Take a look at our newsletter this month.
Building Your Future in the United States The Immigration Insider
August 2018
From the Desk of
Clare Corado
I think we could all use more opportunities to celebrate. Have some fun this month with these quirky days!
1. National
16. National Tell a Joke Day
Girlfriends Day
2. National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
17. National
Thriftshop Day
3.
International Beer Day
18. Bad Poetry Day
19. National Potato Day 20. National Radio Day 21. Senior Citizen’s Day 22. National Tooth Fairy Day
4. International Hangover Day
5. International
Forgiveness Day
Family-Fun Activities Enjoy the Last of the SummerWeather
6. Wiggle Your Toes Day
7.
National Lighthouse Day
23. Ride the Wind Day
8. Sneak Some
24. Vesuvius Day
Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day
With school right around the corner, you might be thinking about taking your kids out for a bit of fun before the school year starts. If you’re fresh out of ideas on what to do, here are a few activities for your family this month.
25. Kiss and Make Up Day 26. Women’s Equality Day
9. Book Lover’s Day
Take Your Kids to the Movies
10. National S’mores Day 11. Son and Daughter Day
There were many great kids’ movies released this summer that you and your children can see as a family. “Incredibles 2” came out on June 15, 14 years after the first “Incredibles” movie. This time, watch as the character Jack-Jack explores his many superpowers. Several other films were released just last month, such as “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation,” where the Count and his family go on a cruise. “Teen Titans GO! To The Movies,” also came out and includes the teen heroes experiencing their very first movie. This month enjoy “Christopher Robin,” which will be released on Aug. 3, and the adventures of beloved Winnie the Pooh and his friends. While taking your kids to a family-friendly film is fun, it doesn’t have to be the sole reason to get out of the house. Before or after the movie, you can take them to a local park to enjoy the playground or a pool.
27. Just Because Day
28. Race Your Mouse Day 29. More Herbs, Less Salt Day
12. Middle Child’s Day
13. Left Hander’s Day
30. Frankenstein Day
14. National
Creamsicle Day
31. National Eat Outside Day
15. Relaxation Day
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Cover story, continued ...
Have a Picnic
under a hot sun. Also, make sure your family has applied enough sunscreen and that everyone has sunglasses to keep the sun out of their eyes.
Give your kids a last hurrah before they head back into the classroom. Don’t let this August slip through your fingers!
Going on a picnic is an excellent activity for the whole family. Not only does it give you quality time with the kids, but they can engage in the activity from start to finish. While preparing for the picnic, ask the kids what they would like — create a list of food that everyone suggests. Take the kids to the grocery store and let them help you pick out the items on the list. Teach them what to look for in ripe fruits and fresh vegetables. While packing for the picnic, let the kids wash the vegetables and fruits and help put smaller foods into zip-close bags or containers. Traditional sandwiches and juices can be on the list, but it’s more fun to include an assortment of foods. Create your own unique trail mix — combine everyone’s favorite dried fruits, salted nuts, and other small snacks. You can also make a homemade fruit salad by combining bite-sized fruits.
Go Camping in Your Backyard
Preparing for a camping trip can be stressful and even expensive. Backyard camping can be a fantastic alternative for the family. Not only can you enjoy the pleasures of a campfire, cooked food off the grill, and s’mores, but you are also just feet away from a fully functioning bathroom and refrigerator. This activity can be a family bonding event and a chance to let the kids learn a few important values. Work together to set up the tent, and while starting the fire, take the opportunity to teach your children about fire safety. Play games in the backyard, tell a few campfire stories, and let your kids come up with a few tales of their own. After the sun sets, take some time to stargaze. Encourage your kids to see if they can spot constellations and point out the ones you know to them.
When you get there, find a shaded place to set up your picnic — no one wants to sit
3 Ways to Mentally Prepare Your Kids for the School Year
It may not feel like it yet, but summer is coming to a close, and summer break is ending along with it. Soon, the kids will be back to early morning breakfasts before the school bus arrives and late night study sessions. Thankfully, there are some steps your family can take during these closing weeks of summer to ensure your kids hit the ground running this school year.
following questions to help them get started: “Do you want to dive right into homework when you get home? Do you need to accommodate for a sport or extracurricular activity? Do you work best when doing your assignments in one large chunk, or would you prefer taking breaks in between assignments?” Your kids may find that last year’s schedule doesn’t work for them this year. Emphasize that this is okay; part of growing up is learning how and when you work most effectively. Don’t be afraid to help them switch things up as the school year progresses.
Set an Early Bedtime
For many kids, summer schedules are flexible. They may have become accustomed to sleeping in and staying up late without any obligations. Getting back into the rhythm of the school year can take some getting used to. In fact, according to psychologist Cherie Valeithian, it can take upward of two weeks to properly adjust to a new sleep-wake cycle. So why not give your kids a head start and ensure they begin the school year bright-eyed and bushy-tailed?
Ask Your Kids HowThey Feel
Maybe your kids are excited about the school year. Maybe they are anxious, or perhaps they’re just disappointed to see summer vacation come to an end. Starting a dialogue about the aspects of school your kids are looking forward to and those they’re dreading can help you dispel myths and identify problem areas. More than anything else, this can help your kids feel at ease about the coming year.
Outline a Homework Schedule
Resuming a homework regimen can be a difficult transition for some kids. Late summer, when they don’t have assignments to worry about yet, can be a great opportunity to help them prepare a study schedule. Ask the
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Want to Improve Brain Health? Grab a Sword!
The Benefits of Open-Skill Sports Did you know fencing is making a comeback? No longer just for heartsick gentlemen of the Regency era, fencing is increasingly being taught in public schools, displayed in the pages of popular indie comics, and practiced among seniors. Plenty of baby boomers are picking up swords, or “sabers”— and it’s not because they’re preparing to fight dragons. Exercise is important no matter your age, but some activities are more beneficial than others. Research published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise (PSE) suggests activities defined as “open-skill sports” like fencing can do more to improve brain health than “closed-skill sports.” The difference between an open-skill sport and a closed-skill sport lies in the dynamic nature of the activity. Going for a jog is great for your heart health, but your body is doing the same thing during the entire workout. This makes it a closed-skill sport. The same goes for swimming; you might have different strokes to choose from when you jump in the pool, but your brain is focused on repeating the action while doing your laps. Open-skill sports require players to respond to unpredictable circumstances in unpredictable ways. Fencing is a great open-skill sport because, while you have to learn the right way to hold the saber and move your body, you also have to think on your feet and react quickly to your opponent’s attacks. Open or Closed?
Researchers from the Foro Italico University of Rome believe that it’s the required adaptability that makes open-skill sports so good for your brain. You challenge your body with complex motor movements and your mind with fast decisions. In the study from PSE, the researchers reported that “the open-skill athletes used less brainpower to do the same thing than the closed-skill exercisers did.”
What’s the Best Open-Skill Sport?
If fencing isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other great open-skill sports, including tennis, badminton, basketball, and racquetball. What are you waiting for? Swing by your local rec center and find out what open-skill sport will be your new favorite pastime!
Take a Break!
Parmesan
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
Ingredients
• •
1 head cauliflower
• •
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, ideally Parmigiano-Reggiano
• •
4 sprigs thyme
•
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 garlic cloves, unpeeled
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Cut cauliflower into florets. On a large baking sheet,
3. Roast for 35–40 minutes, tossing occasionally. 4. Sprinkle with Parmesan
toss cauliflower with onions, thyme, garlic, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
cheese and finish roasting, about 10 minutes longer.
PAR BIRDIE DRIVER GREEN
STROKE HOLE IN ONE PGA CADDIE
SWING PUTTER GOLF CART DRIVING RANGE
5. Serve while hot.
Recipe courtesy of epicurious.com
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Office: (317) 247-5040 Fax: (317) 536-3446
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Clare PAGE 1 Enjoying Summer Vacation to the Very End PAGE 1 How to Prepare Your Kids for School PAGE 2 Fence Your Way to Better Brain Health PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower PAGE 3 Sleep Well and Feel Great PAGE 4 A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? Listen to your body. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should make a habit of going to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be. Wake up naturally. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on the body and even elevate blood pressure,
How to Achieve a More Restful Night’s Sleep
which is not good first thing in the morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake-up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way. Kick the screen habit. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone — before bed is detrimental to sleep quality. Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic
nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to “one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time.
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