was fairly flexible when I started the process of getting pregnant in a non-traditional fashion. For a female, it involves more visits and more hormones than for men. Not only did I take multiple pills a day, but I was also required to keep a detailed record of shots I injected on certain days around my navel during each IVF cycle. Thinking about how you will balance all of this before you start the process is a good idea. I’m definitely not trying to deter anyone! I just want to offer an eyes-wide-open realistic view.

5. Judgement.

When you’re trying to get pregnant in a non-traditional fashion it’s almost impossible to hide anything from the medical staff helping you. Since my partner and I live in a big city (Chicago) most of the staff we encountered were supportive of our efforts, and if they weren’t, I didn’t hear about it or sense it. Couples in small towns don’t always have access to LGBTQ friendly facilities. That adds a whole new level of stress to the process. Sometimes family isn’t supportive and that hurts too.

6. What’s Wrong With Me?

At some point or another, especially if you’re in a non-traditional relationship, you’ve asked yourself this question, I know I have. Like when I only had 10 good eggs to harvest during my first IVF egg retrieval (I had read reports of some women having 20+ eggs). Sometimes, when couples begin this process they discover that their bodies were just not designed to procreate even with medical intervention. Finding out you’re unable to create a child can be a serious blow to one’s identity. Don’t beat yourself up. Focus your energy on accepting yourself unconditionally and shift lanes.

Getting pregnant with the help of medical intervention makes things less romantic, more sterile, and more stressful and expensive. It’s important to speak up for yourself and your needs. Make sure you do as much research as you can. Know you are not the only person doing this and you’re not alone. Find others in your community you can lean on for support and keep stress to a minimum.

Last but not least: try to have some fun. If it doesn’t work out for you I’m truly sorry. My partner and I were fine with adoption if we had found out I wasn’t physically able to create children. Luck, timing, and medicine were on our side. We have two healthy kids 19 months apart whom we love and cherish more than anything. It’s not easy, but it was worth it.

This post originally appeared on Mable and Moxie.

Dr Bethany Cook

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I am a 42-year-old biological mother of two young children in a same-sex relationship, a clinical psychologist with a specialty in neuropsychological assessment, a music therapist, a trainer of therapy dogs and ex-communicated Mormon from Indiana with a wicked sense of humor.

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