•10 Things My Preschooler Taught Me
10 Things My Preschooler Taught Me by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (173 words)10 Things My Preschooler Taught Meby Deborah Shelton1. That no matter how many snails are lined up on your arm,there's...
•20 Fun Ideas for National Turn Off TV Week
20 Fun Ideas for National Turn Off TV Week by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (214 words)*************************************************20 Fun Ideas for National Turn Off TV WeekBy Deborah...
•Back to School Show & Tell
Back to School Show & Tell by Deborah SheltonOne thing you can count on during the first day of school is the inevitable question of "What did you do over the summer?" Here are a few creative ways to describe your summer experiences for the first edition of Show and Tell.1. Flip BooksCreate a moving picture of your summer fun with a flip book. Start out with a Post-It pad or a pocket-sized spiral notebook. Draw the first picture on the last sheet of paper and work your way to the first page...
•Birthday Party Fun: Goodie Bag Alternatives
Birthday Party Fun: Goodie Bag Alternatives
by: Deborah Shelton
If you’re looking for alternatives to pricey goodie bags, here are a few ideas that will make your guests--and wallet--happy.
Any Fun Party:
Take Polaroid photos of each guest with the birthday child, and decorate cardboard picture frames, or make frames with popsicle sticks.
Dance Party:
Let the birthday child create a mix CD of favorite music. Burn copies for everybody (and play it at the party too!).
Hawaiian...
•Book Review: "Frugal Living for Dummies"
Book Review: "Frugal Living for Dummies" by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (220 words)Book Review: "Frugal Living for Dummies"Reviewed by Deborah Shelton"Frugal Living for Dummies"by Deborah...
•Butterfly Garden Basics
Butterfly Garden Basics by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (257 words)Butterfly Garden Basicsby Deborah SheltonCultivating a special home in your yard for butterflies will introduce your children to a...
•Cool Snacks for a Hot Summer
Cool Snacks for a Hot Summer
by: Deborah Shelton
Beat the heat with these cool summer treats!
Mouse Popsicles
It’s not what you’re thinking! The name refers to the size of the popsicle—not the contents. Wash a bowl of seedless grapes, and then set the grapes in the freezer for about an hour. Poke colored toothpicks into the grapes to serve.
Juice Pops
Summer isn’t complete without homemade juice popsicles. Simply fill a popsicle mold or an ice tray with your favorite fruit juice. Cover...
•Easy Trail Mixes
Easy Trail Mixes
by: Deborah Shelton
Before you set off on your next family walk or outing, try making one of these super easy trail mixes to keep your energy up.
* Quick Fix Mix
2 cups mini pretzels
1 cup cheese snack crackers
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup raisins
Place all ingredients into a plastic baggie, seal, and then shake. Enjoy!
* Chocolate Popcorn Mix
2 cups spoon size shredded wheat cereal
2 cups popped popcorn
1 cup dried cranberries
3...
•Family Meetings 101
Family Meetings 101
by: Deborah Shelton
Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and validated. They also allow younger children to feel they are an important part of the decision-making process when it comes to family vacations and other major and minor family functions.
Before the first meeting commences, set a few ground rules such as:
Speak in a calm tone.
Avoid name-calling, finger-pointing, and sarcasm.
Turn off the TV, radio and telephones.
Allow...
•Fun & Fast Family Portraits
Fun & Fast Family Portraits by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (282 words)Fun & Fast Family PortraitsBy Deborah SheltonMaking self-portraits and pictures of family, friends, and even pets, is a great way...
•Fun & Fruity Recipes
Fun & Fruity Recipes
by: Deborah Shelton
Sometimes the easiest way to get children to eat healthy is to let them have a hand in making their own snacks…and add whipped cream on top. Here are two fruity recipes that are fun and easy to make, and even more fun to eat.
Miniature Fruit Pizzas
1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Assorted fresh fruit, cut into bite size pieces, such as bananas, kiwis, oranges,...
•Fun & Healthy Snacks for Kids
Fun & Healthy Snacks for Kids
by: Deborah Shelton
Looking for a quick and healthy snack for the kids? Here are a few tasty ideas that you can surprise them with, or let them make on their own.
1. Bugs On A Log: They'll love it just for the name! Simply spread peanut butter onto celery stalks, and then top with raisins (the bugs). Yummy.
2. Melon Balls: Show them that ice cream scoops can be used for more than just ice cream. Scoop the "meat" out of watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe...
•Holiday De-Stressing Tips for Kids
Holiday De-Stressing Tips for Kids
by: Deborah Shelton
The holiday season can be a hectic, stressing time not only for adults, but also for children: lots of driving around town in traffic jams; schlepping through overcrowded shopping malls; giving up your room for out-of-town relatives who emit a funny smell. Yep, it can be a difficult time. Here are a few tips to keep your little ones, and yourself, calm and comfortable during the holiday season.
* Lay on the floor together with your...
•Homemade Toy Town
Homemade Toy Town by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (201 words)Homemade Toy TownBy Deborah SheltonWith a few items found around the house, and a little imagination, you can make your very own toy town....
•Hula Hoop Hoopla
Hula Hoop Hoopla
by: Deborah Shelton
Which favorite toy pastime is fun for all ages and makes adults nostalgic for their childhood? Hula-hooping, of course! Stock up on inexpensive hula hoops and try your hand…er, hips…at these silly games.
1. Hula Hoop Contest: Challenge your mom, dad, best friend, and even your little brother to a hula hoop contest. Turn the radio on to upbeat music and watch the clock. The person who can hula the hoop longest, wins!
2. Hula Hoop Jumping: Put a fresh...
•Indoor Winter Fun
Indoor Winter Fun
by: Deborah Shelton
Tell the cold weather to take a hike, and get ready to have some fun!
* Winter Beach Party
Bring that fun-in-the-sun feeling into your home with a winter beach bash. Spread beach towels on the living room floor; wear your swimsuit and a pair of flippers (why not?); feast on hot dogs; make castles out of clay and play- dough; and don’t forget to take pictures!
* Winter Word Race
Challenge your friends and family to a race of the minds. Set a kitchen...
•Making Summer Friendships Last
Making Summer Friendships Last
by: Deborah Shelton
Summertime isn’t just about getting dirty, staying up all night, playing in the rain, and going off to camp--It’s about meeting new people. Follow these tips to turn your vacation acquaintances into lifelong friends.
1. Summer Memory Book
Make the summer last forever by preserving memories in a special book. Fill the plastic sleeves of a photo album with photos, ticket stubs, sections of road maps from summer trips, and other mementos....
•Musical Activities for Guaranteed Fun
Musical Activities for Guaranteed Fun
by: Deborah Shelton
Music has the power to calm, sooth, energize and make everyone have fun! Try these ideas at your child's next play date or sleepover for a guaranteed good time.
1. Jamming Art: Turn on some music-upbeat or mellow-you decide. Without looking directly at the paper, draw pictures and designs to the beat of the music. Make several drawings from different types of music.
2. Animal Walk Parade: Play your favorite tunes on the radio and...
•Shadow Fun
Shadow Fun
by: Deborah Shelton
Are you looking for fun projects to do, but are short on supplies? The answer is simple: Shadows!
Shadow Tag
Turn an ordinary walk to the mailbox into a lively game of shadow tag. It’s played much the same way as regular tag, except that instead of tagging a person, you tag the person’s shadow.
Silhouettes
Use the combination of light and shadow to create frameable works of art. Use tacks or tape to hang a sheet of white construction paper or poster board...
•Simple Science
Simple Science
by: Deborah Shelton
Help children develop a love for science, or nurture their already-growing interest, with these simple experiments.
Cloud Maker
Ever wanted to catch a cloud in a bottle? Now’s your chance! Pour just a splash of water into a 2-liter plastic bottle. Light a match (a grownup’s job) and drop it into the bottle. Immediately replace the lid and squeeze the bottle a few times to watch your cloud form.
Magic Flowers
Create your own unique flowers with this...
•Summer Anti-Boredom List
Summer Anti-Boredom List
by: Deborah Shelton
Before summer vacation turns into a boredom fest, sit down as a family and make a summer anti-boredom list. Write down a mixture of long overdue chores that you’ve been meaning to get done, along with goals and dreams that you’ve always wanted to accomplish. Don’t leave out the fantastic! If you’ve always wanted to ride on a unicorn, even though there is no such animal, write it down. You may read the list one day when you’re bored, see the...
•Tips for Encouraging Children To Write
Tips for Encouraging Children To Write by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (507 words)Tips for Encouraging Children to WriteBy Deborah SheltonWant to encourage your child's love of writing? Or inspire one...
•Waiting Room Boredom Remedies
Waiting Room Boredom Remedies by Deborah SheltonPublishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (277 words)Waiting Room Boredom RemediesBy Deborah SheltonGoing to the doctor is no fun--not for adults and especially not for kids. Not...
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