In this section you will find tips and suggestions for you to try with your children and family.  If you have a tip of your own, please feel free to share it and we can post it on our site.  Remember, Parenting is the most important job that we will ever have AND the one we are least trained for. ☺ Hopefully this corner will reduce some of our stress and maybe even give us a few laughs.

July Parenting Tip

Mid summer blahs: It always seems to me that summer is half over once Fourth of July passes. Stores begin to stock school supplies, sales for new shoes are out and before you know it, Halloween appears on the shelves. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there is still half of summer vacation to enjoy. But if you are already hearing, “I’m bored” then here are a few cheap and easy things to do for children of all ages to break up the mid summer monotony.

• Grab some crayons and some paper and hit the yard. Have your child place the paper on the sidewalk, tree, picnic table, fence etc..then rub the crayon on the surface to pick up the different textures or designs. When using more than one color crayon, you can create some spectacular works of art. 
•  Let the children use watercolor paint or washable paint on the sidewalk, driveway or patio. It gives them the chance to use their whole body when painting on an endless piece of “canvas.” When they are finished you can enjoy the decorations until the next rain or when you decide to wash off the pavement. 
•  Take some old newspapers and cover your surface thoroughly. Lay down some coffee filters and let the children use eye droppers, popsicle sticks or small paint brushes to drop different colors of food color on the filter. The colors will run together and make a beautiful tie dye effect. Have plenty of filters on hand because most children will want to make 3, 4, or more. 
• Drop droplets of food coloring on a blank piece of paper and with a straw, blow the droplets around the paper. When colors collide, it looks like 4th of July fireworks.

Whatever you decide to do this summer, please reserve a place in your home to display your child’s works of art. The refrigerator, hallway or a special bulletin board are just a few ideas. Children love to look at and talk about their work. It’s a great self esteem builder and a chance for them to “teach” others as to how their creations came to be.