A Really Special Valentine's Day Present for your Child

This Valentine's Day do something really special for your child.
This is something your child will treasure and it shouldn't cost you any money.

Has your child ever asked you to play a game that you've avoided playing? Like basketball because you don’t like it or because you don’t think you’re good at it? Do they like a game you find boring so you tell them you'll play it another day? Well today’s the special day you can play it. Tell them that for Valentine’s Day you are showing your love for them by doing something they enjoy (and you don’t.) This will teach your child generosity of the heart. That we should give even when it’s hard.

Book Review: Children Make Terrible Pets

Picture book with sentences. Reading level: Some second graders can read this book alone.
"Children Make Terrible Pets," by Peter Brown. The title got me to pick it up, the story kept me reading. This is a terrific book! I highly recommend it. "Children Make Terrible Pets," is funny and silly and makes you think. Simple plot: Lucy the bear finds a boy in the forest and takes it home as a pet. Lucy's mother tells her children make terrible pets. Tis true. The boy she has taken home is wild and ill mannered. It’s all in good fun.

Arts and Craft Project for Valentines Day.

Have your child create a big card for a loved one.

What your child needs: Red, pink and lavender (if you don’t have lavender, purple will do) construction paper; scissors; pencil; glue stick; Red Hots candy; and hard Valentine’s heart candy with words on them (Love Ya, #1 Dad, Be my Valentine…).

Fold red paper in half. With scissors, using the closed edge side of paper, cut in shape of half a heart. What you’re trying to achieve is, a hole in the shape of a heart when paper is opened. When done glue this heart on top of lavender or purple construction paper. Cut out tiny pink hearts and glue on edges of red paper. Now for the really fun part. Have your child draw a heart inside middle of red heart. Following the heart they just drew, glue with Red Hots. (Let your child have a few if you plan on doing this project. This is part of the fun. Mind you the Red Hots have a spicy cinnamon taste.) Inside the area of the Red Hots have your child place the candy hearts. If they can’t read tell them what each says. Tell your child once glued candy can not be eaten. Place on Mom, Dad’s, or Granddad’s breakfast place setting on Valentines Day.

Be Prepared- Caretaker Emergency Phone Number List and Call Sheet

If you haven't done this yet, do it today! Place all emergency phone numbers on a sheet of paper on your refrigerator or a prominent place where all can see it, like near a phone. Keep it in a fixed place. Do not let people walk off with it. Tape it in place if you must. Numbers you should list: 911 (or your country’s 911 equivalent); poison control; husband and wife’s (or your) office and cell numbers; doctor, dentist, and veterinarian numbers; a relative, close friend’s or neighbor’s phone number; your home and/or computer phone numbers; your home address.
It can be stressful when there is an emergency so write on a sheet of paper what a person should tell the operator when they call 911. Keep this sheet near the emergency phone list.

Sample of what to write for someone caring for your child:
This is (actually write, give your name). I am calling because (write, say why). It involves a child. The phone number here is (actually write it in). The address here is (again write it in). The medications they are taking are (write it in). They are allergic to (write in any medicines they are allergic to if any). Their pediatricians name is (write it in). What should I do until you get here?

Sometimes during an emergency the person on the other line will want to know your name so they can use it to calm you down. You might have more confidence in a person if they use your name. It makes it more personal. Which sentence makes you feel more like the person on the other end is on your team? "Sarah I want you to open the airways…" "Ms. I want you to open the airways…"

Buy a how-to-sheet for CPR and basic first aid. Keep it near the emergency phone numbers. Everyone living in your home should know where the emergency phone list, call sheet, and emergency CPR/First Aid chart are placed. Make sure all caretakers know where they are.
Here’s an idea, take your older child with you when you take a CPR and basic first aid class. They might not be able to get certified depending on how old they are and where you live, but at least in an emergency situation they can help you or their grandparents if need be.

Movie Review: Secretariat

Movie Title: Secretariat. A Disney family movie which is a horse flick. Rated PG (it had some bad language which seemed to me to be put in to get a PG rating.) Based on true life events. I highly, highly recommend this movie for kids ages 9 and up, and adults. It was a really well made movie. The cinematography, especially the shots of the race horses, was excellent.
Plot: Penny, a wife and mother, wants to keep her father’s horse ranch after he dies. Her husband and brother don’t share this idea. With the help of a trainer (who wears wild print shorts) and a top notch jockey, Penny saves the ranch by racing a horse named Secretariat. Secretariat is different than other horses. He likes to start out in the back and break out to win his races. It’s an exciting movie because Penny takes risks concerning her horse and ranch, and manages to succeed.

Chapter Book: "Down and Out Down Under"

Chapter Book for third to fourth graders. "Down and Out Down Under," by Geronimo Stilton. Illustrations by Silvia Bigolin. I like how the book gives interesting information on different issues, from eye conditions to jet lag, to facts about Australia, to how to survive in the outback. But I didn't like the constant bold and colored lettering of random words like: get on, liked, sliced cheese... I could see if it was for new readers. Or if certain nouns, verbs, or opposite words like out, in, up, or down were in bold. Or if words like black or brown matched their color. But the randomness of the colored words is just lost on the reader in this book. I doubt a child would remember how to spell spectacular just because it was in red.
Now about the main character. His name is Geronimo Stilton. He's a newspaper publisher who happens to be a mouse. Petunia, a TV mouse reporter who Geronimo has a crash on, persuades Geronimo to go on adventure in Australia with her and her brother Wolfie. If you happen to be in the library you might think of picking up this book. But I wouldn't buy it.

A Simple, Tastey Recipe for Kids

Coconut Orange Delight.
This is a food activity kids can do with supervision.
What you need: One orange per person. Tiny marshmallows. Shredded coconut/coconut flakes. White chocolate.
I have had orange delight with and without chocolate. Trust me it tastes better with the white chocolate. It gives it an added flavor.

Cut orange in ½ inch slices. Put in bowl.
Add a scoop of marshmallows.
Sprinkle in shredded coconut or coconut flakes. Mix with spoon.
Lastly, with a cheese grater grate white chocolate on top. Enjoy.