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A father talking to his son at a party.

Raising a Non-Picky ChildI was an extremely picky kid, I admit. I didn't think I liked anything - no vegetables or any strange or new food. I was pretty much meat and potatoes, and sweets, of course. My parents would demand that I eat; forcing me, threatening, even hitting, and withholding desserts if I didn't "clean my plate."

 

A play sushi set with parts from different sets.

Combine Incomplete Toy SetsGet toys with missing pieces for free or very cheaply and look for the same toy with missing pieces. Combine the toys for a complete set.

 

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Keeping Kids' Toys to a MinimumWhen your child receives something new, they should have to give one of their old toys to a thrift store, or a friend. It keeps clutter down to a minimum. It also teaches them to not overdo it as they get older.

 

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Dentists Buy Back CandyDo you have a lot of candy left over? Or too much candy for your kids? Many local dentists will buy back candy from the kids for $1 a pound.

 

A ferris wheel at Disneyworld.

Thrifty RegretsNow that my children are at the stage where they were moving away to pursue their own adult lives, I find myself having moments where I am absolutely consumed with regret. We never went to Disney World.

 

A coin bank with some coins around the base.

Teaching Kids to SaveI have this coconut bear coinbank which I got four years ago. This was a freebie from opening a kiddie bank account for my child. The bank gave this to encourage parents to teach children to keep at least a single penny a day.

 

A lit crayon in a candle holder.

Crayon as Alternative CandleThis is an emergency tip. If you are out of candles or you are in a camping trip with kids, Crayola crayons are another alternate to candles. Lighting a crayon can last for 30 minutes!

 

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Snack Stand as Kids Money MakerMy daughter sets up a table on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and sells small munchies like fruit snacks, baggies of oyster crackers, and a drink; hot cocoa in the winter, lemonade in the summer.

 

Set Household Routines for School Success

Set Household Routines for School SuccessOver the years, I have learned a couple of tricks to keep my kids healthy, well-fed and rested so they can put their full attention toward learning. My boys are teenagers now but need structure more than ever. Here is what I do.

 

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Save $5 a Week for CollegeAll kids should go to college or trade school, but it can be outrageously expensive. I recommend setting up a savings account for your child and depositing five dollars a week their whole life. This adds up very quickly without taking a tremendous toll on your financial situation.

 

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E-Mail for NewbornsWhen you have your baby, set up an email address for him/her and add pictures throughout the years, as well as special events such as first day of school, first birthday, and any other special events.

 

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Hope ChestI started a hope chest for each of my sons when they were twelve. Now if they don't marry immediately upon leaving home,they will have a lot of things they will need for their home.

 

Young teen boy washing the car.

10 Ways for Kids to Earn MoneyIt is a very valuable lesson for kids to work for what they want. Here are 10 great ways for kids to earn money.

 

Let Children Get Dirty

Let Children Get DirtyI worry that too often in today's society, we are keeping kids from just being kids. It is rare that I see children outdoors, splashing through puddles and making mud pies.

 

Boy sitting on couch.

Use a Handkerchief as a BibI use handkerchiefs as a bib for my baby. I have bought lots of them in different colors and like to coordinate them with his outfit.

 

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Mirrored Door Kids ChecklistMy daughter has mirrored closet doors, we use them to keep a daily check list of things to be done. She loves putting the check by the item, or sometimes a mini artwork flower. At the end of the day, we wipe off the checks and she's ready for the next day.

 

Children's Shower Chart

Children's Shower ChartI have three children who share a common bathroom. They used to argue over who showered first. We had an old dry erase calendar that wasn't being utilized so made a chart giving each child a number oldest to youngest.

 

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TACA Website for ParentsAnyone needing help with autism or any spectrum within that, should go to this website. It has a lot of information and many resoures.

 

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Ask For Lifetime Child Support For Children with DisabilitiesDivorce is hard for all involved but the most affected are the children. If you have a child who has a disability, then ask for the appropriate type of child support.

 

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Child SafetyParents! Please teach your children how to get help if they get lost. I volunteer at a huge zoo and today discovered a lost child quietly crying in a corner. I was close by, but he didn't come to me and I don't know how long he had been there before I spotted him.

 

Farmers Market

High Tech Kids in a Low Tech PlaceDuring a trip to the Saturday Market in Salem OR, I helped a little boy learn that not everything is high tech.

 

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Glow In Dark Star Path to BathroomI have a friend who has young children and she uses glow in the dark stars attached to the floor as a pathway to the bathroom. I thought this was such a neat idea.

 

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Getting Kids to Eat Their VeggiesTurn eating their veggies into a game. Give them some dice, let them roll the dice and then eat the amount of peas, beans, or whatever it is on the dice. Now some kid's will do it, unfortunately some will not. It's worth a try.

 

Halloween Candy for Gingerbread House

Save Halloween Candy for Gingerbread HouseEvery Halloween we try to think of ways to keep the sugar consumption down. This year, we suggested that our daughter keep only her very favorite takings and put the rest aside to decorate a gingerbread house at the holidays.

 

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Keeping Kids Entertained on Summer VacationDuring summer vacation kids need to rest, as well as, keep busy. So many parents are concerned about making their kids have a productive summer that they forget that summer is also a time to sit back and relax.

 

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Use a Straw for No Mess YogurtI know yogurt can be really messy. Just give kids a straw to drink the yogurt out of their container, no mess. So much easier.

 

Pick A Chore

Pick a ChoreTake a bin with their left out stuff in it and add a print out that says this:

 

Make a Straw Hole in Water Bottle Lid

Make a Straw Hole in Water Bottle LidMy 3 year old granddaughter loves that I make a hole the size of a straw in the lid of her bottled water container. It makes drinking so much fun and easier.

 

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Saving Money on Kids Coloring BooksI have always had several small children of approximately the same age to "entertain" for several hours during the day. It seems that everyone wants to color the same "page" in selected coloring books.

 

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Clutter JailUse a clutter jail to help kids pick up their stuff. If you pick something of theirs off the floor they then have to pick a card from a jar, and complete the task before they get their item returned. Here is some card ideas:

 

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Keeping Scout Stuff ContainedMy son is a Life Scout in Boy Scouts. He is in his 9th year now, having started in first grade as a Tiger Cub. We have a plastic bin in his bedroom where all of his Scout "stuff" goes.

 

Colored Ice Cubes

Colorful Ice Cubes for the BathtubFill ice cube trays with water and add a drop of food colouring into each space in the tray. Freeze them and let kids play with them in the tub.

 

Bathtub Paint

Bath Tub PaintingI take shaving cream in a muffin tin and mix with food colouring and give the kids paint brushes for the tub. It's great if you have boys who hate to bathe. They can paint the walls and it doesn't stain the tub.

 

Rubberbands on Cups

Use Rubber Bands On Cups To Avoid SpillsIf you put two or three rubber bands on a child's cup you can prevent them from spilling drinks. The bands make it easier for them to hold it when the outside of the cup gets wet.

 

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Take Photos Of Special ItemsIf you have things that are special to you because they were made by someone important to you, like knitted items or kids school projects, snap a photo of it and file it in a special album.

 

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Saving on Snacks for KidsFruit in season makes a great snack. If you cut oranges into "smiles" and place three in a (used, clean) snack bag it is a great treat for a 4 year old.

 

Be Your Own Photographer - A photo of a girl colored in black and white.

Be Your Own PhotographerMy tip involves photography. Today with the help of digital cameras and computers/printers, everyone can be a photographer. One way that I have saved money in this area is I quit visiting photo places like Sears, Walmart, etc. and I started taking my own photos.

 

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Good Parenting Starts With PlanningRandom personal thoughts on pregnancies and parenting. Long but worth a read if you plan on having a child. This is only meant for those who take raising a child VERY seriously. I hate the way most parents I see these days are.

 

Bread in pans after being baked.

Bake Bread With Your GrandchildrenAs a grandparent, I want to teach my grandchildren the simple techniques of cooking. My husband has been on 2 mission trips with our church to Iceland. I have baked sour dough bread and sold it to defray the costs of the trip each year.

 

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Magnetic Puzzles for TravelTo make a magnetic puzzle for traveling, use a cookie sheet and stick a magnet onto the back of all the puzzle pieces in the box.

 

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Eating Out On a BudgetWhen the kids were below age 12, I looked for restaurants that had kids eat free signs. I tried different restaurants in the area. It was a fun way to get out of the kitchen and not have to fix a meal after a long day of work and still provide for my family.

 

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Use Mesh Bag For Barbie ClothesBarbie clothes are actually very easy to clean. When my daughter was little and had Barbies, I put the clothes in a mesh bag like what you'd put lingerie in.

 

"Let's Make Something Together" Craft Box full of craft supplies

"Let's Make Something Together" Craft BoxEver hear this from a couple of energetic grandkids, at eight in the morning, "What can we do now, Grandma?" My five grandchildren are all at the age where they want to be busy all the time. And they want me right in the middle of it.

 

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Add Dollar Store Toys In Cereal BoxesMy kids want the expensive cereal because of the prizes in the box. I sneak a prize in from the Dollar store, one for each child so there is no arguing.

 

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Kids' Individual Packs for SnackI recently was given a bag filled with the plastic baby food containers. The containers are the type that have a clear plastic snap on lid and are typically sold in a twin pack.

 

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Give Old Camera To A Child, a toddler playing with an old camera.

Give Old Camera To A ChildChildren's cameras are available, but you can save yourself the cash if you have an old camera that still works. Digital ones are especially fun because they can quickly see the results of their photography.

 

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Document Everything Regarding Child SupportMy solution for problems with child support payments is that you must absolutely document EVERYTHING and keep that documentation until either the non-custodial parent dies and any children are over 18 or the end of time, whichever comes first.

 

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Social Security For ChildrenYour child is eligible to draw social security if one of his or her parents draw. If it is less than the court ordered amount, the parent would have to pay the extra.

 

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Use Birthdate To Determine TurnsIf you have more than one child, you know how frustrating it is to have the kids squabbling over whose turn it is to do whatever. If you are lucky enough to have them born on odd and even dates (mine were 28th and 27th), and only TWO kids, you can use this

 

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Great Way to Keep Toys Picked UpWhen my children were little, they had so many small toys. I hated the chore of getting the kids to pick them up everyday and most of the time, not all of them were. So, I decided to take care of it.

 

Homemade PedialyteWith flu season upon us here is a cheap recipe to use for kids. Mix one quart of water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add a bit of unsweetened Kool Aid, and you have homemade Pedialyte without the expense.

 

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Trail MixThis is great for a quick snack for the kids.They like it a lot and keeps them satisfied until dinner.

 

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Writing Thank You NotesOne of the first observations you might make is that saying thanks to someone in writing is usually referred to as sending a thank you note, not a thank you letter.

 

Happy boy outside

Educate Yourself and OthersAs a mom of an autistic child and a grandma of two autistic children, I believe one solution is education. Educate yourself and educate others about autism.

 

Beige SUV parked on street

Schedule for Front Seat RidingMy 3 grandchildren used to argue as to who would sit in the front seat. I devised a schedule so that everyone will know when it is their turn to sit in the front seat of the car. This schedule changes after going to each destination.

 

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Family Fun Without Spending Much MoneySpending less on entertainment had become a way of life. Being a single mom, working with "hungry" football players, homeschooling; and all of that before the economy went crazy.

 

Keep Children Entertained When Eating OutTry this to keep your children from getting restless while you wait for a restaurant order of food to arrive. One parent should go inside and place the order for everyone in the family.

 

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Taking the "H" (Hassle) out of Homework!My grandson begins 2nd grade this year. My daughter found a $2 plastic tackle type box at the local toy store. She filled it with pencils, crayons, pencil grips, scissors, stapler, tape, etc., everything you would need for homework supplies.

 

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Write Names On Class PictureEach year when your child's class picture is taken, make a copy and write the names of each classmate over their respective photos. This way, in years to come when your child looks back at the pictures, they won't be at a loss for the names of their childhood friends.

 

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Cut Down Straws For ChildrenWhen my husband saw our grandchildren were having difficulty getting those long straws to their mouths when we ate out, he pulled out his small pocket knife and snipped the straw down to a length which they could manage.

 

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Save Half, Spend HalfEncourage your child to save half of any money that they receive, whether it is from their allowance or a gift. Work with them on how they would like to save the money.

 

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Tickets for ChoresWhen my kids (and fosters) were young, I bought a roll of tickets (like those at a carnival). They are available at places like WalMart. I made lists of chores, age appropriate for each child.

 

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Getting Kids to Help with ChoresI know people with multiple kids. Some of them don't think chores are for kids. One says it's all women's work (hehe), and getting them to help out is a chore in itself!

 

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Getting Kids to Keep Their Rooms CleanWhen my oldest daughter was in grade school I couldn't get her to keep her room cleaned. One day when she was in school I taped a notice on her bedroom door that said "Condemned by the Health Department".

 

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Getting Kids to Keep Their Rooms CleanDuring their high school years, our sons seemed to have a problem keeping their room clean and neat. My wife threatened to clean the room and throw out everything that wasn't put away properly - clothing, books, etc.

 

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Helping Kids Clean Their RoomsWhen my boys were teenagers, I would give them a date when the room had to be cleaned up by. That gave them the option to do it within their own time frame. If it was not done by then, I would have the freedom to go into their rooms and find and read all the love notes.

 

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Scan Child's ArtworkBefore the invention of home scanners, it was tape or magnets on the fridge. Now, we can scan our children's art work.

 

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Get Children To Read By ExampleYou as a parent/guardian are most important to the equation. Your time and interest will spark your child's.

 

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Read What Is Interesting to YouWhen I was a tutor, I coaxed reluctant readers with reading material keyed to their interests. A teen girl might like a fan magazine or the entertainment section of the newspaper. A boy might like Sports Illustrated or the newspaper sports page.

 

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Getting Children to Read for FunI think the easiest way to get children to enjoy reading is to start reading to them when they are very young, as soon as they can sit up and enjoy looking at pictures. Make 'story time" a part of the day's activities.

 

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Bored Bag For Road TripsSometime before the trip, without letting your kids know, pack a small bag or sack with all kinds of "fun" things, whatever you can find that will keep them busy and that won't be really messy.

 

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Games to Play With Kids While DrivingWe had several games the kids enjoyed playing when they were younger and we were traveling. Most included winning money!

 

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Use Coffee Filter to Hold SnacksCoffee filters are much cheaper than paper cups or bowls, and they're environmentally friendly. They can be used for small snacks like dry cereal, goldfish crackers, and pretzels.

 

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Check Children's Hair For Lice After Carnival RidesChildren's hair can easily transfer lice when they are sitting close together, on rides such as carnival rides, such as roller coasters. Going through the hair with a lice comb should take care of any potential problems.

 

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Emergency Container for Carsick KidsThis is a helpful tip when children become ill either when traveling or at home. Save empty large soft margarine tubs. Take a plastic Ziploc type storage bag and insert in the margarine tab folding down the top of the bag all around the tub.

 

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Teach Children About Money With a Weekly AllowanceMum gave us weekly pocket money which was about double what we needed and used to tell us "Right, this is your money for the week. It's up to you how you spend it. Don't come asking for more before the week is up because you'll get nothing."

 

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Shopping with ChildrenYears ago when rearing my children, I used a technique that saved money and my own sanity from shopping tantrums.

 

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Removing Chewing Gum From HairTo get out chewing gum stuck or attached to hair, rub the chewing gum with oil or butter. Rinse or wash the hair normally.

 

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Keeping Kids Occupied at DoctorWhen going to the doctor with my now 2 and 4 year olds, I've many times found myself with 2 wild kids, a long wait, and nothing for them to do. I finally realized I could simply use what I had on hand.

 

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Keep Change of Clothes at SchoolAs an educator, I have seen every type of clothing emergency, from smelly spilled milk to rips, and everything in between - all resulting in a parent having to make an unexpected trip to bring a new set of clothes!

 

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Teach Children That Abuse Is Not A Sign Of LoveI am sure you will be able to picture this scene quite easily: Little Anna is playing with her friends during recess at school. Little Billy runs up to her and pushes her, and runs off laughing.

 

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Frugal ToysWhen my three children were younger and money was tight, we would find ways to add to their toys without purchasing items. One of the things the girls loved was a silver tray and tumblers just the right size for Barbie. The silver tray was the top of a Nestle's Quik box.

 

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Use A Pizza Cutter To Cut FoodMy husband had a stroke. It was hard for him to cut up his food, so I started using a pizza cutter to cut his food into easy to handle small pieces. I also use it for my young grandchildren that are not sure how to use a fork yet.

 

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Designate an Out Of State Emergency ContactEver since my kids were small, we have designated my mother, who lives in another state, as the family emergency contact. All school forms had her name and phone number in the emergency contact section, as did any of the wallet emergency cards we all carried.

 

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Binder of Favorite Recipes for ChildrenMy three daughters were always asking me to share some of my favorite recipes, so I surprised them one Christmas by printing some of my favorites on acid-free paper, and putting them in small 3-ring binders that contained plastic sheet protectors.

 

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Buying Boys Clothes For GirlsAs a mom to a bunch of daughters, I have learned a few clothing tips. Most of my daughters are tall. I have found that I get the best buy in the men's department. The men's and boy's shirt sleeves and torsos are longer.

 

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Use Leftover Wrapping Paper for ArtIf you're like me, you have way too much wrapping paper left over from Christmas. I turn it over, white side up, and staple it to the wall in my kids' room for their artistic whims to go wild! They love decorating their new "wallpaper".

 

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Start Hope Chests for Your ChildrenTo begin teaching the value of thriftiness to your kids, start a hope chest for them. Instead of tossing things out to the garage sale, you can imprint in their minds and hearts, that they have a future, and home development, cooking, and saving, are in their control now.

 

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Making Your Own Baby FoodMy husband and I had our first child while he was (and is) still in school. We chose to make our own baby food. This was no small task, given that I work full time and he goes to school full time. But it was worth it!

 

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Let Kids Open Stockings Before Waking You UpWhen my boys were small, sometimes it was tough to get up quite as early as they wanted to on Christmas day. I came up with an idea that made us all happy! After they were asleep on Christmas Eve, I would leave their Christmas stockings on their bed.

 

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Cover Shoes With Plastic Bags Before Putting On BootsTo ease the school rush in the morning, use plastic bread bags over your child's shoes and their boots will slide right on.

 

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Plan Craft Activities Instead of Christmas GiftsOur children are grown and most have children of their own. Due to locations, the kids don't see their nieces and nephews often enough to know what sizes they wear or what new fad they are crazy about, so buying gifts for them is somewhat difficult.

 

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Books For ParentsTwo wonderful books I found at the library regarding kids. One book is on how to talk to kids so they can learn.

 

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Pet Supply Magazines for KidsI ordered this catalog of pet supplies. The pictures are so precious and so adorable and they have catalogs for each kind of pet type that a person might have.

 

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Placemats from Children's ArtI am going to get some clear contact paper and cover my daughter's pictures that she drew and colored. I am going to use these as placemats. I will border the sides of the paper with ribbon if I find the right color.

 

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Save Gifts for Sick ChildThroughout the year, reserve a couple of small gifts your child was given for holidays and birthdays for a sick day. You'd be amazed how much better a sick child can be made to feel when presented with a new tray of watercolors, box of crayons, or coloring book, etc.

 

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Use Nouns Instead of Verbs to Help Children MindWhen asking a child to do something that you want him or her to do, it is better to use a noun, such as "chair" and point to the chair rather than saying "sit" and pointing to the chair.

 

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Sippy Cups for Sick ChildrenWhen a child gets sick and needs to sip liquids slowly, there is nothing better for this than a sippy cup. They can't wolf down the drink so it is better and gentler for their tummies. Also some of them are non-spill too.

 

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Bath Tub Toy HolderTurkey season is approaching! This year, save that net that comes encasing your holiday bird, wash and sterilize it; then run an old piece of twine or rope through it a few inches down from the open top to make a bath toy net to dry your kid's things in.

 

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Chore Jar for Kids to Earn Extra MoneyI have two children who love toys, just like any other child. We have given them an allowance since the age of 4, for which they have to earn by performing chores. With this money, they are allowed to purchase a new or used item once a month.

 

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Leftover CafeNeed a fun way to get your family to eat leftovers? We have a "Leftover Cafe" night once a week. We decorate the table with fake flowers and candles, and play some music in the background.

 

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Rehydrate Play DoughMy kids love their play dough, but I wince at the thought of throwing away even small bits because they've dried out. But I found a way to re-hydrate play dough! Take a gallon ziploc bag, and put all of the dried out scraps inside of it along with a very wet paper towel.

 

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