Author Archive | Fatima Zimichi

The Me! Me! Me! Epidemic Among Children

Posted on August 3, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Parenting

Drivers cutting in front of you in traffic, people closing the door behind them on your face, millennials stepping on you while chasing Pokemons, teenagers taking selfies on your face, preschoolers pushing classmates to be first in line, toddlers making fits at the grocery store for treats. I mean, I can go on and on, but I’m sure I made my point.

Does it sound familiar? Individualistic, self-centered, self-absorbed, selfie snapchatters, call it what you want, I call it : Me! Me! Me! I even have a theme song for every time I witness this behavior, whether they are young or old, familiar or strangers.

I actually came to terms with this epidemic a few years ago while attending a live speech about “Happiness,” by the Dalai Lamas. He spoke about the difference between community-oriented societies and individualistic cultures. There, I learned that individualism is the belief that one’s personal needs are more important than the needs of a society as a whole. You might think, that sounds like the millennial generations, but research suggest individualistic behaviors began at the turn of the 20th century with the Baby Boomers born after WWII.

It is no secret, we live in an self-centered society. The minute I left the Dalai Lamas’ speech, my friends and I took the train back to our hotel. While on the train, a gentleman sat right next to one my friends, he took his coat off and slapped my friend right on the face when he opened his newspaper. We all laughed and ever since that day, I began detecting this sort of narcissistic behavior.

How do we stop it? How do we raise our children not to grow up to be individualistic, self-centered, self-absorbed, selfie snapchatters narcissist? Well, I’m no expert on the Me-Me-Me syndrome, but one thing is for sure, acknowledging this epidemic is a good start. The man sitting on the train, most likely didn’t noticed my friend, neither did the guy cutting in front of me in traffic, or the woman who closed the door on my face at the bank, but that doesn’t make it “okay.”

We have to teach our children to:

1) Be Aware of Our Surroundings

This includes the people, animals and plants. To be aware of others teaches us to be compassionate, empathetic, welcoming and accepting. All these practices can help them deviate from self-centered and me-me-me tendencies.

2) Serve as an Example

As parents, we can prevent or decrease this behavior in our children by serving as an example. Let’s do the exact opposite of the me-me-me behavior and let’s teach our children how to be giving, kind, and patient. Next time you are driving, let others by patiently, wait for the person behind you before closing the door, give something away to charity every time you receive a gift. The ideas are countless and the impact measureless.

3) Ignore the Me-Me-Me Siren

Another thing parents can do, or avoid doing, is not always jumping every time the me-me-me siren goes off. Remember, children will go as far as you allow them and as much as we want to spoil them, we have to keep a balance routine for their sake, ours and society’s.

4) Me-Me-Me, Sing it!

You can make a song, a poem, a rhyme or a keyword to use it around your children every time they are displaying this kind of egocentric behavior. They will know what they are doing and either stop or laugh, but acknowledgement is the first step.

If you are curious to see if you or someone around you could have this Me-Me-Me syndrome, click here for a quick test (narcissistic personality inventory (NPI).

If you need to hear the me-me-me song, ask Ms. Fatima to sing it to you. I have sang it to her on a few occasions when necessary. For more blogs like this one, subscribe to Hollywood Learning’s blog!

What Can We Teach Our Children While Making a Lemonade this Summer!

Posted on July 6, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in DIY

Lemonade has always been a classic summer drink. I mean, who can really say “no” to this cool and refreshing flavor? Yet, today’s article is not just about making a lemonade, but more on what else can we teach our children when preparing a yummy lemonade.

Budgeting yours Expenses

Any great projects begins with putting all the pieces together. After planning how many people will drink the lemonade (family, friends, party attendees), take a few minutes to make a budget. Encourage your children to brainstorm the supplies needed (lemonade, ice, sugar) and go over the recipe to see how much each of these items they will need. Help them narrow down an approximate cost. Provide the approximate total and take them to the grocery store. Teach them how to compare prices and how to buy the supplies based on their budget, just how we do it in real life.

Putting the Pieces Together

After having all the ingredients, get right to it. For this lemonade, you can use Hollywood Learning Center’s recipe:

10 Cups of Water
10 to 12 Lemons
3 Cups of Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoon of Organic Honey (Our secret ingredient)
2 Trays of Ice Cubes

Since recipes usually focus on certain servings, use this time to go over portions and fractions when doubling or dividing the recipe to fulfill your family’s needs. For instance, our recipe is for a large group of 10 children. If you family consist of 5 members, help your children figure out how much of the ingredients they would need.

The Importance of Safety

Teaching our children about safety from young creates well-aware adults. Starting with the lemons, make sure they remove the seeds to avoid anyone from swallowing them and growing lemons on their tummies. Also, depending on their age, teach them to use a knife carefully.

As far as water goes, some lemonades are prepared with cold water and others are prepared on the stove in order to dissolve the sugar. When using the stove, make sure to teach your children that they won’t use one until they are 18. Okay, I might be exaggerating, but you know what I mean. Another safety tip you can throw in there is the importance of watching our sugar intake. Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in school-aged children.

Last, but not least, let’s not forget the one of the most important lesson, have fun and sharing is caring! You have all summer to enjoy and indulge the many teachings that can come from a simple lemonade project.

If you like the post, subscribe to our blog: Parent Survival Guide.

5 Yummy and Healthy Snacks for Your Children

Posted on June 22, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Fitness & Wellness

Children can be very picky eaters, especially when it comes to food that they’re supposed to eat. During snack time, your little one might be begging for candy and chips. Make sure you set your foot down and put away the junk food. Try these five yummy healthy snacks Hollywood Learning Centers has already incorporated in their menu:

Strawberries and Bananas

Most children love sweet things! Of course that also means that they love candy, but we want them to eat healthier. A good alternative to candy are sweet fruits, like strawberries and bananas. Their sweetness have the all the nutrients kids need. Strawberries are packed with antioxidants, which can help prevent heart disease, and bananas are a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that converts into serotonin in the brain. Serotonin helps people feel happier. No wonder why minions are always happy.

Popcorn

This popular snack isn’t just for the movies! Popcorn is actually healthy when it isn’t covered with lots of butter or salt. Actually, two cups of popcorn has 2.3 grams of fiber and 62 calories, making it a light snack for our little ones. So this summer, get some kernel and pop away!

Corn on the Cob

If your kids can’t get enough of that popcorn goodness? Then they’ll definitely love corn on the cob! It’s sweet, fun to eat, and a popular summer treat! It’s also rich in nutrients that can help control diabetes.

Whole Grain Cereal

Put away the sugary cereal and get the whole grain cereal instead! Whole grain cereal is full of protein, carbohydrate, vitamin B, and vitamin E, making it one of the healthiest snacks for your kids. This is by far one of Hollywood Learning Centers most requested snack.

Veggie Chips

Does your child love potato chips? Veggie chips are no different, except they are a healthier and tastier substitute! These crispy snacks are made from beets, broccoli, cauliflower, and a number of other vegetables, so your kids can finally eat their veggies without even knowing.

All of these yummy snacks can be served with natural apple juice or water, two healthy drinks low in sugar and preservatives.

Have your little ones snack on these yummy treats and they’ll be happy and healthy! Want more healthy foods and recipes? Subscribe to our blog!

Beach Safety: How to Keep Your Children Safe this Summer!

Posted on June 15, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Parenting

It’s summer time! For a lot of parents, that means taking your kids to the pool or beach and letting them have fun in the sun! But be careful!

When you let your children swim in a body of water, safety is always a top priority. Here are some safety tips for when your little ones go swimming.

Pick a Beach With Lifeguards

There are plenty of beaches that you can choose from, but not all of them have lifeguards. More children under the age of five drown in Florida every year than in any other state. That’s scary stuff! Do some research and find a beach that always has a lifeguard on duty. You will feel more reassured about your child’s safety when you know a lifeguard is nearby.

Don’t be Casual Around the Water

The last thing we want is a small child running off and jumping headfirst into the water, so make it clear that you are the one who decides when your child can go swimming. Create a routine before going swimming (putting on a swimsuit, applying sunscreen, holding your hand, etc.) so your child will understand they can’t just go in the water whenever they want to.

Use the Best Sunscreen

You already know that sunburns are no fun, but which brand of sunscreen is best for your child? When looking for a brand, pick out the ones that have an SPF of 30 and protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Here’s a list for the best sunscreen for your kids. Make sure to cover all of your child’s exposed skin with with sunscreen before letting them play out in the sun. For extra protection, have a pair of sunglasses or a hat nearby.

Never Let Your Child Swim Alone

Most children are just learning how to swim, and even if they’re already great swimmers, you should never allow them to go in the water alone. Anything could happen, like your child getting cramps or hitting their head, and you’ll need to be near them to help. Make sure they only swim in the shallow end of the pool or beach. For swimming lessons, contact Hollywood Learning Center, we have swimming classes in our summer camp program.

Don’t Touch the Animals

When you’re at the beach, you’ll likely come across all sorts of marine wildlife in the water or on the sand. While this can be exciting, make it clear to your children that they’re not allowed to touch certain animals. Some marine animals, like jellyfish, sting rays, and lionfish, can be very dangerous. Others, like crabs can give your child a painful pinch if provoked.

Recognize Rip Currents

Have you ever noticed water in one part of the beach that looks muddy and choppy? That’s probably a rip current, which is strong enough to pull grown adults into the ocean. Recognize the signs of rip currents and keep your children away if you see one.

Drink Plenty of Water

When you’re busy having fun and making sure your kids are safe, it’s easy to forget about keeping yourself and your children hydrated. As it turns out, 75% of Americans don’t drink enough water. If you’re out in the blazing sun all day, make sure you have enough water to drink regularly.

Follow these tips and the only thing you’ll have to worry about is getting sand in your toes!

Interested in summer camp? Contact Hollywood Learning Centers at (954) 922-8558

Life After Preschool: How to Survive the Transition!

Posted on June 1, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Parenting

Congratulations to all the preschoolers class of 2016! Preschoolers, great job, you are almost there! Preschoolers’ moms, you have 13 years more to go, but ready or not, life goes on.

The scary part is change. Who likes changes? Not all of us, but change is inevitable and with it, comes surprises along the way. Kindergarten is no exception. Here are some tips you can follow to ensure that you and your child will get through the transition smoothly.

1. Have a Fun Summer!

If your child is feeling nervous about starting kindergarten, make their summer break fun. A memorable summer will makes your child happier. Plan a family vacation or find a summer program that you know your kid will love. At Hollywood Learning Centers might have something that’s perfect for your child! This is also beneficial for you, since you both will feel less anxious about kindergarten.

2. Talk With the Teachers

The biggest fear most children and parents have when starting kindergarten is meeting their teachers for the first time and making sure their children are ready. To show your child that there is nothing to be afraid of, let them meet their teacher before the school year starts and don’t be afraid to ask them, what subjects they should be preparing their children for. Hollywood Learning Center’s Summer Camp offers our VPK graduates tutoring in Math, Reading, and Writing, so they can have a head start.

3. Be Involved

Some children have trouble adjusting to a new environment. If you see that your child is having problems or feels sad in the first few days of kindergarten, get involved with their daily activities. Ask them about their day and try to help them if they’re having bad days. Participate in school activities to show your support. Let them know that you love them and that everything will be fine.

4. Back-to-School Shopping Spree!

All kids need school materials for their class, so it’s time to shop! Obtain the teacher’s supply list to see what is needed. You can get most supplies in grocery stores, so you can save time and money! Buy new clothing at stores that have an end-of-summer sale. If your child’s school requires uniforms, find out if the school has an official uniform store. Lastly, try to make the shopping fun for your child so they can feel excited for school.

Follow these tips and the transition from preschool to kindergarten should be a fun experience! Do you have questions about Hollywood Learning Center’s Summer Camp or Aftercare program? Contact Hollywood Learning Centers at (954) 922-8558

What Are Your Kids Doing this Summer?

Posted on May 18, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Lifestyle

Hollywood Learning Center Summer Camp: June 13 – August 19 For more information please call (954) 922-8558

Summer is almost here! For over 30 years, Hollywood Learning Center, a ministry of First Presbyterian Church, has provided kids with a fun and enriching summer camp program to enjoy. What are your kids doing this summer? Do you know what is in their summer bucket list?

Hollywood Learning Center put together a list full of our summer camp activities, including arts and crafts, pool time with swim instruction, music, yoga, games, sports, field trips, and more! How many of these are in your kids’ bucket list?

Here are a few of our field trips:

Bluefoot Pirate Ship
Butterfly World
Castaway Island Water Park
Davie Rodeo/Pro Rodeo Presentation
Flamingo Gardens
Flowers’ Bakery Nature’s Own
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Miami Seaquarium
Museum of Discovery and Science
Young at Art Children’s Museum

Most summer camps begin registering students as early as February, so if you have not yet selected a summer camp program for your kids, don’t worry. Hollywood Learning Center is still accepting summer camp registrations. Who’s more excited about summer?

HOLLYWOOD LEARNING CENTER SUMMER CAMP DATES: June 13 – August 19

For more information about Hollywood Learning Center’s Summer Camp, please call (954) 922-8558

How To Teach Your Child a Second Language in a Bilingual Casa

Posted on May 11, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Parenting

Hello! Hola! Salut! Ciao! Oi! Здравствуй! Raise your hand if you’re bilingual, trilingual, or multilingual.

Living in South Florida makes this topic very close to casa. Most of us come from other countries and hope and pray our children learn our ancestors’ roots and native language, but this is easier said than done.

Research has proven the many benefits associated with speaking more than one language and the younger the child learns, the better! For that reason, Hollywood Learning Centers , a Ministry of First Presbyterian Church put together a quick list on how to teach your child a second language in a bilingual home.

1. SPEAK, THEY WILL REPEAT

Toddlers and preschoolers are in that age where they’re just getting acquainted with their social vocabulary. As you know, we have to be careful with what we say because they repeat everything they hear. “Kids this age are developing language skills rapidly, and they quickly absorb whatever they hear,” says Erika Levy, Ph.D., assistant professor of speech and language pathology at Columbia University. Why not start with one word here and there? They will either catch the meaning with context clues or they will ask, like they often do, “what does that mean?” Remember, the earlier you introduce a second language, the easier it will be for your child to pick up its unique sounds.

2. APPEALING TO THEIR SENSES

Come on! Vamonos! Everybody, let’s go! Yes, Dora the Explorer is one of the many programmings kids can watch to learn a second language. Find a show or radio station, play a song, or read a book in your native language so they can familiarize with the sounds, words, and phrases. Nowadays, there are even toys and apps you can download. Sooner or later, they will catch o

3. SUBMERSION

In my house, for example, we weren’t allowed to speak English, because Mom (Ms. Fatima, Director of Hollywood Learning Center) thought we got enough English at school. So every time my sister and I will speak English to each other, she will interrupt us and say: Spanish! Or when we used to speak to Mom in English, she will literally pretend she didn’t understand. However, submersion is most effective when you take your children to the native language region for longer than just a few days. Want your children learning a second language ? Choose their next summer vacations wisely.

4. FORMAL CLASSES IN SCHOOL / ACADEMY

Learning at home can be frustrating. If you rather do formal classes in their preschool or an academy, make sure your child doesn’t see it as a must, but as a fun experience. Get involved in the process and reinforce the instructor’s material with them so they learn it fast. Our Hollywood Learning Center offers Spanish Classes Monday through Thursday. For more information, please don’t hesitate to call Ms. Rebecca at 954- 922-8558.

5 Alternative Gifts to Flowers & Chocolate for Mom!

Posted on May 4, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Lifestyle

This weekend will be a special one, especially to all the new moms, stay-at-home-moms, single moms, stepmoms, and foster moms out there.

As a daughter and aspiring mother, I will be running around wrapping gifts, making reservations and making sure the mothers in my life feel loved. However, as a future mother and I’m sure many moms can relate, I think that flowers and chocolate are redundant.

Yes, the most common tradition has always been to give mom a beautiful bouquet of roses or a yummy box of dark chocolate, but who thinks that the Mother’s Day gifts traditions need to be rebranded?

As families search for new ways to make the most important women in their lives feel extra special, Hollywood Learning Centers of First Presbyterian Church has some suggestions on five alternative gifts to flowers and chocolate to surprise our moms this year.

5) Fruitable Arrangement: Chocolate covered strawberries or cherries are always a great alternative, especially on those occasions when it’s popular to send flowers. The advantage over flowers is being able to enjoy the fresh fruits arrangement decorated in a beautiful base. Make sure you write a special note! You can find these arrangements in different prices and sizes at Edible Arrangements.

4) Chocolate-face Mask: As you know, chocolate tastes like it was sent from heaven, but did you know it was also use as a skin care treatment? For amazing rejuvenating, exfoliating, or moisturizing facials, call our friend Lisa, from Lisa Miami Skin at (954) 806-1629.

3) Floral-print Dress: Give your mother, a bouquet of flowers that will not wilt. This beautiful floral-print dress can be found at Macy’s and is perfect for a Mother’s Day dinner, a special event, or family picnic.

2) Chocolate-flavored Wine When it comes to celebrating Mother’s Day at the table, red wine and chocolate seem like a natural match. But this year, winemakers across the country are producing wines that take the pairing to another level. You can find it here.

1) Flower-shaped Jewelry : You don’t have to buy diamonds to make an impact. But instead of a bouquet, a flower-shaped piece of jewelry makes a fantastic alternative. A flower charm from Pandora, a necklace with a meaningful rose pendant, a bouquet ring chosen with care – these can all say how you feel with flowers that will last a lifetime.

Hope this works for the traditional and not-so traditional moms, after all, they say is the thought that counts. Hollywood Learning Centers of First Presbyterian Church will like to wish all of our moms, a Happy Mother’s Day and remind you to register for our “Breakfast with Mom” event, this Friday at 9 AM.

Let’s Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!

Posted on April 27, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Lifestyle

I don’t remember ever celebrating Teacher Appreciation week growing up in the 90s. I’m not sure if it was because I was in a public school, or simply because it wasn’t popular around my times. Yet, with a teacher as a mother (Ms. Fatima), showing my appreciation was a must.

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I learned that the US celebrates the nearly 3.5 million teachers with a week called, Teacher Appreciation Week, but I wanted to find out more about the history so I went on a hunt.

Apparently, people in the US didn’t begin celebrating teachers until 1953 when Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Congress to set a day to recognize educators, but it didn’t become a national day until March 7, 1980. Since one day is not enough to thank these wonderful human beings, four years later, the National Parent Teacher Association designated the first full week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week. The following year, the NEA voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day.

This year it falls on May 2nd till May 6th.

At First Presbyterian Learning Centers, we honor our dedicated teachers and outstanding support staff with goodies and presents. However, this year, our teachers want to have fun with gift cards!

We put a list of gift card ideas based on a survey conducted in house:

Starbucks
Target
Restaurants
Movie Tickets
Sephora / Ulta (Makeup stores)
Mani/Pedi Spa
Victoria Secret

P.S. Mark your calendars – Teachers Appreciation Week May 2th – 6th.

Teachers Rock!

Introducing : A Parenting Survival Guide

Posted on April 14, 2016 By Fatima Zimichi in Lifestyle

We’re very excited for this one!

In a nutshell, First Presbyterian Learning Centers has been around for more than 30 years. Recently, we jumped on the social media trend and realized we actually have a cool following of busy mommies and daddies super heroes.

First Presbyterian Learning Center’s Director, Ms. Fatima Marin, wanted to share her experience as a mother and educator through the voice of her oldest daughter, Fatima Zimichi, a writer and aspiring mother.

Through First Presbyterian Learning Centers’ blog, Parenting Survival Guide, we will celebrate parenthood and strive to provide healthy, simple and unconventional ways to survive parenthood.

We understand parenthood can be difficult and some days we feel like we can do better. What we want to share through this blog is that mothers, fathers, guardians, step mommies and daddies around the world are not alone. We have a community of families that go through similar scenarios, a God that has given us this role and believes in us, and now a sweet little blog to guide us step by step.

We want to make sure the blog is friendly, resourceful and fun. We want our readers to feel like they are our neighborhood friends, coming over with their kids to have a cup of tea.

You can experience some of Ms. Fatima’s and the rest of the First Presbyterian team’s anecdotes, home remedies, parental tips, home-made projects and other creative and fun activities parents will love.

Stay tune and feel free to share among your mommy and daddy friends.

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