Playground for Parents

Kids Eat 4 Free

This little doozy of a website comes recommended via a mommy friend.  You know I'm all about the food.  And when it's free or cheap food, well, it feels like freakin' Christmas. Now that I have TWO little mouths to feed, I'm appreciating bargains even more.

 

On www.KidsEat4Free.com, simply type in your city and state, or your zip code, and you'll have at your bargain-hunting little fingertips, a list of restaurants in your area that offer free kid's meals.  You can also opt to join their email list, and be notified when new restaurants are added. Based on my findings when I browsed the site, Saturdays seem to be a popular day for the free meal offers. So, if you don't mind Saturday crowds, or can go before the rush, it's probably worth it.  Of course, there's usually the catch of having to first purchase an adult meal. But hey, you can't expect to go into the joint and feed your kid for free, while you sit at the table with a glass of water, trying to sneak fries off his plate.

 

When I plugged in my zip code, only Carrows Restaurant came up. Blech. So, I plugged in the neighboring city, and got Marie Callender's. A little better - at least they have that cornbread with honey butter.

 

Happy eating. Somehow, when it's free, it always taste better.

 

I'd love to see someone come up with a Moms Eat 4 Free site.  P.F. Changs would be a nice start.  Hint, hint.

 

No News Is Good News

 

 

You, me, and our sweet angelic children, are living in a society of unethical, immoral, savage barbarians.  Or so the news would have us believe.  Story after cliched story, day after bleak day, the top news is bad news.  Our mind's are saturated with man's inhumanity to man.  If there's a photo or video to accompany the mayhem, well then - we've hit the motherload, mama!  And, of course, there are the celebrity reports which apparently warrant  "Breaking News."  Will Britney keep her kids?  Did Angelina adopt again?  Did Octomom get lip injections (well, did she?).

 

Most of the time, I catch the news by accident - the TV is on, I'm walking by, and BAM - I'm suddenly witnessing the third high-speed police chase this month. So, you can guess that if I am not normally watching the news, I'm not letting my child watch it either. 

 

How then do we educate our children on important worldly events, in a language they can understand, and with details that are age-appropriate?  Like anything else, with a little help. 

 

Scholastic News Online is a gem of a kids' website that I introduced my 2nd grader to recently.  It provides children with in-depth reports and activities on the latest in news, entertainment, and sports.  This means I can spend  a little less time fumbling and stumbling, as I attempt to come up with my own explanation of world events.  The website covers National News (scientists at the University of Southern Florida unveiled a robotic arm that is controlled by a person's thoughts!), International News (mummy chamber unearthed!), Special Reports (economy for kids).  And no, it's not all good news, because the world isn't all good.  But, it's not unnecessarily graphic and terrifying either.

 

Scholastic News Online also has games and quizzes, and sections written by kids, for kids -including book reviews and interviews.  My favorite column is "Sticky Situation," where kids solve a weekly ethical dilemma.  And my favorite little feature: the site's Word Wizard - click any word on the page, and you get a useful definition. Genius.

 

Now maybe you and your child can learn a little something about the great world we live in (barbarians excluded).  

 

 

 

Summer Camp on a Budget

Too little, too late, right?  Because certainly you enrolled your child in summer camp months ago.  You probably mailed your deposit back in January, even though summer is still several months away.  Okay, then, let's just pretend you didn't enroll your kid.  And now your local camp is already full.  I'm sure you will still have a magical summer.  Long warm days filled with family excursions (only to places that have air conditioning), carefully planned arts & crafts to quiet every proclamation of "I'm bored!", preparing meals and snacks...and more snacks (we ran out of popsicles again?!).  Yep, tons of lazy summer fun. With you in charge of it all.

Last summer, I didn't enroll my daughter in camp, because I had these idealistic plans of how we were going to super-bond before the new baby came.  We were going to have special one-on-one time that we could never get back.  Ahhh, nice try mom.  The reality was, I was near the end of my pregnancy, feeling big and heavy and tired.  The last thing that me and my extra 40 pounds wanted to do was walk around a museum to kill some summer time.  My daughter ended up spending way too much time in front of electronics - her laptop, her Nintendo DS, and the television.  Even once the electronics were limited, and were replaced by reading and art, the kid was still pretty isolated and bored.  Playdates were challenging, because guess where all of her little friends were?  You guessed it - in camp. Fortunately, our camp of choice had space during the second half of the summer.  My daughter had a fantastic time interacting with her friends for three days during the week.  And we still got to do that super-bond thing together.  We got lucky - most camps in our area would've been closed to enrollment.

Summer camp sign-ups are similar to the whole preschool frenzy - getting on a list for "the best" preschool, years in advance, before daddy's sperm has even been officially introduced to mommy's egg.  Parents frantically try to make a decision based on everything from cost, to location, to activities, to where the celebrity kids are going (at least in Los Angeles).  Camp decisions can be a bit stressful too, especially with so many fun choices and specialized camps in operation.  Adding to the pressure is ensuring that the camp is a safe place, that there is enough supervision, and we can feel secure leaving our child in a new environment with teenagers in charge.  We review our safety rules with our child about "inappropriate touch,"  we make sure his counselor knows that he's not a great swimmer, and we provide no less than 6 emergency contact numbers. And then we drop them off for eight weeks, because we need a break they'll have a much better time frolicking outdoors with their peers, and learning new social and behavioral skills, than staring at us at home.

 

Need a little help making a camp choice this year? 

 

Check out Camp Parents, a website I recently discovered, which provides a highly detailed search for camps nationwide.  You can base your search on criteria such as cost per week, cultural focus (African American, Jewish, Christian), special focus (gifted, youth at risk, weight loss), special needs (ADD, autism, down syndrome, blind),  club affiliation (girl scouts, boy scouts, ymca), gender (male, female, or co-ed), and day camp or overnight.  Camp Parents also covers significant topics like homesickness, camp readiness, and packing for overnight camp.

 

Of particular relevance in these tough economic times, is the Camp Parents article on how to make summer camp fit your budget.  You can't afford to go on vacation; how on earth are you going to afford camp fees for about two months?  Check out the article, and hopefully save your summer sanity.  You love your kids fiercely.  But, you admit that you appreciate them even more when they're away for a little while, come home dog-tired, and sleep really soundly.

 

 

A Camp for Every Budget (from CampParents.org)

 

With a little research, you can find ways you may not have thought of to make camp affordable. Not only can you look for camps within your price range, you may reduce certain costs by asking some key questions.

 

You can research camps according to cost. At ACA's family-dedicated Web site, www.CampParents.org, you can use the Find-A-Camp database to search for camps within your price range... Although fees to attend camp vary, you may be surprised to learn that among ACA-Accredited® camps, fees can be as low as less than $100 per week for day camps. Among resident camps, one out of every four camps has weekly fees between $100 and $300. If you're looking to estimate costs, it's helpful to know that the median weekly fee for day camps is $182, and for resident camps, the median is $390 per week.

Ask the camps you're interested in what financial assistance is available. Ninety percent of camps offer some sort of financial assistance to families, usually in the form of "camperships." Camperships can cover a portion or all of the camp enrollment fees. The camp may not offer this option up front, so parents do need to ask if assistance is available. Although camperships are usually awarded based on need, do not automatically assume that your income level doesn't qualify — ask the question! For this kind of assistance, be aware that it is important to apply early.

Check to see if the camp offers special discounts. Camps offer discounts for situations such as early registration, full-season enrollment, or multiple enrollments from one family. This is another case of making sure you ask the question. You may find you're entitled to a reduced rate!

Be sure to find out the camp's refund policy. Refund policies vary greatly from camp to camp. Some will give a total refund prior to a certain date, while others will refund in the case of illness only. Other camps do not offer refunds, so be certain of your chosen camp's policy before you enroll your child and send money. Most camps will ask for a small non-refundable deposit at the time of application, which may or may not go toward the cost of camp fees.

In planning your budget for camp, determine what's included in the enrollment fee. Day camps will typically include transportation as part of their fee. Resident camps may offer limited transportation, such as a van ride from a major local train station. Other fees to ask about are ones for special programs and trips, special equipment that is required, organization memberships, and amenities such as laundry service and the camp canteen.

Day camp can be tax-free. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows an income tax credit of dependent care expenses, which may apply to qualifying day camp expenses as well. The amount of the credit is based on your adjusted gross income and applies only to your federal taxes. Visit the IRS's Web site for more information about the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account allows parents to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses that are necessary to allow parents to work, look for work, or attend school full time while they are caring for qualified dependents. In certain circumstances, day camp expenses, including transportation by a care provider, may be considered dependent care services. See the FSA Feds Web site for more information.

With so many options to choose from, and with careful planning, a camp experience for your child is possible, no matter what your budget may be.

 

 

Math is My Friend

 

My name is Nina and I do not like math. Never have. Never will. And I'm currently being traumatized by having to relive long division with my second-grader. Of course, I'll never let her know that I get a little queasy when I see a fraction. No, I'll pretend that math is the most beloved subject of all.  I'll remind her that we need math to survive, just like food and water.  Math is good. Math is our friend.

 

Yesterday was Square Root Day.  The date was 3/3/09.  Get it?  It's been a long time since you hid that cheat-sheet in your sleeve. My daughter informed me of this all-important occasion when I picked her up from school.  And we then proceeded to practice square roots for the remainder of the drive home. Joyful. Who comes up with this stuff, and how do they get to decide it gets its own "Day?"

 

As with any celebration, Square Root Day deserves a party with a cake, which we used as an opportunity to practice counting - as in, count how many slices of cake mommy ate.

 

If you missed yesterday's Square Root Day, I'm sorry to tell you that you don't get another chance until 4/4/16.  Because, you know, the square root of 16 is...oh, nevermind.

 

I'll be counting the days.

 

 

Looking for other ways to bring math into your kid's daily life?  Check out some of my favorite math skills websites for kids:

 

www.edhelper.com  

 

www.beestar.org

 

www.softschools.com

 

www.abcteach.com

 

 

 

  

All BUTTONed Up

Drumroll please...introducing the new button for my blog.  Isn't that just the cutest graphic?!  OK, you're not as excited as I am, but truly, it's a GREAT thing. After spending ridiculous hours trying to do it on my own, I acknowledged that I needed assistance, called out for help, and was rescued pretty quickly.  For free.  BIG thanks to Lindsay over at www.webdesignforidiots.net (yes, the village idiot is me). She designed several versions of my graphic, and revised them until I was satisfied.  

Funny thing about asking for help - you can usually get it. Such a novel concept for yours truly, the perpetual over-achiever, do-it-yourselfer. But, lately I have been awed by the folks out in the blogging world, who have assisted me without knowing me (and knowing whether I'm even worthy).  Lindsay actually thinks the complicated world of the web is a thrill. Hey, whatever floats your boat.  I prefer chocolate and reality tv.  

Feeling a little idiot-ish yourself? Check out www.webdesignforidiots.net.

 

 

Shake that Baby Booty

You will not hear the Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, Veggie Tales, Barney or any other whiny, goofy kids' music in my car. Ever. I can say that with conviction because my oldest is seven, and her cd's have never been in rotation in my stereo. Those of you who frequently play your kids' music in the car, I congratulate you on having a level of tolerance that I do not possess. If your child ever carpools with me, know that they will be listening to Prince, Kanye West, or Beyonce. At least I promise to play the radio edit versions. 

At home is a different story. Turn the Wiggles up to full volume and my head will not explode, at least for the first fifteen...make that ten, minutes.  When I'm not confined in a moving vehicle, I have more tolerance for high-pitches and loony lyrics.  And it's even better when we can listen and groove to a kid's song that is NOT popular, that we haven't heard 100 times (those tend to get stuck in my head at the most inconvenient times). 

That's why I was excited to discover Jitterbug, music for hip kids. This super cool website features videos of great independent music for kids.  There are a variety of categories to choose from, including kindie music, cool classics, animal fun, tv favorites, movie music, and hits from other lands, all performed by a slew of creative artists. Take a break from the ordinary and enjoy some beats with a different twist.  Although you may decide to skip the Chris Brown and Elmo duet, at least for now (umm, no further comment).

www.jitterbug.tv

Giveaway! Party Over Here!

       

I LOVE to plan my daughter's parties. No, really, any special occasion just gives me an excuse to run wild with a party theme - end of school, back to school, first day of summer, last day of winter.  I get to be as creative and over-the-top as my brain, and Grandma's budget, will allow.  And since it's for my child and not myself, I don't have to deal with that overwhelming fear that nobody will come (we've all had THAT phobia), or they won't have fun (great thing about kids, they have fun doing almost anything). They come. They enjoy. And that's a good thing, since I usually start planning for her birthday party five months in advance, with special gift invites mailed in a box, elaborate catered food, 3-dimensional cakes, even games and prizes for the adults. See what I mean. Go on, roll your eyes, I'll wait... I have about 20 file folders for party planning, on everything from personalized favors (love photo cookies!) to entertainers (who doesn't want a picture drawn by a caricature artist?). It's a sickness that I derive pleasure from. That is, until the day of the event arrives, and I'm exhausted, asking myself once again why I decided to throw the party in the first place.

 

Most moms have the good sense to get a little help with their party planning.  Chic Party Plans is a classy website that has all the party planning details you need to be the talk of your social circle. With several fun themes ranging from romance, to wine tasting, to baby's first birthday, Chic Party Plans has kits that you easily download, with invite templates, menus, activities, party favor ideas, resource links and more.  The kits' prices are very reasonable. And just in time for this weekend's awards, there's an Oscar Viewing Party kit that you can download for FREE!  Check out their useful party planning tools to help you organize your next soiree.

I'll be waiting for my invite to your party in the mail. 

 

WIN A PARTY PLAN OF YOUR CHOICE!

Chic Party Plans is giving away a free party plan to one lucky reader!  Visit their website at www.Chicpartyplans.com and take a look at all the fun party kits they offer. Send me an email at  PlaygroundMail@aol.com  by Friday, February 27th, 11:59pm (PST).  Put ChicPartyPlans in the subject, and tell me what your favorite kit is from their website.  One winner will be drawn at random. Winner will be notified via email, and will be announced here.  Good luck!

 

For more entries, you can:

1. Subscribe to my blog (located on the right side of this page). After you've subscribed, let me know. Be the first to find out about fantastic giveaways and parenting info!
2. Blog about this Giveaway and link back to Playground for Parents.  Let me know the address so I can find it.
3. Email friends about this Giveaway and cc me: PlaygroundMail@aol.com

 

Congratulations to the lucky winner chosen by Random.org: snmlammas, who wrote, "I think my favorite kit would be the Crime Mystery!  What a great find!!!"  Enjoy your prize, and have a great party! 
   

Thank you to Velma B. for turning me on to Chic Party Plans!

 

It's Cool to Share

  

I've quickly discovered that one of the most magical outcomes of blogging is meeting other fantastic bloggers.  Moms who share my interest in reaching out to parents far and wide, to enlighten, to inspire, and sometimes just to entertain.  One such mommy blogger contacted me tonight, and I'm delighted to pass along her site, Acme Sharing.  What she has to share is particularly relevant as our nation commits to change, and we take active steps in involving our children in the process.  Check out the blog to find meaningful family activities, and cause-based kid adventures. Fun, simple, and charitable.  Our president has made it hip to do community service.  Acme Sharing has made it easy.  Sorry folks, no more excuses.   

Puppy Love

A friend of mine recently purchased a puppy for her family, and she's the last person I would have expected to get a dog.  Like many of us, she's a working mom juggling endless responsibilities and commitments. A new puppy demands everything that we must already do for our children:  brushing hair, vaccinations, scheduled feedings, cleaning up pee, disciplining, training on a leash (ok, not so much).  It's hard to imagine extending oneself even further to provide another little critter the attention it deserves. However, also like most of us, my friend wants to give her daughters countless childhood experiences and lasting memories. The dream of the white picket fence may not be in vogue (at least not in trendy Southern California), but remaining strong is the image of the lovable family dog, jumping on your kid when she arrives home from school, and waiting for her discarded food under the dining table.

 

So, for all of you suckers compassionate new doggy owners (and a few of the old, frustrated owners too), here's a wonderful resource to help your children care for THEIR dog:  Love Your Dog is a free website created just for kids, to engage them in the process of caring for and training their pup.  Games and fun pages, riddles and quizzes, a dog lover's book club, "Love My Dog Contract" (good idea. Consider having it notarized) and great information for kids on how to help your dog prepare for when you go back to school. Useful stuff. At least until the novelty wears off. Then, of course, it will become YOUR dog to feed, walk, and train. Don't fight it, mom, it's the way it's been for centuries.

 

My kid asked me for a dog or a baby sister. I gave her the latter (hey, I do what it takes to give her what she wants, because that's just the kind of mom that I am). At least a dog comes with a training manual. And that's a good thing, because eventually she'll get the dog too. 

 

Enjoy that new bundle of puppy love and energy. And, whatever you do, please keep your dog from humping my leg when I come over to visit.

 

 

This post is dedicated to Tammy and her girls, the proud new owners of "Sweet Tea," the dog.

One Brown Girl

Say it loud, I'm a girl and I'm proud!  When I stumble upon a message that embraces diversity, equality and empowerment among girls, I just want to wrap it tightly around my daughters and let it seep into every pore.  One Brown Girl is an amazing website committed to uplifting brown girls around the world.  From products, to contests and events, to real life stories, One Brown Girl strives to promote strong self-image. Excerpt from their site:

Just look around. We're everywhere. We're even in the White House...

Our skin comes in every shade: From cocoa to tan to honey to onyx to olive to cinnamon and back again.

Our eyes are shaped like almonds and coconuts and mimic the colors of maple syrup, tanzanite and the deep blue sea.

Our hair is Black, Brown, Blonde, Red, & sometimes even Pink; Short, Long, & In Between as well as Coarse, Curly, Wavy, & Bone straight.

We are every age and speak every language.

No matter where we live, work or play, what we eat, or how we worship and celebrate life, we all share a universal human experience.

We are all One Brown Girl.

But please, don't get it twisted. At the end of the day, it isn't about how brown your skin is or isn't. It's about cultural identity and pride and feeling good about the skin you're in!

From this brown girl, to all of my readers - Enjoy!