Curious Parents Parenting Resources

Noteworthy

Shrove Tuesday at IHOP

Is there anything better than free pancakes? Probably not. In celebration of National Pancake Day (yes, there is such a day), all IHOPs nationwide will be giving out complimentary short stacks to everyone who stops in to their restaurants on Feb. 20 between 7am and 10pm. In exchange, IHOP asks that you make a donation to the Children’s Miracle network, a non-profit organization that has 170 hospitals across America.

National Pancake Day harks back to Shrove Tuesday, which is traditionally known as the day before Lent. Its origins are based in the tradition of using up all the left over dairy products to make into pancakes, since dairy consumption was forbidden during Lent. The United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia celebrate National Pancake Day every year, with towns in Britain going as far as to have pancake races in which participants must make a dash from one point to another with a skillet containing a pancake that they must flip a certain number of times before crossing the finish line. Some races in fact, like the one at Olney in Buckinghamshire, date as far back as 1445! National Pancake Day isn’t all that well known to America, as most people instead typically celebrate Mardi Gras on Shrove Tuesday.

So be sure to bring your appetites and your support to any IHOP on National Pancake Day. Fill your stomachs and donate to help save a child’s life. For more information, visit www.ihop.com

Burn Awareness Week

Burn Awareness Week is a great opportunity to kick off a year full of burn awareness with your family. The Home Safety Council, which reports fires and burns as the third leading cause of unintentional home injury and related deaths, has these tips to keep you informed:

For Candles:

1. Never leave burning candles unattended.

2. Always use stable, candle holders made of material that won’t catch fire, such as metal, glass, etc

3. Blow out candles when adults leave the room.

4. Do not allow children to keep candles  or incense in their rooms

In General:

1. Consider having a home fire sprinkler system installed in your new home, or when you remodel.

2. Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.

3. Make a fire escape plan for your family. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect–hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.

National Children’s Dental Health Month

An annual observance of children’s dental health began as a one-day event on Feb. 3, 1941. The celebration became a week long in 1955 and in 1981, the event extended to a month. Of course, it can be a struggle to get your children to brush their teeth at least twice a day. But, make brushing fun with word jumbles, puzzles, coloring sheets, and other activities available at the The American Dental Association’s Web site, www.ada.org . As the ADA says this year, “Be Part of the GrIN Crowd.”

Play Thrives in the Camp Experience

Peg L. Smith, CEO of the American Camp Association, endorses the recent public awareness for the importance of free play in the development of children. “ACA camps, for nearly 100 years, have provided children with the opportunity to play in a safe and nurturing environment. Our anecdotal and scientific research points to the positive effect camp has on the lives of children—offering a unique and valuable experience that allows kids to just be kids—providing a very special place where their mental, personal, emotional, and physical needs are nurtured.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published a report that warns that children are experiencing less and less imaginative free play. AAP concludes that free and unstructured play is healthy and—in fact—essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient.

According to Tufts University child development expert Dr. David Elkind, the author of the groundbreaking books, The Hurried Child and All Grown Up and No Place to Go, American children seem to be in constant motion—their schedules packed with homework, chores, music lessons, and organized sports. With a lack of time for good, old-fashioned play for children, Dr. Elkind states in his upcoming book, The Power of Play: How Spontaneous, Imaginative Activities Lead to Happier and Healthier Children, that there can be health and psychological consequences.

Dr. Elkind, keynote speaker for the 2007 American Camp Association National Conference, states that traditional summer camp is an oasis for children who are so focused on preparing for the future and have no time for enjoying the moment. “The traditional summer camp recognizes that play is a powerful form of learning that contributes mightily to the child’s healthy physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development,” he says.

Courtesy of the ACA