Family & Parenting » Family Togetherness

Fun ways to create lasting family traditions

Jennifer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:15:12 +0000

(ARA) – Whether you’re a family of two or 10, there is no time like the present to create lasting family traditions. Like families, traditions come in many forms — from cooking to storytelling — and making new memories is easy and fun. Here are a variety of creative ways to get started.

Gather for a family baking day
Help ensure your tried and true family recipes continue on for generations with a family baking day. Have everyone meet in a central location and bring their favorite recipe and the ingredients to make it. Everyone will have the chance to learn about cherished recipes and leave with a goodie bag of treats.

Plan a family reunion
Annually, or every few years, gather relatives far and wide for an enjoyable time to reminisce, share photos, cook and eat together. Use the time to share favorite family stories and swap recipes. Make sure to take a group photo and share it with the participants and those who couldn’t be there.

Get tech-savvy
Get everyone involved in building and contributing to a family Web page or blog that highlights recent get-togethers, news, photos and favorite recipes. Online sites provide a great way to connect and keep long-distance relatives up-to-date and involved year round.

Host international family dinners
Pick one night a week to take the family on a culinary journey to another part of the world. From France to Italy to Greece to Thailand, there are countless meal options waiting to be explored. Experience more of the culture by learning some phrases associated with the meal, play authentic music and include some decorations. Bon appetit.

Make movie magic
Host monthly movie nights as a way for family to catch up and experience old classics and the latest blockbusters together. Include an ice cream sundae bar and movie snacks and schedule intermissions to talk about the movie and characters.

The J.M. Smucker Company believes in bringing families together to share memorable meals and moments, and wants to hear about your family recipes and traditions. Visit Smuckers.com to enter the “Spreading Smucker’s Traditions” contest and share your family-favorite recipes and memories. Until Oct. 12, you can enter a family recipe that has been handed down for at least two generations for a chance to win a five-day, four-night family trip for eight to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 states and Washington D.C., 18 years of age and older and is void where prohibited. See Web site for official rules and complete details.

Last year’s winning recipe, Nana’s Apple Butter Cake has been passed down for three generations.

Nana’s Apple Butter Cake

Ingredients:

Cake:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup water
3 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup Smucker’s Apple Butter
2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced into about 16 wedges
1 teaspoon cinnamon combined with 1/4 cup sugar

Streusel topping:
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup baking mix
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, softened
Powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine cake mix, water, eggs, oil and apple butter. Beat at low speed for one minute, to blend ingredients, and two minutes at high speed. Pour mix into greased/floured 9- by 13-inch pan.

Slice apples into a bowl and add cinnamon/sugar mixture, mixing until apples are well coated. Place apple slices (round side out/core side in) in the batter until just the top shows, in two rows of eight, the length of the pan.

Make streusel topping by combining brown sugar, baking mix, cinnamon and butter. Cut butter into mixture with pastry blender until crumbly.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle streusel topping over cake and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

For more recipes and to enter the “Spreading Smucker’s Traditions” contest, visit www.Smuckers.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Classroom fun for little ones at home

Jennifer — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:42:39 +0000

(ARA) – As your older children board the bus to go back to school, it can be difficult for the younger ones. They’re not only losing a play companion, but may feel they’re missing out on an exciting new world. But never fear, there are plenty of ways you can bring the wonderment of the classroom into your house so your younger children won’t feel left behind.

* Create the right atmosphere.
By having a desk, craft items and maybe even a backpack of his own, your child can easily imagine he’s in a classroom setting. Plus, as younger children age, you can reuse the space by transforming the school-play area into a homework and study zone.

* Find toys that offer “teachable moments.”
There are many toys you can purchase that help develop math skills, creativity and body coordination as part of the fun. For example, take the TRIO building set of bricks, sticks and panels from Fisher-Price. Building sets improve hand-eye coordination, help children develop spatial relationships, determine shapes and classifications, and encourage creativity.

“You will often see toddlers enjoying the process of stacking things up; as they get a little older, they move outward, building bridges and walling things in. As children get close to 5 years, they use more complex patterns with greater symmetry, creating more representational structures like a building, tree or animal,” says Cynthia Lynn-Garbe, a senior child researcher at Fisher-Price. “The bricks, sticks and panels of the TRIO building system let children experiment with how things fit together, then advance to creating more complex structures.”

And would you guess that building sets not only encourage creativity and fine motor skill development but also encourage language skills? Lynn-Garbe suggests having your child build something without telling you what it is. You can then ask about the creation, what it’s used for and who lives there, making guesses as you continue to encourage your child to use her imagination as she tells a story about what she built. “Building can offer family fun as well as touch on some really important skill development that may just spark that engineer or architect of the future,” Lynn-Garbe says.

* Turn household chores into a learning opportunity.
Having children help with household chores not only teaches them responsibility, but it also gives you an excellent chance to be a teacher. For example, if you’re doing laundry, have your child help you sort the clothes by color. Sure, it will take longer, but your child will soon be able to recognize different colors and understand the concepts of sorting and organizing. Or if you’re cooking, let your child help measure so they can grasp simple fractions – without even knowing it.

* Play with music.
There are lots of creative ways you can introduce your child to the world of music. For example, play music on the TV or stereo and let children keep the rhythm while dancing around, playing a toy drum or clapping their hands. You can even help your child make colorful streamer ribbons to dance with, adding more fun to the activity. As they get older, introduce your child to reading music and playing a small keyboard or other easy instruments.

By having their own school at home, your younger children will not only have fun, but be better prepared when it’s their turn to get on the bus in the morning.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Temperatures Rising? Take Dinner Outdoors

Jennifer — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:41:37 +0000

By keeping summer menus simple and light, you can enjoy the natural flavors of food just as they are.

(ARA) – Hot dogs, hamburgers and pork ribs aren’t the healthiest eats in the bunch, especially if getting fit for the summertime is a priority. You won’t have to compromise these good ol’ grilling favorites at your next barbecue if lighter substitutions are made elsewhere.

“Incorporating healthy, flavorful side dishes is key when you’re serving copious amounts of barbecued meat,” says Chef Steven M. Simpson, Culinary Director at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Michigan. “What I like to do is take an old favorite like coleslaw that’s typically drenched in a mayonnaise dressing and modify it to create a light, refreshing alternative.” For example, Simpson makes an Asian-inspired coleslaw with several kinds of Chinese cabbages, oranges, carrots and red onion with a light dressing of orange juice, ginger and a dash of canola oil.

He also advises keeping different types of oils and vinegars on tap to make vinaigrettes, which serve as a good substitute for the heavier cream and mayonnaise dressings typically found in pasta and potato salads.

Another tip is to experiment with salad greens. “You can liven up a humdrum salad by switching out your standard iceberg or romaine lettuce with chicory, dandelion greens, Belgian endive, Bibb lettuce, watercress or arugula,” Simpson says. “Not only are these darker greens more flavorful, but they also tend to be much higher in vitamins and minerals.”

An advocate for homegrown foods and spices, Simpson utilizes herbs and various vegetables like lettuce, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and chili peppers from his own backyard. “When planting a garden, choose foods that you eat frequently and enjoy because if all goes well, you’ll have an abundance of them.”

If gardening isn’t your cup of tea, then Simpson suggests buying produce and meats from your local farmers market, as it’s the next best thing.

Grilling fresh meats and produce isn’t just for special occasions. According to the Propane Education & Research Council, 63 percent of parents say that barbecuing or grilling outdoors is the most fun way for a family to eat dinner together during the summer months. And facilitating family bonding isn’t the only benefit. Cooking on a grill can help food retain nutritional value if cooked properly.

Simpson cooks almost everything on the grill — potatoes, summer squash, zucchini, sweet potatoes, greens, salmon and eggplant, just to name a few. “Aside from oil, salt and pepper, I don’t do too much to the foods I grill. It’s a flavorful and simple way to preserve the integrity of the organic products, whether bought or homegrown,” he says.

“The beauty of eating in the summertime is that there is so much variety to choose from. My best advice is to keep it simple, refreshing and light, and enjoy the natural flavors of the food just as they are,” he adds.

To see what else is “cooking” at The Art Institutes system of schools check out www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Asian Coleslaw

Recipe courtesy of chef Steven M. Simpson, culinary director at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Michigan

Yields 6 cups
Serving Size 3/4 cup
8 Servings

Ingredients:

2 cups Napa cabbage,shredded
2 cups bok choy, baby bok choy, Savoy or other cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded
1 carrot, julienned
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1/4 cup red onion, julienned
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
Rice vinegar (unseasoned) to taste
1/4 cup canola, sunflower or soybean oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
12-15 orange, grapefruit or tangerine segments (can substitute canned mandarin oranges)

Preparation:

1. Combine cabbages, carrot, red pepper and red onion into a large mixing bowl and toss together.
2. In a separate bowl whisk orange juice, canola and sesame oils together. This is a broken vinaigrette so it will need to be whisked immediately prior to dressing the coleslaw.
3. Add salt and pepper to dressing and taste. If you would like a more tart dressing you can add rice vinegar to adjust the acidity.
4. Combine 2/3 of the dressing with the slaw mixture. You just want to coat the cabbage; it will release some moisture as it sits. If needed, add the remaining dressing.
5. Check the seasoning again and transfer the coleslaw to the serving dish.
6. Garnish with the citrus segments and toasted sesame seeds.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

Fun and Learning with Kids in the Kitchen

Jennifer — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:16:58 +0000

Tip: Listen. While mixing ingredients, your child might just decide to open up about the school bully or that upcoming, worrisome test.

(ARA) – It’s fun, it’s messy, and it means time with an adult — no wonder most kids love to cook. Kitchen duty provides plenty of learning opportunities for kids too. Problem is, for many parents, the goal of cooking is getting something on the table, pronto. And that’s OK — whipping up a nutritious meal using a mix or livening up leftovers together can also be a fun learning experience.

Here’s how to make the most out of cooking with a pint-size helper:

* Look for the lesson. No need to get preachy, but take advantage of the learning potential. Besides kitchen safety and cooking techniques, your child can also practice reading, basic math skills (everything from number recognition to division), and how to follow directions.

* Listen. While mixing ingredients, your child might just decide to open up about the school bully or that upcoming, worrisome test. (Somehow it’s less intimidating than sitting down for a serious “talk.”)

* Encourage easy creativity by stocking up on an array of spices. Try asking your kids things like: “Want to try cardamom instead of cinnamon on those apples?” and “How about adding some zip to these leftover mashed potatoes with a little garlic powder?”

* Explore other cultures. Spice blends like Indian curry and Mexican seasoning are an easy way to introduce ethnic flair — and conversation — to dinner.

* Choose dishes that are fun to make, nutritious, and bound to succeed. Pass down family favorites or try new recipes when time permits. Or go quick and simple with convenient mixes. Frontier Natural Products Co-op offers quality, healthful bulk mixes for soups, dips, beverages like lemonade and cocoa, salsas, soy burgers, falafel and taco filling. And its Simply Organic line has meal-size quantities of everything from baking and dip mixes to gravies, pasta sauces, taco mixes, dressings and marinades.

* Take advantage of broth powders. Just add water and you’re on your way to homemade soup. Have your child toss in leftovers from the week and a few spices, and you’ve got yourselves a budget-friendly, healthful dinner.

* Sprout seeds. Show your child how to start a batch of sprouts and rinse them twice a day until they’re ready. (It’s an easier way to teach responsibility than a family pet!)

* Introduce your child to related life skills, like meal planning and nutrition, grocery shopping and budget management, table setting, and gardening. Visit the farmer’s market and the food co-op together.

* Use cooking as a springboard. “Kids can learn about important topics like organics, food miles, and ethical sourcing at an early age,” says Kathy Larson, vice president of Sustainability and Education at Frontier Natural Products Co-op. “You might explain that you purchase your produce from a local farmer who sells at the co-op, for example — or that you order your coffee, tea, spices, sprouting seeds and other cooking ingredients from a company that helps the farmers who grow their products and makes business decisions with the environment in mind.”

* If you find that your child is eager for more time in the kitchen, devote some of your weekend to baking a cake or making cookies from scratch. (That’ll give you plenty of time to talk about why cakes rise or the concept of that Fair Trade cocoa you’re using.)

Cooking side-by-side with your child means you can set the timer for quality time and make every minute count. You’ll find more tips on cooking with kids — and kid-friendly recipes — at www.frontiercoop.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Turn off the TV, turn on the oven and turn down the spending

Jennifer — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:22:11 +0000

(ARA) – With less money for the movies or a night on the town, families are nesting more at home. In fact, according to Pew Research Center, 85 percent of Americans have made personal spending cutbacks. Further, Nielsen Company reports television viewing is at an all time high, with the average American viewer spending more than 151 hours a month (almost five hours a day) in front of the tube. Don’t let the tough economy keep your family from talking and laughing together — get up, get creative and get baking cookies.

Baking cookies with the whole family is a fun and low-cost activity and you likely have most of the ingredients already on hand. From dads to toddlers, everyone loves cookies, and Americans definitely stand by their favorites. In fact, according to a recent national Land O’Lakes survey of 1,000 people, classic chocolate chip is without a doubt America’s favorite cookie, with oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookies nearly tied for second place.

Want to enjoy some delicious family time? Consider the following cookie baking activities that will stir up some good-spirited competition, making everyone a winner. For more activities, tips and recipes go to www.landolakes.com.

* Test Your Cookie IQ: Challenge the family to some cookie trivia while baking your favorite cookies together. For instance, where does the word “cookie” originate? How many cookies does an average American eat every year? Find out who’s the “Smart Cookie” or “Rookie Cookie” of the family. The one with the best score wins bragging rights.

* Family Fortunes: You don’t have to visit your favorite Chinese restaurant to get a fortune cookie. Who says you can’t make your own cookies and write your own fortunes at home? While baking cookies with your family, each member writes a fortune for another. One by one, each person reads the fortunes out loud and the remaining family members guess which fortune was written for whom. The person with the most correct answers gets more cookies.

* Cookie Exchanges, Anytime: Start a new cookie-baking tradition by throwing monthly cookie exchange parties. Each month, select and bake a cookie recipe based on a theme. Then, each person decorates a cookie for another family member and exchanges with each other. While sampling the treats, consider sharing your favorite cookie stories. And don’t forget the milk.

* Clean Up and Then Eat Up: One of the top barriers that keep people from baking at home is the hassle of cleaning up afterwards. To make cleaning up more palatable, the winner of the cookie baking game gets the first chance to select a clean-up activity (most likely the easiest chore). Another idea is to challenge the family in a timed competition to see who can finish clean-up tasks the most quickly.

* Bake America’s Favorite Cookie: Bake up some memories with the whole family with this simple, low-cost recipe for America’s favorite cookie.

Chewy Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups Land O Lakes Butter, softened
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 Land O Lakes All-Natural Farm-Fresh Eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 (12-ounce) package (2 cups) real semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chocolate chips

Instructions:
Heat oven to 375 F. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda in medium bowl; set aside.

Combine butter, sugar and brown sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Reduce speed to low. Beat, gradually adding flour mixture, until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chunks.

Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until light golden brown. (Do not over bake.) Let stand 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack.

Recipe Tip
For 2 1/2-inch cookies, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

A Little Planning Can Make for the Most Memorable Family Gatherings

Jennifer — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:22:04 +0000

Many families will be gathering this summer to share traditions and make new memories. More than seven out of 10 people agree that the best way to continue their family’s traditions is through gatherings and celebrations, according to a new survey by Kelton Research. With each passing year, however, 68 percent of Americans admit reuniting with family is becoming harder. To ensure that your family continues to build lasting memories, a little early planning goes a long way.

Whether you’re preparing for a large reunion for family members around the world, or an intimate gathering for those nearby, follow these helpful tips to ensure your next gathering creates memories that last a lifetime:

* Put together an invite and address list. Determine if you want a small gathering or want to include distant relatives. Identify one person from each family branch and begin assembling contact information for each person on your invite list.

* Gauge interest and availability. Reach out to a few relatives and get feedback on dates, locations and possible reunion theme. Keep in mind travel distance for all family members and consider extending the reunion festivities to span a few days.

* Create a budget. Determine how much money is needed for food and travel, and if other family members will share the cost.

* Find a location. Is there a place with special significance to your family or is a family member willing to open up their home?

* Plan the menu. Gather favorite family recipes and ask family members to be responsible for bringing those dishes. And, don’t forget that cooking together during the reunion can conjure fun family memories and help make new ones as well!

* Organize activities. Plan activities that will allow distant family members to get reacquainted. Download the Smucker family tree and re-discover your family’s origins.

* Arrange for seating and rainy day accommodations. If you’re hosting the reunion at a family member’s home, consider chair and table rentals, as well as a tent for outdoor activities.

* Capture the day. Identify one to two family members to serve as the official reunion photographers/videographers.

As a family-run company that has passed down time-honored recipes for the past four generations, The J.M. Smucker Company is eager to hear from families across the country about their recipes and traditions. Families are invited to visit www.Smuckers.com to enter the “Spreading Smucker’s Traditions” contest and share their family-favorite recipes and memories. Between June 16 and August 11, 2008 consumers who enter their families’ recipes that have been handed down for at least two generations will have a chance to win a five day, four night family trip for eight to the Walt Disney World Resort that includes airfare, transportation to/from the airport hotel accommodations for four nights, five-day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper option and commemorative Disney T-shirts and photos.

Log on to www.Smuckers.com to enter and find reunion planning tips, a downloadable family tree and Smucker’s jams, jellies and preserves recipes that will help them create the perfect appetizers, entrées and desserts, every time.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Hands-On Projects for the Whole Family

Jennifer — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:43:02 +0000

Many young boys and girls enjoy following their parents around the house, hoping to help with a project. It’s important for parents to encourage this interest by letting youngsters pitch in on kid-friendly projects.

“Working together on a hands-on project is one of the most rewarding activities you can engage in with young family members,” says Pat Hensiak, Dremel customer service supervisor. “You’ll create memories that will last a lifetime, and often end up with a special souvenir.” Interestingly, the Dremel company recently conducted a survey about Do-It-Yourself projects and found that a high percentage of men – 44 percent – believe that working on home improvement projects with another family member strengthens the relationship.

These projects include easy steps that kids of any age can follow when working with their parents. An experienced adult should always complete power tool work, and this time provides a good opportunity for adults to explain the proper use of power tools and shop safety to their young helpers.

* Build a wooden toy racing car. Working together to create a wooden toy racing car is a classic father/son activity, stemming from derby car racing’s early association with clubs such as the Boy Scouts of America. Nowadays, derby car racing has been adapted by many other groups, including church and community groups, and could even be turned into a family race.

Start by drawing the car on a block of pine showing the top, side, front and back views. Using a vise to hold the wood block, remove large areas of wood with a scroll saw or coping saw. Then, use a Dremel 300 Series Rotary Tool to shape, smooth and make contours to the car. Kids can jump into hand-sand the car, then paint with their favorite colors and designs. Assemble wheels and you’re ready to roll.

* Create a homemade puzzle. Let your kids pick their favorite photo – maybe one from vacation or of a family pet – and use a photo service found in most drug stores to enlarge it to the size puzzle you wish to create. A colorful magazine page or one of your kids’ own drawings will also work. Purchase or cut an 1/8- to 1/2-inch piece of wood to the same size as your image. Allow kids to hand-sand the wood until smooth, then draw an outline for puzzle pieces onto the back. Using glue, affix the image to the top of the wood piece. Follow the puzzle piece outlines drawn on the back of the wood with a scroll saw to cut the wood into the puzzle pieces.

* Make a terra cotta birdhouse. Kids love watching wildlife gather in their own back yards. Make a trip to the hardware store first to gather supplies: a clay pot 4 to 6 inches in diameter, a clay saucer large enough to cover the pot, a 3/8-inch threaded rod two inches longer than the length of the pot and saucer combined, three nuts for the 3/8-inch rod, three metal washers, three rubber washers, an extended nut, an eyebolt or threaded hook and a 1/4-inch dowel 3 inches long.

The saucer serves as the birdhouse roof. Using a rotary tool, grind a 3/8-inch hole in the center of the saucer. Make the bird’s door by grinding a 1- to 1 1/2-inch hole in the side of the pot. Beneath the door, grind a 1/4-inch hole using a tungsten carbide cutter and press a dowel into it for a perch.

Thread all components together to form the hanging house:

* Thread the nut from the top of the rod to position the pot.
* Slip the metal washer, then rubber washer, up from the bottom of the rod then slide the pot into position.
* Slide rubber washer then metal washer up under pot.
* Thread the nut up from the bottom of the rod and tighten against washers until pot is securely held.
* Repeat the same procedure for securing the saucer upside-down. Then, thread on another nut to act as a lock nut. Thread extended nut on top of rod and screw eyebolt into it as a hanger.

After hanging in a nearby tree, wait for a bird family to make the house a home.

For more family-friendly project ideas, visit www.dremel.com or call the Dremel Experts at
(800) 437-3635.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Giving Back: It’s All in the Family

Jennifer — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:09:15 +0000

With their hectic schedules, today’s busy families often find it difficult to make community service a priority. However, giving back together can be a fulfilling family activity.

Susan Crites Price, vice president of the National Center for Family Philanthropy and author of The Giving Family: Raising Our Children to Help Others, maintains that with a little time and creativity, families can make a big difference in their communities.

“Finding time to volunteer together as a family can be a rewarding experience, and easier than many think,” she says. “Every community has opportunities for its members to give back, and families that do philanthropic work together often find that it can make a long-lasting impact, not only in the community, but also on their family bonds.”

Price offers the following useful and easy tips for doing just that, no matter what’s on the schedule.

Make time to volunteer
It may sound silly, but the most important step in volunteering as a family is making time to do it. Take a look at your monthly calendar and block off the hours that are committed already to work, school, sports practices, meetings and so forth. Look at the space left and decide what amount you want to give to volunteering – two hours on Saturday afternoon, for example, or two nights once a month. If there are no blocks of time available, consider reprioritizing your commitments, deciding what can be eliminated to allow for volunteering.

Share your passion
We all have different talents and interests. Family members will be more likely to enjoy the volunteering if they can use their special gifts. Computer whiz? Teach senior citizens how to communicate with their grandchildren through the Internet. Love to sing? Entertain at a nursing home. Avid readers feel right at home helping their neighborhood librarian.

Volunteer during your family vacation
One way to carve out time is to combine volunteer work with a family vacation. For example, you may be able to link up with a church group that is rehabilitating houses in a part of the country you’d like to visit. You can contribute your time and talents where they’re needed and see the area you are visiting from a local – and personal – perspective.

Create a donating allowance
In addition to a weekly spending allowance, your family could have a weekly donating allowance – an amount to be donated to a philanthropic organization. Making a group decision to support an organization helping needy children or animals, for example, lets the whole family become engaged in causes that excite them. To take this one step further, visit the various charities together see the work firsthand. This hands-on experience could contribute to a lifetime of volunteerism and involvement.

Seek support for your good works
Look for ways to get support for your local volunteer activities. For instance, families that are already involved in community service projects now have an opportunity to get additional financial backing for their efforts through a grant program from Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Best known for its freshly baked, hand-rolled soft pretzels, Auntie Anne’s is looking for 20 families who give back and make their communities better places to live. As part of the company’s 20th Birthday celebration, these families will be awarded with grants of up to $20,000 to use toward their philanthropic work.

Whether it’s cleaning up a neighborhood park, volunteering at a senior citizen center or lending a helping hand at a local soup kitchen, any family who is passionate about giving back together is eligible for the Auntie Anne’s What a Difference a Family Makes: a New Twist on Giving Back grant program. Application forms can be completed online by visiting www.aTwistOnGivingBack.com from February 2 through April 4, 2008.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Bringing Back the Family Dinner

Jennifer — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:27:44 +0000

As Halloween decorations hit the stores, calendars fill up with school activities and class parties. In between running to the store to buy ingredients for the class treats and finding the perfect costumes, it can be tough to spend time with the whole family.

Gathering at the dinner table can benefit more than kids’ stomachs. A 2006 study by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that children who eat dinner with their families five or more times a week are more likely, across the board, to have higher grades in school. The trend transcends differences in gender, family structure and socioeconomic level*.

What makes family dinners so important to success, in school and elsewhere? “The communication that occurs during family dinners is critical in building a relationship with your children and to understanding the world in which they live,” says Joseph A. Califano Jr., chairman and president of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and a former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. “Making the commitment to have dinner as a family on a regular basis can influence your kids’ lives more than anything else you do.”

The benefits of eating dinner as a family are clear — but what about making time for a family meal among sports and school schedules, after-school plays and your own busy job? One company — KFC — is setting the table for success with www.BringBackDinner.com, a comprehensive online resource designed by moms, for moms, to help families connect more around the dinner table. The site features fun and accessible advice on a variety of dinner-related issues, from mealtime manners and etiquette to tips on budgeting at the grocery store.

Julienne Smith, founder and author of “Food For Talk” and a member of KFC’s Moms Matter! Advisory Board, is a contributor to the site. “I’m a mom myself, and I know from experience that families are starved for quality time,” Smith says. “Meals are a great — and often overlooked — occasion for the entire family to decompress and connect on a more intimate level. BringBackDinner.com literally puts it all out there, with great tips that can take the work out of the family dinner and a fun online community that will keep moms coming back for more.”

Smith’s “Food For Talk” is an actual recipe box of conversation starters specifically designed to promote family bonding and togetherness, based on this “professional mom’s” experiences with her own children. A few examples include:

* Would you rather have a lot of acquaintances or one close friend? Why?
* Share one thing you are most grateful for today.
* If you could eat dinner as a family anywhere you wanted, where would it be and why?

For more information on “Food For Talk,” The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and more tips on successful family dinners, visit www.BringBackDinner.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

EDITOR’S NOTE:

*The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University – The Importance of Family Dinners III.