A tip for making baby food: ice cube trays

By Anna Hamman

I realize baby food and feeding in general are often sensitive topics; organic vs. non-organic, breast milk vs. formula, store-bought vs. homemade. I also realize that different things work well for different people, and that all children, families and budgets are different. I am, therefore, not about to proclaim that this is the right way or “the answer.” This is just a tip that helped me. 

I decided that from the beginning I would like to make the majority of my baby food when my baby started eating solids. It worked out to be cheaper for us and I hoped it would be somewhat healthier for her. I do not love to cook, however, so I wanted to find an efficient way of doing it. Someone gave me the tip of steaming vegetables and fruit, blending them to make purees in bulk, and then freezing them in ice cube trays. After they are frozen, you then empty the frozen blocks into zip lock bags or containers and label them to go back in the freezer.

Each time my daughter had a meal I would microwave defrost one or two of those blocks, and there you have it: a meal that’s healthy.

Now I tend to make new purees in bulk once every two weeks when we run out of food or variety. She still has fresh things in between and snacks like yogurt and crackers but her dinner comes from these frozen blocks. When she gets more teeth we will continue to move on to chewier and more solid items.

I think this system helped me feel more organized and was simple for me. What kinds of ideas help you get organized with baby and toddler food? Do you have simple healthy recipes for babies or toddlers? Please share.

Under Three

By Anna Hamman

Recently I read a newly published book for families with children who are under three years old. It is beautiful in its simplicity. It is mostly black and white photographs exhibiting two children playing and experiencing all kinds of things. There are captions to go with the images that give you simple ideas of how to play and encourage learning with your young child. Most of its message, however, is told through images.

In a world of so much parenting advice and toys and gadgets that can sometimes be conflicting in advice or overwhelming, this is a really simple book that is a refreshing reminder of how important play and simple low-cost or no-cost experiences with your children can be. I really enjoyed reading this and taking in some new ideas for play and learning with my 14 month old. There are so many possibilities! Take a look at the preview and the reviews on the website.

What are some of your favorite play experiences or games with your one to three year old? 

 

Too Small To Ignore

By Anna Hamman 

One of my favorite books is Too Small To Ignore: Why the Least of These Matters Most, by Wes Stafford, the president and CEO of Compassion International.

Too Small to Ignore is a book that has challenged my perspective about children and poverty. It helped me see how God values children not just for who they will be as adults but for who they are now, and how it is our responsibility to care for them too. Because of Stafford’s unique upbringing in a remote community in Africa, he brings a fresh perspective from someone who has lived and worked in both third world and Western settings. Here is a quote I really love:

“When the wealthy and the poor get together, each ends up meeting the desperate needs of the other. Too often Satan achieves his wicked agenda by keeping them apart---geographically and philosophically. The result is that one tends to die in need and the other in greed. But when Jesus brings us together, the genuine needs of both are mysteriously and wonderfully satisfied. In God’s amazing economy, the rich and the poor need each other, the common message being, ‘Enough really is… enough’”

I really recommend this book for those who care for children. It offers a fresh perspective on how important children are in God’s equation but also a challenge on how we value those who have less than we do and how we can pass this perspective to our own children. In this book, Stafford shares his own experiences of growing up in an African village and also his perspective from working with children and families through Compassion International around the world. 

Compassion International is a Christian organization that helps people sponsor children and teenagers and their families in third world countries. My husband and I have sponsored and written letters to two children through Compassion for a few years now and we were privileged to go and visit them and their families with compassion staff in rural Uganda a few years back.

We were really impressed by how sponsorship through Compassion benefits a whole community and were so touched by how overwhelmingly grateful our sponsor children and their families were for the relatively small amount we sacrifice each month to sponsor them. It was a humbling experience to realize how such a small sacrifice each month from us could really make a huge difference when channeled in the right way. We were also touched when they brought out every letter and photo we had ever sent them and shared how much they loved getting them.

I do not write this in any way to glorify us, because I feel this is a small act on our part. I just want to emphasize that child sponsorship is just one of those things that seems so right in this world. It is around $40 dollars a month to sponsor a child and sometimes that can seem like a stretch, but when you see how grateful the children, their families and the community who benefit from sponsorship are, it seems well worth it. Really when you think about it, $40 for us is just a few meals out that we could save by eating at home a little more. In a third world setting, this money goes a long way. Many of you may already sponsor a child or give in other ways but if you are interested in finding more about it, I highly recommend it.

Don't waste any more bananas with this chocolate chip banana muffin recipe

By Anna Hamman

Recently, I had some overripe bananas in my fruit bowl and I was able to find this recipe for chocolate chip banana muffins. They turned out to be delicious and pretty easy to make. It was great to avoid wasting food and help take better care of God’s Earth, while also baking a fresh treat for my family.

Check it out. 

Note: This is an Australian recipe, so 60 grams of butter is just over half a stick of butter and 200’ C is about 350’ F.

Fountains and the Beauty of Water

By Anna Hamman

As an early childhood teacher and a mum, I am always amazed at how water can be one of the most entertaining and educational experiences for children of all ages. From little hands running through cool or warm water, to tipping water from one container to another repeatedly, to jumping in a whole swimming pool of water, water has a quality that both calms and excites children.

Now that it is warmer in Boston, there are many water activities that one can do at home with small children using few resources.

Recently my 13-month-old and some of her buddies have been discovering the joy of fountains. On a hot day, I pack an extra set of clothes, sun-cream and a towel and walk to a water fountain in a park to play. For my daughter, sometimes watching and listening to the water and observing other children playing in it is as much part of the learning experience as actually getting wet. This is all part of the process of learning about the world around you as a toddler.

Here are three great child friendly fountains we have enjoyed in Boston that you might like to visit on a hot day. Some of them have rubber underneath to prevent slipping and all are pretty safe in that they are built to have the water drain away immediately. On a hot day, I have seen older kids play in them for hours.

•Dana Park (Cambridge)

•Park on the corner of Hingham St and Memorial Drive (Cambridge) 

•Park on the corner of Milk Street and Atlantic Avenue (Boston)

sing along

By Anna Hamman

I recently started taking my baby daughter to the Cambridge Public Library. If you live in the area, or even if you don’t but want a nice morning out, Cambridge Public Library is great for kids. There is a large newly-renovated floor dedicated to kids, a mat for babies and several free sing along and story times that are designed specifically for young kids and babies too. I really enjoy taking my daughter to the “Lapsit” class (for not yet walking-aged children) where you and your baby sing nursery rhymes with actions. There are free classes for toddlers and preschoolers, too.

The library is a really nice space to hang out in and read some new books. It also has a park in the front if you need some gross motor action in between reading sessions. I have found that there is a nice community of parents there, some of whom I have continued to catch up with outside of the library. Check it out!

 All rights reserved by The Cambridge Public Library

Pavlova: An Aussie/New Zealand Dessert

By Anna Hamman 

As an Australian, I am often asked, “What is a uniquely Australian food?” Besides foods that are still eaten by some indigenous peoples who continue to live off the land, such as Kangaroo or Wichetty Grubs, there are few uniquely Aussie foods. Most of us Aussies, who are not clever enough to hunt kangaroo or find food and water in very arid places, eat a blend of European, Asian, American, English and “whatever else you can think of" food. We are especially fond of Thai food, as there is a large population of Thai people and thus lovely Thai restaurants in Australia.

However, there are a few gems that we claim as uniquely Aussie foods and this recipe is one of my favorites. Both Australia and New Zealand lay claim to the dessert, but for arguments sake, let’s just say we invented it together. In 1926, it was created and named after a famous Russian Ballerina Anna Matveyevna Pavlova (1881-1931), who toured New Zealand and Australia in 1926. I love being able to share a piece of my culture and roots through cooking, because it reminds me of how vast and diverse God’s world is.

Pavlova is very easy to make. The passion fruit is one of my favorite parts about the dessert because the sour taste of the fruit offsets the sweet meringue. You will find it hard to find canned passion fruit pulp or fresh passion fruits out of season in Boston---I know because I searched everywhere this winter to find some---but you can definitely substitute passion fruit with berries or canned mango.

“Anonymous. Jesus’ hidden years and yours” (A book by Alicia Britt Chole)

By Anna Hamman 




I recently finished reading the book,  Anonymous. Jesus’ hidden years and yours.

This book took me some time to read---not because it’s long, but because it is full of truth that I found I needed to mull over one piece at a time. It is the kind of book that I could read several times and still find it teaching me and reminding me of how to realign my focus. I found it particularly applicable to me as a new mum, having moved from a busy working life, to now full-time parenthood, where most of my time is spent at home and sometimes wondering about my identity and what I should be doing next.

Essentially it is about the seasons in our life when we are not in the public eye or as “ successful,” where we find ourselves in a quieter less “celebrated” season---and what we can learn during these times. The author suggests that these can be rich seasons in which we grow closer to God and stronger in character.

Alicia Britt Chole looks at Jesus’ “hidden years” and how he handled temptations, challenges and trials over many years of anonymity, which helped him be obedient even unto death in order to save us and to please God.

She uses the analogy of the iceberg.

“Through chattering teeth, arctic scientists inform us that only one-eighth of an iceberg is visible. As much as 90 percent is submerged in the unseen. Because of their enormous mass, with that proportion, icebergs are virtually indestructible.

10% visible + 90% unseen = indestructible life

The most influential life in all of history reflected the iceberg equation. Ninety percent of his life on earth was spent in obscurity. Ten percent of his earthly life was spent in the public eye. And all of his life was and still is absolutely indestructible”

Alicia discusses in depth the temptation of Jesus in the desert and how he responds to it. She refers to Deuteronomy 8:2-5, taking ideas straight from that scripture. She says that God sometimes leads us into deserts:

• To humble us 
• To test us 
• To know what is in our hearts 
• To see if we will keep his commands 
• To teach us to depend on him, and 
• To discipline us as children

This is not a gripping novel or a “make you laugh” read, which is why I usually never choose to read a book like this. I usually run from titles like this and others such as “ Celebration of Discipline” etc. Most often I like to escape from my life rather than face it and be challenged to work on areas, however something drew me to this book and I found truth in it. It isn’t written in a judgmental or condescending way but rather a reflection on Jesus’ character and how we can learn from him. I feel like I have a long way to go in learning and growing the patience, self control and trust in God that Jesus has, but this book helped me look at my more anonymous season as a time to work on these things. And for that I am strangely thankful.

A Tip for Teaching Your Baby to Sit

By Anna Hamman

Some babies learn to sit early on and others will take longer. If you are reading this, please make sure your baby is at the stage where they are strong enough and have the neck control to start sitting. It is different for every baby, but most babies develop this skill around four to eight months.

The best way to teach them to sit of course is to sit with them on the floor and interact and support them as they start to topple. This is important to do regularly---but you can’t do this all day. So here’s a tip for helping them develop the muscles for sitting when you cannot sit with them. This can be done with materials you already have around the house, so you don’t have to spendg money on a product designed specifically for this purpose.

• Take a large plastic storage crate or bin or washing basket that is rectangular, sturdy and large. (I found the plastic storage bins are really sturdy, especially the clear ones, so that the baby doesn’t feel closed in.) 
• Place your baby sitting up in the bin with supports of rolled towels or blankets on either side of them until they are strong enough to sit without needing the supports. 
• Put toys in front of them to encourage them to reach and shift their weight, and to help their fine motor development. The sides of the bin and the towels will support them if they lean. A baby-safe mirror in front of them also encourages interaction, movement, and language development. 

This is a photo to show how it can be done. In the beginning, as the baby is learning, you will need more rolled towel supports on either sides of the baby than displayed in this picture

Prayer for Preschoolers

By Anna Hamman

As a preschool teacher in a Christian School, that also has many students without Christian backgrounds, I wondered about how to pray with kids ages 3-5 that had never prayed, or maybe had never even heard the word “Prayer” before. Although prayer is a small part of our day, I wanted to make it meaningful and accessible for them.
So here are some tips on praying with tots this age:

1. Know that God loves to talk to children and children do talk to God. That may sound simple, but sometimes it is easy to think that prayer is too abstract or difficult for a child or that they would find it too boring. But neither is true. A child’s mind is often much more trusting and straightforward than our grown-up, busy minds can be. Some verses I love that show God’s love and acknowledgment of a child’s connection with him:

Matthew 18:1-5. 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 

God says that children have great faith and that we must become like them. That takes some of the pressure off of us as we try to teach them this “big thing” called prayer. God does speak to them and loves their faith, which suggests that they pray or think in a way that He likes. The other verse I love is:

Mark 10:14-16 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

2. Prayers do not need to be sophisticated or long to be meaningful or heard. They could just be, “Please make my grandma better” or “Thank you for sunshine” and God hears and loves their faith. For kids who don’t like to use many words, I have some creative ideas below.

3. Sometimes kids don’t always like to pray out loud. That’s OK. That doesn’t mean they never will or that they are not part of the process. You can model simple and heartfelt prayer. You can ask about what they want to pray for and then pray a simple prayer for them. In time, as they develop more language skills or feel more comfortable, they may choose to pray out loud.

They may also need another format. Below are just some creative ideas I have come across or thought of. Next to them I have suggested the ages I think are appropriate for each activity.
• Make a book with photos of things or people your child would like to pray for. Alternatively, your child could make drawings of each thing. Let them choose one each night where either you or they say the words. You may choose to pray for all of them (ages 2-5)
• If your children enjoy creating things, decorate a prayer box with a lid together. Include a slot where you place pieces of paper with things they want to pray for written on them. The child can draw one out and pray for it each night. Alternatively, write down your child’s prayers or have them write them down (if they can write) on pieces of paper and then post them in the box after saying them. At the end of the week/month take a look at them again and thank God for his answers. (ages 3-8)
• Link your prayers with action. For example, if you’re praying for a sick grandma, make a drawing or card together and send it to her. If you’re praying for kids in Haiti after a disaster, start sponsoring a child and write letters to them together to make it tangible and meaningful. (ages 4-12)
• Have a corkboard that you pin prayers to. I saw this on a kids prayer website and it was used with older children, but I think you could do this with younger kids too (4-12 yrs)
• Pray using a beanbag. The child holding the beanbag gets to pray then pass it onto the next person. If you have two or more children, this might be great. (ages 3-6)

4. Children are really compassionate. Sometimes we think children will only want to pray for things close to them or to receive things that they want (we do this as adults sometimes, too). Children really do care for issues beyond themselves , whether or not we talk about them.

I was touched when teaching a three to five-year-old group one day. When I asked what they wanted to pray for, one five-year-old said, “I want to pray for all the people in Haiti right now who don’t have houses and food, that God would look after them.” There was no prompting from me or anyone else at the time. She and one of the other children then prayed for Haiti. I think it is really important to think about others in prayer, and it is not beyond children to pray for people suffering on the other side of the world, if we talk about it together.

Prayer is powerful. Enjoy the journey
 

Bumkins Waterproof Bibs

By Anna Hamman

If you have a baby like I do and recently started feeding solids, you should check out these great bibs. I got sick of using the cloth bibs and seeing how easily they stained. These Bumkins bibs are great for babies ages six months to two years. They are made of a plastic material, and are light and easy to scrunch up in a bag if you go out. They can be wiped off easily and then chucked in the washing machine after a few wears. They dry quickly and they have good Velcro so your baby can’t pull them off easily. They sell a pack of three on Amazon, and here is their website. It may sound simple, but my hope is that products like this will help me cut down on the loads of baby laundry, so that I can spend time with her doing more meaningful things.