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Do you have a Minecraft fan in the family that wants to carve a Creeper Pumpkin this year? Here are a few Creeper Pumpkin Stencil ideas for you to try!

Creeper Pumpkin Stencil

Minecraft Stencils with Creeper Pumpkin Stencil

Calling all Pac Man fans! If you want to carve your pumpkin this year with a Pac Man theme, consider this Pac Man Pumpkin Stencil set!

Pac Man Pumpkin Stencil

Pac Man Pumpkin Stencil

Writing letters are a great way to communicate your feelings towards your daughter. Today I’m sharing how to write a letter to your daughter!

Have you ever written a letter to your daughter?

What would you say? What would you like for your daughter to know in this letter? Why do you want to write this letter?

What to Write in a Postcard to Your Daughter

How to Write a Letter to Your Child

What to Write in a Time Capsule Letter to Your Child

Writing a letter to your daughter can be a great way to show your daughter just how much you care. It can be hard to always say how you are feeling, but easier to write how you are feeling.

I have trouble expressing my love verbally. I’m not sure why I have trouble with this. I often think about things to say to my daughter in my head, but often times, I have trouble saying it out loud. It doesn’t come naturally to me!

I think some of this has to do with how I grew up as a child. We didn’t really communicate often about our feelings or say “I love you” out loud.

Now that I’m a mom to three children, this is a skill I’m having to teach myself. It’s still difficult for me at times, but I’ve improved a lot.

Thankfully, letter writing can help fill in that gap. I can easily write my words down that I’d like for my daughter to hear, especially during those times when I feel like I’m not communicating my feelings towards her as often as I’d like.

How to Write a Letter to Your Daughter

When writing a letter to your daughter consider the following tips.

Why do you want to write this letter?

• What’s your main goal for writing this letter?
• Is this a letter just to say that you care?
• Will the letter be a way to keep the communication lines open with your daughter?
• Is this a letter you need to write as a way to apologize for something that’s happened in the past?

Where to write your letter:

Choose a quiet space away from distractions when writing your letter. Head to a local coffee shop or library if it’s easier to focus on the letter.

Try to write at a desk or a table in an uncluttered and clean work space if possible. If you don’t have access to a work space to write, get creative – write in your car or while waiting at a doctor’s office for an appointment.

When to write your letter:

Find a time during the day when you are calm and not rushed to write the letter. When you are rushed, your letter may seem and feel rushed when your daughter reads it.

Try to use your best handwriting as well. I know often times when we may be rushed, it can show in our handwriting.

Be honest in your letter. Speak from the heart and allow your words to flow naturally onto the paper.

What supplies do you need to write your letter?

Use notebook paper, stationary paper, or a card to write your letter. You can use an envelope if you wish. Stickers are a great way to seal the letter if desired.

Choose a good pen or a pencil to write your letter. A pencil may be a great option if you feel you may need to erase errors as you write.

How long should the letter be?

The length of the letter will depend on how much you feel you need to write.

A letter doesn’t have to be long. Keep the letter simple and to the point. Write what you need to say and don’t worry too much about the length of the letter.

What do you want to write to your daughter?

Your words will be the most important part of this letter writing process. Choose what you want to say to your daughter.

What type of letter do you want to write?

There are different types of letters that you can write to your daughter. This can include the following:

Just Because – a letter to say hi and say that you are thinking of your daughter

Praise – a letter telling her how proud you are of your daughter’s accomplishments

Apology – a letter that is used to apologize to your daughter for something that happened in the past

Appreciation – a letter that shows your appreciation for your daughter

Birthday – a letter that wishes your daughter happy birthday and makes her feel special on her special day

Congratulations – a letter written to congratulate your daughter for her achievement

Friendship – a letter written to celebrate your friendship with your daughter

Thank you – a letter written to thank your daughter for something she has done for you

Choose the type of letter you’d like to write before starting your letter.

When should I give the letter to my daughter?

Once you put all of the tips above in place and finish your letter, choose a good time to give or deliver the letter to your daughter.

I hope these tips help you when you write your own letter for your daughter!

Kids who are physically active at age 5 have less body fat at age 8 and 11 and benefit from this activity into their future years. Learn about the importance of activity for children below!

Recent research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has demonstrated that kids who are physically active when they are young are more apt to stay lean even if they don’t remain as active later on.

This effect has been termed the ‘banking effect’ of activity in children. The study used a tool to measure the activity of over 300 children and followed the children for three to five years.

Body fat, bone and muscle were measured during this time. The results revealed that there was a positive effect of physical activity during the youngest years of a child’s life that carried over into later ages.

The research suggests that even an extra ten minutes a day of physical activity can be protective against fat gains.

The Importance of Activity for Children

Physical Activity

Physical activity is not the same as physical fitness. Physical activity can be defined as many of the activities that a child normally does throughout the course of their day.

The three key areas that should occur are activities that involve aerobic activity, muscle toning and bone strength. Examples of these activities for a five year old might include walking, climbing and swinging on the jungle gym, playing ball, jumping rope, bicycling and running.

As the child gets older, more formal activities such as baseball, basketball, playing Frisbee, soccer, gymnastics, dance all contribute to these three key areas of activity.

The sedentary lifestyle of many kids and the emphasis on activities such as TV, on- line games, handheld games and other technological advancements need to be balanced with outdoor activities.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that kids get at least one hour of physical activity each day. This does not mean a ‘workout’ in the way that adults think of it. It can be many activities, that when added up equal an hour of activity.

Effects of childhood obesity

The benefits of growing up active and lean are well known.

Recent data reveals that childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years and that almost 20% of children in the United States are considered obese. The long term effects of childhood obesity are both emotional and physical.

Children may be stigmatized by their weight, leading to poor self esteem and poor performance in school. They may be unable to participate in normal physical activities that other children do.

Over time, if obesity remains throughout their life, they are more likely to suffer health problems such as diabetes, bone and joint problems, and cardiovascular disease.

President’s Council on Physical Fitness

It was first recognized that American kids were becoming less fit than European kids in 1956 when President Eisenhower established the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Subsequent Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Bush all re-affirmed the need for American youth to maintain a healthy physical fitness. Many parents today remember the beginning of youth physical education classes during those years and the focus on physical activity.

The ‘banking effect’ shows us that today’s parents have an important role in the overall physical fitness of their children by encouraging normal play activities when their children are as young as five years old.

Taking your child to the playground, walking with them, tossing or kicking a ball are all activities that cost nothing and can help guide the child to a healthier life.