Newest ECHOage Team Member – Bonnie Levine

We would like to introduce the newest member of the ECHOage family!

Bonnie Levine has recently joined our team as Chief Ambassador, Eastern Region.

As mom to two young girls, Bonnie has seen first hand the joy and pride that her daughters have experienced from giving back and doing important work for those in need. Creating opportunities to inspire her children to be charitable has been a constant. As Chief Ambassador, Eastern Region, Bonnie is thrilled to be able to leverage her business consulting and communications background to help launch ECHOage across new Canadian markets and to play a role in fostering kindness and generosity among the next generation.

Welcome Bonnie and we look forward to expanding ECHOage into the Eastern Region in Canada!

Next time you want to yell at your kids, think of this post (then go out and get the book!)

ECHOage has invited Sarah Chana Radcliffe, internationally recognized parenting expert, author, counselor, and speaker, to write a guest blog for ECHOage. Her parenting advice really works…we have tested it out with our own kids! Try her tips and in just a few days you’ll be yelling less, and loving more.

RAISE YOUR KIDS WITHOUT RAISING YOUR VOICE

By: Sarah Chana Radcliffe

My kids always threaten to report me. “You’re raising your voice – you call yourself a parenting expert?” Said in good humor of course. I think.

Anyway, why would someone as nice and as educated as I am ever raise her voice? Actually, I’m always surprised when anyone accuses me of doing that. I always think that I am speaking in a perfectly polite, pleasant tone of voice. I certainly mean no harm. In fact, if I were to acknowledge their presence at all, I’d have to say that these so-called “raised voices” of mine are usually more like whining sounds or sounds of frustration, generally uttered when I’m really, really tired and I can’t get the computer to do what I want it to do and someone forgot to plug the crockpot in for tonight’s dinner. I certainly don’t call these noises “yelling.” So it always strikes me as shocking that my children – now all grownups – would even comment on the quality of my otherwise lovely speaking voice. The fact that they do is a cautionary tale: we can never get away with speaking less than sweetly to our children. They take note. They react. It affects them.

So imagine what would happen if we were a tad more casual about this. Suppose, for instance, that we actually spoke really LOUDLY when we were upset or we called someone a name like RUDE or SELFISH or LAZY. What if we were really MAD? How would all that affect our children?

I can tell you actually. The more we communicate in an angry mode, the more problems our kids tend to have. When young, they have more social problems, more physical symptoms like tummy aches and headaches, more learning issues, more behavioral problems. If we’re still shouting when they’re teens, they have more emotional problems, more addictions, more eating disorders and self-harm, more troubled friendships, more academic problems. Unfortunately, a loud voice is toxic to developing human beings.

Yes we’re only human and our nerves get frayed. But if there was a way to discipline effectively while maintaining our cool and conveying our love, wouldn’t we want to use it? In fact, there are many tools that effectively replace the loud or irritated parental voice. Parents just have to learn them and use them. Build a loving, healthy relationship with your kids and give them the skills that will help them do the same with theirs.

Sarah Chana Radcliffe is the author of Raise Your Kids without Raising Your Voice.
Visit her at http://www.facebook.com/scradcliffe

A Whale of a Tale

What Happens When Someone is More Worried About Your Kid Than You Are?

Last week while on holidays, my family went on a whale-watching tour. The boat looked very much like a pirate ship, so the kids were fairly impressed. About half way into the adventure, a visibly stressed out older woman went over to my four-year old, took him by the hand and brought him over to where I was sitting with Daddy-o and a friend. She explained that she was worried sick about him going overboard.

At first I didn’t really know what to do with that information. I knew he was not going overboard and there were three adults keeping a very close eye on him. I think in situations like this, the kneejerk reaction is to say, “Why don’t you worry about looking for whales and I’ll worry about my kid.”

Those words didn’t come out of my mouth because I didn’t feel angry or judged. She was genuinely worried, albeit unnecessarily. I wanted her to enjoy the day, so from there on in one of us adults closely followed my fully capable kid around so that she could relax. It’s probably been years since she cared for a small child, and we quickly forget what they do at different stages.

I could relate to how she was feeling. Sometimes other people’s children stress me out.  If I’m at the park and there’s a child running around with a lollipop, I go out of my mind. I completely obsess to the point of ignoring my own children. I’m paralyzed with fear that the child will fall and have the lollipop lodged down their little throat.

My solution?  I either have to leave the park completely, or I explain to the mother that I’m a total crackpot and beg her to humour me and take the lolly away.

While I want to enjoy my time at the park, so did this woman on the ship. It’s easy for parents to get defensive, but I found that by respecting her concerns, we had a day of smooth sailing on the high seas.

Have you ever had anyone show unnecessary concern over your child? How did you respond?

Guest Blogger: Julie Cole, Founder, Mabel’s Labels

For Clara’s 3rd birthday, she got a tree house and Project Linus got $227.00

No stopping this girl.  Already providing warmth and comfort at age three!

Clara says she chose to support Project Linus, “Because children didn’t have blankies.” Clara adores the quilts made by her Great Great Grandmother and her Great Grandmother Imogene that she sleeps with every night. Her Grandma Imogene also makes quilts for the Linus Project. For her birthday, Clara wanted to help other children get their own “blankies.” Project Linus gives handmade blankets to ill and traumatized children that are in need of a little extra comfort. When we offered the choice between giving blankets or helping children who needed more food, Clara said, “Why can’t I do both?”  Clara’s Mom says she loves that Clara is learning about helping others – inspiring her generosity at such a young age.

Clara is getting a tree house in her backyard that her parents are building for her from new and reclaimed materials. Hopefully, it will be a little retreat for her for many years to come.

Happy birthday sweet Clara.  Your ECHO will certainly be heard far and wide.  Wishing you many
wonderful hours of dreaming up new ways to improve the world in your new tree house.

ECHOage Loves Summer Camp

ECHOage loves to support camp! The more camps we support, the happier we are each summer. Kids from across Canada and the U.S. who also love camp have chosen to help send even more kids to camp this summer simply by ECHOaging their birthday parties. As a result of these amazing ECHOage birthdays, children living with cancer, children with developmental disabilities, and children who are visually or hearing impaired will have a chance to experience the sunshine, canoeing, skiing, campfires, songs, spirit and friendship that makes camp so memorable.

One of the camps that ECHOage supports is Camp Awakening.  This amazing camp is full of kids with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy. Camp Awakening makes camp a place of freedom.  After all, camp really is a place for kids to unplug from the constant buzz of cell phones, computers and video games and have the chance to make genuine face-to-face connections, discover the wonders of nature, and challenge perceived limitations.

Another camp that ECHOage supports is Lake Scugog Camp.  Some kids can’t go to camp because of their financial circumstances and the majority of Lake Scugog’s campers come from shelters, foster care, or families with limited financial means. Lake Scugog is a place where campers are able to feel no judgement, feel safe and have fun while experiencing the true joy that comes from swimming in a cool lake or eating a roasted marshmallow for the first time.

View all of the camps ECHOage supports here: ECHOage Camps

A Little Drama Goes A Long Way at Norah’s 9th Birthday Party.

Norah got $255 for an iTunes gift card and WWF Got $255.

For Norah’s 9^th birthday she and all her friends had a great drama party at The Stage Door Academy. They played really cool drama games, freeze dance, ate pizza and celebrated with birthday cake!

Her present was an iTunes gift card and 3DS games. In her words, “I love to listen and sing to music.”

For her ECHOage birthday, she chose to support  WWF.  When asked Norah how she felt about her contribution, “I LOVE animals and I wanted to help Polar Bears because they are getting endangered and I want to protect their Arctic Home.”

Norah, we are so proud of you and the ECHO you have already started at such a young age. We can’t wait to see what you do for your second act!

Happy, happy birthday, Norah from everyone at ECHOage.com

It’s Earth Day! Four Tips On How Your Birthday Party Can Give Back To The Planet.

It’s not really about throwing a green birthday party but rather throwing a party that is in keeping with the times.

A few mindful choices will let you and your guests feel proud about making the world a better place, one fabulous birthday bash at a time.  Where to begin?

1) Say adios to stamps! And hola to e-invitations.

Sending e-invitations eliminates paper, ensures speed of delivery and  allows your guests to RSVP, right away.  Sending Thank You notes becomes a joy, not a chore, when you personalize them with photos from the party with a press of the ‘send’ button.   No emissions, no paper cuts and no searching for mailing addresses required.

2) There’s no place like home.

Dorothy said it best when she tapped her heels three times…

Bringing your birthday party into your home allows you to reduce the need to use paper goods and disposable decorations.  Setting your table with your own dishes, cutlery and glasses not only makes the party feel special, it helps to keep the recycle bin from over-flowing.  Collect flowers or rocks from the garden to make place card settings extra special.

3) Work smarter not harder.

Giving group gifts is efficient, resourceful and best of all, is likely to result in a gift that will last and be treasured for years to come.  Let’s be real. If you asked your wee one who gave the LEGO set for their 5^th birthday, chances are you would still be waiting for that answer. If you asked who gave them their first baseball glove (iPod, scooter or camera) you will likely get a very clear and resounding – all of my friends!

Group gifts are also a sure fire way to get the friend-of-the-year award (while saving on gas and aggravation). Imagine telling your guests that they can give online, in seconds, and still give little Johnny the gift he has been dreaming about – while never leaving home.

4) The only thing better then giving one gift, is giving TWO.

Amp up the meaning of any birthday party by  including a charitable component (no gift wrap required).  Not only will you be teaching your kids that giving can be done at any age, you will be giving your child the gift that can ONLY come from helping others in need. Make it easy, make it fun and most of all, magnify the lasting impact the choice to give back will have on others.

Green, for sure.  Smart, you bet. Birthday parties of today, certainly can keep up with the time.

ECHOage your next birthday party.  Or, sign up for your FREE reminder.