Why does it seem that kids are germ magnets?  Whether they trying to touch everything in a public restroom or eating food off of the floor, kids are notorious for putting themselves at risk for some illness.

However what about when parents take their young children out to a restaurant and put their food directly on the table.  YUCK!!  I am not a saint.  I have been found guilty of doing this.  However after watching a special on germs found in restaurants, I stopped.  Take a minute to think about how that table was cleaned… A server picks up a towel which may or may not have been sanitized and wipes the table clean.  In other words, smears even more germs on it.  GROSS!!!!

Tip of the Day:

Bring along your own plate.

In a previous post I discussed the Mary Poppins bag that all mothers and fathers need.  A plate is an item that should be in your bag.

I have found that by bringing along two children sized plates I no longer need to put the french fries directly on the table or tray.  I use this in restaurants that do not have plates ie. McDonald’s, Subway, etc.  If we are at a nice restaurant I simply ask for an extra plate.

There is also the option of buying disposable placemats, however I feel that is just creating more garbage.

My kids love to use tempra paints.  Sure the water colors are ok but they feel that true painting involves thick paint.  So being the June Clever that I am, I set down the drop cloth, set up the easel and let them do their thing.

The problem is that their attention span never is long enough to use all the paint that I have poured.  Of course I pour some, they use it all and want a refill.  However shortly after the refill, they seem to lose interest.

I do not want to waste the paint nor do I want to try to put it back into the bottle.  What is a mother to do?

Solution… Use a pill organizer.

Idea of the Day:

Go out and buy a pill organizer.

You can find them at any drugstore or even Target and Walmart.  The ones that have a different compartment for each day of the week.

When it is time to paint put a different color in each day.  Or simply fill it with primary colors leaving space between the colors.

After your artist has finished his/her masterpiece simply close the container.

This will help you conserve paint and it is an easy clean up.

Can your 4 year old recognize his/her name in print?  Does he/she know 10 or more letters of the alphabet?  Usually by age four children are beginning to grasp these concepts.  However there are some children that will not learn these skills until Kindergarten.  Why?  Because no one took the time to teach it to them.  Children are like sponges.  They simply need someone to teach them the information.

As parents we try to juggle too many things.  Remember it is important to stop and take time for the little things in life.  Teach your child his/her name, practice tying shoes or simply read a book together.

Tip of the Day:

Read through the following list of preschool reading and language milestones.  If your child is struggling in one of the areas, make an effort to work on it.

Preschool reading and language milestones — appropriate for children around 4 years old.

• Recognize 10 or more letters of the alphabet
• Know some sounds that letters make
• Find the front cover of a book and leaf through the pages
• Retell a story by looking at the pictures
• Recognize one’s own name in print
• Recite favorite nursery rhymes
• Predict what will happen next in a story
• Read or recognize print around them in the environment, such as a stop sign
• Make scribbles that resemble letters
• Make actual letters, such as those in one’s name

Instead of mowing the lawn or having a barbecue on Memorial day, my husband and I decided to pack up the kids and go to an auction.

Auctions and antique stores have been something we do as a family from time to time.  The kids actually enjoy going and they are getting old enough that we don’t have to worry about them breaking things.  At our house antique shopping is called treasure hunting and who doesn’t love a good hunt?

Idea of the Day:

Take your children to an auction.

I think there is so much a child can learn at an auction.  Today my son (age 6) kept track of the final sale price of various items.  It was also a great math lesson when people would bid on items that had a set - for example chairs.  He would have to figure out the final price per chair and multiple that by the number of chairs.  Besides math, an auction is filled with history.

I found that even my daughter who is only three, learned something today.  She was able observe and listen to the “culture” of an auction.  There was the fast talking, the shouting to confirm bids and the overall fast paced environment.  I admit that an auction will not hold a younger child’s attention for very long.  However it was fun to expose her to something out of the ordinary.

A few brief facts of Memorial day for those of you with curious little historians.

- It honors U.S. men and women who have died while in the military service.

- Formerly known as Decoration day.

- In 1882 the name was changed to Memorial day.

- Waterloo, New York was the birthplace of Memorial day.

For the complete history of Memorial day check out this link:

Memorial Day