Almond Maple Popcorn Snack

With food allergies multiplying faster than the norovirus, it's nice to have some allergen-free snack ideas in your hip pocket. At my kids' school, the principal mandated that the only food to be served at the Valentine's party tomorrow is popcorn. So as not to sound like a meany, she said it was okay to mix in some sweet stuff like M&Ms and Skittles. Skittles? That sounds questionable to me.

But this recipe is decidedly NOT questionable: almond maple popcorn snack. Now, it's true that some kids are allergic to almonds, so you'll have to check with parents first. But if you have a gluten-intolerant kid in your babysitting co-op, this is a go-to favorite. Here's how to make it:

1/2 cup popcorn kernels
2 Tbs. butter
1 Tbs. maple syrup
3 Tbs. almond butter
Chopped almond pieces (optional)

Pop your popcorn in an air popper or a microwave (if you use the microwave, place the popcorn in a brown paper lunch back and cook for 2 minutes). On the stovetop in a medium saucepan, melt the butter, maple syrup, and almond butter together. You don't have to bring it to a boil, but make sure it's well blended. Pour the sauce over the popcorn and top with extra almond pieces if the kids in your co-op shift are old enough for nut pieces. This is kind of a messy snack, so don't let them eat it on your newly washed slip cover.

Advice from the Garden Hills Babysitting Co-op in Atlanta

The Garden Hills Babysitting Co-op in Atlanta, Georgia, has been operating since the 1970s. It consists of a group of families who live in the Garden Hills, Peachtree Park, Peachtree Hills, and Peachtree Heights neighborhoods, and we got the scoop on how they run things from Sheila Cooper, the co-op's current president.

101: What is the greatest benefit of participating in a babysitting co-op?

Sheila: Greatest benefit is the convenience of having trusted moms in your neighborhood, without having to pay.

101: What organizational challenges has your co-op overcome? How did you overcome them?

Sheila: The biggest challenge is filling sits.  I think it helps to offer your sit to be at the sitter's house.  That way the mom can get a few things done around the house, versus having to be at someone else's.  Another challenge has been some moms staying home with their children for the first year or so and not using sitters.  When this happens, children have a hard time adjusting to being away from their mom.  I say start using sitters when they're 8 weeks old, so they are accustomed to it.

101: How many families actively participate in your co-op? Has this number remained constant for some time? When you want to find more members, how do you find them?

Sheila: We currently have about 20 families, has been as high as 30.  We've been around since the 1970's, so I think it's safe to say our system "works"!  We advertise on the neighborhood websites.

101: Does participating in a babysitting co-op strengthen your sense of community?

Sheila: It does strengthen your community because it's a great way to get to know other families.

101: How do your children feel about the babysitting co-op?

Sheila: My child is only 1, but loves playing with other children of all ages, so I think he really likes it.

101: What advice would you give to parents who are just starting a babysitting co-op?

Sheila: If you are trying to start a co-op, I say keep it simple, maybe start out small.  The less work the moms have to put into it the better.  Have the coupons digital, so they don't have to count the end of the month.  Don't set up too many rules or requirements.

Oh No! Not Again! by Mac Barnett

The full title of this fun picture book is Oh No! Not Again! (Or How I Built a Time Machine to Save History) (Or at Least My History Grade). It's a mouthful, but it sure can pique a kid's interest.

This story is short, but it's a great jumping-off place for a great discussion about history--and maybe even time travel. Preschoolers may have a tough time with the concepts, but kindergarteners and up will enjoy it. The pictures are big and interesting, and there's a great mixed-up timeline inside the back cover that could be the best place to start your post-storytime chat.

The plot goes like this: a student misses a problem on her history test. She says that the first cave drawings were in Belgium instead of France, so she decides that the best way to fix this problem is to go back in time and ensure that Belgium's cave men beat the French cave men to this great achievement. But this causes some new problems...

Test this story out on your older co-op kids. I bet they'll like it.

Keeping Your Teenage Babysitter Safe

Helpful Hints When Using a Teenage Babysitter

While it's always nice to be able to coordinate with your babysitting co-op friends, it is not always practical. Here is a wonderful article which outlines how best to go about finding a great teenage babysitter and steps you can take to ensure a positive experience for all!

http://www.findababysitter.org/blog/10-tips-to-keep-your-teen-babysitter-safe/

Toddler Milk Ideas

Do you have a hard time getting your toddler to drink milk (or soy milk or anything else with nutritional value)? Here are some ideas to help make milk more palatable to your little one.

Add one of the following to 1 cup of cold milk. Mix well in a blender.

• 1/2 banana, fresh or frozen
• 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup of any fresh, bruised berries plus 2 Tbs. sugar and 1 Tbs. of lemon or orange juice
• canned peaches or pears plus 2 Tbs. fruit syrup

Fend off the Dreaded Norovirus

We all heard about the impending flu season and how difficult it would be, but most of us missed the memo about the norovirus--until it showed up at our door. Norovirus is commonly called the "stomach flu," and reported cases are up 58% nationwide from last year.

How has this one virus wreaked so much havoc? It's incredibly contagious. That's why it's spread from Australia to the USA and everywhere in between in the last month.

According to the CDC, a new strain of norovirus appeared this year, and that's why so many people are becoming infected. This new strain was first detected last March in Australia and has caused outbreaks in many countries. Norovirus mutates rapidly, with new strains showing up every two to three years.

The virus causes vomiting and diarrhea. The elderly and young children are the most susceptible to it, and it can be transmitted from contaminated surfaces, person-to-person, or even through contaminated water.

What's the best defense? Wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom and before eating, and wipe any contaminated surfaces with a disinfecting solution. It's also helpful to isolate contaminated people so they don't have a chance to spread the virus.

What does this mean for your babysitting co-op? Don't drop your child off at someone else's house if she has any norovirus symptoms (stomach pains, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting). Even if all the kids look healthy, be vigilant about having them wash their hands, and it wouldn't hurt to disinfect the toys and tabletops after your shift is over.

Soon spring will be hear, and we won't hear about the norovirus for a while. Let's hope!

Keeping the Co-op Connected

One of the most common concerns we hear from co-op parents is that they just don’t know the other moms well enough. They get ten minutes to chat during pick-up and drop-off, but they’d really like some good solid time to get to know each other better.

            In larger co-ops, some moms always feel like they’re out on the fringe, never getting asked to babysit because nobody knows them well enough to feel comfortable calling them up and bringing their children over.

            What’s the solution to this problem? Organize some social gatherings where moms can sit around and talk about high school, child development, international politics, and what they’re going to make for dinner. It doesn’t need to be fancy or long, but it should be comfortable for everyone, and nobody should have to find a sitter for it—that would defeat the purpose.

            Playgroups work well for moms with preschool-aged children. Take turns hosting the playgroup in homes during the winter, but during the summer just meet at a park and everyone can bring their own lunches. The children will stay busy on the playground, and the moms can sit and enjoy the sunshine and each other’s company.

            Potlucks are a fun way to include dads and older children who aren’t home during normal co-op hours. Just a few potluck dinners a year can bond a group. Involving the dads and older siblings also makes the co-op feel like a family affair, instead of just what the moms and little kids do during the day. Many dads like to be involved in all aspects of their kids’ lives, and they want to know the people their children spend time with.

            Along the same lines, holiday parties make fun traditions for co-op groups. Besides Christmas parties, you could get together on the 4^th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, or Halloween. In areas where trick-or-treating isn’t practical, a Halloween party might fill an important need.

            Social gatherings are great, but you can spend some valuable time as a co-op providing service to each other and to complete strangers. As a group, you’ve already learned to cooperate, so putting your cooperation to use in another way makes sense.

            As a co-op, you could organize a clothing exchange, where everyone brings children’s or maternity clothes that they’re not currently using and exchanges them for currently needed items.. You could set it up so that everyone gets their items back after they’re used, or you might just treat all items like donations. Such a system cuts down on individual families’ storage requirements and can save everyone a lot of money.

            In the same vein, set up a toy or equipment exchange. New toys are always more fun than old ones, but you don’t want to go out and buy new toys every few months. Just rotate them among the group, and the kids won’t ever get bored with what they have to play with. Likewise, let your group know if you have a baby crib or a changing table you’re not using. Instead of taking equipment to a thrift store when you’re done with it, trade it for something you need. In a group of families all raising children, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.

       

            A cohesive, cooperative group can be a great force for good in many ways. Make the most of it.