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Turning Pointe to Present Sea Captain’s Nutcracker Get your tickets for this amazing performance! This is the perfect, first, real, theatre ballet experience for young children! Equal quality to a trip to Boston or Providence minus the long drive, insane parking, and expensive tickets! November 29th & 30th at the Tilden Arts Center in Barnstable. You won't be let down, this is the best Nutcracker is town! Turning Pointe Dance Studio of Falmouth will present its biennial production of The Sea Captain’s Nutcracker in two shows Thanksgiving Weekend, November 29 and 30, at the Tilden Arts Center in Barnstable. Set to Tchaikovsky’s original Nutcracker score, this classical ballet production takes on an enchanting Cape Cod twist that was originally conceived and choreographed by world-class dancers Catherine Batcheller and Joseph Cipolla. The Artistic Director, Laura Sciortino, explains that “this production is an innovative version of the classic holiday favorite. We have a cast of over 90 dancers that include professional dancers from major ballet companies as well as prominent local citizens and ballet students from several towns on Cape Cod.” The story, written by local author Anne LeClaire, begins in a Chatham Sea Captain’s home in the mid 1800’s. A heroic battle scene later takes place on the captain’s ship as it is attacked by mooncussers off the coast of Eastham and a swift, violent storm off Monomoy Point threatens the voyage. Having sailed the high seas, the salty old Sea Captain returns home to Chatham bearing exotic gifts for Clara. Adults and children alike will be charmed by the Waltz of the Sea Grass and thrilled by the Dance of the Icy Winds. In addition to the Sea Captain (who replaces the traditional Drosselmeyer character), the cast includes sailors and mooncussers, mermaids and pearls, jellyfish and starfish, mice and sandpipers, and, of course, the beloved Clara and Fritz. This year, the studio has continued to upgrade its costumes by commissioning several new designs by a professional costume designer in California. There will also be enhancements made to the set designs that were originally created by London stage designer Jean Marc Puissant. Tickets to the 6pm Saturday show and the 1pm show on Sunday may be purchased via the studio’s web site at www.turningpointedancestudio.org. Discounts are available for children, seniors, and groups of 10 or more. All seats are reserved and tickets may sell out in advance, so the studio recommends purchasing tickets in advance. 
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By: Brittany In celebration of Halloween, this Cape Cod Mom wanted to share 2 of the favorite household treats in our home this time of year. The old dirt pudding and gummy worms is a tried and true favorite plus it is fun to measure and create them together. We also added the Cat Litter box this year and the kids really thought it was hilarious! The hubby even came home thinking it was real at first. Imagine the surprise when he saw us digging in eating "litter"! What are some favorite creative treats in your home? Cat Litter Cake: Using a clean new cat box, two sheet cakes, frosting, crushed graham crackers and melted tootsie rolls for yes the cat poop affect  Dirt Pudding Cup with Worms: use chocolate cookies, pudding and gummy worms for this childhood favorite. Tip: you can add some cool whip too!   October is AAC Awareness Month!
By: Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP October is International Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC) month! What is AAC? Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. Who uses AAC? People with severe speech or language problems rely on AAC to supplement existing speech or replace speech that is not functional. These people may include people who are non-verbal for a variety of reasons (childhood apraxia of speech, autism, cerebral palsy, dual sensory impairments, genetic syndromes, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, hearing impairment, disease, stroke, head injury, etc…). What are the different types of AAC? Unaided Communication: The user relies on his/her body to convey messages. Examples include gestures, body language, and/or sign language. Aided Communication: The user relies on tools or equipment in addition to his/her body. These methods range from simple picture communication books to high-tech communication devices (speech generating devices), which may include communication apps designed for use on tablet devices. How do I know if AAC is right for my child/loved one? AAC might be a good option for your child/loved one if he/she presents with a severe expressive communication impairment that interferes with or prevents with development and use of oral language. An SLP who is trained in AAC will help you explore the options available and decide if AAC is a viable choice. Augmentative/Alternative Communication is a great option to allow individual’s with communication disabilities the opportunity to communicate his/her thoughts/wants/needs. It does not have to take the place of oral speech, but can be used to augment existing speech or aid in communication as oral speech develops. If you wonder if your child/loved one is a good candidate for AAC, please do not hesitate to contact a local SLP to discuss the options that are available! To schedule a screening or assessment please contact Golden Speech Therapy today. www.goldenspeechtherapy.com Golden Speech Therapy Suzanne Golden, M.S., CCC-SLP Contact Info: 781-603-8529 www.goldenspeechtherapy.com www.facebook.com/goldenspeechtherapy  We love trying new spins on old favorites and we are always looking for ways to make meal time a little fun! We decided to slice up some of our fresh apples that Grandy (my grandmother and Tiny One's great grandmother) had picked herself from an orchard this season. We sliced up 2 apples into flat circles and then dipped each one in the pancake batter we had prepared. Then put them on the skillet and cook them up. The heat will soften the apple and they will be coated in a nice pancake batter. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar (or brown sugar) on top as they finish cooking and then top with some butter and serve them up! The kids will enjoy this special pancake treat plus it will help you get rid of some of those bushels of apples you have laying around! Enjoy!   By: Lauren I was given the opportunity to receive a review copy of the book My Twins' First Halloween in exchange for an honest review. I was excited to take a look at this book which was as we were recently blessed with two new bundles of joy this past year. The book was written by a child who is now a teenager and was written from her 5 year old perspective. I think it is great to encourage early literacy and publishing skills as it encourages the skills to flourish as they grow. My 4-year-old enjoyed the fun illustrations and family-centered Halloween theme as 5-year-old Paris Morris highlights her favorite Halloween activities, both classic and unique. This book however won't prep a little one for their own twins' first Halloween as Paris's twins appear to be three years old. There is a a strange plug in the middle of the book for Ghiradelli chocolate given to the children right before they leave to go trick or treating. I think it would have been fine to just indicate it was good chocolate instead redundant that it was "Ghiradelli... the good stuff". Still, with no big scares, Paris is fun and shows that the very best costumes don't always come from a store. A Paris pumpkin-carving template is also included which is a fun activity. It is the 8th book in a series by teen author Paris Morris. Paris and the twin adventures for Halloween were vibrant and in a few years we will have to dig this book out again when the twins are older and can appreciate the book and illustrations with big sister. Until then Happy Reading!  I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  Halloween Health & Safety Tips By Heather Grocott Autumn holidays like Halloween are fun times for children of all ages, who can dress up in costumes, enjoy parties, enjoy fall fruits and vegetables, and eat yummy treats. These celebrations also provide a chance to give out healthy snacks, engage in physical activity and focus on safety. Check out these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for trick-or-treaters and your party guests: · Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible. · Avoid trick-or-treating alone with your child. Walk in groups with friends. · Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you and your child. · Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating · Encourage your children to always WALK during trick or treating · Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation. · Dress your children in well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls. · Do not allow your child to enter homes · Carry a cell phone with you  Treat safety tips: · Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before your child eats them. Limit the amount of treats your child eats. · Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers. · A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats. · Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils. · Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.  Expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests? Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone: · Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. · Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity. · Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls. · Keep candle-lit jack o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended. · Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely. Heather Grocott is a Director at The Children's Workshop. She holds a BA from Providence College in Elementary and Special Education as well as a Master's Degree from Rhode Island College in Early Childhood Education. Her true passion is not only working with children, but sharing knowledge with families and teachers in order to provide the best early learning experience for all young learners. She is also a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Rhode Island Childcare Director’s Association, as well as the Rhode Island College Early Childhood Advisory Board.  By: Emily Being mom to a four-year-old who is a huge fan of trucks, I was excited about the two of us watching “Big, Loud, and Strong Semi Trucks” together. The DVD is advertised as being for children 3-8 years old, but unfortunately it did not hold my son’s attention for very long. As promised it contains 40 minutes of truck footage in 5-10 min segments that are interspersed with facts about trucks, and some cartoon truck who sings songs. While he enjoyed seeing the trucks on the screen, and seemed excited about the first song with Boone, the cartoon truck driving cowboy, the production level of this DVD reminds me of some of the DIY You Tube videos of children’s songs done by creative parents. Perhaps it would appeal more to children closer to 3 years old, but I think the advertising misses the mark by suggesting this is going to captivate the attention of children up to 8. Kids Like Trucks is run by two dads, Jason Lancaster and Mark Harvey, who know trucks, not only because they have worked in the auto industry for decades, but also because they both have sons who just can't get enough truck action! It would be great for Kids Like Trucks to narrow down their audience a bit and change it to gear specifically to age groups as 3-8 is too wide a range. It would also be great to see them team up with Touch a Truck events and see if they can market together or even do volumes on other classes of trucks such as a military truck series or emergency truck series. ***Blogger was provided with the DVD in order to facilitate an honest review per Mommies LLC policy which will only provide honest reviews and feedback to our community. All thoughts and opinions expressed are the blogger's own and have not been influenced. Kids Like Trucks Giveaway! By: Rebekah Thomson, Pediatric Sleep Coach
I know I’m not the only one noticing how much shorter our days are getting already. Daylight savings 2014 will end on November 2nd. Clocks are moved back one hour from 2 a.m. DST to 1 a.m. For parents of early risers, the upcoming change can be nerve-racking. “He’s already waking up at 5:30 a.m. Does this mean he’s going to start waking up at 4:30 a.m. now?!” Fortunately the answer is no. You are going to gradually shift his schedule to the new time, just like when you are traveling. So what will it look like? You have a few options. One is to allow your child to wake up at his natural time on the morning of the 3rd. According to the clock, it will be an hour earlier than usual. If he usually wakes up at 6:30 a.m., he will likely awaken at 5:30 a.m. That’s fine. It will be short-lived! Try to keep things low key for 30 minutes until you are ready to start the day. Base the day’s routines (meals, naps, etc.) around the new clock time. If your son’s bedtime was 7:30 p.m., the clock will now read 6:30 p.m. Aim for good naps that day so he can make it to at least 7 p.m. (new time). You can gently push his bedtime back to 7:30 p.m. over the next few nights. Alternatively, if going “cold turkey” doesn’t appeal, you can also approach the time change incrementally, starting next week. Push naps, meals and bedtime back 15 minutes later each of the days leading up to the end of daylight savings. If his usual bedtime is 7:30 p.m., he can go to bed at 7:45 p.m. on October 29th, 8 p.m. on the 30th, 8:15 p.m. on the 31st, and 8:30 p.m., on the 1st. By the time daylight savings ends, he will already be adjusted – or at least well on his way. Regardless of which approach you choose, stay consistent and don’t let him really start his day before 6 a.m. (new time). He’ll be adjusted within a week. If your child had too late of a bedtime before the time change, this is your chance to move it earlier without too much fuss. The ideal bedtime for most children is between 7 and 8 pm. So if your son’s bedtime was too late, don’t move it later; just put him to bed at the new time of 7 or 8pm. Note: If your little guy seems plagued by early rising, it’s time to get to the bottom of it. Follow this link to read my earlier post about the common causes of early rising and how to address them: http://www.capecodmommies.com/1/post/2012/05/the-early-bird-does-not-catch-the-worm.html *Includes information from Kim West’s Good Night Sleep Tight. Contact Rebekah Thomson for your Sleep Needs! Rebekah Thomson Counting Sheep Pediatric Sleep Coaching rebekahjthomson@gmail.com (917) 455-3054  The most common response for a child watching something scary is to sit What happens at the intersection of Fun and Scary? |
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