Peach Cobbler recipe and videos

Okay, so today I spent the day trying to capture a peach cobbler recipe and some kitchen tips for working with children in a video to put on my new YouTube channel, Help From Debbie.

Haha, I have been working on it for 5 hours now.  I am not able to put all the videos together in one smooth shot...so there are 5!

The cobbler is delicious and here is the recipe.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Ingredients:
Fresh peaches
1 C. brown sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
Cinnamon
1 C flour
1/3 C melted butter
1/2 C milk
1 egg
lemon zest

Wash, peel and cut peaches into chunks, place in buttered 8x8 inch pan (I use a cast iron skillet).
Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and cinnamon.
Combine other ingredients in a bowl, mix till smooth.
Pour over peaches.
Bake for 55 - 60 minutes.
Serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or a dash of heavy cream.

If you would like to watch the videos, my youtube channel is
http://www.youtube.com/user/HelpFromDebbie/videos

They are labeled peach cobbler 1 - 5.

Star Spangled Skewers

This is a great cooking activity to celebrate the Fourth of July.  And it’s healthy! 

Before you begin any cooking project, here are a few tips:

Cover your kitchen table with a plastic table cloth, this makes for easy clean up.

Put a kitchen towel out for each child.  This defines their workspace.

Have a roll of paper towels ready to use if needed.

Have all of your materials, ingredients, utensils, cutting boards, etc. ready to go.

I call these “Star Spangled Skewers”.

Most important is the preparation of the child.

Everyone has an apron, and everyone washed their hands.

For this recipe you need

12 inch skewers

Blueberries, strawberries, bananas

Mini marshmallows

Wash and dry the berries.

Cut the tops off of the strawberries and then cut each one in half.

Cut the bananas.  

Children can help with the cutting.  Use plastic knives.  I like to cut down one side of the banana to make it more stable on the cutting board.  Make small cuts in the banana where you want the child to cut through.  Show the child how to hold the fruit on the cutting board with one hand and press with the knife until it goes all the way through to the board.

Have a bowl on the table for garbage.  Thanks to Rachael Ray for that.

Now we assemble.

Seven of the skewers need to have the strawberries and bananas alternated so there are 13 pieces of fruit on each one, start and end with a strawberry.

The other five skewers need to have strawberry, banana, strawberry, banana, strawberry

Then finish with alternating the blueberries and marshmallows.

To display use a flat board like a cutting board and arrange the skewers to look like the American Flag.

Everyone who cooks can help clean up.

So assign jobs.

Shaun will you please take the cutting boards to the sink, one at a time.

Lily will you carefully dump the contents of the garbage bowl into the trash?

Ava will you collect the towels and bring them to the washer?

I will collect the knives and the table cloth.  Wrap all the table mess in the plastic table cloth and clean up is easy!

These Star Spangled Skewers are fun to make, but they are even more fun to eat!!!

We will soon put a video up of this segment, check back to see the fun!

YouTube

I have started a YouTube channel!  I just put up a test video.  I will be shooting a cooking video with some of my nieces and nephews tomorrow.  When it is up, I will let you know.  We will be making Star Spangled Skewers!!

Kindly take a look and check out Ziggy the day after we got him.
http://www.youtube.com/user/HelpFromDebbie/videos

This one's for you, Dad. - CAMP!

Camp!!!!

Camp is a great way to spend the summer.  To be honest, I believe that some unscheduled time is vital for children to develop their own interests, learn to entertain themselves (not with screen time), and learn to be who they are.

But 12 weeks of unscheduled time is a lot for a child.  It is said that students tend to forget about 40% of what is learned in school during the summer months.  This means teachers cannot just dive in with new and unexplored curriculum.  Time must be spent REVIEWING!  No fun for anyone.

Camp is a good way to continue learning and exploring in a supervised manner.

There are many types of camps.

In every community there are camps that specialize in activities.  This is a good way for a child to explore something they have an interest in whether it be a particular sport or a visual or performing art.  Lego camps have become very popular.  The key is that it is something that interests the child.  The child should be part of the decision making process when it comes to choosing a camp.

Day camps can provide a variety of activities too.  There are camps that give children sports, arts, games, and nature activities throughout the day.  These are great camps for children who have a wide field of interest.

Sleep Away Camps are great for older children.  Children who choose a sleep away camp should have experience staying overnight at the houses of friends or relatives.  The first experience should be for a short amount of time, whether it is a week or two.  You can increase the duration if your child has a positive experience.  I would not send a child who is under the age of 10.

All camps should have the following:
Experienced and qualified staff members
Clean and comfortable facilities
A planned schedule of activities
Staff certified in first aid and CPR

I highly recommend students attending camps.  It helps students grow, it leads to self confidence and self discovery, and it can be the source of wonderful memories.

No Math For Me

It is often challenging for parents to get their children to practice academics over the summer.  The truth is, children forget about 50% of what they learned the previous year during summer vacation.  Teachers spend 4-6 weeks reviewing information that the students knew last year.  Seems like a faulty plan.  (That's why I am for year round school.)

So I have a new blog at http://nomathforme.blogspot.com, please take a look.  It is a fun way for elementary students to read and practice math a little bit.  I will add to the blog every day or two.  Students can send me their answers in the comment section.

I will include the name of the first responder with the correct answer in the next episode.  So send the blog to students, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.  Let's see where the No Math For Me adventures take us!

What's the Rush?

I haven't written a post in a while due to the fact that I am working on my Master's Degree!  A little late but I am determined to get it done.  Which brings me to this blog...What's the rush?

I have always considered myself a late bloomer.  I didn't find my career until I was in my 30's, I didn't get married until that decade either.  There are a lot of things I did not do until I was past the average age for many things.  I even wrote a play called "Confessions of a Late Bloomer", but that is a story for another day.

I am so surprised when parents say to me, "My child is growing up too fast."  When I observe the "child" in question (and there are many, this is not a blog about any specific child), I notice the child has pierced ears, fingernail polish, a facebook account, an i phone, wears extremely short shorts and revealing tops.  These are children who are not even in double digits yet.  For boys it's more about the language they use.  They begin calling each other "Dude", using phrases such as "Wasssup?", talking about violent video games, and TV shows that even though animated are clearly filled with adult content.

So, if we don't want our children to miss out on their childhood, don't start providing items and opportunities that they can work towards.  Many philosophers say that play is the highest form of expression in childhood. Yet I see children who are bored on the playground because they are so used to being the passive participant in entertainment.  Childhood is a time when children should be out doors, exploring nature, growing gardens, flying kites, hiking, swimming, skating, sledding.  Children should be actively engaged in childhood.

• It does go by in the blink of an eye, so why allow a child to do more grown up things?  It doesn't hurt to say:
• You can have that when you are 15.
• You can watch 30 minutes of TV, after you ...(play outside, ride your bike, do an art project, build with legos, play with friends, walk the dog, do your homework, do your chores).  
• As your parents, we think you are too young for that.
• It doesn't matter to me what your friends have, wear, do...as your parents we will make decisions that are in your best interest.
• Thank you for your input, I understand what you want, what I want is for you to have a childhood that is filled with wonderful memories and magical experiences, so we can save that experience for a later date, now let's bake cookies.

As parents you have the controls, you can make childhood last a little longer.  It is not something you get to have back.  It is a gift your child will thank you for....later.

What to do when someone you love has ADHD

I have worked with many students and families who have heard the diagnosis of ADHD.  As a classroom teacher, I do not feel comfortable telling parents which route they should take with their child as each situation is different.  But if I could give advice to someone I love, I would say:

Take a deep breath.  This is a journey, there are no quick fixes.  Take another deep breath, this will not ruin your child's life or impede your child from becoming a self sufficient, functioning, responsible adult.  As a matter of fact there are many successful adults with ADHD, we just call it ambition, creative thinking, and energy.

As a parent, your job is to raise a child who can be a functioning member of society.  Although your heart is breaking for your child's situation, you have a job to do.  Be honest with the professionals in your child's life. Don't be afraid of your child being "labeled"  The label of ADHD is better than the label of naughty, unruly, and discipline problem.

If your child had diabetes, or needed glasses you would certainly get your child the help she needs.  It is the same with ADHD,  Your child has an interference with normal focus.  It is like watching TV in the 1950's.  There are some channels that are fuzzy and full of static.  That is what your child's brain is like.  The ability to tune in clearly is not there.  Another example would be the Charlie Brown TV specials.  The adults talk "Whaa, waa, waa," that is what your child hears.  She cannot adjust the controls in her brain to make the message clear.

Take a deep breath.  Your child is unique.  Love your child.  Then get your child what she needs to be able to focus, to control impulsivity, and to be successful.

As a teacher I have not seen cases where natural remedies, diet changes, and behavior modification work consistently.  I have seen parents go through these steps on the journey with their child, this only seems to delay the inevitable.

I do recommend medication.  It may take awhile to find the right dose and the right brand, but work with your teacher and pediatrician to keep on top of it.  Find teachers who have experience and can be supportive.  Find a school where the child does not have to sit at a desk for long periods of time, where they teach self reliance and responsibility, and where children are allowed to socialize and move about within limits.

Find a school and stick with it.  Taking a child from school to school is a disadvantage.  Each time you move the child they need to reestablish relationships and adapt to new rules.  Not easy for an ADHD child.

A child with ADHD needs freedom within limits.  The boundaries must be clearly defined and consistently enforced.  The child who is allowed freedom within these boundaries with the help of the right medication, the right school and the love of a strong parent will thrive.

Take a deep breath, love your child, then help her cope with this challenge.  Be grateful for the joy this child brings to your life.