ACTIVITY: A "ME" POSTER!

You will need:

• Posterboard
• Photo of your child
• Old magazines
• Scissors
• Markers and crayons
• Glue or glue stick

Help your child be aware of his or her likes and dislikes as well as stress his individuality by making a ME poster. Find a recent picture of your child and paste it in the center of a posterboard. Cut out things your child likes or does from magazines (food, toys, movies, characters, colors, smells, animals, special qualities, sports, etc.) Paste all around the picture. Draw the ones you can´t find in the magazines. Once it´s finished, have your child show it to family members, friends or neighbors. Encourage him or her to talk a little about what makes them so special. Afterwards, display in their room or kitchen.

TIP OF THE DAY

If you have more than one child, you probably have witnessed discussions on what to watch on tv or what song to listen to. Try a "choice for one day". For one day, one child can choose, and the next the other. You can also add yourself to the list if you want!

ARTICLE: Classical Music for Baby!

Many of us have heard of the benefits of having babies listen to classical music. Aside from calming and soothing them, their minds start working building different processes that will help them learn easier later on in their lives. One of the best artists to try is Mozart. There are many cd´s that specialize in Mozart for babies with special selections and slower, calmer rhythms. Try it during playtime and also before going to bed. Another choice is during bath time, especially with restless babies. Why not try it in your car? I can assure you, it will be soothing even for yourself, to listen to great classics while in the middle of a traffic jam. You can also try Beethoven or Tchaikovsky. Remember, a little classical music can go a long way.

IDEA: Countdown calendar!

As children grow older and more aware of the days of the week and months of the year, they can look forward with anticipation to major events such as vacations or birthdays. Help build this excitement by making your very own countdown calendar. Print out an empty calendar or make one with a ruler. Try it for 3 to 4 weeks tops. Label each day (name and date) and on the final square mark: "Your birthday!" or "Vacation!". You can put it on the door of the refrigerator or somewhere in the house where everyone can see it. Buy small stickers and children can take turns pasting one each night. Afterwards you can both count down the days to your event. Try to buy stickers that go with the theme of the calendar. For example, if you´re counting down for a birthday, try birthday cakes, candles, balloons, etc. If you´re waiting for a vacation to the beach, try suns, sunglasses, fish, etc. Have fun counting down!

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep a box of baby wipes in the glove compartment of your car. Always useful!!!

DAILY RECIPE: Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake

1 pkg devil´s food cake mix with box´s ingredients (oil, water, eggs)

2 large cream cheese bars

1 can of condensed milk

Prepare cake mix according to package directions plus one cream cheese bar. Blend well and bake according to box instructions. Meanwhile blend the other cream cheese bar with the can of condensed milk. When cake is cool, frost with the cream cheese/condensed milk frosting. Top with swirls of Hershey´s chocolate syrup.

ACTIVITY: Shower song!

As our children get older they have to start learning to take showers by themselves. Although it may seem "easier" that we finally don´t have to get wet during their bathtime, it also brings along the task of making sure they take good showers, don´t waste water and effectively remove soap and shampoo. Here´s a great song to help you with bathtime. You can sing it to the tune of Yankee Doodle or another personal favorite. If you are not a singing pro, don´t worry! You´re not up for American Idol! Remember your children will enjoy it with a good voice or not:

I am in the shower and I´m getting myself wet,

Now I have the soap and I am ready to begin.

Face, behind the ears and neck,

Shoulders, tummy, arms,

Elbows, hands and fingers

and now on to my back!

I am almost finished, now my legs and knees and toes,

Bottom and in to the water to remove the soap!

You can also make up your own song, and change it every day. Include whatever you feel your child may forget to wash and rinse, and have fun!

DAILY RECIPE: Crab Mango Salad

6 bars imitation crab meat (surimi)

1 large cucumber

2 mangos

1 small bar cream cheese

1 cup mayonaisse

Cube crab meat, cucumber (leaving out the seeds) and mango. Mix with mayonaisse until it´s all integrated. Dot with cream cheese cubes and serve!

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep a small pan with water and detergent on a high area in your laundry room. Drop in gym socks or any other soiled clothing right after your kids take them off when you do not have time to wash that same day. It´ll be much easier to remove the stains!

ARTICLE: Valuable Lessons Children Teach

A few holiday seasons ago, my brother in law decided to play a game with all nieces and nephews. It was sort of a raffle you played by throwing dice. Everyone won different presents, beautifully wrapped and of different sizes, but no one knew what was inside. The joke was, that they weren´t real presents, they were all pranks (for example, a toilet paper roll, a rope, a diaper, a kitchen sponge, etc.) The older children laughed at each present and threw it down to the ground. However, my daughter who was just turning three, taught us a valuable lesson. When she opened the present with the toilet paper roll, she said:"Good! For my bathroom!" Then she opened the kitchen sponge and said: "Look Mommy! This one´s for you!" Finally she opened the old rope and said: "Wow! Now I can learn to jump rope!" Obviously, my poor brother in law felt terrible that she didn´t get the joke and actually thought that was what her uncle was giving us for Christmas. But I just sat back and thought: What a wonderful mind that of a child. So innocent and happy and ready to enjoy everything life gives them, good or bad. What makes us all change as we grow older? We should all try to be more like our children in many ways.