Sending your little one to school for the first time? Consider a “Back to School Treat Bag” for him or her to make the first day a little easier… Add the following to a bag that you can decorate with his or her name..with this message. (you might have to read it to them!)

A Starburst because you are a star in our class.
Laffy Taffy because we are going to have fun.
Smarties because you are so smart.
A pencil because we’re going to work hard.
An eraser because everyone makes mistakes and we can all learn from them.
Crayons for all of your colorful ideas.
A penny for good luck.
A lifesaver because I will always be here for you.
A Candy Kiss because you need a kiss to get through the day!

Have a great back to school first day!

We plan for vacations all year.  Whether the trip is long or short, we still need to keep the kids occupied.  Here’s an easy idea for something you can grab from the   house so you don’t have to spend a ton of money on toys to entertain on the trip.  I’m
all about the quick and easy!

My kids loved painter’s tape.  A few rolls and they were entertained for hours in the
car!

Tear strips off to decorate the window.  Give them a shape to make or
pattern.  Let them use their imagination.

Have them decorate their pants.  Seems simple enough, but they can make
stars, stripes, dots.   So fun to see what fashion they come up with.  And if you
make a stop you won’t know anyone, so let them strut their stuff in their
fancy pants!

Bring paper along and have them tell a story with tape only.  You can see
what their creative minds come up with.  They can use it to make animal
shapes and even create letters with the tape.   Have them read their stories to
you on vacation!

Any other ideas?  What would you have your kids do with 2 rolls of painter’s tape and a two hour car ride?

Autumn is definitely here. Even though today was sunny and almost warm, there’s a crispness in the air and a crackle underfoot as the first of the leaves begin to accumulate on the ground.

This time of year is my favorite (with late spring being a close runner-up). I was thinking today about how much time my mother and I spent outdoors at this time of year when I was a kid, and the sights, tastes and smells that instantly take me back. I love that some of those same sights, tastes and smells will one day bring my children back to the time we spend together at this time of year.

Here are some of my instant autumn memory-triggers:

Sights:
the brilliant golds, reds, and oranges of leaves changing color on the trees
piles of bumpy, ugly gourds
soft fuzzy sweaters

Smells:
a fresh Mcintosh apple
pumpkin guts
spiced cider
leaves on the ground. (Oh I love that smell!)

Tastes:
that first taste of the first McIntosh apple of the season
warm homemade applesauce (I sometimes cheat and make it by heating up jarred applesauce on the stovetop and adding spices)
pumpkin pie

What sounds, smells, tastes, or sights instantly remind you of the fall? Are you making a point to make your childhood autumn memories into great autumn memories for your kids, too?

Photo credit: bowlingranny from morguefile.com

Growing up, my sister and I were on our own when it came to homework. My mom had to work and my grandfather, who watched us after school, didn’t make it past the fourth grade. So we did our own work, and then when my mother would get home, she’d quickly check it over and help us correct anything that was out of whack.

As far as special projects went, we always did well, but I used to resent the prize-winning science fair kids who had fancy computer print-outs to go with their projects (a big deal back then in the days before having a home computer became the norm), or intricate displays with way too many moving parts for a first-grader to have conceived on their own. In short, even then, I could always tell which kids had parents who did their homework for them.

Now as a parent, I’m fortunate enough to be home in the afternoon to supervise J.J.’s homework time, and I’ve made a promise to myself that I’m going to let my kids do their own work. This is no easy task sometimes. I tend to be a tad on the perfectionist side, so it’s hard for me to let my son paste a picture in his homework book crooked. It takes a lot of willpower on my part to not go find a picture that rhymes with “red” (which would take me 30 seconds), and instead let J.J. leaf through a magazine until he finds a “bed” (which could take 10 minutes). But most of all, it’s hard for me not to take over an art project that I know will be hung up in the classroom next to 15 other parent-perfected masterpieces.

So far, the homework has been reasonable. I’m sure the day will come when he’ll be given assignments that are a bit over the top, and I may have to intervene in some way. And I will to a point. But here’s the thing: I know that if I let my son do the majority of his work on his own, he’ll learn what it feels like to accomplish something (and what a feeling that is!). I also know that the math problems he’s practicing will sink in faster if he’s not using me as his crutch. If I let him cut and paste and practice penmanship without holding his hand steady for him, his teacher will surely know that I didn’t do it for him. And I’m OK with that.

What’s your take on homework? How much help do you offer? Share in the comments below!

-Dawn Papandrea

Photo credit: rosevita
We all have our own special morning rituals. Whether it’s waking to take a nice jog or flying from bed to the shower, it’s an important part of the day. It’s what sets you up for a good and happy day …