Kids Fun!
Beth has gathered some of the best kids stuff she knows of.
Check monthly to see what has been added

A note from Beth
Welcome to our Kids’ Fun Stuff Page!! 
I hope you enjoyed it and look forward to a new page each month. 
More from Beth Below!

September!

Back to School time is here! This can be such a busy time for families, 
so here are a few quick and easy activities to help you cope with the
 hectic month ahead!


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Back to School Quiz for Parents

Are you ready for your children to go back to school?
Take this quiz from ivillage.co.uk to find out!

http://quiz.ivillage.co.uk/uk_parenting/tests/backtos.htm

Find out how ready you really are!
 See what you need to help 
you get completely ready for the school year ahead! 

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School Lunches

Once you have the homework done, the kids dressed, and the car started,
 you realize that you still need to pack 3 school lunches. 
Does this sound familiar? You want to make sure that your children have the nutritious meals that they should be eating, but there isn't time! 
There has to be a way to make packing all those lunches
 in such a short amount of time an easier task. 
Well, a little preparation will go a long way. 
Here are some simple and quick tips to help make one morning task
 a little less overwhelming. 

*Buy healthy snacks in individual packages.
Yogurt
Applesauce
Raisins
Peanuts
Crackers
Jell-O
Fruit Snacks (Check the ingredients to make sure fruit juice is first.)
*Use snack baggies to prepare snacks the night before.
Fresh veggies
Crackers
Fruits
*Prepare sandwiches the night before. 
*Prepare rolls of cheese and deli meats for an alternative to sandwiches.

To find even more delicious ideas to make any school lunch tasty, visit Lunch Box Recipes & Ideas at
http://southernfood.about.com/cs/lunchboxideas/a/school_lunch.htm

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Great Fall Activities for the Whole Family

Looking for some Fall Fun to help fill those few spare minutes?

Kid's Domain offers a fantastic lineup of crafts, activities, and fun!
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/fall/


Activities to get your family outside.
*Plant Now
*Love Leaves
*Get Cozy
*And More!
Colorful Fall Crafts
*Salt Dough Leaf Magnets
*Treasure Box
*And More!
Printable Activities
Easy Recipes

http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/fall/


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Sticky Popcorn

Looking for a fun and easy activity to keep your kids laughing on a rainy afternoon? Make Sticky Popcorn!
The recipe is very similar to Rice Crispy Treats, 
with the delicious dessert tasting a lot like caramel popcorn. 

Ingredients
Microwave Popcorn
Bag of Marshmallows
Tablespoon of Butter
Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Instructions
Grease the inside of a 9x9 pan
Pop the bag of popcorn
Empty the bag into the pan, but make sure to remove all of the 
unpopped kernels from the pan. 
Melt the bag of marshmallows, the butter, and the vanilla in a sauce pan.
 This requires adult supervision. 
Once all of the marshmallows have melted, pour the sauce over the popcorn. 
Use a spoon to mix the popcorn and the marshmallow mixture. 
It will still be hot!
Allow the mixture to cool for at least 15 minutes. 
Once the mixture has cooled enough to touch, 
pick up a handful and form into balls. 

This is a sticky, fun recipe!


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Internet Safety

With your children using the computer for homework and fun, 
it is important to work together to promote Internet Safety. 

Here are a few resources to help you out:

This website offers children some safe rules to follow when online. 
It is provided by the FBI.
http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/safety2.htm

GetNetWise
Online Safety Guide,Tools for Families, Websites for Kids, and Information about Reporting Trouble
http://kids.getnetwise.org/

Internet Safety 101
http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/internetsafety1/a/safety07.htm

KidsCom
Safe Games, Monitored Chats, Tools, Adventure, and More! 
http://www.kidscom.com/

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Are those hectic days wreaking havoc on your dinner planning? Would you like to have your own Meal Planner?
Visit Dine Without Whine - 
An Affordable Family Friendly Meal Planning Service. 
Save Time And Money, Eat Healthier, And Eliminate The Dinner Hour Stress Through Our Weekly Menu Plan And Simple Grocery Shopping List Delivered Directly To Your E-mail Box. 
http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/betht

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Discovery Toys Product Highlight of the Month
http://www.workathomefair.com/images/sticker.jpg
Sticker It
Transform any design magically into a sticker, with no paper or adhesive required. Use the over 60 cool patterns provided or use your own imagination. Paint them, peel them and stick them to windows, refrigerators, mirrors, lunchboxes, or any flat clean surface. 
Encourages expression, sharpens fine motor skills, and builds self-esteem. 
From 5 Years & Up (K, V)

Discoverlearningtoys.com