Gena Martine Santoni
The Magic of Quiet Hour
When time together needs a time-out, this strategy can work wonders. A good friend of mine has home-schooled her children for years -...
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The Martine Cotillions
- since 1857 -
Have a fun 50's Party at home!
a magical mixture for a meaningful life
Edited by Gena Martine Santoni
Happy Holidays! This month we have a little bit of everything, from fun family time and tasteful dinners to manners tips and helpful ideas. Although we might not be celebrating in the same way as usual, there are still plenty of ways to add meaning to our together-time. And for those who need some alone-time, we have a suggestion or two for that as well! So get a streaming cup of warm spiced cider or hot cocoa and join us for a cozy, elegant winter season.
A Lesson in Fun
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How games can help children practice important life skills.
In our current environment dominated by distance learning and cell phones, children certainly don’t need more screen time. They do, however, need activities that require personal interaction. After a long day working and learning, playing provides a great release and also offers a natural way to practice many important people skills.
Using games to teach is a time-tested method that works. The added benefit is that games make learning fun! Remember Monopoly? Clue? Bingo? Cards? These are some of the games we all grew up with and whether or not we realized it at the time, we actually learned a great deal from them. Children learn math when they count their moves and when they keep score. They learn how to take turns and develop patience. They learn to think strategically. They learn they can’t always win, and most importantly, they get to make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and try again.
In-person games also offer an opportunity to develop honesty and cooperation. Games require rules and in order for the game to be successful, everyone must follow the same rules. Unlike video games, in which the rules are automatically enforced by some omnipotent, behind-the-scenes “gamekeeper”, in-person games place the onus on the in-
Written by Julie Sweany
Mom, I’m bored!
Some of us grew up being told that only boring people complain about being bored, but with all the time spent cooped up at home, it is bound to happen to the best of us. With all the time children spend in front of screens these days, it is nice to be able to point them toward some good old-fashioned ways to made idle time more interesting.
Enter two fun books created with this in mind: The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Daring Book for Girls. In actuality, there are plenty to interest both boys and girls in each book, with a variety of games, a sprinkling of history, skill-building projects, practical tips, book recommendations and a dash of adventure. While some projects do require parental supervision, the majority of activities encourage self-directed play and increased knowledge. Peruse the table of contents online to see if these complelling compendiums might be just the thing to help spark the imagination and banish boredom - at least for a while!
Zooming with Manners in Mind
Written by Julie Sweany
Some of the most enjoyable stories parents like to share with us are those that tell of the different ways their children practice “cotillion manners” out in the world. We love to hear about the staff at a restaurant who complimented them on the wonderful manners their children exhibited while dining… or the couple at the table next to them who asked how they got their children to behave so well. We’ve heard about grandparents coming to visit cotillion to see just what we are teaching and then raving about being asked to dance by their grandchild at a family wedding. The stories are endless, but like everything else they are now in “pause” mode. Dinners out and special events have been reduced, if not eliminated, so it is important to think of other opportunities to utilize and practice those cotillion manners where and when we can.
Many of our members are now students of “distance learning.” What a challenge for students, parents, and teachers! Since manners online are just as important as in-person manners, we have compiled some ideas to help our families “think cotillion” and continue manners practice during the era of Zoom.
Being Present
Family Game Night
One great way to spend fun time with the family and create great memories is to have a family game night. Not video games, but rather the old fashioned favorites that get family members of all ages involved.
Younger players can feel part of the action with team games like Pictionary, and with games of chance - such as Shoots and Ladders - where winning does not depend upon skill. Classic card games like Rummy are fun to learn, and who hasn’t fallen over laughing during a game of Charades?
Whether you gather on the floor in front of a roaring fire with a bowl of popcorn, or around the kitchen table with hot cocoa, family game night can be a wonderful and nostalgic way for the whole family to be present together.
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Have a fun 50's Party at home!
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