Here's an Easy Method to Get Children to Put Their Toys Away!

How many times do you constantly remind your young children to put their toys back where they belong?  Regretfully, those requests can often fall on little deaf ears.  Nonetheless, there is a  helpful way to deal with that frustrating problem.

The next time trucks, dolls, and monsters alike are scattered throughout the house, you can start by issuing a warning that any left around will go into a special box.  You might call it the NO PLAY WITH TILL WEEKEND box where the toys will remain until Saturday rolls around.

Of course, children will want to test your resolve on the matter.  You could give them an initial pass the first time it happens before seizing the toys in question.  However, the second time your children leave those toys about, then it is time to take action.

You must remain firm when you gather up those neglected toys and not allow your children access to them until the weekend as they were told.  Do not allow their complaints to weaken your reserve or no improvement to the situation will be made.

When they complain and want back a specific seized toy, then explain calmly why they cannot have it until Saturday.  Instead, you should hand them another toy, book, or get them to help you with a small chore to keep them occupied.

You will be amazed at how quickly those same children will remember to pick up their toys the next time they play with them! 

Save Money on Back-to-School Clothes With a Swapping Party

Tag and label your items to swap.

Everything seems to keep getting higher in price with no end in sight.  However, I have a fantastic idea to help stretch your back-to-school clothing budget while you have fun at the same time.  What I'm talking about is organizing a clothing swap party with friends that have children.

We all know how quickly children outgrow clothes.  Often, clothes are hardly worn, which make a friendly get-together to trade outfits a great way to save money.  At the same time, you can catch up with friends over coffee and one of my pie recipes, perhaps, and turn this recycling into a great time. 

The best bet is to invite the friends with children that happen to be around the same age, sex, and body build to assure there is suitable merchandise to trade.   Just remember, the more friends that you invite, the better the selection will be available.  You can even include books or toys as part of the exchange.

Mornings probably are the ideal time to schedule your swap party or evenings.  I prefer mornings because you can finish before dinner needs to be made and the entire family reports home.

Think of this, even if you get one or two beautiful items that fit your child and are wearable, you will come out ahead.  Your only other option is to donate those outgrown clothes.  Though I applaud you, many of us are forced in this tight economy to stretch every dollar as far as possible, making this suggestion worth consideration. 

Need to Keep Kids Happily Occupied During Road Trips?

Making a long trip in the car with children can be a challenge.  However, if you grab a bag and pack a drawing tablet, crayons, an Etch-a-Sketch, and Play Dough and one old sheet cake pan for each child to use as a makeshift desk will work well to stimulate their imagination.  Encourage them to draw or build something that caught their attention along your journey to spark their creativity.

Try to play a game with your small children with "what if" questions to develop a continuing story.  For example, "what if" you were famous what would you want to do?  The next child has to jump in, "I would be a dancer.  Another in the car would ask, "What if the dancer broke her leg and couldn't dance, what would she do?  The plot line of the story can change in any direction.

Map out the trip with your children can be fun for them.  Show them the distance and keep estimates along the route can help improve their mathematics as well.

Guidebooks are wonderful to read together with your children.  Plan ahead of what you will pass on the road or once you arrive to your destination of what you want to see.

Pack some food for your trip to keep handy.  Fruits, cooked chicken, sandwiches, cookies, drinks are important if you need to make time.  Sometimes, you need to travel far and finding places to stop to eat or even rest stops can be hard to find.

Take care and have a wonderful Memorial Day.  Please drive safely!

Protect Yourself Against Type 2 Diabetes!

Type 2 diabetes is on the increase in this country.  Did you know that the heavier you get, the more chance you have at developing this disease?  What's even worse is this tragic epidemic is happening to our children.  However, you can lower your risk by adjusting your diet for starters. 

Nuts, nut butters and peanut butter are excellent preventive foods to incorporate into your life because of their healthy fats and magnesium.  Eat a serving of nuts in any of those forms just five times a week can lower your odds up to 30 percent of ever developing this disease.

Adding more fiber such as in legumes or whole grain cereals and breads daily can make a tremendous difference.  One study found people that ate fiber rich foods every day reduced their risk by 40 percent compared to those that did not.

Coffee is another choice you may want to reconsider and add to your diet.  Whether you prefer caffeinated or decaffeined does not matter, however, you need to drink at least three or four cups a day for this drink to do anything to lower your risk. 

One thing you may also want to avoid is regular soda.  Simply put,  if you just  drink two cans of  this sugar-loaded stuff, you also double your chances of getting kidney disease, compounding the problem. 

Eating sweets are fine when you you do it in moderation.  Also, it is a good idea to save one or two days a week for that indulgence instead of making desserts a daily routine. 

If you already have type 2 diabetes, then experts advise losing some weight often helps get the disease under control.   Exercise is also recommended. 

Unfortunately, we are becoming a sedentary nation due to computers, video games, television, and technology.  Try putting a limit on the amount of time that your child is stationed in front of the computer or television. The upcoming warm weather is the perfect time to take walks or play outdoors with a baseball, volleyball, basketball, etc. with the kids.