RockIt Times AmuseLetter
Preschool Mardi Gras!
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Contents
Quote Of The Month “If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon, you will have succeeded as a parent and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings.” Editorial Welcome to the February issue of the RockIt Times AmuseLetter! If you are a subscriber (and if you aren't, why not?!), you may have noticed that this issue, normally out on the 1st of the month, is hitting your email box almost two weeks behind schedule. Leave it to me to choose the shortest month of the year to be tardy! My apologies...I haven't really gone on some weird, "on a whim" publishing schedule. Truth of the matter is that I am teaching a few extra Kid Rock classes this session and I had no idea how much it would wipe me out - both physically AND mentally! on with the excitement of our February issue! Valentine's Day is probably one of the first things that pops into your mind when you think of February. If you are still looking for Valentine's Day ideas, please check out last year's Valentine's Day issue by clicking here, because I'm not giving you any Valentine's Day ideas in this issue! No; instead I am focusing on one of our nation's most colorful holidays, Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras gives up a month's worth of celebration, beginning January 6th and going through the end of February. So it's not too late to join in the fun! This is a great month to discuss colors, and introduce your child to other traditions that may not be celebrated where you live. I have some wonderful music recommendations for you this month, as well. If your child hasn't been exposed to the fun of zydeco music (Louisiana cajun house party music) don't let them miss out any longer! There is nothing like some good zydeco to get you up and boogying! I promise it will be as much fun for you as it is for your little one. Don't forget to make your colorful jester hats to wear while you munch on your King Cakes! After snack, why don't you curl up with a good book and spend some quality time? Our book recommendations are sure to mesmerize your child. If you have a picky eater on your hands, this month's article, Menu Planning for Picky Preschool Eaters by Nicole Brekelbaum, will give you some great suggestions on ensuring your child is getting a well balanced diet. Who says food can't be fun AND healthy? Have a great couple of weeks until I see you again! Mari Reading Rocks! Recommendations
Kid Rock "Party In The Spotlight" Kid Rock 'n' Roll Time to get 'em moving! Our Kid Rock 'n' Roll party will get your children all warmed up as they shake, rattle and roll to some good old rock 'n' roll! This party theme may include the following songs or other rockin' tunes:
Reserve your party date today! Email to parties@rockitkids.com or call us at 847-961-6584. Craft Of The Month 
Jester's Hat Materials:
Instructions:
Having a party? Don't forget to invite Kid Rock! If you are in our neighborhood, we happily provide stress-free, interactive children's party entertainment for any function. Or, make it a Kid Rock day no matter where you live, with our perfectly assembled gift bags and party favors! Visit the official Kid Rock website at http://www.rockitkids.com/ Snack Of The Month 
King Cakes The Mardi Gras season begins on January 6 and continues until Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. During this time of year, one of the most beloved traditions in New Orleans is that of the King Cake. On the Christian calendar, the twelfth day after Christmas is known as "Epiphany", "Twelfth Night", or "Kings Day." It is the day the gift-bearing Magi visited the baby Jesus, and is celebrated with its own unique rituals. The New Orleans tradition, begun in the 1870s, borrows heavily from European customs. As part of the celebration of Mardi Gras, it is traditional to bake an oval cake in honor of the three kings - the King Cake. The shape of a King Cake symbolizes the unity of faiths. Each cake is decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power. A small baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, is baked into each cake. In New Orleans, King Cake parties are held throughout the Mardi Gras season. In offices, classrooms, and homes throughout the city, King Cakes are sliced and enjoyed by all. Like the biblical story, the "search for the baby" adds excitement, as each person waits to see in whose slice of cake the baby will be discovered. While custom holds that the person who finds the baby in their slice will be rewarded with good luck, that person is also traditionally responsible for bringing the King Cake to the next party or gathering. The traditional King Cake is made from twisted strands of cinnamon dough, topped with icing, and sprinkled with purple, green, and gold colored sugar. Today, many additional varieties of King Cake are also available, with fillings such as cream cheese, strawberry, apple, and lemon. Reprinted courtesy of: MardiGrasStore.com Ingredients:
Directions:
Music Rocks! Recommendations
Motor Activity Of The Month Choo Choo Boogaloo (Make chugging motions with your arms and move around the room with your child, while reciting the first four lines.) Choo Choo Boogaloo First, he's going forward. Listen to his bells ring, (pretend to ring a bell) You can hear the Boogaloo (hold hand to ear) If you have more than one child, line them up at the "train station." Recite the rhyme several times, each time going back to the station to pick up another passenger! Special Guest Article Menu Planning for Picky Preschool Eaters Create nutritional menus that kids can enjoy using these quick tips. Sort Foods into Five Main Groups: Start by creating a list of foods that you would like to serve to your child. For each food listed try to sort it into a Milk, Bread, Fruit, Vegetable, or Meat group. These are the main food groups identified by the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program. Place yogurt, for instance, in the milk group, pancakes and enriched tortilla in the bread group and eggs and beef in the meat group. Choose foods carefully to ensure a variety of tastes, textures, and colors. Create a menu for each meal serving: So you have in mind three main meals per day consisting of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Try to understand that some preschoolers may just eat two meals a day, sometimes eating a light dinner or skipping dinner altogether. There is no need to worry if your child eats everything on his plate. Over the course of the week the variety of foods he eats will supply him with the nutrients he needs. Referencing your food list again, create a breakfast menu. Choose a bread, milk, and fruit/vegetable item from your food list such as pancake, milk, and peaches. Presto! You have just created your first breakfast menu. For lunch choose a bread, milk, meat and two fruit /vegetable foods. For example milk, meatballs, tomato sauce (vegetable equivalent), spaghetti (bread equivalent)and banana. Do the same for dinner. If want your child to try new foods, place an old favorite in the mix to encourage his taste buds. Stay within Budget: When purchasing your food items try to stick to your budget. Preparing your menus a day ahead saves you time and can also save you money. Try to rotate menus every four to five weeks, or repeat one fruit or vegetable on different days so that food is not wasted. Present Foods with Style: Create a meal with visual appeal. Combine foods of different colors and textures. Cut fruits and vegetables into unusual shapes with a small cookie cutter. Arrange plain yogurt and a canned peach-half on a plate so that it resembles a fried egg. Make interesting funny faces with the vegetable toppings on a pizza. Encourage your child to help prepare the meal. Give him easy tasks like cookie cutting, pizza topping or table setting. Spend Mealtimes Together: Give your child an opportunity to share the eating experience with you and to appreciate the time and effort that went into the meal preparation. As he sees you trying new foods he is inspired himself to try unfamiliar foods. Praise him for a job well done in the kitchen and extend a special invitation to help prepare tomorrow‘s meal. Nicole Brekelbaum is a published author, the director of Young Achievers Inc. in Pflugerville, Texas, and founder of Pflugerville Childcare Online. Visit her company's website at Menu Planning for Picky Preschool Eaters Subscriber Talk! Do you have comments or suggestions for us? We love to hear and share what our readers think! Please send your feedback to us at: RockItTimes@rockitkids.com Great Links and Freebies Check out these great links for parents and caregivers!
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