Disciplining your children
National Family Week is observed the week before Thanksgiving, giving Canadians the chance to honor their own families.
Family Service Canada is a national, non-profit, voluntary, charitable association with a membership of family- and child-serving social service agencies. Judith McCann-Beranger, chair of the Family Service Canada board of directors, said: “Family well-being is reinforced when caring, nurturing individuals are committed to ongoing relationships. National Family Week is a time to celebrate family and to plan for further care of the family by putting into practice enriching activities that serve to bring its members closer together.”
Read Also
Downturn in grain farm economics threatens to be long term
We might look back at this fall as the turning point in grain farm economics — the point where making money became really difficult.
For more information, contact: Family Service Canada at 613-722-9006.
Effective discipline
Disciplining a child is one of the most important roles of a parent, and perhaps one of the most difficult. But healthy discipline is part of a comforting family environment. Effective discipline at home provides a foundation for self-discipline throughout life. It helps your child grow up to be happy and well-adjusted. Effective and positive discipline teaches and guides children. It doesn’t just force them to obey.
What makes discipline effective?
- Respect – Children should be able to respect their parents’ authority and also the rights of other people. Discipline that is harsh – name-calling, shouting and humiliating – will make it difficult for a child to respect and trust a mother or father.
- Consistency – Discipline that’s not consistent is confusing to children, no matter how old they are. If parents are inconsistent in the way they discipline, their children will find it hard to respect them. If one caregiver says “yes” and the other says “no,” the child will be confused.
- Fairness – Children need to see discipline as fair. The consequences of their actions should be related to their bad behavior. If your child throws food on the floor, make sure he helps you clean up the mess. Make sure it is cleaned up before he does something else. When the mess is cleaned up, the consequence is over.
How parents can promote good
behavior:
- Spend time alone with your child each day.
- Be comforting. Give your child hugs, cuddles, and/or a gentle pat on the back.
- If children are sad or angry, respect their feelings. Try to understand why they are upset.
- Do things that are fun. Laugh together.
- If you make a promise, do your best to keep it. It’s important that children trust their parents. And they will want you to trust them, too.
- Look for opportunities to praise your child for good behavior.
To prevent behavior problems:
- Give your child many opportunities for physical activity and exercise. Some children need to run off some of their energy.
- Instead of saying “no”, give her something more interesting to do. This is called distraction or redirection. For example, if she is climbing a fence, you can say, “Come and play on the swing.”
- Make sure your child has toys that are right for his age. Don’t give him too many at once.
- If your child is tired and cranky, be understanding and calm to help her settle down. This is especially important before naps or bedtime. Having a short, quiet time (with no activity) can prevent bad and irritating behavior.
- Ignore little things. Before you raise your voice, ask yourself, “Is this important?”
Source: Canadian Pediatric Society, 100-2204 Walkley Rd., Ottawa, Ont., K1G 4G8, 613-526-9397; Fax: 613-526-3332; www.cpa.ca
Reader requests
In reply to our request for an address for cloth sugar bags thanks to I.G., Wilkie, for sending us the address of a company that sells them. I got the phone number, and called them. They sell towels, aprons, material and remnants, work gloves and bags. They can be ordered by singles or dozens. The 100 lb bleached sugar bags sell for $2.50/bag plus GST or $30/dozen, unbleached for $28.50/dozen, and recycled cloth shopping bags (canvas or denim) for $36/dozen. To obtain a price listing, call: 204-339-1686. The company’s address is: Western Bag Co. Ltd., 1793 Main St., Winnipeg, R2V 2A2.
Do any readers have a recipe for Indiana Picnic Cake?
Dairy industry website
The Saskatchewan Dairy Foundation is partnering with Dairy Farmers of Canada to introduce a new site on the internet. This web- site contains useful and interesting information on Canadian dairy foods and the dairy industry as a whole.
The DFC website has two main sections. One is information related to the organization itself, key issues affecting the farmers and the industry, and resources for agriculture education in the classroom – www.DairyFarmers.org. The other at www.DairyBureau.org is devoted to promotional activities and nutrition, including recipes, menus and answers to questions most often asked by the public.
Husk tomatillo uses
Dear TEAM: I grew husk tomatoes or tomatillos this year and have a very good crop of them. I would like some recipes or other information on how to use them. They are very good chopped raw in salad. – L.Y., Assiniboia, Sask.
Dear L.Y.: This was a good year for tomatoes, wasn’t it? From Dutch Growers Garden Centre in Saskatoon, I received information about a book by Lois Hole called Tomato Favorites full of tomato recipes, facts and folklore.
Tomatillos resemble firm, lustrous, green cherry tomatoes with a distinctive, tangy taste that some say hints of apple, lemon and herbs. The fruits of tomatillos are hidden inside inflated papery seedpods, like those of the Chinese lantern plant. The recommended varieties of the tomatillo are the Indian Strain which is an early-maturing fruit with a very sweet flavor, and the Mexican Strain which is larger, yields heavier, and has a more savory fruit.
Tomatillos are a good source of vitamins C and K, and are low in calories. They go great with chili peppers, onions, garlic and cilantro.
Tomatillos can be eaten green or ripe, raw or cooked. To cook, simmer five to 10 minutes. Add tomatillos to salsa, taco sauces, cheese dishes, guacamole, potatoes, chicken and Mexican dishes. They can be substituted or combined with tomatoes in many recipes that call for tomatoes alone. The most common use is in Mexican salsas, but they also add piquant flavor to meats, sauces, casseroles and pies.
“Tomatillos have been called the secret ingredient for a great salsa.” – Judy Barrett, Tomatillos: A Gardener’s Dream, A Cook’s Delight.
Salsa verde
1 pound tomatillos 500 g
1 cup chopped 250 mL
onion
4 cloves garlic 4
11Ú2 tsp. salt 7 mL
1Ú2 cup oil 125 mL
1 cup water 250 mL
1Ú4 cup cilantro 50 mL
(or to taste)
2 serrano 2
peppers (or to taste)
Cut tomatillos in half and place in blender or food processor with other ingredients. Blend until well chopped and mixed, but not watery. Pour into heavy pan and simmer on low heat for 10-12 minutes. Serve as a dip, use in a recipe or freeze.
Hot peppers can cause severe skin and eye irritation. Wear rubber gloves when handling hot peppers and avoid touching exposed skin.
Source: Tomato Favorites by Lois Hole. This book is published by Lois Hole and Lone Pine Publishing, #206, 10426 Ð 81 Avenue, Edmonton, T6E 1X5.
Here is another salsa recipe using tomatoes and zucchini. It comes highly recommended.
Zucchini salsa
5 cups zucchini, 1.25 L
coarsely grated
(more, if you have extra)
11Ú2 cups chopped 375 mL
onion (two large)
13Ú4 cups green 425 mL
pepper, chopped
(two large)
21Ú2 tbsp. coarse salt 35 mL
Sprinkle over vegetables
and let stand overnight.
Drain.
1 tsp. garlic powder 5 mL
1 cup brown sugar 250 mL
(I use 3Ú4 cup/175 mL)
1 tbsp. cornstarch 15 mL
2 tsp. dry mustard 10 mL
2 cups white vinegar 500 mL
11Ú2 tsp. crushed chili 7 mL
peppers (original
recipe called for up
to three tsp.)
1 tsp. black pepper 5 mL
1 tsp. turmeric 5 mL
4 cups tomatoes 1 L
(fresh or canned)
1 small can tomato 1
paste (can be omitted)
Combine all ingredients and simmer 30 minutes. I put mine in an open roaster in the oven at 300 F (150 C) for about two hours or until the vegetables are cooked and it’s the thickness that I want. This way it doesn’t require such close watching, it doesn’t burn and the colors stay brighter. Process in sterilized jars and seal. Makes about three litres.
Source: Emily Arthur, ASHE newsletter (Association of Saskatchewan Home Economists.)
Manage your agribusiness
I have the pleasure of working on a steering committee that is planning the Agribusiness Management Development Program being offered by the Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan (both the college of agriculture and college of commerce.)
This program consists of four modules to be offered in early 1999. Participants will attend Thursday to Sunday noon for four weekends: Jan. 28-31, Feb. 18-21, March 4-7, and March 25-28. Participant registration deadline is Dec. 15. For more information, call Tom Allen, U of S, Saskatoon, Sask., S7N 5A8, 306-966-4012, fax 306-966-8413, e-mail allenth@duke.usask.ca.
