Most Popular Articles

December 2007 Archives

20 Fun, Indoor Activities for Bored Kids

by Amanda Formaro

When it's raining, snowing, or just plain too cold to play outside, your household can fall victim to the "I'm Bored Blues". With a little creativity and imagination, you can turn the tables and find fun things to do without running to the store or turning on the television. Keep this list of ideas handy, or write each idea on a slip of paper and put them in a hat. The next time the kids are bored, let them draw a slip of paper from a hat to decide which activity to do first!

1. Plate of Bubbles - All you need for this fun activity is a small plate, a plastic drinking straw, dis ... Continue reading 20 Fun, Indoor Activities for Bored Kids.

Flowerpot Wind Chimes

by Tracey Agranoff

You Will Need:

3 Graduated sized clay flower pots

Acrylic paints

Brushes

24 inches of Leather cording (or rope)

2 – ½ inch wood beads

1 – 1 inch wood bead

Old paper or other item to cover your work surface

Cup of water

Step 1- Remove any stickers or labels from the 3 clay pots, paint your pots with any design that you like and set aside to ... Continue reading Flowerpot Wind Chimes.

Dig Up Your Family Roots

By Elizabeth Wasserman

After Renee DeLozier got married and decided to start a family, she became more interested in finding out about her own ancestral roots. In the old days, researching genealogy would involve combing the attic for old records and spending countless hours at the library or county clerk's office trying to find information. But DeLozier found that the Internet made exploring her family tree much simpler.

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Tennis-Ball Apple Puppets

By Kathy Ross

Don't toss out those tired old tennis balls. Save some to make whimsical, "talking" apple puppets! "We had fun with this one. We are into apples these days since our two apple trees are ripe and filled with apples so this was fun," reports Amy who did this project with Addison (7), Kyle (5) and Delaney (18 mo.). "Even my baby had fun with this project."

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Birds Nest Magnets: Kids Krafts

By Tracey C. Agranoff

Ages 3-10 years
You Will Need:
• Bag Of Dried Moss ( you can pick some up at your local craft store, a single bag will make several projects)
• Small Light Blue Pom-Poms
• Circle Cut From Cardboard - 3 inches in diameter
• White Craft Glue
• Scissor
• Self-Stick Magnetic Tape

1. Cut the 3- inch cardboard circle in half, (this will create the base to make two magnets.) < ... Continue reading Birds Nest Magnets: Kids Krafts.

Look Like A Million On Any Budget

By Peggy Butler

All the flash, but without the cash. Now funk on that!

Imagine! You've been invited to a glitzy fund raiser where all the women will be clad in jewelry by Cartier and wearing gowns by such designers as Vera Wang and Donatella Versace. Searching aimlessly through your closet, you discover that the only item resembling a designer ensemble is the rayon pantsuit you purchased last summer.

Panic sets in, as you realize that the gala is only a week away. Certainly not enough time to ask the boss for a raise, so you can purchase a dress with the Versace insignia on t ... Continue reading Look Like A Million On Any Budget.

Kids and Smoking

The health risks of tobacco are well known, yet the rates of smoking and the use of chewing tobacco continue to grow. Many people are picking up these habits when they are young - in fact, 90% of all adult smokers started when they were kids. And each day, more than 4,400 kids become regular smokers.

So it's important to make sure your child understands the dangers that go along with using tobacco. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. It can cause cancer, heart disease, or lung disease. Chewing tobacco (smokeless or spit tobacco) can lead to nicotine addiction, oral cancer, gum disease, and an in ... Continue reading Kids and Smoking.

Staying Healthy While You Travel

When your family travels and is away from the usual eating and sleeping routines, the chances increase that someone might get sick. It can take time to adjust to the food, water, and air in a new environment, and kids can be especially vulnerable to a variety of travel-related problems, including motion sickness, diarrhea, and infections.

But some early planning and smart packing can help you keep the trip healthy for everybody. Here are some things to keep in mind when your family prepares to travel.

Special Considerations for Travel Abroad
If you're heading overseas, start preparing well in adva ... Continue reading Staying Healthy While You Travel.

The Weakest Link: Second Marriage and Step-Parenting

In a stepfamily the couple is the most fragile bond. Keep your partnership strong for relationship that lasts.

By Jacquelyn B. Fletcher

There are so many things to do before you walk down the aisle to your beloved groom and the kids-his or yours or both. You have to figure out the wording of the invitations and decide if the children will participate. You must choose the location, music, flowers, caterer and fashions. As all brides know, there are plenty of magazines, books and websites out there to help guide you through the planning process. But rarely in bridal literature will you find the number o ... Continue reading The Weakest Link: Second Marriage and Step-Parenting.

Living with Asperger's Syndrome

An "Ability," Not a Disability for this Gifted Teen

By Elsa Cremer

Matt is a 17-year-old senior at Perpich Center for the Arts High School. After several mis-diagnoses Matt was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), a high functioning form of autism, when he was three-years-old.

I sat down with Matt, a tall, good-looking young man, in order to get a better idea of the effects that Asperger's and Autistic disorders have on individuals. I met him for lunch-- his choice was sushi, not surprisingly since he is intensely interested in Japanese culture and art. Matt is like all teenage ... Continue reading Living with Asperger's Syndrome.