Top of the mornin’ to ya! There’s nothing like a green St. Patty’s Day to get everyone in the spirit of the day of the leprechaun! This St. Patrick’s Day, make the day extra-special and fun for your kids with these fun crafts and great activities!

Looking for the gold!

The night or day a few days before, be sure that ya make some of those Leprechaun Foot Prints and giant shamrocks for ye children!

To make leprechaun feet, take a pair of your child’s old shoes and trace them on to pieces of plain white paper or to really make them “authentic”, use green construction paper!! Make a lot of them because they will take your children on a hunt for the rainbow and the pot of gold when they wake up!

Cut out some huge shamrocks that you can place between the footprints, making a St. Patrick’s Day treasure path of sorts.

Early on the morning of St. Patrick’s Day, place the feet from their bedrooms to where you have hidden the pots of gold. If you want to make it more fun, have the feet lead them to places where they only find a note.

Rainbows with pots of gold

If you don’t have time, just use a regular cereal bowl and tape a little paper handle to it- be sure to make the handle in different colors of construction paper making a rainbow!

If you have even more time, go to a local crafts store and look for some small plastic pots.

To make the treasure at the end of the rainbow even more special, fill the bowls or pots with chocolate foil covered candy coins or butterscotch discs. If you don’t have coins or prefer your children not eat chocolate first thing in the morning and they are old enough to know they shouldn’t eat them put in pennies or other coins!

Hanging rainbows

Rainbows are a good addition to your treasure hunt! You can make them two different ways.

Use a paper plate. Color one side as a rainbow. Cut out and hang from ceiling or light.

Use another paper plate. Cut out streamers of different colors and attach to the paper place with the “rainbow” hanging downward. Punch a hole it top and hang from appropriate place near leprechaun pot.

Table decorations sure to please any leprechaun!

Using small paper cups, make up side down St. Patrick’s Day hats! Make them similar to the way you made the wearable hats, except you can glue the stovetop top to a circle you cut out for the bottom.

Or if you prefer, cut out the inside and fill with candies or treats!

Draw shamrocks and rainbows on white paper plates with crayons or non-toxic markers.

Buy green napkins or paper towels that have a green print on them.

Festive St. Patrick’s meals

For breakfast and for every meal of the day if possible, make sure that every menu includes mainly green stuff or stuff that has a touch of green! Buy a shamrock cookie cutter that you can use for each meal, cutting bread into shamrocks or even cutting fruit into shamrock shapes!

Suggestions? For breakfast, buy the cereal that includes shamrocks! Put green food color in their milk! Have kiwi fruit, green grapes, green apples or green melon instead of the usual bananas!

For Lunch see if you can find bread that is dyed green at the grocery store! Make their sandwich from this special bread and be sure to cut it into a shamrock shape! Put green food color into peanut butter! Serve with green pickles and green celery sticks and green cottage cheese! For dessert, how about some and green jello and green whipped cream or a green milkshake or some krispy treats, cut into shamrocks iced them with green icing!

Dinnertime can be a bit more challenging, especially if you are serving corned beef and cabbage- while the cabbage is green, you don’t want to dye the corned beef! But you can the mashed potatoes! Green cake, green tinted ice cream (or green mint ice cream), pistachio pudding or green jello are also dessert hits for St. Patrick’s Day!

Festive wear

One of the most fun things to wear on St. Patrick’s Day is a BIG leprechaun hat! If you have time, finish the round container of half-gallon you now have. Clean it out and cut the bottom off. Place it on green construction paper and trace it for a pattern to cover the sides of the container. Make a big circle to make the brim of the hat. Be sure to cut the inside out a wee bit smaller than the “hat” so you can push the brim onto the hat. Make a “buckle” with gold construction paper.

If you don’t have any ice cream containers, just make the hats from construction paper. Cut a huge rectangle to make your ‘stovetop” leprechaun hat. Glue or staple together to make the top hat. Cut a circle to make the brim, being sure to cut out the middle which you will push onto your or your child’s head. Add a gold buckle made from construction paper, and you have a hat!

Bow tie or tie- From a paper plate, cut out a bow tie shape or with construction paper, cut out a long tie. Let your child color the tie green and add decorations such as buttons or glitter. Punch holes in the plate and attach pieces of string to attach around their neck. (Be sure to NOT do this with very young children who could become tangled in the string!)

St. Pattys Day is one of our favorite family Holidays! All of us at More4kids wish you and your family a happy Saint Patricks Day.

Make 2010 The Year of the Family

by Stephanie Partridge

As 2011 rolls into view and the holidays are in full swing, our thoughts turn to making those ever popular new year's resolutions.  Traditionally, the theme and intent of these resolutions have been focused more on the individual.  They may resolve to work out more, lose weight, manage their time better or any number of other things that need "tightening up" in their life.

This year, however, take a step outside the box.  Let's not  just make resolutions for ourselves, let's engage our entire family and make resolutions that will help us build a stronger, healthier family.  Get the kids in on the venture and work together as a team.  One great benefit here is that when we all have one common goal, we can support each other.  This will help you stick to our goals.

Family new year's resolutions will also allow you to make decisions as a family, and as each person contributes you may be exposed to ideas you hadn't considered.  What's more, just the act of making the resolutions, creating a plan of action for sticking to them and helping each other stick to them helps to bond you as a family.

In our home, the kids and I are already making our family new year's resolutions.  We are still in the "draft stages" of our resolutions, but these are a few that we are currently fleshing out.  Maybe they will inspire you.

Exercise More

We already exercise – sort of.  I walk a lot and I've become what's know around here as one of "those people" who climb the escalators to emerge from the subway as opposed to passively riding.  By just doing that, though, I have more stamina, don't get out of breath as quickly and am actually losing weight!  But the kids and I have decided that we are going to start exercising as a family.

We have a gym membership and have had it for nearly a year now.  For a while we were going every morning at 5 am to work out.  Then I broke my ankle (I just love icy sidewalks) and was out of commission for several months.  My ankle is healed now and I am back in action so we are all going to get back to the gym and get back in shape!

Eat Healthier

We eat healthy now, clean, with lots of fresh vegetables, lean meats, fish twice a week and whole grains.  But my daughter and I have decided that we are going to start planning out meals for the month.  We figure that this will help us continue to eat healthy with less chance of backsliding, but it will also help us budget and shop more efficiently.  We are also going to shop more regularly at the roadside produce stand.  It is cheaper and the produce is fresher, plus we are supporting our local farmers.

Read More

We are all avid readers, but lately life seems to have gotten in the way and we don't pick up books as often as we should.  So, each of us has identified genres that interest us and we are researching authors in those areas.  We will then hit the bookstores and thrift shops and find books that we like.

Write More

This is a huge one in our house!  We are all writers.  My daughter loves to write amazing stories and essays while my son writes beautiful poetry and songs.  We have all decided that while we will write things that we have to write (for school, my work, etc.) we will also write things that we want to write.  We all agree that taking time to write things we want to write is important because it helps us keep the joy of writing and it does not become a chore.

We have discussed having a writing prompt each week and maybe doing one story, one poem and one article.  I am not sure if we will take that route, but all three of us are pretty enthusiastic about it.  It sounds like fun and it will be a great way to improve our skills and stretch our creative muscle.

Volunteer as a Family

This is something that is new to our list.  The kids recently volunteered at a shelter with our church youth group and they enjoyed it.  We have talked a lot about helping others and the kids and I have always had a passion for helping those who are less fortunate.  So we are talking about things that we can do.  We'll be exploring this one.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Take More Time to do Things Together

We do a lot as a family, but we want to make a resolution to set aside certain times each day to spend together just talking and being together.  We are also talking about making a resolution that we will have two family activities a month (at least).  This may mean riding into DC to go eat and hang out at the National Mall or go to festivals, or it may mean going to a movie, a museum, or any number of things.

Have Family Bible Study and prayer

This is the biggie.  We want to have a regularly family Bible study.  We are currently discussing whether to have it once or twice a week or every night.  We each read our own Bibles and we each have a prayer life, but we want to have that as a family as well.  I picked up a book on devotionals that will take us through the Bible in a year.  It looks great and we can't wait to get into it.  We also want to start praying together, but that will probably be in the mornings.  The kids have each asked me individually to start having family prayer so we are going to start doing that.

We are all very excited and we would love to take you along for the ride!  I will update you here on our progress as well.  This is going to be fun!

The three of us will be keeping a blog of our adventures making and keeping our family New Year's Resolutions.  You can see it at http://itsjustusthree.wordpress.com.  We are each going to hold each other accountable, now you can too!

Biography
Stephanie Partridge is a freelance writer and photographer as well as a FOIA analyst for a federal agency in Washington, D.C. She is a single mom to Jeffery, 19; Micah Elizabeth, 17 and Benjamin, 15. She is also the author of the ebook, “Diet is a Dirty Word.”

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © and All Rights Reserved

by Stacey Schifferdecker

Have you heard the new Christmas song by Matthew West and Amy Grant called Give this Christmas Away? Every time I hear this song or see the video, it brings tears to my eyes.

The video is on the latest Veggie Tale DVD, St. Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving or you can see it on Youtube.

If you are inspired to give Christmas away, here are some ideas to help you get started. It may be too late to try some of these ideas this year, but you can get a head start on next year.

Fill a Shoebox

The Give this Christmas Away video features children receiving Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes through Samaritan's Purse. Operation Christmas Child is a great way you and your children can share God's love and the true story of Christmas with children from around the globe. All you do is wrap a shoebox (wrap the lid separately) and then fill it with toiletries, toys, and school supplies. You can choose whether you are filling a box for a boy or a girl and for what age. Then you just take your box to a local collection center; the website lists collection sites all over the United States and Canada. Samaritan's Purse asks that you include $7 per box to help with shipping costs. If you pay the $7 online, you can get a code to track where your box ends up.

Can You Spare a Dime?

You know that spare change you find on the floor, behind the sofa cushions, in the dryer, and at the bottom of your purse? Throw it all into a container throughout the year – you'll be surprised by how it adds up! In December, you can give the money to charity, buy a gift for Toys for Tots, or just dump it all in the Salvation Army kettle.

Give Your Time

Of course, one of the messages we want to send our children is that Christmas isn't all about gifts. Sharing gifts is awesome, but sharing time and love can have even more of an impact. Invite an older neighbor to join you and your children to make Christmas cookies or fudge. Offer to babysit so some young parents can go Christmas shopping or have a night out. Invite international students from your local college or university to join your family for Christmas dinner. Visit a nursing home and spend time with the residents, playing a game of checkers or painting the ladies' fingernails.

Share Your Talents

A couple years ago I took up knitting. I don't have much time to knit, but for a while I was whipping out quick scarves for everyone in my family. This year, my daughter has asked me to teach her to knit and to sew. If you have a talent like knitting, sewing, or baking, share those talents with others. Simple fleece blankets, scarves and hats are easy for young hands to help you with and are always welcome at homeless shelters in the winter.

Shop for Others

Do you go to any parties that have a gift exchange? It's fun to see the gifts people give each other, but do any of us really need the things we bring home? Instead, have a party where everyone brings gifts for a charity. You can still have the fun of exchanging and opening the gifts, but no one goes home with another bottle of lotion or Christmas ornament. For children, have a Birthday Party for Jesus and have the children bring baby items that you can give to a women's shelter. What are some ways you and your children have found to give Christmas away?

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © and All Rights Reserved

Would you like to some fun Halloween game and activity ideas that you and your children will love? — Click here!

By Kate Hayes

Whether you are taking your kids across the country for a summer vacation, or simply planning a trip to the museum across town, learning to make the most of each adventure can make a big difference in what your preschoolers remember about the experience. And I know that you want them to remember the experience, or you wouldn’t be doing it! In my family’s travels through 15 states with a five year old and a two year old (including a long-distance move from St. Louis to Boston), I have gathered a few travel tips that I’d love to share:

1)      Build connections (and excitement) before you go. Don’t you always look forward to visiting a place more when you have some kind of” connection” to it? Perhaps you know someone who lives there. Or maybe you have seen it in history books or in a movie. Being a child of the eighties, I was most excited about my visit to Astoria, Oregon because it was the town from the movie, “The Goonies”…and I got to see the actual house where Chunk did the “Truffle Shuffle!”

Well, put yourself in your preschooler’s size 8 Crocs. They are freshly hatched. They don’t have connections to most of the places that we take them to, unless we provide some for them. A great way to do this is to read a book about the place that you are going to visit several times before you go. For instance, I read the classic, “Make Way for Ducklings” to my kids before we visited the Boston Public Garden and rode the Swan Boats. When we went, my five-year-old daughter was thrilled to see live duck families along with the statues of the ducks from the book. She felt like she already knew them. More recently, we just read “Sarah Morton’s Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl,” as part of our preparation to visit Plimouth Plantation.

If there are no books about the place that you are going to visit, let your child look through the brochure or travel guide. Another fun trick that I have tried is letting my daughter cut out pictures of things that she would like to do in the area we are visiting and paste them on a collage. Then, when we actually get to see and so some of those things, she is super excited about them.

2)      Give the kids a camera. You know that old digital camera that you stopped using because the battery wasn’t holding a charge as well as you’d like? Give it to the kids! If you don’t have an old camera, get the kids a disposable one just for the trip. Keep in mind that you are not doing this because you expect four-year-old Mason to capture stunning Kodak moments of a sunset in all its splendor. You are doing it because it will encourage Mason to be engaged in everything that he is seeing, and will help prevent him from getting “BOOOORED.” It will also provide huge amounts of entertainment for you later, when you upload the photos and see your family adventure through your preschooler’s eyes. It will amaze you what they deem to be important. (For an example of this, check out this brief slideshow of my daughter’s photos from our first house hunting trip to Boston when she was four. It is pretty funny.)

3)      Pack like a visionary. You’re going to a museum downtown and you’re riding the subway to get there. Did you pack a swimsuit and a towel? That’s right…I said, pack a swimsuit! For your kids to really appreciate life’s adventures, you have to learn to be more adventurous yourself. Don’t just think “museum.” Think…what might happen beyond the museum? What if, on the walk from the subway station to the museum, you encounter a glorious city fountain with children scampering and playing in it? And it’s 95 degrees. And your children are panting like dogs, looking at the fountain like they are hikers lost in the desert. Will you have to pass by because you weren’t prepared and don’t fancy the idea of taking soaked children into a museum? Or will you be able to “seize the day,” heroically whip out some swimsuits, and let your kids enjoy what will probably become their most memorable moments of their trip? Be a visionary. Imagine the possibilities that each adventure holds…and then pack for them.

4)      Be ready to bribe. Ooh. Bribery is such a dirty word. I know that some parents are strictly against it, and that’s fine. I, however, have a more lax bribery policy. Never bribe for good behavior at home; however, bribe liberally when travelling. Sometimes your preschooler is just on the verge of a meltdown that will ruin the rest of the day (you totally know what I’m talking about). And somehow, being able to whip a piece of candy out of your bag and offer it to him in exchange for not making an embarrassing scene, makes the day turn out so much better. I honestly never leave home without a bag of Smarties in my purse. SweeTarts and DumDums also make good bribery options. Avoid chocolate, because it will make a melty mess (guess what…M&M’s DO melt in your hands!). Or, if your kid is a fanatic for stickers, small trinkets, or Hot Wheels, those would work too. You know what your child stops in their tracks (or tantrums) for. Be armed and ready.

5) Seal the memories with a self-made memento. So you followed steps one through four, and had a fantastic family adventure with your preschooler. Now, how do you make sure that this magical journey won’t be forgotten along with their journey through the birth canal and other memories from the first few years of life? Make a trip memento! If you scrapbook, create a few scrapbook pages together, making notes of any really funny or adorable moments from the trip. Be sure to include some of the photos that the kids took themselves. Or, if you really want to go the extra mile, log on to a photo service web site like Shutterfly and create an actual hardbound book that you will be able to treasure forever. You can get super creative with these. Here is an example of a story book that I wrote for my kids about our first family trip to Chicago. Note…I said STORY BOOK. I wrote a rhyming story like you would buy in the store, “illustrated” it with pictures from our trip, and came up with a bedtime read that has allowed my daughter to remember a trip that she took when she was three years old like it just happened yesterday.

Being able to introduce our little ones to the world around them is an extraordinary privilege. In my opinion, it’s also one of the most fun parts of being a parent. Every time I spend a day “teaching” my kids something new, I feel like I learn just as much from them as I view the world through their fresh perspective. May you and your family learn much from your summer travels, create many happy memories, and treat every day like the adventure it was meant to be!

Kate Hayes is the author of www.adventuresinparenting.me, an award-winning blog about the everyday (and out-of-the-ordinary) adventures that come with being a parent. She is a former TV news journalist and public relations/marketing manager currently contemplating her next career move. If you have any brilliant suggestions for her, feel free to visit her website and leave her a comment!

From all of us here at More4kids, Happy 4th of July Weekend. The Fourth of July celebrates the birth of the United States of America. Founded July 4th 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America is celebrating its 234nd birthday this year (2010).

It is a time for families and friends not only to come together and have fun, but also a time to honor our Veterans and men and women who are putting their lives in danger every day for us, and those who have made the biggest sacrifice for our freedom with their lives. Try to throw your politics aside, and let us all take a moment to think about, and be grateful to all who wear the American uniform, and to our police and firefighters who protect us day in and out. They all deserve our recognition and thanx, more than we can put in words. And don't forget the spouses and families of those in uniform. It takes very special people to be part of a military family, and our hearts, thanx, and recognition should go out to them too.

No matter whether you travel across the country to celebrate our nation’s birthday, or decide to stay at home in your own backyard, there are many different ways to make this a very special holiday.

All that is needed for a fantastic Fourth are three key ingredients:

1. A Plan
2. Preparation
3. and much, much Enthusiasm.

We’ll provide the plan to get you started!

Ready? Set?

Not lets get the ball on the road and get going!

Hosting a Family Friendly Fourth of July Party in Your Back Yard

Unless you have a very large back yard, your best bet is to keep your guest list to less than 30 people. Pot luck picnics are by far the easiest. This leaves you time to add unique and festive touches to the event. Ask guests to bring a side dish, and you can take care of the main course, drinks, and dessert. Along with the party planning, these three courses are enough to keep your hands full.

Traditional Fourth of July celebrations usually include hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill. This is a fine tradition, and worthy of continuing. You can dress up the burgers by adding unique condiments, grilling chicken, and offering whole wheat or specialty buns.

If, however, you’re looking for an easy but unique alternative to the traditional burgers and hotdogs routine, look no further than kebabs. Grilled kebabs can be prepared in advance and they offer your guests an alternative to the standard fare.

Here’s a great recipe you might want to try:

Grilled Holiday Kebabs

• 1 lb Chicken breast cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 lb beef cut into 1 inch cubes
• Three green peppers
• Three red peppers
• Cherry Tomatoes
• 3 onions
• 2 zucchini, yellow or green
• 2 cups large button mushrooms
• 1 large bottle of your favorite Italian dressing.

- Place cut chicken into large sealable bag. Place beef into separate large sealable bag. Pour ½ cup of Italian dressing into each bag, seal, and marinate for at least 1 hour in refrigerator.

- Cut all vegetables, excluding cherry tomatoes, into 1 to 2 inch pieces. After meat has marinated, place meat and veggies on skewers as you prefer. (Note—if you’re using wooden skewers be sure to soak them in water for 20 minutes before you place the meat and veggies on them. This will prevent the wood from burning on the grill.)

- Store kebabs in an airtight container until you’re ready to grill. Grill on a medium heat until meat is done.

Now that the main course is taken care of you can focus on the beverages and dessert.

Traditional beverages include ice tea, lemonade, and a cooler full of your favorite carbonated beverages. If you’re looking to add a nice touch, consider using ice rings and offering lemon wraps (wedges of lemon wrapped in 4 ½ in square of cheesecloth and tied off) for the ice tea. Also consider offering this wonderful, tasty, and family friendly punch.

Fourth of July Punch

• 40 oz grape juice
• 2 liter of favorite lemon lime soda
• 40 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oranges sliced thin to float on top
• 2 limes sliced thin to float on top

Mix all ingredients together in a large container.

Makes 8-9 quarts of punch.

Dessert time can be time to get the children involved in the festivities by making Popsicle rockets. It’s easy, virtually foolproof, and your children will be proud of their tasty accomplishment.

4th of July Popsicle Rockets

Here’s what you need to get started: red juice, blue juice and white juice.
Red is easy, blue can be blue Gatorade or Kool aid, and white juice can be lemonade.

You’ll also need two dozen 3oz paper cups and two dozen Popsicle sticks.

• Begin by having your children mix up the juice if need be.
• Pour two tablespoons of the red juice into the bottom of each cup and place in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
• Remove from freezer add two tablespoons of the white juice and place Popsicle sticks into the center of each cup. Take care when pushing the sticks into the mostly frozen red juice. Children can get enthusiastic and push the sticks all the way through the cup.
• Place back into the freezer for another 2-3 hours. Pull out and top with white juice.
• Refreeze until hard. Peel off paper cups and serve when ready!

Of course no party is complete without festive activities. Before the fireworks get started, and while the adults are busy socializing, you can keep the children busy making 4th of July spinners.

If possible, recruit an older child or teenager to help with this project. This will leave you free to socialize with your guests and enjoy your party.

Craft materials you will need:

• Plastic coffee lids, (red, white, and blue colors). You’ll need one for each child and a few to spare in case accidents occur.
• Pens
• Scissors
• String

Step 1. Have children poke a hole in the center of their lid.
Step 2. Using a pen, have each child draw a spiral on their lid starting at the center and working their way to the outer edge. Ideally the spiral should be about ½ inch wide.
Step 3. Have the children but along the spiral, starting at the outside edge is easier. Be careful not to cut through the hole in the center.
Step 4. Loop the string through the center hole, knot the string, and hang the spinners from a tree or window.

Optional step: If coffee can lids are not an option, you can use colored paper plates. Additionally you can have the children decorate the lids or plates with glitter, stickers, colored glue. Just let your imagination fly.

Firework Safety Guidelines

When night falls, children and adults will invariably want to enjoy a fireworks show. Please follow these guidelines for a safe and happy Fourth of July.

• Only use fireworks and sparklers outdoors.
• Only children 12 and up should handle sparklers.
• Keep several buckets of water available for extinguishing sparklers.
• Obey local firework laws. Some states ban fireworks outright, or during a drought.
• Light only 1 firework at a time.
• Let fireworks soak for 15-20 minutes before disposal.
• Always wear eye protection.
• Alcohol and fireworks don’t mix. Designate a fireworks lighter!
• Adult supervision is a must.

One safety note that I did not realize until recent is that sparklers are the 2nd leading cause of firework injuries. While they may seem harmless always make sure you warn your kids to keep them away from not only their eyes but other peoples eyes when waving them around.

Spicing Up a Simple Family Fourth of July Picnic

Sometimes the best way to spend a Fourth of July, is with your own family. No guests, no parties, just you and your loved ones. The following are a few tips to make your Fourth of July family picnic the best one ever.

It is always good to have a picnic “emergency kit.” A good kit will contain extra paper plates, utensils, wipes, and a plastic table cloth. Additionally, it should have sunscreen and bug repellent, band aids, matches, and trash bags. Pack a Frisbee or ball for entertainment emergencies.

To spice up the menu try cooking chicken burgers using the following recipe.

Fourth of July Chicken Burgers 1 lb ground chicken
2 cups of bread crumbs
½ cup of milk
2 tbs minced onion
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper. You can add more if your family likes it spicy.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Form patties and grill until done. Whole wheat buns, provolone cheese and sliced tomatoes make this burger extra special.

You can also make your potato salad more interesting by using red and white.

Dessert time again is time to involve the children. Invite them to make this wonderful red, white, and blue trifle.

Red White and Blue Trifle. 1 box white cake mix
2 packets of vanilla pudding
1 pound of strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 pound of blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 ½ cup of heavy cream, whipped.

• Make cake and pudding by directions on the box.
• Thaw fruit if frozen. If fruit isn’t frozen, slice into bite sized pieces and add a tsp of sugar to make juices flow.
• Cut white cake into large chunks.
• Using a large clear dish, place a layer of cake chunks onto the bottom of the container.
• Top with a layer of strawberries
• Top with a layer of pudding
• Top with a layer of cake chunks
• Top with a layer of blueberries
• Top with a layer of pudding
• Continue layering until you reach the top of your container then top with whipped cream.

The great thing about this dish is that it’s virtually foolproof and it will look amazing no matter who handles the job, your two year old or your twenty year old.

Heading Out of Town for the Fourth of July

While staying at home can be a wonderful and relaxed way to spend your holiday, several cities across the United States host top-notch Fourth of July Celebrations.

Step into our country’s heritage by visiting the following cities for their Fourth of July festivities:

Boston—Boston hosts “America’s Biggest Independence Day Party” on the Esplanade with the fireworks on the bank of the Charles River. The festivities begin on July 3rd with a Boston Pops concert and wrap up with a flyover by the Vermont National Air Guard and a spectacular fireworks show. Food, fun and fireworks, the festivities are free and you can expect to share the event with approximately 500,000 people.

Washington D.C.—There may be no better place to witness a Fourth of July spectacular than on the mall in Washington D.C. Your family can enjoy an Independence Day parade complete with floats, marching bands and giant helium balloons.

A reading of the declaration of independence can be witnessed on the Constitution avenue steps where you can meet historical figures like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin and you can witness the signing of the declaration of independence. Take your family to the Smithsonian for more educational fun, and don’t forget to save time for the evening concert and fireworks show.

Colonial Williamsburg—Jump back in time and visit living history as it was made. Actors walking the streets and residing in historic houses, bring to life the American Revolution. Give your children the opportunity to meet Thomas Jefferson, see how and where he lived, and view a reenactment of the signing of the declaration of independence. In addition to the military reenactment, children’s activities are provided on the palace green. Music will fill the air all day long with a variety of concerts. The fabulous holiday ends with a fireworks display.

Other wonderful places to consider visiting are:

• Walt Disney World., Orlando Florida. While Disney offers fireworks every night of the year, the Fourth of July fireworks are among the best in the country.
• Austin, TX. The Austin Symphony Orchestra makes this trip worth the effort.
• San Francisco. Pier 39 is the place you want to be during the Fourth of July celebration.
• And New York City for hot dog eating contests and Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show.

So, Whether you decided to say at home, travel out of town, or host a fantastic party, the best holidays are well thought out and planned ahead of time. Smooth and seamless planning makes for smooth and happy holiday celebrations. No matter where you go or what you do this Fourth of July, spending time with your family will make the time special. Be safe and have fun!

Julie and Kevin
More4kids

Kids Can Make a Difference Spending Their weekends this summer raising money for Charity

Within the past few years, many people have been spurred to give more to charity after seeing the pain and suffering that is a result of war, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters. Great tragedies have spurred greater generosity, and passing on the idea of charity to your children is just as important as giving yourself. Summer is here, the kids are home from school, and this gives you the perfect opportunity to begin teaching your child about charity. Of course, you want to teach your children that charity is much more than a one-time thing. It is important that you teach them that giving should become a way of life for them. Are you unsure where to begin? Here is a look at why teaching charity is important, how you can set the example, and tips for teaching your child about charity. And Remember, it is important to stress KIDS CAN and DO Make a Difference!

Why is Teaching Charity Important?

You may be thinking that your kids are simply children right now. Why is it so important that you teach them charity? There are a number of reasons that it is very important to teach your children all about charity and get them involved in helping others. First, many children today grow up being very self centered – they never think about the pain and suffering that others go through. Teaching charity will help them to look beyond their own wants and needs.

Another reason that you should teach charity to your children is to help them develop compassion for others. No doubt, you want your child to grow into an adult that is loving and compassionate. Teaching them about charity can help. You will also find that teaching your child about charity can help them deal with the tragedies that they often see on television. For example, children are often disturbed and upset of the images shown on television of animals hurt by the recent oil spill. Getting children involved in a charity helps them to feel that there is something they can do to help.

Reasons Kids Should be Involved in Charity Endeavors

Now that you know why teaching charity to kids is so important, here are just a few of the reasons you should get your kids involved in charity endeavors.

Reason #1 – Help Others – When children get involved in charity endeavors they have the ability to help others. This is an important life lesson that kids should learn. Society today has become very self centered, so trying to instill the idea of helping other people is a great reason to start getting your kids involved in charity work.

Reason #2 – They Can Learn About Issues that Interest Them – Charity endeavors also allow kids to learn about issues that interest them. There are many opportunities for volunteering and various charities out there, which means your child is sure to find an option that they find interested. If your child has a deep love for marine life, a charity to help save marine life is a wonderful idea. Perhaps your child is concerned about other children going hungry. Getting them involved in a charity that helps to feed children is a wonderful option.

Reason #3 – Eliminate Summertime Boredom – Kids often find themselves very bored during the summer months. Getting involved in a charity can keep your kids busy and help them beat boredom during the summer as they help other people.

Reason #4 – Children Develop a Better Perspective on Life – One more reason that kids should be involved in charity endeavors is to allow them to get a better perspective on life. As your child helps others who are in great need, they will quickly learn how fortunate and privileged they are, which will change their entire outlook on life, now and in the future.

Setting the Example as a Parent

Of course, as a parent, charity is going to begin with you. Kids mimic you and the way that you act. If they see you getting involved with charities, more than likely they will follow your example. How can you better set the example of getting involved in charity work? Here are a few pointers.

Start By Talking – You want to start by talking to your kids about charity. Discuss how charity ties into the values that you hold as a family. Tell your children what charity means, discuss how charities help others, and even talk about ways that you give to charities.

Show Them – Of course, you need to do more than talk. Show them a good example of charity. Your actions should teach lessons in charity. Donate canned goods to homeless, give a few dollars at a grocery store to help a charity, or gather up some clothes and give them to a shelter in your area. This way you lead by example.

Ways to Teach Your Child About Charity

You can work on teaching your child about charity many ways. You want them to acquire charity as a habit, and many strategies can be used as a family. Here is a look at some excellent ways you can begin teaching your children this important lesson.

Way #1 – Donate Used Clothing - One great way to teach your child about charity is to donate used clothing. Go through your own closet and take out clothing you don't need or wear. Allow your children to do this as well. Clothing and other items, like shoes and toys, can also be donated. When you are ready to drop off these items, take kids along so they get the experience of giving to others.

Way #2 – Give to Pets – Another option is to help kids give to pets. Most kids love animals. Go out, purchase some cat or dog food, and take them to a humane society in your local area. Let your kids spend some time playing with the animals as well.

Way #3 – Help Out Your Neighbors – You can also teach kids about charity simply by helping out your neighbors. Maybe there is an older couple in your neighborhood. Help as a family with some yard work or take them a nice meal. If you have a family who has a family member at war, show kindness by taking some cookies or some other treat to the family.

Way #4 – Deliver Food Items – Have your children help you buy and save up food items. Drop them off at local food banks. Another idea is to build up a food basket full of food items and take it to a family in need. Let kids help pick out foods and allow them to decorate the basket or package to give to someone who needs it.

Way #5 – Save Change and Donate it to a Charity - Consider having a jar where you all save spare change. Add in spare change you collect and allow kids to donate some of their allowance to the jar. Once you fill up your jar, decide as a family what charity you will donate the money to.

Choose Your Cause – Top Charity Ideas for the Entire Family

As you teach kids more about charity, you may have money you want to donate or you may want to find charities you can volunteer for too. You definitely want to choose worthy charities that are really making a difference today. As you try to decide where to focus your efforts as a family, here are some excellent charities ideas that the entire family can get involved in. These are just a few great charities. The best thing to do is as a family, research different ones and decide together on one or more than one that really speaks to your heart.

National Wild Life Federation - Kids don't need to feel hopeless or helpless about the BP oil spill. You can teach them about the environment and show them how they can help. The National Wildlife Association is working to help wildlife impacted by the BP oil spill, but can use everyones help. Find out more here –> www.nwf.org

Operation Smile – Operation Smile is a charity that funds medical volunteers to help children who are born with cleft palates. One surgery can be funded for $240. Find out more at www.operationsmile.org.

Love Without Boundaries – Love without Boundaries is an organization that is comprised of people from all over the world working towards one common goal, to improve the lives of orphaned and impoverished children in China. Visit www.lovewithoutboundaries.com to find out more.

Alex's Lemonade – Alex's Lemonade foundation started in the year 2000, the day after Alex turned 4 she Alex received a stem cell transplant and informed her mother and said "when I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand." Today Alex's Lemonade Foundation is working hard to battle Childhood Cancer, one cup at a time with over 100,000 people helping in the fight. Learn more at www.alexslemonade.org

Unicef and Kiwanis – This year they have teamed up to help protect mothers and babies from Tetanus. The Eliminate Project will help by delivering these life saving vaccines those who need it most and are most vulnerable: Women and Children in conflict zones and very difficult to reach remote areas. Learn more about the Eliminate Project Here

Big Brothers Big Sisters – A great organization that helps children and strengthens communities. For over 100 years Big Brothers Big Sisters have been matching adult volunteers to children to help develop a positive impact and a lasting effect. You can learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters here: www.bbbs.org

OperationSafe International - They work hard to Help children after trauma through / art / story / games / play / song / dance / film / love / hope / people who care. Visit and learn more at www.opsafeintl.com

Ronald McDonald House – The Ronald McDonald House is an excellent charity. This charity helps to provide housing for family members of children that are seriously ill. Find out how you can help at www.rmhc.org.

Habitat for Humanity – Habitat for Humanity is a charity that helps to build homes for people who are poor. You can get involved in a local chapter and volunteer to actually help build homes or you can donate money to this program as well. Learn more and find your local office by visiting www.habitat.org.

Special Olympics – Another option is the Special Olympics, which provides training and competitions for adults and children dealing with mental retardation. Fund raising or volunteering can be helpful. Visit www.specialolympics.org to find out how your family can help.

Salvation Army – The Salvation Army helps people in many ways, and you can donate furniture, cars, money, or even volunteer. Find out more about these opportunities at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure – This is a charity that raises money to help fight breast cancer and to help find a cure. They are known for the Race for the Cure, which you can raise money for and race in as a family. Find out how at www.komen.org.

The American Red Cross – The American Red Cross is well known for responding during emergencies. There are volunteer opportunities available and donations are always accepted. Learn more at www.redcross.org.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – This is a hospital that is committed to saving children and finding cures for childhood diseases. You can donate money and help make sure this hospital can afford to stay open, helping children. Learn more about available opportunities at www.stjude.org.

These are just a few of the many excellent charities out there that you can get your children involved in. Whether you decide to volunteer as a family or you simply work on raising money as a family, you will be instilling the idea of charity into your child's heart. No child is too young to start learning about charity. Whether you have a five year old or a fifteen year old, the time to start talking about charity is now. With these tips and ideas, teaching kids about charity becomes a lot easier. This summer, take the time to teach kid about charity and get involved as a family in helping others.

Teen Donating Time Helping Kids in Africa

If you are looking for a fun bedtime ritual for you and your children, reading to your kids is a great option. Reading is not only good for them educationally, but this time together is a great time to bond with your child too. Of course, there are many different bedtime stories out there to choose from. Which ones should you choose to add to your children's library? Here is a look at some great bedtime stories for kids and a look at the stories they tell and lessons that they teach.

Bedtime Stories for Kids

The Going to Bed Book

One of the best bedtime stories for kids, this book by Sandra Boynton deals with bedtime routines. The animals in the book take a bath, put on their pajamas, and brush their teeth getting ready for bed. It's a great story that will help your child learn about bedtime routines and going to sleep at night.

Goodnight Moon

This book by Margaret Wise Brown is another excellent bedtime story to read to your kids at night. The rabbit in the story says goodnight to the moon, air, stars, and everything else in the room. It's great for teaching kids to prepare for going to bed.

Guess How Much I Love You

An adorable story by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram, this is about a Little Nutbrown Hare that is trying to find ways to tell his father about how much he loves him. The trick is that he really is trying to put bedtime off a bit. This story will help you show your child how much you love them at the end of a busy day.

Moon Rabbit

The Little Rabbit is captivating in this tale by Natalie Russell as she tries to find if there is another person like her. It teaches friendship among people, even if they are not like you, since Little Rabbit finds the Brown Rabbit and they become the best of friends, even though they are different.

Good Night, Gorilla

A humorous story by Peggy Rathmann, this bedtime story will have kids laughing as they see the zookeeper in the story go through the zoo telling all the animals good night. The twist is that the gorilla in the book gets the keys and lets the animals all out. They follow the zookeeper to his home, and soon the lights go out, and everyone says goodnight.

Goodnight Lulu

About a small chick, this book by Paulette Bogan is a great bedtime read. It deals with monsters in the night and is filled with endless questions from Lulu to her mom about monsters. A great book to deal with the fear many kids have of the dark and monsters.

Tell Me Something Happy Before I go to Sleep

In this book by Joyce Dunbar, little Willa isn't able to go to sleep because she is scared she'll have a bad dream. So she asks Willoughby, her brother, to tell her about something that is happy. This wonderful book teaches kids that morning will come soon and that there is happiness and joy waiting for them. It also helps kids get over the fear of having a bad dream at night.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Crockett Johnson is the author if this book about Harold. Harold takes a walk one evening, taking the purple crayon along with him and drawing out exciting adventures. In the end, he draws the window to his bedroom and a bed, then goes to sleep. In this bedtime story, kids learn about using their imagination and the exciting adventures it can provide.

The Boy Who Wouldn't Go to Bed

Sometimes kids don't want to go to bed, especially during the summer, which is the topic of this book by Helen Cooper. The boy in the book didn't want to go to bed and wanted to stay up all night long. However, the world around him goes to sleep. This book will tire out your child and make them realize that even when they don't feel like going to sleep, the world needs to rest and sleep is important.

Animal Sleepyheads 1 to 10

This cute bedtime story by Joanna Cole is a rhyming story that teaching counting. Kids count the animals that are sleeping happily, teaching the numbers 1 through 10. It will also help to lull your child into a nice sleep as well.

Good Night

By Elizabeth Coatsworth, this story for bedtime talks about the sun setting and a special start in the sky that watches the entire world as it goes to sleep. The story is a cheerful one that talks about the nightly ritual that becomes familiar to a child. At the end of this story, there is a special surprise as well that kids will enjoy.

Half a Moon and One Whole Star

Kids often wonder what goes on at night and this story by Crescent Dragonwagon talks about this. It talks about how some people wake up and some go to sleep. The story about Susan talks about the world during the night, and it's a soothing story that will have kids dreaming in no time.

Time for Bed

This book by Mem Fox and Jane Dyer is full of watercolor pictures that are calming and beautiful. It has words that rhyme, which will lilt kids to sleep, while teaching them about the baby animals that cuddle up and snuggle with their moms at bedtime.

Where the Wild Things Are

This old classic by Maurice Sendak is for kids of any age. The journey in the dark teaches kids about loving and taming the monsters, which will keep kids from being scared of the "monsters under the bed."

Time to Say Goodnight

By Sally Lloyd-Jones, this bedtime story talks about sleepy animals in the forest and meadow, teaching kids about animals and how they go to sleep, as well as about those that are nocturnal and wake up at this time. A fun way to teach kids to say goodnight.

Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball

Written by Vicki Churchill and Charles Fuge, this book happens to be a tale about Little Wombat. At the end of the day he loves trying to find a great place to curl up with mom for a nap. It teaches kids that there is a time for fun and play, but a time to curl up and go to sleep too.

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late

A funny book by Mo Willems, this book is about a pigeon that is yawning. The hilarious book will have kids laughing and in a great mood for bedtime, which is perfect when you are putting your kids to bed.

Goodnight Me

You'll find this book by Andrew Daddo to be a perfect bedtime story for younger kids, teaching them how to come up with their own bedtime ritual. The story is about an orangutan that says goodnight in many different ways and then eventually goes to sleep.

Counting Kisses

This book by Karen Katz is all about kisses, on "tiny toes" and on the sleepy head. This bedtime story will make kids feel loved and cuddles, and is a great one for babies and toddlers at bedtime.

Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book

By Dr. Seuss himself, this book talks about the sleepy resident in the Country of Keck. The main character is always yawning and the rhyme and rhythm that you have come to expect from Seuss will have your child yawning too. The book encourages sleep and imagination.

To Sleep with the Angels

This is a bedtime book that is by H. Elizabeth Collins. It talks about bedtime prayers and is a book that can make kids feel very secure when they go to sleep. The little girl in the story dreams of angels and is about a special dreamland adventure that happens to feature all kinds of angels.

Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?

Barbara Firth is the author of this charming book about a little bear. Little Bear is scared of the dark and he can't go to sleep. Big Bear helps to settle down Little Bear and calms his fears. A wonderful read for kids who are scared of the dark. By the end of the book they'll feel more secure about going to sleep, even with the lights off.

I Love You, Mouse

Although this title by John Graham was out of print for some time, it is now available again and is a great bedtime story for kids. The little boy in the story talks to all the animals that he loves, including a puppy, bunny, lamb, and kitten. At dark his father puts him to bed and he founds out how much is father loves him. A great bedtime story that teaches kids about the love their parents have for them.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

A book about dinosaurs by Jane Yolen, this is a great book for toddlers, preschoolers, and young school age children. It has a cute story about dinosaurs and how they go to bed at night and the ways that they say goodnight. The pictures are great too and it is a rhyming book that will teach your kids about even more ways to say goodnight and get ready for bed.

Of course, there are many other great bedtime stories out there that you can purchase and read to your kids at night. However, these are some of the best books out there. Consider purchasing one, or several of them, so you can have them at home to read to your child. Then start your own bedtime ritual with your kids. Enjoy those moments at the end of the day when you read them a bedtime story and watch them fade off into dreamland.

Parenting at More4kids: More4Kids Inc © and All Rights Reserved

Many Veterans will be away from their Families this Memorial Day. Lets not forget any of them, past or present.

For many of use, Memorial Day comes and goes, we have a barbecue, shop a few sales, and enjoy the beginning of summer, while forgetting the importance of this holiday. Memorial Day was created as a day to remember fallen troops and to honor troops serving today. The last thing we want to teach our children is to take freedom and the death of American patriots for granted. This year why not take this day and spend it with your family, honoring our troops. If you are not sure what you can do with your kids to honor our troops, here are some excellent suggestions.

As a Family Observe the National Moment of Remembrance

On Memorial Day each year, there is a National Moment of Remembrance. This occurs at 3pm your local time and lasts for one minute. Observe this as a family by saying a prayer or simply having a moment of silence.

Teach Children to Display a Flag Properly

Fly the flag at your home on Memorial Day to honor the troops. This is a great time to teach your child how to display a flag properly. Teach them how they should handle a flag when raising it and lowering it.

Make Thank You Cards for Veterans

Another great idea is to make thank you cards for veterans. Check with the Veteran's Administration for some information on finding local veterans. Make up these cards to say thank you, and then send them to veterans in your area.

Visit a Veteran's Hospital

Find a Veteran's Hospital in your local area and then go on a visit. Take your children with you. Take along some cards or cookies and enjoy hearing their stories and saying thank you to these brave men and women.

Go to a Local Parade

More than likely there will be a local parade in your community to celebrate and remember the troops on Memorial Day. Consider taking your kids to the parade, wave flags, and enjoy the patriotic music as you remember together what all the brave men and women have done for this country.

Send Cards to Soldiers Currently Deployed

Another great way to honor troops with your kids is to send out cards to soldiers that are currently deployed. Many soldiers look forward to hearing from home. Kids can draw pictures or create cards to send overseas to the soldiers currently fighting.

Visit a Local War Memorial

Visiting a local war memorial is another good option to honor the troops on Memorial Day. Most communities have some type of war memorial in the area. Take your children to the memorial and talk to them about the sacrifice that has been made by many men and women in the past.

Go to a Cemetery and Place Flags on Graves of Veterans

Going to a cemetery and placing flags or flowers on the graves of veterans can be a way to honor those who have given their lives for freedom. Find out where veterans are buried and buy some flowers and flags to take with you. Let the kids place them on the graves. Just make sure you teach your children to be respectful while they are in the cemetery.

Donate to Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org)

Donating to Disabled American Veterans, which is found at www.dav.org, is a special way to honor the troops who have been disabled after fighting for this country. Many disabled veterans deal with big challenges when they come home. Raise some money by doing a carwash as a family or selling some baked good, or simply save extra change and send it to this worthy cause to help honor the troops who have served.

Take Baked Goods to a Family That Has a Loved One Overseas

More than likely there are families in your community that have loved ones overseas. It can be difficult for families as they are missing a parent. Find a family in your area that has a parent overseas and take them baked goods as a way to honor not only the sacrifice of the soldier, but the sacrifice of the family as well.

Send Care Packages Via Operation USO Care Package

Sending a care package via Operation USO Care Package is a great way to get your kids involved in honoring and respecting the troops. You can contribute money to this cause at www.usocare.org or you can send in items for these care packages, which include disposable cameras, toiletries, sunscreen, and more. Find out more by visiting their website to see what you can do to help send these packages to the men and women who serve.

Contribute to Operation Uplink

Operation Uplink, found at http://www.operationuplink.org is another website to visit. They offer a program that allows you to contribute purchasing phone cards that are given to veterans that are hospitalized and military personnel that are overseas so they are able to call friends and family members. Save as a family and make a contribution to this great cause.

Support Military Family Members by Volunteering

You can also support military family members by volunteering your time. This can include helping a family with yard work, cleaning, house repairs, and more. Check with local organizations like the American Red Cross, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or the American legion to find out how you can volunteer and help as a family in this way.

Take Care of a Pet

If you have room for a pet at your home, take on a pet of a military person that is currently deployed. NetPets.org is a website where you can find out more about this program. It involves temporarily providing a foster home for pets while their owners are away at war. It can be fun for your whole family and will definitely be appreciated by those currently serving in the military.

These are just a few of the ways that you can honor our troops with your kids. Honoring the troops is not a matter of politics. Men and women have died in the past for freedom, and today many put their life on the line for this country. That deserves respect and honor, so use one or more of these ways to teach your children to honor the troops this Memorial Day, and every day of the year.

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © and All Rights Reserved

Surviving Spring Break with Your Sanity in Tact by Joy Belle

Young Family enjoying Spring Break Together

Spring break is almost upon us. No doubt your kids are excited about it but as parents, you may not have quite the enthusiasm. Spring is in the air, kids are antsy, and now they are going to be home from school for an entire week. What can you do to survive, with your sanity in tact at that? Here is a look at some great tips, ideas, and activities that you can use and you may just come out alive.

Great Activities for Kids to Enjoy on Spring Break (Keeping Them Busy is Half the Battle)

With some activities on hand, you'll keep kids busy and keep them from getting bored, which is important to your survival. Others you'll be dealing with those yells for "MOM" about every 10 minutes. Plan ahead and get together some fun activities.

One idea is to let kids make some colorful butterfly mobiles, which is great for younger kids and even preteens. Get some colored paper, some markets, some string, and get to it. You can use stencils to draw butterflies or let them get creative and draw their own. Then cut them out, decorate them, and attach them to the string for colorful and spring themed mobiles.

Another great activity is to let kids sponge paint flowers. Of course, prepare with paints that are washable and make sure they are wearing old clothes if they are going to use paints. Cover the table too. Newspaper does a great job. Give them some little sponges, some paper, paint, and let them get to it.

Outdoor Activities for the Kids

Of course, since the weather is getting a bit nicer now, allowing the kids to get outside when they can is a great idea. There are a variety of outdoor activities that they can enjoy. Plan some time for them to play on their own and then consider scheduling some outdoor activities with the whole family idea.

One great outdoor activity is to go on a bird watching trek. You can do this in the backyard, a local park, or around the neighborhood. Look for different types of birds, take a bird book, and enjoy trying to identify them.

Another option is to set up a treasure hunt outside in the back yard. While they are otherwise occupied, set it up and get the clues all set up. Then get them started and let them enjoy the treasure hunt, allowing you to deal with some tasks around your home while they are busy.

Family Vacation Ideas During Spring Break

If you have the time available, you may want to consider taking a family vacation during spring break. The kids are off school, and if you can get the time off, try finding a great kid friendly place to go on a vacation. This will keep everyone busy, you sane, and you'll actually have some time to relax a bit. Here are some great family vacation ideas that you may want to consider during their spring break.

Washington DC – During the spring, Washington DC can be a beautiful place to visit. It is well known for its cherry trees and they have a Cherry Blossom Festival that is wonderful to attend. Not only can you enjoy the beauty and the festival, but there are many exciting and educational places that you can take the kids in the nation's capital as well.

Hershey Park - Another family vacation destination to consider is Hershey Park, which is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Kids love chocolate, so they are sure to enjoy touring the chocolate factory. They will also enjoy the amusement park with great rides, and you'll enjoy some of the great spas in the area.

Disney World – If you're longing for warmer temperatures, consider taking the family to Disney World, which is in Orlando, Florida. Kids of all ages are sure to have a wonderful time meeting Disney Characters, enjoying shows, going on rides, and more.

Tips for Surviving the Trip on Spring Break

If you're going to go on a trip, such as a family vacation, during spring break, there are some tips to keep in mind to make sure you survive this trip. Follow these tips to make it a real vacation instead of a spring break disaster.

Tip #1- Avoid College Spring Break Areas

First of all, if you're going to survive a vacation during spring break, make sure you avoid areas where college students go to celebrate spring break. The last thing you need is your kids being around that atmosphere when they are young. Also, it will be expensive and tough to book in popular areas for college students on spring break.

Tip #2 – Let Kids Move

When you are traveling, unless you want to lose all your hair, let the kids move around a bit. Stop from time to time to let kids get out and walk and run if you are driving. Keep them cooped up too long and you'll regret it.

Tip #3 – Keep Kids Busy

During car rides or plan rides, make sure you arrange to keep kids busy. Otherwise you and they will be climbing the walls after an hour. Bring along games, books, DVD players, CD players, and anything that will keep them quiet and busy. It will save you from hearing "Mom, are we there yet" quite so many times.

Tip #4 – Arrange for Adequate Accommodations

Make sure your accommodations are going to be adequate. The last thing you want is spring break cooped up in a tiny hotel room where no one can move. Ensure your accommodations are large enough for your family so everyone has some space of their own.

Finally, Spring Break can be a time for family activities and a time to bond closer with your kids.

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © and All Rights Reserved.

Here are some tips to save on School Supplies from More4kids:

Follow these tips to keep more of your money in your wallet as your kids head back to school:

The benefits of humor is not just the laughter itself, but the process. Helping your child develop a good sense of humor enhance their cognitive process in a fun way. What parent does not enjoy hearing his or her child telling them a funny joke, or telling your child a corny joke you know they will laugh at? Here are a few to get everyone laughing:

Q: What kind of dance do you do on a trampoline?

A: Hip Hop of course!!

Q: What room does a ghost not need?

A: A living room.

Q: What do you get when you drop a pumpkin?

A: Squash

Q: What did the tie say to the hat?

A: You go on a head, I will just hang around!

Q: What do puppies get at the movie theater?

A: Pupcorn

Q: What do you call a scared dinosaur?

A: A nervous Rex!

Q: Why are Teddy Bears never hungry?

A: Because they are always stuffed.

Q: What is the one word a dog can say ?

A: BARK!

Q: why are fish so smart?

A: because they live in schools.

Q:  Why did the chicken cross the playground?

A:   To get to the other slide.

That very first loose tooth is something you need to celebrate when it happens to your child. It's a pretty big milestone and opens up a variety of great opportunities for you to teach kids more about dental hygiene. As that first tooth loosens, it's a sign that your child is getting a bit older and sometimes kids aren't too sure they are happy about losing their teeth. The great thing is that if you help them celebrate this time, it will help them to adjust to it and make it fun for them to embrace this new stage in their life. Not sure what you can do to celebrate their loose teeth? Here are some wonderful ideas that you can use to make it an exciting and learning event.

History of the Tooth Fairy

Of course, when children lose teeth in the United States, often they are told about the Tooth Fairy. This is an exciting fable that has been around for many years. Back in Europe, hundreds of years ago, when the baby tooth fell out, they would bury it in the ground, teaching kids that an adult tooth would then grow in it's place. Many other countries across the world had similar fables and myths surrounding the loss of baby tooth. Some felt that baby teeth needed to be buried on the grounds of the church to prevent a curse.

As people began to migrate to America, many of these superstitions and beliefs came along with them. Eventually things changed to burying teeth in small planters, and eventually this changed into having children place the tooth under a pillow where it was replaced with a coin or other treat.

Kids, being curious, wanted to know where their teeth went. This brought about the story of the Tooth Fairy removing their teeth and giving them a treat instead, and so this fable was born. Wondering what happens to those teeth the Tooth Fairy collects? Well, the story goes that all those teeth are turned into starts in the sky.

Teaching Kids Dental Hygiene

Celebrating a loose tooth is important, but it definitely is a great time for parents to introduce dental hygiene to their children. Since the subject of teeth has come up, it's a great time to start teaching kids how important keeping their teeth clean is and other important hygiene. Since children will be getting their permanent teeth, they need to learn how to properly take care of them.

Teach your children how to appropriately brush their teeth several times each day. Make it a fun game so they find it fun. Another option is to read to them. Find a good book that is about proper brushing, flossing, and dental visits. Good hygiene now will be something that is important for the rest of their life, so make it fun now since they are preoccupied with their teeth anyway.

Other Fun Celebration Ideas

There are a variety of other fun celebration ideas you can use for your children. If you teach your child about the tooth fairy, think about what you want to leave under their pillow. Many parents leave quarters, dollars, or even exciting coins from across the world. It doesn't have to be money either. Small gifts that your child will appreciate also are great items to use when replacing their lost tooth. Really want to make your kids think the Tooth Fairy came? Add a little glitter (fairy dust) under their pillow. Their eyes will be huge in the morning.

Afraid that the tooth will get lost under the pillow? Let your kids make a special tooth fairy pouch. They can use cloth to make a pouch or they can decorate a special envelope to contain that special tooth once it falls out. This is a fun way to prepare kids for losing their tooth so it seems like something exciting instead of something scary.

If your child is having a hard time eating and the tooth feels a bit painful, make it a bit easier for them by having some soft foods for them. Have a soft foods party with them and spend time talking to them about any fears they have. On the other hand, sometimes something a bit crunchy can be used to finally get that tooth to fall out.

Your child is growing up, and this is a time to celebrate. Whether you use the tooth fairy or some other method of celebrate, make sure you make it fun so kids will relax instead of being uptight about losing their first tooth.

It's very easy to make Valentine's Day all about couples, but this really is a holiday to celebrate all kinds of love, including the love that you have for your children. This year you may want to take some time to make this day a very special one for your kids. You don't have to spend a huge amount of money doing it either. Of course, sometimes it can be hard to come up with ideas that will share your love and appreciation for your kids. Here is a look at some special and simple ways that you can show your kids you love them this Valentine's Day.

Picture This

If you want to show your kids how much you love them, one special thing you can do is to create a special picture of each of your children. Find a favorite picture and get it printed out. Use the picture in a photo card or use some heavy paper, fold it into a card, and then glue the picture to the front. On the inside of the card, take time to write something special to your child. Let them know why they are so special to you and how much you love them. This is easy to do, it doesn't cost much, and it is sure to communicate your love to your children on Valentine's Day.

The Treasure Box

Another great idea for Valentine's Day and your children is to create a special treasure box for them. This doesn't have to include candy either. While many people equate this holiday with candy, don't go overboard with the candy. Fill up the treasure box with little things that your kids like. Include things like notepads, pens, pencils, erasers, special stickers, and perhaps a couple pieces of a favorite type of candy they may enjoy. Just avoid making the focus on sweets to keep things healthy.

Valentine's Day Themed Family Dinner

There is nothing like sharing a dinner together with the family, so this Valentines Day show your kids you love them this Valentines Day with a special themed dinner with the whole family. Make everything about the day. Come up with a meal that they will enjoy. Consider making mini heart shaped pizzas or other items in heart shapes. Cookies and brownies in the shapes of hearts make wonderful desserts in the Valentine's theme as well. After dinner, spend some time together watching a great movie as a family or enjoying a game that the whole family enjoys.

Date Nights with Mommy and Daddy

Date nights with mommy and daddy make wonderful ways to show your love around Valentine's Day. Although you probably won't be able to do this all in one day, take the week before the big day and plan special dates with your kids. Plan it so each of the kids get a special date night with mom and a special date night with dad. Take your child out and do something special. Enjoy dinner, go bowling, see a movie, and enjoy time together. This one on one time really makes them feel special and loved. When you have your date, surprise them with a little Valentine's Day card too.

Teach Kids a Bit of Valentine's History

There is actually quite a bit of history behind Valentine's Day that most people do not know about. The holiday is actually one that was for St. Valentine. When the Claudius II, the emperor decided to outlaw marriage in order to make his military strong, Valentine continued marrying people in secret. Valentine was captured and put in jail, but according to the legend he would communicate to those outside with messages on papers, that became known as Valentine's. Later this would become a holiday to celebrate his commitment to real love and marriage. Cupid is another historical gentlemen in history that comes from Roman Mythology that you may want to teach your children about. Teaching them a bit of the history surrounding the holiday can be fun, and you can even come up with some craft ideas to go along with the history that you can enjoy together.

There are so many ways that you can show your love to your children on Valentine's Da. Remember, this day is all about love, including the love you have for your children. You don't have to spend a lot, but you can come up with wonderful ways to celebrate the day so that they feel loved.

Tracing Your Family Tree – Getting Started in Genealogy

Discovering your family history is not only a fun activity, but can help bring your family closer together

I was thinking of great family projects for 2010 and I thought about how great it would be to research ones own family history.  For many reasons, it is important to know about your family background. It can give you and your family a sense of who you are and where you've come from. It can also be important because knowing how your ancestors died could have an effect on your own medical history. If you're not sure what you need to get started in genealogy, here are some tips to get started.

First off, you will need to have some basic office supplies available when you get started. File folders can be used to keep any blank charts you'll need; they can also be used to keep your ancestors organized. Start a file folder for each surname you find during your search. When it is too full, you can always separate the information further.

If you'd rather not keep everything you gather in paper form, you can invest in good genealogy software such as Roots Magic 3, Family Tree Maker or Legacy Family Tree 7.0 Deluxe.  These will range in price between $30 and $100. You can also find free software, such as Personal Ancestral File 5.2 or Family Tree Builder 4.0.

The important thing to remember is to keep things organized, no matter which method you choose to keep notes on your family members. Be prepared, however, as you may find delving into your family background so interesting that it takes over a good amount of space in your home.

Go to a place like Ancestry.com or to find free printable pedigree charts or other forms which will help you keep your information organized. Adobe Acrobat is generally used for most forms so you can print off as many as you need. You can download Adobe Reader for free if you don't have it from the Adobe website.

Consider getting a small tape recorder. Spend some time with older family members and ask them to tell you as much as they can about your family. This can be great fun and a great opportunity for your kids to interview their Grandparents, Great Aunts, Uncles, etc.  Have your kids ask them about when they were growing up. What did their father or mother do to make a living? What stories can they remember that their parents or grandparents told them? They may be able to find old family Bibles, photographs, or other paperwork which will make your search easier.

If your family members have birth certificates, deeds, baptism certificates, or marriage certificates, ask them if you can borrow them to make copies. You can return the originals and still have something to verify information you've received.

Access to the internet can also be important when you need to get started in genealogy. The internet is a wealth of information. There are many websites which offer search capabilities to help you find elusive family members. They also have articles and helpful information to make finding your family something you can do and enjoy.

If you're starting down the genealogy road, it can be a little discouraging when you get stuck. Start with what you know – your own information and that of your parents, grandparents, etc. – and then work further into the past to find other information. Once you know what you need to get started in genealogy, it's a matter of pulling what you know together and then finding out what you don't know.

Tracing Your Family History

There's only so much you can do to find information about your ancestors from using old family records, newspapers, and such. Sometimes you have to search elsewhere, particularly if you've run into a road block. Finding information on your family ancestors online is one way to get past those road blocks and get back on track.

Obviously you'll need to have a starting place when you're searching for your family online. You may have a list of names, birth and death dates, and places of birth or death. These are a great place to begin, no matter how you go about finding your ancestors.

Obituaries are printed for everyone who passes away. If your loved one passed away after 1962, you can search the Social Security Death Index to determine exact date of death. The index will provide the person's birth date, death date, and the place they last resided. You may also want to try Genealogy Bank which has obituaries from over 1100 newspapers dating as far back at 1977.

If you already have some information about family members from the past, you may want to search for them on other online websites. Some genealogy websites are free to access and those might be the best place to start looking if you're new to genealogy. After you've learned more about your family you may want to sign up for a subscription on the membership-based genealogy sites.

Free genealogy websites you may want to check out when finding information on your family ancestors include:

• Rootsweb.com
• EllisIsland.org
• MyHeritage.com
• USGenWeb.com
• CyndisList.com

Each of these websites will provide you with great search functions as well as give you information on the best methods to search for your family online. Many of the genealogy websites also have forums where people can ask for information from people around the world.

Be ready to pay a little money. The better known genealogy websites require paid membership. These include Ancestry.com, Genealogy.com, WorldVitalRecords.com, and OneGreatFamily.com. These paid websites can be as little as $3.33 per month or as much as $24.95 per month depending upon if you choose to access to files in the United States or worldwide. Normally you will be billed annually for your membership.

If you're not sure a paid membership site is right for you, most of them have trial memberships between one and two weeks. That will give you ample time to do some searching, find information that will be helpful in locating your family members, and let you know if there is a need to sign up.

As with any attempt at finding information on your family ancestors online, be sure to spell their name correctly. If you're having problems finding them, you may want to consider that the surname (last name) may have changed over time. Try variations of spellings to ensure you find the people you're looking for.

Planning a Genealogy Research Vacation

Many people think genealogy is nothing more than staring at microfilm or microfiche, pouring over old dusty books in courthouses, or searching the internet to find lost family members. The truth is, genealogical research can be more than that. In fact, you can learn how to plan a genealogy research vacation which can make your family's history come alive.

Look through your genealogy records. Check to see if there are particular locations common to your ancestors. Then choose that location and plan your vacation around it. Be sure to take paper, pen, and camera with you when you go so you can document your findings.

Try to locate long-lost cousins or other family members at the place you go. You may find someone who can add to the information you already know. They may even be able to provide you with information, names, or dates you didn't know. And what's better than filling in your pedigree chart and finding family you didn't know before?

You may also want to visit the courthouse, library, or historical societies in the area. There you may be able to find a wealth of information which can lead you further down your family's history. Or, you may be able to get copies of certificates (birth, marriage, death) for family members, which will verify what you know.

Plan a trip to local cemeteries while you're there. Look for the headstones to the graves of family members and take photographs of each one. Gravestones usually provide birth and death dates. Another thing to consider when visiting cemeteries is that in the past families were often buried together. This may mean you can find people who are related to your ancestors that you never knew about.

Take careful notes or use an audio or video recorder or camera to help you remember things. If you're looking through books or films, be sure to write down the call number of the microfilm, page number of any book you use, and the library you got the information from. Make photocopies of anything you can to take the information home with you.

Be prepared by knowing who it is you're looking for, bringing the information you already have with you, and know when any buildings (courthouse, library, historical society, etc.) will be open while you're there. Do as much research as you can before you leave so you know where you want to go, when you have to be there, and know exactly what you're looking for when you arrive.

If you have children, don't forget to do something fun while you're on the hunt for long-lost family members. They may be bored, so bring something they can do to keep them occupied or see if you can get them to help you look. One goal is to learn what you can about your family but not to alienate your family that is with you in the process. Besides, after spending so much time looking for dead members of your family, you'll be glad to spend time with the ones that are still living.

Remember to plan ahead as much as possible. This would include hotel stays if you don't have living family at a location. When you learn how to plan a genealogy research vacation and take time for fun along the way, you may find your children also become interested enough in their family history to help you in your search.

Digging into your family history can not only be fun, but can help bring the whole family together. For kids it offers a great opportunity to learn about where they came from and give a new perspective and appreciation for how they themselves became to be.