Simply Yours,

--Debi
(Deborah Taylor-Hough)
Editor, Bright-Kids Email Newsletter
--Author of the popular 'Frozen Assets' cookbook series, 'A Simple
Choice,' and 'Frugal Living For Dummies(r)'
--Editor, Simple Times and Bright-Kids email newsletters

http://brightkids.wordpress.com
http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com
http://snurl.com/DebiTupperware
http://dsimple.wordpress.com
________________________________

QUOTABLE

"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it
be enthusiasm."

--Bruce Barton

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SIX TIPS FOR MAKING READING FUN FOR KIDS
Copyright Jamie Jefferson
Used with permission from EzineArticles.com.
All rights reserved.


Inspiring your child to read is one of the most important
things that you can do as a parent. With a love of reading,
your child will have a critical tool for success.
 
Here are six tips to help get your children to tune out the
television and tune into books.
 
1) Really explore their interests.
 
Talk to your child's teacher about recommendations for books
that would be particularly well-suited for your children and that
might touch on current or future topics of classroom study.
What authors have your children enjoyed in the past? If Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory was a hit, try James and the Giant
Peach next.
 
If your children don't have any favorite books already, talk to
them about their interests. Your child's imagination might be
piqued by a biography about someone in the news. Or you
an ask each of your children to pick a favorite non-fiction
subject. If your son loves spiders, put that at the top of your
reading list. If your daughter is fascinated by jungle creatures,
make that the focus of your library trips. Even if you end up
finding books about their favorite television or movie characters,
it's better than no reading at all.
 
 
2) Take time to find the best reading material.
 
At the bookstore or library, allow your children to lead the way.
Give them ample time to explore the sections that interest them.
If they are drawn to comic books, strike a compromise. Let
them pick out one comic book if they pick out another book
with it as well. Guide them in their book choices based on what
you learned about their interests. Make suggestions and see if
you can encourage them to pick a wide variety of books, both
nonfiction and fiction.
 
 
3) Set family reading time.
 
Instead of sitting down in front of the TV every night after dinner,
establish a family reading hour. Turn off the TV and the radio
and help your child read. If they are older, listen to them read
to you. As your child grows, you'll look back fondly on this
time that you shared together. Even as your children grow
older, they really benefit from listening to stories read aloud.
Reading together at the end of the day also provides you with
a great opportunity to connect with your child at the end of a
busy day.
 
 
4) Engage your child in reading.
 
Build their comprehension skills by asking them about what
they've read. Get their input on the material and you'll be able
to build their understanding of what reading is all about.
 
 
5) Encourage reading in other parts of your child's life.
 
Reading books isn't the only way that your child can get
experience in reading. You can play games that involve
reading and spelling, such as Scrabble or Balderdash. You
can have them help you with day-to- day reading tasks, such
as cooking and reading labels at the store. Whatever ways
you can add reading into your children's life will go a long
way in their reading development.
 
 
6) Set a good example.
 
Reading parents produce reading children. You can't expect
your child to take an interest in reading if you don't read your-
self. Make it a habit to read the newspaper or take up a novel
now and then. If you make reading a family affair, your child
will be more likely to follow suit.
 
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
--Jamie Jefferson writes for both www.Momscape.com and
www.Susies-Coupons.com, where she shares coupons for favorite
online stores, including skin care products as well as coupons
for hats and caps, popular with kids and teens. Find discounts
and coupons for Hooked on Phonics as well as Scholastic
coupons.
 
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Jefferson
 
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< <  O U R   S P O N S O R > >

The PAC-Kit!
Planner Agenda Calendar
A Planner Designed 
with Kids in Mind
 
Is your child disorganized?
Does he forget to write down his homework? 
Are her assignments written down incorrectly?
Did he leave his math book at school - again?
 
Introducing to The PAC-kit, a downloadable planner 
designed especially for kids that will 
help your child get organized - GUARANTEED!

http://bkids.packit.hop.clickbank.net/

________________________________
 
FRIGHTENINGLY FRUGAL FUN
Copyright Tawra Kellam
Used with permission.  All rights reserved.
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
 
 
The average American family spends over $100 per year on
Halloween goodies. As your kids drag you through aisles full
of ghosts and goblins, the scariest thing about Halloween is
threatening to leave bite marks in your pocketbook. No wonder
so many moms flee screaming from the store.
 
It can be much less expensive and a lot more fun to devise
your own chilling creations. Here are a few tips that you can
use to stave off the greenback gremlins and exercise your
creative muscle. It won't hurt a bit! These and other free frugal
tips are available at http://www.LivingOnADime.com/

 
Face Paint
~~~~~~~~~~
1 tsp. corn starch
1/2 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cold cream
food coloring

Mix all ingredients together in an old muffin pan and you are
ready to paint. This amount makes one color.


Fake Wound
~~~~~~~~~~~
1 Tbsp Vaseline
tissue
cocoa powder
2-3 drops red food coloring

Place Vaseline in a bowl. Add food coloring. Blend with a
toothpick. Stir in a pinch of cocoa to make a darker blood
color. Separate tissue. Using 1 layer, tear a 2x3 inch piece
and place at wound site. Cover with petroleum jelly and
mold into the shape of a wound. The center should be
lower than the sides. Fill the center with the red petroleum
jelly mixture. Sprinkle center with some cocoa. Sprinkle a
little around the edges of the wound to make darker.
 
 
Fake Blood:  Mix 2/3 cup white corn syrup, 1 tsp. red food
coloring, 2-3 drops blue food coloring to darken and 1 squirt
dish soap (helps blood to run well).


Abrasions:  Dab brown, red and black eye shadow on area.
Apply fake blood over area with cotton balls. Use comb to
gently scratch area in one direction. Apply cocoa or dirt over
wound with cotton balls.


Black Eye:  Apply red and blue eye shadow to depressions
around eyes.


Bruises:  Rub red and blue shadow over bony area to simulate
recent bruises. Blue and yellow eye shadow to create older
bruises.


Look Old:  Cover face with baby powder. Draw dark lines on
your skin for wrinkles. Smooth edges to blend. Cover again
with baby powder. Add baby powder to your hair to create gray
hair.


Deviled Eyeballs:  Make deviled eggs. Add a green olive with
pimento in the center for an "eyeball".


Radioactive Juice:  Mix equal parts Mountain Dew and blue
Kool-Aid


Toxic Juice:  Add some green food coloring to lemonade for
a spooky color!


Brains:  Scramble eggs with some green, yellow and blue
food coloring


Bloody Eyeballs:  Boil cherry tomatoes 30 seconds. Allow
to cool; then peel skin.


Goblin Hand:  Freeze green Kool-Aid in a rubber or latex
glove, float in punch.


Spider Webs:  Use the tape from old cassettes or black
yarn to make spider webs. Use cotton balls stretched out
for small spider webs.


Glass Jack-o-Lantern:  Outline a pumpkin face on a spaghetti
or pickle jar with black paint. The paint around the outside of
it with orange paint. Place a candle inside for a jack-o-lantern.
 
 
 
Halloween "Guess It" Game

In this game, you challenge the participants to reach into
mystery boxes filled with creepy things and try to guess
what each item is. The person with the most correct answers
wins the game. An example is if you want them to guess
"grapes", you might try to confuse them by saying, "I think
it's eyeballs..."

Cut a hole in the top of a shoe box or laundry box for each
item to be used. Cover the box with black spray paint. Decorate
each box with pumpkins or spiders for a more festive flavor.
 
Place the following items inside, one per box. Be sure to
place enough of each item so the guests can adequately
"feel" the guts.

Eyeballs -- grapes or peeled cherry tomatoes
Intestines -- cooked spaghetti noodles
Skin -- oil a piece of plastic bag
Brains -- scrambled eggs
Hair -- an old clown wig
Bones -- thoroughly washed chicken bones placed in some sand
Vomit -- chunky salsa
Fingers -- hot dogs cut into finger-sized pieces
Teeth -- corn nuts, pine nuts, or popcorn

 
 
Have a Pumpkin Hunt

Hide mini pumpkins like you would Easter Eggs. Let the
kids find and decorate them. For small children use glue
sticks with construction paper cut-outs for decorations.


Edible Slime
~~~~~~~~~~~
Pour lime gelatin into a glass bowl. After it is partially set,
add gummy worms. Chill until lightly set. Then serve
slopped all over the plate.


Bloody Popcorn:  Add red food color to melted butter and
pour over popcorn.


Gross Ice:  Freeze gummy worms in ice cubes and add them

to drinks. Cut gummy worms in half if needed.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
--In five years, Tawra Kellam and her husband paid off
$20,000 personal debt on an average income of $22,000
per year. Tawra is the author of the frugal cookbook Dining
On A Dime. Dining On A Dime has over 1,200 recipes and
tips to help you eat better and spend less. For more free
tips and frugal recipes visit Tawra's web site at:
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/

 

______________________________

READ-ALOUD BOOKS FOR FAMILIES:

http://snurl.com/reading4kids

Recommended books for children and families
(This is a great list to print out and hand to your kids'
grandparents for suggestions at gift-giving times!)
_______________________________

A special thanks to Gary Foreman and the friendly folks at
The Dollar Stretcher for making this mailing list possible! :-)
http://www.stretcher.com/
_______________________________

< < B E . O U R . S P O N S O R > >

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DEBI'S RESOURCES:

Personal Blog: http://dsimple.wordpress.com
Nature Study Books: http://astore.amazon.com/naturestudy-20/
Frugality/Simplicity: http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com
Cooking Ahead: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/frozen-assets
Bright-Kids: http://brightkids.wordpress.com
Tupperware(r): http://my.tupperware.com/debihough
Personal Webpage: http://simplemom.com
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Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think
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Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think
might be interested. This is a private mailing list which isn't sold
or shared with anyone else. Tips and articles are printed for
entertainment purposes only.
 ________________________________
 
This free service is brought to you by www.SimpleMom.com

Copyright 2008 Deborah Taylor-Hough. All Rights Reserved.
3930 A Street SE, Ste 305, #119, Auburn WA 98002
Contact us at:  DSimple@aol.com
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