Corn Activity

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If you have some old corn in your garden or you've purchased some that was too old, don't fret...have your children use them as a painting tool. All you'll need is some finger paint, paper and corn. This is a great texture lesson and will be fun for kids. This could get a bit messy so you'll probably want to do this in your back yard or on your porch. Putting a tarp down is a good idea too. You may want to get some skewers (you can smooth the ends by cutting off the pointy part and sanding the ends) and stick them through the corn as a handle. 

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Nutrition and Fitness After Pregnancy

When a new baby comes into your life it's easy to be selfless. You're constantly thinking about the care of your baby and what they need; changing diapers, feedings, cleaning etc. This is extremely important since your baby relies on you for their physical and emotional development but taking time for your own health is also an important thing to remember. With the proper nutrition and physical activity, after pregnancy, your body will more easily be able to handle the exhaustion and stress that a new life can add. Plus it's a good way to loose the extra baby weight too.

Nutrition:

Calories- Know the right amount of calories your body needs daily. If you are breastfeeding, your body needs about 500 more calories a day. To calculate your personal calorie intake visit choosemyplate.gov and click on "Daily Food Plan". This choosemyplate.gov is a new initiative in place of Mypyramid.gov.

Water- We all know we need to eat the recommended 5 a day fruits and vegetables but what we forget is how much water we need. Water is necessary for almost every function in the body and is essential to life. The water recommendation is 8 cups per day if you are not breastfeeding and 10-12 cups a day if you are. 

Whole Grain Pancakes

Whole Grains- Whole grains offer high levels of antioxidants along with vitamins and minerals. Its recommended that women over the age of 19 consume 3 servings a day. These can range from brown rice, whole grain breads, popcorn, whole grain pancakes, cereals and oatmeal. I've recently switched to an awesome brand of whole grain pancake mix that tastes amazing! The brand is called Kodiak Cakes-try them out! You buy these at the following stores: Target, Dan’s, Macey’s, Reams, Harmon’s, Smith’s, Fresh Market, Associated Foods Stores

Calcium- This is one of the most important nutrients a women can get. Calcium helps build strong bones and prevents osteoporosis (porous bones) later in life. Women can  build up their calcium supply in their bones until about the age 25, this is why calcium is vital for young women. Women need about 1,000 milligrams a day and nursing mothers need about 1,200. 

Exercise/Fitness:

Exercise can help shed pounds, increase endurance and stamina and most importantly to new moms it releases those "feel good" endorphins. 

Post pregnancy fitness ideas

• Stroller walking/running
• Go for a brisk walk
• Water aerobics
• Bicycling
• Home workout videos
• Smaller things that make a difference like parking further away in a parking lot, taking the stairs or crunches/push-ups during a few spare moments. 

Try to incorporate your baby in the exercises you do. This way you don't need to find a sitter and you can interact with your baby while increasing your fitness. 

Kissing Baby Push Ups

Baby Bend: Hold the baby in front of you and sit all the way down, bringing your butt to your heels while keeping arms straight. Stand up again and repeat.

Leg extensions for Quad work out

Do what you can, when you can

      Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t get in a work out or if you didn’t eat the healthiest of foods one day. You are busier and more tired than you probably have ever been, and your new baby is of course your number one priority. Try to get in activity when you can, and don’t get upset if it doesn’t work out. Try to eat the healthiest and best you can as often as you can. Listen to your body and never do anything that hurts, strains, or doesn't feel right. Just making little healthy changes to your everyday life will be extremely beneficial.

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Book Review: Bear's Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman

Purchase this book on iTunes by clicking here

 Bear is enjoying a nice lunch with all of his friends when he finds something wiggling in his mouth. What could it be? His first loose tooth!! 

Purchase this book on amazon by clicking here. 

After reading this story, try this fun Loose tooth activity. Using pink construction paper cut out some lips. Glue each lip to a popsicle stick and write your child's name on it. Use mini marshmallows or pieces of white gum as teeth. If you lick the mini marshmallows the sugar will act like glue and stick to the construction paper. If you want to use gum or another white candy you'll have to stick them on with hot glue or another adhesive. Have your child count how many bottom and top teeth they have. Then have them count and place the same number of marshmallows on their lips. If they have a tooth missing make sure to leave a gap on their lips. I'd suggest writing the date on the back so you your child can see the changes their teeth have made over time. 

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Playgroup Activity: Painted Rock Tic Tac Toe

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Here's a fun summer time playgroup activity. Have your kids search your yard, neighborhood or park for some fist sized rocks. Bring them home and paint them using craft paint. You could make the traditional X and O shapes on the rocks, paint them a solid color or get creative with any other two designs. Use chalk to draw out the tic tac toe lines on your own driveway or sidewalk and then teach your kids how to play. The first to have three of their rocks in a row wins! Store your rocks in your flowerbed or garden and use them next time the playgroup is outside. 

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Resource Spotlight: Aspire Parent's Group and Ready to Learn Class

Each month the Welcome Baby and Help Me Grow programs of United Way of Utah County assist with the Aspire Parent's Group discussion at the Utah County Health Department. This group is a place where parents can discuss questions and concerns about parenting to help each-other but it also provides a social connection for parents and their children . This group meets every third Wednesday of each month from 11:15 AM to 11:55 AM. Pizza is provided and the group discussion is lead by Janae Moss; a local mother of 7, business owner and parent champion of the Help Me Grow program.

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Right after the Aspire Parent Group discussion there is a Ready to Learn literacy and parenting class taught by Stephanie Anderson, the Welcome Baby Coordinator. The class is from noon until 1 PM and a free book is given to each family that attends this class. The purpose is to help parents better prepare their children for school and successful learning.

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If you are interested in joining either of these free parenting groups or classes email us at baby1@unitedwayuc.org 

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