Youth and Family News

June 11, 2023

This Sunday in YFM

This Sunday in YFM, we are continuing with our Complaint-Free Kids curriculum. We will look at various optical illusions and “reframe” them, (literally, with picture frames) and attempt to view them another way. We can do this in our lives as well. We will explore how we can see situations in a different light than the way we perceived them in the first place. We will continue to look for the good!.

Check-ins and classes for infants, toddlers, Pre-K and Kindergarten children are in the main building. Elementary and older classes check-in and meet in Unity Oaks.


Real-Time Parenting

Language of Listening® Parenting Tip: What’s the draw of interactive video games? They meet kids’ Three Basic Needs. Self-direction and problem solving meet kids’ need for power, team play meets their need for connection, and sensory elements meet their need for experience. So, to reduce screen time painlessly, brainstorm with your child to create real-life opportunities to meet those same needs. Language of Listening®

This tip is provided by Sandy Blackard, award-winning parenting author of Say What You See® Copies of this book are available in the UCOH Bookstore.

Prayer for Children

In their hearts, young people know they can make a difference. Today we are setting an intention for friendships, purpose, and sharing our inner light. Due to the pandemic, many children have been separated from some of their family members and friends. They have had to learn to navigate the world of friendship and relationships in a new way, sometimes making them feel lonely and isolated.

Prayer: Let’s pause for a moment to remember how we felt as children when someone acknowledged we could contribute to our world just by being who we are. Now we bring to mind and heart the children and young people in our lives; we enfold them with a light that is bright in nature and sacred by design. We affirm possibilities for growth and happiness for them as they proceed, joyfully and undeterred, to realize their intentions and dreams.

Affirmation: With our inner divine light, any differences fade and we shine brightly to reveal our true identity and sacred connection with all.

RESOURCES

Travel Around the World Tours

Here’s a new list of places to visit that was shared by some of our UCOH friends: https://www.partsgeek.com/mmparts/traveling_around_the_world_virtual_tours_and_field_trips.html

GoNoodle: Good Energy at Home

This free online resource for parents, caregivers, teachers and kids offers free movement, yoga and mindfulness videos, downloadable curricular activities , and off-screen home activities. These resources span a variety of abilities, interests, ages and subjects. https://www.gonoodle.com/good-energy-at-home-kids-games-and-videos/

Unity Musician Mark Stanton Welch

Stay-at-Home Resource Portal

Enjoy inspirational uplifting songs with consciousness-raising lyrics for all ages by Unity Musician Mark Stanton Welch.  http://markstantonwelch.net/stayathomeresourceportal.html

Virtual Field Trips

Explore Your Child’s Feelings with Fun Activity: Do you want to help your child express his or her feelings? Action for Healthy Kids has information for parents and caregivers about expressing feelings through colors, like finger painting.

Watch Houston Zoo’s Rhino Cam: The Houston Zoo has a great rhino cam that you can watch anytime. You can even control the webcam. See the huge rhinos play in mud.

Watch Edinburgh Zoo’s Panda Cam: Grab you children and gather around your computer to watch cute pandas play. The Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland has a panda camera. Watch them play and eat bamboo!

Watch Dolphin Camera from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium: Many of us may not live near the ocean, but we can enjoy beautiful dolphins thanks to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

View Photographs from the Houston Museum of Fine Arts:  Calling all space enthusiasts! The Houston Museum of Fine Arts has posted its Space City photographs, celebrating humankind’s fascination with space and exploration. Enjoy the neat photographs!

Explore Carlsbad Caverns from Your Home: Do you love exploring caves? Get ready to venture through Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico! The National Parks Service and Google have teamed up to create a virtual tour of this park.

Explore the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions: Get ready to explore the Galapagos Islands from the comfort of your living room. Watch the videos with your children and discuss the incredible wildlife and culture.  Go to YouTube to watch the videos.

Take a Virtual Tour of Yellowstone National Park:  Are you ready to explore one of Wyoming’s most beautiful parks? You can do it from the comfort of your living room. Take a virtual tour of Yellowstone National Park! You also can watch Old Faithful with their webcam.

Take a Virtual Tour of Yosemite National Park: While you’re inside your own home, take a virtual tour of Yosemite National Park in California. Make sure you have your sound on.

Take a Virtual Field Trip of Johnson Space Center: Do you love outer space? If the answer is yes, join Boeing and Discovery Education on a virtual field trip of Johnson Space Center in Houston. The exclusive behind-the-scenes tour will introduce students to a few of the employees who are writing the next chapter of space history.

Take a Virtual Nature Walk: Join the National Parks Service and Google to explore the Kenai Fjords in Alaska. Get ready to rappel into a crevasse, kayak through icebergs and watch a glacier recede.

Take a Virtual Tour of the National Museum of Natural History: Looking for ideas to keep your children entertained if they’re staying inside? Take a virtual tour of the National Museum of Natural History! Go to the webpage to begin your journey. Be sure to see the Giant Ground Sloth! Wow!

Check Out Houston Zoo Web Cams: Watch gorillas, giraffes, rhinoceroses, and more from your living room thanks to the Houston Zoo web cameras.

Watch Georgia Aquarium Web Cams: Seeking all underwater adventurers! While the Georgia Aquarium is temporarily closed, you can still view the amazing fish via their web cameras. Check out the Jelly webcam. Make sure you also view the Ocean Voyager webcam. Lookout for the whale shark!

Watch Animal Cameras at San Diego Zoo: The San Diego Zoo has many live cameras running on some of their most popular animals. A favorite to watch is the baboon cam!

Watch Panda Cameras While You’re Inside: Looking for ideas to keep your children entertained if you’re staying inside? The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Panda Cams are still running while the National Zoo is temporarily closed. See cute pandas chomping on bamboo and playing in trees.

Watch Cincinnati Zoo’s Home Safari,  Weekdays at 2PM: Join the Cincinnati Zoo each weekday at 2:00 PM CST for the Home Safari Facebook Live series. The event highlights the Zoo’s amazing animals and includes activities students can do from home. Go to the Facebook page for more information, or visit the Zoo’s webpage.

Take a Virtual Tour of Boston Children’s Museum:  Get ready to virtually walk through three floors of the Boston Children’s Museum. Make sure you check out the Explore-a-Saurus and the Japanese House. Visit the webpage to begin your tour.

Explore the Museum of Metropolitan Art:  Do you love art? If you do, New York City’s Museum of Metropolitan Art has an interactive museum map for kids to explore the famous museum. There are also behind-the-scenes videos featuring kids just like them and a “time machine” to let kids explore thousands of years of art! View #MetKids for more information.

Explore Hundreds of Art Museums:  Join Google and explore hundreds of art museums and galleries with Google’s Arts and Culture web engine. See paintings by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and many more. View the high-resolution images today!

Conscious Discipline Resources

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