Family friend

Fit Families, Healthy Kids

2007-10-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

It’s no secret that today’s generation of kids is more sedentary than past generations. Many children today spend a huge chunk of time sitting in front of televisions, computers, and video games. Physical education programs are being cut in schools across the country as schools try to squeeze in more time for academics. How can a parent encourage their children to become more active?

I believe that parents are fitness role models for their children. If kids see their parents enjoying an active lifestyle, they are more likely to be active themselves. So if you retire to the couch after dinner and lie around all evening watching sitcoms, don’t be surprised if you kids are couch potatoes too. Here are some suggestions of how you can get off the couch and encourage your family to live a more active lifestyle.

Do Household Chores Together

Instead of just asking your kids to clean their rooms, get them involved in more active household chores. Go outside and rake leaves together or shovel snow together in the winter. Younger kids can weed flower gardens while teenagers mow the lawn. If the whole family washes the car together, it will get done in no time. When you are finished with the outside chores, the whole family can celebrate by having a cookout in the backyard or going for a swim together.

Make Exercise a Game

Kids don’t need to go to a gym to get physically fit. They prefer activities that involve playing. Take your family to the park. Kids and adults will both enjoy slides, swings, and see-saws. You can take a kite on a windy day and take turns holding the string as you watch the kite glide across the sky.

Give Kids More Options

Kids are more likely to go outside and play if they have more options. They won’t get bored if you install a basketball hoop on the driveway, put a soccer net in the backyard or string a volleyball net across your pool. Invite other kids in the neighborhood over for a friendly game of basketball or soccer.

Go Camping Together

Taking a camping trip together is a great way to jump start your new active lifestyle together. Go for a long hike in the woods and take pictures of the wildlife. You could also take your mountain bikes along and ride on some trails. If your family likes the water, why not try a paddle boat or a canoe?

Take a Trip that Involves Walking

Instead of sitting home on the weekend watching TV, go on an outing together that involves a lot of walking. A visit to the zoo is a great way to combine walking and fun. Kids won’t even realize how much exercise they are getting. A water park is another great way to combine fun and exercise. Have you ever tried climbing all of those stairs to the top of the water slides? It’s a lot of work.

I hope that you try some of these activities with your family. Once you get up and start moving, it will become a habit. Your children will reap the benefits of your family’s new active lifestyle by becoming healthier and happier. Have fun!

Ten Tips for School Success

2007-08-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

To Be or Not To Be!

2007-07-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

Complete these words with "be" in them:

1. Lower place BE_______.

2. Shared by BE_______.

3. Uncertain _______BE.

4. To be a member BE_______.

5. Good conduct BE_______.

6. Past tense BE_______.

7. In front of BE_______.

Answers:

1. below
2. between
3. maybe
4. belong
5. behave
6. been
7. before

Test Your Science I.Q.

2007-07-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

Each of the items listed below is a solid, liquid, or a gas. See if you know the difference.

Hints:

Solid - has a definite shape and volume
Liquid - takes the shape of the container it is in
Gas - has no shape or volume

1. chair
2. coffee
3. water vapor
4. dog
5. orange juice
6. oxygen
7. tomato soup
8. apple
9. ice
10. carbon dioxide
11. syrup
12. marble

Answers:

1. solid
2. liquid
3. gas
4. solid
5. liquid
6. gas
7. liquid
8. solid
9. solid
10. gas
11. liquid
12. solid

Nature Walk

2007-07-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

You started down the grassy trail and looked all around. You saw 2 squirrels, 3 butterflies, and 10 ants. Some grasshoppers flew past that totaled 5 more than the total of butterflies you'd noticed before. Then 5 fewer bluejays than the ants you'd seen circled overhead with a robin. A butterfly drank nectar from a nearby flower as you shooed away 4 bees with your hand. 2 more squirrels peered at you from behind a tree as you reached the end of the path.

How many of each animal or insect did you see on your nature walk? How many in total?

Answer:

Squirrels = 4
Butterflies = 4
Ants = 10
Grasshoppers = 8
Bluejays = 5
Robin =1
Bees = 4

Total animals and insects = 36

Red, White, and Blue

2007-07-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

Unscramble these Independence Day related words:

1. cluen mas

2. gpelde

3. sfierwkor

4. eaprda

5. mearaci

6. gfal

7. smiuc

Answers:

1. Uncle Sam
2. Pledge
3. Fireworks
4. Parade
5. America
6. Flag
7. Music

It's For You

2007-06-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

Solve these riddles to figure out what Alexander Graham Bell invented in 1876.

I'm added to in to make tin. ____

I leave meat to to mat. ____

I can make a sow slow. ____

At can become ate. ____

I can turn a lot into a plot. ____

I can jump into all to make a ball. ____

I can make a son come home soon. ____

From on I become one. ____

Answer: Telephone

Georgia O'Keefe

2007-06-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Georgia Totto O’Keefe was born in a farmhouse on a large dairy farm near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on November 15, 1887. When she was twelve years old she told a friend, “I’m going to be an artist.”

Georgia had formal training as an artist at both the Art Institute of Chicago as well as the Art Student League in New York City. It is here that Georgia met a man named Alfred Stiegliz who owned an art gallery. He would later play an important role in promoting her art.

After she finished school, Georgia accepted a teaching position in Texas. She worked in Amarillo, Texas as an art teacher. It was during this time that her artwork started to look very unique. Georgia found beauty in everyday objects.

Alfred convinced Georgia to leave her teaching position and return to New York where she could paint full time. It is here that she began to paint her very large flowers. These became some of her most famous paintings. “Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not,” she said about her paintings.

In 1924 Alfred and Georgia were married. They moved into an apartment on the 30th floor of a hotel. With her spectacular view, Georgia began to paint the city.

In May 1929, Georgia visited friends in Taos, New Mexico. She thought the desert was beautiful. Georgia began painting animal bones, mountains and desert flowers. Alfred did not want to move to New Mexico, but he agreed Georgia should work there.

She traveled back to New York a few months out of every year. When Alfred died in 1946, Georgia moved to New Mexico and spent the rest of her life there.

Georgia died in 1986 at the age of ninety-eight. She will be remembered always for capturing the beauty of ordinary objects.

Art Exercises to try at home:

1. Pick a single flower and place it in a vase. It could be a sunflower, a tulip, a rose, or any other favorite. Paint a picture of it using your entire piece of paper. Try to capture all of the small details. Use bright, vivid colors.

2. Go outside and pick up three ordinary objects. Arrange them on a table and paint a still-life picture. Georgia O’Keefe found beauty in everyday objects that most people would not consider beautiful. See if you can do the same thing.

3. Take your paper and paints outside. Paint a picture of something you find beautiful. It could be tree bark or dead leaves. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Georgia O’Keefe painted pictures of rocks and bones. People thought she was crazy. Now her paintings are famous worldwide. So, paint something you find inspiring.

4. You are going to create an enormous flower. You will need ten sheets of blank paper, a magnifying glass, a flower, a pencil and crayons. Using the magnifying glass, study each part of the flower. Now do ten separate drawings of individual parts of the flower. You might draw several petals in one picture and the center of the flower in another picture. Put all of the pictures together to create one huge picture of a flower.

5. Paint a picture of a sky, only a sky. Your sky will be entirely covered with oval clouds. Georgia did not paint light, fluffy clouds in her sky picture, but rather a more geometric shape. She painted what she could see from her New York apartment window.

The Bird

2007-06-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

He sat on a branch, (Spread arms to represent branches)

So high, so high (Point upward)

And whistled a song, (Whistle and twitter like birds)

To the bright blue sky, (Look up at the sky)

And when he was done, (Flutter arms slowly in place)

I saw him fly. (Walk away while flapping arms)

Fun Trivia

2007-05-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

I Don't See It
This equation is correct. How can that be?

6 + 6 = 81

Answer: Turned upside down it is: 18 = 9 + 9

All the Colors of the Rainbow

There are seven colors in a rainbow. They are: red, pink, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

What is wrong with this list of colors?

Answer: Pink is not a color of the rainbow. Orange is missing.

Spring

2007-04-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

Spring paints hillsides
With shades of red,
And pulls the covers
Off winter's bed.

Historical Story Starters

2007-03-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

Try imagining yourself living during a different time period. Use the writing prompts to write a story with a historical perspective.

1. (Dust Bowl: Oklahoma) Today we had the worst dust storm ever. Ma and Pa say we might have to move to California. I don't want to leave.

2. (Pioneer) Pa is searching for wide open spaces. Every time we get settled, he gets restless. He's loading the wagon again. "wher is Kansas?" I ask him.

3. (Civil Rights Movement) "Daddy says a man named Martin Luther King, Jr. is coming over for dinner. He wants to talk about black and white children going to our elementary school together. I think it's a great idea."

4. (Mayflower - Pilgrims) It has taken months to cross the ocean. I saw a rat the other day. I wonder what America will be like.

5. (Civil War) Today we saw Union soldiers crossing the land on our plantation. My mama was so scared; she made me hide in the root cellar.

6. (Gold rush) Daddy says he will send for us when he strikes it rich in California. I wish I could go with him right now.

Rain

2007-03-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

I soothe parched land
and help plants grow.

In the winter,
I turn to snow.

I lick the grass
and kiss the trees.

I make rivers
and feed the seas.

Pitter, patter
splish, splash

Thunder boom
lightning flash,

I pour down hard
or sometimes soft,

raining out of
my cloudy loft.

All great creatures
big or small

without me, could not
live at all.

Mother Earth and Father Sky

2007-02-05T17:37:00.000-08:00

Mother Earth and Father Sky,

Paint an orange sunset
With a purple sky.

Sing with winds whistling,
A soft lullaby.

Greet every morning
With kisses of dew.

Dress every season
In colors brand new.

Dance to the music
Of the cricket's song.

Sleep in the winter,
But don't be gone long.

State Trivia

2007-01-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

Following are a few questions about the fifty states in the United States of America. See how well you know your country.

1) Eight states in the United States have names that start with the letter "M". Can you name all eight of them?

2) What is the largest state?

3) What is the smallest state?

4) What was the first state?

5) What was the last state?

Answers:

1) Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana

2) Alaska

3) Rhode Island

4) Delaware on December 7, 1787

5) Hawaii on August 21, 1959

Animal Story Starters

2007-01-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

Use the following story starters to write an animal story.

1. If I could be any animal for a day, I would be a _______. Write about what you would do during your day as an animal.

2. I wish my pet could talk to me. If my pet could talk, this is what he/she would tell me about…

3. My science teacher asked us to create a new animal. We could combine any animals together to create a new creature. I would make a ______. He would be the greatest because he would be able to ________.

4. Some dogs help blind people by becoming Seeing Eye dogs. Other dogs help police officers or firemen. I would like to train dogs to help with…

5. I would love to be a bird. I could fly anywhere I wanted. Write about your flying adventures if you were a bird. Tell the story as if you were a bird.

6. Pretend you are a zoo animal. People come and visit you every day. How do you feel about living in a zoo? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?

7. If animals ran the world instead of people they would…

8. I think we could save many of the world’s endangered animals. I have a plan for how we could do this.

9. Write about the most beautiful zoo or aquarium you have ever visited. Why did you love it?

10. What would your life be like if there were no animals?

11. Pretend you are a bird. Write a story about how you build your nest. How do you collect the sticks? What do you use to make the materials stick together? How large is your nest and where is it resting?

12. If I could pick any animal to be my school mascot, I would choose a _____ because…

13. I wish I could take my dog to school for the day. We would have so much fun. He could help my class in so many ways. Write about spending the day at school with your dog.

Snow Day Poem

2007-01-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

I look outside my window
and what do I see?

Six inches of fluffy snow
waiting just for me.

School is cancelled for one day.
Buses cannot run.

That’s ok with me because
I’ll have lots of fun.

I grab my boots, coat, and hat.
I run, jump and play.

Scoop it. Toss it. Crackle. Crunch.
Snow Day! Snow Day! Yeah!

Teach Budgeting to Kids

2007-01-06T17:00:00.000-08:00

It doesn’t take long after your first baby is born to realize one important truth about parenting. Kids are expensive! They get more and more expensive the older they get. I have an eleven year old and a fourteen year old and their financial needs seem to be greater than mine and my husbands. We have had to take drastic measures to help them understand the value of a dollar.

Most parents give their children a monthly or weekly allowance for doing chores and helping out around the house. This is an excellent idea, but I think you should take it a step further. The sooner children learn to stick to a budget, the better off they will be when they are grown up. Start when they are young and teach them how to manage their own money. Children have many monthly expenses such as presents for their friend’s birthday parties, clothes, toys, snacks, movies, books, etc. Many parents keep forking over cash without realizing how fast it adds up.

I recommend giving each of your children a set amount of money each month that will cover their expenses and leave them with spending money. They may not be mature enough to handle this until they are nine or ten years old. Let’s suppose that you give each child $25 per month for his or her allowance. Raise this amount to $75 or $100 a month and explain to them that it will cover all of their monthly expenses. I can hear you screaming already, but just hear me out. It may sound like a lot of money, but it will be less money in the long run. Before you settle on the monthly amount, take a look at your checkbook from the previous few months. Add up all of the miscellaneous expenses for each child. Find the average monthly amount that each child spends. You and your spouse can decide if you think that amount is reasonable or if you need to cut back.

Once you decide on a monthly budget, sit your children down and explain that this is all the money they will receive for the entire month for clothing, entertainment, toys, snacks, birthday presents for friends, or whatever you decide. This system is working especially well for my daughter who goes through money like it was growing in our garden. The first month she ran out of money after two or three weeks. We had to be firm and not cave in to her requests for more money.

Of course, the amount that you choose will not cover normal family expenses such as doctor visits, trips to the orthodontist, or similar expenses. It is a budgeting tool designed to teach them about discretionary income. Over the course of a few months your children will understand the value of money better. They will become experts at stretching their dollars. Instead of choosing to go to the movie theater, they may decide to rent a movie or trade movies with friends. They will think twice about blowing ten dollars on some silly trinket they see at the mall. These are exactly the type of results you are looking for.

After trying this experiment for a couple of months, you can look back at your expenses and see if this method has cut your costs. Add up a month of expenditures for your child before this system and then compare it to how much you are now giving them. I guarantee it will be lower.

Once your children become expert money managers, you can suggest that they save some of their monthly allowance or give some to charity. Your children will thank you when they are grown ups and they know how to manage their own money wisely.

Winter Trivia

2007-01-04T16:18:00.000-08:00

Try this winter trivia quiz to see how much you know about winter.

1. Ten inches of snow will melt down to how many inches of liquid rain?

2. Can it snow when skies are clear?

3. How many times a year does the sun set in the Arctic?

4. What percent of snow is composed of air?

5. What day marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere?

Answers:

1. one inch of liquid rain
2. yes, when temperatures are in the single digits
3. once
4. 80%
5. winter solstice

Winter Story Starters

2007-01-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

Use the following story starters to write a winter story.

1. I was sledding down a giant hill when suddenly I….

2. Sharp icicles hung from my garage. I had a great idea on what to do with them when I saw the neighborhood bully walking down my street. I …..

3. I made a nice fat snowman and dressed him in a top hat and scarf. When I woke up the next morning he was missing. I had a real mystery on my hands.

4. I was skating on the pond by my house when suddenly the ice cracked. I hollered and hollered for help. I panicked as I started slipping into the freezing water.

5. Describe the most beautiful sunset you have ever seen. What were you doing while you watched it?

6. In my hometown it never snows. I knew it would take a miracle to get snow on Christmas Eve. The weatherman said it might happen this year …..

7. I had never been snow skiing before. I went to ski school and you will never believe what happened to me. I started down the hill….

8. My friend dared me to stick out my tongue and touch it to the freezing cold light pole. I took her dare and it stuck. You will never believe what happened then.

9. I was worried about the animals and birds outside of my house. I thought they must get very cold in the winter. I came up with a plan for how to keep them warm this winter.

10. My goals for the New Year are….

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

I want to wish a Happy New Year to families everywhere. Let's make this a year to remember. I wish all of you more quality family time, less stress, and a healthy, happy 2007!

As a parent, educator, and writer, I designed my blog to provide fun family activities and tips with active families in mind. Here are a few New Year's resolutions that I intend to follow with my own family. Maybe you will find one or two that you might want to keep with your family.

1. Try to keep my family unplugged at least one night a week. That means after dinner and homework, we will entertain ourselves the old-fashioned way. We will pull out board games, cards, books, and magazines. We will unplug the tvs, computers, and video games for one night and enjoy each other's company. This rule will apply to the adults and the kids.

2. I will stay on top of my house and all of the many weekly chores that I tend to neglect when life gets busy. I have written a chore chart with one simple nightly chore for each member of the family such as taking out trash, dusting tables, etc. This way no one feels overwhelmed by having to tackle the entire house at once. There is nothing worse than coming home to a messy house on Friday afternoons after a stressful week of work/school.

3. I will resist the temptation to pick up fast food for my family. Normally I cook dinner at home, but sometimes I am tired and fast food seems like such an easy option. It's ok for a treat once in a while, but sometimes it gets out of hand. I will do a better job of including my kids in meal planning so that everyone will get one or two of their favorite meals each week.

4. Exercise is already a big part of our family life. Each member of my family, including the adults, has a favorite sport or activity. I will plan a weekly activity that we can all participate in together. We might walk the dog together, ride our bikes, or play golf. It doesn't matter what the activity is as long as we are doing it together.

5. Finally, my number one resolution for 2007 is that I will stop nagging everyone. I constantly find myself reminding children to clean their rooms, finish their homework, comb their hair, or any number of other activities. This will be a tough one, but I hope everyone will take more responsibility for themselves when I stop nagging them.

Hopefully you have found one or more ideas that you could use with your family this year. I will give you a mid-year progress report of how many resolutions I was able to keep. I hope you and your family have a Happy New Year!

Building a Snowman: Think Inside the Box

2006-12-24T06:50:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows how to build a snowman by rolling balls of snow together. Try thinking inside the box this winter. Snowmancity.org gives instructions for using cardboard boxes and tubes to build your next snowman. After the snow is stacked up, use snow shovels to carve out your snow sculpture. Once your sculpture is complete, it will need accessories. You should consider buying Snowman in a Box: Everything You Need to Build Classic and Cool Snow Creations Just Add Snow! by Nancy Armstrong. (Running Press Book Publishers, $9.95). People living in the South can even use the kit to make a sand snowman.

Reindeer Candy Cane Ornament

2006-12-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

Materials

1 candy cane
1 brown pipe cleaner
2 googly eyes
1 small piece red ribbon

Directions

1. Fold the brown pipe cleaner in half at the top of the candy cane hook.

2. Bend the two sections of pipe cleaner into antlers.

3. Glue the 2 googly eyes down 1/2 inch from the antlers.

4. Tie a red bow around the reindeer's neck.

5. Hang the ornament on the tree.

Take an Animal by the Tail

2006-11-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

If you need a clue to solve this puzzle, just look at the "tail" of each word. The beginning letter for each animal is the ending letter from the one before it. Read the clues below each word to help you guess the animal names.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ o

An animal that lives in Australia

o _ _

Nocturnal animal. Known for being wise.

l _ _ _ _ _ d

One of the big cats. Drags its prey into trees.

d _ _ r

Bambi was one of these.

r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s

This animal has a horn on its nose.

s _ _ _ e

A cold-blooded animal.

e _ _ _ _ _ _ t

He doesn't need to pack a trunk.

t _ _ _ r

The stripes on this big cat will help camoflage him.

Answers: 1. kangaroo 2. owl 3. leopard 4. deer 5. rhinoceros
6. snake 7. elephant 8. tiger

What Happens in Autumn?

2006-11-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

On the calendar, autumn is the third season of the year. Autumn is a time of change. The green color of summer gives way to the yellow, red, and browns of autumn. Fruits and nuts are harvested, the days become shorter, and animals prepare for winter.

What happens to the trees in autumn?

A substance called chlorophyll makes leaves green. In autumn the tree stops making chlorophyll so the green in the leaves fade. The colors, which were hidden by the green, can now be seen. During the late fall, most of the leaves of deciduous trees fall off. This is nature’s way of protecting the tree during the winter months. In the winter, trees get very little water through the roots. If the leaves remained, water would escape as water vapor through the tiny pores in the leaves. This way the tree can conserve water and stay alive. Pine trees do not lose their needles. This is because needles are narrow and covered with wax, so less water escapes from them.

Why do the days get shorter during autumn?

Our planet travels around the sun in a huge circle called an orbit. It takes one year for the Earth to complete one orbit. Because of this, each day has a period when it is light and a period when it is dark. When the Earth faces the sun, it is daylight and when it is turned away from the sun, it is night. For most of the year, day and night are different lengths. However, each autumn there is a day with twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness. This happens on September 22 or 23 in the Northern Hemisphere. It is called the autumn equinox. After that date the nights gradually become longer than the days.

What happens to animals and birds during autumn?

During autumn there is a lot of food available as seeds and fruits ripen. Animals store up as much food as they can before winter comes. Squirrels collect nuts, mice collect seeds, and jays collect acorns. Animals eat as much as they can in autumn to store up fat reserves in their body before winter.

Insects are very active in summer, but they become sluggish during the cooler fall months. Some of the strong fliers, such as butterflies and dragonflies will migrate to warmer climates. Most insects cannot or do not fly to warmer climates. They must find ways of surviving winter where they are. Ladybugs hide in cracks of trees; butterflies will find a woodshed or attic to hide in. Crickets and grasshoppers die before winter comes, but they have already laid their eggs, which will grow into new insects in the spring.

Birds are stronger flyers than insects and many of them flee the oncoming winter. It is the scarcity of food and not the cold that affects them most. Insect eating birds must leave their homes in autumn because their food disappears.

Many changes occur during autumn. It is a favorite season for many people because of the beautiful colors and pleasant weather. What is your favorite season?

You Can Say That Again! - Language Trivia

2006-11-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

You may speak the English language, but you might not know these cool facts about your native tongue.

There is no word that rhymes with orange, month, silver or purple.

There are approximately 6,000 actively spoken languages in the world today.

Shakespeare invented the word “assassination”.

“One thousand” contains the letter A, but none of the words from one to nine hundred ninety-nine has an A.

Rhythms” is the longest English word without vowels.

“Four” is the only number whose number of letters in the name equals the number.

Colors as Similes

2006-11-12T06:39:00.000-08:00

It is fun to think of similes in terms of colors. This may be an easy way to begin learning about similes. Try to think of a word to fill in each blank. You should be able to think of one word to describe each of the colors below.

The shirt was as RED as _________________________.

The ball was as BLUE as ________________________.

Her eyes were as GREEN as _____________________.

The dog was as BROWN as _______________________.

The backpack was as BLACK as _____________________.

His jacket was as YELLOW as _______________________.

The paper was as WHITE as ___________________________.

The sign was as ORANGE as ____________________________.

Pablo Picasso

2006-11-07T04:34:00.000-08:00

Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Spain in 1881. He was not a good student in school and he had trouble learning to read and write. Pablo always loved art. He had his first art exhibit when he was thirteen.

At the age of eighteen, Pablo moved to Paris. He was very poor and often worked on his paintings by the light of a single candle. The work that Pablo did while he lived in Paris from 1901-1904 is known as his “blue period”. This is because everything he painted came out sad and blue.

In 1904, he entered his “pink period” and the subjects of his art as well as the colors of his paintings appeared happier. It was during this time that Pablo married his first wife. He was married twice and had four children during his lifetime.

Pablo helped create a new style of art called Cubism beginning in 1908. The paintings he created appeared to be made up of “little cubes”. One of his most famous painting using this technique is called the “Three Musicians” painted in 1921. His favorite subjects to paint were musical instruments, still-life objects and his friends.

During the 1930’s, Picasso added surrealism to his paintings. His paintings seem to have double images and dream-like qualities. He also worked on sculptures during this time.

Pablo Picasso is considered to be one the greatest artists of the 20th century. He created over 20,000 works during his lifetime and died at the age of ninety-one on April 8, 1973.

Art Exercises to Try at Home:

1. Create a collage person by using scraps of fabric and paper cutouts. Arrange the shapes into a pleasing vertical arrangement and glue them to your paper. Add a face, arms and legs to create a person. The collage person should be distorted like the people in Picasso’s paintings. (Shapes can overlap and fabric or interesting materials such as yarn or buttons may be added.)

2. Try painting an entire picture in a blue palette. Think of something that makes you sad and try to mimic Picasso’s “blue period”. Blue is known as a cool color because of the feeling it evokes. Other cool colors are green and purple.

3. Try to remember an unusual dream that you have had. Draw a picture of what you can remember. It is o.k. if it doesn’t seem to make any sense.

4. Picasso liked to make pictures of faces that were distorted. Draw three large oval shapes. Create three faces using cut out shapes of different noses, ears, mouths, etc. Put the faces together in unusual ways. The eye can be below the mouth or the nose can go where the ear normally would. What do you think of your artwork? Would you ever create art like this on your own? Why or why not?

5. Picasso went to the circus three or four times a week. This was during his “Rose Period.” Draw a picture of a circus scene. Use mainly pink and blue colors in your picture.

Five Tips for a Safe Halloween

2006-10-29T06:37:00.000-08:00

Parents all want their kids to have a fun Halloween. If you follow these ten tips, your child can have fun while staying safe.

Costume safety

Make up is safer than a mask. It won't obstruct your child's vision. Make sure the costume fits properly and doesn't drag on the ground. Children could easily trip over capes or tails that hang down too low.

Light the Way

Have your children carry a flashlight or a light stick. They can point the light at the sidewalk so they don't trip. You may want to add reflective tape to costumes so your trick or treater can be seen.

House to House

Only let your child walk up to lit houses. They should not go to the door of unlit homes. Always make them walk from house to house. Cutting across lawns and running in the dark is not safe. They could trip over sprinker hoses, toys, or other objects left in front lawns.

Follow That Child

This is not a problem with young children because they expect their parents to come along on Halloween night. However, as children get older they want some independence. Let them know that you will be coming along for their safety. Follow at a safe distance behind them so you can keep them in your sight, but give them more of a feeling of independence.

Look Over the Candy

Before you let your kids dig into the candy, check it over carefully. If wrappers are partially open, discard that piece. Do not let your children eat homemade goodies unless you know who made it.

Fall Leaves

2006-10-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

Torn Paper Collage

Supplies:

Black construction paper (8 ½ x 11)
Brown construction paper
Red construction paper
Yellow construction paper
Orange construction paper
Glue

The black construction paper will be the background for this collage. Tear red, yellow and orange construction paper into small one-inch pieces. These will be the leaves on the fall tree. Using a pencil, draw a tree trunk in the brown paper and carefully tear it out. Glue the tree trunk onto the black background. Arrange the leaves on the tree in a pleasing way and glue them down. It looks nice to scatter some of them on the ground for a true fall effect.

The black background will make the bright colors seem more vivid.

Scary Story Starters

2006-10-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

Use the following story starters to write a scary story.

1. I saw a witch riding her broom above my house when suddenly she landed on my front lawn….

2. My best friend dared me to knock on the door of the haunted house. I knocked twice and the door creaked open slowly. A hand reached out and …..

3. It was a dark, spooky Halloween night when the strangest thing happened to me.

4. My jack’o’lantern started talking to me last night. It told me the strangest story about…

5. When a black cat crossed my path, I knew I was going to have bad luck.

6. We were driving home in the car when we saw mysterious shape hovering over our car. It stopped on the road in front of our car.

7. My science teacher mixed up a funny looking green liquid in a beaker. The liquid started boiling over the top and crawling down the side of the table. Help! The liquid was coming to life.

8. I heard the rocking chair in my living room creaking back and forth. I crept down the stairs and saw someone sitting in the chair. The figure turned around and….

Art Exercises to Imitate Georges Seurat

2006-10-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

Georges-Pierre Seurat was born in Paris on December 2, 1859, in Paris. He attended the School of Fine Arts in Paris in 1878 and 1879. Georges studied the works of Rembrandt and Francisco de Goya.

His family had plenty of money and supported him while he worked on his paintings. His most famous painting is Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte. He used a new painting technique called pointillism on this painting. He place thousands of tiny dots side by side on the canvas. He liked to experiment with new ways of painting. Even though he died at a young age, he will always be remembered for his original method of painting.

Pointillism

Select a page from a coloring book. Make a copy of it. Fill in one copy by painting with large brush strokes. Fill in the second copy by painting with little dots of paint. (Q-tips work well for this). Which picture took longer to paint? Which one do you like better?

Color Mixing

Try this mixing experiment - Mix up the following colors:

- orange (red + yellow)
- purple (red + blue)
- green (blue + yellow)

Using a paintbrush, apply a circle of color to a piece of paper. On a second piece of paper, draw three circles. Apply dots of blue and red inside the first circle, dots of red and yellow inside the second circle, and dots of yellow and blue inside the third circle.

Landscapes

Georges Seurat painted many landscape pictures. Make a landscape picture of your own by cutting shapes and figures out of construction paper. Place the large objects at the bottom of the page. They will appear to be close to you. Place the smaller objects near the top of the page. They will appear to be far away.
Hold up the second piece of paper. What do you see? Does your eye mix the color for you? Can you see purple, orange and green?

SCIENCE - TRIVIA THAT ROCKS!

2006-10-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

If you say you don’t like Science, you never studied facts like these!

The Goliath beetle is the largest insect living today. It weighs about 4 ounces and is larger than your hand.

Fleas could win the insect Olympics. They can jump 200 times their body length.

A Stegosaurus had three brains! It had one in its head, one in its tail, and one in its back. None of them were very big though.

Over 80% of all tornadoes occur between noon and midnight.

The windiest spot on Earth is Antarctica. Wind speeds can be as high as 200 miles per hour at Commonwealth Bay.

A blue whale’s heart is as big as a compact car.

The average person produces 1.5 quarts of saliva per day.

Skunks can spray their foul odor only about two yards, but it can be smelled up to two and a half miles away.

A camel has a straight spine, despite its hump.

Science Fair Time

2006-10-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year again. Parents and students don’t need to panic just because the school science fair is right around the corner. You don’t have any ideas for your project? You don’t know what the scientific method is? You’ve never built a display? Don’t worry. We’ve rounded up a selection of books that will make the process painless. Each of these selections is suitable for elementary students. Some of them have more original experiments and others have better introductions and explanations of the science fair process. There is a book here for everyone.

QUICK – BUT- GREAT SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS by Shar Levene and Leslie Johnson, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2001, paperback, $12.95, ages 9-12.

This book was designed for students with upcoming science fairs. The front section of the book has a handy section with tips for teachers, parents and students. Additionally the first part of the book explains how to make eye-catching charts, graphs and displays for your science fair projects.

Each of the twenty-six projects listed in the book have step-by-step instructions. They give ideas on how to adjust the project to the grade level of your child. Children will learn how to study the effect of calcium on bone strength or seeing if family members have the same fingerprints. All in all this is a handy reference guide. The photographs, which illustrate the book, could have been bigger and more eye-catching and several of the experiments use quite a few materials.

THE EVERYTHING KIDS’ SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS BOOK by Tom Robinson, Adams Media Corporation, 2001, paperback, $6.95, ages 9-12.

This book does not have any explanation of science fairs, judging or displays. However, it has a nice layout, simple illustrations and contains 35 simple science experiments for elementary students. The experiments are broken down into five categories: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Planet Earth, and the Human Body.

Each experiment contains the following descriptions: question, materials, procedure, what’s happening and follow-up questions. Questions such as “Why do leaves change colors in the fall?” and “How do you peel a raw egg?” are examples of the types of questions answered by the experiments. This reference book has age appropriate experiments and is a good value for the money.

SUPER SENSATIONAL SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS by Michael A. DiSpezio, Illustrations by Derek Toye, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2004, paperback, $9.95, ages 9-12.

This book does an excellent job of introducing science fair basics. The first section of the book covers: gathering information, choosing a project, keeping records, forming a hypothesis, writing a research paper and building a display. The colorful drawings will grab the attention of children.

Twenty-one different experiments are explained in this book with step-by-step instructions. Students can perform each experiment without needing too many materials. The experiments would be appropriate for upper elementary students. Some examples of experiments in the book are: 1) Stopping spoilage – stop apple from browning and 2) Going to the Light – how plants grow towards light.

365 SIMPLE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS WITH EVERYDAY MATERIALS by E. Richard Churchill, Louis V. Loeschnig, and Muriel Mandell, illustrated by Frances Zweifel, Sterling Publications Company, Inc., 1997, paperback, $12.95, ages 9-12.

This book is true to its name. You get a wide variety of simple science projects, which really use everyday household materials. The book contains simple two-color drawings, step-by-step instructions and science tricks. The huge variety of experiments, indoor, outdoor, simple and complex will make this a very useful resource. Children will be entertained for hours using this book.

This is not a book about science fair projects but it will simplify and explain basic science concepts. Some examples of projects in this book are: 1) Take a Bubble Dancing, 2) The Talking String, and 3) Egg Graffiti.

Geography Trivia

2006-09-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

I bet you never knew that Geography could be so much fun!

Disney World in Orlando, Florida is twice the size of the island of Manhattan, New York.

Approximately one-tenth of the earth’s surface is permanently covered with ice.

The Atlantic Ocean is saltier than the Pacific Ocean.

The only continent without reptiles or snakes is Antarctica.

The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% of the world’s oxygen supply.

Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents.

Maine is the only state in the United States with only one syllable in its name.

Florida has twice as many lightning injuries and deaths than any other state.

There are over 2,000 different species of cactuses.

The Sea of Tranquility on the moon is deeper than the highest mountain on Earth.

Story Enders

2006-09-19T19:13:00.000-07:00

Use the following endings to stories to come up with the beginning and middle. This is an unusual twist on the story starter.

1. My friend and I walked hand in hand out of the school. It was the best day I can ever remember.

2. I will never forget the day I spent in the principal's office. The next time my friend Larry asks me to do him a favor, I will run the other way.

3. My dog Molly is the best dog in the whole world. If it wasn't for her I would have drowned in the lake today. She saved my life.

4. The zookeeper locked the gorilla cage and the crowd walked to their cars. I bet that Shawn will think twice the next time he pounds on the glass of the gorilla enclosure at the zoo. It could have turned out much worse than it did.

5. We filed off the bus one at a time. Our bodies were covered with dirt, our clothes were torn, and we had calluses on our hands, but we all had smiles on our faces.

6. The team lifted me onto their shoulders and carried me around the gym. I looked at the shiny trophy in my hand and smiled. It has been the best basketball season ever.

7. I fell out of the two-man sailboat and kissed the sand. What a day! I never thought I would see the land again two hours ago when the fog was surrounding us. My sailing days are over.

8. The crowd was cheering as I lifted my face out of the pie pan. I never heard them until I had finished the whole cherry pie. I bet no one ever expected a skinny kid like me to iwn the pie eating contest today, but then they don't know my secret.

9. We covered the hideout with leaves and sticks. Hopefully no one would ever find our special place in the woods. It would be our secret for years to come.

Poems

2006-09-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

Alphabet Soup

I'm staring at my soup,

When suddenly I see

The entire alphabet

Smiling back at me.

All Fall Down

First one leaf, then another,

Red falls first, next gold and brown.

Along comes a gust of wind

And all the leaves fall down.

My Best Friend

My best friend likes to lick.

He likes to run and play.

My best friend's name is Max.

I'm glad he came to stay.

It's a Dog's Life

2006-09-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

Before Baby

Sleeping on the bed

Getting brushed daily

Fetching sticks

Chasing his tail

Sitting by the fireplace

Begging for tablescraps

Wearing designer sweaters

Howling at the moon

Waiting for you by the front door

Getting shots once a year at vet

Lick out of toilet bowl

Bathed at groomerss once a month

After Baby

Sleeping in the doghouse

Getting the brush off daily

Fetching baby toys

Hiding his tail from children's grabbing hands

Sitting by the back door

Begging for attention

Wearing a flea collar

Howling to get inside

Waiting to get fed

Get shot once a day by child's squirtgun

Lick jelly off child's fingers

Bathed with garden hose once a year

If Mothers Ran the World

2006-09-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

All cars would come equipped with microwave ovens so dinner could be prepared on the run.

Socks would have magnets on them so they wouldn't get separated in the dryer.

Schools would have mandatory classes in manners and etiquette.

Summer vacation would only last two weeks.

There would be at least two full weeks of downtime between each sport season for children.

Babies would come equipped with self-cleaning diapers.

Toys that squirt water, make loud noise, or ooze slime would be illegal.

Dinner dates with husbands would be mandatory twice a month.

Jobs filled by mothers such as room mother, girl scout troop leader, and soccer coach would all be paying positions.

Starting a Children's Book Club

2006-09-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Many adults enjoy belonging to monthly book clubs. If you have a child or children who enjoy reading, you might want to consider starting a children’s book club. There are many questions to keep in mind before organizing a children’s book club.

Why have a book club?

Are you creating a book club because your child wants to be in one? Adults mean well, but sometimes they get children involved in an activity that they themselves enjoy, not the child. A book club can be an excellent supplement to a child’s education. It is excellent for encouraging children to think critically about a book. Did they enjoy the book and why or why not? Book clubs also teach children that not everyone has the same opinion as them.

How will the group be organized?

Who will be included in the book club? There are many different ways you can organize a book club. The group could consist of parents and their children or it could consist of all males or females. Next you will need to decide how large the group will be and the age of the children in the group. Keep the spread in the children’s ages to no more than 2-3 years apart. This will be helpful when selecting age appropriate books for the kids to read.

Where will the meeting take place?

Where and when will your group meet? Book clubs should probably meet about once every month. This will give the participants time to read the book selection. If participants are too busy during summer or winter holidays, you can skip a month or two. The size of your group will help you determine where you should meet. A smaller group can meet at someone’s home. A larger group might want to reserve a room at the library or meet in a bookstore.

Who will lead the meetings?

Normally a children’s book group is lead by an adult. A parent who loves to read or a librarian or teacher would be an excellent choice. You might also consider letting several adults share the role.

How should we choose the books?

What type of books do your young readers enjoy? You need to consider the age and reading level of the kids in the group. Children in book clubs will read books that they might never have chosen on their own. It is nice to choose a variety of old and new titles from different genres. Some kids enjoy mysteries while others might like fantasies. There are many websites that list reading selections for children. Check out www.hedgehogbooks.com or www.guysread.com for some suggested reading lists. You might also want to look at www.kidsreads.com for reviews of recent titles.

Make sure you include the children in the decision process. They will buy into the book club more if they helped create it. Teaching your child to enjoy books is a gift that will make them life-long readers.

RAIN

2006-09-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

Let's Play Pretend

2006-08-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

Let's play pretend for today.

Close your eyes and imagine

We're very far away.

I sail across a bright blue sea

a spy glass in my hand.

With a parrot on my shoulder

Ahoy! A piece of land.

I ride upon a noble steed

up to the castle gate.

I need armor and a sword

to slay a dragon. I can't be late.

I blast off in my rocket ship

As sky and stars drift by.

A helmet and suit protect me.

Oh, how I love to fly!

I draw and paint a picture

with colors bold and bright

Paints and brushes are the tools

I use until it's just right.

I rope and lasso steer

and lead the cattle drive.

I sleep under the stars at night.

It's so great to be alive.

I sail, I ride, I fly, I paint, I hope,

I act, I dream, I believe, I wish, I hope.

I love to play pretend.

A Successful Parent-Teacher Conference

2006-08-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

If you are a parent of a new elementary student and you are unfamiliar with the time-honored parent-teacher conference, there are some easy ways to make the most of your conference. The conference is designed as a face to face meeting between a child’s teacher and his or her parents. Open and honest communication is critical in this first meeting so the child will have the best chance of succeeding in school. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

PREPARE BEFORE THE MEETING

It isn’t just the teacher that needs to come prepared to the first meeting. Before the meeting parents should talk to their child about the teacher and the child’s class. Do they have any questions or concerns that have come up during the first week or two of school? Parents can make some notes before the meeting about important information they don’t want to forget to discuss with their child’s teacher. This list might include family dynamics, the child’s personality, special needs, medical issues, work habits, etc. Parents should let the teacher know the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Is your child neat as a pin? Do they tend to procrastinate? The teacher would benefit from this type of information.

DURING THE CONFERENCE

What will your child learn this year?

It is important to find out what the learning goals are for the school year. Ask the teacher if the school gives students standardized tests. If so, what is the average passing rate at the school? How many chances will each child have to pass the test? If your child has special needs because they are either gifted or learning disabled, be sure to ask what type of programs the school offers for your child. Finally, ask the teacher about any major projects or assignments for the year and the due dates so that you can help your child plan their time wisely.

What is the best way to get in touch with you?

It is important to find out when the teacher’s planning period is. You also need to find out if it is easier to get in touch with them by phone or email. Email is often easier because the teacher can respond when she has time to sit at her desk.

AFTER THE CONFERENCE

The parent-teacher conference is the first step in the two-way dialogue between you and your child’s teacher. If you go into the meeting with a positive attitude, it will go much smoother. Don’t let this meeting be the last time that you get in touch with your child’s teacher. Keep the lines of communication open all year long. Never wait until you have a huge problem to talk to the teacher.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

•Be on time. If you are running late, call the school.

•Only use your allotted time spot – don’t go over because other parents are waiting.

•Always be respectful and stay calm. Don’t argue with the teacher.

Mind Your Manners

2006-08-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

Teaching your children good manners is one of the most important life skills that you can give them. If a child has good manners they are perceived as kind and polite. Good manners are essential in school, in social situations, and later in life. Mannered children also make their parents proud.

The best way to teach your children manners is to start young and to be a good role model. Children will learn more by observing your behaviors than by listening to what you tell them.

Manners fall into two basic categories: social manners and table manners. These types of manners can be taught by exposing your children to situations where they will have an opportunity to practice good manners.

SOCIAL MANNERS

Social manners are important in all situations where your children will be interacting with other people. Practice these social skills so your child will know the proper way to behave.

1. Interrupting.

Children should be taught by age 3 that it is impolite to interrupt when their mother or father is speaking to another adult. Tell your child, “I’m sorry, but mommy is talking to someone right now. I will answer your question in just a few minutes.” Then go back to your conversation as if the interruption never happened. It may take several times before your children get the message.

2. Politeness.

Even toddlers can learn to be polite. From a young age they should be taught to say “please” and “thank you”. They can also learn how to say “excuse me” if they burp at the table. Learning to say “I’m sorry” might be the hardest one of all. It’s ok if they don’t mean it at first; they still need to apologize when they hurt someone else.

3. Telephone Manners.

Before you allow children to answer the phone in your house, you should teach them telephone etiquette. A toy phone is a great tool for practicing with kids. Make a ringing sound and ask them to pick up their phone. Teach them to speak in a clear voice and to say, “Hello, xxxx residence.” When you ask them to speak to someone in the house they should respond, “Just a minute please,” and set the phone down gently. Teach them how to take a message if the person is not available. Also, make sure that they never tell a stranger that their parent is not home.

4. Sharing.

Children need to learn the importance of sharing. If they have a sibling, they will get lots of practice sharing toys at home. If not, try to encourage your children to share their toys with friends when they have a play date. Sharing is a critical social skill that children must learn before entering school.

5. Good Sportsmanship.
No one likes a poor sport. Children must learn to lose graciously. Teach them to congratulate the winning team when they play sports. Children will learn by example, so if you are yelling at the ref from the stands or practicing bad sportsmanship, they will act the same way. Sportsmanship also carries over into other areas of life, such as playing games with other children.

TABLE MANNERS

Table manners should be taught at a young age. It is important for children to mind their manners at both formal and informal get togethers. Make sure that they attend both so they can learn the different manners expected at each.

1. Posture at Table.

Teach your children that they should not lean their elbows on the table. Likewise don’t let them lean back in their chair or spin around while eating. They should keep their left hand in their lap and use their right hand for holding utensils if they are right-handed and visa versa if left-handed.

2. Eating with Fingers.

Most foods should be eaten with silverware, but it is ok to eat certain types of food with your fingers. You may eat hamburgers, sandwiches, chips, bread, corn on the cob, cookies, and fruit with stems with your fingers. When in doubt, tell them to watch the host or hostess and do what they do.

3. Napkin.

Children should remove the napkin from the table and place it in their lap when they sit at the table. It is to be used for dabbing at their mouth, not wiping their whole face. When they are finished with their meal the napkin should be placed next to the plate.

4. Silverware.

This is probably the most difficult part of table manners for children to master. Normally children will hold their fork or spoon in their right hand if they are right-handed. When they have to cut meat, they should hold the fork in their left hand, tines down, and the knife in their right hand. They will saw the meat with the knife and then put the knife down. Tell them to put the fork back in their right hand to put the meat in their mouth. It may take some time to learn this tricky skill.

5. Passing Items.

If the meal is being served family style, children will have to learn how to pass items to other people or ask for items. Make sure they always say “please” when asking for an item and “thank you” when someone passes it. Let them know that it is alright to tell someone a plate is too hot to pass. You don’t want them to burn their fingers.

Teaching manners requires patience and practice. Your children will not have perfect manners overnight. Remember to provide situations where they can practice using their best manners. Always praise your children when you catch them doing something polite. Keep at it until they get it right.

Breakfast Ideas for Busy Mornings

2006-08-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

The lazy days of summer are almost over. Soon kids will be rushing out the door to school and they will need a quick, healthy breakfast. Parents need a healthy breakfast too. Just because you don’t have much time doesn’t mean you should skip the most important meal of the day. Here are some quick breakfast ideas for busy mornings.

Tortilla Wraps

In the South tortillas are not just for dinner. Breakfast burritos are catching on throughout the country. Why not? They are quick and easy to prepare plus the types of food that you can use to fill them are virtually limitless. The standard breakfast burrito consists of egg, cheese and sausage. You can make your wrap healthier by starting with a whole wheat tortilla and filling it with turkey or chicken, and veggies. This type of breakfast can be heated up in the microwave in just a minute or two and it will fill you up until lunchtime.

Smoothies

Like tortilla wraps, the variety of smoothies you can make are endless. A basic smoothie consists of milk or yogurt, fruit (your favorite variety), ice, and maybe some extras such as peanut butter or honey. You are only limited by your imagination. The smoothie is portable and healthy.

Pizza

Who says that pizza is only for dinner? Pizza making does not have to be a big production. Start with an English muffin and spread a tablespoon of spaghetti sauce on each half. Top with cheese and your favorite pizza toppings. Heat in the toaster oven until the cheese is bubbly. Enjoy!

Pancakes and Waffles Made Easy

Making pancakes and waffles can be time consuming if you make the batter in the morning and have to wait for the waffle iron to heat up. Try making a large batch of either pancakes or waffles over the weekend. Wrap them in individual packages and place in the freezer. Reheat them in the toaster oven on school mornings.

Leftovers

Dinner leftovers make a great, hearty breakfast for kids and adults. Spaghetti, lasagna, tuna casserole, even meatloaf can be reheated in the microwave quickly in the morning. This type of breakfast is usually high in protein and will stick with you longer than sweet breakfast cereals or sugary donuts. I’m sure you’ve probably tried breakfast for dinner before. Why not try dinner for breakfast?

Number puzzles

2006-08-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Try these number puzzles and warm up your brain before school starts again.

Face Value

Question:

What do these types of money have in common?

1) $5 bill and a penny

2) $1 bill and a quarter

Answer:

1) Abraham Lincoln is on the face of both.

2) George Washington is on the face of both.

Common Denominator

Question:

What do each of these groups of numbers have in common?

(2, 3, 10)

(4, 5)

(6, 7)

Answer:

The name of each number in each group begins with the same letter.

(two, three, and ten) all start with a "t"

(four and five) both start with "f"

(six and seven) both start with "s"

Ten Tips for School Success

2006-08-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

Success in school is not just a matter of luck. Parents can help their children become successful in school by starting early and helping their children establish good habits. If you get children off to a good start during their first few years of school chances are the following years will go much more smoothly.

Here are some tips that have worked very well for my own children:

Establish Good Study Habits

Young children must learn good study habits and develop a homework routine. First, you need to find a quiet place where children can do their homework. I have found that the kitchen table works very well for young children. A large table allows a child space to spread out and they don’t feel isolated and alone while working on homework. Parents can cook dinner while monitoring the child’s homework. Let children try to do their own work, but stay close enough so they can call for help if they need it. When children get older they may want to retreat to desks in their bedrooms for a quieter environment. My kids still tend to gravitate to the kitchen table.

Communicate with Your Child’s Teacher

Teachers want every child in their class to succeed. The likelihood for success is increased when parents and teachers communicate regularly. Attend parent/teacher conferences. Express your concerns. Parents usually know what is best for their own child. However, have an open mind and listen to what they are seeing in the classroom. Children often exhibit different behavior at school than in the home.

Spend Time at your Child’s School

The more time you can spend at your child’s school, the better. Children love to see their parents at school musicals, plays, and performances. It makes them feel special. Volunteer to help their teacher if you have time. Younger kids especially like to see their parents in the middle of the day. Transitioning to school after staying at home with a parent can be a big adjustment. The more time you spend at the school, and the more you learn the school routines, the more you will be able to contribute to conversations with your child about his or her day at school.

Establish a Bed Time Routine

One of the most important things a parent can do is to make sure their child is getting enough sleep before going to school. Set a bedtime and stick to it. Children who are sleepy cannot pay attention to the lessons.

Read with your Child

Many parents of young children (Kindergarten – 2nd grade) do not realize the importance of reading with their children. Being a good reader is critical to success in school. Good readers can read passages from text books, and can comprehend test questions better. Children do not become good readers over night. The only way to become a good reader is by reading. Try to read a book or two together every night. You can take turns and let your child read one page and then you read the next page and so on. This makes the task of reading an entire book much less overwhelming for a young child.

Ask Your Child About School

When your child gets home from school, you should ask them what they did each day. Children will feel as if you really care about what is going on in their life. If they respond with “Nothing,” you can pose more specific questions. Don’t just ask about their grades. Ask them what they did at recess or at lunch. Ask them if anything funny happened during the day. I’m sure they will have a lot of great stories to tell you.

Start the Day Right

Give children enough time to get ready in the morning. Do not wake them up five minutes before they need to be at school. Children will have a more productive day at school if their morning gets off to the right start. Make sure they have plenty of time to wake up, get dressed and eat a good breakfast.

Talk About the Future

Let children know early on that you think they are bright and capable. Talk to your child about his or her future. Discuss careers and college from a young age. If you believe in your children, they will believe in themselves.

Make Sure Your Child is Ready

Children begin getting ready for school long before Kindergarten. Your children need to develop fine motor skills such as holding a pencil or crayon and being able to use scissors. Teach your child how to write their name. There are simple ways that you can help children learn at home. Watch educational programs on TV, read books to your child, color pictures with them, or explore nature together.

Acknowledge Their Success

When your children do well in school, acknowledge their success. If they bring home a terrific report card, gets a ribbon in the science fair, or makes first chair in band, have a family celebration. You could cook their favorite meal as a reward.

Bad News

2006-08-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Dear New SUV,

I am writing to tell you how sorry I am for what my former family is about to do to you. I am their former SUV, a Dodge Durango, and I have some bad news for you. Your family may look nice, but you don’t want to live with them. Trust me.

I’m sure you look all shiny and new right now. You probably have one of those pine-scented air fresheners hanging from your rear-view mirror. Well, wipe that smug look off your face. You won’t look good for much longer.

First of all, you have probably noticed that your primary driver is the “soccer mom”. That’s too bad. Let’s just say that her car is not her top priority in life. Your day won’t be too bad until 3:30, but then things really get crazy. She drives everyone to school in the morning and then goes to work. You will get to rest in an uncovered parking space until 3:30, but then look out. When the school bell rings at the elementary school, you begin your hectic afternoon. The “soccer mom” must shuttle children home from the elementary school first. They will open your doors and throw backpacks, jackets, balls, lunchboxes, recorders, and messy art projects on your seats. Their hands are not very clean at the end of the day. You will get sticky fingerprints all over your windows and doors.

I hope you have a lot of endurance because you have many more trips to make before your day is over. Next you will drive to the middle school and pick up the bigger child. The good news is that he is usually alone. The bad news is that he is in band and athletics. Fridays are the worst. Have you ever smelled football pads and athletic clothes that have spent a week in a boy’s locker? The stench is overwhelming.

Once you get everyone home, don’t get too comfortable. You won’t be still for very long. Your family will gulp down their dinner and then they’re off again. Some nights it’s a PTA meeting, other nights it’s basketball practice or a band concert. Some nights it’s a double header.

The weekends won’t be much better. The family will take you everywhere. Since you’re so roomy, they will load you up with groceries, home improvement supplies, garden tools, flowers, dirt, Christmas trees, etc. You won’t believe the way I looked when they were ready to sell me. Let me describe my condition: my upholstery had muddy dog prints all over it, trash was stuffed into every crack and crevice of my interior, sticky gum and candy wrappers were in my ashtray, a stray sandwich from a lunchbox was rotting under my seat, dog food, kitty litter and water bottles rolled around the back. That’s just the interior. My exterior needed a good washing and there were various dents and scratches all over me. The son once opened the passenger door and hit a pole, the dad accidentally lowered the garage door on my roof, the dog scratched my doors with her nails and various community members door dinged me while I was parked at malls and grocery stores. You get the idea.

It’s not all bad news. They’re a fun family. You will hear a lot of laughter, some loud music, and a few rude noises as you haul them around. However, if you value your appearance, my advice to you is to get out while there is still time. Release your emergency brake and roll away in the night.

Sincerely,

Former Family SUV

Interview with Carol Boles - Getting Kids to Read

2006-07-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

Carol Boles is a former Reading Specialist and a freelance writer. As a former reading teacher I knew she would have some great ideas for getting kids to read. I interviewed her and she has some great suggestions you can use with your own family.

Tell my blog readers about your previous job as a Reading Specialist.

Carol: I was an elementary school Reading Specialist in several Kansas City area schools for eleven years.

Do you have suggestions for how parents can get their kids to read more during the remaining weeks of summer?

Carol: First, schedule a time the whole family can sit down and read together. Next, if they're just learning to read - read aloud to them. Also, parents need to help their children select books to read, then do some paired reading together. That is, read the text aloud with them. As you know, children love it when their parents give them their undivided attention.

Do you have tips for parents with reluctant readers?

Carol: Read aloud and do paired reading with them. Talk about what's going on in the stories. When parents participate in reading development, children are more apt to work on learning how to read.

What books do you recommend for kids (by age group)? Are there particular books that kids are really excited about?

Carol: The genre of magic is very popular now, i.e. Harry Potter. Really kids need to figure out what kinds of books they enjoy reading. However, parents need to help them figure this out by providing opportunities to browse books at the library and the bookstore. Get your child to the library or the children's section of the bookstore and browse the titles and read the book jacket description.

What do you think about kids reading serial novels, comic books, magazines and graphic novels?

Carol: I think it's great. It doesn't matter what they're reading as long as they're practicing reading. Although, I'm not sure what you mean when you say graphic novels.

How important is it for parents to read with young children (Kindergarten or 1st grade) who are just learning to read?

Carol: Very important - When parents read aloud to their children they are modelling good reading and showing their children reading is an important skill to develop.

How can a parent tell if their child is progressing appropriately with their reading skills?

Carol: If a child is on grade level then they can easily complete (have success) with reading exercises and reading related activities in school.

Do you have any other advice for parents who want their children to take more interest in reading?

Carol: Provide opportunities for them to read. Take them to the library and bookstores. Immerse them in literature.

Thank you for all of your great advice Carol and good luck with your writing career. I'm sure that as a former Reading Specialist you have great ideas for writing material that children will love.

If you want to read more of Carol's tips you can visit her blog at http://www.teacherspetplace.blogspot.com.

State Trivia

2006-07-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Following are a few questions about the fifty states in the United States of America. See how well you know your country.

1. Eight states in the United States have names that start with the letter "M". Can you name all eight of them?

2. What is the largest state?

3. What is the smallest state?

4. What was the first state?

5. What was the last state?

Answers:

1. Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana

2. Alaska

3. Rhode Island

4. Delaware on December 7, 1787

5. Hawaii on August 21, 1959

Animal Scramble

2006-07-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

Each of the words below is a mixed up name of an animal. See if you can unscramble the letters to come up with the name of each animal.

1. GNNEPIU

2. MLALA

3. BAZER

4. HPEELATN

5. KMEOYN

6. KEANS

7. HPODILN

8. GTEIR

9. ROKNAGOA

Answers: penguin, llama, zebra, elephant, monkey, snake, dolphin, tiger, kangaroo

Playing Putt-Putt

2006-07-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

Windmill turning,
Huge waterfall,
Putt-Putt is not
A sport at all.

It's too much fun
When my friends play
Laughing, running
Along the way.

Line up the shot
Hit the bright ball.
There's nothing to
This sport at all.

Wait a minute!
Watch the ball roll
It won't go in
That little hole.

I try and try
And try again.
This sport is hard
I didn't win.

Fit Families, Healthy Kids

2006-07-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

Back to School Shopping on a Budget

2006-07-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

Many parents dread the back to school shopping in August each year. The advertisements have already hit the newspapers this year. Ads for blue jeans and fall clothes are spilling out of the paper even though the temperature outside is in the triple digits. Don't despair, you can get through the school shopping season and even have a little money left over for yourself with careful planning.

The first step is to spend some time with your kids cleaning out their closets. Take an inventory of what they already have and what they really need. Their idea of needs and yours might be very different. For example, my daughter feels that needs new clothes even when her exisiting clothes fit fine. She is tired of her current wardrobe or thinks that fashions have changed. If your children are like this, the clothing inventory might take a little longer. Get them to agree to wear some of their old clothing and add some new pieces that they can mix and match.

Once you have your inventory it is time to start looking for sales. Compare the newspaper ads, and sales catalogues that come in the mail against your child's shopping list. Write a list of all the stores you plan to visit.

Before you head out the door, sit down with your children and let them know the exact amount of money you are willing to spend. Tell them that they get xxx amount of dollars for school shopping. You will hear moaning and complaining because it never seems like enough to them. Don't worry. Explain that if they want expensive tennis shoes or designer jeans, they will have to spend less on other items. This is a great budgeting lesson for them to learn. They can save money by buying socks, underwear, or tshirts in bulk from a warehouse type store.

Once you get to the stores, let your kids choose clothing they like. Never force them to buy an outfit that you like. It is not a bargain if it never leaves their closet. Make sure clothes fit a little bit roomy because children grow fast. The pants hemline should be long and shirts should be long in the waist.

Make sure that you stick to your list. If your kids try to deviate from the list your budget will suffer. Gently remind them that they already have five pairs of jeans and they need some more shirts.

Good luck with your shopping. Maybe I'll see you at the mall.

Every Story Must Come to an End

2006-07-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

A story with a great ending is one that you will remember forever. Sometimes you know how you want your story to end before you write it. Listed below are fifteen endings for a story. Choose one of the endings and write a story to go with it.

1. I sunk my shovel into the dirt and heard the clunk of metal. Could it be the treasure chest?

2. I found my dog up in the tree with the neighbor's cat.

3. "I've never been so embarrassed in my life," said my mother.

4. I never knew my dad liked to explore caves as much as I do.

5. We saw flashlight beams coming towards us in the dark. We were saved!

6. The bus driver said, "I quit. This is the worst field trip I have ever been on."

7. My teacher laughed so hard she fell out of her chair.

8. As the boy walked away, he looked back over his shoulder at me.

9. The audience cheered as I took my bows.

10. "Thanks," he said. "I couldn't have done it without you."

11. "I'm sorry," I said.

12. I guess my little sister isn't so bad after all.

13. Today was probably the most exciting day of my life.

14. Next time I won't sleep in and miss all the excitement.

15. I waved goodbye as the moving van pulled out of sight.

A Bright Idea

2006-07-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

Test your knowledge of inventors and inventions by matching each inventor with his famous invention. See if you can get them all right.

Inventors

1. Thomas Edison

2. Samuel Morse

3. Percy L. Spencer

4. Alexander Graham Bell

5. Eli Whitney

6. Steve Woxniak

7. Philo Farnsworth

Inventions

A. telephone

B. cotton gin

C. television

D. light bulb

E. personal computer

F. microwave oven

G. telegraph

Answers:

1. (D)
2. (G)
3. (F)
4. (A)
5. (B)
6. (E)
7. (C)

Don't Waste Your Summer Vacation

2006-07-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Summer is half over. Has your family done a lot of fun activities together? Well don't worry if you haven't. There's still time. I have some suggestions for what you can do during your last four or five weeks of lazy summer vacation.

A Trip to the Zoo

Families never get tired of trips to the zoo. Even if you went last summer and the summer before that. Zoos animals have new babies, zoos add new attractions, and your kids are older and will notice different things. So, if you haven't made it to the zoo this summer, you still have time.

Catch Fireflies Together

Help your kids slow down their pace by spending a lazy evening outside. Give them some glass or plastic containers and let them try to catch fireflies after the sun goes down. Just make sure that they let them go at the end of the evening.

Start a Garden

A family garden is a hobby that the whole family can enjoy. Go to the nursery together and let everyone choose what they want to plant. You could plant a flower garden or a vegetable garden. Even the smallest hands can help by watering seeds or plants.

Trip to the Toy Store

Nothing beats boredom like a new toy. Even grownups can find something at a toy store to entertain themselves. Buy a new boardgame that the whole family can enjoy or a 1,000 piece puzzle. There are endless possibilities for summer fun like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, scooters, etc.

Create a Travel Scrapbook

If your family has already taken a vacation, you probably have lots of pictures that could use a home. Spend an evening together creating a family scrapbook. Everyone in the family can add designs and special momentos from their trip.

Weekend Camping Trip

If your family hasn't taken a summer vacation, maybe you would have time for a short weekend camping trip. You could even do a daytime camping trip if mom and dad have to work in the summer. Load up the car with fishing poles, bathing suits, hiking gear, and great food to grill. Don't forget the marshmallows!

Stargazing
Summer evenings are perfect for gazing at the stars. Your family could lie out in the backyard on a blanket and point out the various constellations. You could also purchase a reasonably priced telescope and a book about the stars. It's a nice way to reconnect with each other and have a chance to talk.

I hope your family enjoys one or more of these activities. Have a great summer!

Firefighter Birthday Party

2006-07-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

What child doesn’t look up to the brave firefighters? Let your birthday boy or girl get a chance to imitate their hero. You and your guests will put out fires, rescue babies and enjoy some refreshments when your work is done. What a hot party!

INVITATIONS

You will need white, red, and orange construction paper, glue and a red marker. Cut out orange and red construction paper in the shape of a fire. Glue them on the bottom of the invitation. Across the top write the words: Where’s the Fire? It’s at ____’s Firefighter Birthday Party. Include the date and time of the party, your address, and R.S.V.P. and your phone number.

DECORATIONS

Hang red and orange “fire” streamers from the ceiling. Use red plastic fire hats as place settings at the table. (You might be able to get these from a local fire station). Print the name of a different guest on each hat. The Fire Engine cake can be the centerpiece of the table.

Dalmatian Dog Place Mats

You will need black and white construction paper. Cut white construction paper into a large circle. Using a black marker, draw a face of a Dalmatian dog onto the paper. Cut out black ears and black spots to glue onto your dog’s face. Put a small piece of pink paper for the tongue.

MENU

Serve “Fire House Dogs” (recipe below) with potato chips and a fruit plate. For the grand finale, serve “Put out the Fire Punch” and Fire Engine Cake.

Fire House Dogs

Use 2 packages of refrigerated crescent roll dough and 2 packages hot dogs. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Wrap each hot dog in a crescent roll and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes. Serve with ketchup and mustard.

Put out the Fire Punch

Mix 2 liters of ginger ale with one pint of strawberry ice cream.

Fire Engine Cake

Bake a sheet cake using your favorite mix. Frost the cake with white icing. Using red cake decorator icing from a tube, draw the outline of a fire engine on the cake. Oreo cookies can be used for the wheels.

ACTIVITIES

Save the Baby

Time children as they race through the obstacle course to save a baby (doll). This can be set up in the backyard. Children can climb a ladder and go down a slide then climb through a tunnel (empty box set on its side) then they will use the hose to pretend to put the fire out before they save the baby. The little firefighter that completes the obstacle course in the shortest time will win a small prize.

Hot Potato

Have children stand in a circle. Set a kitchen timer for a minute or two. Use a stuffed Dalmatian dog to play the game of Hot Potato. Children will toss the animal around the circle until the timer goes off. The child holding the animal when the timer goes off must sit down. Continue playing until only one child is standing. Give a prize to the winner.

Stop, Drop and Roll

Divide the children into two teams. This game is to be played outside in a yard. An adult calls out “Fire, Fire. Stop, drop and roll.” The first child from each team will lie on their side and roll down a hill until they get to a designated spot. They stand up and call out the same thing to their next team member, who then rolls down the hill. This continues until all of the children have finished the race. The first team to have all of their members down the hill wins the relay. This will also reinforce the important concept of stop, drop and roll.

Dalmatian Dog Mask

Copy a picture of a Dalmatian dog from coloring book pages onto thick paper. Have children color masks with crayons or markers. Help them cut the masks out. Be sure to cut out holes for the eyes. Punch a hole on each side of the mask with a hole puncher. Measure off two pieces of string that are eight inches long. Tie one piece of string through each hole. Place the mask over the child’s face and tie behind their head. Children can pretend to be Dalmatian dogs.

FAVORS

Guests can take hoe the red plastic firefighter hats they wore during the party. Other ideas are squirt guns, fireball candy, and fire safety coloring books, which you can get from a fire station.

Logic Puzzles for Kids

2006-07-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

Just because it's summer, doesn't mean you can't give your brain a workout. Try to solve these fun logic puzzles. The answers are at the bottom.

How Old Is Jessica?

Nicole's father is four times older than Nicole is.
Nicole's sister Jessica is 2 years younger than she is.
Nicole's father is 36.
How old is Jessica?

Tara's Money

Tara has ten coins that add up to $1.00. Six of the coins are dimes. What are the other four coins?

Easy as Pie

A mother had four children. She served pie for dessert after dinner one night. She sliced the pie into pieces. Tom got 1/2 of the pie, Lauren got 1/4 of the pie, Nick got 1/4 of the pie and Stephanie got 1/4 of the pie. When the mother finished serving pie she put 3/4 of a pie away in the cupboard. How is this possible?

A Litter of Kittens

How many kittens does Rachel have if all are brown except three, all are white except three, all are black except three, and all are gray except three?

Answers:

How Old is Jessica: Nicole is 9 because 4 x 9 = 36

Tara's Money: They are also dimes.

Easy as Pie: The mother baked 2 pies.

A Litter of Kittens: 4 kittens: one brown, one white, one black and one gray.

On Vacation

2006-06-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

To: Family-friend readers:

My family will be on vacation for the next week and a half. I won't be posting to my blog during this time.

Renee Kirchner

Make the Most of Family Meal Time

2006-06-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Summer is a great time to reconnect with family. Use this slow-paced time of year to rediscover family mealtime. Children, both young and old, can benefit from time spent at the family dinner table. Family meals can improve relationships between parents and kids, provide a feeling of safety and security, and improve your children's social development. Here are a few tips for making the most of your family mealtime together.

What to Expect

* Don't set your expectations too high. Family mealtimes give parents and kids a chance to discuss the events of their day together. Try not to focus on who is cleaning their plate and put more of the emphasis on being together and sharing stories.

* If you set a routine of eating together for five or more days a week, your kids will come to expect it. If they are used to eating at separate times or worse, eating in front of the TV every night, it may take some time to make family mealtime a habit.

* Try to eat together as often as possible but realize that older children have many activities that might prevent them from joining your family at mealtime. Try to be flexible and work around their schedules.

Mealtime Problems

* What if your kids don't want to eat what you are serving? Do not become a "short order cook". Make sure that you have some familiar foods like biscuits and jelly or a fruit salad if you are preparing a new entree. Kids won't starve if they can find something they like to eat at the table.

* What should you do if your child says they are not hungry? Ask them to join your family at the table. Maybe they could just have a glass of milk and join in the conversation at the dinner table. This will let them know that family dinner time is about more than eating.

What Can We Talk About?

* The most obvious topic is to discuss what happened during everyone's day. Did your kids have a good day in school? How was work? Does anyone have a funny story to tell?

* You could discuss what you want to do for the rest of the evening or the next day.

* Your family could talk about current events or the latest books they have read.

* Parents can pass down stories about their childhood. Talk about family traditions and memories.

FATHERS: BEFORE AND AFTER KIDS

2006-06-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all of you wonderful fathers out there. Celebrate your special day by relaxing and spending time with your families. I have written a list of activities that you may have enjoyed before you were a father and those that you might enjoy now.

Before Kids

Playing 18 holes of golf

Spending a romantic evening with your wife

Shopping for a new sports car

Grilling nice steaks on the grill

Taking an exotic vacation with your wife

Climbing the corporate ladder

After Kids

Playing putt-putt golf

Spending an evening playing board games with your kids

Shopping for a new toy car for your son

Grilling hot dogs on the grill

Taking a trip to Disneyland with your family

Climbing the ladder for the high dive at the pool

Garden Party

2006-06-17T07:14:00.000-07:00

Celebrate a summer birthday with a garden party. This party may be held inside or out but it is best if some of the activities can be done outside. Have your guests dress in casual clothes so they can get messy.

Invitations

You will need white and yellow construction paper, glue and some markers. Fold a piece of the white paper in half. Cut a flower out of the white paper being careful to leave two of the petals joined together. Cut out a yellow circle and glue in the center of your flower. Open the flower to write the invitation inside. Be sure to include your own name, date, address and R.S.V.P. and phone number inside the invitation.

Decorations

Decorate the table with a flowered tablecloth. Use a tin watering can as a vase and place cut flowers in it for your centerpiece. Set new, clean garden tools on the table to use as serving spoons for sunflower seeds or for the fruit salad.

Seed Packet Napkin Rings

You will need cardboard tubes, construction paper, scissors, glue and packets of seeds. Cut a 2-inch section from a cardboard tube. Cover the section with construction paper. Glue one seed packet onto each napkin ring. Insert the napkins into the napkin rings and lay one at each place setting.

Menu

Serve Garden Pizzas with fruit salad and sunflower seeds. For the grand finale, serve "Sunshine Punch" and Dirty Cupcakes.

Garden Pizzas

Use refrigerated pizza dough to make individual pizzas. Let children create their own pizza. Supply them with tomato sauce, mozzerella cheese, and an assortment of veggies such as mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. Some of your party guests may prefer plain cheese pizza.

Fruit Salad

Mix together strawberries, cantaloupe, banana slices, or any other favorite fruit.

Sunchine Punch
Mix 2 liters of orange soda with one pint of vanilla ice cream.

Dirty Cup Cakes

Bake cupcakes using your favorite cake mix. Frost the cupcakes with chocolate icing. Crumble crushed oreo cookies on top to make the cakes look dirty. Place gummy worms or gummy bugs on top for decoration.

Place a bowl of sunflower seeds or toasted pumpkin seeds in the center of the table as a snack for children.

Activities

Pin the Bee on the Flower

Using a poster size sheet of white construction paper, draw a large flower. Hang the poster up on a door or a wall before the party. Make a small bee out of construction paper for each of the children. Place a piece of tape on each of the bees. Have children line up one at a time, blindfold them and ask them to pin the bee on the flower. Give prizes to the children who get their bee in the correct place.

Decorate Terra Cotta Pots

Buy a 4" terra cotta pot for each of the children. Supply the children with paint, stickers, ribbons and glue and have them each decorate a pot. They will be able to take these home as party favors later.

Planting Flower Seeds

Let the little gardeners plant flower seeds in their terra cotta pots. Have garden tools, dirt, flower seeds and a watering can available for them. Let them get messy since the invitation asked them to wear old clothes. If you have a small plot of dirt in the backyard let them plant a flower garden.

Bean Bag Toss

Place dried beans into snack size zipper baggies to make beanbags. Use two large empty coffee cans as targets. Line the children up in two teams. Give each team five beanbags. The children on each team will take turns tossing the beanbags into the coffee cans. They each get five tosses. The team that gets the most beanbags into the target wins. Give out prizes to the winning team.

Favors

Guests can take home the flower seed packets from their napkin rings as well as the terra cotta pots they decorated. Other ideas are gummy worms, flower stickers, and gardening gloves.

Summer Safety Tips

2006-06-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

Summer means a break from your everyday routine. Kids are outside enjoying the sun and the water. Summer is also the time of year when more injuries occur. Make sure you keep your family safe this summer while they're having fun. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

Water Safety

* Never leave young children alone in a swimming pool. They should be supervised at all times.

* Enroll your children in swimming lessons at a young age. You will have less to worry about when you are around water if they know how to swim well.

* Stop swimming at the first sign of bad weather. Don't stay in a pool if you have seen a flash of lightning, even if it is in the distance.

* Make sure everyone, children and adults, wear a life vest when riding on a boat. If the boat stalls in the middle of the lake, even the best swimmer would have trouble making it to shore.

Sun Safety

* Don't go outside when the sun is the strongest, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

* You need to apply at least one ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your body at least 30 minutes before you go outside. Don't skimp on sunscreen and don't try to stretch the amount you get out of each bottle.

* Sunlight can damage your eyes, so don't forget to wear sunglasses that will protect you against UV light.

Bike Safety

* The best tip for staying safe on a bike is to wear a bicycle helmet.

* Tires should be properly inflated. Pinch the tires at least once a week and fill them with air when they get low. Bike accidents are more likely when riding on improperly inflated tires.

* Teach your children the rules of the road. They need to understand that they must follow traffic signs just like a car.

* Don't ever let your children ride with someone on their handlebars or the back of their bike seat.

Car Trip Safety

* Make sure that you learn how to properly adjust and install your children's car seats. All children ages 12 and under should ride in the back seat of the car.

* Always travel with a supply of food and water in the car, especially if traveling long distances through sparsely populated areas. You never know when the car might break down and you will have to go for help or wait for help.

* Make sure car tires are properly inflated before beginning a long trip. You should also check the condition of the spare tire and make sure you have tools for changing a tire before you leave the house.

Have a happy and safe summer!!

Art Exercises Using Lines

2006-06-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

Artists use lines to show movement in their paintings and drawings. Straight, slanted lines seem to march across the page. Long, curvy lines dance across the page. Some lines are short, some are long, some are straight and some are wavy. Different lines create different moods. Artists create patterns by repeating lines, shapes, or colors in their artwork. Here are some art terms you should know:

Line - Lines can take many forms such as straight, curvy, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. Artists use lines to show movement and motion.

Shape - A shape is formed when a line joins itself. A shape may be geometric such as a triangle, square, or circle. A shape may also be organic such as shapes found in nature like rocks or leaves.

Pattern - Artists create a pattern by repeating a line, shape, or color over and over again.

Rhythm - Artists create visual rhythm by repeating art elements and creating patterns.

Art Exercises using Lines

1. Draw or paint lines to music. Change the tempo of the music to change the rhythm of the painting.

2. Use crayons to draw stars and moons like in Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night painting. Repeat shapes. Add swirls to the picture. Paint over the crayoned sky with black paint (crayon resistant paint).

3. Line paintings - Dip yarn or string in paint and use it to paint a picture by dragging the yarn across the paper to make interesting patterns.

Art Books to Read with Kids

1. Art Lesson by Tommie de Paola

2. Art by Patrick McDonnell

3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Can You Find It Outside? by Jessica Schulte

THE BEST FAMILY MOVIES

2006-06-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

My family loves to watch movies, especially during the summer months when the pace of our life is slower. If you're like most families, you go to the latest releases section of the movie store and look there. Why not watch some movies with your family that you might have forgotten about? I have compiled a list of G and PG movies that my family has really enjoyed and I think yours will too. Here is my list of our top ten family movies:

1. Where the Red Fern Grows

Rating: G
Time: 98 minutes
Synopsis:

You had better get the tissues handy because this movie will make you cry. Set during the Great Depression, Billy is a young boy from the Ozarks. He wants some hunting dogs more than anything in the world. His family can't afford to buy Billy dogs, so he works and saves his money for two years to buy some red-bone coon hounds. Billy's grandfather is one of the biggest influences in his life and helps him make his dream come true. This movie has adventure, action, drama and ultimately tradgedy. The ending is one of the best I have ever seen. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

2. A Christmas Story

Rating: PG
Time: 96 minutes

Synopsis:

This Christmas classic about an Indiana family is set in the 1940's. Nine-year old Ralphie desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. His mother, his teacher, and even Santa tell him that he'll "shoot his eye out" if he gets the gun. He begins an all out campaign until Christmas day to convince Santa and his parents that the gun is safe. This movie is filled with hilarious family scenes including one where Ralphie has to wear a bunny suit and another scene with turkey stealing dogs from next door. Don't wait until next Christmas to rent this movie. It's too good to wait that long.

3. Ice Age

Rating: PG
Time: 81 minutes

Synopsis:

Of all the animated movies I have watched with my kids, this is my favorite. During an ice age migration a friendship forms between an unlikely trio of animals. Manny the wooly mammoth, Sid the sloth, and Diego the tiger work together to rescue a baby and return him to his tribe. The story centers around their journey and the adventures they have along the way. Prepare to laugh yourself silly.

4. The Sandlot

Rating: PG
Time: 101 minutes

Synopsis:

This story of a boy's first summer in a new town is set in the 1960's. Scotty Smalls, a dorky fifth grader, is worried that his summer will be a bust. Luckily he lives near the coolest member of a neighborhood gang. Scotty learns how to play baseball and makes tons of friends in the process. They play ball on an old sandlot that backs up to a house with a huge, monstrous dog. This fun and warmhearted movie will have you remembering the simple pleasures of being a kid in the summertime. It is a winner for the whole family.

5. Holes

Rating: PG
Time: 114 minutes

Synopsis:

Stanley Yelnats has been sent to a Texas juevenile detention camp called Camp Greenlake for stealing a pair of tennis shoes. Every day Stanley is required to dig a hole that is five feet wide and five feet deep with a shovel. The warden tells him that this exercise is to develop his character, but is that the real reason all of the boys are digging holes? This movie was made from a novel by the same name by Louis Sachar. I enjoyed the interesting subplots that tied the present with the past. Everyone in your family will enjoy this original story with a picture perfect ending.

6. Daddy Day Care

Rating: PG
Time: 85 minutes

Synopsis:

This is one of Eddie Murphy's funniest family movies. He plays Charlie, a father and ad executive who loses his job. He and his friend Phil decide to open a day care center when they have trouble finding quality day care for their kids. Although parents are reluctant at first to leave their kids with two dads, they soon have a booming business. There are many hilarious scenes between the dads and the kids, including a classic bathroom scene, a wrestling match between two vegetables, and sugar induced chaos. No matter how many times I watch this movie with my kids, they always laugh, even when they know what is coming next.

7. Finding Nemo

Rating: G
Time: 100 minutes

Synopsis:

Marlin, an overprotective father, is on a quest to find his young son Nemo, a clownfish, when he wanders too far from home and is captured. Marlin has many exciting adventures along the way and makes interesting new friends. He meets up with Dory, a blue tang fish with a memory problem. The voice talents in this animated movie are a big part of what makes it great. Marlin is voiced by Albert Brooks and Dory is voiced by Ellen DeGeneres. She is hilarious as Dory and the perfect free spirit complement to Marlin's uptight personality. Your family will love this film!

8. Home Alone

Rating: PG
Time: 103 minutes

Synopsis:

Kevin, a young 8 year old boy, finds himself home alone at Christmas time when his family travels to France for vacation. At first he is very happy to have the house to himself, but then he realizes he misses his family. The main part of the plot is when Kevin discovers that burglars are hitting houses in his suburban Chicago neighborhood. He decides that he needs to defend his home against two bungling burglars. He sets traps in every area of his house including broken glass ornaments by the living room window, a nail gun by the kitchen door, and heavy paint cans suspended from the ceiling. This movie is an action-packed film that is great to watch any time of the year.

9. The Indian in the Cupboard

Rating: PG
Time: 95 minutes

Synopsis:

This is one of the more original movies I have ever seen. Omri receives a very special gift for his ninth birthday. The magical wooden cupboard he receives can transform plastic toys into living, breathing animals and people. Omri first puts a toy Iroquois Indian into the cupboard and Little Bear comes out. Of course Omri wants to find out what would happen if he brought a cowboy to life. Then we watch the fireworks as the cowboy and the Indian discover each other. This terrific family movie teaches important lessons as it entertains.

10. Back to the Future

Rating: PG
Time: 109 minutes

Synopsis:

This time travel movie centers around the premise of being able to travel back in time and change future events. Marty McFly, a teenager in 1985, travels back in time using a time machine invented by Doc Brown. He gets sent back to 1955 where he runs into his mother and father when they were his age. He prevents them from meeting and then he has to set the world straight again before he can return to the future. Christopher Lloyd is great as Doc Brown. The whole family will enjoy this comedy by Universal studios.

SWIM MEET

2006-06-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Brand new swimsuit
Goggles tight
Water is still.
Sun is bright.

Starter's gun sounds.
Dive right in.
Adrenaline rush,
Who will win?

Legs are kicking,
Arms pull through.
Stealing glances,
They are too.

Crowd is cheering,
I can't hear.
Water's splashing,
In my ear.

Flip turn push off,
always fun,
passing swimmers,
I have won!

HISTORICAL STORY STARTERS

2006-06-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

Try imagining yourself living during a different time period. Use the writing prompts to write a story with a historical perspective.

1. (Dust Bowl: Oklahoma) Today the dust blew so hard our fields looked like sand dunes. Ma and pa say we might have to move to California like all the other families. I don’t want to leave.

2. (Pioneer) Pa is loading the wagon again. He keeps searching for wide open spaces. I like living by other families, but he seems restless. “Where is Kansas?” I ask him.

3. (Civil Rights Movement) “Daddy says a man named Martin Luther King is coming over for dinner. He wants to talk about black and white children going to our elementary school together. I think it’s a great idea.”

4. (Mayflower – Pilgrims) It has taken months to cross the ocean. I never want to see water again. I can’t wait to get to America, the land of plenty.

5. (Oklahoma Land Rush) Pa told me that when the starter gun sounds we can race for our free land. I still can’t believe the land is free. Ma told me to lay down in the wagon because we’re going to be moving very fast. What an exciting adventure this will be.

6. (Civil War) Today I had to hide in the root cellar because we saw union soldiers crossing the land on our plantation. I hope nothing happens to Ma while Pa is away at the war.

7. (Women’s Liberation) My mom got a job today. I’m not sure how I feel about that. There have been a lot of changes in my house since she marched for Women’s Liberation.

8. (Gold Rush) Daddy says he will send for us when he strikes it rich in California. I wish I could go with him right now.

Interview with Children's Writers Jan Peck and David Davis

2006-06-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

I posted a teriffic interview with children's writers Jan Peck and David Davis at the Lieurance Group blog. If you have young children you will want to read the interview and find some great picture book titles to read to your kids. Check it out here!

SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS

2006-06-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

Summer has just started, but all across the country mothers are already hearing the dreaded phrase, "I'm bored! There's nothing to do." Don't panic. You can help your kids entertain themselves with a little creativity. I have compiled a list of ten summer boredom busters. Most of these activities cost little or no money and most of them do not require hours of your time. Once you get your children to think creatively, they will be able to come up with many ways to entertain themselves.

1. ARTS AND CRAFTS CENTER

Set up an arts and craft center on your dining room table. You only use the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas anyway. You will be amazed at what your children can create with a few simple supplies. Set out construction paper, scissors, crayons, glue sticks, craft sticks, cotton balls, markers, and glitter. If you have an arts and crafts book handy, put that on the table too. One idea will act as a springboard for many more. My daughter can entertain herself all day with an arts and crafts center.

2. TAKE A LISTENING WALK

I do this activity with my students at school and they just love it. First we read The Listening Walk by Paul Showers. The story is about a little boy who goes on a walk and hears all kinds of interesting things. Tell your children that they are going on a listening walk. They will not be able to talk during your walk. Instead they must listen to all the sounds they hear around them. When you get back from the walk see who can list the most sounds that they heard. Did everyone hear the same sounds? The results might surprise you.

3. PET SITTING

Your family could offer to pet sit for a neighbor. Take your children with you to the neighbor's house and ask them to help you. If you are taking care of a dog, your kids could feed the dog, take him on a walk, and brush him. If you are pet sitting a cat, your kids could help change the litter box and play with the cat. This activity is great during the summer months when your family is less busy. Your neighbor will appreciate your help and your kids can learn about responsibility.

4. MAKE A MOVIE

Does your family own a camcorder? If so, you can keep your kids occupied for days by letting them make their own movie. Ask them to write a script and hand out parts to everyone in the family or to some of their friends. They will need to learn their lines and make props. Once they film their movie they could sell tickets and have a screening at your house. You can pop some popcorn for your guests to eat while they watch the show.

5. BREAK A WORLD RECORD

When I was a kid I always thought it would be great to break a world record. My goal was to be in the Guinness Book of World Records for something. Get your kids a copy of the book from the library and have them flip through it until they find a record they think they can break. Maybe they could blow the largest bubble with bubblegum or jump rope the longest. You get the idea. This could occupy your children for many hours.

6. GROW A GARDEN

Give your children a small plot of land to grow a garden this summer. For a small amount of money you could buy them flower or vegetable seeds and let them test their green thumb. They can borrow your gardening tools or you could get them a small trowel and a gardening gloves. Just imagine how satisfied they will be when their flowers bloom or they can serve their vegetables at the dinner table one evening. They may develop a life long love of gardening.

7. CHILDREN'S YARD SALE

Have you noticed a lot of clutter in your children's bedrooms? Do they have way too many toys that they've outgrown? Let them host a yard sale in your front yard. Your kids can sort through their clothes and toys and mark them for sale. Give them a few tables and chairs and maybe some clothing line to string across two trees. They can set up a lemonade stand to quench the thirst of shoppers.

8. MAKE ERRANDS MORE FUN

Every day can't be a party. You have errands to run and household chores that need to be tended to. Make your everyday errands more fun by turning them into a game. When you go to the grocery store you can give older kids a list and see who is the first to bring back everything on their list. If you're running errands in the car have children play the alphabet game. Ask them to find all of the letters of the alphabet on signs before you get back to the house. The one who finds the most letters gets a prize.

9. TAKE A DAY TRIP

Once in a while you need to get out of the house. Take a day trip with your kids. If you live in the suburbs, go to the city. You could visit a science museum and have a picnic at a city park. An outing to the city zoo would be popular with older and younger kids. If you're feeling really adventurous you could travel to a small town that you've never visited. Find a local town that has an interesting draw like a lake, a wildlife preserve, an aviation museum or something that your kids would be interested in.

10. CAMPING IN THE BACK YARD

You don't have to travel far to get back to nature. It can be found as close as your back door. Plan a camping trip in your backyard one evening. Start with a cookout on the grill complete with roasted marshmallows. You and your family can sing campfire songs, tell stories, and look at the stars. If your family is not the camping type, you could probably borrow a tent from a neighbor who camps. Roll out the sleeping bags and spend an evening under the stars. Kids love anything out of the ordinary and this definitely qualifies as out of the ordinary.

MOMS: MAKE BETTER USE OF YOUR TIME AND GET YOUR LIFE BACK

2006-06-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

Worrying

Let’s face it, moms worry a lot about everything. We worry that our kids will get hurt; we worry that they won’t make friends. We worry that our kids aren’t eating enough; we worry that they are eating too much. We waste a lot of time and energy worrying about every area of our kids’ lives. You can’t control everything that happens to your kids, so stop worrying. Try to focus your energy on things you have control over rather than things you can’t control. You can provide a safe, comfortable environment and you can show interest in their schoolwork, their friends, and their hobbies. These are the jobs of a good mother. You can’t always protect them from bad things, like cut knees or hurt feelings. It’s part of growing up and they will learn and grow from it.

Waiting

Mothers spend an enormous amount of time waiting on their children. We wait in the carpool lane at school; we wait in the doctor’s office waiting room. We wait for them to finish their homework; we wait for them to pick up their clothes. Instead of just waiting in the car with nothing to do, we could be more productive. Bring along a novel to read or bills that need to be paid. I wrote an entire novel waiting outside my daughter’s preschool class one year. I could have driven home and wasted more time, but instead I chose to sit down at a table in the lobby and work on my novel. I had two hours twice a week of uninterrupted work. People stared at me, but I didn't care. I had a completed novel to show for it.

Cleaning up Clutter

A life with kids is a life filled with clutter. It is amazing how much stuff can accumulate over the years. Their clutter seems to spill out of their bedrooms into the hallway and down the stairs. If you are still picking up after your children, stop it right now. Children, as small as three or four, are capable of helping around the house. They can carry their toys and clothes back to their bedrooms. The earlier you start teaching them to be responsible for their own mess, the better off you will both be.

Entertaining your Children

At the first sign of boredom, children will call out to their mother, “There’s nothing to do. I’m bored.” Most mothers jump into action by rattling off suggestions of fun activities. I am so guilty of this one. I hate to see my kids bored. I don’t know why. Before you jump to their rescue, let them struggle a bit. Most kids are very creative and will think of something to do on their own. Try not to stifle their creativity as long as they’re not doing anything dangerous. Some of the world’s greatest minds were probably bored as kids and had to entertain themselves.

Never Saying No

Most mothers hate to say no to anyone for any reason. The PTA chairperson calls because she needs someone to help at the fundraiser. You don’t really have time for it, but you’re afraid to say no. Your child’s teacher needs more chaperones for the field trip. You have to schedule a babysitter for your youngest, but you don’t want to let the teacher down. Why? Mothers will become overscheduled and frustrated if they don’t learn to say no at least part of the time. If you are a stay-at-home mother people tend to take advantage of your time even more. Just because you don’t work at an office from 9 – 5 doesn’t mean that you don’t have responsibilities and time commitments. It’s ok to say no once in a while. Think of all the time you will save.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO MOVE?

2006-06-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

Summer time is prime moving time for families. Many families save big cross country moves until summer so their kids won't miss any school. One parent may have already started working in another city or state, but they commute back and forth every week until it is time for the big move.

My family has moved three times in the last two years and I moved all the time as a kid, so I consider myself a moving expert. Whether you are planning your first move or your tenth, it will go more smoothly with some advance planning. I have put together a moving check-list by month to keep you from forgetting important information.

Two Months Before Move

* You don't need to fill the moving van with items you don't need anymore. Clean out your old house by having a garage sale and donating items that don't sell to a charity.

* Call your friends and family and schedule time with them before you move. Put the dates on a calendar. Your life will get crazy and you want to make time to see everyone before you move.

* Meet with several moving companies and obtain estimates. Ask for references from previous clients before choosing a moving company.

* If you are packing yourself you need to start collecting boxes for the move. You always need more than you think. You will also need plenty of packing tape.

* Buy a special notebook or binder to keep all of the important move information. You can keep phone number of realtors, moving companies, utilities, schools, etc. in one handy location.

One Month Before Move

* Begin gathering all of the school and medical records you need for your family. The schools in your new town will need records from the previous school. Gather records from doctors and dentists to take to your new doctors. It is much easier to get them now, than to try to get them later. Don't forget to get pet records from your veterinarian.

* Fill out a change of address card at the post office. Send postcards to friends and relatives announcing your new address.

* Tell the following businesses about your new address:
Banks
Credit card companies
Utilities
Cable TV
Magazines or newspapers you subscribe to
Employer (to forward last paycheck)

* Start packing basements or little used areas of your house such as the attic or the garage.

* Set up bank accounts in your new city.

One Week Before the Move

* Make any special arrangements for the day of the move for your children or your pets. While the boxes are being loaded onto the moving van you may want pets and very small children to stay with relatives or a babysitter for the day. The house will be wide open, the air will be off and there will be a lot of noise and confusion. Once my cat was bubblewrapped inside a sofa during a moving day. It took a long time to figure out where she was.

* Get valuables out of your safe deposit box. Keep them with you during the move. Have the money from your existing bank accounts wired to your new accounts. It may take another week or two for all of your checks to clear so you can close out old accounts.

* Set up a date to turn off your old utilities and turn on the utilities at the new house. Don't forget to subscribe to the paper in your new town if you read a paper every morning. If you have been a good utility customer you should be able to get your deposits back.

* Start using up the food in the refrigerator so there won't be much left on the day of the move. Defrost your freezer and clean out the refrigerator.

Day of the Move

* Have a box of items that need to come off the moving truck first. This box will contain cleaning supplies, brooms, dustpans, etc. You will probably need to clean up some of the rooms in your new house before the boxes are unloaded.

* Double check every closet, cupboard, and room before you lock up the house and leave.

* Tip your movers before they leave in the moving van. Moving is hard work and they deserve it.

SWINGING

2006-06-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

I'm swinging to the clouds
I'm swinging to the sun.
Pump my legs back and forth,
Swinging is such fun.

With the wind in my hair,
I feel totally free.
There is no place on earth,
I would rather be.

TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN LIFE SKILLS

2006-05-31T05:28:00.000-07:00

Learning does not stop when the school year is over. Summer is a great time to teach your children valuable skills they don't learn in the classroom. The pace in summer is slower and less hectic. You will have more time to work with your kids one-on-one. During the school year I often tackle household projects on my own because it is easier and faster than showing my kids how to do something. During the summer I have more time and patience for teaching my kids.

When I talk about life skills I am referring to skills children will need to manage their own life. Some examples of life skills are cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, car maintenance, and other similar skills. Some of you may have small children and others may have preteen or teenage children. All children can learn how to help around the house if you give them age appropriate tasks.

Cooking

Young children can help in the kitchen by retrieving items from the pantry, washing fruits and vegetables, or measuring ingredients for your recipe. Make sure that you keep younger children in a safe area of the kitchen away from open flames or hot surfaces. Preteen children are old enough to learn more sophisticated kitchen skills. They can learn how to operate a can opener, mix ingredients with a mixer, or stir the contents of a saucepan. Teenagers are capable of acting as assistant chefs in the kitchen. If you start them early enough they will have valuable skills by this age. They might be skilled enough to prepare side dishes while you concentrate on the main dish. Let them prepare salads or read a recipe and follow directions to make muffins or cakes. Working in the kitchen together provides quality time with your kids. Neither you nor your children are distracted by the tv and you will have time to talk while you are mixing and dicing.

Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping is a skill that everyone will need to have. Surprisingly, some adults never mastered this crucial skill. In order to have a successful shopping trip you must learn to prepare and follow a list, stay within your budget, and get everything you need for the week in one trip. Younger children can help retrieve items from the shelves or put fruits and vegetables into plastic bags for you. Preteen kids can help you prepare the list at home and cross items off the list as you work your way through the grocery store. Teenage children should be able to follow your list, comparison shop, and help with unloading the groceries. If everyone pitches in and helps, grocery shopping won't seem so much like a chore.

Laundry

Laundry is such a huge chore that there should be plenty to go around. When my children were very small I used to ask them to go through my mismatched sock basket for me. They would match up all of the socks that did not have a mate. I was always amazed at how many pairs they could match up. You can even make a contest out of it and see who can match the most pairs. Elementary aged children make great laundry sorters. Ask them to sort your huge pile of laundry into manageable piles by color. This task is fairly easy for them and will save you a lot of time. Older children should be able to learn how to operate the washer and dryer. Make sure they understand that certain items are prone to shrinking and need to be hung up rather than dried. Older children can also fold clothes and carry them to the appropriate rooms. They are younger than you and have more energy.

With a little patience and a little extra work you can teach your children these life skills during the summer. Once they get in the habit of helping more around the house you will have more free time for fun activities with them.

SIMILE STORY STARTERS

2006-05-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

Similes are figures of speech that compare two unlike things using phrases that begin with like or as. Similes help you see pictures in your mind. Use the following similes as story starters to spark your imagination.

1. The ocean tasted salty as a pretzel when I swam in it on our first day of summer vacation.

2. The old sleeping bag smelled like a wet dog when we tossed it in the car for our scouting trip to Yellowstone Park.

3. The forest was as dark as midnight as we tried to find our way back out of the woods.

4. When I opened my front door I found a stray kitten that was as thin as a needle.

5. The sky looked liek pea soup the day the tornado ripped through our town. Let me tell you what happened.

6. Last summer was the hottest summer we ever had in Las Vegas, Nevada. The sidewalk was as hot as a skillet used to fry bacon and eggs.

7. The bat's wings came unfuled like the sail of a boat when he flew from his cave.

8. Our new teacher had red hair that looked exactly like braided yarn and when she talked her voice was like a wailing siren. I knew it was going to be an interesting year.

9. Hanging from the rope over the side of the mountain, the people on the track below looked like little ants.

10. The grass at the ballpark looked like bright green carpet on the day of the big game.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY

2006-05-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day! The last Monday in May has been set aside as a day of rememberance for brave soldiers who have died fighting for our country. Memorial Day has been around since the end of the Civil War, but it seems to be losing more of its significance every year. Please take a few moments out of your day to honor our fallen soldiers. Here are a few suggestions of activities you can do with your family today.

Moment of Remembrance

The National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed on December 2000. This resolution asks all Americans to pause for a moment of respect and remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Visit to Cemetery

Take your family to a cemetery and place flags or flowers on the graves of war heroes. If there is a member of your immediate family that fought and died in a war, today is the perfect day to visit their grave site.

Fly the US flag at half-staff

On Memorial Day it is customary to fly the US flag at half-staff until noon. If you don't have a flag at your house, today is the perfect day to get one.

Read a book about a war hero

Read a story to your children to remind them what this day is about. Here are a few suggestions:

"If You Lived At The Time of the Civil War" by Kay Moore

"A Picture Book of George Washington" by David A. Adler

"Beat the Drum - Independence Day Has Come" by Lee Hopkins

Wear Red, White and Blue

Ask every member of your family to wear a red, white, and blue outfit in honor of this special day. This will remind others in your community that it is a special day of remembrance.

Teach your children to observe Memorial Day in a special way. If you treat it like any other day off and take them to a movie or go shopping at the mall, they won't understand the significance of this day. Children learn by example. Be a good example to your children on this special day.

2006-05-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

GREAT GIFTS FOR TEACHERS

The end of the school year is just around the corner. Teachers deserve special thanks for all of their hard work during the school year. Show your child's teacher your appreciation with a thoughtful gift. Instead of the same old pencil and apple themed knick knacks, why not think out of the box this year. After speaking with the teachers I work with every day, I have a few suggestions inspired by thoughtful gifts that they have received.

Gift Certificates

Teachers are real people with lives outside of the classroom. Sometimes parents and kids forget this and shower teachers with school supplies like markers, pencils, and crayons. I'm sure a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, a bookstore, or a favorite department store would be much appreciated.

Homemade Gifts from Children

Every teacher I've ever talked to appreciates a homemade gift from a child. Do you have an artistic child? A beautifully illustrated card would be a cherised keepsake for years to come. Let your child decorate a beach bag for summer with a painting or stamps. Be sure to have them personalize it with their name and the school year they were in the teacher's class.

Give Teachers a Break

The end of the school year is very stressful for teachers. They have papers to grade, report cards to prepare and other last minute details. Teachers would love a little free time to finish up their school duties. Why not volunteer to take their recess or lunch duty? You could also volunteer to come to their class and read a story after lunch or teach the children an arts and crafts project. Any teacher would be greatful for free time that could be spent getting caught up.

Pamper Your Child's Teacher

Teachers could use a little pampering at the end of a long, stressful school year. You or your school PTA could welcome the teachers in the morning with a lovely breakfast in the teacher's lounge. Set out hot coffee and bagels with cream cheese. While your child's teacher is enjoying her breakfast, deliver a bouquet of flowers to her classroom. This would certainly get her day off to a good start.

2006-05-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

WHAT WE DO FOR FUN

Before Kids

Read a novel
Take a bath
Ride a bike
Go to a museum to see art
Eat at a restaurant
Watch a new movie
Shop for clothes
Go dancing at a club
Travel to Europe
Parasailing
Go to the ballet
Throw dinner parties

After Kids

Read a board book
Give baby a bath
Run behind a bike, pushing it
Go to your refrigerator to see art
Eat at home
Watch the same video 45 times
Shop for groceries
Dance baby around the living room
Travel to an amusement park
Flying a kite
Attend a ballet recital
Throw children's birthday parties

2006-05-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

GEOGRAPHY - I NEVER KNEW THAT!

Here are a few bits of geography trivia. When you take your summer vacation see if you can collect any more bits of fun trivia about geography.

- Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is twice the size of the island of Manhattan, New York.

- Approximately one-tenth of the earth's surface is permanently covered with ice.

- The Atlantic Ocean is saltier than the Pacific Ocean.

- The only continent without reptiles or snakes is Antarctica.

- The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% of the world's oxygen supply.

- Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world located on two continents.

- Maine is the only state in the United States with only one syllable in its name.

- Florida has twice as many lightning injuries and deaths than any other state.

- There are over 2,000 different species of cactuses.

- The Sea of Tranquility on the moon is deeper than the highest mountain on Earth.

2006-05-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

TEN TIPS FOR TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR TELEVISION

The TV is a prominent fixture in most American households. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the average child watches three hours of TV per day. That is an enormous amount of time to spend involved in such a passive activity. Just think of what they could accomplish if they used those three hours in a more constructive manner. I have compiled ten tips for taking control of the television in your house so it won't control you and your children. Hopefully, if you follow these tips, you will spend more quality time as a family.

1. Do not put a television in a child's room.

This is too big of a temptation for a child. It is too easy to turn the TV on before bed rather than reading a book. I know from my personal experience that I sometimes find it difficult to sleep after watching a TV show with a lot of action or tense drama. It is much easier to relax and sleep after reading a book.

2. Set limits on the amount of TV that can be watched each day.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a maximum of two hours of quality programming per day. Quality programming will vary from house to house, but could include educational shows on PBS, the History Channel, or the Discovery Channel to name a few.

3. Make sure homework is complete before the TV can be turned on.

I have always had a strict rule in my house that homework must be done before the tv can be turned on. I know from experience that if I let my kids turn on the TV after school, it is hard to get them to turn it off.

4. Eat family meals at the kitchen table rather than in front of the TV.

I think that this rule is very important for several reasons. First, children need time to talk about their day with parents. The dinner table is a perfect gathering place for families at the end of the day. If your family eats in front of the TV, you are missing out on great conversations. Second, children may not pay attention to how much they are consuming if they eat in front of the TV. With the rising rates of childhood obesity, children need to be conscious of what they are eating and how much they are eating.

5. Children are capable of entertaining themselves in other constructive ways.

Your children might surprise you if you are firm about setting limits on television viewing. Of course they may complain the first few times you tell them, but once they realize you are serious they will adapt. They might discover a hidden talent or hobby if they are allowed to use their creativity to entertain themselves.

6. Children learn through observation.

If you are constantly turning on the TV, chances are they will too. If they see you reading a book, working on a scrapbook, or cooking gourmet meals, maybe they will want to join you. Let your kids see you working on a project that you are passionate about.

7. Create a TV calendar for the week each Sunday night.

When you get the new TV guide in the Sunday paper sit down with your kids and select a few programs for the week. Get a special calendar to list the TV programs everyone in the family wants to watch. Give each member of the family, not just the kids, a set amount of viewing time. If you do your best to stick with the TV schedule listed on the calendar, your kids will adjust in time.

8. Schedule a weekly trip to the library.

Your kids will be more likely to read before bed if they have a good supply of reading material. Have your kids keep their library books on their nightstands. If the books are within reaching distance of their bed they might be more likely to pick one up.

9. Go for a family walk after dinner.

Don't let your kids plop down in front of the TV after dinner, they may never get up. Instead, take a family walk around the neighborhood. The walk will promote conversation and help everyone digest their dinner.

10. Find a new activity each week to replace TV time.

The website www.tvturnoff.org has excellent ideas of activities to take the place of TV time. You and your child could attend local plays, sign up for a class, climb a tree, or start a garden. These are just a few ideas, but I'm sure you and your family could come up with many more.

2006-05-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

DOGGIE PICTURE FRAME

If your children have a dog for a pet, they probably have hundreds of pictures of their pooch. Try creating this fun and easy craft to display one of their pictures.

Materials

- 3" x 3" picture frame (ceramic or wood)
- small dog biscuits
- tempra paint (various colors)
- craft glue
- photo of pet trimmed to fit frame

Instructions

1. Paint enough dog biscuits to cover border of frame and let dry

2. Glue dog biscuits onto border of picture frame and let dry
(Each side of the frame should hold one dog biscuit)

3. Insert photo into picture frame and display in your child's room

2006-05-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN

Traveling with children can be a challenge, but with careful planning your family can have a hassle-free trip. Your odds for having a successful trip will be better if you don't set your expectations too high and if you involve your kids in planning your vacation. I have grouped the travel tips by category.

Packing

1. When you pack the car, put the children's suitcases on top. Kids often need to get into their suitcases to retrieve something. By having the suitcases on top, you won't have to repack the car every time your kids need their things.

2. Don't forget to pack essential items such as sunscreen, pain reliever, calamine lotion, bandages, hats, sunglasses, or umbrellas. The gift shop in your hotel will charge quite a bit of money for these items if you should need to buy them during your trip.

Hotels

1. In order to keep your young children safe at your hotel room, you should bring along some child-proofing items. Plastic outlet covers, doorknob covers, and plastic ties for tying up drapery cords and electrical cords will give you peace of mind while you are living in your home away from home.

2. It is a good idea to bring your child's nightlight from home. Children won't be scared in unfamiliar surroundings with the glow of the nightlight for comfort.

Cars

1. My mother taught me a great trick when she went on a trip with my family to the beach. She brought a bag of new toys with her and she handed them out to my kids during our car trip. She gave them a new item about every two hours so they would have something to play with. You might try giving your children small items such as puzzle books, stickers, cards, stuffed animals, or crayons.

2. Pack each child a sack filled with snacks for the trip. This way you won't have to stop at a convenience store every time they get hungry. Make sure you pack healthy foods and include some small bottles of water.

Airplanes

1. Allow yourself plenty of time for check-in. When your kids travel with you everything takes twice as long.

2. Make sure that your children eat a substantial snack before they board the airplane. The pretzels and drink served by the airline might not be enough food for a long flight.

Souvenirs

1. Give each child a set amount of money to spend on souvenirs. Let them buy what they want even if you think the item is silly. This is a good lesson in budgeting.

2. Buy each child a small scrapbook before the trip. Take the scrapbook along and your kids can unwind at the hotel in the evening by pasting mementos into their books.

2006-05-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

Great Summer Reads for Kids of all Ages

If you are searching for some great summer reads for your kids, look no further. I have compiled a list of books for kids from preschool to high school to enjoy.

Ages 1-4

Mommy Hugs by Karen Katz, March 2006, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
This delightful counting book follows a mother and child throughout their day as they nuzzle, cuddle and hug. Mothers will love reading the beautifully illustrated book to their children.

Ages 5-8

Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker by Megan McDonald, April 2006, Candlewick Press.
Megan McDonald scores again with Stink, the popular character originated in her Judy Moody series. This time Stink is mad when he buys a huge jawbreaker at a candy store and it doesn't break his jaw as promised. He complains to the candy manufacturer and receives a ten-pound box of candy in return. Stink becomes so preoccupied with getting free stuff that he doesn't notice his best friend, Webster, has stopped talking to him. Will he be able to make things right with Webster? It will take some creativity.

Ages 8-12

Lunch Money by Andrew Clements, July 2005, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
I laughed all the way through this hilarious middle-grade novel. Greg Kenton is a young man with one thing on his mind: money. He loves to earn it, save it, and spend it. Greg has a brilliant idea while he is eating lunch one day. He realizes that his fellow classmates have a lot of extra money at their disposal. That day Greg's Chunky Comics business is born. He just wants to earn some extra spending money. Will he get rich quick or give up trying? Read this funny novel and find out.

Ages 10-13

Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant, April 2006, Alfred A. Knopf.
This tender coming-of-age novel will touch your heart. Georgia McCoy is struggling with loss of her mother and her withering relationship with her father. The story is told through journal entries Georgia writes to her dead mother. In the beginning of the novel Georgia receives a free membership to an art museum from an anonymous donor. Georgia secretly studies art at the museum and her natural talent blossoms. She gradually gains more confidence in herself which spills over into her everday life. This novel is full of richly drawn characters and has a very satisfying ending.

Ages 12-15

Crackback by John Coy, November 2005, Scholastic Press.
If you like sports and action, you will love this young adult novel by John Coy. Miles Manning is a star football player on his winning high school team. His team has a chance to go to state if they win the conference. Everyone from his dad to his coach and friends are pressuring Miles to be bigger and stronger. His best friend starts taking steroids and Miles must decide how badly he wants to win. The novel contains interesting subplots about a hidden family secret and his first teenage romance. Teens will enjoy this fast-paced novel even if they've never played football.

2006-05-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

The Perfect Mother's Day

When my family asks me this year, "What do you want for Mother's Day?" I will reply, "Don't get me anything." What I want is a perfect day, the kind of day that you can't buy at the mall and you can't wrap with beautiful paper or fancy bows. The old adage that the best things in life are free is certainly true.

My perfect day would begin with my family delivering a breakfast tray to my bedroom around 8:00 a.m. The tray would contain a hot cup of coffee, scambled eggs and toast with butter. My favorite sections of the newspaper would be folded neatly and placed on the side of the tray. For the next forty-five minutes to an hour I would be allowed to read and eat in bed without interruptions.

To me, Mother's Day is a day to celebrate being a mother. So I would want to spend the day with my husband and two children. My peaceful breakfast could be followed up by a family walk with our dog, Molly, or a family bike ride to a nearby park. Both activities are completely free and require nothing more than good weather.

I love surprises, so I would love for my family to surpirse me with an outing planned just for me. When I say an outing planned for me, I mean no hidden agendas for my husband or my kids. It would mean so much to me if they planned an activity that I would enjoy like a picnic lunch at the park, a trip to the zoo, or a visit to a new exhibit at an art museum. I think the key ingredient is that the other members of my family unselfishly give up their time to do something that I enjoy.

I love my "quiet" time, so an afternoon spent reading in a comfortable chair would be perfect. I could curl up with a blanket, a hot cup of tea, and a stack of books and magazines. What would my family be doing during my "quiet" time? I have a few suggestions. They could start a load of laundry or run the vacuum over the floor. What will they not be doing? Well, they won't be arguing over who has to do chores and they won't be asking me to drive them anywhere.

A perfect day wouldn't be complete without a perfect dinner. I don't mean going out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. A simple dinner at home would be just as nice, if I get a one day reprieve from cooking the meal and cleaning up afterward. My husband could grill some steaks or chicken on the grill. My kids could make a salad and baked potatoes. Enjoying a leisurely meal with my family is a luxury that we don't always have time for.

I know I'm asking for the moon now, but a family movie would round out a perfect day. It would be nice to watch a classic like, "The Sound of Music," or "The Wizard of Oz". Gathering everyone into the living room together would be a nice change of pace from our usual hectic evening schedule.

I feel more relaxed already just thinking about the perfect Mother's Day. I don't know if it will ever become a reality, but I can dream can't I? Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers out there. I hope you have the perfect day!

2006-05-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

Summer Story Starters

If you want to help your kids keep their writing skills strong during the summer, give them a little nudge with these summer story starters.

1
I saw a shiny object on the bottom of the pool. When I dove in the pool, I couldn't believe my eyes.

2
I set up a lemonade stand on my driveway. When I ran out of lemonade I decided to sell something really unusual.

3
My family doesn't have a pool, but I love to play in the water. My friends and I found a great place to swim.

4
We drove across the country during my summer vacation. It was a normal trip until we stopped at a gas station and a stranger walked up to our car.

5
My family went for a hike in the woods. Everything was fine until my dad stepped on a poisonous snake.

6
The best part about summer is sleeping in. One morning I slept so late I almost forgot about the most important day of my life.

7
I was so bored one day in the middle of summer I did something crazy.

8
My best friend was moving to a new state during the summer. We only had two weeks of summer vacation together. Here is what we did with our two weeks.

9
My family took a trip to the Grand Canyon. We rode mules to the bottom of the canyon. The trip took a turn for the worse.

10
My best friends and I built a secret clubhouse so the neighborhood bully couldn't find us.

2006-05-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

SLAM DUNK

Loud, crowded gym,
Take your seat.
New basketball,
Two left feet.

Hands are shaky,
Nerve is gone.
Whistle blowing,
Game is on.

Dribble slowly,
Gaining speed.
Sideways passing,
In the lead.

Line up the ball,
Shoot and miss.
Grab the ball back,
Take a risk.

Catch some good air,
Wow! Slam dunk!
Nothin' but net,
Totally sunk.

Originally published in Guideposts for Kids - March 2004

2006-05-11T05:40:00.000-07:00

It's Not Too Late to Plan for Summer

Summer is just around the corner. The school doors will be closing for good at the end of May. Don't panic! With a little planning, you will be able to keep boredom at bay.

Your idea of fun summer activities and your kids' ideas may not be the same. Since you want your children to enjoy their vacation, include them when you make plans. The first thing you should do is sit down with your kids and make a list of activities they want to do. Before you begin writing your list, set some guidelines. First, tell them how much money you are willing to spend on classes, camps, or activities. Next, talk about how much time they want to spend in structured activities and how much time they want to relax.

Here are a few suggestions of where to begin when planning for summer:

Your Local Library

Most local libraries have some sort of summer reading program. The library in my town lets kids sign up for the program and track the books they read during the summer. At the end of the summer the kids are rewarded with cool prizes for meeting their reading goals. This is always the first stop I make when planning summer activities for my kids. The best part is that it's free!!

Museums

Science museums, art museums, and natural history museums all offer programs for kids during the summer months. Is your child a science buff? Do they love to draw? Museum programs give kids the opportunity to learn while having fun. Programs will vary in length and cost, but it is a good place to investigate for summer activities.

Volunteer in Your Community

Why not take the opportunity to teach your children about community service while they have a few months off. You can even join them in their volunteer efforts and make it a family project. Young children might be able to volunteer to clean up trash at a local wildlife or nature center. Children ages twelve to 17 can volunteer with a parent with the SPCA. They need volunteers to walk dogs, play with cats and clean cages. Go to www.spca.org for more informaton. Children of all ages can volunteer their services with Habitat for Humanity. Kids as young as five can make a welcome basket for homeowners or sing a song at the house dedication. Look at www.habitat.org/ccyp/youth_programs for more information.

Classes at Local Colleges

Many local colleges offer summer programs for school-aged children. You might be able to find theater, art, or computer classes for your kids. Although some of the private colleges do charge quite a bit for classes, they are usually worth the money.

Hopefully you have learned some new places to look for fun summer programs and activities. I hope you have a safe, fun, and productive summer!

2006-05-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

LETTER WRITING STORY STARTERS

Young writers can sometimes be intimidated by writing. Most kids like the idea of writing a letter to someone. Letters are more fun to write than essays for school. Children can write the letter in their own voice and it feels more natural.

Try some of these letter writing story starters.

Dear Santa,

I've been very good all year long. Before I tell you what I want for Christmas, let me tell you a story about how good I have been. I...

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am not having fun at summer camp this year. I need you to come and pick me up early. You won't believe all the crazy things that have happened to me. First,...

Dear President Bush,

I think that you are doing a good job as President, but I have a few suggestions for how you can fix some of the problems in the United States. The first thing I would like you to change is...

Dear ZooKeeper,

My class recently visited your zoo on a field trip. I noticed that some of the animals did not seem very happy. I have a few suggestions for how you could redesign the zoo to make the animals more comfortable. First I would...

Dear Hollywood Movie Producer,

I had a dream the other night that could be made into a great movie. I think it could be a blockbuster! Here is my idea for the best movie of all time...

Dear Book Editor,

I have written a great children's story. I think it is even better than Harry Potter. I will enclose the story in my letter so you can decide if you want to publish it. Here it is...

Dear Astronaut,

I love studying about space travel in school. My goal is to become an astronaut just like you one day. I think that you should let me travel into space with you on your next mission because...

Dear Guinness Book of World Records,

I am writing to you because I have a very unusual talent. I would like you to come visit my hometown so you can see for yourself. I think you will put me in your latest record book because...

2006-05-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

HOW TO RAISE A WRITER

Encouraging children to write is even harder than getting them to read a good book. With a little creativity and persistence you can make writing more enjoyable and less like a homework assignment. Some suggestions will work better for your children than others. It will be a case of trial and error to see which activities will work best for your family. As a writer, I am always trying to think of ways to persuade my two children to write more. Here are a few suggestions for activities I have tried with my own family.

Have them write thank-you notes.

I have always encouraged my children to write thank-you notes when they receive gifts for special occasions. Not only does this practice teach them manners and common courtesy, it can go a long way towards showing them how writing is used in everyday life. My children know I expect this of them and they don't complain about it any more. I sit next to them and write my thank-you notes at the same time.

Get your children involved in planning their own birthday parties.

Children as young as three or four can help fill out their birthday party invitations. You can find fill-in-the blank invitations at most party supply stores. Let them write the address on the envelope and put on the stamp as well. You can sneak in a short lesson about mailing letters. Your kids will be so excited about their birthday party; they will hardly notice that you've asked them to write something.

Buy your kids a travel log before you take a family vacation.

Let each of your children pick out a notebook before your next vacation. They can decorate the front cover and give it the title: "Travel Log". Tell your children that the notebook is to record their special memories from the trip. At the end of each day's activities, have your children unwind by writing in their journal. They will remember more if they write in the journal during the vacation because the memories will still be fresh. If they want, have them glue souvenirs into the notebook. Small flowers, leaves, postcards, or travel brochures would add to the appeal of their travel diary.

Let your children see you writing.

In today's email environment, your children may not notice that you are composing letters to your friends via e-mail. Once in a while, let them see you writing an old-fashioned letter to a friend.