m•o•mm o m ’ s o w n m a g a z i n e

homework that works

Tips to help keep your kids on track

after-school care Is your child ready for self care?

meal matrix

Pantry planning for easy meals any time!

The

PREMIERE ISSUE • FALL 2004

Exclusively YoursFrom

™

m•o•m Back•To•School

2004m o m ’ s o w n m a g a z i n e P R E M I E R E I S S U E

™

contents

in every issue

after-school care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

homework that works . . . . . . . . . . . .

the meal matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

meal matrix: recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We created this magazine exclusively for you as you prepare your family for the joys and challenges of a new school year. In this issue, you’ll find smart homework tips, after-school care information, easy meal planning ideas and much more! It’s information you can really use to start the school year off right.

We hope that you will enjoy our magazine and that it will help make back-to-school time just a little bit easier for everyone. We thank you for looking to SchoolKidz for your back-to-school supplies and programs, and look forward to seeing you next year.

Sincerely,Tom O’Neill, President

©2004 Seltzer Kaufmann Marketing, Inc., Bloomfield Hills, MI • www.skmmarketing.com • All rights reserved.

Welcome to M•O•M Magazine!

Your thoughts, stories and ideas are always welcome at M•O•M Magazine! Your involvement will help make this magazine even better for moms just like you. Please email us: momsmagazine@skmmarketing.comor mail to: M•O•M Magazine c/o SKM, 6431 Inkster Rd., Ste. 118, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301.

Is your child ready for self care?

Tips to help keep your kids on track

Pantry planning for easy meals any time!

Tasty timesavers from your well-planned pantry!

mom mom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

in the know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

must haves for moms . . . . . . . . . . . . .

all about: time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Moms’ Forum: How moms handle homework

Information & services guide

Product showcase

Timesaving tips and advice

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4 m•o•m

Times have certainly changed from the “Ozzie and Harriet” days of mom greeting her children at home after school with a fresh batch of homemade cookies. Now, with both parents — and a number of single parents — often working full-time, after-school care may be a necessity. However, if you can’t count on good child care, you may consider having your child care for himself after school.

The key to successfully making this (sometimes stressful) transition is to make sure you and your child are ready, and to establish firm guidelines. You may know someone whose child cares for themself after school — who may give you some helpful advice.

It’s very important to remember that children mature at different ages. If you feel your child is mature and responsible enough, begin a dia-logue with him to get a sense of how he feels about staying home alone. You may find your child will welcome the idea. Remember though, no matter how mature your child may seem, he or she is still a child.

Assessing You and

Your Child’s Readiness

• Is your child emotionally ready and responsible enough to be home alone?

• Is your child comfortable entering the house alone?

• Can you be at ease if your child is home alone?

• How would your child handle an emergency?

If you decide your child is ready, you will need to make preparations to ensure their safety. Survey your home for safety risks and eliminate them. Post emergency numbers by the phone. Discuss what to do in every possible emergency situation, such as a

fire or a stranger at the door. In addition, does your child know when to call 911?

StructuringTime AloneWithout supervision, a child may need some rules for how to spend their time. Discuss your expecta-tions for homework and chores, and how much (if any) television, telephone or computer time you will allow.

By Rosemarie Clark

careIs your child ready for

self care?

after-school

Programs&

5m•o•m

Additional Ways to be Prepared

• Establish firm guidelines.

• Notify close neighbors, so your child, or you, can call them in case of an emergency.

• Make sure your child goes straight home from school.

• Create a system of communication (i.e., they call you between 3:15 and 3:30 every day).

• If you permit your child to answer the phone, make sure he knows how to answer without letting callers know he is home alone.

• Come up with a place to keep a spare key in case your child misplaces his.

• Simulate phone conversations to assure that safety is not jeopardized.

• Be sure there are snacks if you don’t allow cooking.

• Discuss procedures that must be followed and how you will be notified of his or her whereabouts if you allow your child to leave the house.

• Make sure your child knows the importance of keeping these safeguards private.

When all is said and done, do you feel comfortable having your child care for himself after school? If you don’t, trust your instincts and make other arrangements — even if your child isn’t entirely happy with them. Perhaps you can trade after-school care for carpooling. Does your school or church offer homework help or clubs? Could you and a friend share a babysitter? What about a dependable older student? Weigh your options, and remember, the most important thing is the comfort and safety of your child.

According to The National Center for Education Statistics, at least 2.5 million students are enrolled in before- and after-school programs. And if your child is too young or not ready to stay at home alone, you might consider one of them.

Benefits of Before- and After-School Programs

• Provides a safe, supervised environment for kids.

• Some facilities offer extra academic instruction, along with guided time to study.

• Affords children the opportunity to interact with others.

When Visiting a Facility, Consider the Following

• Is it an accredited facility with references?

• Have the caregivers had any special training?

• Does it appear to be a safe environment?

• What is the caregiver-to-child ratio?

• Do the caregivers interact with the children — are they helpful and patient?

• Is there enough activity? Do the children seem to be happy?

Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, so doing your homework will benefit both you and your child. Start your search at your child’s school, which may even offer busing to and from your home. Another option is to con-tact a local child-care referral service at www.childcareaware.org or call 1-800-424-2246.

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After a long summer, the liberating thought of having the kids return to school is matched only by one paralyzing word: homework. I usually start off the year with high hopes of being an inspira-tional and motivational parent, but somewhere between the first frost and discussions of Halloween costumes, tears have been shed over homework — and I’m the one crying.

Preparation is a vital part of managing parent-hood and schoolwork is no exception. So gear up, psych up and get your game plan down. Here are some helpful ways to ease your way back into the school year:

Getting Organized

• Before the first day of school, have a family discussion about your goals for the upcoming year.

• Establish an after-school schedule (homework, TV time, play time, snack time, family time).

• Whether it’s a shelf, a folder or bulletin board, designate a space for all the school handouts and weekly reminder lists.

• Arrange to have periodic meetings with your child’s teacher to briefly review the work ahead and go over the class calendar.

If your child is struggling with homework, ask for help. Most educators want a dialogue with par-ents on this issue. While you have the advantage of knowing your child best, their teacher has the advantage of seeing your child in the context of other children the same age. You’ll find that in most cases, parents and teachers can learn a lot from each other.

Often, the most difficult part of helping your child with their homework is remembering that it is not your homework. As your children grow, it’s best to view yourself as a homework facilitator, someone who points the child in the right direction and encourages them towards excellence. While it may be hard to separate yourself from your child’s performance, when you do, you help them become independent and responsible young adults. So until then, remember, summer is only nine months away!

homeworkworks

By Mary Beth Matherly

7m•o•m

that

See our section on page 8for more homework tips and advice!

mom mom

I find that taking breaks between

homework problems helps my kids to not

get overwhelmed. It also helps to

rejuvenate them. — Susan, MI At our house, we don’t

turn on the TV unless homework is done.

We also give our kids guide-lines for

after-school hours,so there’s time for every-

thing, and homework isn’t put off. — Stacey, FL

To help build our son’s vocabulary,I post a new word each day andchallenge him to learn the meaning. — Taryn, IL

To avoid distractions, I have each child do their homework in a different room of the house. — Katharine, ME

While I always encourage my son to do well, it’s impor-tant he knows that getting a wrong answer is a part of learning. But, I do expect his very best effort. —

Leigh, CA

My husband and I divide and conquer. He takes on the math and science homework, while I focus

on English and history. — Renee, NV

My husband and I review our daughter’s school planner every week and discuss the assignments with her. We plan out the week so she can orga-nize her time and get everything done. — Lois, PA

m•o•m8

In our next issue: Howdo you handle bedtime?We welcome your ideas and tips on how you get your kids to sleep on time. Please email us at: momsmagazine@skmmarketing.comor mail to: M•O•M Magazine c/oSKM, 6431 Inkster Rd., Ste. 118, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301.

mom mom moms’ forum& idea swap

“How do you handle homework?”this issue’s topic:

13m•o•m

Get the Whole ToothWhere can you get all of the oral health care info that you know you can trust? For a com-plete list of oral health topics from A to Z, you’ll get the most accurate information from the experts, the American Dental Association. Learn about tooth decay, primary teeth, mouth guards and many other topics that affect your children throughout their lives. Make sure your kids have healthy, happy smiles by visiting www.ada.org today!

The School-Savvy Parent As a parent, you have many questions about your child’s school expe-rience. This book has the answers! Straight from the source — teachers themselves — these posi-tive, practical tips make you a savvy supporter of your child’s education. The tips are clear, concise, and quick. You’ll find tips on starting the school year, health and safety, latchkey issues, talking with teachers, volunteer-ing at your child’s school, and much more. With this friendly book as your guide, you can make school easier and more rewarding for everyone — including you.Available from Free Spirit Publishing®,www.freespirit.com or at 1-800-735-7323.

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knowintheFun & Easy Party Supplies for All Occasions!Need birthday party items in a hurry? Check out iParty.com — the easiest,one-stop online party supply store in the business. Find everything your child needs for their special day, from matching plates and napkins featuring their favorite characters, to fun party favors for each of their guests. Mom and Dad will have fun shopping iParty.com too with our large selection of luau, casino night, fiesta and Parrothead items. Whatever the occasion — birthday, holiday, wedding, anniversary, bridal or baby shower — iParty.com has what you’re looking for. Visit www.iparty.com today!

information & services guide

mealmat

It’s six o’clock, you just walked in the door and every-one’s hungry. Soon, the kids are arguing, you’re call-ing the pizza guy (again) and you’re wondering how you got into this dinner-hour mess. Good planning can help you avoid these mealtime meltdowns as well as save you money. But how do we feed our families healthy meals without spending hours in the kitchen?

Getting StartedFirst, look at your family’s diet. Where does it need improvement, structure or variety? Is everyone getting their five servings of fruits and

vegetables a day? Are healthy meals taking a back seat to easier, quicker and somewhat less-healthy meals? Once you’ve assessed your fam-ily’s needs, it will be easier to stock your refrigerator, pantry and freezer.

Plan weekly meals — this will save you time and money in the long run and help you avoid last-minute scrambling and multiple trips to the grocery store. It will also give you the opportunity to build meals from what you already have on hand. Then, make a grocery list of just the missing ingredients for the meals you’ve planned.

Shortcuts & Substitutes • Save time by stocking up on pre-cut frozen vegetables and fruits.

• If a recipe calls for chopped tomato and onion, try using salsa instead.

• Make a double batch of whatever you’re cooking, and freeze half for future use. Or, refrigerate extra (cooked ground meat, pasta) for use in a recipe later in the week.

• Crock-pot recipes are not only easy to make, they go a long way, will be ready when you get home, and make clean-up easy. • Buy in bulk to save money, separating food into meal-sized portions and freeze.

the

Whether you’re packing lunches or making dinner — a well-

planned pantry ensures quick and healthy meals any time!

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Healthy Snacks for Kids • Pre-cut fresh vegetables and fruit are easy for kids to get on their own.

• Designate an area in the refrigerator or pantry for healthy snacks — that way kids can help themselves without asking permission.

• Stock up on string cheese, yogurt, lightly salted pretzels or nuts, baked chips, raisins and animal crackers.

• Pre-portion snacks into small baggies to grab on the go.

10

By Darlene McCarthy

The Well-Stocked PantryA well-stocked pantry will supply you with the necessities you’ll need to make quick, healthy meals, with little effort. Keep an inventory list, replacing items each time you shop. Remember, for optimum freshness, keep foods away from heat and light sources and use airtight containers once opened. Also, a good rule of thumb is to have a back-up on hand for each open pack-age. To save money, stock up (but don’t overstock) on non-per-ishable, canned or frozen foods when they’re on sale. Here are some basics to keep on hand:

• One or two different pastas and sauces

• White or brown rice

• Beans and lentils

• Whole grain cereal and bread

• Tuna, salmon and soup

• Herbs, spices and minced, dehydrated vegetables

• Flour and sugar

• Oil and stock or broth

With a little planning, making good use of leftovers anda well-stocked pantry, you’re sure to save time and money — and make some great meals for you and your family!

Keeping Kids

• Don’t use food as a reward.

• Eat healthy meals together as a family.

• Pack school lunches, so you know what they’re eating.

• Avoid the empty calories from soda, sport drinks and junk food.

• Set a good example by getting outdoors with your kids.

• Limit television, computer and video game usage.

• Have your kids help with physical household chores like vacuuming, dusting, taking out the garbage or walking the dog.

The increased number of children who are overweight or even obese is a growing concern for parents. And because overweight children are at a greater risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, poor self-esteem and depres-sion, it is very important to address the issue early on.

Children follow their parents’ lead from an early age, and should therefore be taught healthy eating habits that they will take into adulthood. In addition, it’s just as important topromote physical activity to helpprevent the onset of obesity.

For more information, contact the American Academy of Pediatrics at: www.aap.org or 847-434-4000 or, the American Obesity Association can be reached at www.obesity.org or 202-776-7711.

Healthy

Help Your Child Form Healthy Habits

See page 12 for some easy recipe ideas!m•o•m 11

rix

10 m•o•m

recipesthe mealmatrix:

Combine key ingredients from your well-planned pantry with a few fresh add-ins and you’ll have an easy meal in no time!

veggies & meatsChoose from: sauce/dressing cheeseolives, chopped red

peppers, artichoke hearts,sun-dried tomatoes

cooked & chopped ham, frozen green peas (thawed),

diced tomatoes

frozen broccoli florets (thawed), carrot shreds, pea

pods, asparagus tips

Choose your favorite pasta and cook to package specifications. Drain and toss in a skillet with your chosen veggies and sauce. Heat on med-high for 5 to 8 minutes. Serve sprinkled with cheese.

1 T. lemon juice, 2 T. olive oil, 1 t. garlic powder

1 jar store-bought basil pesto

1 jar your favoritetomato- or cream-based

pasta sauce

crumbled feta or goat cheese

shredded Parmesan or Asiago cheese

shreddedParmesan cheese

greek

pesto

primavera

dressingChoose from: veggies proteinskernel corn, sliced green

onions, roasted red peppers (from jar)

cucumber slices, beet slices, chopped tomatoes,

olives, parsley

avocado wedges,tomato slices

Choose your favorite bag of pre-washed salad greens. Whisk together dressing ingredients to taste, set aside. Toss remaining veggies & proteins with salad greens. Dress individual salads and enjoy!

black beans (drained), shredded jack cheese

crumbled feta, chick peas (garbanzo beans)

cooked & diced chicken, crumbled bacon, cheese, hard-boiled egg wedges

sour cream, milk, chopped cilantro, lime juice, cumin

lemon juice, olive oil, garlic

red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard,

black pepper

southwest

greek

quick cobb

12 m•o•mBase all ingredient quantities on number of servings you need. Feel free to substitute any ingredient with a low-fat or fat-free equivalent for a lighter version!

meatsChoose from: veggies rice/pasta

2 c. cooked & chopped chicken (or turkey)

1 can tuna, drained

1 lb. ground beef, browned & drained

Mix ingredients together with 1 can cream soup (mushroom, chicken, celery or potato) plus 1/2 c. milk. Place in a buttered casserole dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs & 1 T. butter, cut into small pieces. Bake in preheated oven at 375˚F for 30 minutes — until heated through & top is browned. Serves 4.

1 c. frozen broccoli florets (thawed)

1 c. frozen peas (thawed)

1 c. chopped onion, 1/2 c. chopped canned

mushrooms

2 c. cooked rice

2 c. your favorite cooked pasta

2 c. cooked wide egg noodles

chicken broccoli

tuna

stroganoff

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haves product showcasemust

Make Life a Little Easier with New Playtex Products! When you’re on-the-go, we make it easy to keep your kids clean. New individually-wrapped antibacterial Wet Ones® KiDS Wipes are perfect for a quick hand and face clean-up, and your kids will love the fun Wild Watermelon and Ballistic Berry scents. Our gen-tle, thick Wet Ones® Baby Take’m Along Wipes are also a “mom must-have” for babies (and their bigger siblings) in our easy-to-use canis-ters. Also try our new Sparklin’ Sipster™ Spill-Proof Cups – perfectly designed for little hands and little mouths.

Drink Water on the Move with the High Sierra Gulp Hydration Pack!The “hands-free” way to hydrate when your hiking, biking, running or skiing. This lightweight pack features a 1.5-liter hydration reservoir with a hands-free pressure valve that allows you to control the flow of water by simply biting down and sipping. An insulated water tube cover prevents water from freezing in the tube during winter sports. Special Vapel Mesh Airflow padding on the back and shoulder straps allows air to circulate and wicks moisture. Other features include elastic shock cord for securing a cap or shirt and reflective accent piping for safety.

Write it On. Wipe it Off...With PerfectionMoms get creative with new Expo® Grip Chisel Tips with built-in erasers. Our new dry-erase mark-ers now come with a built-in replaceable eraser for quick and accurate erasing, whether you’re writing down the kids’ schedules...or standing in front of the board of directors. We’ve added a comfort grip for comfortable and controlled writing, and our solid color barrel designs are helpful for identifying colors quickly. For more information about Expo®products visit www.sanford.com.

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• Swap cooking duties with a neighbor, alternating nights (while you cook a double batch of dinner, they could take your child to dance class).

• Cook double batches, freezing the second batch for a busier night.

• Put a cooler in your car, and make quick trips to the grocery store during your lunch hour.

• Share duties (like carpooling) with friends and neighbors.

• To avoid last-minute trips to the store, keep blank note cards and gift wrap on hand for unexpected occasions.

save tim

e

• Put photos in a photo album as soon as you get them (they’ll be in chronological order as well as organized).

• Tackle one room at a time — whether it’s cleaning, straightening or doing laundry.

• Prepare as much as you can the night before, to make your morning less hectic: - Lay out clothes - Pack lunches - Sign permission slips - Set the breakfast table - Make sure backpacks, coats, boots, etc. are placed in one area to make leaving easier

find

time

• Post everyone’s schedule on a board so you know how to schedule the week.

• Make lists of the tasks at hand, so family members don’t get distracted.

• Set timed goals for tasks to be completed.

• Assign tasks to each person: - Feeding and walking the dog - Setting the table - Taking out the garbage - Helping with meals - Making beds - Gathering/folding laundry

pre

ptim

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• Turn off the TV and computer, allowing the entire family to sit together and read, do homework, play games or talk about their day.

• Exchange “family night” with a neighbor, to free up a night for you and your husband.

• Meet your spouse for a lunch date, and focus conversation on you as a couple.

• Designate a special night together to give each child your undivided attention.

qu

iettim

etimeall

about:all timesaving

tips & advice

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Back-to-Cool!This year, make it