Plan ahead.  To avoid a rush, gather all of the party supplies a week in advance.  Let everyone brainstorm ideas until the big shopping day arrives.  With list in hand, find games and items for everyone.

Dress each guest to celebrate at the party.  For the girls, give them a candy necklace.  Once the party is over, she can nibble at her necklace for a sweet treat.  For the boys, try candy whistles.  It’ll be the most delicious sound they’ve ever made.

Start with some games.  How about a game of hearts for the card players in the group?  Go online and Google card games to find a simple version of the game for kids and adults to play at parties.
Word games are fun at a party.  Using the words, Happy Valentine’s Day, give kids two or three minutes to write down as many words as they can using those letters.  The one with the most words wins a prize.

Prizes for games can be as simple as paper hearts that function as coupons.  For example, create a coupon that can be traded in for a day with no chores or a five dollar gift from the store.  The more prizes a person wins, the more coupons they can cash in.  If you have invited people outside the family, have a separate prize basket with small prizes like teddy bears and candy.

Teach a craft.  Kids love to make things so give them an opportunity to learn something new.  Since spring comes right on the heels of winter, show them how to plant seeds in a flower pot.  They can start their own herb garden that will grow indoors.  Decorate the pots with hearts so kids will always remember the fun they had on Valentine’s Day.

If the weather is nice, the kids can take turns whacking a Valentine’s Day piñata.  The piñata can be a cupid, a heart, or something else related to Valentine’s Day.  Each child gets three chances to bust it open.  After that, the older party guests get a crack at it.

Even if it is just the family, a Valentine’s Day party can bring lots of laughs and quality together time.  Encourage old and young alike to participate for the most fun.

You know those days…It’s been pouring for hours (or even day) and the kids have the Rainy Day Blues. Here are some simple ways to cheer them up and keep them entertained until the weather clears up.

Make A Batch Of Cookies

What child doesn’t love to make – and of course eat – cookies. Whip up a batch of your favorite chocolate chip or sugar cookie dough. Make them special by adding some small candies like mini M&Ms. With sugar cookies, you can keep the kids busy even longer by letting them cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Bake the cookies, and then pour everyone a big glass of milk to serve with the warm baked treats.

Play A Board Game

Remember those boxes of board games that have been collecting dust in the closet? Dig one of them out and ask the kids to join you for a fun game of Candyland, Memory or The Game Of Life. Just grab one of your old favorites and share it with the kids. Card games also work well.

Go Play In The Rain

As long as it’s not too cold outside and of course only while there are no thunderstorms in the area, playing in the rain can be a lot of fun. Get everyone dressed in their rain gear (including boots) and go jump in some puddles. I bet you have forgotten how much fun that can be – and the kids won’t believe Mom is actually outside jumping around with them. What a great way to bond with your kids.

Watch A Movie Together

When was the last time you snuggled up on the couch with the kids and watched a movie together? Rainy days are perfect for this. Pop some popcorn and enjoy the show. Take it even further by reenacting scenes later, or making a craft that relates to the movie.

Build A Fort – Inside

What child doesn’t love to build a tent or fort? When it’s pouring outside, bring the fun inside. Throw a blanket over a few chairs for a quick tent hide away, or take the cushions off the couch and build a fort. Spread an old blanket or a towel out on the floor and serve the kids’ lunch in their tent or fort.

Play Dress Up

Playing dress up is another great way to spend a fun afternoon with the kids. Start by raiding your closet and any Halloween costumes you have been saving for next year. A white shirt will become a doctor’s white coat. Your prom dress or even a fancy blouse will turn your little girl into a princess or beauty queen. Make other props out of cardboard boxes, construction paper and anything else you can find around the house.

Get Out The Craft Box

Do you have a craft box? If not, just grab some construction paper, scissors, glue and some old magazines. The kids will be busy for hours making collages or creating storybooks. For younger kids keep a few coloring books and a box of crayons handy. A few tubs of playdough are also a welcome distraction when it’s raining outside.

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With the weather finally starting to cool down, now is a great time to go outside and play with your kids. Not only is the sunshine and fresh air good for everyone in the family, but playing outside is also a great way to get some exercise. Here are some ideas for you and your kids.

Ride Bikes

When was the last time you took a bike ride through the neighbor hood? Riding bikes is a great way to spend some quality time with your kids outside after work. Dust off your old bike, put helmets on everyone and go out for a bike ride. You can also go on a longer ride on the weekends. Check with your local bike shop or the city’s parks and recreation department about trails that are family friendly. Pack a few sandwiches and fill up those water bottles and you are ready for a ride and a picnic.

Go On A Nature Walk

A nature walk is a fun way to spend some time with your child outside. It is also a perfect opportunity to teach him about nature, lifecycles, the climate and more. If you have binoculars, take them with you for a close up view of any wildlife you may come across. Even a squirrel becomes an interesting viewing object with binoculars. Take some small plastic or paper baggies with you to collect leafs, rocks or pinecones. When you get back home you and your child can make a leaf collage or use all objects to recreate a forest scene in an old shoebox.

Dig Out The Roller-skates

Do you remember how much fun you had roller-skating when you were a kid? Dig out the roller skates or roller blades and get out there. You can find a smooth sidewalk to ride, or consider visiting a skating ring with the whole family. Roller-skating is another great way for the entire family to spend some time outside together. You can push very young children around in a stroller or have your preschooler ride a tricycle while the rest of the family skates.

Explore A New Park Or Playground

Grab a map or make a call to your local park and recreation office and find a new park or playground you can all explore together. Spend an hour or two at the playground, go for a walk on the trails in of a new park, or pack a few sandwiches for an easy picnic in the park. You never know what you may have been missing until you start exploring all the different parks and playgrounds in your area.

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Valentine’s Day Treats for School and Work
By Christine Steendahl

Are you as tired as I am of those little white heart-shaped candies with messages like “I like You” printed on them? Be a little creative this year and come up with some new Valentine’s Day treats to take to school and work. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Valentine’s Day Cookies

Make a batch of Sugar cookies or pick up some refrigerated dough at the grocery store. Cut them out with a heart-shaped cookie cutter and bake. Frost with a glaze of powdered sugar, water and a little red food coloring, or make it really simple and buy a container of pre-made frosting. Use some frosting pens to write messages or draw on the cookies. Add a few sprinkles and you’re set! Don’t forget to invite your kids to get involved in decorating any cookies they are taking to school. They will have a great time preparing these special treats.

Valentine’s Cup Cakes

Purchase a box of devil’s food cake mix (or your favorite flavor) and prepare according to package directions. Line muffin tins with paper liners and pour enough batter in each to fill to about 1/3 full. Top with 1 tbsp of fruit preserves (strawberry works great) then add more batter until the muffin tins are approximately ¾ filled. Bake according to cake mix directions. When they are cool, dust them with powdered sugar, or frost them and sprinkle with red-hot candy hearts.

Valentine’s Day Cake

Bake any flavor cake in a heart shaped cake form. Let cook and cut in half horizontally. Mix a few drops of red food coloring into a container of whipped topping, and spread some on the bottom layer of the cake. Add the top layer and frost the entire outside of the cake. Top with fresh berries.

Chocolate Lollipops

Get some heart-shaped lollipop molds. Melt milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate (quality chocolate chips work great). Pour the melted chocolate in the mold and add a lollipop stick. Let cool until hardened. Wrap in cellophane and tie with a little bow.
Use leftover chocolate and plastic spoons to create fancy coffee stirrers. Simply dip the plastic spoons in the melted chocolate. Let cool and repeat until you reach the desired thickness,
Both of these can be decorated by drizzling different types of melted chocolate over the finished product.

Have fun this year creating some wonderful Valentine’s Day treats. I’m sure you will come up with a delicious treat that will be a big hit in the office or the classroom.

Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine – The Number One Online Source For Affordable And Family Friendly Weekly Meal Planning. Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour! For A Free Sample Menu And Grocery List Visit dinewithoutwhine

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Thanksgiving is always a fun time of celebration and eating with your family. Here are some ways to make Thanksgiving even more fun for your family this year.

Thankful cards – Make a card for each family member that will be your guest for Thanksgiving this year. On each card, tell that person what you love most about them, and why you are thankful for them.

Recipe books – A few months before Thanksgiving, write a list of each family member. Beside their name, make a note of their best dish. Call each member and ask for a copy of that recipe, plus one or two of their own favorites that they’d like to share. When you have all the recipes ready, compile them into a booklet and print them, using your computer and printer. (You can also use professional services, if you wish, to make a longer-lasting recipe book.) After your guests all arrive for your Thanksgiving dinner, give them each a copy of your special recipe book.

Mini family scrapbooks – Gather family pictures, if you don’t have many pictures, take them to a local copier and have extra prints made. Purchase mini scrapbooks at a scrapbook supply store, along with stickers, markers and various scrapbook supplies. Create miniature family scrapbooks, using one picture per page. Write what you are thankful for, in relation to each family member, on their designated pages. On Thanksgiving Day, give a copy of your mini family scrapbooks to each family member as a memento.

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One of the simplest Thanksgiving cards to create is the standard “hand turkey” that can be cut out and glued to either folded construction paper, card stock or even scrapbook paper. This is a great project to do with younger kids. First, trace your child’s hand on a piece of paper, being sure to have them spread their fingers as far apart as they can. Make it dimensional, by not gluing the finger feathers down. Use a pencil to curl the feathers, so that they stand out off the paper a little.

There are many rubber stamps available in holiday themes, sometimes combined in kits. Different inks, embossing powders and paper can be combined to create unique looks, even when you use the same stamps. Practicing on scrap paper before making your final product can sometimes provide ideas that you might not have thought about, such as overlapping the same stamp a couple times, with different colors, offset a bit. This particular technique provides a shadow effect.

Stencils are also a simple way to make a nice design on your greeting cards. Using either stencil brushes or sponges can give you totally different looks. Playing with different layouts such as overlapping things can allow you to create many different and unique designs.

Stickers can also be used to create simple cards or can be combined with other mediums. There are many kinds of stickers including those with metallic accents. There is enough variety of stickers that make it easy to create a nice scene on the front of the card complete with turkeys, Pilgrims and Indians. There is also a lot of free clip art available in graphics programs and online. Many of which can be printed on sticker paper or on regular paper and glued in place.

By using some scrapbooking techniques, you can create some very artistic looking cards. Layering different kinds of paper together, changing angles, ripping edges, etc. will allow you to create an almost old fashioned look. Accenting it with stickers, paper cutouts or other details will give your card some wonderful finishing touches.

If you know calligraphy, or someone who does, hand lettering can really set off a handmade card nicely. Even if you can’t do calligraphy, there are many nice fonts that can be found on your computer. Print the words out on a nice paper, cut out creatively (scrapbooking edge scissors are great for this) and glue onto your card.

Even if you feel like you have no artistic talent at all, there are many options available to make card making easy and enjoyable. As with most handcrafted items, it doesn’t have to be perfect. That’s what makes it special; they are made with love, not mass-produced in a factory. So try your hand at a handcrafted card this Thanksgiving and let your loved ones know how thankful you are they are in your life.

Cheap Summer Fun for Kids

Entertaining your children when school is out for the summer can become quite expensive, especially if you enroll them in pricey summer camps for a large portion of the time. However, many parents feel that the alternative is to have their children sulking on the couch while moaning about how bored they are, especially if friends are all attending camps. Actually, there are plenty of ways to have cheap summer fun with your kids. Why not try a few of these budget friendly ideas?

Your local YMCA is a family oriented place with plenty of great activities. Your children can go swimming, take a variety of classes and even attend day camps for a very reasonable price. Most YMCA’s have family memberships, which makes the classes more affordable for families with several children. If you don’t have a YMCA close by, check with your local parks and recreation department to see if they are offering events for children and families during the summer months. Many times, they offer low cost art, sports and even cooking classes for kids.

Another great way for your kids to have fun this summer is to set up events in your own backyard. Have them put together a circus. After they’ve practiced the event and have the ring set up, friends and family can make up an audience to view the final result. Don’t forget to add some games and serve some refreshments that match the theme, such as popcorn and corndogs. If your children don’t like the circus, suggest that they put on a play, hold a pet show or set up a fair.

If your children like collecting things, they can make a natural history museum in a spare corner of the house. Then, you can take field trips to local places so that they can create their museum exhibits. Take them on nature hikes so that they can make rubbings of tree bark and leaves. Let them take photos of local wildlife and flowers, but be sure that you don‘t actually take home any wildflowers, since these plants may be endangered. Go to the beach and collect interesting shells and bits of sea glass or visit the areas where your local rock hounds hang out. If you have prolific gardens or you can get permission for them to pick some flowers in someone else’s garden, your children can also press flowers and mount them as part of the display.

If your children are budding entrepreneurs, they may have more fun making money. Why not try a good old-fashioned lemonade stand? Just be sure your town or city doesn’t have any ordinances that would prohibit it before the kids set up. If they need to clean out their closets and toy chests, suggest that they combine the lemonade stand with a yard sale.

Finally, don’t forget about gardening. Growing their own produce can be fun for kids, especially when they discover a two foot long zucchini hiding in the garden bed.

Aurelia Williams is the owner of Real Life Solutions, your resource for free positive parenting tips and information.

by Susanne Myers

For a family with small children like my own, a big family vacation in the summer isn’t always an option. But just because your summer entertainment budget is small doesn’t mean you and your kids can’t have lots of fun this summer.

Here are ten ideas to get you started on lots of fun this summer – on a budget.

1) Water + Kids = Lots of Fun

Put everyone in bathing suits and turn on the sprinklers. Fill the plastic pool that’s been lying around the garage all year. Get some inexpensive water guns at the dollar store and fill up some water balloons. Believe me, your kids won’t need any further instructions. Just keep plenty of towels around to dry off afterwards.

2) Your Child on Paper

Get a large sheet of packing paper, or use some leftover wallpaper. Any big sheet of paper will do. Ask your child to lay on his or her back on the paper and use a pen or pencil to draw the outline around him or her. Let your child paint features, clothes etc. When the paint dries, cut the shape out and hang this life-size picture of your child up.

3) Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk

Use the recipe found at www.kinderinfo.com/sidewalk-chalk to make your own sidewalk chalk. Use it to let the kids turn the driveway into a piece of art, or and use it to play hopscotch.

4) Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Do you have a baseball team in town? It doesn’t have to be a major league team. In fact tickets will be a lot cheaper if it isn’t. Take the kids out to a minor league game or even watch your high school team play.

5) Backyard Camping Trip

Don’t have time to take the kids on a camping trip this year? Just camp out in the backyard or even in your living room. Your kids will enjoy it just as much as going out into the woods, and it will give you a great chance to spend some quality time with your kids uninterrupted by TV, video games etc. For more tips on how to turn this into a fun event, read Backyard Camping Trip at www.kinderinfo.com/backyard-camping-trip

6) Take the Kids to Work

Have your kids been curious what Mom or Dad do all day at work? Take them with you for a day or even just a few hours before they have to go back to school. Of course you may want to check with your employer first. If he doesn’t like the idea of having a child hang out in the office all day, ask if it would be ok for someone to bring your child in for an hour or two. Get your child involved while he or she is visiting with you. Ask him or her to help you with some of your everyday tasks.

7) Game Night / Movie Night

Dig out some of the board games that have been sitting in the closet for ages and play games for a few hours. You can even share some games that you enjoyed playing as a child.
Movie Night is another great way for the entire family to spend the evening together. Rent a family movie, make some popcorn and have everyone watch the movie together.

Lemonade Stand

Encourage your children to open a lemonade stand. They’ll be busy all day making posters, and lemonade of course, setting up the table and selling the lemonade. This is also a great time to work in some math practice by working with them to figure out the cost of each glass of lemonade and how much they need to sell it for to make a profit.

9) Treasure Hunt

You can keep the kids busy for hours with a fun treasure hunt. The idea is to create a series of clues that the kids will have to follow to get to a little prize in the end. You can draw the item where the next clue is hidden on a note card, or give them a written clue. For example, “The next clue is hidden under a chair in the house”. Put another clue under one of the chairs saying that the next clue can be found hanging in a tree in the yard. This can be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like.

10) End of Summer Party

Invite the kids your child has been playing with all summer for an End of Summer Party. You may want to have their parents over as well, to give you a chance to get to know each other. This doesn’t have to be fancy, just ask everyone to come over and grill some hotdogs in the backyard.

For more Summer Fun Ideas for Kids, join the Kinderinfo Newsletter at www.kinderinfo.com/newsletter and we’ll also send you our ebook “Summer Fun”, which is full of even more great ideas to have a good time this summer.

Teenagers and young adults can benefit in more ways than one if they take one of the many summer camp jobs available to them. It is a great way to earn some money for college and it also can give them some valuable skills and knowledge which will prepare them for the future. One of the best things about summer camp jobs is that there are wide varieties to choose from. A lot of these types of jobs really cater to the young adult and teenager market. If you are considering getting a job at a summer camp, you should think about where you want to work, what type of skills and abilities you have, and how to go about the job search and interview process for summer camp jobs.

The first thing that you should do is to think about where you went to summer camp. If you went to summer camp, this may be the first place that you should look for summer camp jobs. Not only are you familiar with the camp and the routines, but you may also know some of the people in the camp leadership who do the hiring and if you had a good reputation there, they will be more likely to hire you for summer camp jobs.

Next, think about any specialized skills or knowledge that you have. If you are good at art, sports or music, find a camp that offers these types of summer camp jobs. There are camps which offer drama programs, computer courses, horsemanship courses, and so on and so on. If you are a lifeguard or even a cook there may be other types of summer camp jobs besides counselor that you could do. If you have worked as a camp counselor before you may even be able to apply for a leadership job.

Once you have narrowed down your choices of where you would like to spend your summer, you can start applying at summer camps. This should probably be done many months before the summer so that you can get a head start and also get any additional training you may be required to have. Ask lots of questions in the interview about what your responsibilities will be and show that you are willing and able to do the job you are applying for.

Spend your summer doing something that you love, learn valuable skills and make money-what could be better?

Eriani Doyel writes articles about kids and teens. To learn more about getting summer camp jobs visit yscamp.com

Summer Boredom Busters – 10 Great Ideas to Keep Kids from Getting the Summer Blues

Keep kids from getting the summer blues with these ten great ideas.

Build an Ice Cream Stand - Find a local ball park busy with little league ball games and set up an ice cream stand. Let the kids build and decorate the stand out of wood or cardboard (old refrigerator boxes work well) and add their menu to the outside. Keep kids involved by letting them be in charge of buying the supplies (large bulk clubs like Sam’s Club are great for this) and figuring out how much to charge. Encourage your kids to donate a portion of their profits to a charity or add some fun games for their customers to play while enjoying their ice cream. Keep the ice cream cold by burying it in plastic containers at the bottom of a big cooler filled with ice.

Organize a Summer Playgroup - Ask other parents to join you and your kids at a local park once a week. Play on the playground, organize lawn games, or provide crafts for the kids.

Hold a Treasure Hunt - Write up clues that will lead your kids on a hunt through the neighborhood and to local places of interest. Begin by mailing the first clue to the kids (what kid doesn’t like to receive mail?) and letting them figure out where to go. You can spread the clues out over the summer or have them complete the hunt in a day. At the end, have a “treasure” of prizes available as reward for their accomplishments. You can make it interesting by writing the clues on scrolls or by making them educational

Start a Neighborhood Business - If your child is old enough, help them start a small neighborhood business like pet watching, dog walking, mother’s helper, or house watching (getting mail, watering plants). Help them create fliers, determine pricing, and of course help them understand how to provide excellent customer service.

Host a Neighborhood Cookout - Encourage your neighbors and friends to take a break from their busy lives by inviting them to a neighborhood cookout. Include the kids by having them help make invitations, plan games, and prepare food. Make it easier on yourself and family by asking your friends and neighbors to bring a dish to share.

Join a Reading Contest or Challenge - Encourage your kids to get lost in a good book this summer by signing them up for your local library’s reading contest. Common among most libraries, book challenges are a great way to keep kids reading through the summer and earn prizes and awards for their achievements.

Start a Summer Scrapbook or Memory Jar - Start by saving small mementos from your summer vacations, activities, and trips. Over the summer let the kids add them to a scrapbook or store in a decorated memory jar or box. Make it fun by giving the kids a challenge of finding the most unique memento from their excursions.

Hold a Carnival - Let your kids organize a backyard carnival for friends and neighbors. Kids can be kept busy building a ticket booth, organizing games, planning food, and buying prizes. Let them take charge here; you will be amazed at what their imaginations can do!

Write a Family or Neighborhood Newsletter - Put your kids in charge of writing and publishing a family or neighborhood newsletter. Let them write creative articles and share the scoop on what is going on with friends and family. This is a great way to help them improve their writing skills and keep them busy at the same time.

Start a Puzzle - Pick out a large challenging puzzle and put it in an out of the way place. Encourage the kids to slowly add and complete the puzzle throughout the summer. This is a great one to have on hand when they say “I’m bored”.

Polly Schlafhauser is Founder and President of Families with Purpose, a website dedicated to helping busy families enhance their family life and find time for the little things in life. To subscribe to their FREE newsletter or to find more creative ideas to beat the Summer Boredom Blues, visit their website at http://www.familieswithpurpose.com