Online Holiday Games

Keep the kids entertained while they are off for the Holiday Break.  Enjoy these fun online holiday games at Kids’ Turn Central.

Click here for FUN!

Make Homeade Holiday Cards With Your Kids

 Handprint Santa Card CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Red craft paper
	Glue stick
	Plain notecard or card stock
	Tempera paints
	Paper plates
	Googly eyes
Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

1. Cut Santa-hat shapes (minus the pom-poms and white trim) from the craft paper, then glue one onto each card. Glue a pair of googly eyes a fingertip’s width below each hat.

2. Pour white tempera paint onto one paper plate, and a dollop each of red, black, and pink (mix some red and white) onto another. Stamp white handprint beards, then use fingertips to stamp the trim on the hats, and a nose, mouth, and cheeks on each face.

Additional ideas can be found on http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/ff0108-handcrafted-holiday-cards/ 

Create a Family Education Plan

As you’ve walked through this site and its resources, hopefully you have had time to think about the strengths of your own family and what kinds of things you can do to improve how your family learns together.

Now it’s time you to create your own Family Education Plan using the free downloads to the left (all pdfs). These worksheets give you a guide for making a plan for your family as well as keep track of goals and progress.

We recommend that you get a folder or binder to store your pages in. Sit down with your family to work through each sheet, creating goals to learn and grow as a family. Perhaps you can find the same night or morning each week to do a new worksheet and new activity.

Goals can range from simply making an effort to eat one meal a day together to getting out in the community to volunteer at one of the many nonprofit organizations. Keep track of your family activities by writing journal entries. If your children are old enough to write them, you could print out multiple journal entries

Whatever you do, find things to do together. Encourage your children to ask questions and observe the world. Keep learning fun and exciting.

Turn on the light of learning in your home, and keep it burning for many years to come!

Check out the site!  www.familyeducationplan.org.

Thinking of Traveling for the Holidays? Check Out This New Site . . .

Family holiday? pack the kids.. and let’s travel!!

Winter Break? Think Child Safety

My kids are literally counting down the days until the start of winter break from school, and of course, Santa’s visit. The holidays and the time from the regiment of school and daycare means extra time with family. It can also present some safety concerns as well. Here are some practical tips for keeping children safe during breaks from the school routine.

This article is courtesy of Robin McClure and can be found at About.com.

Get Organized for the Holidays

10 Things to Do Ahead of Time

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, the holidays are fast approaching. You still have plenty of time to prepare. But only if you get started now. Instead of waiting until December 1st or even the 15th, why not plan ahead and get some things out of the way?You may have a list that you follow every year, but if not, see our suggestions here. They’ll help to get you started on a well-organized and joyous holiday.

• Remember Traditions
  If your family has traditions that you keep, year after year, plan everything you’ll need for them now. Do you share a cookie exchange with friends? Do family members draw names for gift-giving? Do the children in your family prepare a skit or do adults tell family stories? Do whatever you need now to make sure the traditions are passed on. Remind everyone involved of the importance of their participation. Buy invitations and address them, prepare the menus, ask others to contribute what they love, and decide on a theme for the decorations. If you create a checklist, it will be easy to see what’s left for you or others to do.
• Prepare Your Gift List
  If you’re like many, you may have a closet of gifts already put away with friends’ or family members’ names on them. If not, make your gift list now. Collect catalogs if you like to order gifts, go to the local shopping center before the crowds arrive, or collect what you need if you make your own gifts. Make lists so you don’t forget anyone important.
  If you have to send gifts to out-of-town friends or family, plan to do it early. Get those gifts first and send them off.
• Gather Your Supplies
  It won’t take long to get all your holiday supplies together. Make sure you have enough stamps for holiday cards. Check your supply of wrapping paper and ribbon. Collect basic kitchen items that you know you’ll need. Make lists and use them.
• Prepare Your Christmas Cards
  You may not be in the mood to write out your holiday cards or annual letter yet, but you can spend an evening watching TV addressing the envelopes, pasting on return address labels, and adding stamps. Encourage your children to create their own cards to send to grandparents, cousins and friends.
• Do Some Housekeeping
  If you live in colder climes, you’ve probably already gotten your home ready for the winter. But if not, now is the perfect time to face annual chores in and outside of the house. Hose off the front door and garage door, clean windows, polish silver, chandeliers and light fixtures.
• Are Guests Coming?
  Now is a great time to clear out the clutter in your extra bedroom, since you’ll probably need it someime this season for out-of-town guests or a sleepover. Put away out-of-season clothing, leaving room in the closet and drawers for your guests’ things. Put away unfinished projects. Finally, add some of the comfortable touches that make a guestroom cozy. Make sure there are plush pillows, a good reading lamp and fun reading material, and an extra blanket.
• Decorate the Outdoors
  You may think it’s too early to put holiday lights up, but it’s much easier to do it now than in the middle of a snowstorm! Test the lights before you put them up AND after, but don’t turn them on at night until Thanksgiving time.
• Cook, Bake, and Freeze
  This is a great time to prepare cookie dough, yummy soups, cookies, bars, or whole dinners. You won’t eat them all now, but store them away in the freezer. You’ll be ready in a jiffy when you need to put on a quick or provide goodies for a party. Find recipes here.
• Plan Holiday Travels
  If you’re planning to be away for the holidays, it’s a good idea to book your holiday travel now. Check your calendar with others in your family and get friends and family to do the same. If you have guests coming to your home, remind them to make their travel plans early.
• Save Time for Fun
  Don’t forget to reserve time in your busy holiday schedule for simple fun. Check out movie offerings or rent a family favorite. Offer to volunteer at a community event or get tickets to see a “Nutcracker” matinee. Why not plan a simple a family “picnic” in front of the fireplace or a get out family photo albums. You’ll be amazed how these simple things will turn into treasured memories.

~ Coral Nafie

This information is courtesy of About.com 

Importance of Teaching a Young Child Sign Language

Hearing children who know signs, learn language almost twice as fast. As early as 11-14 months old, hearing children exposed to sign language put little sentences together faster than non-signing children, who do not begin to combine words into short sentences, such as “Da-da car” until the average age of 20 months.
Study conducted by Dr. Michelle Anthony and Dr. Reyna Lindert, Signing Smart program founders.

Benefits for Your Child and You

• Communicate with your child even before she can form the words.
• Ease a child’s frustration by helping her communicate what she needs, speed language development, and enhance long-term learning abilities.
• Know when your child is most ready to interact and learn.
• Learn sign language teaching methods, such as making the sign on a child’s body, on the floor, or hand over hand.
• Recognize and respond to your child’s version of signs.

About Winter: Fun Facts and Activities!

About Winter

In the Northern Hemisphere, winter is the coldest season of the year. It begins about December 21 and lasts until about March 21. Around December 21 or 22, the sun’s rays fall directly over the farthest point south of the equator - marking the first day of winter.

Winter days have fewer hours of daylight because of the path the earth takes as it revolves around the sun. The earth completely revolves around the sun during 365 days. The earth’s axis always tips about 23 1/2 degrees from a line perpendicular to its path.

In the Southern Hemisphere, winter begins in June.

Different regions have longer winters than others. For example, in the polar regions, winter takes up half the year. In the Temperate Zones winter takes up about one quarter of the year.

In regions where there is cold weather, it causes many changes in the environment. Water may freeze and become ice, snow, sleet or icicles. Most plants and animals become dormant and rest. Some animals hibernate. The only plants that grow and remain green are evergreens. People protect themselves from the cold climate with winter clothing when they go outdoors. They enjoy a variety of indoor activities or outdoor winter sports such as skiing, skating, or sledding.

Winter Activities

Not Just for Kids: Snow Angels and Ice Cream

It’s that time of year again, cozy winter nights by the crackling fire and decadent hot cocoa to keep everyone warm, but most of all… it’s the season for children frolicking in the snow until they are often chilled to the bone. If you’re fortunate enough to live in an area that may see some snow this year, here’s two of our family traditions we enjoy during the magical Christmas season, just remember to dress everyone warm.  (Layers of clothing work best, weatherproof shoes or boots help, and gloves and caps are a must.)

I’m sure everyone knows how to make snow angels… if you’ve never made one you’ve probably at least seen them in the movies or on TV.  It’s really neat, you lay down in the snow on your back and move your arms up and down over your head to form the wings, then move your legs side to side to make the bottom part of the angel’s robe. When you get up from the snow, your snow angel will be imprinted into the snow.

Our children are ages one to ten so all their angels are different sizes when they get up from the snow, it’s just adorable. Can you picture it? Cute as could be! It is one of the most fun things to do with your kids in the wintertime, just be sure to get the camera out and take a picture of them while they are still lying in the snow. Guaranteed to be one of your best pictures of the season.

Another fun thing to do with your kids (or even for you big kids at home who still like to have fun in the cold snow), is to make snow ice cream. I learned how to make this from my husband’s family about 20 years ago, and now our children are the first ones to run outside to collect the new falling snow with a large mixing bowl from the kitchen. 

This usually works great, but it’s a bit disappointing when the snow is too light to collect and we wake up in the morning to an empty bowl.  Not to mention that our neighbors must think we’re a little odd for putting a large bowl out in the middle of our front yard at night. ;o)

You see, we like to put the bowl outside to catch the new falling snow, as soon as the first flakes begin to fall.  But if your snow comes unexpected, like in the middle of the night, that’s okay too. Just make sure your snow is clean and white; not yellow. Actually, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen yellow snow, but thought I’d pass the warning along just in case. 

Okay, here’s our recipe:

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about these two seasonal family traditions, I’ve enjoyed sharing them with you.  Whether you have kids or not, the Christmas season is a beautiful time of year as well as a spiritual celebration for Christians all around the world.  Enjoy  every minute of it! 

(If you don’t live in a place cold enough for the white fluffy stuff to appear, just get in the car and drive until you find some. Bring your mixing bowl and ingredients with you, and don’t forget to make a few snow angels along the way.)

 

 This article is courtesy of Michelle Jones at www.holidayfamilyfun.com!

Online Holiday Fun!

Kids’ Turn Central Christmas Corner First - explore the many things to do online this Holiday Season at Kids’ Turn. There’s lots to do and see!
Use the online resources to find the best holiday sites reviewed for kids.
Now, surf around for lots of fun holiday activities!

For online Christmas fun, visit www.KidsTurnCentral.com! 

Hand and Foot Turkey Craft

Make the cute Thanksgiving craft that is featured on the home page.  This idea and more can be found at www.enchantedlearning.com.

Supplies:

Trace around the child’s feet using brown construction paper. These two pieces will be the turkey’s body.

Trace around the child’s hands using red, orange, and yellow construction paper. These 6 pieces will be the turkey’s feathers.

Glue the two footprints together to make the turkey’s body. (The heels make the head area.)

Cut out a round wattle and an orange beak. Glue the wattle, beak, and googly eyes (or paper eyes) to the turkey’s head. Make two legs from paper and glue then to the back of the body (or use pipe cleaners and tape them to the back).

Glue the handprint “feathers” to the back of the turkey. You can now decorate your house for Thanksgiving with these cute turkeys. Don’t forget to put the child’s name and age on the back of the turkey.

Kids’ Thanksgiving Dinner Fun

The kids’ table is the place to celebrate Thanksgiving with siblings, cousins, and friends in an atmosphere that’s adult-free!

Fun at the Table

Fun games & printable coloring pages for antsy ones

Fast Draw Paper Golf Tabletop Football Cornucopia Coloring Page Football Coloring Page Awesome Activity Page

Thanksgiving Games & Activities

Thanksgiving activities are an important part of a successful Turkey Day celebration. Here we offer our best Thanksgiving games for your gang.

Classic Fall Fun

Savor the season with these popular autumn activities

Fall Fun Felt Football Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Outdoor Fall Activities TV Bingo

Turkey Day Games

Start new family traditions with these great activities

Apple Paring Deer and Hunter Fox and Rabbit Thread the Needle Toss and Catch Turkey Trot

Great Card Games

Keep post-Thanksgiving feasters active long after the crumbs have been swept away

Animals Blackjack Crazy Eights Ninety-Nine Spoons

Indoor Games for Kids

If the weather is dreary, these indoor activities supply fun before and after dinner

New! Ask the Oracle Broom Dance Celebrities Family Trivia Fast Draw New! Human Slide Show Gigglebelly Group Storytelling Me…Switch New! Might I Bite? Paper Golf New! Roll Out the Marble Roll the Die Tabletop Football New! The 15-Cent Championship

Outdoor Games for Kids

Here are some quick-start appetite-building games to get your kids off and running

Backyard Goalpost Chicken Challenge Elbow Tag Family Flag Football Football Team Tag Group Juggling Kick It Through the Wicket Kick the Can Passing Practice Touch Football

These fun, fall festivities are courtesy of www.family.fun.go.com.

63 Gift Ideas for under $10

Stop!  Before you go out and spend hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars on presents, don’t forget our favorite list of inexpensive gift ideas!  For the last two years, this column has been a favorite among our readers and I’ve pulled it out of the archives just in time. (By the way, many of these make great hostess gifts too.)

*  *  *

The best part is, the earlier you start gift planning, the more money you can save and the more you can sit back and actually enjoy the holidays with your family.  

These frugal gifts are not only great for Christmas, but for all throughout the year. Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Anniversaries and more.  You can find or create a very special gift for just about any occasion, for everyone on your list.

Did you know that there are even  hundreds of great gifts that can be purchased or made by hand for under $10? Gifts that are both thoughtful and frugal at the same time.  Put them in an inexpensive basket or wrap them with a pretty ribbon and voila, you have a wonderful gift that didn’t wreck your budget! 

It’s really true that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to find that perfect gift for someone, just be sure to put some time and thought into it and your gift will be well received. Here’s a few of my favorites…

1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup

2. A pound of pistachios

3. Child’s artwork, framed

4. Journal with special inscription inside

5. Teacup with box of herbal tea

6. Deck of cards and book of card game rules

7. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar

8. Collage of special photos

9. Gel pens and pretty stationary

10. Bottle of sparkling cider

11. Home baked bread, include recipe

12. Disposable camera or rolls of film

13. Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit

14. Craft supplies

15. Holiday serving bowl or platter

16. Pretty basket filled with special jams or mustards

17. Decorative napkins and napkin rings

18. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon

19. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds

20. Photo album, hand decorated is even better

21. Makeup tote

22. Prepaid photo developing envelopes

23. Homemade cookie mix with instructions for baking

24. Variety of bread mixes

25. Special coffee cup filled with candy

26. Fancy magazines tied together with a pretty ribbon

27. Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil

28. Locally made barbeque or steak sauce with basting brush

29. Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup

30. Movie theater gift certificates

31. Board games

32. Jar of sourwood or pure honey with biscuit mix

33. Note cards and book of stamps

34. Picture frames, buy them on sale!

35. Specialty cookbook

36. Pretty glass jar filled with candy

37. Collectible sports cards

38. Muffin mixes with muffin pan

39. Books, there are still a few for under $10

40. Set of dish towels and dish cloths

41. Nail polish kit

42. Pretty night shirt

43. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets

44. Video rental gift certificates

45. Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns

46. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes

47. For the pets, gourmet dog biscuits or cat treats

48. Baking pans and supplies

49. Prepaid long distance phone cards

50. Small clock or radio

51. Pretty box for keepsakes

52. Colorful Post-It notepads

53. Address book

54. Christmas ornaments

55. Puzzles

56. Blank video or cassette tapes

57. Sewing supplies

58. Flashlight with batteries

59. Favorite quote embroidered on a nice handkerchief

60. Makeup brush set

61. Expensive socks, still under $10

62. Special soaps and bath puff

63. and don’t forget my absolute favorite… home baked cookies!

I wrote this list very late at night, and that’s why it ends at #63, it sounded like a good number to me! I hope you will be inspired by this list, after all, it’s not the amount of money you spend for a gift that matters the most, but that you cared enough to give something special.

This article is written by Michelle Jones   and is courtesy of holidayfamilyfun.com.

Help Children Cope with Holiday Stress

For many children, the holidays are happy, fun and exciting times. There is a break from school and a chance to see friends and relatives. However, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) notes that for some children, the holidays can also be stressful and confusing. Family plans and celebrations may be complicated by divorce, separation or remarriage. The holidays can also be a difficult time for children who have lost a parent, sibling, or close relative. This year, many children are also separated from parents due to ongoing military service.“The holidays often remind children of what’s changed and what’s now different,� says David Fassler, M.D., APA trustee-at large and a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Vermont. For example, he explains, “a child from a divorced family may feel sad on some level because he misses the ‘intact’ family he used to have. A child whose parent is on active military duty may feel it’s particularly unfair that her daddy or mommy needs to be away over the holidays.�

The following are some tips for parents to help children cope with holiday stress:

1. Discuss holiday plans well in advance, and include your children in the planning process. Kids need some degree of control and predictability. Prolonged uncertainty, constantly changing plans or last minute decisions can all increase stress.

2. Make sure kids get plenty of rest. While it may be exciting to stay up late, lack of sleep often leads to increased irritability.

3. Limit the amount of time kids spend alone watching TV or playing video games. Encourage physical activity and interaction with peers.

4. Don’t promise things you can’t produce. For example, don’t promise a parent will be home in time for the holidays if the decision is really out of your control.

5. Don’t try and compensate for an absent family member with lots of gifts. What most kids really want is your time and attention.

6. Uphold and maintain family traditions even if a parent is absent. Kids count on certain traditions. They can have an important grounding effect by letting kids know that even though some things have changed, other things have remained the same.

7. As the adult, take care of yourself. Try to avoid getting overloaded with obligations. If you feel stressed, it increases the pressure and tension on your children.

Most kids, even those dealing with loss or family transitions, do enjoy the holidays. However, preparation, patience and honesty can help prevent conflict, reduce stress, and enhance the holiday season for the whole family.

This information is courtesy of healthyminds.org and the American Psychiatric Association

Reading With Your Whole Family

Family involvement is one of the key components of children’s success in reading. Involvement may take many forms — reading aloud to children, checking on homework assignments, limiting TV viewing, establishing a daily family routine, monitoring out-of-school activities, talking and listening to children, and praising children’s efforts.

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings all serve as role models to children and can be critical to their reading success. It is important to involve the entire family in building home reading spaces, in taking time out for reading aloud and storytelling, and in participating in motivational activities that the whole family can enjoy together.

The following resources may help you determine better ways to get your whole family involved in literacy.

Resources to Explore:

• Building a Family Library
• Creating a Reading Environment at Home
• Family Involvement: A Key Ingredient in Children’s Reading Success
• Getting the Family Excited About Magazines
• 10 Tips for Choosing Books for Children of All Ages
• Tips for Reading Aloud
• RIF Seasonal Ideas
• RIF Reading Planet Online Activities
• Monthly Family Activity Calendar
• RIF Parent Guide Brochures

These ideas and more are courtesy of Reading is Fundamental.

Family Health Blossoms from a Balance of Work, Play and Leisure

If someone fails to gain meaning or pleasure in his work, he may become burnt out or his performance may be affected. It’s finding that balance between play and work that is important.

Western society needs to acknowledge that leisure and pleasure are not wastes of time. They can renew people’s energy to meet daily challenges and often motivates people to increase their performance. All work and no play can make Jack not only a dull boy but one whose health is in jeopardy.

Making time for a balance of work, play and leisure is not easy. Relationships with others, both at work and in your personal life, are an integral part of whether life will seem manageable and enjoyable. Nurturing and fostering interpersonal relationships takes time and energy. You may feel fragmented or overwhelmed if you are not achieving a sense of balance.

Your work and relationships will suffer if you are not managing to meet your needs and responsibilities, in addition to considering the needs of others at your workplace and in your personal life. Of course you cannot do everything! Ask yourself, “Am I doing things that are the most important to me? Am I spending time with those I love? Am I making time for both work and play?�

Having balance of work, play and leisure in your life will be easier if you:

• Know your values
• Identify priorities
• Reduce unnecessary things
• Set some goals and make a plan
• Revisit priorities and goals occasionally

A value is important to the person who holds it. What changes with time and growth is the ranking of values in relation to other values.

Values are expressed:
• By ways you talk and act; by ways you use time and energy
• Through actions at work and play (leisure)
• Through choices in the market place Priorities are activities and relationships that you give first attention to because you have ranked them as highly important. When setting priorities, ask yourself:
• Is this important? To whom? Is this urgent? To whom? Is this necessary at all?
Unnecessary things in your life include some stressors, unresolved conflict, bad habits, poor planning skills and unrealistic expectations. For example, do you have unnecessary conflict with a coworker or have unrealistic expectations by striving for perfection?

Finding balance with your work and personal life, including play, can be accomplished.
• Select goals and dreams that support values.
• Do things that will bring you closer to your goals.
• Take action to do things out of your comfort zone. Be willing to take some risks.
• Respond to challenges and disappointments positively. “What can I learn from this?�
• Share your needs with others and seek their support. Be willing to ask for help. Getting a handle on the stress in your life will help you make time for work and play and feel good about your general well-being.
• Locate the sources of stress
• Work off the effects of stress physically
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle
• Talk with someone you trust about your concerns or problems
• Accept what you cannot change
• Organize what you can, without being a perfectionist and unduly hard on others
• Realize that you do not control the emotions or behavior of others; you influence others
• Avoid self-medication and the misuse of alcohol and drugs
• Make time for recreation and for having fun
• Do something for others
• Take one thing at a time
• Compromise. You don’t always have to have it done your way. Agree to disagree.
• Get away from it for a while (this can be done on a tight budget with limited time.) Ask yourself these questions.
• What things cause me stress (my stressors)? How might I reduce my stress load?
• What are the most personal things (work, activities, relationships) to me?
• Is my personal life in balance? Do I feel good about my personal life?
• Is my work life in balance? Do I feel good about my work life?
• Am I spending time doing things (work, activities, relationships) most important to me?

One normally has to work for a living. To live a full life, one also needs play and leisure. Leisure time is important because it helps us breathe and gives us the opportunity to discover ourselves and grow. It also satisfies the needs that are not fulfilled at work. Sometimes we are stuck in jobs that are tedious and lacklustre.

Taking time off to indulge in what interests us makes us a better person. We all know the importance of the three Rs of leisure - relaxation, recreation and rest. They help us have a positive attitude to life, develop a balanced perspective and make us look at situations in a new way.

Deadlines are always looming and the clock never seems to stop ticking. So what can be done in order to balance work and relaxation? Well, the first thing you can do is prioritise tasks. We often end up doing work that is urgent but not important. Keep your focus on the important stuff, once that is out of the way, you can decide what deserves your attention next.

Plan ahead: The best plans are written down on paper. The best method is to first make a list of all the things you have to do and then categorise them into A, B and C lists basing on their importance. Once you are through with a task, be sure to cut it out from the list - this gives a feeling of great satisfaction. When you plan ahead, you will be able to estimate the time needed to complete your work commitments. This will help you assess the best time to take a holiday.

Learn to say no: Be more realistic about how much work you can take on. Be honest with yourself about the length of time it’ll actually take to complete a project and about the number of projects you can handle at any given moment. . Keep your focus on the most important aspects of your own job.

.Exercise: It is a well-known fact that when we are active, the body produces endorphins which keep us healthy and happy. Half an hour spent at the gym will help keep your thoughts off work, thus providing relaxation as well as health.

Take up the long-neglected hobby you enjoy: The right pastime can be so absorbing that it takes your mind off work and helps you relax. Group activities such as tennis or basketball strengthen your bonds with your colleagues apart from helping you unwind.

Aim to experience something new each day: It can be as simple an activity as tasting a new dish or viewing sunset with your friends or even taking a walk alone in the park. Discover your inner self.

You might love your work immensely, but remember that it is only a part of your life. In order to lead a well- balanced life, one should have interests outside work. Indulging in these activities also reduces stress and makes us develop a positive attitude toward life. Relaxing and having fun need to be a permanent part of our lives - they make life worth living.

This information and more can be found on http://family-friendly-fun.com/ 

Fall Family Fun

Fall Family Fun

For kids especially, autumn is a magical season for outdoor activities for families: great weather, colorful leaves, and family-oriented festivals galore. Don’t miss out! Get your kids outside and into the autumn groove, starting with this roundup of sites, attractions, and escapes across America. Find out what’s happening in your area, or plan a weekend getaway:

Hike, bike, and balloon to view the best foliage.

Pick your own jack o’lanterns in a pumpkin patch.

Learn how to do the “chicken dance” at an Oktoberfest.

These ideas and more can be found at FamilyEducation!

Family Night Idea

Make Dinner Time Fun
Make family nights special by starting off with a great meal. Add some fun to your family meals by playing family dinner games. Games add fun to the family dinner, open up family conversation, breakup the monotony of family dinner, and encourage children to eat their vegetables and drink their milk!

These ideas and more are courtesy of FamilieswithPurpose.com.

Gather the Family (& Some Foliage) and Make Some Fun Fall Crafts

Use your imagination (and some paper, glue, and a pen or pencil) to turn ordinary backyard leaves into a whimsical menagerie.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Autumn leaves from your yard
	Paper
	Glue
	Pencils, pens, or crayons
Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours

1. Go outside and see what kinds of animals are hiding in your leaf piles. Below are some possibilities. When you’ve found leaves in your yard whose shapes you like, glue them to pieces of paper and use pencil, pen or crayon to make your creatures complete. To preserve your creations, press them between two books.

2. MAPLE: These leaves have three main points and lots of smaller ones; count them as they flutter by.

3. ROSE: The rounded shape of this bush’s leaves makes them look a lot like little shields.

4. BIRCH: As big and tall as this white-bark tree can get, its leaves are as small and as light as feathers.

5. GERANIUM: You might flip your wig if you find one of these wild-looking leaves in your yard.

6. BARBERRY: While this plant doesn’t live underwater, its leaves resemble raindrops.
This fun idea is courtesy of FamilyFun.com!