The History of Family Literacy Day®

Family Literacy Day, held annuallyon January 27, was developed byABC Life Literacy Canada (formerlyABC CANADA Literacy Foundation) in 1999 to celebrate adults and children reading and learning together, and to encourage Canadian families to spend at least 15 minutes a day enjoying a learning activity together.

Q: What is family literacy?

Family literacy focuses on parents as the means to improve the reading and writing skills of all family members. By reading to children and engaging in fun literacy activities, parents are actively keeping their own skills sharp, while at the same time strengthening the relationship between the family. This, in turn, encourages lifelong learning. There are many activities that help strengthen literacy skills, and all it takes is 15 minutes of practice every day.

Q: Why is family literacy important?

Family literacy helps reinforce the importance of learning with children as a means of building the knowledge necessary for future skills, and helps adults maintain their literacy skills. Many studies have shown that improving parents’ skills directly and positively affects the language development of children (Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society, IALS 1997).

Q: How is Family Literacy Day celebrated?

Every year, thousands of events and activities are coordinated by literacy providers, schools, libraries and community groups across the country (visit www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca for a listing of events or to register your event). These activities range from fundraisers, book drives and children’s reading circles, to literacy-themed games and contests. You don’t have to participate in a formal event to be a part of this initiative. Family Literacy Day can be celebrated by simply setting aside 15 minutes of family time to read, play a game, write a letter, or evenfollow a recipe together.

Q: How do local communities and organizations benefit from Family Literacy Day?

Literacy providers have the opportunity to showcase their hard work and achievements on Family Literacy Day. They benefit from increased public awareness and support, and have the opportunity to connect with key influencers in their community. Family Literacy Day is a great time to spread the word about the importance of reading as a daily activity. This initiative also provides an opportunity for families to become aware of literacy programs available in their community. Family Literacy Day is also sometimes used as a fundraiser, where literacy groups and libraries can raise much-needed funds for literacy programming or new supplies.

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I am all for labelling toy bins and containers with pictures in addition to words.

Whether you use baskets, bins. buckets, ensure that the child will use them and to be able to not only put toys away, but to find what they want when they need it.

Photos:

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2012 Heather Burke

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I also have some old favourites and good quality toys that I don’t want to part with. These I keep in opaque Rubbermaid-type containers that are clearly marked and easily accessible for when young ones visit the home.  I suspect those containers will stay around until grandchildren pitter patter at our front door – preferably not for a few years yet!!

Through my years of child rearing, I learned a few valuable lessons. Good quality toys are well worth the investment and will last years with a little extra care and attention. Once you have invested in a good toy, store it in a good container! Keep the container see-through and manageable for small children.  Avoid the use of large toy boxes as they are a dumping ground for everything and will damage toys over time.

Stuffed animals can be hung in a soft sided hanger, or hammock that is hung on the wall – this will keep them off the floor and less likely to take over the bed.

Now that you have invested in good toys and good quality opaque containers, it is time to find a place for them.  Cube-type shelves are perfect for assigning containers and larger toys, keeping everything in its place, or even a well secured book shelf can do the trick.  Label or place a picture of the toy on each shelf and your child will be able to replace the bin or toy easily, making cleanup a breeze!  The bonus here is you set them up for life in the organizing department!  TIP – Ikea is a great place to start when looking for this type of shelving!

Art centres are also great when your child is old enough to start colouring, drawing and playing with play dough.  A plastic multi drawer system (available in any Walmart, Staples or Home Depot ) or even a book shelf with small containers on it, will serve the purpose and will help keep all supplies in good order, accessible for small hands and fun for everyone.  You might want to keep this art centre away from the bedroom; a corner in the kitchen, family room or playroom might be better.  My children always enjoyed a day at home when I made a fresh batch of play dough; they would grab the drawer with all the tools that ensured play dough would be fun, such as cookie cutters, rolling pins, shapes etc., and for a few hours anyway, they were entertained.  (see my recipe for Play Dough).

Like other things in your home, give toys their own space.  Whether it be in a bedroom, playroom or family room, take the time to set up areas for your child and you will reap the rewards – easy cleanup, better use of toys that you do have, and less frustration when it’s time for play.  Periodically clean out the toys and throw away any broken ones or those missing valuable pieces.  As your child grows, so will his or her need for toys – soon you will be storing away that valuable Lego and Barbie doll set for your grandchildren too!

Home-Made Playdough:

In a pot combine:

1 Cup Flour
1/4 Cup Salt
2 Tbsp Cream of Tartar

Add:

1 Cup Water
2 Tsp Food Coloring
1 Tbsp Veg. oil

Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minute.

Store in an airtight container.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2012 Heather Burke

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Invest in some small, medium and larger Canvas or Rubbermaid type bins to house all those toys that seem to accumulate over time.  Find containers that are opaque  and have manageable lids for little ones to be able to pry off.  Categorize your toys into bins, mark the bins for what belongs inside, or paste pictures on the container for the non-readers, and cleanup will be easy for both the child and parent.

Although I have teenagers now, I still have those see-through containers filled with the better quality toys that stood the test of time (such as Lego) and they are easily accessible for when small children visit!

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2012 Heather Burke

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Today, I am taking the opportunity to promote what I think is an excellent FREE (for the moment) programme offered by Stephanie Calahan from Calahan Solutions – it is called

Fire Up Your Biz – Enrich Your Life

And it asks

“If you are like most business owners, you created your business because you wanted to live on your own terms and you knew that you have something amazing to offer.

But, have you realized that dream?

Do you have time to do what you love? Are you constantly putting out fires? Do you have millions of ideas, but nothing getting done? Tired of every minor business problem gathering other problems, rolling downhill and ending up smack, dab in your personal life?”

Check out some of the sessions and hear what they have to say.

Upcoming sessions that you might find of interest are:

• Get the Right Support for Your Business, Inside and Out (Marcia Hoeck 01/26 @ 11AM CST)
• Get Time and Tasks Managed Quickly (Michelle Panzlaff 01/26 @ 7PM CST)
• Conquering Your Fear with a Knockout Punch (Dr. Shannon Reece 02/1 @ 11AM CST)
• The 3 Surprising Keys that Open the Door to Small Business Abundance (Andrea Feinberg 02/02 11AM CST)
• A Busy Family’s Guide to Getting Organized So You Can Live Your Best Life and Still Enjoy Your Family (Ellen Delap 02/02 7PM CST)
• From Procrastination to DONE! (Carrie Greene 02/08 11AM CST)
• 5 Keys to Social Media Success: Do it Right, Stop Wasting Time and Get Results! (Janet Slack 02/09 11AM CST)
• Top Tech Tools for Busy Business Owners (Brandie Kajino 02/09 7PM CST)
• Networking for Success (Heather Townsend 02/15 11AM CST)
• Conquer Email Overload (Stephanie Shalofsky 02/16 11AM CST)
• Passion Management: How to Juggle/Prioritize all of the Passions We Have (Lisa Montanaro 02/16 7PM CST)
• Five Secrets to Streamline Your Work Flow (Miriam Ortiz y Pino 02/22 11AM CST)
• When Life Interferes: Making it through Life’s Transitions as a Business Owner (Sue West 02/23 11AM CST)
• TiME Strategies for the Busy Entrepreneur (Allyson Lewis 02/23 7PM CST)
• Solopreneur Motivation Secrets: Create the Work Environment and Results You Want (Elaine Quinn 02/29 11AM CST)

There will be more sessions to come, including one from yours truly.

Fire up your biz today!

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2012 Heather Burke

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Today we hear from Heather Cameron from Edited Interiors

I am a firm believer that a good grocery shop begins at home with just a bit of preparation. A little planning saves you time and money because you don’t have to take extra trips to the store and you aren’t as tempted to just order in when the day gets away from you!

Ask any organizer and they likely have different ways of setting up their kitchen, their grocery lists and doing their shopping, but don’t worry — there is no one right way. It’s about what works for each of us. And here is what works for me:

Know what you want. Meal planning makes grocery shopping — and five o’clock on a busy Wednesday afternoon — so much easier! Before you shop, make up a menu of dinners for the week by flipping through your cookbooks and/or online recipes for inspiration, and then note down what you need to buy. By writing out your menu for the week you have a clear plan. I find this helps keep me on the straight and narrow. If I see “Tuesday: Thai Chicken with side salad” and I know I have done my shopping accordingly, I am way more likely to have Thai Chicken and a side salad on my plate than any type of fast or frozen food.

Know what’s there. Let me warn you that you will be in for some ribbing from family and friends but this step will be worth it, honestly…label your fridge. I know, I know, it sounds a little over-the-top but it will change your life as a foodie! A few years ago I separated the sections on my fridge door into categories like “sweet stuff”, “dressings”, “condiments” and the shelves into “meats”, “fruits and veggies”, and “dairy”, etc., and it has made a huge difference in the amount of food I shop for andthrow out. By having clearly marked sections (choose labels that have a laminate surface for better durability), I can quickly figure out what I need for my menu planning week — and when I really don’t need yet another bottle of salad dressing!

I don’t end up losing items in the back of my fridge when I know what I have purchased has a purpose and a place. Even better, my husband and kids can also easily locate and relocate food because every shelf is clearly marked.

Know what you need. Have you ever come home from the grocery store and realized you forgot to buy a particular item yet again?! Don’t leave your shopping to memory — write down what you need as soon as you realize you are running out of it. I keep a 4-by-6-inch pad of paper and a pen mounted on the side of my fridge with a magnetic clip. When I see I am getting low on something, I add it to my ongoing grocery list. It saves me riffling through the fridge right before I head out shopping or counting on my memory recall when in the meat aisle — and my family also knows that if they want more of their favourite cereal, they have to write it down. When I sit down to do my meal planning, I use this ongoing list and my recipe requirements to re-write my list according to my grocery store’s layout — so fruit and veg go at the top of the page, followed by bread, then cleaning products, etc. I find it is worth the few extra minutes to re-write the list so I am not criss-crossing the store.

These ideas are what works for me, but be sure to tailor your shopping experiences to what works for you. Maybe it is a pre-printed checklist of often-purchased ingredients, maybe it is making your meals on the weekend and popping them in the freezer — whatever it is, find out what works for you and stick to your plan. It will make Wednesday dinners (and all the others) so much easier!

Heather Cameron can be reached at:
www.editedinteriors.ca
613 831-6398
info@editedinteriors.ca

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I look at the grocery flyers (online) each week to see the specials. I do my menu planning with keeping the specials in mind. Did you know that food and products have a yearly cycle as to when they go on special?

For example, February is FROZEN FOOD MONTH, which means stores and suppliers will be putting LOTS of frozen food on special. I will stock up on frozen vegetables and fruit, as fresh produce is expensive at this time of year.  I know that the yoghurt, cereal, laundry detergent and yes, even toilet paper my family uses goes on special about every six weeks, so I shop accordingly. Do you need a year’s worth of paper products, or only enough to last for two months? How much room do you really have to store what you buy on “special”? Will you use it up before the expiry date on food items?

I normally use four grocery bins, as that is what comfortably fits into a grocery cart.

I also only shop the amount I am able to put away at the time, and have room to store properly.  This means sometimes I shop once a week and sometimes every day.  During the summer months, I regularly shop at the local farmer’s markets.

I have regular staples in my pantry and use clear jars so that I can see what is needed and when, this helps not to over shop. I do not recommend glass containers if you have young children that regularly access the pantry.

photo by CL Buchanan Photography

Yes, you did see labels on the shelf. This is not because I am a Professional Organizer, rather it is because I am lazy and by labelling the shelves, everyone knows where to put things and where to find them.

What techniques and strategies do you use to grocery shop?

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I realize that my way may not work for everyone, but let me share with you some tips and tricks that could help you master the skill and may make your life a little more organized when it comes to grocery shopping.

First, grocery lists are key!!  Keep an ongoing list somewhere that is handy for you, such as a chalk board, writing pad, portable tablet or smart phone.  I always have two lists on the go – a regular grocery store list (such as Loblaws or Metro) and a Costco list.  Second, always keep those grocery bags/bins in your car, and one in your purse or bag for those quick stops. (Probably best not to put a bin in your purse though!)

Next, think about doing your large grocery shopping only every two weeks, alternating this with a trip to Costco, or the produce store.  Yes, it can be done, and saves time and money in the long run – the trick is making sure you buy enough of the product you need to last two weeks (obviously extra storage capability is a must here) and looking ahead at those staples in the cupboard that may run out before your next scheduled shop.  Again, in my case I only shop at Costco every two weeks and keep that list on the go at all times.  I know what I like to buy there and stock up on, and try not to get distracted by the extras Costco is famous for – not always easy!!  However, if they have good specials and I know I will use the product, I do tend to stock up.  Remember, if storage is an issue for you, then this method may not work.

Despite my lists and scheduled bi-weekly stops to grocery shop, it is inevitable that I will need to visit my local produce stand or smaller grocery store for those things we all run out of: milk, bread, bananas, etc., BUT when you have to make an unexpected stop into any store take this one quick tip with you – WALK THE MEAT AISLE.  Every time I enter a store I check for meat specials and quickly add them to my cart – make sure it is something you use regularly (not some rare meat that you will need to clean out in January “no spend month.”  This will serve two very important issues: save you money and save you stress on regular grocery shopping day, as you will rarely pay full price for any of your meat again!

My family loves it when it’s grocery day – they welcome all the treats that enter the house, but know that when they are gone they won’t be seeing them until the next time I  go grocery shopping – they have learned to appreciate the extras and what it takes to fill these pantries and refrigerators.   If I am lucky enough to have the kids home when I arrive with all those groceries, then there is no better helpers to be had.  A great job for little and big ones alike – get them involved and helping out – many hands make light work!  Shop on!

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These are my top five tips:

1. Plan ahead! If you are the organized type, make up meal plans (see Monday’s Guest post on Menu Planning) and grocery plans in advance.
2. Make a list! Keep an ongoing list whether it is on paper, inside a cupboard- or in  an envelope with coupons that you wish to use Or even on chalkboard inside pantry doorIf you like apps for your phone for grocery lists and storage, I recommend Grocery Gadgets and Still Tasty.
3. Keep good food at home. When in a rush or stressed, you’ll likely eat what’s available. Keep junk food out of the home and then you will have no choice but to opt for healthier choices. Allow yourself treats for special occasions.
4. Prepare food the night before.  If you are using a slow cooker for the next day’s meal, prepare and put everything in the slow cooker pot, so you just put the insert in the slow cooker in the morning. Prepare lunches and snacks the evening before so to reduce morning rush hour stress.
5. Make large quantities of soups, stews, pasta sauce or broth and freeze.  Julie from The Magic Fridge has taught me to freeze bags flat to have room in the freezer (see photo).  I use a cookie sheet for the initial freezing.

Most of all – keep things simple and easy to use for the entire family.

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DON’T try to fix it if it isn’t broke… list all the meals you cook now that are big hits with your family and make them the backbone of your initial meal plan.  This is your YES list.

DO try new things, but not all at once.  Add one new meal to your plan each week, and if the family likes it, add it to your YES list.

DON’T be the only one who works on your plan.  Get input from other family members.  You’ll have fewer ideas to come up with, and your family will feel empowered by their decision-making power; they’ll be more likely to eat what they planned.

DO cook once, eat twice.  This can be as simple as planned leftovers “planned-overs” for lunch the next day, or as all-encompassing as OAMC (Once-a-Month Cooking) and freezer-feeding.  I land somewhere in the middle. If I have a less busy suppertime, I will cook two suppers that day, and put one in the fridge for the next day when I am busier.  Or I’ll cook a big roast knowing the second half will become fajitas later on in the week.

DON’T get caught up in the idea of following recipes.  They’re great for ideas and guidelines, but can be overwhelming with all their techniques, details and fancy touches.  For example; you see a recipe for, say, chicken with apples and squash, and it appeals to you.  Then you look at the recipe and it’s a page and a half long with seventeen steps and three pans.  Why not just cook some chicken with apples and serve it with a side dish of squash?  If there is a particular spice or seasoning mentioned in the recipe, add it to the chicken while you’re cooking it.

DO use your family’s skills and interests to your advantage.  Got a computer-obsessed person in the family?  Ask them to make a meal planning spreadsheet and work with you to update it once every week or two.  Is someone crafty?  Show them this pretty, easy menu board project from MakeAndTakes.com. Put an active child in charge of taking the menu poll once a week, running around asking each family member if they have an idea to add to the meal plan – if they are old enough to write, issue an official notebook for taking down the suggestions.

DO get inspiration from other places…. lots of blogs and websites post meal plans, so check them out and adapt them for your own family.

DON’T freak out if you stray from the plan, and then decide that this meal planning stuff doesn’t work.  One night ordering pizza isn’t going to hurt anyone.  At least you have a plan for the other four weeknights, right?

Julie Broczkowski, owner and head chef at The Magic Fridge, has been cooking professionally for ten years and in her own kitchen for her friends and family for over 20. Always learning new recipes and techniques anywhere she can, she is a fearless and innovative chef – she even made her own wedding cake 15 years ago, from an old Finnish family recipe adapted for her father’s food allergies.

Her specialty is global home cooking -curries and Mexican food are her personal favourites –but Julie’s expertise ranges from traditional meatloaf and mashed potatoes to ethnic organic vegan dishes and meals designed to follow medically supervised eating plans. In her own life, she has dealt with weight issues and severe food allergies, necessitating extensive research into grocery shopping, cooking and nutrition. 

Julie is ecstatic to be contributing a guest post to the Smart Spaces blog and hopes it will empower the intimidated home cook – food at home is not as difficult as the magazines and cookbooks make it seem!  But if you’re just really busy, Julie and her Fridge Fairies can help.  Check out http://www.themagicfridge.com for more details on her personal chef service.

Contact Julie at:

Julie Broczkowski
613-837-8476
The Magic Fridge
http://www.themagicfridge.com

There are free downloadable Menu Plan templates under Free Stuff http://www.smartspaceorganizing.ca/resources/free-stuff/

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2012 Heather Burke

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