The New Year always brings so much excitement…the promise of many new experiences, new friends and resolutions to make changes for the better.  In our house we like to think about the New Year as a chance to reflect on the past year and as an opportunity for new beginnings.  New beginnings are always a source of excitement as they hold so much promise for improvement and building upon all the good accomplishments in 2012.

Below, I have included two fun and thought provoking creative writing activities for children of all ages. A list to encourage us to consider what the New Year means to each of us and set realistic goals for us to accomplish, as well as a recipe for creating an acrostic poem about the New year.

Make a list, check it twice!

This activity helps us to ponder the New Year in terms of all that it has to offer.  Take a piece of paper and write five to ten thoughts down the side of the page.  Start by focussing on what the New Year means to you and then follow with realistic and achievable goals or opportunities for change.

For example: 

• I like the New Year because…
• The New Year is important to me because…
• I think new beginnings very exciting because…
• My goals this year are…
• I would like to visit…
• I would like to learn to…
• I would like to improve on…
• I will try not to…
• I will try these 5 foods…
• I would like to read…

Everyone taking part in the activity should take their own time completing their list.  When the lists are finished, roll up the piece of paper and place them in a clean jar or bottle with a lid (try to find one in your recycling).  Close the lid and put the jar or bottle away for the year.  Place the jar or bottle in a location that is easy to find so that at the end of the year, you will know where to find it!  In December (2013) you can bring it out and see how many of the items you can check off as “accomplished�!!

PS…you may want to keep the jar in a readily accessible location so that you can check your list once in a while if you forget some of your goals (In actuality, you can start making change any time of the year and don’t have to wait until the beginning).  Also, if you are so inclined, you can share your lists with each other so that you can encourage and support each other throughout the year.

Have you ever come across an acrostic poem?

Looking for a challenge… try to write a New Year acrostic poem.  The poem can be about any subject.  The simplest method is to put the letters that spell your subject (e.g. New Year’s) down the side of your page.  Then, go back to each letter and think of a word or phrase that begins with that letter and describes your subject.   My daughter Sabrina and I came up with the following example:

New Year brings with it all kinds of possibilities.
Experiencing things I have not done before.
While I am a little nervous, I will make some new friends.
Yams and other vegetables are not my favourite but I will try new foods.
Even though my siblings annoy me, I will try to be more patient with them.
Art is my favourite subject and I will visit some museums to learn more.
Reading is difficult for me and I will practice to improve.
So, I am looking forward to 2013 and can’t wait to see what I can accomplish!

Now that you have all of your goals in mind and have contemplated what the New Year is all about and all the possibilities it holds, go out and enjoy every moment of it.  Make new friends, try new foods, learn how to do something new and embrace all that 2013 has to offer!

Shelley Sefton is co-author of Creative IQTM:  Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World. Creative IQTM is available at www.creativeiq.ca.  

(c) Shelley Sefton 2013

WRITTEN BY
Sara Dimerman

For some, this time of year conjures up warm and fuzzy memories of being with people they love. Of cozy mornings sipping hot chocolate in front of beckoning fireplace embers, of looking forward to opening gifts and revelling in the pleasure of giving.

For many, however, this time of year is filled with dread. The memories are not so warm and fuzzy. In fact, they are sometimes heated and uncomfortable. Coming together as a family is not always as one would hope. Thoughts that this time might be different than last often fades as old tensions and unresolved issues emerge. For many, the stress associated with wanting to fulfill another’s wish list or keeping up with an over committed schedule may prove overwhelming. Below are ten tips for coping with the stress that this time of year often brings:

1. Change your expectations. Don’t expect that this year will be different or better than the last. Decide to just accept what is – for better or worse. Try to erase the images of years gone by and start fresh.

2. Don’t try to live up to other’s expectations. Be who you are. If you can’t afford to give large, expensive gifts, purchase a smaller, just as thoughtful gift. Or if you feel up to it, make something yourself. These often make the most special gifts.

3. Dress for comfort, not to impress. If you can’t be bothered with formal attire and you know you’re going to be uncomfortable just because you feel that there is an expectation to dress a certain way, consider your own needs. You can still dress appropriately and respectfully without having to pretend to be someone you are not.

4. Change things around.  If you’re just keeping up with old traditions for traditions sake and not because they feel good, then consider changing things around. Create new traditions. For example, if you’ve always hosted a big meal and prepared everything yourself, but are tired of doing this, then consider a pot luck dinner at someone else’s house.

5. Take time for yourself. This time of year is typically when friends and family catch up on seeing one another. If this works for you, then enjoy. However, if you usually exit the holiday season feeling exhausted, consider spending some time on your own or with immediate family only – to relax and unwind. 

6. Toss obligatory chores. If you’ve been sending holiday greeting cards to the same people every year just because you feel a sense of obligation to do so, stop. Chances are that the recipient will sense that a once a year obligatory card is just that. Send cards and gifts to only those you really care about and waste less time taking on chores you would rather do without.

7. Do away with wish lists. Although wish lists may be extremely helpful for some, they are often a recipe for disappointment. When children, especially, don’t have all (or most) of their wish list, fulfilled, they are bound to feel upset. Aside from the items often being big ticket ones, wish lists take away the opportunity for the giver to be creative or to think about what the recipient might want or need. Children often feel disappointed if a parent deviates from the list and ungrateful children typically leave parents feeling disappointed too.

8. Redefine giving. Instead of focussing on material gift giving, discuss other options with your family. For example, spend time helping out at a soup kitchen or a food bank with your family so that you can experience the value of giving your time – that’s priceless.

9. Don’t overindulge. If you’re feeling stressed, try not to drown your stressors by drinking or eating excessively. This will only add to your stress later on. Rather, go for a walk or vent your stress on a punching bag. 

10. See your therapist. Knowing the stress that this time of the year often brings, book an appointment with your therapist in advance of the holidays so that once the flurry of activity is over, you can vent.

Sara Dimerman, Dip.C.S., C. Psych. Assoc., is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and provides counselling to individuals, couples and families out of the Parent Education Resource Centre, in Thornhill, Ontario. Sara is the author of two parenting books - Am I A Normal Parent? (Hatherleigh Press, 2008) and ‘Character Is The Key?’ (Wiley & Sons, 2009). Sara is a sought after media expert  - often quoted in newspapers, magazines and appears on radio and television across North America. Visit her website at www.helpmesara.com.

©Sara Dimerman 2009

 

Stress-Free Tips for Holiday Entertaining- From the Groove Mamma Nadine Hughes

With the holiday season around the corner, Nadine Hughes- hostess, caterer, cook and entertainer extraordinaire- suggests you take stress out of party planning and live it up by following her tips. “Making the most of your holiday entertaining,� says Hughes, “means keeping it simple by not trying to do too much.� Here are her Top 5 Tips for stylish, stress-free fun this holiday season (and that especially means You, if you’re hosting):

1. Make a List and Check it Twice!  There’s so much to do during the holidays on top of your everyday responsibilities- so it’s a great idea to keep track of what you have to do, from shopping to decorating to cooking.  Whether it’s a day-timer, a free online resource like Google Calendar or a piece of paper taped to your fridge - making lists, schedules and timelines will help keep your head clear for other more important tasks like stocking the bar!

2. Do Ahead.  When making your list, make sure that you plan your holiday menus around recipes that can be prepared in advance and add them to your calendar.  Hors d’oeurves or cookie dough that freeze well and can be popped into the oven at a moments notice or sauces and side dishes that keep for a few days in the refrigerator are time and sanity savers.  For great do-ahead recipes and ideas, check out the recipe section of http://www.thecookscompanion.ca

3. Keep It Simple.  Keeping your holiday parties simple will put the focus back on spending time with your loved ones and not spending it alone in the kitchen.  Don’t feel that you have to host a cast of thousands and make a 7 course meal to keep everyone happy.  Instead, have friends over for a specialty drink and a cheese tray or welcome them in from the winter’s cold with a buffet of piping hot soup tureens and an assortment of artisan breads. 

4. Chose One Signature Cocktail.  Don’t blow your holiday budget on trying to stock a full bar.  Instead have some fun and wow your guests with a sexy seasonal cocktail (see below for Nadine’s Apple Nog recipe).  Don’t forget to prepare your bar ahead of time with the ingredients for the cocktail, lots of ice, glasses and non-alcoholic drinks for the drivers in the room.  

5. Chill.  The ice but more importantly, you!  The key to being a great host is making your guests feel comfortable and you can’t do that if you’re not relaxed.  So take sometime before the party (put it on your list if you need to!) and do whatever it is that relaxes you.  Maybe it’s dancing to your favourite song, relaxing in a scented bubble bath or curled up with a book and a glass of wine, just remember to take a deep breath and enjoy!

For more stress-free party planning tips- from stocking the bar to setting the table, be sure to check out “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet – Easy Ways To Put The Fun Back Into Entertaining�, available for $7.98 at http://www.groovemamma.com.  It’s the perfect hostess gift and your antidote to another ho-hum bottle of wine this holiday season.

APPLE NOG RECIPE COURTESY OF NADINE HUGHES’S THE GROOVE MAMMA WEBSITE
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking time:   0 minutes
Cook’s Notes:  A fabulous specialty cocktail that can get your party started off on the right track.  To appeal to all guests, there is an alcohol free version as well.  Keeping your glasses in the freezer or set in buckets of ice at the bar will help keep the drinks cold without watering them down with ice cubes.

One Drink Ingredients:
Serves 1
• 125ml (½ cup) fresh apple cider
• 125ml (½ cup) eggnog (regular or light)
• Option: 30ml (1 ounce) amber rum
• Cinnamon or nutmeg for dusting
• Candy cane or cinnamon stick for garnish

1. Pour the cider, eggnog and rum, if using, into a shaker.  Shake and pour into an iced highball glass.  Dust with cinnamon or nutmeg and serve immediately.  Garnish with a candy cane or cinnamon stick if desired.

Pitcher Ingredients:
Serves 6
• 1 litre (4 cups) fresh apple cider
• 1 litre (4 cups) eggnog (regular or light)
• Option: 125ml (½ cup) amber rum
• Cinnamon or nutmeg for dusting
• 6 Candy canes or cinnamon sticks for garnish

1. Pour the cider and eggnog (and rum if using) into a large pitcher.  Stir vigorously until well combined.  Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve – you may need to stir the mixture again prior to serving.
2. Pour into iced highball glasses.  Dust with cinnamon or nutmeg and garnish each glass with a candy cane or cinnamon stick.
   
Nadine Hughes is the creator and owner of, The Cook’s Companion, through which she offers kitchen consultations and menu planning services as well as a cooking and entertaining school that offers classes for adults and teens throughout Southern Ontario. She is also a published writer, “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet� and avid blogger who is often called upon for “emergency� cooking and entertaining advice. In addition to The Cook’s Companion, Nadine launched the internet based The Menu Companion in February 2008, which markets and sells comprehensive menu planners that focus on the planning and preparation of dinner parties.  Who better to take sage party advice from than the original partying mama herself!

©Nadine Hughes 2009

Travelling to local destinations by car can be lots of fun all year round. We have collected some take-along item suggestions from friends for families to assist in making everything go more smoothly.

a) Scavenger Hunt - Make a list of things for your child(ren) to spot out the window i.e. cow, barn, silver car. See how long it takes to find everything on their list.

b) Busy Bag - Activity books, stickers and so forth that fit easily into a knapsack, can make mealtimes at restaurants more pleasurable experiences for everyone. Your child(ren) will be occupied while waiting for their meals to arrive or for you to finish eating.

c) Toilet Paper - Bring your own toilet paper along and remain comfortable when it may be absent at rest stops or less than comfortable at hotel/motel stops.

d) Walkie Talkies - Walkie Talkies can be a great way for parents to stay in touch at tourist attractions and conservation areas if you split up to follow different children’s interests.

e) Food - If you have booked a hotel, call ahead to find out if it has a refrigerator or if one can be added. If possible, bring your own drinks and snacks to eat between meal times. You may also wish to bring along your own kids’ water bottles to fill for outings or time at a pool/beach.

Please feel free to add your own favourite ideas using the comment section. We all benefit from your experience.