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washing hands photo by edenpictures www.flickr.com

I am happy to announce that the winner of Hate List by Jennifer Brown is Sara L. Congratulations, Sara! Enjoy the book. It’s a great read!

So, on Maniac Monday today, we’re talking germs! This winter everyone has had germs on their mind with the H1N1 scare, and maybe some of us have started being more germ conscious. (I know I have–every time I use an ATM, shake hands at church, or open a public door, I’ve got the hand sanitizer out and I’m squirting some into my stepson’s hands, too.) You’ve probably noticed hand sanitizer stations at your school (or your child’s school); or if you home school, you’ve seen more hand sanitizer stations when you take your child on field trips to museums or other kid-friendly places. So, I’m writing about this germy subject today and sharing a good germs book with you because Similasan and JuiceBoxJungle sponsored me to write this post. They asked me to talk about the things I’ve missed because of kid-illnesses and to mention a photo contest that anyone can enter to share our healthy and happy kids with one another!

First the cool book and a Magic School Bus germ book, too:

So, what is something I’ve missed due to a kid-illness? Well, the first thing that popped into my mind when I read this post idea was our pumpkin patch trip with grandparents this past October. Logan was sick–with a high fever and runny nose. I was worried it was H1N1–but his fever went down and he got better in a couple days, so who knows? The day we were supposed to go to the pumpkin patch was beautiful, sunny, and in the 60s–and we didn’t get to go. We all sat in the house and watched movies. Instead, we went to the pumpkin patch right before Halloween on a cold rainy day with no grandparents because they weren’t in town. We still got our pumpkins, right? This is about the same time that I started carrying hand sanitizer around with me and bought a can of Lysol to spray door handles and phones at our house. I became a germ fighter!

Logan knows about germs. Just now, he saw me looking at the Amazon page with the Germs! Germs! Germs! book and asked me if I was sick. Then he said, “You have to wash your hands.” So, we are teaching our kids now more than ever how to be healthy at home and school–and that’s a good thing since those nasty little buggers are EVERYWHERE!

To promote healthy and happy kids, Shutterfly and Similasan are sponsoring this photo contest. If you click on the link above for Similasan, that will take you to the page with official rules. Basically, you upload photos of your kids playing with big smile,s and then one winner will receive a $500 gift card. Photos have to be uploaded by March 28, 2010. Similasan is a company that makes products for ear aches, pink eye, and more. You’ve probably seen their products at drug stores.

Okay, so carry your hand sanitizer, teach your students and children how important it is to be aware of and fight germs, and enter your kids’ photos into this contest for a chance to win $500! Not a bad Maniac Monday. . .

photo by edenpictures www.flickr.com

JuiceBox Jungle is a fun website for moms and mommy bloggers. I am part of their network, which you can see more about by looking at the cool graphic to the right of this post. You can watch short clips about parenting, answer polls, tweet certain topics, and now listen to some music by this super cool new group for kids: Juice Box Heroes!

Anyway, the JuiceBox Jungle people recently posed this question for bloggers to consider: “Sarah Miles, (Ph.D. in Education, Child and Adolescent Development and a lecturer at Stanford University AND a mom of preschool aged twins) tells us in her video this week the absolute best, educational toys are no toys at all. ‘Get outside and PLAY!’ she says, and we agree! Do you? Do you find that both you and your kids are much happier when you get outside and move and explore?”

At first, I wanted to stand up, raise my hand, and shout, “Yes, I do. Getting outside and playing is the best.” And my stepson does think so. He eats better, sleeps better, and concentrates better when he can get outside and play. His dad and he recently went sled riding during winter break when temperatures were near zero. Where was I? At the coffee shop, by the fireplace, with hot coffee, writing. UGH! I’m making my confession now that I hate to be outside in the winter. Did I use to feel that way when I was a kid? Did I feel the cold like I do now? Did it make me tired? I don’t think it did. Plus, my mom always had hot chocolate ready for me. . .my stepson doesn’t like hot chocolate, but that’s a whole other topic. . .:)

I know that Dr. Miles is right. I sub at Next Generation preschool in Champaign, IL, and I know that the children are much happier and have a better day when they can get outside and play. Fresh air is great. I’m not arguing that. Walking and observing nature is great. Exploring your environment is great. But it’s not for me from mid-November to April (in the Midwest, two hours south of Chicago). . . and I just want to admit that publicly on my blog. When my stepson (who is 9) is at our house with only me because my husband is at work, I let him go out, and I sit by the window and look out to see what he and our boxer are doing out there. Okay, tell me now, I am terrible, but at least I’m honest, right?

I do take Logan to places where he can play and run around inside; but the older and taller he is getting, the less this is possible. Logan’s outgrowing these indoor play places. I do go roller skating in the winter–that’s how much I hate going outside! And I would love to tell you that I’m going to make it a New Year’s resolution to get out in the cold more, but I just can’t lie to you like that. My solution is for us all to move to a warmer climate, but one with no hurricanes or earthquakes or snakes. Hmmm. . .? SO, while you are reading blogs from other JuiceBox Jungle Network moms and all the wonderful activities they do with their children outside in the winter, don’t judge me too harshly. I found these great “activity” books for you and your child or students to use if it’s even too cold for you outside. . .