At Home: How to take off Sticky Price Tags

Have you ever bought something and had a hard time getting the sticky price tag off? To get a stubborn sticky price tag off of a glass or plastic item soak price tag in warm water, next scrap tag off with your nail. If you’re still having trouble dab a little rubbing alcohol on price tag, then peel. Make sure plastic item won’t be ruined by rubbing alcohol first.

4th of July Movie: Yankee Doodle Dandy.

For the 4th of July. Movie: Yankee Doodle Dandy. Family-Musical. This patriotic musical stars James Cagney. It's based on the life of George Cohen, Broadway playwright, producer and star. In the movie James Cagney is one of the four Cohens, a family of vaudevillians of a by gone era. The talented and successful George Cohen writes song and dance routines for Broadway plays in the Big Apple, AKA New York City. One of Cohen's most popular songs, This Grand Old Flag, was used in WWI and WWII. Your eyes just get misty hearing it. I’ve seen this film more than once I liked it so much, but kids under nine might get bored since the movie is about adults.

Parenting Tip: Bed Weting

Some little kids wet their beds. They shouldn't be shamed for having accidents. Patience is what is needed. Some kids have weak bladder muscles, some could be going through sad times, others sleep so soundly they don't heed the call of nature as well as others. The following are some suggestions for bed wetting:

1) Have your child pee before going to sleep. Some kids read in bed so have them go pee before getting into bed and then again before going to sleep.
2) Don't give your child full glasses of water right before bed (but don't let them go to bed parched).
3) Encourage them to drink, or drink more water/milk, during dinner so they have time to pee before bed. But don't let them fill up on liquids/milk to the point they don't eat their dinner.
4) Grousing or yelling at your child about bed wetting will only stress them out more. And make them feel bad about themselves. So don't do it.
5) For easier clean up, put a zip up plastic cover over the mattress. Some parents have tried putting plastic liners over areas, but if the liner moves, the mattress could get wet. I recommend buying a cover for the whole mattress. Put a washable mattress pad over the plastic for comfort. In the end this is cheaper than buying a new mattress. It also lowers frustration levels because clean up is easier.
6) Make a dry bed chart to encourage your child to have a dry bed. So many nights of a dry bed equals more time on the computer or an outing at an ice cream parlor.
7) I knew of one parent who swore her six-year-old peed in bed when she got mad at the parent. She said her child knew it upset her to have to wash the sheets and wipe the plastic lining down. If you really think this is the case with your older child have them take off their own sheets and put them in the laundry room and have them wipe down their own plastic lining. And teach them to make their own bed. A few times of this and they might not pee in bed to get back at you. It worked for this parent. If the peeing continues out of anger your child might need to speak to a psychologist.

Arts and Craft- Make a vest out of a paper bag.

Your child can easily make a vest out of a paper bag. Vest can be for a carnival person, cowboy, Indian, sailor… Child can use it in 4th of July parade.

Using scissors cut bottom out of bag. Make a slit up middle, wide side, of bag. There should be two flaps in front of vest. Cut out arm holes in sides of bag, near top.
Using markers color stripes or put pockets on vest. For a sailor make funny tattoos. Glue buttons on front of vest. Child can put stickers, glitter, ribbon, pieces of fabric on vest. They can drip colored glue swirls on vest. Or they can outline the outside of vest with colored pipe cleaners. Have them use their imagination.

Sewing Tip from Fashion Designer

Two Easy Sewing Tips from a fashion designer friend of mine: 1) Before you sew by hand or machine make sure you place two to three colors of thread (for bobbin too) on the material you’re sewing. This way you can pick the best color that blends into the material. If your material is multi-colored pick the one that shows the least.
(2) For fly away shirts sew a dime in the inside hem where it tends to fly up. The dime will weigh down the material.

Movie Review: Send Me No Flowers

Movie Title: Send Me No Flowers. Comedy. A classic. Family movie for older kids, nine and up.
The set up is quite good. Take a hypochondriac. Have said hypochondriac overhear a conversation his doctor is having about a patient's terminal illness. Have him now think the doctor was talking about him. Even though the doctor wasn't. Rock Hudson plays George Kimball a mild mannered hypochondriac. Doris Day plays his supportive wife, Judy, who puts up with all his imaginary aliments. With the help of his neighbor (Tony Randall) George sets out to find Judy a new husband when he thinks he's dying. When Judy finds out George really isn't dying she teaches him a lesson. Hudson, Day and Randall are terrific in this comedy. Send Me No Flowers is very funny. I recommend it. For kids nine or ten and up. Younger kids might get bored.

Father's Day Idea

For Father’s Day have your child help make breakfast in bed for dad. Bring along the newspaper or his favorite magazine if he likes that. Also, bring a deck of cards. Have Dad pick a card. (Discuss before hand with child what they’re willing to do for Dad and let them decide what suit will equal what.)
Example: If Dad picks up a diamond your child will do one of his chores that they’re able to do. If their dad picks a spade the child will shine one pair of his shoes or something else. If Dad picks a club then child will not bother Dad for two hours while he’s watching his favorite sports game on TV or something similar. If Dad picks up an ace your child will wash his car. If King of Aces is picked it can be something extra special.