(ARA) – To say that money matters have been getting a lot of attention as of late is an understatement. It’s hard to turn on the television, read a newspaper or surf the Web without the topic coming up in one form or another. While many of us have grown used to the constant chatter, it might not be the case for children.

Given the economic crisis, now, more than ever, it’s important to teach the children in your life about the basics of money management. And to take it a step further.

Kids today learn about money the same way most adults did — by watching and listening to those closest to them. While getting a weekly or monthly allowance and saving for the “must-have” toy are certainly important life lessons, there is another element that is much easier for adults to overlook. Sharing and giving back.

“Saving, spending, and sharing can be the cornerstones of a financial education foundation that can last a lifetime for kids, “ says Laura Dierke, financial education program manager with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a faith-based financial services organization. “Most of us have a pretty good handle on how to teach the basics of saving and spending. But lessons on sharing aren’t always as easy.”

Hundreds of parents had the opportunity to take a first step in teaching this lesson during the first-ever national Teach Your Kids to Share Day, which took place April 24 during Financial Literacy Month. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans established the event to bring parents and kids together to learn about spending, saving and sharing not only their money, but also their time and talents. Cities across the United States hosted a Teach Your Kids to Share Day event filled with fun and interactive workshops.

Spending, saving and sharing may be simple concepts, but making intentional decisions about these three S’s is an important part about helping children develop healthy money habits.

Here are three ways you can use to start the lesson at home:
* Discuss with your child how you spend, save and share your money. For example: explain how you spend money on groceries and the home; how you save money by depositing money in the bank; and how you share money by supporting your place of worship or a charitable cause.

* Ask your child to write down how they want to spend their money, what they want to save their money for and how they want to share.

* Work together on establishing a guideline on how they’ll manage their money. For example — if you set “share 10 percent, save 10 percent and spend 80 percent” as a guideline, the next time your child gets $20 as a birthday gift, the child should divide the money to meet the guideline.

Most importantly, make sharing an ongoing conversation. Talking with your child is one of the best ways to build a financial foundation for the whole family.

Amidst today’s turbulence is a silver lining. While many of us re-evaluate our attitudes toward our financial choices, we have an opportunity to take a step back to make sure we are passing on important lessons beyond dollars and cents to the next generation.

To learn more about financial education go to www.thrivent.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: kids and finances, sharing, Teach Your Kids to Share Day, teaching children about money, teaching kids about giving, teaching kids about saving, teaching kids to share

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(ARA) – Playdates have taken off in America, and it is no wonder. In this economy, where else can you find an inexpensive activity that is fun for both children and moms? Not only do playdates help youngsters learn socialization and cooperation skills, but they also allow moms to mingle and share advice.

Participating in playdates (or “playgroups”) is a great way to spend the afternoon, until one of your guests sneezes … and then sneezes again. If it turns out that a member of your playdate is severely allergic to the family cat, your afternoon plans could be ruined.

On any given day in America, 10,000 children miss school because of allergies, according to one study referenced on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s Web site, www.AAAAI.org. Their site also mentions that up to 40 percent of American children are believed to suffer from nasal allergies, and millions more have food and skin allergies.

Yet in a recent national survey conducted by Ipsos and The Clorox Company, just three percent of the parents polled said they are most concerned about exposure to indoor allergens during playdates.

“Playdates nurture a sense of community among children and parents,” says Jeff Van Lom, co-founder and CEO of Playgroups USA, a national organization that helps parents form playgroups for their children. “Kids get to be kids and enjoy playing together while parents can share advice, experiences and support. But an allergic reaction can take all the fun out of a playdate.”

Nearly half of parents reported their children have experienced indoor allergy symptoms in the past year, according to the survey. Because playdates often occur indoors, they can be tough for children who are allergic to indoor allergens such as dust mite matter and pet dander. Whether you’re hosting the playdate or your child is a guest, it pays to prepare with some allergy precautions.

A new free, downloadable guide on www.PlaygroupsUSA.com, called the “Guide to the ABCs of Playdates and Allergies,” helps parents prepare homes for playdates — especially when guests have allergies. The guide, created through a partnership between Playgroups USA and The Clorox Company, provides information on common allergens, statistics on allergies among children, and tips for minimizing allergy triggers during playdates.

Prepping for the Playdate

Everyone knows how tough it is to be a parent in general, much less also be in charge of hosting a playdate with other children — especially children with allergies. This guide outlines simple steps that you can take to help make life easier as the playdate host.

For example, prior to the playdate, follow these easy steps to help reduce common indoor allergens like dust mite matter and pet dander:

* To help make indoor allergen management easier, spray upholstered furniture and other fabrics with a product such as Clorox Anywhere Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray to reduce up to 90 percent of common indoor allergens such as dust mite matter and pet dander. This spray is also fragrance-free and dye-free, so it is safe to use around pets and won’t bother kids with sensitive skin.

* Wash fabric toys and blankets with an anti-allergen bleach like Clorox Plus Anti-Allergen Bleach that removes 99 percent of household allergens. The bleach denatures common household allergens — such as mold, dust mite matter and pet dander — that can hide in fabric fibers or on hard surfaces.

* It is also a good idea to vacuum and dust the room where you plan to host your playdate. Also try to keep your pets out of the house for the day. As all moms know, there are not enough hours in the day, so just focus on where you plan to spend time with your guests. The rest of the house can wait.

* Find out from other parents if their children have food allergies, and plan menu choices accordingly. If their child has a food allergy, they will be very impressed — and thankful — that you asked. Invite parents to join in and, if it raises their comfort level, supply their own snacks for their food-allergic child.

The “Guide to the ABCs of Playdates and Allergies” offers more easy-to-follow advice on how to keep allergies from being a playdate problem and is available for free download at www.PlaygroupsUSA.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: allergens, allergic, allergies, playdates

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Mother of 10 Shares Her Budget-stretching Secrets

Schedule your family’s dinners just as you would your kids’ after school activities.

(ARA) – Think it’s tough managing your grocery budget and making the most of family mealtime? Meet Kathryn Sansone, a St. Louis mother of 10 who, along with her husband, puts dinner on the table six nights a week. If anyone knows the value of stretching the dinner table dollar, it’s the woman who sets a table for 12 almost every night of the week.

“Cooking for my family is not just about feeding them — it’s another way my husband and I express love to our kids,” says Sansone. “We’ve always used our dinners as a special time for being together each day. The same is true even in today’s economy; we just have to get a little more creative.”

While most families don’t have a table full of 10 Sansone children, ages 3 to 20, they are still faced with the same challenge at dinnertime: finding something that everyone likes while not breaking the bank. Sansone says that her recipe for success isn’t really all that complicated.

“Everywhere you look, Americans are seeking value,” says Sansone. “As we dine out less and watch our pennies more, we’re becoming bargain shoppers who want our dollars to go as far as possible. But even in this new ‘food economy,’ it’s important that people understand they do not need to compromise on taste, quality or convenience when living on a budget.”

Sansone’s tips include:

* Plan Ahead — Between the soccer practices and piano lessons, dinner is often an afterthought. Instead, schedule your family’s dinners just as you would your kids’ after school activities. You’ll save money by making just one trip to the grocery or club store, and when you go, try buying in bulk and take advantage of the many coupons available. Even at the regular supermarket, buy in larger quantities, like when there is a 10 for $10 sale on Rice-A-Roni or Pasta-Roni.

* Turn Sides Upside Down — Typical side dishes, such as rice and pasta, are ideal for stretching your grocery budget because you can quickly turn them into main courses. Use holiday leftovers such as chicken or turkey and combine with a pre-packaged dish and add leftover veggies. You’ll end up with a nice, well-rounded meal for a family of five that costs about an additional 64 cents per serving.

Here’s one of the Sansone family’s favorites using leftover turkey to make a delicious Wild Rice Risotto:

Turkey and Wild Rice Risotto

Ingredients:

1 package (4.3 ounces) Rice-A-Roni Long Grain & Wild Rice
3/4 pound ground turkey
1 2/3 cup water
1 tablespoon margarine, butter or spread with no trans fat
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups fresh mushroom slices
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

Preparation Steps:

1. In large skillet, brown ground turkey until thoroughly cooked; drain. In same skillet, combine 1 2/3 cups water, 1 Tbsp. margarine, rice mix, seasonings and turkey. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low.

2. Cover; simmer 20 minutes. Stir in soup, mushrooms, celery and bell pepper; return to a simmer. Cover; simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Let stand 3 minutes. Stir before serving.

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Time to Table: 40 Minutes
Recipe Yield: 6 people

Rely on a good source — Finding fun and unique dishes to prepare doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Sansone notes that a favorite Chipotle Rice and Chicken Chili recipe actually came from the Rice-A-Roni Web site. She often visits sites such as www.ricearoni.com to see what other meats and veggies can be combined to create a variety of dishes as well as find exclusive coupons.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tags: budget, budgeting, cooking on a budget, recipes, Turkey and Wild Rice Risotto

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It is crucial to understand the difference between food allergy and food intolerance when it comes to toddler food allergy. Most allergies are just the body interpreting a harmless food as being harmful and thus causing a major reaction.

While food intolerance is the body’s lack of say enzymes that are needed to digest certain foods such as in lactose intolerance. If you feel that you are unsure about toddler food allergy then it is always advised that you speak to your family doctor or nurse.

Often the symptoms of toddler food allergy are rashes and bloating and redness. This can sometimes be uncomfortable for you and your toddler. It is understandable that every parent might be worried about toddler food allergy just calm yourself with the knowledge that it can be treated.

Food Hygiene Can Help Prevent Toddler Food Allergy

The best way to try and help prevent some of these toddler food allergies is to ensure that your toddlers hands are washed as well as ensuring that you wash your hands at all times during meal preparation.

Sometimes it is understandable that parents do lead very busy lives and convenience food such as already prepared vegetables can help cut some of the time. These are best served to your toddler steamed as this will help kill any bacteria that might be lurking.

Toddler food allergy seems to be very uncommon so there is no need for you to have some sleepless nights wondering if your toddler has a food allergy. It can sometimes mean that your toddler has just had too much to eat or they might have been allergic to something else.

If you commonly use toddler food recipes then it will be easier for you to know what you feed your toddler and in that it will help you when your toddler does suffer a food allergy.

The key is not to panic in a situation when you find that your toddler might have an allergic reaction to something. Simply take them to the doctors and if the doctor cannot find what is causing the allergic reaction then they will recommend you to a specialist.

There is always a solution to toddler food allergy and your concerns are not being rubbished. You might even find that it was a mild reaction caused by a combination of food. If your toddler does have a food allergy this does not mean that you should cut out certain foods. A nutritionist can help you understand what is causing the allergy reaction and what substitute food you can use instead.

Tags: Toddler Food Allergy, Toddler Food Recipes

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Infancy could be regarded as the earliest stage in the child’s life, basically, between the birth and the toddler-period, so largely in the first year of the child’s life. Highly important changes occur around the time the child is 12 months old, which age by and large also marks the turning point in the development from an infant to a toddler, physically, mentally and emotionally as well.

Physical development

Well, definitely the most apparent change is that the toddler can already walk, or toddle, though still quite slowly and often only with help. The infant is able to lift his head, and chest, reach for certain smaller objects, roll from back to stomach and stomach to back, sit and keep his head erect and crawl as the first 12 months go by. However from around the age of 12 months, the development from infant to toddler will occur, the child will be able to walk and then in later stages, to run, jump and achieve total physical control and comfort.

Mental Development

The most obvious and characteristic development from infancy to the toddler-phase occurs perhaps when the child is able to use meaningful words to express his needs or feelings. The infant is not yet capable of using language, he will explore the world intellectually more and more in the first months of his life, shake, and touch objects pay attention to certain shapes and sounds, recognize familiar faces, even babble, imitating human talk. However, by saying the first word, and the subsequent simple words, like ball for example, the toddler’s language development will begin. A toddler will generally be able to follow simple commands and to express himself more and more effectively with the help of language, while the infant is not yet capable of such intellectual skills.

Emotional Development

The emotional development from an infant to a toddler is marked by the development of selfhood and social skills. While an infant will completely depend on the mother and will not really have a true sense of his own separate self, and distinguish between some other people, a toddler starts exploring himself and the world around him. This will result in tantrums, emotional outbursts, crying, which do not express simple needs any more, as in infancy. Eventually, the toddler will most probably be able to establish his personal selfhood, will be able to refer to himself and recognize others, and will start participating in social interactions with other toddlers for example, though only to a limited extent yet. The difference between the development of the infant and the toddler is that the toddler is already able to understand and imitate the behavior of those surrounding him, while the infant is not yet able to understand these, and does not yet have an established selfhood.

Tags: Infant Toddler Development

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As the weather gets warmer and the spring and summer months settle in, many toddlers cannot wait to get outside and play. Playing outside provides toddlers with many opportunities for fresh air, exercise, and the development of motor skills. There are many outdoor toys for toddlers available that they can enjoy while playing outside.

Choosing The Right Outdoor Toys for Toddlers

When you are shopping for outdoor toys for toddlers, one of the first things you will realize is all of the outdoor toys that are available. There are many sporting toys, toddler riding toys, water toys, and much more. Deciding which toys would be best for your toddler can be difficult. However, you must always remember the age of your toddler will determine which toys would be more appropriate and which ones would not be appropriate. You do not want to buy toys that are too advanced, too big, or difficult to understand. Always check the age level on the box or packaging before purchasing the outdoor toys for toddlers.

Popular Outdoor Toys For Toddlers That Never Go Out Of Style

There are many outdoor toys for toddlers that never go out of styles. These are toys that toddlers throughout the generations have played with and enjoyed.  A few of these toys include swimming pools, sand boxes, badminton, horseshoes, baseball, volleyball, and bicycles. These are toys that toddlers love and they are also outdoor toys for toddlers that teach motor skills and provide the toddlers hours of fun exercises.

There are some outdoor toys for toddlers on the market that you will want to avoid. These toys are ones that contain small parts that could easily be ingested by the toddler.  Any toy that requires a battery and has a battery compartment that is not secured by screws should also be avoided because the toddler could easily open the battery case and put the battery in his mouth. Toys with sharp edges or toys that promote violence in any way should also be avoided.

Time Your Toddler’s Outting

When you toddler is playing outside, make sure you do not take your eye off of him. In addition, you may also want to limit the amount of time he plays outside. Most toddlers can play outside comfortably for about 30 minutes to an hour at a time. Never keep the toddler out in the sun too long and always use an SPF suntan lotion on your toddler while he is outside in the sun.

In conclusion, toddlers love to play outside. There are many fun and exciting things to play with and explore in the big world outside of the home. Make sure you always provide your toddler with plenty of outdoor toys for toddlers so that he will get the most out of playing outside.

Tags: Outdoor Toys For Toddlers, Toddler Riding Toy

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Development and education are a very big part of a toddler’s life. Everyday they are presented with many new and exciting opportunities for learning new things. This is why your child should be provided with a variety of toddler educational toys. There are many educational toddler toys on the market today that can provide every toddler with hours of educational fun and exciting. It has been proven that children who were exposed to toddler educational toys were more ready for Kindergarten and had high rates of success throughout their school years.

Preschools have been using toddler educational toys for many years. Most preschools are well equipped with toys and game that teach numbers, colors, shapes, alphabet, and even Spanish. As a result, children who attended preschool experienced a high rate of success in Kindergarten than those students who did not attend preschool. However, it is not necessary to send your toddler to preschool. You can educate them at home with some of the coolest and most inexpensive toddler educational toys.

Educational Benefits Of Educational Toddler Toys

When choosing a toddler toy, you also need to consider the educational benefits of the toy. Educational toddler toys are among the best toys for toddlers because of the benefits they provide. There are many toddler educational toys for sale on the market today such as video games, large floor puzzles, and toys that teach colors, number, alphabet, and shapes. Your child is never too young to start learning and if you provide him with many educational toddler toys, you are actually setting him up to learn skills that will be needed in Kindergarten and for the rest of his life.

Types of Toddler Educational Toys

There are many types of toddler toys available on the market today. Video games that connect right into the television or that are handheld are among the most popular toddler educational toys today. These video games uses characters such as Scooby Doo or Sponge Bob to teach toddlers the alphabet and the letter sounds, numbers, colors, shapes, and more. They also help develop excellent hand and eye coordination. Other popular toddler educational toys include large floor puzzles, talking stuffed animals, musical instruments, and board games. There are many educational toys available that will keep your toddler entertained for hours and you will be amazed at how smart your child becomes by constantly playing with these toddler educational toys. Buying toddler toys with an educational benefit is one of the best things you can do to help your toddler’s development.

Tags: Best Toys For Toddlers, Toddler Educational Toy

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If you are a teacher of kindergarten to the first grade, you are going to be dealing with toddlers. Of course you need to make sure that you are providing them with the right information, information that they are going to need to strive mentally and to become educated as they should.

One of the most important steps then is to come up with proper toddler lesson plans, and there are a few different ways to go about this. One of the best ways to find toddler lesson plans is to use the Internet. With the Internet you are able to browse through literally hundreds of different toddler lesson plans in a matter of minutes and find the toddler lesson plans that are going to be best.

Skill Level

One of the most important things to take into consideration when you are trying to choose from all of these lesson plans is what skill level your children are at. You should have a good idea of the different toddlers in your class and of what skill levels they are all at, and then you want to make sure that you are choosing lesson plans that are going to be simple enough for them to be able to complete and yet still challenging.

Remember that toddlers are just starting to learn everything and so it is all new to them and they really need encouragement and assistance. Regardless of the particular toddler lesson plans that you opt for, you are going to want to make sure that you work with them and help them out whenever they need it.

A good idea when it comes to toddler lesson plans is to reward the children with something once they hit a certain point of progress. For instance maybe you are teaching them how to learn their numbers, and once they have shown you that they have improved you can reward them with a toddler toy.

The most important thing is that you stay positive and that you offer them the encouragement and support that they need. Toddlers are really at the prime of their life in terms of learning because they are really like a sponge at this point and are going to suck in all of the information that you are offering them. You want to make sure that they are having fun and enjoying themselves, but still that they are learning and receiving the education that they need at this crucial point in their life.

Tags: Toddler Lesson Plans, Toddler Toy

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Whether you play toddler crafts or read toddler books online, it is important that you realize both the pros and cons of online toddler games and what they have to offer your child.

Pros

One of the biggest advantages of online toddler games is that they are easy to play and often free. There are a number of different websites that offer free online toddler games which you can either download and play or play immediately.

These games are fun and interactive for your child and you also get a lot more variety and versatility because you can easily switch from one game to another without having to put everything away from the first game and set another one up.

Another of the best advantages of playing these online games is that it will help your child to learn computer skills. This is important because technology is certainly not going anywhere and these computer skills are going to be required as they move up in school so getting it over with earlier on is a great idea and will really help them out.

Cons

However there are also a few downfalls to the online toddler games. For one, although these games are definitely interactive for your child at the same time they are not as realistic and one-on-one as your basic games.

You also want to make sure that your child is not spending too much time on your computer even if you are sitting there with them. Although spending a bit of time here and there playing online toddler games is fine and yet at the same time you want to make sure that you are getting them outdoors, helping them socialize with other children and getting them out there.

In the day and age that we live in today, everything is technology-based and although this has become the norm for us, we still want to make sure that we offer our children as much as possible and this means just allowing them to be a kid and get out and do the normal things that we got to do when we were children.

Remember that you don’t just have to play games that are popular and well known, and you can actually even come up with your own creative games. Find out what your child likes to do, what interests them, and always focus on areas that they are not as strong in so you can help them to improve.

Tags: Online Toddler Games, Toddler Crafts

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Anyone who has toddlers of their own understands how important it is to have educating and enjoyable toddler activities for their children to do so that they can learn what they need to and make the most of their childhood at the same time. When you have to come up with a toddler game there are a few toddler activities in particular that you are going to want to know more about.

Ideas

There are some terrific toddler activities that you can come up with, but a few that are sure to please. Of course learning their ABC’s is one of the most important things for a toddler to do and so an alphabet game is always important.

Playing with a piggybank is a simple and yet very enjoyable game for a toddler and all you need to do is use a container with a lid. Make sure the container is empty and then you want to cut a slit in the lid that is large enough for the toddler to push money through. Of course if you are using real money you want to make sure that you are standing by, to ensure the toddler does not put the money in their mouth.

They will really enjoy the feeling of being grown up and of the noises that the money makes when it is dropped into the bank.

Another great idea for toddler activities involves improving their hand motor functions. One of the best ways to do is to paint. Whether you do finger painting or use brushes, make sure that you use washable paint so that the child’s hands will not be stained with paint and so you know that if they do accidentally get a bit in their mouth or eyes that it will not be dangerous.

Another of the most popular toddler activities is swimming. They just love the feeling of floating in the water and it is a great way to get them active. You should teach your children how to swim when they are toddlers because then they will be learning from an early age and will know water safety. It is always great to teach toddlers as much as possible because this is the stage in their life when they are going to learn the most, and not many people realize this.

There are so many different games and activities that you can play with your child and you should always mix it up so they will continue to expand and learn.

Tags: Toddler Activities, Toddler Game

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