Elizabeth Giuffrida and her two boys, Sam and Zack, are under The Noodle Spotlight! Elizabeth is the owner and director of West Essex Speech Language Associates, where she provides diagnostic and therapeutic services to children with a variety of communication disorders. She lives in Cedar Grove, NJ with her husband Michael and two boys (Sam age 10 and Zack age 8). Because Liz takes on the creative all day everyday at work with the children she treats, she has to constantly keep the ideas fresh and exciting so that when she gets home, her creative cup isn’t empty.
The Giuffrida Family
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On The Wall) with your children
My NOW is always evolving. We are a family that loves spending time together and that often includes exploring new places and trying new things. Sometimes we actually do a bit of research and plan outings like floating down the Delaware River on a tube or hiking the Appalachian Trail. Other times, we just wing it with maybe an unplanned trip into NYC for open exploring through parks, museums, restaurants and Mohawk haircuts in the East Village! We often let the boys make the plan and follow their lead.
What role does creativity play in your home?
Creativity plays a huge role in our home and comes out in so many ways. In our family, on a warm summer night, there is nothing better than sitting around the firepit, making up stories that each person adds to as we go along. The boys love to put their own touches into our stories and the ride along the way is never the same! In a more tangible sense, all you have to do is look around our house to see artwork and projects hanging. As time becomes more limited, thinking of how to be creative in everyday life has turned into how to fit homework, hockey and an actual dinner with all of us there!
My NOW is always evolving. We are a family that loves spending time together and that often includes exploring new places and trying new things. Sometimes we actually do a bit of research and plan outings like floating down the Delaware River on a tube or hiking the Appalachian Trail. Other times, we just wing it with maybe an unplanned trip into NYC for open exploring through parks, museums, restaurants and Mohawk haircuts in the East Village! We often let the boys make the plan and follow their lead.
What role does creativity play in your home?
Creativity plays a huge role in our home and comes out in so many ways. In our family, on a warm summer night, there is nothing better than sitting around the firepit, making up stories that each person adds to as we go along. The boys love to put their own touches into our stories and the ride along the way is never the same! In a more tangible sense, all you have to do is look around our house to see artwork and projects hanging. As time becomes more limited, thinking of how to be creative in everyday life has turned into how to fit homework, hockey and an actual dinner with all of us there!
"Rooster In The Valley" by Zack
What inspires you to take on the creative with your kids?
My children inspire me to keep my creative ideas moving. Doing things for them that ignites a desire to learn or assist in a project makes it exciting for me. My boys have watched me turn a birthday cake into a Dinosaur Dig Site or an overflowing Chemistry Beaker and have carried that over into their own ideas when drawing or cooking.
My children inspire me to keep my creative ideas moving. Doing things for them that ignites a desire to learn or assist in a project makes it exciting for me. My boys have watched me turn a birthday cake into a Dinosaur Dig Site or an overflowing Chemistry Beaker and have carried that over into their own ideas when drawing or cooking.
Sam
A mad scientist party where kids create their own bubble gum and slime has helped to fuel a real interest in my older son’s love of science. Creating time chains with paper loops helps them both understand the concept of time and how long it will be until our next trip or big event! But even little things like letting them pick out their clothes for school is just one way they can showcase themselves and put their own mark on things!
Zach
How do you nurture your child's creativity?
My boys are creative in very different ways. Zack will tell you straight out that when he grows up he wants to be an artist. He has more crayons than the Crayola factory and has now advanced to pastels and oil paints. His artwork is all over the house, my office and his bedroom! Sam on the other hand likes to invent and experiment. Give him something to build, explode or destroy, and he couldn’t be happier. All the while their little minds are busy at work on how to CREATE!
My boys are creative in very different ways. Zack will tell you straight out that when he grows up he wants to be an artist. He has more crayons than the Crayola factory and has now advanced to pastels and oil paints. His artwork is all over the house, my office and his bedroom! Sam on the other hand likes to invent and experiment. Give him something to build, explode or destroy, and he couldn’t be happier. All the while their little minds are busy at work on how to CREATE!
What sticky noodles can you offer other Moms taking on the creative with their kids?
It is so important to let your kids take the lead sometimes. As hard as it is to sit back and not be the one in charge, this allows them to learn how to take on responsibility, make choices, use imagination and problem solve. I have learned so many things from watching my children take the lead. They never fail to impress me, even when mistakes are made. I am constantly telling them that a lesson can be learned from success and from failure and both are equally important to experience.
What are your children's ideal noodle dish?
It would be too easy if my kids had the same taste in food!!! So their ideal noodle dish would be some combination of a spaghetti carbonara and my famous (according to Zack) lasagna soup! Let’s just say, it would be very cheesy and very messy, but.....Oh So Good!
It is so important to let your kids take the lead sometimes. As hard as it is to sit back and not be the one in charge, this allows them to learn how to take on responsibility, make choices, use imagination and problem solve. I have learned so many things from watching my children take the lead. They never fail to impress me, even when mistakes are made. I am constantly telling them that a lesson can be learned from success and from failure and both are equally important to experience.
What are your children's ideal noodle dish?
It would be too easy if my kids had the same taste in food!!! So their ideal noodle dish would be some combination of a spaghetti carbonara and my famous (according to Zack) lasagna soup! Let’s just say, it would be very cheesy and very messy, but.....Oh So Good!
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