“Positive Parenting Tips” newsletter June 2011

Inspiring Quotes:

"As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

"Inspiration grows into full-scale creation through persistence and imagination." - Carol Lloyd

"Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine... [your] values and goals...Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want." - Marsha Sinetar

Kids Activities:

Not only do kids of all ages love to play games, games are a creative and inexpensive way to entertain children. With a little imagination you will soon have them making up their own games!

Whether you're looking for birthday party games or just something to keep the little ones busy for a little while, I think you'll find these games easy to learn and fun for all ages.

Board Games for Preschoolers

Many of us have tattered boxes of board games from our childhoods in the attic waiting for the day when our children are old enough to play. I have a vintage Trouble game from the 70's that I play with my four-year-old daughter, even though the bubble is coated on the inside with twenty years worth of dust, making it hard to tell if she's just popped a 5 or a 6. This past Christmas, Santa brought Emily a few board games and she plays them with enjoyment. Our family is now addicted, and before heading out to the toy store to add to her collection, I did a bit of research to find some of the best board games for preschoolers:

1. Goodnight Moon Game by Briarpatch: If the book is in your child's library, then the board game will be popular too. It is a memory and matching game that doesn't require the players to recognize letters or numbers. In this game, everybody wins so if your Suzy isn't a very gracious loser, the Goodnight Moon Game will suffice until she learns how to accept defeat. For ages 3-6 years.

2. Maisy's Counting Game by Briarpatch: Focuses on learning how to count by matching puzzle pieces. This game can be adjusted according to age and skill level and can be played three different ways. It won the Parents Magazine award in 1997. For ages 3-6 years.

3. Franklin Goes to School - The Game by Pressman: This game has a wide age range making it possible for siblings to play together. The questions are divided into age appropriate categories and also touch on basic social values. Various skills such as spelling, observation and counting are focused on. For ages 3-8 years.

4. I Spy Preschool Game by Briarpatch: Good value for your money as this game can be played five different ways. It is a visual matching game that requires the players to find clues through rhyming and visual discrimination. It won the Parents Magazine Award in 1998 and Parents' Choice Approved 1998. For ages 3-6 years.

5. Colorforms Silly Faces Preschool Game by University Games: A fun, goofy game with no pressure of cards or dice to play. Spin and add the feature that you land on to your blank face and watch the silliness appear! The first person to complete a face wins. A great game for children to play on their own while the siblings are in school. For ages 3-7 years.

6. Mouse Trap by Milton Bradley: When your preschooler reaches the age when they're too old for some games and too young for others, Mouse Trap seems to work as a good transitional game. My daughter doesn't exactly stick to the rules and, instead, rushes through the building process because she finds the end result so fascinating. I just view it as a great introduction to the world of physics! Ages 6+ years.

7. Memory Games: I've always loved the "match the picture" type of memory games and there are several on the market to choose from. Here are some of the more popular ones: Original Memory Game by Milton Bradley Pooh Memory Game by Hasbro Barney Memory Game by Milton Bradley Mickey and Friends Memory Game by Hasbro I Spy Memory Game by Briarpatch Arthur Memory Game by Milton Bradley Busy Train Memory Game by Living and Learning Maisy's Memory Game by Briarpatch Pokemon Memory Game by Hasbro

You may already have a collection of games that your family likes to gather around the table to play. Perhaps you also have a few classics lurking in the back of your closet. The best thing about games is the way they bring families together. Why not start a tradition and have a game night once a week, starting tonight!

________________________________________ Author Heidi Hoff is editor of Preschool Planet. Subscribe and get "100 Things to Make From a Cardboard Box" free! http://www.preschoolplanet.com

Visit for our Free Kids Games & Activities from A to Z

Easy Kids Recipe:

Homemade Banana Bread Brunch is on of the easiest serving that can be made and best suited for a get together. A Sunday brunch is very soothing time for everyone. A number of brunch recipes exist which can be prepared will ahead, so that more time can be spent with your guests rather than with the preparation of food. One of the most popular items is banana bread. It so easy that even children can lend you a hand in its preparation. You can ask them to peel and mash the bananas.

You do not have to worry about the soft, small hands getting into mixer since majority of the ingredients for banana bread are soft so as to be mixed by hand itself. Better still, not much effort is required for clean up because only one bowl mixtures are required for preparing a batch of banana bread.

Chocolate chips added into the batter just before pouring into the pans will greatly enhance of banana bread taste. I found this great food related site http://www.grocerycarriage.com. The aroma and flavor of chocolate gels in perfectly and even holds shape in the banana bread. Chopped walnuts are also one of the additions, but add them only if you are sure that none of your guests are allergic to nuts.

If you are short of time or behind your schedule a bread machine will be handy. You just have to put the ingredients in the listed order. Most bread machines also give recipes for quick breads. If you wish to do something different, muffin tins to make banana muffins are a great option.

For people who are calorie and fat conscious, many recipes that are in great to taste and cater to their needs of less calories are available. Sometimes, over ripe bananas can be bought at a very less price. Purchase several of them in bunch and freeze them. You just have to peel and mash the required amount and freeze them in an air tight container or plastic bag.

These can be used the next time you make, simple place the frozen bananas into the banana bread. Even prepared banana bread freezes good. While making loaves go in for some extra and have them frozen. Banana bread are also a very good choice to gift to anyone at whose house you have been invited.

Banana bread is simple to prepare, liked by majority of people and easy to carry because it freezes good. So, remember to pick up some extra bananas to make a loaf or two of banana bread the next time you are in the produce section.

About The Author: Ron really enjoys the following sites: http://www.verygreenthumb.com http://www.ourmelateam.com

Child Arts & Crafts Activities:

Making Bird House Crafts Is As Easy As A-B-C

Making various bird house crafts is not just easy, it is also fun and enjoyable as well. Nothing beats the feeling of creating and finishing a bird house and being able to actually see birds enjoy and experience the bird house you have made.

Believe it or not, it is really easy making a bird house craft. The following are basic instructions to make a bird house craft nest using easily available materials such as a simple strawberry basket.

The needed materials are the following, some basic strawberry baskets, a yarn or some materials intended for scrap, some pieces of shredded paper.

How to do a bird house craft nest

Basically, get the fabric scraps or the yarn and carefully weave the yarn slowly through the strawberry basket holes.

The only limit is your own imagination. As much as possible, be as free as you wish to be. It is also okay to experiment.

Once the strawberry basket weaving has been completed, try to fill the strawberry basket with some pieces of shredded paper. Also, be as free to choose other scrap materials.

How to do a bird house craft nest that is edible

And you thought you could not be as creative as you could be, here comes an instruction on how to build a bird house craft nest that could just as be edible as it is fun to look at and make. It is very tasty too.

The fact of the matter is that kids could easily do this bird house craft nest. It is a very fun project during the season of spring.

Feel free to invite friends and extra family members to make the project as memorable and fun as it could possibly be.

Needed materials for bird house craft nests
The materials you would need are chow noodles mien, some chocolate chip or a chocolate brick, some jelly beans, chocolate egg coated candies, peanut butter, small marshmallow chicks, wax paper, paper colored plates.

Now what?

What you need to do is place the wax square papers onto the paper colored plates individually.

The chow mien noodles need to be placed in a bowl that is large. If you are to use chocolate bricks, break these bricks into smaller pieces. Then, melt the chocolate piece chips in a microwave. You could also heat these chips over the stove using low heat.

Slowly but surely melt the pour the melted chocolate chips over the noodles chow mien. Then, mix them all together and coat.

Get kids to participate and enjoy themselves too

It is now time to place the chocolate mounds as well as the noodles chow mien mixture onto the paper colored plates (which are still over the wax paper).

It is more fun if you let kids form the chocolate mixtures themselves and transform them into bird house craft nests.

Take note though that the chocolate may still be hot. As much as possible, wait until the chocolate has been cooled enough, however do not wait far too long as the chocolate ay harden.

How about the peanut butter?

Believe it or not, you could also use peanut butter as a good adhesive. Use it to b eable to glue the jelly beans down as well as the chocolate coated candy eggs which are inside the cavity nests.

Meanwhile, the marshmallow chicks could also be glues onto the nest's edge or inside the bird house craft nest.

All in all, making bird house crafts could be tiring yet the benefits are tremendous. It could also serve as unique bonding moments for family and friends while at the same time making creative projects that you could sell or give out to people, bird lovers they may be or not.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://birdhouses. garden-g8way. com where you can learn more about bird houses and find out about more bird house crafts.

Positive Parenting Resources:

Potty Seat Or Potty Chair: Which Is Best For Your Potty Training Child?

Deciding when and how to potty train your child can be an arduous task for parents. Especially if this is the first child, parents have to decide how to go about it, how to do it, and how to deal with problems. A potty seat may be the ideal way to go for your toddler.

Why Would You Choose a Potty Seat Over a Potty Chair?

Potty seats look and feel a lot more like the regular toilet than a potty chair. This may be a plus in your toddler's mind, since he is using the big guy's toilet and not a baby one. When deciding how you want to potty train, keep in mind your toddler's personality and motivation.

A potty seat is simply a smaller, usually cushioned, seat that fits on top of and around the regular toilet ring on your toilet at home. You can find a potty seat in just about any color your toddler is partial to. You can also find a potty seat with many popular characters on them, including Sesame Street characters, Blue's Clues, and Dora the Explorer.

Potty seats, over potty chairs, also take up much less room. If you buy a potty chair, it will need its own spot in the bathroom. With a potty seat, the only thing you will need is a small area to store it when it's not in use. Usually you can fit the potty seat in your bathroom cabinet or even just on the floor beside the toilet.

It is probably easier for a child to use a potty seat on their own as they are at the right height for a child. As potty seats sit on the regular toilet, they may be more inaccessible to your toddler. It ends up being pretty high, so you will probably have to provide a step stool to help your toddler access the potty seat. Or get one that comes with a small step ladder.

Potty seats also have to be positioned in place and there can be a risk of them moving around which may make your child feel unsafe or it could pinch their skin if it gets caught between the two seats.

No matter which method you choose to potty train your toddler, eventually they will be successfully trained. It may still be some time before they can independantly use the toilet, but at least one less passage is rite-d.

Jill Brennan has potty trained two children, one easily and one with a lot of problems. Save yourself time and frustration by learning from her mistakes: http://www.pottytra ininghowto. com Sign up for a free e-course on how to make potty training fun for you and your child.

Funny Mother's Day Quotes:

• "Mothers are all slightly insane." - J.D. Salinger

• "I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them." - Phyllis Diller

Sponsored resources:

TIRED OF FEELING TIRED? We know that life can get you down. Too much stress. Too much pressure. But it does NOT have to be that way!! Helene Malmsio has been a Nutritional Consultant for over a decade and has created a site that is devoted to helping you help yourself ... FREE! Come see our best health guide for free natural cures and herbal home remedy recipe resources - all designed to help you feel better and BE healthier today! Help is just a click away.
http://best-natural-cures-health-guide.com

Do you want MORE out of life? We believe that YOU deserve the best! The best health. The most happiness. And unlimited prosperity too. It's all possible when you help yourself using our FREE personal development resources and free self help books. You will be amazed at what only a few minutes on our site will do for you. Feel better NOW!
We're waiting for you at
http://personal-enterprise-self-help-resources.com

Elvis Presley Forever
This Elvis Presley biography site is dedicated to providing the site visitor with quality Elvis Presley biography information, pictures and articles for your entertainment. Everything you ever wanted to know about Elvis's life, loves and music. An Elvis Presley biography site by a fan for his fans. Get your free Elvis Presley biography here:
www.elvis-presley-forever.com

Editor’s notes & humour:

Dinner Party

Start a new tradition of hosting a dinner party every other month or two and inviting several of you and your mate’s friends. Set up board games that everyone will enjoy, have some light and lively music playing, and plan to have a blast.

Spending time with friends in this kind of setting is a great way to reduce stress. When stress is low, couples get along better. This is a wonderful way to interact with each other’s friends as a couple.

You might want some good free party planner ideas, so just check out this great resource! Home Entertaining Ideas, Drink & food Recipes, even a free cookbook download

Happy Birthday

As people grow older, in general, birthdays become less celebrated. Gifts are quickly given, meals eaten, and it is over.

For your mate’s next birthday, take some time to plan something very special. Make this a true celebration of their life as a way of showing your love and appreciation.

Every person, even adults, like attention and love to be appreciated. Whether a surprise party or not, your mate will be impressed that you went to all the effort just for them.

Well, this has got to be the simplest, and most effective, formula for personal goal setting success ever.

You need no other formula or strategy, ever.

In order to achieve any and every goal, you simply need to answer these 3 questions.

"In order to achieve my goal....

1. What do I need to STOP doing?

2. What do I need to START doing?

3. What do I need to DO MORE OF?"

THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO THIS FORMULA FOR SUCCESSFUL GOALSETTING...

But if you DO want more suggestions and tips for goalsetting, go to:

Personal Goal Setting free self help articles

Mid-Life Message! - JUST FOR BIT OF FUN

I've seen two shows lately that went on and on about how mid-life is a great time for women.

Just last week Oprah had a whole show on how great menopause will be....

Puhleeeeeeeze!

I've had a few thoughts of my own and would like to share them with you. Whether you are pushing 40, 50, 60 (or maybe even just pushing your luck) you'll probably relate.

Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down. This gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired moustache.

In mid-life women no longer have upper arms, we have wingspans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in drag.

Mid-life is when you can stand naked in front of a mirror and you can see your rear without turning around.

Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to appear topless.

Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely in a tube top and scream, "Listen honey, even the Roman empire fell and those will too."

Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves and we're sitting on our biggest ones.

Mid-life is when you look at your-know-it-all, beeper-wearing teenager and think: "For this I have stretch marks?"

In mid-life your memory starts to go. In fact the only thing we can retain is water.

Mid-life means that your Body By Jake now includes Legs By Rand McNally -- more red and blue lines than an accurately scaled map of Wisconsin.

Mid-life means that you become more reflective... You start pondering the "big" questions. What is life? Why am I here? How much Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice?

But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what is important.

We realize that breasts sag, hips expand and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you have now for the body you had way back when?

Maybe our bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and love we've acquired.

That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it!

REMEMBER: "Stressed" spelled backward is "desserts."

Get your free parenting & kids e-book here...

Stop Thinking Diet free self help books download

Three Ways to Make Your Children Listen free ebooks download

Seven Indispensable Truths about being Moms free ebooks download

“Accomplish Anything you Want in your Life!”

500 famous quotes free book download

For more books, visit our Free Kids Books Directory page

Thank you for joining us this month, I hope that you have found some extra motivation and inspiration for your positive parenting.

Visit today for latest Toddlers Activity & Child Discipline Guide articles.
Free parenting resources added each week to help you use positive parenting in your child’s development, toddlers activities & games, toddler arts & crafts, kids easy recipes, free kids books for bedtime reading and even child discipline help!
http://free-toddlers-activity-and-discipline-guide.com

Your Editor,
Theresea Hughes.
http://free-toddlers-activity-and-discipline-guide.com

FREE! Powerful Daily Motivation
The power to change anything in your life that you want to change. The rare ability to control your own behaviour on a daily basis to create and maintain a lifestyle by YOUR exact design. Get your copy of “365 Daily Success Quotes” free self help book. IT’S TIME that YOU enjoyed a feeling of happiness and excitement about your life!
http://free-daily-motivational-self-improvement.com

Back to Top of page

================================================================
DISCLAIMER: The free toddlers activity and child discipline guide site resources on this site are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. There is no guarantee of validity of accuracy. Any perceived slight of specific people or organizations is unintentional. This free toddlers activity and discipline guide site resources website and its creators are not responsible for the content of any sites linked to.

The free toddlers activity and child discipline guide site resources contents are solely the opinion of the authors and should not be considered as a form of advice, direction and/or recommendation of any kind. If expert advice or counselling is needed, services of a competent professional should be sought. The author and the Publisher assume no responsibility or liability and specifically disclaim any warranty, express or implied for any products or services mentioned, or any techniques or practices described. The purchaser or reader of this publication assumes responsibility for the use of these materials and information. Neither the author nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of any purchaser or reader of these materials.

This free toddlers activity and child discipline guide site content description: This free toddlers activity and discipline guide site has articles about with positive parenting tips, free kids games, recipes, arts & crafts, free .pdf book downloads, child discipline articles about potty training, temper tantrums, kids sleep problems, strategies for fussy eaters, including free child development parenting resources for parents .

This free toddlers activity and child discipline guide site article links include Parent Magazine, Child Development, toddler discipline, discipline for kids, articles on how to use positive parenting resources to discipline child and use your good parenting skills, inspiring parenting & childhood famous quotes, parenting toddler time out techniques, early childhood child behaviour problem parenting tips with free behavior chart, toddlers arts & crafts, toddlers songs, fussy eating & kid recipes for child nutrition help, free kid game ideas, child development training math for kid study resources, party games, child book downloads, mother parenting perfect child discipline guide to reduce child anxiety, angry kids fears, insomnia, child self esteem, toilet training and other relationship problem child issues with positive parent tips.
================================================================

Back to Top of page