'Quality time' (QT) is an informal reference to time spent with loved ones (e.g., close family, kids or friends) which is in some way important, special, productive or profitable. It is time that is set aside for paying full and undivided attention to the person/kid in the room with you. The opportunity to experience quality time, or the actual time available to enjoy quality time is often limited, so make the time you do have quality time not wasted time.
Quality Time For Our Kids was created by Kathleen Lloyd, local mother and child advocate.
After years of beign a nanny, TSS worker, life skills director, mother, and community volunteer she was inspired to create a website for other parents craving Quality Time For Our Kids.
Please check out this site and 2012 activities button above for current events, places to go and plenty of quality time for you and your kids.
Hope to see you at the next event. :) Share this with your friends.
Soon after the birth of her son, Jax Flynn, Kathleen Lloyd began creating this site to organize local events for other parents to spend quality time with their kids. After moving back from Jacksonville FL she found it difficult to find events, classes and activites for her and her son to attend. As she found them and began taking Jax to them she created this site for others to spend quality time with their kids.
During her 17 years of experience in Social Work, including Director of a home for Boys at Penn-State in Pennsylvania, Kathleen noticed a desperate need for quaility time with family, espciallly parents with their kids. So many families have both parents working leaving very little quality time for kids... it is a sad way to grow up. With this site's activities, events, and different places to visit you too can spend the quality time your kid needs to grow up loved, secure and happy!
Who is Kathleen Lloyd?
Kathleen, driven by her less-than-desirable childhood has devoted her future to bringing the message of hope and inspiration to youth that may otherwise fall through the cracks of our community. Kathleen was inspired by her positive role models, Susan Strouse Abramowitz, a social worker that filled the crack Kathleen was about to fall thru, her Grandmother and PA State Representative Mr Eddie Day who was at the time her chorus director. These individuals changed the path of her life . The quality time these positive role models spent with her created a path for her to overcome her challenges and succeed through education and dertermination. Kathleen was attracted to child development early in life, while in high-school she worked many nanny position for a local family's in PA. Kathleen graduated from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania with a BA in Communition Studies (with consentrations in Interpersonal Communication, Bussiness Communications and Public Speaking) and a duel Major in Psychology. With the help of one of her professors, Dr. Baird, she quickly became passionate about one of her majors Child Psychology.
While working for Safety Net as a mobile therapist in Pennsylvania Kathleen was struck with the realization that not everyone was as genuinely passionate about helping children or making a change in the "clients" life as she was. The kids were not getting any quality time spent with them, creating sad, insecure, disturbed kids. Her heart ached for her clients and their sometimes terrible situations.
That same year, Kathleen moved to Penn State aka "Happy Valley", Pennsylvania. Bubbles was now a child crusader employed by Centre County to direct children from all over the U.S. in special life skills needed to survive as a challenged youth. She began her "Happy Valley" career at the CDFC, Childhood Development and Family Council. Bubbles was hired as a head teacher for Ferguson Elementary School. Bubbles was Ferguson Elementary's Summer Camp Director as well. Kathleen was in charge of 57 children. Soon after accepting this position she made the decision to make quality time with kids her life's work. Kathleen progressed into the TSS field at Penn State University working for Enhanced Treatment for Children "ETC". There she worked as a mobile therapist as well as a therapeutic support for children with emotional/developmental disabilities. That position gave her the education and experience needed for her next promotion at Stepping Stone; a transitional living facility for 16-18 year old teens. Kathleen took on the position as "Life Skills Coordinator". It was her duty to teach life skills for residents to have a functional future, and to create quality time between residents and home employees. Thru all of her jobs she always saw the corrolation between happy , educated, excited to learn kids and the kids that had no one spending any or very little quality time. If no one spends time our kids they don't feel loved. The number one thing we need to teach our kids, love.
With over 17 years experience from her positions in Child Psychology, Kathleen was now ready for her grandest leap, Motherhood. After the birth of her son Jax Flynn, Kathleen began the Quality Time For Our Kids website that reaches out through the community with local unique planned community events, activites, and the QUALITY TIME needed between kids and their family in our area.
It is our duty to create more quality time in positive environments for our kids . Are you inspired to help?
Kathleen Lloyd's son Jax Flynn has been a student in most of the classes offered since he was only 12 months old. The socialization skills, education, and all out fun attained at the Learning Tree is and continues to be tremendous. In a funk as a parent and unsure what to do with your kids?
Sign up today and begin the excitment of fun and education at The Learning Tree this session.
10 am Lowes Build and Grow
11-5 pm Columbia Mall Train Event
Bloomsburg Childrens Museum
9-11am Home Depot Kids Workshop
Berwick McBride Library Story time
For Preschoolers
Monday Evenings - 6:30 p.m.or Tuesday Afternoons - 1:30 p.m.
For Toddlers
Tuesday Evenings- 6:30 p.m orMonday Mornings - 11:30 am
Berwick YMCA
Our family has been a member since 2009.
All classes are free with membership and the free babysitting for all classes is something that is not offered anywhere else. Jax enjoys swimming even it is 10 degrees outside in the inside pool. Need day care? I have volunteered at this YMCA in the daycare area and give it an A+ rating. Safe, fun and within your budget.
Talking Child™
offers products for speech development and early language. We teach speech and language concepts. Our Baby Babble™ video was developed by speech pathologists and includes a free parent tutorial. Our other products are hand-picked and used with every-day clients to boost speech and language.
READ READ READ
..." Our son Jax picks out a book 2-3 times a day and runs into my arms! "
Here are some recommended reads from Bubbles For Kids; Elmos Big Lift and Look Book , My First 1000 Words, You Can Learn Sign Language , Counting 0-31 and My First Dictionary.
Newest Must have...Bounce House by Little Tikes
" first snow today,WE BOUNCED ALL DAY!"
...this found its home in our "former" bedroom. The things you do for your children don't always seem rational. It is all baby safe too.. Like a giant padded room for them to run and jump and tumble worry free. That time spent there is peaceful knowing he can have a blast and not get hurt. Love it!! This is 365 days a year worth of fun! Turn on the blower and he jumps and jumps and jumps. Great for play-dates!!
Jogging Strollers Rock
The Baby Trends Stroller available at Target has the ultimate ease of push-ability and you can manuever with coffee in hand. This stroller is also a breeze for travelbility, its fold up is a snap!
Storage Ideas
Try a simple 3 drawer storage roller.
Use Top drawer for plastic cups, straws, travel bowls, sippy cups etc.
Second drawer for craft supplies.
Third drawer for changing items: diapers, powder, wipes.
Motor Skills
Tool sets that have large screws and nuts help to build fine motor skills early on.
Routine
Create a routine, stick to it. Include mealtimes, reading time , and nap time. Use naptime to catch up on house-hold or computer tasks.
Feeding time
This boppy chair works great for feeding. Much easier than a high chair at this age.
NOTE: Wal-Mart released a safety recall due to unsupervised accidents. Child MUST be supervised!
Carry time
"I carried him until he was 20 lbs. I dropped all baby weight and 20lbs more!! It works and he loved the view!"
Learning time
Leap frog baby, phonics laptop are both used often in our house. Keep flash cards in a clear bin. Great for cleanup and storage.
Clear bins
These bins are great for storage of small items. Great for clean up and travel
Keep it simple
Clear canisters are great for daily used items. Example: Gerber graduates, animal crackers, blueberry muffins and cereal.
Music time
Create an area that is just for music. Music listening and music making is fun and educational. Water bottle with hard pasta makes an easy instrument.
Bring it in
Don't let the play time end due to winter weather. Bring it in for a full day of fun.
Prep Work
Prepping all of food makes it simple to serve a healthy snack or meal.
Scotty Potty
Must have for potty training, and also for teaching at bath time.
Fridge for all
By keeping all dates, Dr. appts, scedules
on one board there is less chance you double book. Dry erace boards work great for this. Leave the bottom with plenty for little hands.
Tupperware the key to keeping everything fresh! Put at kido's level so they learn how to decide which snack they may want. Some examples: yogurt bites, ritz peanut butter crackers, pretzles, gold fish and carmel rice cakes. These are staples in our house.
Educational Space
When children learn through playing they will learn to enjoy learning.
Perfect Bag
Contents: Diaper, wipes, Tummy Ticklers (Wal-mart), Gerber snacks, bowl of fresh fruit, perfume, deorderant,
lotion, lip gloss, Neo to Go, ziplock of coupons, wallet, business cards, note pad with pen, small clutch or bag to hold all the small items. All you will need
Storage
Use a door shoe organizer to keep everyone's mittens, gloves, hats, scarves etc all in one place. Works great on the back of the door so they don't get lost all over the house! :)
Frozen Goodness
This is a healthy frozen treat. They will come to know this as ice-cream and you will know they are getting a good dose of yogurt! Everyone will be happy.
Drawing
Start drawing early on. Use washable crayons and markers so clean up is a breeze. Color with them. They learn by watching.
* Fine Motor Skill
Perfect bed set
JCPennys. Transitions from crib to toddler bed to day bed. 3 drawers great for socks, pj's and diapers/wipes. (Gigantic bear to catch any jumpers)
High Shelf
Contents: Pure Citrus spary (eco friendly) smells great. Lotion, Ambasol, Gas medicine, Benadril, and Tylnol.
That is all you will need.
Simple Decor
Contents: Rocking Chair, save bookshelf with lots of books for reading before naps and bedtime. A bedroom should be un-stimulating. After all it is for sleeping not playing. Keep it simple.
Bath Time
Contents: Scotty or Patty from the potty system. Some favorite toys, baby safe soap, spin tooth brush, baby safe tooth paste, comb, hand brush for dirty toe and finger nails. First teach how to clean baby and by doing that they will know how to clean themselves! This holder is great and keeps it all together. (Babies R Us)
Memory Books
Hang memory books from ribbon. It is nice when you have company to show off you hard work. Then just hang it back up. Simple and useful.
Safe Bath Time
Baby seats are a wonderful way to wash. Mama has peace of mind and baby has fun in the tub.
