ENJOY THE FUN OF YOUR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY and THE WEEK!
Put your feet up, warm by the fire, drink, be merry and safe at the sametime! ENJOY THE HOLIDAY AND THE SEASON! Don’t forget to be extra loving to the pets of the families!! Love you Teddy amd miss you Pumpkin and T.J.!! ALL dogs are so COOL! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL including God’s creatures!
“As host/hostess, Yes, you may be in charge of the food, decorations and guest list, but you can’t fully control everything.
Dr. Potter suggests letting a bit of that control go by reaching out to ask for help if you need it. Something as simple as a couple of people bringing some side dishes or putting someone on dishwasher duty can take a level of stress off you. And remember, you can’t be everywhere at once and take care of everyone all the time. Once you get the main preparations done, let the party unfold and run on its own.
“It’s also important to remember that as the host, you’re responsible for things like providing the space and maybe the food. However, everybody at the party is responsible for themselves for making sure that they have a good time,” says Dr. Potter. Dr. Potter is a psychologist,PsyD.”
Cleveland Clinic (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/holiday-anxiety)
A Few Tips for dueing your holiday parties this holiday season by CPI.
CPI (https://cpisecurity.com/blog/cpis-guide-to-hosting-holiday-parties-without-compromising-safety/)
“You might be alone on Christmas for different reasons, such as the death of a loved one, living far from relatives, or because of social isolation. If you have social anxiety disorder (SAD) and don’t have close relationships with family or friends, loneliness at Christmas could be particularly hard.
In general, there are three ways to cope with being alone at Christmas. First, you can address your mental state and how it is contributing to your loneliness. Second, you can find things to do at Christmas that make you feel less alone. And third, you can plan ahead so that you are not alone this time next year if you don’t want to be.
Christmas is the perfect day to take the time to appreciate what you have in life, be it good health, a place to live, or food on the table. Having gratitude will also help you to move past anxiety, as you learn to live in the present moment and be mindful of your surroundings. One way to practice gratitude is to write down three things you are grateful for on this day.
You can choose to feel lonely because you are alone, or you can choose to feel grateful for the positive things in your life. Reframing your negative thoughts is the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), an effective treatment for social anxiety disorder.
One way to cope with being alone on Christmas is to actually go out and do something productive. Rather than spend the day at home alone, find something that you can do that fits with your mindset and mental state for the day. “
Very Well mind (https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-when-you-are-alone-at-christmas-3024301)
“Brighten the holidays by making your health and safety a priority. Take steps to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy—and ready to enjoy the holidays. Here are some tips:
1-Wash hands often to help prevent the spread of germs. It’s flu season. Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds.
2-Bundle up to stay dry and warm. Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: light, warm layers, gloves, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots.
3-Manage stress. Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control. Some of the best ways to manage stress are to find support, connect socially, and get plenty of sleep.
4-Don’t drink and drive or let others drink and drive. Whenever anyone drives drunk, they put everyone on the road in danger. Choose not to drink and drive and help others do the same.
5-Be smoke-free. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke. Smokers have greater health risks because of their tobacco use, but nonsmokers also are at risk when exposed to tobacco smoke.
6-Fasten seat belts while driving or riding in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your children in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to their height, weight, and age. Buckle up every time, no matter how short the trip and encourage passengers to do the same.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/holidayseason/index.html)
‘‘Tis the season for family, festivity, and food—lots of food. Temptations are everywhere, and parties and travel disrupt daily routines. What’s more, it all goes on for weeks.
You may not be able to control what food you’re served, and you’re going to see other people eating tempting treats. Meet the challenges armed with a plan:
-Eat close to your usual times to keep your blood sugar steady. If your meal is served later than normal, eat a small snack at your usual mealtime and eat a little less when dinner is served.
– Invited to a party? Offer to bring a healthy dish along.
-If you have a sweet treat, cut back on other carbs (like potatoes and bread) during the meal.
-Don’t skip meals to save up for a feast. It will be harder to manage your blood sugar, and you’ll be really hungry and more likely to overeat.
-If you slip up, get back to healthy eating with your next meal.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC
(https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/holidays-healthy-eating.html)
“Take your veggies and dip to the next level with this colorful crudité wreath. This vegetable appetizer is a stunner with white cauliflower, red tomatoes and green broccoli, green beans, snap peas, kale and Brussels sprouts. It’s also a delicious way to start your celebration with veggies (which there are rarely enough of at parties and holidays). The homemade ranch dip, which uses nonfat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, takes just a few minutes to make, or you can use a healthy store-bought dip.”
EatingWell.com (https://www.eatingwell.com/christmas-recipes-to-make-forever-8411600)
“Going shopping this weekend or week for children or already have, well consider this:
Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking. Choose toys that may appeal to different senses such as sound, movement, and texture; consider interactive toys to allow the child to play with others; and think about the size of the toy and the position a child would need to be in to play with it. Check them for age, skill level, and developmental level. Know ATSM label means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (give a helmet with the skateboard). Keep kids safe from lead in toys. Do NOT give toys with small parts (including magnets and “button” batteries which can cause serious injury or death if ingested) to young children as they tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the piece can fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is not appropriate for kids under age three.”.
American Public Health Organization-APHA
(https://www.apha.org/Events-and-Meetings/APHA-Calendar/2021/2021-Safe-Toys-and-Gifts-Month)
When it comes to toys and gifts, it is critical to remember to consider the safety and age range of the toys.
Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three.
This holiday season (and beyond), please consider the following guidelines for choosing safe toys for all ages:
Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when shopping for toys:
When buying a gift or toy for a child, always read the label to make sure the toy is appropriate and safe for their age. Also, consider your child’s temper, habits, and behavior before buying a new toy. Children who can seem advanced compared to other children of their age, shouldn’t use toys meant for older kids. Age level toys are determined by safety factors, not intelligence or maturity.
Babies – babies about 4 months old begin to reach for and grasp objects. By 6 or 7 months, they can switch between hands. At 9 months, they can pick up smaller objects, like blocks. Some smart toys for babies could include a nursery mobile, a ring stack toy, and push-pull toys.
Toddlers – Toddlers start to become aware of the function of objects. They like to stack blocks, babble into toy phones, drink from “big kid” cups, and the pretend play starts now. Smart toys for toddlers could be balls, shape-sorting toys, mechanical toys, or role-play toys like play kitchens, toy doctor’s kits, and child golf sets.
Pre-school – preschoolers are at the age and development level of using objects for their intended purpose. Often, they may have imaginary friends or fantasy worlds that they play in. This is also the period where they will be learning new little tricks and connecting with other children. Safe toys and gifts for children of this age could consist of arts and crafts, blocks and construction sets, puzzles and other games.
Elementary School – Children of this age group have begun to grasp an understanding of the world around them and start to show talents and interests. Physical abilities and motor skills are being refined during this age and peer relationships take on a larger importance. Some smart toy and gifts options could include a jump rope, or other physical activity toys, card and board games, musical instruments, and science toys.
When picking out toys and gifts for your children, you should not only consider what is appropriate for their age and ability, but you should also keep in mind safety tips for that age range and toy. A toy could be the perfect fit for their age and development, but there are still safety factors that need to be evaluated.
Giving your children a safe holiday season can be achievable by taking the proper precautions. You’ll be able to better protect your child from toy-related injuries by providing safe toys, environments, and adult supervision for when they open and play and with their toys.
Too often, accidents involving children and toys occur and may result in eye injuries. Each year, thousands of children age 14 and younger suffered serious eye injuries, even blindness, from toys.
There are three important ways you can protect your child’s eyes from injuries while playing with toys:
“Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three. Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking, being crushed, or being pulled apart easily. Look for labels that assure you the toys have passed a safety inspection – “ATSM” means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Do NOT give crayons and markers unless they are labeled “nontoxic”. Do NOT give toys with ropes and cords or heating elements.”
American Public Health Association-ALPHA (https://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/apha-calendar/2019/safe-toys-and-gifts-month-2019)
LOL