In this issue:
Fabkins
Back to School Jitters
Dr. Brout: Transitioning
John Jay Homestead Barn Dance

Just in time for back to school shoppers, Fabkins, a provider of cloth napkins for kids, announces their products are now available online at www.fabkins.com. Fabkins was created out of the desire to offer kids a fun and easy way to be a part of saving the environment.

Founders Joyce Raffo and Paige Rodgers were committed to packing "waste-free" lunches for their school-aged children, but had trouble finding cute cloth napkins that weren't too formal or too big. Ultimately they decided to create their own, and Fabkins was born.

Fabkins are soft and durable everyday cloth napkins for kids available in an array of bright colors and playful designs. Sized for kids' laps and lunchboxes, Fabkins come in packs of five in six different themes that reflect kids' interests, such as "Sports Fan," "African Safari," "Prima Ballerina," "Fruit Salad," "Beach Bound," and "Garden Friends." Fabkins make school lunches and meals at home more fun and encourage good table manners. Fabkins can also be used as a placemat, and make a great, unique gift.

"My son's school asked parents to pack waste-free lunches," explains co-founder Joyce Raffo. "I shopped all over town trying to find a cloth napkin that was soft and absorbent but also 'cool' and expressed his interests." She never did find what she was looking for, and Raffo soon learned that other parents, like Rodgers, had the same experience. The two began discussing ideas for a line of everyday cloth napkins for kids.

Soon after, on a nationally recognized daytime television show, guest Elizabeth Rogers, co-author of The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time, was asked to give one tip from the book that America could implement immediately. Elizabeth's response was "If we all gave up one [paper] napkin a day, we could save a billion pounds of paper waste from going to landfills [each] year." This discussion highlighted the environmental importance of using cloth napkins and introduced everyday cloth napkin use to a national audience.

"My daughter gets excited every morning to find out which Fabkin I'm going to put into her lunchbox for school," said co-founder Paige Rodgers. "I now hear her explaining to friends how she uses cloth napkins to cut down on paper waste and save trees. I love seeing her so excited about helping the environment."

About Fabkins

Fabkins was launched in August 2007 by two women who wanted to make saving the environment fun for kids with a line of colorful, unique cloth napkins. Fabkins are made just for kids in designs and themes that represent their interests. Fabkins make mealtime more fun and inspire children to help save the environment.

We just arrived back home from vacation yesterday. We've had a wonderful summer, full of "family time", special trips, and special moments-- the loss of a tooth, mountain hikes on high peaks, overnight camping trips, visiting with family, and much more. It has been an amazing summer for me watching my children grow both socially and physically, challenging themselves to try new things and achieve their goals. My kids are getting bigger by the moment and are an amazing amount of fun to be with these days.

Coming back to reality though has brought the joy tumbling down around me. Although I'll admit I am ready for the fall and the stability of school and schedules, at the same time, I just feel sick to my stomach. My "baby" starts kindergarten this year and my oldest, second grade. I hardly know what to do with myself. I expected that sending my second son off for a full day of school would not be as difficult as my first, but to my dismay it's even worse! I am left with an empty nest and a hole in my heart for my babies, who are growing ever closer to being their own little people.

I worry whether they're ready for the challenges of the year, whether their teachers are ready for them, and whether they will again make friends, have fun, and learn in whatever ways they are expected to. I remember the terror of the first night before school started every year as a kid-- the excitement of being back at school, the jitters of facing a new teacher, the nerves of returning to new and old friends, recess, class, and more. Well, my nerves are now mixing with my kids' nerves to make a mess of emotional folks at my house.

So, all that said, here are some tips we've tried the past few years, that might help you out if your house is as crazy as ours!

• Find a friend-- whether you're new to school or a returning student-- have a friend or two over. Reconnecting with old friends or making new ones will allow your child a friendly face to look forward to on their first day.
• Play games-- role play classroom activities-- make yourselves some funny name tags, practice letters, reading, writing, or arithmetic-- you'll be amazed at what's been forgotten over the summer. Don't let lessons get frustrating though-- keep it fun and funny (whatever they've forgotten will be covered again, it's too late to worry about it now!)
• Read books about going to school. Some of our favorites? My First Day of Nursery School, Becky Edwards; I am NOT Going to School Today, Robbie Harris; The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn; Owen, Kevin Henkes; Kindergarten Rocks!, Katie Davis; Harry Gets Ready for School, Harriet Ziefert; Morris Goes to School, B. Wiseman; The First Graders from Mars series, Shana Corey; The Junie B. Jones series, Barbara Park; Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth, Alison McGhee; Ramona the Pest, Beverly Cleary; and of course, If You Take a Mouse to School, Laura Numeroff.
• We also found a very cute "Get Ready for Kindergarten" set at Borders Books-- including games, activity books, flashcards, stickers, and more in a cute carry bag, which our son calls his briefcase. (See picture above or click here for more information)
• Sneak into the school if you can. Seeing their classroom, finding their name on their desk, and finding the bathroom closest to his/her classroom are all of great interest and comfort to little people!

Enjoy the last few days of summer fully, snuggle to your heart's content, soak up some sun, and certainly use it as an excuse to get some ice cream!

By Jennifer Brout, Ed.M, Psy.D.

All parents have experienced years in which their child had the "perfect teacher" and others in which he/she was "mis-matched". If you have a special needs child, you already know that keeping a positive attitude is essential as you begin another school year. Try to leave past negative experiences behind. Regardless, there are some steps you may want to take to positively support the relationship both you and your child will have with the new teacher.

Since every child is unique, give your child's new teacher some time to get to know him. Consider making a short list for the teacher regarding your child's needs. At this time, it's best to focus on social, emotional and behavioral issues; adjustment is always the priority at the beginning of the school year. Further along the semester you can address academics. For instance, if your child is sensitive to particular sounds or other sensations, include this on your list, and share strategies that have been successful at home or in the classroom.

After a few weeks have passed, get in touch with the teacher and arrange a meeting (be patient, since you won't be the only parent trying to do this). The main goal of your first meeting should be to collect information. Find out how the teacher views your child. If you disagree with the teacher's comments, say so, but try to be respectful; remember, the teacher is just beginning to know your child.

When the child is away from school, actively engage him or her in dialogue about his school experience. We all know it can be hard to communicate with a child, but a parent can circumvent communication issues by asking "closed-ended" questions. For example, you can ask "On a scale of 1 to 10, how was your day"? You also ask your child to point to smiley, neutral and frowny faces to represent how he feels about his day.

Hope for (and expect) the best, but plan for all contingencies, and remain informed regarding your child's experience while providing as much necessary information to the school as possible.

Visit Dr. Brout at Positive Solutions, www.positivesolutionsny.com

For more information or driving directions, contact the Homestead site office at (914) 232-5651 or check the website at www.johnjayhomestead.org.