Moms deserve a special day all to themselves. Being a mom myself, I am probably biased, but… I believe that being a mother is the most difficult thing a woman can do & the accomplishment is something to be celebrated!

The origins of Mother’s Day have roots in the 1600s. Mothering Day as it was called in England, became an especially compassionate holiday toward the working class women. On the Sunday of Lent, servants and trade workers were allowed to travel back to their towns of origin to visit their families. Mothering Day also provided a one-day reprieve from the fasting and penance of Lent so that families across England could enjoy a sumptuous family feast—Mother was the guest of honor. Mothers were presented with cakes and flowers, as well as a visit from their beloved and distant children.

The modern day US celebration is very similar to the celebrations of the English so long ago. We shower our Mothers with flowers, greeting cards and gifts to thank them for their devotion and love. However, the Holiday is not specific to the United States and is celebrated all over the world in a number of different ways.

• 1. Argentina: During Día de la madre, young children gather their mothers together and read them poetry.
• 2. Japan: On haha no hi, families prepare traditional dishes that their mothers taught them to cook. The Japanese give their Mothers flowers (especially red carnations), scarves, handkerchiefs and handbags.
• 3. United Kingdom: The Mother’s day traditions include a gift of violet and the customary Simnel Cake, a glazed fruitcake inspired by a folk tale about a married couple, Simon and Nell. So the story goes, this pair could not decide bake or broil a cake. So in the end they did both. Thus Simnel Cake was born.
• 4. Finland: Mother’s Day is called aidipayiva and in the morning the family takes a walk, picks new flowers and makes a bouquet for their mother. A particular flower called the valkovuokko is favored. Mom is then presented with a decorated bouquet, while also being served breakfast in bed.
• 5. Sweden: Mother’s Day takes a charitable course; the Swedish Red Cross sells small plastic flowers leading up to the holiday, and the proceeds raised are given to poor mothers and their children.

This year to celebrate our wonderful Mothers in a new and different way, perhaps we can adopt a few of the unique customs that are celebrated around the world. Read a poem to your mom, bake a cake, serve her breakfast in bed, or make a charitable donation in her name. Take it from someone who knows, she will appreciate the originality and thought that is put into making Mother’s Day such a special and wonderful day of celebration!

Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler clothing line featuring ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on her website http://www.regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues. She is also a monthly contributor to Educated Mommy Magazine. You can contact Lisa directly at: lisa@regionzkidz.com

I would love to welcome Gigi to our Regionz Kidz blog! She is going to be putting up some great posts about Peru & its culture and traditions. Please welcome her to our wonderful community

Gilda (Gigi) Pedraza, a Social Entrepreneur and Former Director of Resource Development at the Latin American Association; graduated with honors from the bachelors degree program in Hospitality from the Center in Tourism Development in Lima, Peru. In 2000, on a scholarship from the Spanish government, Gilda received a Masters in Tourism with a focus in planning from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Univeristy.

Before leading the Resource Development Department at the Latin American Association, where she responsible for the fundraising activities as well as special events and public relations strategy; she worked as an events planner and coordinator of the “Guest Recognition” program at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead; training staff on quality management processes and increasing efficiencies in the hotel.

Gilda has also led several initiatives aiming to facilitate the traffic and delivery of service at the Peruvian Corporation of Civil Aviation, which included integrating suppliers, government representatives, corporations and the media in the projects at the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima.

Currently, she runs the Inca Kids project, a fair trade initiative supporting skilled but unprivileged Peruvian artisans through the sales of their handcrafted items in developing countries.

Gilda is married to Omar Rodriguez, she is mother of a busy toddler and is expecting her second baby in July.

The Qoyllur Rit’i Festival…At 15,500 feet!

One of the things that I miss the most while living here in the US; is the number of festivals Peruvians enjoy during the year, and I am not talking about artist markets, I am talking about festivals that go back hundreds of years as traditions.

The Qoyllur Rit’i (pronounced “kouyuriti” in English means “Snow Star”) is a festival celebrated at the end of May that unites both the Andean and Catholic traditions of the country. It is basically a long pilgrimage that starts at the bottom of Mount Sinaqara (believed in the Andean tradition to be a god –Apu Ausangate) all the way up 15,500 feet! Thousands of people walk, dance and sing their way up the mountain while enjoying traditional food from vendors or other pilgrims. The story of the tradition says that an image of God appeared on top of the mountain and if you do a pilgrimage for 5 years in a row, God will grant you a special wish or miracle. Believers then plan their whole year around this festivity and bring their best and colorful clothes, food from their towns (because of the altitude is very difficult to cook up there) and dance and pray for God to give them strength to reach the summit.

After they reach the summit, some pilgrims bring pieces of glacier to their communities (they carry them on their back!) because they are believed to have medicinal properties.

If you think this sounds interesting, remember that you would be climbing a mountain so there is no hotel, you would have to carry a tent to sleep inside, and temperatures often reach 0 Fahrenheit degrees!!

Gigi Pedraza
Inca Kids, Fair Trade Artisan Toys and Accessories by Peruvian artisans.
www.incakids.org

Whole World
Illustrated by Christopher Corr
Sung by Fred Penner

“She’s got the fish of the sea
In her hands
She’s got the Whole World in her hands!”

Oprah loves us, and you will too! Oprah selected our Whole World book to be on her O magazine February “O List” of things she loves. This is a beautifully illustrated version of the song we all loved as children. Fred Penner, a famous children’s musician, contributed his talents to this catchy sing-along CD. The book also includes information about different ecosystems and has eco-tips on how to live green and respect our planet! The pronouns are mixed throughout the book, giving us all a better sense of how we are responsible for our own world.

“…this bright, lively interactive picture book makes a strong call for conservation. Each clear, spacious, double-page spread shows boys and girls of all races and places holding hands around the globe, playing together from the plains and deserts to the lakes and rivers and towns and cities … The chanting repetition with the colorful pictures of children everywhere will have even young preschoolers joining in the playful celebration of diversity and connection and saving the world.”
— Booklist

You can find out more about this book on my barefoot website, where the press release is listed as well as a few online activity sheets about our environment. This book is recommended for ages 0-9, but has a message we can all appreciate at any age! Along with spreading a message of global responsibility, Barefoot Books is donating 10% of Whole World sales to global conservation efforts. To find out more about this book, as well as find a list of our environmental partners, please visit my website at http://barefootfamily.mybarefootbooks.com

Jenn Aaron
US Stallholder US-1014367
Barefoot Books
http://barefootfamily.mybarefootbooks.com/

What is short, loud, messy, comes in many varieties and contrary to popular belief actually doesn’t sweat? If your answer is “a pig” you’re correct! However that is not the answer I am looking for. Children would be the appropriate response.

Yes it’s true, children do not sweat and therefore are at greater risk for dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Their temperature regulation systems are still immature and that can be dangerous when playing or exercising outdoors. Whether we are looking forward to it or not, Summer is on its way which means increased temperatures (outside and body), no school and a lot more free time to spend outdoors. Here are a few tips to help you keep your children safe from heat related ailments.

1) Instill the importance of drinking plenty of water in your children. Cold water is the best thing to give a child who has been playing outdoors since it will help bring down their increased body temperature. The longer and harder they play, the higher their core temperature will be thus increasing the need for more water. Schedule water breaks for your kids so it becomes a healthy habit over time.

2) Make sure your children wear appropriate hot weather clothing. Pick clothes that are light in color. Darker fabrics attract more heat and should be avoided during this time of year if at all possible. Loose clothing is better than tight. The tighter the clothing, the more heat their bodies will hold in. Hats are great for keeping your kids’ faces from getting too much sun, but they also hold in more body heat. Heat escapes from the tops of our heads and by wearing a hat you are making it harder for your body to cool itself down.

3) Avoid beverages loaded with sugar and caffeine. Not only are they bad for kids nutritionally, but the caffeine will also increase dehydration. If your child drinks a 12-ounce can of a caffeinated soda, they will have to drink 24 ounces of water just to re-hydrate themselves. If they don’t want to drink water all the time, offer them a beverage that contains electrolytes. G2 is the newest sports drink from the Gatorade Company and contains 50% less sugar and calories than traditional Gatorade. They are also the makers of Propel Fitness Water, which also has far fewer calories than other sports drinks and still contains electrolytes/vitamins and flavoring.

4) Be aware of the amount of time children play during the hottest hours of the day. If they play organized sports, encourage the coach to start practices and games earlier or later in the day. You want to encourage them to play outside, but be mindful if you notice your child’s cheeks getting very red. More often than not, children won’t notice that they are overheating. By the time they realize they aren’t feeling well the damage has already been done.

5) Weigh your children before and after they participate in an outdoor activity. Although this may seem a little strange for your child, it is a good habit to get into. It is a way for your child to see how much fluid weight they lose during activities and will hopefully encourage them to drink adequate amounts of water.

Follow these tips this summer to ensure your child’s health and safety. In addition to these great tips, you can also put a mud pit in your yard and encourage your children to roll around in it when they get too hot. Just don’t send me the housecleaning bill!

Christopher Hillery has been a Certified Personal Trainer for 9 years and is the owner of Transformer Fitness in Phoenix, Arizona. He was once an overweight child and knows first-hand how the effects of being overweight can be damaging. It is his goal to help overweight children and adults develop lasting healthy habits and a positive body image. Chris can design a full workout program for parents and children which can include a nutrition program, along with equipment to use at home. He can be reached via email at: chris_hillery80@cox.net

I was talking with a friend last week about the private school that her 2 boys attended & she informed me that she had withdrawn them at the end of last school year and they now attended public school. When I asked what brought about the change, she told me “The teachers at their previous school told them (when doing are projects) ‘We only color the people in our pictures peach.’ “ My friend, a forward thinking intelligent mom, told her children to follow the rules at school but while at home, she encouraged her children to do artwork and to color their people all different shades because as she put it “The world is full of people of all different colors.”

This got me to thinking. When we take our children to school, we assume that we are placing them in the very best care. We believe that the teachers that interact with them on a daily basis are teaching them about equality and being open-minded when in reality, that may not be the case. Teachers are human and bring with them into the classroom, their own set of prejudices. How so we know that they aren’t passing them on to our children?

A culturally literate teacher can make all the difference when working with children on the concepts of diversity & racial tolerance. An educator that celebrates differences helps to increase students’ self-esteem and self-worth and helps to teach children about these differences in a non-judgmental way. Unfortunately, there are some schools, administration and teachers who fall short of this mark.

What should we as parents be on the lookout for? How can we tell is our child’s teacher is ready to take on this open-minded way of teaching?

1. Look for signs in their classroom: Do they have pictures, quotes or artwork representing all cultures and populations?

2. Check out their teaching style: Do they encourage healthy, open discussions and questions about cultural perspectives and topics?

3. Examine the school curriculum: Do the lesson plans fit all types of students? Does it focus on one particular gender, race or religion more than another?

4. Ask the students: 45% of all children in the US are ethnic minorities. Do they feel excluded? Do they feel safe sharing things about themselves in the classroom?

5. Take a look at your child’s homework or text books: Are there units or chapters devoted to all ethnicities? Do they look at History or social issues from different cultural perspectives?

Most teachers are good people trying to do their jobs in the best way possible; dealing with school overcrowding, budget cuts and the like. If your child’s classroom does not answer with a resounding “yes!” to the above questions, you don’t have to make a rush to pull them from school. These are merely suggestions for the optimal learning for our children and if your child’s school or teacher can provide even just a few of the suggestions, they are better off for them.

We should of course, be teaching children morals and their belief system at home, but with teachers having a large influence over behavior for a good portion of their day, we do have some cause for concern if they are teaching things that we don’t want them to learn. The world is made up of students of all different colors, shapes, and sizes and we need to find educators that encourage communication about differences while demonstrating that these differences do not equate to any one group or person being better than any other. We should be concerned when our teachers tell our children to “only color people peach” and we should applaud those that inspire, motivate and empower children of all colors.

 In this new age of social responsibility and environmental concern, parents are looking for easy and fun ways to teach their children about the necessity of giving back to those in need & cleaning up the environment. However, this has also become a time of extravagant birthday party celebrations for young children with inflatable jumping machines, balloon arches, disposable party utensils and lots of unnecessary gifts; none of which seem to teach our children about social issues or the environment. So, what can we as “green” parents do? There are several different ways to incorporate giving back to others and environmentally friendly ideas to create a fun and exciting Birthday celebration.

1. Invitations – Create recycled invitations from scraps of left-over paper, art supplies and items around the house that fit in with the theme of your party. There are recycled paper invitations, “tree-free” paper invitations, as well as seeded invitations, that, when planted, will grow into a flower garden. You can also send electronic invitations which cut down on paper and cost.

2. Location – Let your child choose the location based on their interests. Farms, parks, fire stations, zoos, museums, and animal shelters all make wonderful “natural” backdrops for a party and won’t require much additional decoration. In addition, the children (and adults) can learn about ways to help these local organizations, take care of plants and animals and enjoy nature.

3. Décor – Latex balloons, plastic utensils and paper napkins are a natural parent’s worst nightmare! Opt for some more earth-friendly items such as paper lanterns, non-disposable utensils, cloth napkins and table cloths and flowers or plants as centerpieces.

4. Cake or Dessert – Make your own vegan or organic cake or cupcakes. This provides you with an opportunity to teach your child about the importance of healthy & organic products, as well as allowing them to participate in the creation of a dessert that will be enjoyed by all of their guests.

5. Party Favors – The typical plastic goody bags filled with candy and useless toys can easily be replaced by earth-friendly items such as unique rocks, flower or vegetable seeds and planting materials. Home-made baked goods or art projects are always a thoughtful parting gift as well.

6. Gifts – This is where things can get a bit tricky – most children enjoy and look forward to receiving gifts during their Birthday celebration . Before you begin planning the party, you should re-evaluate what a birthday party means for you and your child. If a discussion occurs early in the process and clarifies the expectations for the party and the gifts, children will be excited about the good things that will be created from their very special party. The key is to combine your social and environmental values with a theme that your child will embrace and enjoy. Along with the theme, choose a charity or organization that will benefit from monetary or product donations. Take a tour of the shelter, charity or organization that your child has chosen or, if the charity is not local, view their website to help your child form an emotional connection with that particular group.

If this type of involved planning really isn’t your thing, there are companies out there that will do it all for you. One such company is Inspired Birthdays. They offer 5 different themed parties focusing on anything from wild animals, to healthy living, to volunteering & they have several different planning packages depending on how much help you need. Each them is partnered with a charity and parents can choose from different donation options for their guests. They can bring everything you need or just the entertainment – you decide!

These party planning options are easy, fun and can be enjoyed fully by the guests, the birthday child and parents alike. They keys to raising socially and environmentally responsible children are to educate them on about giving back and showing them how much fun it can be. A Birthday party is an experience that children look forward to and remember. Why not tie in some simple but meaningful themes and ideas that will change your children and their outlook on the world for the better?

As parents, we all want our children to feel good about themselves - that is inherent.  Having good self-esteem is vital to kids achieving higher marks in school, staying away from drugs and alcohol, and leading an overall productive and healthy lifestyle.  How then do we help children develop high levels of good self-esteem?

*Accept your child for who they are.  Embrace the talents, interests and skills that they DO have, rather than focusing on things that they are not good at or do not enjoy.

*Listen to your child.  Do not always provide a quick solution to their problems.  They may not be searching for an answer, just someone to listen.  Let them work out small problems and situations on their own.

*Don’t use labels to describe your child, but rather their behavior.  Do not tell a child, “You are bad.”  Instead let them know that their behavior in a certain situation was unacceptable.

*Provide structure, reasonable discipline and limits.  These show children that their world has a pattern and routine and they allow children to feel some control over their situations.  Children that feel helpless are more dependent and less able to make good decisions in the absence of adults.

For some wonderful resources and educational activities to help promote good self-esteem in your children, you can visit the sites listed below.  They provide colorful and fun stories, worksheets and family activities that will help parents teach their kids about positive, happy feelings, believing in themselves, and ways to grow and help others build their own self-esteem.  They empower children to become their own biggest believers, and make learning about this sometimes difficult and confusing issue, fun.  I have had personal contact with both of the owners of these companies (Women!) and have found them both to be passionate about what they believe in and educated on the topic of children’s self-esteem and how to foster and develop it.

http://www.bingnote.com - INSPIRE CHILDREN TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES!

http://www.yeahyeahoutloud.com -Empowering kids to discover their inner “cheer”leader!

I came across this company in Working Mother Magazine & was impressed with their business philosophy and company mission - please take the time to visit the website and pass their company information along to others that can benefit from their products.

Real Cosmetics is a revolution in the make-up industry.  Created by a Pakistani-American woman tired of not being able to find the right foundation color for her ethnic skin tone, Lubna Khalid’s company has become her passion.  9 years ago she launched her line which features makeup with a broad range of undertones including olive, golden and red-brown skin.  Lubna wanted not only focus on the sales and marketing of her 2 different product lines (face and lips), but she also wanted to take time to focus on women’s issues of beauty, empowerment and social stereotypes.  She uses “real” models for her products, 90% of her employees are multicultural women, and she tries to adress the concerns of multicultural women through personal enhancement and diversity of beauty ideals.

Real Cosmetics has a Face Line that features liquid foundation and pressed powders in 16 shades & a Lipstick Line in 16 colors.  They have been featured on the Oxygen Network & Fitness, Shape, InStyle, Cosmo Girl & “O” Magazine.  They are currently in the process of opening several retail stores in major cities across the US.

Catering to a growing market of multi-ethnic women looking for beauty products that make them feel beautiful, Real Cosmetics is a leader in the field of product development and social conscience.  No longer do women of color have to say, “My skin tone must be abnormal because I can’t find any products for me.”  Instead, when they visit Real Cosmetics, they will find high quality products made specifically with them in mind.  Congratulations to Lubna Khalid for creating a company and products that can help to include women into the collaborative view of what is beautiful.

We All Went on Safari- A Counting Journey Through Tanzania
written by Laurie Krebs and illustrated by Julia Cairns

“We all went on safari,
Over grasslands damp with dew.
We came across some ostriches,
And Mosi counted two.”

 This book is great for toddlers beginning to count, as well as older children who are ready to learn about the world. The book follows a group of Maasai people as they explore their world, counting animals in English and Swahili. Each phrase and number get a beautiful two page illustration from Ms. Cairns. The counting poem is followed by a number of pages with information about the Maasai people, the country of Tanzania, the native animals and Swahili names. There are a number of pronunciation guides to assist in reading the story.

This book was winner of a Starred Review by the Kirkus Reviews, and recently School Library Journal said, “Youngsters will learn numbers from one to ten in English and Swahili as Mosi, Tumpe, Arusha, and other friends count African wildlife. Attractive borders frame vibrant watercolor spreads of different types of animals, including giraffes, elephants, zebras, and lions. The rhyming singsong verse, beginning with the refrain “We all went on a safari,” lends itself to a fun read-aloud.”

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation, to aid their wildlife conservation and community building efforts in Tanzania. This is a fun book to read aloud or alone, and is a great way to introduce children of all ages to the country of Tanzania.

To find out more about this book and print an activity sheet, please visit my website at http://barefootfamily.mybarefootbooks.com

Thanks again to Jenn for the great write-up! Please take a look at what Barefoot Books has to offer - they truly are a unique and wonderful company.

On April 1st, how many of us have listened to stories, read an article in the paper or received an email from friends, family or co-workers that was immediately followed by the loud yell of “April Fools!”? April 1st is the US National holiday for tricks, pranks and other practical jokes. The commonly accepted origin of April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day, involves changes in the calendar. At one time, the New Year celebration began on March 25 and ended on April 1. However, in 1582, King Charles IX accepted the beginning of the New Year as January 1. Those who refused to acknowledge the new date or simply forgot, received foolish gifts and invitations to nonexistent parties. It has evolved into a day of light-hearted trickery and has produced some elaborate and well-known hoaxes.

The United State is not the only country to participate in a national prank day. Several others around the world also play host to a day similar to ours.
• In Iran, people play jokes on each other on April 3, the 13th day of the Persian calendar. It is believed that people should go out on this date in order to escape the bad luck of number 13.
• On April 1st, the French play a game called “April’s Fish” and attempt to attach a paper fish to the victims’ back’s without being noticed. This is also widespread in other nations, such as Italy where “April’s Fish” is also used to refer to any other jokes done during the day
• In Belgium, the tradition is for children to lock their parents or teachers out of the house or school, only letting them in if they promise to bring treats the same evening or the next day.
• In some countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, on April 1st, if somebody pulls an April Fools’ Trick after midday, then the person pulling the trick is actually considered the fool.

So, this year, if you can’t quite create a believable hoax, prank or joke yourself, you can try taking an idea from some of the countries above. You’ll not only getting the benefit of yelling “April Fool’s!” to your unsuspecting victim, but you’ll also be teaching a little about some different customs as well; and that’s no joke!