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CABIN FEVER SEASON is upon us!

According to Wikipedia, the noticeable symptoms of cabin fever are: restlessness, irritability, paranoia, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, laughter, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail. Sound familiar?

For our family, January and February seem to be the months when the phenomenon of cabin fever is most likely to occur. Although we prioritize outside time in the rain, sleet, or snow, during this period of the year the shortness of days and the changeable forces of nature can challenge our best intentions!

Despite these best intentions to get outside daily we were challenged with the perfect storm this past week. The storm consisted of very cold temperatures and every member of our family battling the flu. This storm led to some brief moments of cabin fever. Our young sons cannot put the feelings of cabin fever into words but the symptoms were clearly evident in our older son as the week progressed. At moments he acted like a confined animal pacing in his cage, then pulling out all of his toys and distractions.

Get on your gear and go!

Up to this point of the winter I would give our family a B- for our efforts to stave off cabin fever and here's how we attempt to do that:

1. Get outside. When temperatures are in the negative this is easier said than done. It is often during these colder months that just getting dressed to get outside can burn some calories. We notice significant changes in attitudes including our own when we spend even a short amount of time outside. Our mantra: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear!”

2. Do fun stuff outside. Just going outside is not enough of a draw for our son when the wind is howling and the cold temperatures are felt in his breaths. We have exposed him to some outside activities that we enjoy too; sledding and skiing which he enjoys! By doing this we can all get excited about going outside despite the conditions.

Try out a new winter sport.

3. Do fun stuff inside. (Just not in your own house.) Get out of the house by visiting a mall or other indoor space where physical activity is possible. In our community we are fortunate to have indoor swimming pools, open gyms, and a field-house. We get to the pool whenever the schedule allows.

4.  Get social. Accept any invites to other homes for a change of scenery. 

5. Invite in friends. Host a family for dinner or play date.

6. Check local schools' event calendars. Attend a theater, music, or sporting event. Most schools host many of these events frequently during the winter months. 

7. Hit the playground. The darkness can add another dimension to the experience and finding the wind-sheltered areas of the playground can lead to educational conversation about how to deal with the elements of weather.

8. Go on a gallery walk. This is a family friendly event because there is a good balance of outside time and inside time and usually there are sweets along the way. Enjoying and experiencing art is just an added benefit of this experience.

9. Visit your library. It is not the best place for children to get crazy but winter weather is the best time to discover this community resource.

Turn cabin fever into outdoors chillin'. 

The darkness and inclement weather in our state can be very oppressive. Cabin fever happens to most Alaskans at some point during the year. Be prepared for it to affect you and your family and be prepared to do something to make it go away!

Steve SueWing regularly posts at his personal blog AKdad.com. For more ways to prevent cabin fever check out our list of Winter Family Fun Links. 

AS THE WORLD continues to watch a terrible scenario unfold with the grounding of the Costa Concordia in Italy, attention is now focused upon the safety of such luxury cruises. The industry must be clenching its teeth for potential panic, either real or perceived, among both the media and would-be passengers who have witnessed the scenes on television and through viral video footage. I'm no expert in the cruising world, not like some of my travel cohorts who spend their lives sailing the seven seas. But what I might lack in nautical miles, I make up for in an overarching theme of uber-preparedness.

Hi, I'll be your cruiseship, let's get to know one another!

I’m an Alaskan, so almost every adventure our family endeavors to undertake requires careful planning, preparation, and attention, even when aboard a "floating hotel." Our last Alaska cruise was via Holland America, a classic vessel that held around 2,000 passengers and several hundred crew. We felt safe. We felt secure. We also felt empowered, because we were told to make it so. During a lifeboat drill (held within hours of our embarkation, by the way), the captain made it crystal clear that we, as passengers, held a certain amount of responsibility for our safety. Hmm, power to the people? I liked it. So, we did it.

All kids on deck! Learning the ship's areas can be a fun and safe activity for families to do together.

Here's how:

1. We knew our ship. As newbie cruisers, and parents, exploration of our sailing home-for-a-week was activity numero uno. Besides locating the kids' Club HAL, Lido Deck restaurant, and hot tub, we made sure everyone in the family knew where they were in relation to the lifeboat station we were assigned upon our embarkation, even the 4 year-old. We turned it into a game, actually. "Hey, see if you can be the leader and get us to Deck Five from the restaurant, okay?"  Over, and over, and over. After a day or so, our youngest was so impressed by this new activity, he taught it to all his cohorts in Club HAL. We also carried maps of the ship's layout (mostly because I kept forgetting where everything was), and made sure our lifeboat station was clearly highlighted.

2. We knew our crew. Charming to speak with, anyway, we quickly realized the crew could be our lifeline in an emergency. During that lifeboat drill, we make sure kids knew who would be at their station, and also made sure there were no language barriers (as has been an issue this week with the Costa Concordia's crew). Could our kids understand and follow their directions? If not, who should they find?

3. We listened during the drill. Within minutes of the scheduled event, it became clear how easily chaos could reign. Some passengers didn't show up, some had mobility issues, and still others were hopelessly unable to follow even the simplest directions to "Put on the life vest." I cannot imagine trying to navigate a circus of that nature in an actual emergency. But our crew kept at it, repeated themselves endlessly, and over all, the captain's voice boomed on a loudspeaker to shush us into paying attention. And now we know why. We could help ourselves, at least to some extent.

AK Dad is ready to float!

4. We were ready. Before we went to bed each night, I laid out sturdy shoes, placed mittens and hats in coat pockets, and had it all right by the door (easy in our smallish cabin). Everyone also had his or her own headlamp (we like them for reading at night), just in case the power went out when we had to evacuate. 

5. We made sure rules were followed. The basics, at least; no climbing on railings, no running on deck, make sure you wear non-slip shoes, and other kid-themed mantras. We clearly stated them, and absolutely enforced them.

No, I don't think the Costa Concordia tragedy should deter anyone from cruising, especially first-timers. Respect the ship, respect the crew, and take responsibility, certainly, but don't allow one horrible, tragic event to define the way you and your family travel. Life is too short for that.

Find more travel tips for your next family vacation at AKontheGO.com. 

by Jessica Cochran

I COME FROM a craft-y lineage: my grandmother sewed most of my clothes and made more than a few toys when I was little. I spent many a vacation with her, spending my days at the fabric store where she worked, and evenings attempting to learn to sew. So making Christmas presents is something I’ve always tried to do: knitted scarves, home-made stuffed animals, funky quilts made from old nightgowns or t-shirts. But the thing about my craftiness is I’m far from a perfectionist, so my creations always look decidedly home-made.  

And that’s why having kids is such a boon. Now, they make the less-than “perfect” crafts and everyone thinks they’re great! And I can help them without worrying if it will turn out ok, or if it’s nice enough, and just enjoy the messy, fun creativity of it all.

Here are a few of the things we’ve made over the years: 

1. Baby Footprint Christmas Cards. Because I really thought everyone in my address book wanted to see the bottom of my firstborn’s foot?

2. Mitten garlands. We made these when my daughter was three. I cut a bunch of mitten shapes from felt – and came up with a bunch of things she could glue on them – ribbons, shiny things, more felt cut into various shapes. Then I sewed 5 or 6 to a piece of ribbon, and voila – a Christmas garland. We probably made 8 or so of these?? Grandma Kristie and Aunt Tracy love theirs (see that joy on their faces in the above photo?)!

3. Glass jar lanterns. Use watered down glue to paste tissue paper to a glass jar (add a coat over the top layer for protection); secure a wire hanger by tying more wire around the lip of the jar. Put a tealight candle inside and you have a beautiful indoor or outdoor night-time decoration. We didn’t follow any directions for this one (we copied one a friend had made at school) – but I found some directions for hanging the wire on-line. And here’s kind of what they look like:

One site mentioned using heat resistant glue but we just used Elmer’s. We keep them outside and they’re still looking pretty good after 3 years.

Image via: FamilyFun.go.com

4. Soap balls. This one came straight from Family Fun Magazine. We put little Hello Kitty trinkets and other animals in ours because we couldn’t find penguins! One note of caution: apparently one recipient from the Midwest thought our creation was some kind of edible treat and took a bite out of it. Yuck

5. ArtCards. At one point, my daughter’s art output was so high we could have wallpapered a high rise with her work. Instead, we turned them into sets of note-cards that we gave to relatives for Christmas. I cut out the best part of each creation, sized to fit an envelope, and either folded it over to make a 100% recycled card, or glued it onto a blank note-card. Each card was unique, and labeled on the back with “ArtCards by___”. I got the idea from art fundraisers like this one.

6. Bead Ornaments. A hoop of jewelry wire, some pretty beads and bingo, a gift! Or, make them long and dangly like these:

Image via: TheMotherHuddle.com

(Note: these ornaments are WAY easier to mail than the glass jar lanterns.)

I get lots of kids craft ideas from Martha Stewart, or Family Fun magazine and just adapt them to our skill level, or often, to whatever supplies we have on hand.

I always try to remember the most important part is to have fun – ‘cause Grandma will love it no matter what!

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IT IS A STRONG HOPE of mine that sooner rather than later, my children will become fairly self-sufficient in the kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, I like to cook, but I’ll also be happy to share the daily responsibility with two more people. They have always helped with special stuff – like baking bread and of course, cookies. We recently added their own “dinner nights” – they each help plan and prepare a meal once a week. But it was the constant requests for snacks and water that were really getting to me: in our small kitchen, they couldn’t reach the things they needed themselves. So we did a few things to make it easier.

1. Non-breakable dishes. We’re not fond of plastic, so we got some very-hard-to-break Corelle dishes - dishwasher safe, microwave safe, kid safe.

2. Within arm's reach. Our fridge on top, freezer on the bottom set-up makes it a little harder to keep things the kids need within reach. We keep milk on the lowest shelf of the door…and aspire to keep containers of carrots, cheese, etc. on the lowest fridge shelf where they can reach them. Sometimes it actually happens.

3. The stool is now always out. Yes, it annoys me and I frequently knock my shins on it, but I can kick it out of the way, and they can reach the sink handle and hoist themselves up to the countertops to find things when necessary.

4. DIY snack station. The best innovation was this little shelf (pictured above). It keeps cereal (my kids’ favorite snack) and crackers within reach, and also bowls, cups, even a small container of silverware. The top surface is just the right height for my 4 year old to use as a countertop. On it sits a water jug (since we don’t have a fridge that dispenses ice and water). And the whole thing is on wheels – so we can move it out of the way (or next to the dining room table as a sideboard.) I built ours, but most any small shelf would work, with wheels added or not.

I still spend a lot of time serving snacks and packing lunches, and most mornings I DO get up to make breakfast. But this holiday weekend, I’m definitely looking forward to sending the kids out to the kitchen to take care of it themselves - at least once. 

I’d love to hear any more ideas!

Check out another post full of great DIY ideas for kids by Jessica Cochran: 7 Ideas for 7am - or, how to keep kids busy when you want to sleep in.

With the winter holidays just around the corner many of us are already making gift lists, shopping, planning parties and making travel arrangements to be with family. This is also the time of year when many families could use a little extra help with their holiday celebrations.

At KTD! we've rounded up a (helping) handful of local resources where you and your family can get involved and make a difference this holiday season.

1. Help the Homeless: Catholic Social Services' Helping Holiday project collects funds for their community outreach projects like the Brother Francis Shelter and Clare House. 

2. Feed the Hungry: The citywide Neighborhood GIFT Program, co-sponsored by the Foodbank of Alaska, needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound individuals in the Anchorage area on Monday, Dec 19 and to do foodstamp outreach at 6 different locations on Tuesday, Dec 20. 

3. Dress an Interviewing Teen: Covenant House Alaska has an immediate need for adult-sized, women and men's business attire. Donate your lightly-used professional clothing at their downtown Anchorage location. 

4. Shop at a Non-Profit Bazaar: Congregation Beth Sholom is hosting the 4th Annual Mitzvah Mall where all the vendors are local not-for-profits and charities selling items from $5-$30. Sunday, December 4, 1-4pm.

5. Give a Gift/Wrap a Gift: AWAIC (Abused Women's Aid in Crisis) has many opportunities for holiday helping this year - donate gifts or gift cards that will go directly to the many women, teens and children that they help, or sign up as an individual or as a group to wrap these gifts.

6. Choose Your Own Charity: The United Way of Anchorage's 2011 Guide to Holiday Giving and Volunteering Opportunities (opens as a PDF) is a comprehensive catalog of ways that your family can help this season by donating items like clothes, food, toys, bus passes and even services.

7. Keep a Homeless Child Warm: The Children in Transition/Homeless program at the Anchorage School District has an immediate need for children's snowpants and snowboots to distribute to the kids in their program. Call their office to find out where to donate: 742-3833.

Write us with more ways to give back and we'll add them to this list. 

TIME: THE UNAVOIDABLE constraint that we all get to live within. From morning until night and even into the early morning, time is something that we are constantly tethered to.

When talking to other parents about time, time management, and endless things to do there seem to be two common responses:

     1. “Oh, the time passes by so quickly so enjoy it."

     2. “I never have enough time!”

Response #1 inevitably comes from those parents who no longer have children at home, while response #2 almost always comes from those parents with children that are still at home. There is truth in both of these statements about time.  It does seem like yesterday that I was holding our first-born for the first time and he is now 3 ½ years old! There was also the planning and preparing for child number 2 and he is already 3 months old. Unfortunately in a household with two young children and two working parents I would whole-heartedly say; “My partner and I never have enough time!”

They grow up so quickly, don't they?

Recently I have come to the realities of active and involved parenting - there will never be enough time. I often hear other parents wishing for more hours in the day and I wonder why they would want to do this to themselves? If there were more hours we would find the activities and commitments to fill those hours too.

Weekends seem like a good time to catch-up so for months I would actively put together a long list only to be disappointed on Monday that because of the family hike, grocery shopping, surprise guests in town, two hours of sunshine, and a birthday party only two things had been completed.

Making time for the outdoors!
 

Here is how I have hit my Father-stride and come to terms with the realities of time:
 

1. Accepting that there is never enough time is the foundation component to stop being frustrated about the lack of time.
 

2. Prioritizing tasks into the must dos and the it-would-be-nice-to-get-done things. Realizing that realistically the must dos will probably be the only things that will get done.
 

3. Looking at commitments outside of the family and downsizing them. There will be time to fill when the home is kid-free.
 

4. Realize that not everything can be done as a family and sometimes it is best to divide and conquer. Mom and child do one thing and Dad and other child do another.
 

5. Get some help with responsibilities. Hire someone to do some home cleaning or trade-out a play date with a friend to provide some time to focus on important tasks.
 

6. Take some time off work to get caught-up on project that may not be able to be fit into the daily and weekly schedule.
 

7. Everything else gets planned so don't forget to plan fun events often!
 

8. Always remembering what is ultimately important: spending time with children, as a family, and finding some time to have focused conversation and time with partner.
 

Until next time….

SUMMER IS NEARLY gone, taking with it good weather and everyone's "take it easy" summer attitude. With the end of summer comes school, stress, and mandatory early wakeups. But I'm not bitter. As I reflect, it's hard to narrow three months of fun down into something that doesn't include 3 months of fun. This is my attempt at last summer's highlight reel- my top 5.

5. Flattop Hikes. From April to August, I've summitted Flattop at least 20 times. That doesn't sound very impressive, and it isn't (my original goal was 50). But the reason I liked it so much was the variety of ways I climbed it. I sometimes started at 8 A.M., sometimes 11 P.M. It was really nice, because no matter when or where, as long as I was going to Flattop, I'd always see at least one other person on the trails. They were always friendly, because all hikers are friends with each other on trails. Watching the sun set and rise wasn't too shabby either.

4. Volleyball. If you tell someone to imagine a typical summertime probability states that they would picture one of two scenes: a pool party, or a beach volleyball game. Since the former is impossible due to Alaska's pool shortage (excluding Hidden Lake), we Alaskans can only play volleyball to fill the American kid summer square. Fortunately for me, Service High has 2 sand courts open to the public. On many nights you could've found me knee deep in the sand, having a great time reenacting the Top Gun volleyball scene. And as an added bonus, the backdrop of the Chugach set us apart from the rest of America's volleyball playing youth.

3. Sun's Out Guns Out Tennis. When I look back on all my high school summers, one thing stays constant - Shirtless Tennis in the hot sun. It's something that's essential for my summer to be complete- along with my tan. I might not be at John McEnroe's level (yet), but I can still have fun on the courts, just like anyone else with a racket, ball, and a friend.

2. My morning at the Louvre. On my last day in France, I had a morning alone in Paris. Since I had visited the Louvre when I was too young to appreciate it, I decided it was time to go back. The whole morning was as perfect as it could've been. The journey was without incident, and I wandered among the various halls for hours. As long as I stayed away from the Mona Lisa, I could avoid the crowds. Though, after 3 hours, I was arted-out but I got my fill of fine art without getting more than my fill of Japanese tour groups.

1. The Summertime Attitude. My favorite part of this summer wasn't just one instance or event. It was my and my friends' outlook on life in the summer. I can't remember how many times I told someone "It's all good, we've got all summer." To me, the best times I had were when I didn't have anything to do, anywhere to be, and nothing to worry about. The weather was nice, so just chilling outside and talking to friends was perfect for the occasion. Even though the days are getting shorter, I'll try to keep that carefree attitude to make my life a little less stressful.