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Informative Articles

Back to School Show & Tell
One 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 Books...

Creative Storage Solutions
When the things in your home start crowding in around you and you're short on cash, it's time to come up with some creative storage solutions. Don't be afraid to think "out of the box". You're the only one who has to know where everything is...

Separate Colors in a Fall Leaf using Chromatography
Fall is a beautiful time of year with all the leaves are changing colors. Children wonder why it happens, so it's a great opportunity to use the power of science to show them the separate leaf colors and to explain how the leaves actually change...

Stress-Free Kids Party Planning
Another birthday's on the horizon, and you're stressing over every little detail. Throwing a party can be nerve-wracking and kids parties come with added pressures. The prospect of keeping a group of young children occupied and entertained...

Wear Animal Jewelry for an Alluring Natural Look
Looking for a design that's chic and at the same time unconventional? Try your luck at animal jewelry. Far from being tacky or inelegant, animal designs are actually rather distinctive. Finely crafted jewelry with animal motifs lends a mysterious...

 
Nurturing Play

It’s a constant endeavor to try to keep kids busy and interested in daily activities. Nurturing play such as jigsaw puzzles, scavenger-treasure hunt games, camping, healthy cooking, educational toys, or kids crafts are a great way to spur their imagination, keep them busy and interested in a specific task and help them learn great skills and family values.
Jigsaw puzzles have for years been enchanting both children and adults alike and providing hours of fun. Jigsaw puzzles originated in the 1760’s by European mapmakers and is a key element in building strong family relationships as well as:
·Developing concentration & memory skills
·Fostering fine motor skills
·Increasing your child's self-esteem
·Encouraging matching & sorting skills
·Teaching team-work
·Re-enforcing your child's education
·Stimulating discussion & language development
Scavenger-treasure hunt games have become an integral part of our pastimes and continue to be an exciting family tradition. The scavenger minded people are energetic when searching for unique items that will earn the greatest point potential for their team before the clock runs out. Whereas the treasure minded people appreciate the challenge of solving mysteries by decoding clues that lead them to a precious, valuable treasure. We use scavenger-treasure hunt games for entertainment at parties and other family get-togethers.
Family camping trips are excellent opportunities to spend together as a family. You learn how to work together as you forget all the cares of your everyday life and at the same time discover Mother Nature’s beauties. You won't have all the luxuries of home,


Johnny Griffin At The Village Vanguard
Only a few days after the release of the album <em>Smokin' Sax</em>, and before a date to promote it, saxophonist Johnny Griffin died at age 80 at his chateau in Availles-Limouzine, France. Hear his final U.S. homecoming at the Village Vanguard, recorded live by <em>JazzSet</em>

McCoy Tyner, Derek Trucks: Timeless Melody
In the grand scheme of Tyner's discography (one of postwar jazz's most consistently invigorating), the duets collection <em>Guitars</em> feels like more of a curious one-off than a significant late-career addendum. In his new reinvention of "Greensleeves," the jazz-piano legend collaborates with blues guitarist Derek Trucks.


but camping provides unique lifelong experiences that you don't find at home, such as...
·No showers except for an occasional bath in the nearby stream
·Hikes to discover wild animals, flowers and tall meadow grass
·Gathering firewood for the campfire to roast hotdogs or marshmallows, bake campfire pies or Smores
·Flashlight tag played in the dark, stories told or songs sung around the campfire
·Cooking in or on the fire, a brown paper sack, or on a propane stove
The kitchen is a great place to communicate and re-connect with your child as you prepare meals and snacks. Reading recipes and measuring ingredients teaches math concepts in a hand on fun environment. This is a perfect opportunity to find out what's going on in your child’s life while spending quality time together.

We want to give our children the best to help them learn and grow. Educational toys and kids crafts are a great way to accomplish this goal while both you and your children have fun. Educational toys and crafts come in many different forms and will vary according to your child’s needs, age, and preferences.
Sprinkling a combination of these nurturing play activities throughout your child’s daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedule are proven and time-tested to produce happy, healthy, confident children in a securely rooted family. What better way to spend a childhood than with parents who care, support, and love unconditionally…all through the power of play!!!


About the Author

I come from a family of 8 siblings, have been married for 26 years, raised two girls, and have been actively involved in the raising of numerous children.