Disney's Bizaardvark: Survival Tips for Set Parents (Part 5 of 5)

Back Off Candle Snuffers!


One of the many smart things my good friend (and set mom) Hilary said was, “Your candle does not burn brighter because you put someone else’s out.” It is easy to forget this when your child has finally secured the acting role of a lifetime; as exaggerated as this sounds, it feels a little like this for every child who lands his/her first major role. And everyone else in your circle is excited as well. Grandparents are sworn to secrecy but can’t help bragging. The schools are pleased that they had a hand in developing a talent. Uncles and aunts sharing in the gene pool are quietly smug and proud! In our case, we secure an LA apartment and the 2 of us relocate from Honolulu for the new series Bizaardvark. The excitement overshadows the sacrifice of leaving half the family. We show up the first day for work to an atmosphere that is buzzing. No one wants to blow it as a parent or have their child make some mistake that might get him/her labeled as a bad seed or even worse, make casting think they made a grave error in casting your child. In hindsight, this seems dramatic, but in that moment, the stakes are seemingly very high. And this can lead to, well, both good and bad behavior.

In life in general, if you are not likable, no one will like you (except those who are forced, like your mom or long-suffering spouse). Just kidding, no not really. Usually, ‘likeability’ is behavior-based so you can always change, but better to not to start off on the wrong foot. People gravitate towards people they like. When you go to the set, you have to go in wanting to like the other people. It’s like forcing yourself to smile and then somehow you actually feel better. Because it sets a tone. And believe it or not, everyone brings a personal tone that influences the vibe of the set and show.

This is not the show Survivor. And NO ONE is getting voted out of any episode. The series/show only wins as a team. Outwit, outlast and outplay are not desirable qualities on a set – politics and competitiveness are exhausting. Everyone has to coexist 50 hours per working week, so everyone has to make continuous positive contributions to the culture of the show.



Think Moonstruck – SNAP OUT OF IT!

No matter how it feels on set, when you walk outside the set doors, everyone is equal. Anyone who acts differently eventually gets left out because everyone else tires of it. If you start to feel this way (like you or your child is superior to the others), immediate throw cold water on your own face! Get over yourself and your child as quickly as you can. Sorry, but you are not the greatest thing ever and everyone does not exist to make your child look better. That is the job of the writers, producers and executives and they do it very well. And trust me, the production team, writers, teachers, etc. have seen countless rounds of new kids coming in and they dread the new parent politics as everyone settles in. The good news is tomorrow is always another day so if you act high and mighty, you can always come back with a refreshed attitude and everyone will forgive you.

One behavior our set does not tolerate is any set parent criticizing someone else’s child (to his/her face) in the form of ‘constructive advice’. The kids are off limits. I would never tell Ethan’s castmates how to behave, eat, talk, study, run lines, deal with Disney or other show execs, OR interact with Ethan. I would happily give advice if requested but this is not the behavior I’m referencing. It’s not my place to jump in or parent another person’s child. The other parents are the same and this has a very positive effect on the set. Don’t take this to mean there was no private venting to perceived injustices that constantly occur, but they are channeled effectively between set mom friends (and with humor) to minimize the drama and the kids are left out (protected).



We also treat guest stars and other visitors with respect and include them in the social aspects (lunch, breaks, etc.). It is wise to be nice to the guest stars. They are often stopping by, on their way to bigger things. Just because your child is a series regular on this show does not put them above anyone. Guest stars from our series have become youtube sensations, leads in commercial movies, and, countless others are series regulars on their own shows. Everything shifts around in this industry and no one knows who will become the next big success.

I don’t view the cast as Ethan’s competition. I also go out of my way to help or advise any of them if they want it. They are my set family. Life is a long game and if the kids and the adults take away good relationships, this is a valuable network for the future.



Best advice for this week - Remember they are CHILDREN. Never go after anyone’s child. Stop yourself from being overtly or covertly competitive. People see it and it is not an attractive trait. Take a deep breath and put everything back into perspective. Figure out a way to reign in the difficult personality, without being mean. Because there will absolutely be a difficult personality in the mix.

Thanks for coming back again to read the blogs! More tips and insights forthcoming on balancing academics and crying on set. Have a great week.



With Aloha,

Eileen

Disney's Bizaardvark: Survival Tips for Set Parents (Part 4 of 5)

Beware of Food and Identity Thieves!


Be ready to watch your waistline (expand). The amount of food on any set is crazy and delicious. And it’s easy to be sedentary. For the first time in ten years, I could not button my ski pants. I was willing to let them be so tight that I had to walk bowlegged, but I couldn’t even zip OR button them up. This was a visible embarrassment as no one has extra, bigger, pair of ski pants lying around, including me. I had to go out and make this major purchase. Then I was forced to admit it to my husband and four kids because everyone noticed. Can’t just slip in with new ski pants. Upon spotting me, each child asked, “Why do you have new ski pants? I liked the pink ones.” I wanted to scream, “I liked the pink ones too! It’s those shooting days--the steak and chicken buffets and treat-ladened food trucks did me in. Sigh. I’m trying to minimize the damage, but I can’t even button the pink ski pants lying down.”

Amazing food is a perk for all the cast and crew that work on any show. There is an entire small team, affectionately named Crafty, that buys all the meals (breakfast and lunch on non-shoot days) and also has a fully stocked kitchenette with snacks, drinks, fruit, and anything else that people indicate they like (ice machine, ice cream freezer, and more). Most of the time in life, there is no such thing as a free lunch. That does not hold true on set! At all! You will be surrounded by food non-stop. On shoot days (when they are filming), there is breakfast, lunch and dinner PLUS a morning and evening snack. And when I say snack, I mean they bring in the pizza oven and make custom pizzas for all. Or they set up a taco bar and hand make tacos for all. And usually on one of the two shoot days for an episode, a delicious food truck shows up. Lobster rolls, ice cream, coffee trucks, you name it, it rolls in and I find myself eating yet again.  My son doesn’t really like or eat sweets. He would not really eat any of the amazing cakes, pastries, ice cream sundaes, or cookies. Somebody had to eat them. And the set parents, along with the crew, can’t seem to resist.

It’s not the weight creep that left me questioning who I was or what was important to me as I lived in LA with my son, but away from my husband and other kids. I work very hard to NOT tie my identity or my son’s identity to the show. Sometimes when my son is recognized, the child refers to him as Bernie. To the audience, Ethan is Bernie but Ethan is a distinctly different person. He acts the character of Bernie. That is hugely important. If the writers want Bernie to be a little clueless, clumsy and say ridiculous things to be funny, it is Ethan’s job to pull that off as best as he can. Ethan doesn’t analyze the lines and say, “I don’t want to say that. It doesn’t reflect me or show me as I want to be shown.” The parent has to keep telling the child actor that they are separate and distinct from their character. They have to deliver the storyline at the highest level as written by the writers and coached by dialogue coaches, directors and executive producers. This is much more of a challenge than it appears because the kids’ characters will always have flaws and challenges because it makes them more relatable, funny and believable. So, child actors have to do embarrassing and uncool things, a lot.

Another important point is that your child’s identity should not be tied to how many lines they have, or if they are called the ‘lead’, series regular, recurring guest star, etc. Because they are all lucky to be on the show and no one is more important than anyone else on life’s playing field. I will dedicate an entire blog to this later as this is a major point and a source of drama on many shows. There is some racking and stacking and parents have to do everything they can to help their child keep things in perspective; lessen the impact of the rack and stack nature of the business.


My set mom friend Jennifer made an excellent observation when I asked if she had advice for new set parents. She said, “It is very important to keep your own interests and encourage your child to have outside interests as well. So, as child keeps growing as a person, the parent has to do the same. My identity is not only the mom of a Disney Channel actor and I try to never let that mindset creep in.”


I do everything I can to keep outside interests and work remotely as much as possible. I love to play tennis, write blogs and children’s books; I’m on a hospital board and a school (for different learners) board. I talk to my husband and kids every day. I stay current with my friends back home even as I make new ones from the show and Disney. Because I’m now navigating two worlds and I want to do it well. The show life is all encompassing but I have other things in my life to keep me in balance and grounded.

Last advice for this week - it is critical to be more invested in yourself than you are in the show. Becoming overly invested in your child and their success will take you down a bad road. Being in a show is like living in an intense bubble. Sometimes it just takes over and small things seem important. Everyone has to get out of the weeds sometimes; regain your balance and retain your sanity.

Thanks for coming back again to read the blogs! More tips and insights forthcoming. Have a great week.



With Aloha,

Eileen

Disney's Bizaardvark: Survival Tips for Set Parents (Part 3 of 5)

Anyone who has ever thrown a kid’s birthday party knows this secret truth. Creating fun is A LOT of work. It’s back-breaking and exhausting and I sigh with relief when the big event is over (and successful). A set environment is no different. The fun doesn’t make itself and there are always underlying forces that conspire to suck the fun out, like a giant Hoover (or Dyson) vacuum on a mission. Deadlines, moods, balancing school, annoying behavior by parents, fatigue, invites and non-invites – the list is endless. As one of my closest friends on set, Vanessa, said once, “is it really only Tuesday? I can’t see myself through to Friday. Good Lord.” Please picture my Kentucky friend Vanessa saying this with her cute Southern twang.

Disney plans and invites their kids to AMAZING events; everyone should attend those because they are awesome--premiers, promo shoots, fan fests, days in Disneyland and Disney World, etc. However, the fun factor needs to be ‘pumped in’ at a series level as well, and this includes both on-set and off set activities.

During Season One and much of Season Two, Jake Paul, a notorious prankster, played a series regular character on Bizaardvark. He was always filming, a camera nearly glued to his hand. He wanted to capture interesting and funny things on video. Well, he definitely did that. Sometimes Production was not happy with his vignettes– like going up into the rafters with the kids or driving off of the set hidden in a car trunk with Ethan during lunch. But the element of fun was an extremely positive by-product. So we, as set parents, began staging fun, fairly benign and harmless, pranks. Recognizing we were novices, we first put our toe in the water and plotted with the kids against Jake. One time, we removed literally all Jake’s furniture (and mementos and art and everything) from his dressing room and replaced it with only dolls, funny signs, and fluffy plush toys. We covered his name plate as well and sealed his door shut with HAZMAT tape. It was hilarious and everyone loved it, especially Jake. Another time, we moved his beloved truck from his parking spot and pretended it was stolen. We often pulled the ADs, teachers, and production people into our pranks. For Jake’s birthday, we asked Production if we could hold a food (cake) fight on set and video it. They put out plastic sheets to contain the mess and the kids all mushed cake all over Jake’s face and hair. Then, they smashed the entire sheet cake into his torso. Again, stomach holding laughter and fun. When Jake left the show, we cried of course, and then had to move on; we knew the pranks had to continue. We would have to be wise. We would have to be clever.

We continued our pranks on set and sometimes combined them with our Mom’s Night Out. I attach a link of one of our adventures. Since our show shoots downtown, we typically plan things around that area. On Mom’s Nights Out, we go to really cool venues like Red Bird, Bottega Louie, and Hamburger Mary’s (yes, we went to drag queen bingo!). Most times, we laugh until we cry! It is cleansing to have a few hours where I show up as myself and discuss things other than the kids or the show.  Typically, the kids have their own fun – for example, a pizza party and swim, play hide-and-seek, or just have old fashioned movie night at one of our apartments close by to wherever we go. Older kids are in charge of younger kids. As a parent-child group, we see a lot of movies and go bowling!

It’s vitally important to build good relationships on the set. Birthday cakes, pranks, home-made videos are all part of our show’s BTS (behind the scenes). We plot out thoughtful group gifts for the staff and crew, so they feel valued. Everyone plays a part in creating the episodes from the camera guys to wardrobe to hair and make-up. We involve wardrobe, props, dialogue coach, teachers, ADs in our little escapades because it keeps the set light hearted! Sometimes our kids are involved in the mischief and sometimes they are just embarrassed by us; either option works for me.

The most positive aspect of having fun with pranks and activities on and off set is that it takes up ‘space’, leaving less room for drama, competitiveness and ‘comparing’. We all have something to laugh talk about. It bonds us.

Thanks for coming to read the blogs and I hope they are useful. Come back next week for more tips and insights.

With Aloha,

Eileen

Disney's Bizaardvark: Survival Tips for Set Parents (Part 2 of 5)

My child, who is very lucky, also works hard. He is a series regular on a Disney Channel show named Bizaardvark; to be a Disney kid is a dream come true for him. There are so many perks, too many to name, associated with this fortunate situation.

However, creating a good show that the target audience of children wants to watch and become invested in, requires a lot of sweat equity from the whole show production team, including the child actors. At the end of the day, this is a business. My child often works 50+ hours with a combination of table reads, rehearsals, run throughs, and filming, interwoven with a full-time school program. This is in addition to other premieres, promotions, and activities he may have in a given week. Since there is no job that is 100% joy and fanfare, there is a certain amount of ‘suck it up’ to be endured by both the set parent and the sometimes-very-weary child. This is to be expected.

So, I decided to compile some tips which may leave set parents better able to enjoy and savor the joyous moments, while minimizing the drama or overwhelmed sensation that inevitably creeps in. And, as a mom of one of these kids, trying to ensure there is some semblance of balance between working in this dream scenario and having a childhood.

Boundaries and Secrets, Korean style

Keep some boundaries people! I lived with my family in Seoul, South Korea for four years and made some good Korean friends. While I admire many aspects of Korean women’s friendships, one particular aspect stands out -- a RESPECT FOR PERSONAL BOUNDARIES (I’m not yelling it; I just think it’s important J). I’ll try to illustrate with a few examples. If and when I bring up an issue, sympathetic ears listen, and kind words are offered to me by my friends. For example, if my child is struggling academically in kindergarten (a true crisis in Korea), my friend would not say, “I heard your child has no stars on the reading chart. Does he have ADD? You should have him tested. You and your husband are smart so I’m sure it’s not that.” A Korean friend does not butt in with personal, invasive questions that might embarrass me (unless that is her mission, but if she is my friend, this would never be the case).

Or, if we are sitting having lunch and our friend walks in, looking very pretty, actually radiant, we notice. But a Korean friend would never say, “Pretty soon we’re going to have to wear construction hard hats to all of our lunches with all the work you’re having done!” The Korean friend (and if I were there as well) would merely remark how amazing our friend looks and hope maybe she will share some of her secrets. These scenarios directly transfer onto a set where you spend 3-4 years of your life, endless hours a day, with people who are thrown into your life because of the show.

Americans can by nature, be very different. Americans often feel entitled to ask any personal questions they want or comment on your situation. This quest for information is often telling about the questioner, the national enquirer, of the set and everyone on the set has to work together to keep this person from interviewing or interrogating others. A lack of personal boundaries causes problems on a set where everyone spends so much time together because people still want and need to have some healthy boundaries. I try to take a page from my Korean friendship book and not ask about personal situations. But I’m always here to listen should they want to discuss it.

Every set has secrets. Keep them. I’m not talking about covering up bullying or sexual harassment. Do not keep secrets if someone is being harmed in any way but rather, don’t air everyone’s dirty laundry. Every set, like every home, has things they are trying to work through, struggles they are facing, things that are messy when the curtain gets pulled back. It could be a difficult child, a different learner, puberty moodiness, marital strife, an eating disorder; the possibilities are really endless. Everyone is working through something or working on themselves in some way, and, people deserve some privacy.

My Korean friend Yun told me that too many times an American woman she meets for the first time will tell her about her children and their issues, her marriage (or terrible divorce), her weight, health and every other detail in the first few hours. Don’t be that person. I think of a hanging scale. Korean women tend to exchange like amounts of information with each other, and they don’t bring up a situation where their friend will ‘lose face’ or feel uncomfortable. Yun told me when I first moved to Seoul, “Don’t be like a typical American and give away all your personal information. And if a Korean is barraging you with questions but not offering any information about herself, it’s a power play. She will walk away knowing all about you, your kids, your husband, and, your house and life while you know nothing; this gives her the power.” While I don’t want to come up with grand calculations or over analyze every scenario, the overall idea of handling boundaries and secrets Korean-style on any set is useful.

Equally important is to be a very good listener. If my set buddy brings something up and wants to talk, I’m all ears and empathy, ready to vent or offer advice as appropriate, whatever she needs. I’m very selective about who I confide in as well. A friendship on the set, like a great sauce, simmers over time and becomes real and lasting. Over time, our set did that really well. Respected that people need boundaries and that some set secrets are best kept, and we had a great set atmosphere overall.

Have a great day. Part Three of Survival Tips for Set Parents is coming soon!

With Aloha, Eileen

Disney's Bizaardvark: Survival Tips for Set Parents (Part 1 of 5)

We were lucky. We had an amazing cast and crew and the actors’ families are all really nice. But every show will inevitably have its own culture and that culture is created by the people that are there ALL THE TIME and Disney to an extent. One of the most defining sub-cultures is the parents.

One of the greatest achievements for a young child actor is to book a series regular role on a Disney show. Okay, there are other networks too, and truth be told, to crack the industry at all takes a gargantuan amount of work and sacrifice.

So, your child has made it and you report to your amazing show set where you have your child in sight from between 9 hours a day to 10 ½, depending on their age. There is a parking space and a dressing room for your child. It’s very exciting. You’ve given up your job and moved away from your husband and other (in my case, 3) children. You meet all these lovely people: the parents and their children. The overwhelming sensation is gratitude. For the first week.

My analogy is when parents freak out about early reading. Whoever is the best early reader in pre-school, or, reading chapter books as a kindergartener is revered! OMG the parenting! Oh, little Charmaine is going places where her reading of Henry and Mudge chapter books will get her into Harvard. But here is the fact -the overachieving kindergartener is NOT the one who will be the class valedictorian. Same for the awesome 6-year old soccer star who is not going to the World Cup. Life changes things. Everything. So, the parents who believe that this is their child’s moment and the racking-and-stacking and viewpoint of their child as an actor is important and unfolding NOW, will inevitably act badly. Your child is not peaking as an 11-year old, even if it is a Disney show.

My first tips for surviving because your life has become a gong show-

1) Let karma take care of it. Honestly, I’m not lying. There are a million times when a well meaning (for their child) parent will abandon all decency so their child is viewed in the best light possible. This can be anything from secret gifting, gossiping, communication with the powers-that-be (whoever that may entail at the moment) about some situation on set, kissing up to Corporate, or, counting lines, or the way certain scenes are portraying or not portraying their child. The possibilities are endless. You have to just step back and realize drama on the set is TOXIC and should be left to the writers. I’m not saying, just swallow it and take one for the team. Go to your person on set (see point three: set buddy) and complain until the other person’s ears are bleeding.

2) Balancing family sacrifice. Someone has to work. The parent that is not on set needs to be included, even if you don’t like them. Since a parent must be on set with the minor while they work, someone is giving up their job. The one that is working feels like they are missing out. They are earning money because no parent I know wants to take any money from their child’s earning, no matter the families’ sacrifices. There are laws that limit what parents can take, but this is for the exceptions. Almost all parents I know want everything to be put away for their child for ‘the future’.

This family sacrifice also shows up as drama for the geographically split families; the mom (in my case) is commuting and trying to keep the other kids back home feeling parented and valued. My kids are energy vampires. They have no mercy on me when I miss things. One daughter said, “All the other moms managed to make it to Parent’s night.” Another said, “If I get my period and you are not here, I will never, ever forgive you. Ever.” This is why I am eternally confused with the term happy hour. For me, a glass of wine, hopefully with another cast mom who has the same issues, is a sanity check. I need validation that I’m a good mom even though I leave my other kids and the school counselor recommends my child for a mental health assessment because “your mom is never home. It must be stressful for you and your family.”

   3)  Have a ‘set buddy’ you can vent to because you will need to, and often. Life isn’t fair. If you want fair, well I can’t think of where to tell you to go. Even hell, because I’m assuming it’s not fair there at all. Take a walk with your set friend and realize that while the In’n’Out burger and coffee truck provide an enormous amount of comfort, talking to a real person who ‘gets it’ is invaluable. The venting is critical! You’ll be spending about 40-50 hours with this circle of people.

     Set buddies are critical because parents can cover for each other- with children under sixteen, there has to be an adult (guardian or assigned) with ‘eyes on’. This means the parent (or guardian) has to be able to physically see the child. If my child is in the B plot with a cast mate and I have to go to the airport to pick up another child or go to an appointment, I can assign another parent to be in charge of my child while I’m gone. The ADs and teachers help with this as well. This is critical. So have set friends and you can have each other’s backs.

4) Enjoy this chapter as much as you can. It’s a chapter in your child’s life but also yours. Come away with some friendships and great memories. Our family lived in Seoul, South Korea for four years. As an expat, I became fast friends with people I would not normally meet. It’s amazing how much I had in common with people who were very different than me. I worked to develop friendships on the set. I see them outside of work– the other parents (some I’m closer to than others) and also some other people like the teacher, AD, wardrobe, production crew and many more. I value those friendships and they are an important part of this chapter.

Encourage your kids to do the same. The cast will all grow up and move in different directions, but this group will always have the memories; make as many good memories as possible. They know each other well. After all, they’re growing up together. It would be great if some of them could be lifelong friends.

    5) Remember your child is a child. Being on a show is a very unique situation. About 80 adults’ livelihoods are riding on your child’s shoulders. The goal is very clear – produce a good show, one episode at a time. We were lucky to have a seasoned and truly nice production team. They’ve worked together and seen about every scenario possible, so they helped guide us newbie parents. 

       Always remember, you are still the parent. You have to continue to shape your child’s value system with good parenting. Things that happen on every schoolyard are now in your face, so you have to react; just don’t overreact. And vent to your set buddies about inevitable frustrations; do not vent to your child. Kids put everything out there; they don’t have filters. If you tell your child that another mom is a ‘competitive bitch and a stalker’ (I’m making this up), the child will say it at some point, and probably after you are over it. It might be to the teacher or the make-up person, but it will get repeated and it will cause drama.

Have a great day. Part Two of Survival Tips for Set Parents is coming next Tuesday!

With Aloha, Eileen

Awesome Earth Day Ideas for Kids: April 22, 2019

Earth Day is an important day set aside to inspire appreciation for and awareness of the earth's environment. It is celebrated by people in different countries, all over the world, all sharing an appreciation of the planet and a dedication to protecting its natural resources. It is a time for people to come together to think about what we can do to preserve and protect the earth as well as to take action in small and large ways.

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Although the first Earth Day took place 35 years ago in the United States, the global concern for the environment has steadily grown, especially in the face of increasing pollution and environmental threats. Recent studies have shown that today's children, however, are spending less and less time outdoors, which means they have less time to experience and appreciate nature firsthand.

Children will want to care for what is familiar. When they only see nature through a video screen, they do not form the same connection as digging in the dirt, rolling on the grass, or using sticks to search for insects. Earth Day is an ideal opportunity to connect children with the outdoors and the vibrant world around them.

As Earth Day approaches, your child may be involved in projects and activities that foster an awareness of and appreciation for the earth's resources. To extend the learning that takes place in your child's center or school and make caring for the earth part of your family culture, we encourage you to make time for some green activities every Earth Day.

Try reviewing your family practices to see if they are earth friendly: attend community events like farmer's markets, read books about the environment, spend time in the natural world together, and plan family activities that give children the message, "It's my world, I can and will take care of it."

Below are a few suggested family practices to make every day Earth Day:

1. Bike, walk, or use public transportation when possible instead of driving.
2. Turn off lights, TVs, and other electronic equipment, when not in use.
3. Turn off the water faucet after washing hands or while brushing teeth.
4. Reuse items as much as possible (e.g. wrap gifts in fabric scrap or recycled newspaper instead of gift wrap, pack lunches in reusable sacks and containers instead of paper or plastic).
5. Recycle cardboard, paper, and plastics.
6. Draw, paint, and write on recycled paper (and use recycled computer paper for your printer).
7. Use fans instead of air conditioners.
8. Try to buy organic foods free of pesticides and chemical additives.
9. Start a compost pile for your food scraps and lawn clippings.
10. Make a habit of picking up any litter you see.
11. Avoid using aerosol sprays and styrofoam.
12. Reduce your overall use of plastic packaging. For example, use your own cloth bags for groceries.
13. Purchase items that are not individually wrapped.
14. Donate items that you no longer need.
15. Share items such as lawnmowers and machines that aren't needed on a regular basis.

Earth Day can also be an occasion to engage in family activities that are nature or ecology oriented:

1. Take a nature walk: Bring a magnifying glass, an insect and plant manual, and a sketch book. 
2. See how many plants, flowers, and bugs you can identify and draw.
3. Construct nature creations: Collect a variety of outdoor items such as leaves, sticks, flowers, and rocks, and create unique art projects.
4. Try "earth painting:" Finger paint with mud on sidewalks or paper or use non-toxic watercolors to paint river rocks. The water will wash the paint away.
5. Make pinecone birdfeeders: Cover a large pinecone with peanut butter and birdseed, hang outside your window, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the bird visitors as they feast.
6. Clean a community area: Take your children to their favorite park, woods, or even for a stroll around your neighborhood. Pick up all the litter you can find and see who can collect the biggest bag. 
7. Take the time to explain the effects litter has on our environment.
8. Virtually adopt an animal: Check with your local zoo or other nature-oriented organization, such as the Save the Manatee Club. Your child can look at pictures and read about his or her new "pet."
9. Create a Recycle, Reuse, Reduce collage: Use "trash" (paper scraps, labels, junk mail, and other found items) and glue to create a multimedia masterpiece.

3 Easy Ways to Volunteer, Even As A Busy Family

In today’s world, yes we have over-scheduled children. Our family calendars are packed with so many extra-curricular and enrichment activities, it’s a wonder that our kids have time to eat, sleep and finish homework. And while kids are so busy, they (and we) are increasingly disconnected from each other a family while we are drawn to devices and screens.

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 Parents are searching for ways to reconnect, to keep kids grounded and grateful and to fight against the rising feel of negativity and cynicism. I believe that family service is the answer: a proven way to achieve these goals for your own family while improving the lives of others in your community.

Volunteering together helps parents raise compassionate, empathetic kids with the added bonus of creating warm family memories. But how can you find the time, in the midst of all the other commitments crowding a busy family’s schedule?

There’s no question that there are many benefits to volunteering with kids and that it is worth the time and effort it often takes to do so. Inevitably, though, saying “yes” to service means saying “no” to something else. It will require a little bit of planning, some creativity, an open mind and most importantly, a sense of purpose.

1. Let the school calendar, holidays and seasons help you create new family traditions around service.

At the end of each month, take a few moments to identify upcoming holidays, days off from school and family milestone celebrations when you might volunteer together.

2. Incorporate Volunteer service into Things Your Family is Already Doing.

If your child is hosting a playdate with a few friends, add a kindness activity to the afternoon of fun. Kids can bake cookies and create cheerful cards to deliver to your local fire station, police precinct or nursing home.

When planning your child’s birthday party or other milestone event, ask them to select a charity they’d like to support with their celebration and incorporate a donation drive or related hands-on service project, or ask for donations in lieu of gifts.

3. Practice Random Acts of Kindness Throughout Your Day

Every day presents countless opportunities to practice kindness with kids. As you head to the market, offer to pick up groceries for a homebound neighbor. Bring a hot cup of coffee to the crossing guard on a cold day (or a cold drink during a heat wave). Pick up trash as you walk around your neighborhood. Hold the door and smile at the next person coming through the entrance. Allow your kids to leave a few coins in the tip jar at the coffee shop.

Your one small, simple act might have a ripple effect in changing a person’s day and the gratitude your child receives will make them feel great, too.

Finding time for family service allows you to live your values while spreading compassion and joy in a world that is in desperate need of both. Children feel pride in serving and reap the benefits of flexing their empathy “muscles.” There is no magic formula—parents simply need to keep an open heart, an observant eye and a positive intention.

Every day and in every busy schedule, there’s always time to do good.