Deanna over at Just Deanna has all kinds of cute ideas for Valentine’s Day projects to make with your kids including the cute gummy bear treats pictured at left. Click here to read all about her Valentine’s Day card project ideas for kids!

Craft and Recipe blog Zakka Life has a tutorial for how to make the simple and sweet heart necklaces and cards pictured at left. Click here to see the directions.

One of my daughters is a fantastic reader and, like me, opts to read for a leisure activity. What a better way to connect on a one-on-one basis with my child than by translating something we both love into a way to spend time together?

I proposed the idea of starting a book club and she was enthusiastic about the idea. So, where to start?

Picking a book

Picking what to read may be the hardest part. You have three options:

• Pick a book that was a favorite from your childhood
• Let your child pick one of his or her favorite books
• Read something new to both of you and discover new books together

My daughter and I spent an hour or so in a bookstore in the children’s section with a knowledgeable salesperson who helped us choose “new to us both” books based on our reading preferences. We decided to read books that neither of us have read. If your bookstore doesn’t have staff that is well-versed in children’s literature, try your local library for book ideas.

How often will you meet? How often will you select a new book?

Like my other book club, we decided to meet once a month. We’ll go out on a mom-daughter date each month to discuss our chosen book. This gives us a great way to spend time together, and as my children get older, it’s a way to hopefully continue to stay connected.

I’m looking forward to not only keeping connected with my children, but in discovering new  literary treasures.

If you have a book club with your children, what are you reading?

When you sign up to use HatchedIt, you have access to your own calendar. All of your information is private (their default setting is private, and it only changes should you decide to share).

Invite other family members to get the fullest use of HatchedIt. You have a family calendar, your personal calendar, and you can also view events from your family members’ calendars – so long as they’ve not been designated as Private.

Not only can you use HatchedIt to track the events you and your family have scheduled – one of the coolest HatchedIt functions is the Group functionality.

Do you want to connect with your book club? Are you a “classroom parent” for your child’s class and need an easily digital meeting place to connect with the other parents without dozens of emails cluttering your inbox? You can create groups in HatchedIt to use as a “gathering place” or central location for communicating with your groups – all in one place.

Best of all, HatchedIt’s tools are completely free and easy to use – so you never have to remember to write your appointments on the fridge calendar again. In fact, they have an app for Android already and will soon have an iPhone app so I can update the calendar on the go and it’ll be accessible to everyone.

Which features do you love most for helping you stay organized?

This post was written as part of a sponsored campaign with HatchedIt. 

Thank you notes take time. Many adults have a tough time sitting down to write them. So how do we inspire our children to write thank you notes for the gifts they receive? It’s important. We want our kids to grow up understanding the value of gratitude. We want them to see their blessings. Teaching them to write thank you notes is a great step toward those ends. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start out with your children:

Model this skill for them. Our children learn so much more from watching us than from anything we can say to them. If they see that writing thank you notes and being deliberately grateful is important to us, they’ll be much more likely to adopt that for themselves.

Write them for the preschool kids. Even if the note is written by you and you encourage your preschooler to scribble something in crayon on the bottom, it is planting the seed. It’s showing your child very early on that this expression of gratitude is important.

Create templates for younger kids who can write a little. It’s unrealistic to expect the younger children to sit down to write a lengthy and descriptive thank you note. One way to at least introduce the concept would be to create a template for them. Type up something that has blanks where the item received, the giver and the child’s name would be written. Let your child fill in those blanks.

Encourage a quick turnaround. Though it is truly never too late to write a thank you, it really is best (and easiest) to write one as soon as possible. This is especially true of children, for whom the excitement of a new “thing” is quick to wear off. While they are still enthusiastic about the receipt of their gift, tap into that!

Foster their artistic flair. A thank you doesn’t have to be limited to words. Let your children color, draw or otherwise show their appreciation in an artistic way. One of the values of thank you notes is that it serves as a long-lasting momento for the gift giver. Just imagine how delighted great-aunt whoever would be to put a sweet picture colored by little Johnny on her refrigerator door!

Above all else, emphasize the importance of expressing gratitude. My parents frequently quoted Rabbi Hyman Schachtel’s famous “happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.”

photo credit

Clearing Up The Christmas Clutter

My children’s playroom is organized using a series of cubes I purchased from Pottery Barn. In each cube I have a bin labeled with what type of toy is contained in the bin. After each gift giving holiday, I take the time to clean out the toy bins. Pictured Above: My Children’s Playroom.

I follow these steps when I clean out my children’s playroom:

I take each bin and take any toys that are no longer age appropriate for either of my boys and put them in three piles:

1. The first pile is for the toys that are still in good condition. These I will donate to Goodwill.
2. The second pile is the trash pile.
3. The last pile is for toys that my younger son may appreciate in a couple of years. I put these aside to store in the garage.

I repeat the process with each bin.

Organization Tip

Toy organization Is A Breeze With Labeled Bins

• The bins I use for organizing Toys have a surface that you can write on with chalk. I label each bin by type of toy. I try to draw a simple picture of each type of toy on the bins so my children can identify what’s inside.

• You can also use canvas bins or shoe boxes and tape index cards to the boxes or use clear plastic bins – these are great because there’s no need to label them!
• One easy alternative to the cube system is to use an old bookcase to store your organizing bins in.

What are your must have organization items and tips? Leave a comment and let me know!

At some point, bundling up your new baby and hitting the road will happen.  It may just be a weekend car trip to visit relatives, or an airplane ride half-way around the world, but it will happen.  Traveling with a new baby does not have to be a daunting task.  It simply takes preparation, planning and some help.

How are you getting there?

Planning for a car ride is much different than planning for a plane trip (the two ways most of us travel), so we will consider some aspects separately, while some things remain the same no matter how you are getting where you are going.  First off, those things that remain the same.

Buy diapers when you get there and only carry enough for the trip. My family is wholeheartedly pro-cloth diaper.  However, when we travel, we get disposables.  Even most big-box stores carry decent disposables these days (without all kinds of funky chemicals).

Take more clothes than you think you will need. Most new moms figure out pretty quickly that a baby goes through many outfit changes a day.  Diaper leaks, spit-up and slobber all contribute to the need to change a babies clothes often.  Take clothes that pack well and are easy to clean.  Pack a small bottle of stain remover with you to treat stains before they set.

Breastfeed! It is free, portable, does not require clean bottles, is ready whenever your baby is hungry and creates an amazing bond between mom and baby.  How much better does it get than that?  If you are hesitant or self-conscious about nursing in public, get one of the cute nursing covers that are around.

For car rides.

Plan on your trip taking at least 25% longer than it did before baby. New babies need to nurse.  A lot.  And very frequently.  If your trip took 4 hours before, it will take at least 5 hours now, if not longer.  Even if you figure out the trick of nursing with the baby in the car seat, which requires you to get in positions even a contortionist would be proud of, you will still need to stop for burping, diaper and outfit changes.

You will need help. Sometimes the baby wants momma and no one else will do.  Having the ability to sit next to your baby while they are in the car seat and give them the comfort of your presence is often enough.

For plane trips.

A good baby carrier is a life saver. Getting through security, getting on and off the plane, and changing planes is made immensely easier with a baby carrier.  You can strap the baby to your chest (follow safe baby-wearing guidelines), grab your bags and go without having to wrestle with a stroller.

Make sure the baby is nursing during take-off and the descent for landing. Adults can voluntarily pop their ears by swallowing.  If your baby is nursing, their ears will pop and they will not be in pain from the pressure changes.

Most importantly, travel safely!

Teaching preschoolers about gratitude after Christmas is no easy task. Chances are your little ones have worn themselves out trying to get on Santa’s good side. The last thing preschoolers want is someone lecturing to them about gratitude and thankfulness right after they receive their presents. So, it’s up to parents to make learning about gratitude a fun experience.

Tips for Teaching Your Child About Gratitude

• Make it a point to have family members say what they are thankful for at the dinner table each evening. Typically this activity is saved for Thanksgiving. However,  for young children it is important to put an emphasis on gratitude on a regular basis, so that they will absorb the lesson.
• After Christmas, help your child clean unwanted toys out of his or her toy box, and go together to donate the toys to a local charity. Tell your child about the importance of giving to others, and explain that other children will be very grateful to receive the toys.
• Teach children about the importance of thank you notes, and explain why it is important to let others know that you appreciate their gift.

Quick Project

This year I am going to have my older son send thank you photos to each of his grandparents (see photo above). I thought having him hold the gift in the picture in front a a simple background he helped make would be a nice way to emphasize concept of gratitude this holiday season.

How To Make A Thank You Photo

1. Attach a piece of fabric to the wall. I used 1 yard of light blue felt that I purchased at a craft store.
2. Have your child help arrange the letters to spell out “thank you” on the background. You will obviously have to help your preschooler figure out how to spell “thank you.” I used vinyl stick on letters that I purchased at a craft store.
3. Next let your preschooler decorate the background however they want. We used double sided tape to attach die cut snowflakes to our background.
4. Have your child sit in front of the background with the item he or she is making the thank you photo for. Take your child’s photo and edit it however you choose. I used my iPhone to take the photo and edited it using the Picnik photo editing website.
5. Print the photo out and help your child mail or deliver the photo. It is important for preschool age children to see the physical result of their work (i.e. the printed out photo). This way they have concrete evidence of their hard work.

It is important to discuss the effects of gratitude with your child when you are finished making and delivering the photo. Discuss the following questions with your child:

1. Why is it important to show that you are thankful for a gift?
2. How do you think the other person feels when you tell him or her thank you for a present?
3. How do you feel when you tell the gift giver you are thankful?
4. What is gratitude?

Don’t despair if your child does not grasp the concept of gratitude right away. Be patient, and continue having daily talks about the concept of gratitude in your household.

How do you teach your children about gratitude? Leave a comment and let me know.

Here’s a remarkably easy craft that makes a delightful gift for grandparents, or a great decoration in the house. It’s a butterfly – made from your child’s footprints.

Here’s your supply list for this craft:

•two baby feet

•washable, nontoxic, poster paint

•old rags or sponge

•thick cardstock or canvas

•newspaper or tarp to cover work area

Instructions:

Wash and dry your child’s feet.

Designate a work area and tape down some newspaper or a tarp – this could will get messy.

Lay out your cardstock or canvas and determine where you’d like the prints to go.

Get some damp rags ready and keep them very close by for quick clean up if things get out of hand.

Apply a thin layer of paint to one of your child’s feet with an old rag or sponge. Use one color for the whole foot or one color for the top half and another color for the bottom.

Then firmly press the foot down on the cardstock. Position the foot so that the big toe is at the top outer edge of the butterfly wing.

Repeat the painting process for the other foot.

Press the other foot down next to the first one – about an inch away.

Allow the footprints to dry completely while you clean up your kid’s feet and marvel at how much of a mess you’ve made.

When prints are dry, use a sharpie to draw a simple butterfly body and antennae in the center of the butterfly.

Press your child’s thumbprint at the end of each antenna and you’ve got a fantastic little butterfly.

This is the season of giving. How better to emphasize that spirit of generosity than to get your whole family involved in volunteering or charitable activities? Here are a few of our favorite ideas:

• Sign up for a shift as a family at a local soup kitchen.
• Take a turn ringing the bell at a Salvation Army red kettle collection spot or take an angel from one of their angel trees to purchase gifts for this season.
• Make holiday cookies and take them to your local nursing home for some good old-fashioned caroling. Many of the residents there do not have local family members to come share Holiday cheer with them. You’ll put a lot of smiles on those faces!
• Contact local homeless shelters to see what is specifically needed. Then brainstorm ways for your family to address some of those needs.
• Make and deliver goody bags to a Ronald McDonald House for the families who will have to spend their holidays there this year.
• Consider foregoing some of your own gifts in exchange for purchasing something that could benefit an entire village or several families. Check out the catalogs for Compassion International or World Vision for ideas.

Whatever you choose to do, just be sure you emphasize the spirit of generosity this Christmas. It will make Christmas even more special to your whole family and will bring you together in a way that brightens the whole season!

photo credit

Teaching preschoolers to give gifts to others when their first language is “Mine! Mine! Mine!” can be especially challenging during the holidays. Giving presents to family, friends, and teachers can be frustrating and overwhelming for preschoolers on the lookout for Santa’s sleigh. However, a little bit of preparation can help gift giving be a little less painful for your preschooler this holiday season.

Here are some tips for getting preschoolers in the gift giving spirit:

• Teach your preschoolers about the different ways to give to others. From charitable giving to gifting presents to friends and family during the holiday season there are many ways to give.
• Talk about the symbolism behind giving during the holidays with your children. For example, if your family is Christian try reinforcing the story of  the birth of Christ on a regular basis during the holiday season.
• Read books about gift giving with your preschooler.
• Let your preschooler help pick out the presents your family gives to others throughout the holiday season. If your child plays a part in choosing the present, he or she will more than likely be excited about the act of giving.
• Use every teachable moment that comes up during the holidays to discuss gift giving with your preschooler. For instance, if you see a Salvation Army Bell Ringer when you’re leaving the store, allow your child to put a donation in the red bucket. You can use this opportunity to discuss gift giving in context.
• Be sure to explain that the best gifts come from the heart.

When I was a kid, we had one holiday tradition: On Christmas Eve, everyone would be allowed to unwrap one gift. It was something to look forward to – a way to calm the excitement of anticipation of the next morning. Beyond that, though, we weren’t a family that had traditions. When I became a mom, I decided to look for ways to incorporate things I love to do and things my children love to do, and create traditions of our own.

Traditions should be activities and events that bring you joy. I am not good at arts & crafts, so my traditions steer clear of those types of things (If that’s your forte, by all means, find a way to create traditions around it). While learning new things is fun, I wanted traditions to be fun, carefree, and joyful… not stressful. The idea is not to create another obligation, but to create things you will look forward to year after year.

Because I love to bake, our traditions are kitchen-centered. We host a holiday cookie decorating party each year. I prep by baking hundreds of gingerbread and sugar cookies and preparing icing, and then my kids invite their friends over to decorate cookies. We cover the table with tablecloths (or garbage bags, in a pinch!) and let the kids go wild with sprinkles and colored sugars. Each child takes home his or her masterpieces. You can try this recipe (with or without the eggnog frosting!).

On Christmas eve, back into the kitchen we go – the children and I prepare Monkey bread (we only make it one time each year, so the novelty doesn’t wear off). Christmas morning, while the family is unwrapping gifts, the monkey bread is rewarming in the oven on low heat so that once the presents are open, breakfast is served!

Our traditions don’t always involve the kitchen – and yours don’t have to either! What are the things you love to do with your kids? Make those your tradition! Some ideas are:

• Christmas Eve game night – find all those board games you love and neglect the rest of the year, and set aside a few hours to play some games!
• Writing letters to members of the family telling them what you appreciate about them (this one works year round!)
• Go on a family trip to look at holiday lights – perhaps you rate them and each family member declares a winner
• Adopt a family to treat with gifts for the holiday – make it a family trip to the store to select items for your adopted family, and show your kids that truly happiness comes from giving
• Purchase an Elf on the Shelf and know that your kids will be kept under the elf’s watchful eye for reporting back to Santa (are they on the nice list this year?!)

Whatever your tradition, if it is created around activities that you and your family enjoy, it is sure to be a part of your holiday experience year after year.

Food Challenges

My children ended up sick after holiday visits. It took a few years to develop some strategies. I hope some of these ideas are helpful for you.

Does this happen to your family:

Grandma Rosie wants to give the kids her famous brownies. Aunt Liz wants to give the kids home made sugar and artificial color-based candy. Uncle Tom caries tootsie rolls in his pocket that he gives out. Great Aunt Rita made fudge, and eight year old cousin Suzie wants to share her rice crispy treats.

Next thing you know the kid who is sensitive to sugar is bouncing off the walls along with the one who is sensitive to artificial color! Behavior problems follow and lots of negative interaction from the adults, including “tsk tsk” sounds from Grandma Rosie, head shaking from Uncle Tom. Mom and dad probably get a stern talking to from great aunt Rita! And all before anyone sits down at the table.

There are some strategies parents can use to take back the reigns without hurting anyone’s feelings.

Behavior Challenges

There are many causes of behavior problems during visits. Some children have a difficult time with schedule changes. Teens/preteens may have special social anxieties. Kids may be hungry, overtired or over-stimulated. They may have over-eaten and are suffering from indigestion. Coping strategies that work at home may not work for them when visiting.

Tips

1. Think ahead. What happened during the last family visit? Try to figure out what might have made a difference and make a plan.Sometimes holiday visits are more adult-centered. If your children were bored, talk to them about bringing one toy or game that they can share with the other kids.
2. Also, for boredom, consider talking to the other adults about taking turns supervising games.
3. If your children had too much junk or sweets before dinner, talk to the other adults about waiting until after dinner to put out the sweets and desserts. Ask if they might consider not putting out plates of cookies and candy dishes.
4. Make a deal with your kids. Make or buy a special bag to put snacks in for later. Tell them if someone gives them something sweet before the meal or something they know they shouldn’t have, to thank the person profusely and put it in their special bag “for later.” Tell them it can be like Halloween candy except that you are going to double their treats later. Offer them treats that they love but that are more healthful. Offer even more if they will give up some of the things they really shouldn’t have.
5. For toddlers and babies, be firm and tell adults in advance that they don’t eat certain things.
6. Ask in advance where your infant/toddler might be able to nap safely, or an overstimulated child might get quietness.
7. Bring a healthy high protein snack in case dinner is delayed to prevent grumpiness.
8. Give out lots of hugs!
9. Make eye contact with your kids throughout the visit. Wink. Smile. Thank them for playing nicely or for good manners. Catch them doing good!
10. Reassure your teen/preteen that you’ll be available if they need to talk to you..

With just a little planning, family visits can potentially create even more great memories!

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about enjoying time together with family. It’s supposed to be about expressing gratitude for the blessings in our lives. But really? It can be a stressful pain in the neck if we are not careful. So here are a few tips for taking some of that stress out of Thanksgiving in hopes of avoided a mommy meltdown of epic proportions.

• If it can be done in advance, do it in advance. Don’t put things off until the last minute with the shopping and cooking and cleaning. Doing things under that kind of pressure is just a recipe for disaster. Shopping ahead will yield better deals and much fewer headaches. Preparing some of the food ahead of time will give you more time with the family instead of extra work in the kitchen.
• Go ahead and ask for help. If your house is the gathering place for this year’s festivities, why not ask others to bring a side dish or dessert? Or co-op Thanksgiving dinner with a neighbor or friend. You make double the pumpkin pie if she makes double the macaroni and cheese. You’ll save money and time that way.
• Don’t be embarrassed to buy some of the meal already prepared. Though it’s going to cost you more money, you’ll save time. And if your extended family is only together a few times a year, that time is likely more valuable than the extra money you spend on the food.
• Decide now to let some things slide. Don’t try to be perfect. No one will notice anyway. What they will notice, though, is if the hostess is having a fit of grouchiness because she’s wound more tightly than a slinky.
• Accept the fact that your kids will be “off.” Schedules and routines get all out-of-whack during the holidays. It’s really unavoidable. The more you can do to prepare yourself for those inevitable manifestations of exhaustion, the better off you’ll be.
• Resolve to not let those annoyingly hyper-critical relatives get to you. If your aunt comments on how unruly your children are being (reference above bullet point), just let it roll off your back. If your great-uncle starts criticizing your choice to homeschool the kids, just smile and change the subject. It’s one day. You can’t change those folks who are determined to focus on the negative, but you can choose to not let it bother you.
• Be sure to keep everyone focused on the reason for your gathering. It’s not about the turkey. It’s not about the football. It’s about giving thanks. If your family is spending time doing just that, you’ll all be much happier.

photo credit

Rory’s Story Cubes
Not all games to challenge your kiddo’s mind need to involve a computer screen – Rory’s Story Cubes let your child flex his creative muscles. Whether it’s used as an ice breaker or solo to help hone literacy development, for under ten dollars, these cubes provide hours of imaginative entertainment.

Sole Skate
Is your son active and on-the-go? Razor’s Sole Skate is very nearly the size of  a shoe and has three wheels. Easily carried, or can be wheeled around the neighborhood. This smooth ride is recommended for kids ages 8 and up and retails for just $25.

Animal Hands
Do you have a son who loves animals? These temporary animal tattoos are a huge step up from shadow puppets (who can ever tell what those are anyway?), and at just $6.99 for a set of 8 animal tattoos, this adorable gift would make an excellent stocking stuffer.

Nintendo DSi XL
At $169.99, this gift is on the pricey side but game systems are always a huge hit and the XL’s larger gaming screen up the gaming experience another notch. Not only can you use this to play games, it can also be used to take and send pictures, play back your music, or browse the internet. This is definitely a multitasking game system!

Little Hero Cape
You already know he’s a super hero – why not get him a cape to make it official? These Little Hero Capes. Whether you select one of their standard capes ($42) or create your own, why not give your littlest super hero the gift of make-believe? Let him spend hours soaring the “skies” in your backyard in his high quality cape.

Fijit Friends
Not only can these little robots tell you jokes and recognize over 30 keywords and responds in up to 150 phrases, but they can dance too! It detects the beat of the music you play externally and its face lights up when its interacting with you. For ages 6 and up, Fijit Friends are available in several colors and retails for approximately $50.

Pucci Pup
Do you have a child that would rather play with animals than dolls? I do! This plush puppy is right up her alley. Each Pucci Pup comes with a collar and a bone, and makes various puppy noises. It’s adorable, and retails just under $20. This is a great gift for kids ages 3 and up.

Playful Chef Cooking Kit

I love to bake and my kids love to join me in the kitchen – why not have them join me with tools of their own? This set includes an apron, ten REAL cooking tools (so yes, they can use them – they’re not just toys), measuring spoons and cups, and several recipe cards. For ages 6 and up, retails for about $40.

The Right Book

Is she a reader? If so, you may want to consider The Right Book, which will mail a book to your bookworm 4, 6 or 12 times a year. Book choices are customized based on the answers you provide to a few questions (including the recipient’s age and interests) and voila! Several times a year, she’ll be surprised with a new book. Satisfaction is guaranteed, and a customer service center is available where you can hone the book selection further to help better choose books. Pricing starts at $49 for books delivered quarterly.

Just Dance 3

I don’t feel so badly if my kids are playing video games when the games require they’re active and get moving. This is the latest of the Just Dance series – sure to get even your youngest Wii-playing kiddo moving. $33.96 for any age or level of dance skill.

Craft projects don’t have to be complicated. In fact, they need to be fairly simple if they are intended for kids. Autumn is a FABULOUS time to get the children busy with some crafting. Here are a few of my favorite activities to do with the kids this time of year.

• Pinecone Garland-Gather some pinecones from the yard and let the kids lightly brush the tips of the cones with fall-colored paint (adding some golden glitter is a nice touch). Then tie some pretty ribbon around each cone and use for a mantle decoration or to make a swag for the door. It’s easy, fun and really lovely!
• “Stained Glass” Leaves-Shave some crayons and pile them between two pieces of wax paper. Then (this part is for the adults) place a thin towel or handkerchief on top and iron enough to melt the crayons. Cut out leaf shapes and then punch holes to tie with ribbon or yarn. Hang them in the window and admire the beauty as the sun comes shining through!
• Apple Prints-Cut an apple in half. Dip half that has been sliced into paint and press the painted apple on a canvas. Make colorful designs and create a beautiful piece of art to hang in your home! Or decorate paper bags to fill with goodies for friends, neighbors or teachers.
• Fall Friend Finger Puppets-Use felt, glue and embellishments (wiggly eyes, pom-poms, sequins) to created finger puppets. You could even help the kids create finger puppet characters to act out the first Thanksgiving…complete with cute little Pilgrims and Indians!

Make craft time a family event. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time together! Have fun!

photo credit

Best Gift Ideas For Tweens

Crazy and mismatched socks are all the rage among girls. Short socks, knee socks and any size in between – if they don’t match, they are hip! Little Mismatched has a variety of crazy patterned socks from babies to ladies all ranging between $15-25 dollars. The Wild Things bundle, pictured to the left, includes nine socks (six knee high and three anklets) in fun animal patterns for $19. Not in to animal prints? have no fear! They have designs and patterns for everyone’s taste.

Looking for a one in a kind gift for your tween boy? How about a flying shark? Air Swimmer Remote Control Inflatable Shark is a helium-filled Great White Shark balloon that you can maneuver through the air with a remote control. The shark body is made from durable nylon and will stay inflated for approximately two weeks. The Sharks are recommended for ages 8 and up and retail for around $30.

Channel your tween daughter’s inner snark with her very own Sarcastic Ball – think Magic Eight Ball with an attitude. With twenty different responses such as Yeah, Right and In Your Dreams,the Sarcastic Ball will give you all the snarky cynicism you can handle. These sassy balls retail for just under $10 and are recommended for ages 8 and up.

Zling Ball is a great game for tween and adults alike. This fun game is a combination of darts and a slingshot. It sets up easily over your door and provides safe and fun play for even the most rambunctious boys. The game includes a 2′ target and three red and three yellow soft zling darts. Another bonus is that the target twists and folds for easy storage when not in use. You can find Zling Ball at Hearth Song for $30 and it is recommended for ages 7 and up.

Have a child that is always on the go? The Fun Ride Zipline will have your kids flying through the air in no time. The zipline  is easy to set up, just attach the cable to two trees or other strong supports and your kids are ready to take flight. The Fun Ride Deluxe come with comes with hardware and illustrated instructions and a 70-foot-long cable for $99 while the Super Z come with a 90-foot-long cable and sells for $149. Weight limit for Fun Ride Deluxe is 225 pounds and for the SuperZ is 250 pounds.

Anywhere Table Tennis provides all the fun of ping pong without the space, or money, of a large ping pong table. This set is perfect for travel, home or dorm living.  Set up is easy – just clamp down post on one end, expand the other end and clamp it down and you are ready to play. This set attaches to any surface area or table top measuring 75″ wide and 1.75″ thick and includes two paddles, three tennis balls, one expandable tennis net and a carrying bag. This portable fun sells for $19.99 at Dick’s Sporting Goods and is fun for all ages.

Best Gifts For Teens

I can’t think of a girl, at any age, that doesn’t love nail polish. It is the ‘go to’ accessory of every season. So why not buy your little fashionista her own Nail Art Kit from Sephora? This set contains three different colors of nail polish, five stencils and 12 different colors of rhinestones making it easy to turn your fingers and toes into little works of art. Another perk, the nail polish is formaldehyde free. This set retails for $16 and can be ordered either online or in the store.

Have a Science geek in your house that just can’t get enough Myth Busters? Then Thinking Putty is for them! This putty is made of iron based particles that, when placed near a magnet, takes on magnetic properties. Even cooler – if you place the putty near a magnet, it will stretch out to the magnet as if it were alive. The 3.2 ounces of putty retails for $15 and is recommended for ages 14 and above.

Have a hard to buy for aspiring guitar or bass player? Look no further! Let you soon to be famous teen make their own guitar picks with their very own Guitar Pick Hole Punch from Urban Outfitters. For $30 your teen can design and share their own picks from old credit cards, gift cards, hotel keys – you name it! They are quick and easy to make and a great way to recycle.

What better way to tune your guitar abilities than with your own Ion Discover Guitar. This guitar has a USB cord that can plug in to either a PC or Mac so you can record your jam sessions. It also comes with software that allows your young rocker to add their own effects to their songs as well as tutorials to help learn and refine their skills. This kit sells for $99 on Amazon and even comes with a six string electric guitar, Guitar Rig LE software, a guitar gig bag, pick and strap. Rock on!

What better way to share a photo moment with friends then to instantly give your friends a photo? The Polaroid CZA-05300 PoGo Instant Digital Camera is the first digital camera and printer combination that is small enough to take on-the-go. The camera produces a 2×3 borderless full color photo without using any ink. The 5.0 megapixel camera has a 3.0-inch color LCD for viewing and offers 4x digital zoom. It is also SD card compatible for expanded memory options.

Need ideas for what to get the playful preschooler in your life? Look no further! Blissfully Domestic has searched the web to find the top gifts for the 4-6 year old age group.

LeapFrog LeapPad Learning Explorer Tablet

Age Range: 4-9 years
Price: $99
Why It’s Hot: With downloadable apps and a built in camera, the LeapFrog LeapPad Learning Explorer Tablet mimics content of the iPads that preschoolers want to play with. The LeapPad has a durable design meant to withstand slips and spills from the most playful preschoolers.

Lalaloopsy Suzette La Sweet Collector Doll
Age Range: 4-6 years
Price:$29.99
Why It’s Hot: Lalaloopsy dolls have been the craze among the preschooler set for a while now. So what makes this one so great? Suzette La Sweet is a collector’s edition and is already starting to sell out. Get this one while you can!

Lego Ninjago Masters of Spin Jitzu 2516
Age Range: 6-8 years
Price:$4.99
Why It’s Hot: My preschool age son is all about Lego Ninjago these days. Why is this particular set hot for the preschool age group? This set will be in demand because it’s one of the few Lego Ninjago sets marketed to six year olds. Most of the Lego sets in the Lego Ninjago line are marketed to ages seven or eight and up.

Fisher-Price Rock Star Mickey
Age Range: 2 years and up
Price: $54.99
Why It’s Hot: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Goldfish crackers. Mickey Mouse. There are some things that preschoolers will love no matter what, and this Rock Star Mickey from Fisher-Price is one of them. This cute interactive toy plays three songs, dances, and teaches playful preschoolers how to be a rock star!

Vtech Kidizoom Digital Camera
Age Range: 3-5 years
Price: $39.99
Why It’s Hot: With 64MB of built-in memory, the Vtech Kidizoom Digital Camera can hold up to 400 pictures at a time. That’s a lot of pictures! The camera comes complete with a USB cable that allows preschoolers to view, edit, and print photos from home.

Harvest Party Decorations

Pumpkins and gourds are an inexpensive option for Harvest party decor.

Decor for your Harvest party can be as simple as a few well-placed pumpkins and autumn leaves or any other fall decor that you can find at local craft stores. Harvest themed items such as pumpkins, gourds and autumn leaves can even be found in the produce and floral sections of your local grocery store!

Pumpkin stacks like this one are easy to make!

Pumpkin stacks like the one in the photo above (I purchased it from Courtney Farms a local landscape and gardening specialty store that I frequent) can be used in the same way that topiaries are used to decorate your home and they are super easy to make.

How To Make A Pumpkin Stack

To make a pumpkin stack you need the following materials: a grapevine wreath, 3 different sized pumpkins, and a small bag of preserved moss.

1. Simply use a grapevine wreath or any other type of wreath that you might like as the base. The wreath needs to be just a bit larger around than the biggest pumpkin.
2. Place the largest pumpkin on top of the grapevine wreath. If there are any gaps between the pumpkin and the wreath fill the gaps with moss.
3. Place the second largest pumpkin next. Fill in any gaps between the two pumpkins with moss.
4. Repeat step three with the smallest pumpkin.

You can use your pumpkin stack in a variety of ways. They work great as table centerpieces, placed in urns in the foyer, or placed in urns by your front door.

Harvest Party Activities

There are a few super easy activities that you can include in your Harvest party itinerary:

Activity #1: Photo Staging

A Harvest themed photo op can liven up any Harvest party!

I like to stage a photo opportunity at my parties. For a Harvest themed party I use hay bales, scarecrows and pumpkins to set the photo staging area. Take the pictures as your guest arrive and use photo paper to print them out on your computer during the party. Hand them out at the end of your Harvest party as party favors. If you have an iPhone you can use the Diptic app to make a photo collage like the one pictured above.

Activity #2: Pumpkin Seed Contest

A pumpkin seed contest is a kid friendly harvest party activity.

A pumpkin seed contest is a fun way for kids to celebrate the Fall Harvest and a great alternative to bobbing for apples and other activities that are Halloween party staples. Simply give each child a small (i.e. tiny) pumpkin that has been pre-cut by an adult at the top. Then let the kids take out the innards and seeds. Tell them to count the seeds and the child with the most seeds wins a small prize. Kids like this activity because they get a little messy and parents should hopefully like the activity because it reinforces basic math skills.

Activity #3: Gourd or Pumpkin Toss

A Pumpkin or Gourd Toss is another super easy Harvest party activity.

This is pretty self-explanatory. Just give each child a small gourd or pumpkin with their name written on it in marker. Line them up and have the kids throw their gourd/pumpkin one at a time. Whoever throws their gourd or pumpkin the farthest wins! You can do it multiple times.

Easy Alternative: If you want to avoid competitive activities, you can always have the children decorate gourds or pumpkins with paint or harvest themed stickers. You can also tell the children about Johnny Appleseed and have an apple-themed activity accompany the story.

Harvest Party Refreshments

Harvest themed snacks.

I like to keep the food selections at my children’s parties as simple and mess-free as possible. For a Harvest themed party, I find that apple slices with a caramel dip and apple cider are always a hit! Oatmeal cookies and apple crisp are good accompaniments as well.

Whatever activities and refreshments you decide to have at your party, you can’t go wrong with a Harvest theme!

MandyB blogs about books and life with her two young sons at WellReadWife.com and YAsmash.com.

I like to say that I’ve turned them into little creative monsters because the games that they look for and search out to play on the computer are games that get their imaginations humming and spark their inner creative. They love puzzle solving games, art games and especially strategy games for the computer.

However, we don’t own a lot of computer games anymore so a lot of what they play is found online. I’m happy to say that the creative online games that they’re playing are coming from approved school sites. Since the sites are school approved I feel better about letting them have Internet computer time.

What Makes a Good Creative Computer Game?

In our house there are three types of games that everyone agrees are the most fun to play:

Role Playing Games – Role playing games allow kids to step into a world that they may take them through time or into another dimension. These types of creative computer games also give kids a chance to be someone else and achieve that character’s goals.

Construction Games – Even my youngest likes to build and construct buildings, mazes and objects. Construction computer games are often timed with different levels of difficulty so kids need to think fast in order to make it to the next level. Construction games also will also get kids creatively thinking about math and science.

Puzzle Solving Games – By far my favorite type of creative computer games are puzzle games because solving puzzles is often the basis or a part of many other kinds of computer games including role playing and construction games. Kids put their thinking caps on to get creative, solve problems and use all their skills to complete (or as my kids would say “beat”) the game.

If you’re looking for some creative computer games for your kids, here are some online suggestions to get you started:

Sabigames.com – The makers of ItzaBitza and ItzaZoo allow kids to put their creativity and drawing skills to the test with problem solving scenarios and let their imagination take over.

CreativeGamesforKids.com – Has a number of thinking, art, simulation and designing games for nearly every kid in your house. There’s a little something for everyone here. (Even me.)

Auditorium – Filling your senses with sight and sound auditorium is like no other game I’ve seen. I can only describe it as a full interactive laser light show that you control; set to sounds and music.

Spore – The kids love this game on the Wii but it’s also available for the PC. Kids can design their own creatures in an alternate universe

PBSKids.org – Possibly one of the most visited sites in my house, PBS Kids has games, videos, and printable activities that my five year old loves. From the Kratt Brothers and Curious George to Martha Speaks, even my 1o year old hops online and plays with his little brother.

Computer games that encourage creativity can be anything you think of really. They spark imagination and hone in on thinking and problem solving skills.

The next time your kids ask to play on the computer, take the time to help them find games that they can interact with and keep them engaged.

image: annisat

• Adults should plan the route, being sure to prepare for obstacles like broken sidewalks, steep driveways and steps.
• Bring flashlights, wear light-up shoes or carry glowsticks. This will help adults keep up with the kids and will make them more visible to drivers.
• Children should ALWAYS be accompanied by a responsible adult. If a large group of kids is trick-or-treating together, more than one adult should go along.
• Be careful with costume selection. Masks should not obstruct the child’s vision at all. The length of costumes should not be a tripping hazard.
• Stick to sidewalks. Don’t cut across lawns or behind buildings. Cross streets only at designated crossing areas.
• Remind children that they are NEVER to enter the home or car of a stranger.
• Candy needs to be examined by an adult before it is consumed.

Following these safety tips can help ensure a SPOOKTACULAR Halloween for your family!

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• Guide them in setting their own goals. If the goals are things they truly value, they’ll come much closer to self-motivating. If they do not see this work as a chore, they’ll be more enthusiastic about it. Of course, guide them. But let the main ideas come from them.
• Provide plenty of resources. I’m not talking about money, necessarily. I’m talking about reading material, videos, experts. If your child chooses a goal of better personal fitness, for example, head to the library and/or talk to the local school’s PE teacher about what resources could be helpful.
• Be prepared to back them up. If your daughter sets a goal of becoming a violinist, you need to be prepared to support that. If you can’t afford to purchase an instrument or pay a professional for lessons, look into other options. Find out about instrument rental and call a local college to see if any students would be willing to give beginner lessons as a way of earning experience. Do what you can to show your daughter you support her goal.
• Model good exercises in self-improvement. Our children learn most from watching us. If they see that self-improvement is important to us, they’ll learn to value it for themselves. Show them. Involve them. Talk to them. Let them see your own self-improvement plan in action.
• Have a good reward system in place. Ultimately, you want the motivation to come from within your child. A consistent reward system in the beginning can definitely get them moving in the right direction, though. It might be a good idea to tie the reward to the goal. Using the example from above, maybe let your daughter know that you’re going to rent a violin until her first recital. Let her show you she’s serious about the commitment and reward her with an instrument of her own to continue the study.

The most important factor in all of this is your encouragement. If your child knows that he can count on you for support, he’ll be willing to take risks and try new things as he seeks to improvement himself. These risks could lead to personal growth beyond anything you could dictate or request from him.

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All kids are created creative. Don’t believe me? Just ask the toddler who wrote all over the dining room wall with the jazzberry jam crayon or the child who chose to finger paint herself rather than the paper in front of her or the little girl who paints her brother in blue glitter nail polish because he liked the color blue (true story).

Creativity makes music, writes lyrics and poetry, paints chapel ceilings, molds pottery with its hands and writes best selling novels. But that’s not all creativity can do; Creativity allows kids to think for themselves and problem solve, cope better in stressful situations, and open their minds to new possibilities and worlds.

Unfortunately, we live in a world that is more fast paced and filled with distractions than ever before. Kids are constantly on the move or indulged in tools and technology that takes the creativity out of their day.  Luckily you and I hold the keys to instilling creativity in our children.

Cut Off the Technology

I know this is hard for parents to hear (especially when technology often occupies the kids), but too much television, too many video game hours logged or computer time and kids’ brains start to tune out. Yes, you can lobby that video games offer some kids a creative outlet but when it takes up much of their spare time, it’s time to pull the plug! Turn off the television, remove the batteries from the mp3s and cell phones and give your child a chance to turn their brain back on.

Surround Them with Reading Material

It took awhile for my middle son to get into books but once he did, he took to it like a fish to water. He wanted to read everything his older brother had read and then some. We soon found ourselves scouring the library for interesting books that spoke to his love of fantasy, dragons and pirates. But what sparked that love for books wasn’t a book itself; rather it was a comic book found in our basement that had belonged to his dad. From there he wanted to read anything and everything and our home library has grown because of it.

Kids will read if provided with the right materials. Some children aren’t book readers and prefer shorter stories, magazines and even comic books. It’s important to provide them with a variety of reading materials to peak their interest. Even word games such as crossword puzzles and word searches can ignite a love of reading.

Be Switzerland

When kids get into struggles, be it with another child, homework, or their own personal issues, it’s important for them to learn how to get themselves through it. Now you and I know it’s second nature for us to step in and intervene, perhaps even solving the problem ourselves, but how will that help them become an independent thinker? It’s one thing to help by offering suggestions but it won’t teach them how to problem solve on their own if you’re constantly giving the answer. Before you step in next time, step back and ask yourself if what you’re going to do or say is really going to help your child down the road. Guide them down the road, but don’t do all the steering.

Provide a Creative Space

Kids do well when given a place of their own to express themselves. That space could be their room, a playroom or even a corner of the family room. Regardless of where their space for creativity is, provide them with tools for creative and imaginitave play such as:

• Crayons
• Markers
• Paper
• Pencils
• Chalk
• Paint
• Scissors
• Old clothes for dress up
• Scarves
• Sheets or Blankets

The object is to make available items that will spark kids to create, be imaginative and think big!

Be the Model of Creativity

Kids learn from us and they get many of their ideas, quirks, and even passions from the things we love and things we do. Over the last year we’ve gotten creative in the kitchen. The kids see me try out new recipes or experiment with ways to start our seeds for the garden. They’ve even seen me come up with ways to solve frustrating problems (like when the stove stopped working the day we were having a big cookout). Not being afraid to try new things yourself is an excellent way to show kids it’s okay to jump outside their comfort zone and be creative where they wouldn’t normally be. You are your child’s best example for creativity.

Creative kids are curious kids; they never want to stop learning and discovering. Being creative can often help children develop new interests and thus improve their studies. Don’t pressure your child and give them plenty of time to explore new interests. You never know, finger painting oneself could be the start of a talented artist!

National Grandparents Day is this month. And while that’s a wonderful cause for celebration, it can also be a painful reminder if grandparents aren’t in the picture. You and your children can still honor their grandparents on these special days, though. Here are some ideas.

• Have your child bring a favorite picture of her grandparent and ask if she can share a special story with her class.
• Find an elderly person who has no family around and “adopt” him/her for Grandparents Day. You’ll both be less lonely on that day.
• If you think your child is able to handle it, take him to visit the grave of his grandparent. Be prepared to spend some time there sharing memories and maybe decorating the grave for the occasion.
• Make a scrapbook together of happy times spent with grandparents.
• Have a special dinner together and place flowers and cards in an empty chair as a  memorial seat of honor.
• Plan a moment to celebrate the memories by lighting a candle and singing some favorite songs that remind everyone of the grandparent.

If grandparents aren’t here to celebrate on Grandparents Day this year, then find special ways to honor their memory instead. It can still be a day to celebrate the love we have for these incredibly precious relatives.

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