7/9/09

ARTICLE: Summer Vacation on a Budget

Summer vacation has started and with the global economy as it is, it´s probably not the best time to have to entertain your kids 24/7! If day camps, summer camps or long trips are not in your budget this year, there are still great ways to have fun. Here are some tips:
  • Plan your grocery shopping. Even though you´re not making school lunches, your children will want to snack throughout the day. Plan ahead for this so your groceries last for the entire week and you don´t have to make last minute trips to the store which will cost you more.
  • Plan both indoor and outdoor activities. If it´s a sunny day try going outside in your bathing suits and playing with the sprinkler while you water the lawn. Plan a puppet show, movie night or a special craft for a rainy day.
  • Have your children write down the things they wish they could do this summer. Then, study the list together and circle the things you CAN do, like going to the movies, the park or the zoo. Schedule them on a calendar and count down the days until you do them. (Great idea for building anticipation)
  • Try to have one day trip in the summer. Pick a Saturday or Sunday and visit a nearby attraction or place of interest. Make it a one-day road trip and pack snacks for the car, special music and even some car games like I SPY or CAR COLORS.

STORYTIME: The Blue Dolphin -- Part 3

... The dolphin stared at the upcoming ship and splashed waiting for the little girl and her friends to appear. But when the ship got near, he realized it wasn´t the same one. The ship stopped near the blue dolphin. He wondered if other children were on this ship. Maybe they wanted to see him splash and swim too. He started his little show.... but no one came out to look. Suddenly he heard a loud crackling noise. A big white net was slowly coming down from the ship, it was going to land right over him!!! The dolphin tried to swim away, but it was too late. He was trapped in the net...
(More tomorrow)

DAILY RECIPE: Potato Chip Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts, cut in half
salt and pepper
2 tbsp. margarine
1 small bag of potato chips

Season chicken breasts and spread margarine on them. Put potato chips in a plastic bag and crush. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and cover with crushed chips. Place in oven (350°F) for about 45 minutes, covered.

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep small toys like legos or small dolls, plastic animals or action figures in ziploc bags inside a big toy box. They will be easy to find and they will all be stored together.