Baking soda freshness

To check if your baking powder still fresh? Put one tsp in 1/3 cup of water. If it does not fizz toss the baking powder-it's too old.

Summer Reading

Summer reading is one of the best summer activity we can do with our kids. All we have to do just go to the library and check out books for them to read. Now, the summer reading is not only good for their brain but will also be good for their pocket. check out below :

Barnes & Noble :-
B&N has launched this year Summer Reading. Kids can earn a free book when they read 8 books this summer. The program is as easy as 1-2-3. One read any 8 books. Two use the Summer Reading Journal to write down their favorite part of each book and have parent signs. Three bring back the completed journal to B&N store between May 26th to Sep 7th. They will get a coupon for a free book!!! Check out more detail here.

Local Library :-
This is a local program in my neck of the wood. I believe all local libraries have this. When you sign up your kids to the program, they will give you a log book. Just setup your own goal on how many books you want to read this summer and return the log book by the end of the summer to receive free book as a prize and a certificate.

Day in Review...

Ever since my kids started Pre-K, we sit with them at dinner and talk about the kind of day the kids had and what was the best part of their day and they tell us what is going on at school and with their friends as well. this keeps the communication open with them and alo gives them a chance to review their day in their own minds.

Little Picassos

Carry some sharpened colored pencils or crayons with you when you go to the doctor's office with kids. During the long waiting time in the examination room, kids can draw pictures and color them on the white paper they pull out over the table.

Television in limit

I wanted to limit my kid's television habits. During the week, none of us watch television at all, but on the weekend I let them watch some carefully selected videos/programmes which gives me some time to finish my weekend chores as well. Sometimes we sit & watch TV together and spend some quality time with each other.

Kids healthy snacks

Buy some organic baby carrots (not much a difference in cost from the conventional) and broccoli. Wash and put them in snack-size ziploc bags and hand it to kids when they ask for mid-meal snacks. Kids tend to fall for more junkier snacks when you take time to think or give them more choices.