Category - Activities

 

5 minutes of caring What Are You Building? by Mary Cady Ford, December 10 (1 comment) With a little love and hard work, you can build anything. A Car Full of Goblins by Michelle Andrade, October 31 (1 comment) Ride together for Halloween. A Cool and Caring Halloween by Michelle Andrade, October 29 Use Halloween as a chance to make a difference. A Tailor-Made Halloween by Michelle Andrade, October 27 Get eco-friendly by getting creative with costume options. It's a Fair Trade Halloween by Michelle Andrade, October 24 Change up the kind of candy you’re handing out. Your Own Animal Planet by Michelle Andrade, October 23 Use caring for animals as a great teaching tool. Time to Speak Up by Michelle Andrade, October 21 (1 comment) In less than five minutes, you can make your voice heard. World Food Day by Michelle Andrade, October 16 Do something about hunger right now. How Compostable Can You Be? by Michelle Andrade, October 14 Compost something new today. What School Do You Go To? by Michelle Andrade, October 9 Not your kids...you! What's In an October? by Michelle Andrade, October 1 See what exciting things this month has in store. Proactively Active by Michelle Andrade, September 26 Getting active with your family will bring everyone closer together. Library Card Sign-Up Month by Michelle Andrade, September 25 Don't have a library card? Signing up is easy! Take A Child Outside Week by Michelle Andrade, September 24 (1 comment) Do something outdoors with your kids. Fall Into Fall by Michelle Andrade, September 22 Run headlong towards the time of year when it's perfect to be outdoors. Spoken To Motivate by Michelle Andrade, September 18 Use an old speech to inspire a new passion. Get Ready Day by Michelle Andrade, September 16 Help your family be ready for anything. The Shirt Off Your Back by Sam Davidson, September 15 Donate clothing along with paper and pencils. The Home Team by Kathy Dippolito, September 12 Don't forget who you play for. Fun With a Purpose by Michelle Andrade, September 11 Make friendly gatherings a chance for change. How It's Made by Michelle Andrade, September 9 (1 comment) Encourage curiosity in your children via everyday objects. It's a Date! by Michelle Andrade, September 8 Demonstrate better relationships by planning special outings. Rebate the Rebate by Michelle Andrade, September 3 Give away your 'free' rebate when it arrives. A September to Remember by Michelle Andrade, September 2 Your family can commemorate lots of things this month. Child Labor (the good kind) by Michelle Andrade, September 1 Honor the work your children do today. Make a Friend, Share a Ride by Michelle Andrade, August 29 The beginning of the school year is a perfect time to start a carpool. Votes and Voices by Michelle Andrade, August 26 (1 comment) Women earned the right to vote 88 years ago today. In the Center of Nature by Michelle Andrade, August 21 See what your local nature center has in store. Supply a School by Michelle Andrade, August 18 Double up on the school supplies when shopping for your own. Don't Bug Me by Michelle Andrade, August 13 (1 comment) Choose a less toxic way to ward off mosquitoes. Pick a Mascot by Michelle Andrade, August 11 The Olympics can represent a lot. Two Little Piggies by Michelle Andrade, August 7 Here's an easy way to teach your kids about philanthropy. Get Started Safely by Michelle Andrade, July 31 (1 comment) Make sure the seat is safe when riding with children. Written In Green by Michelle Andrade, July 29 Make your writing greener with better pens and pencils. Hot Stuff by Michelle Andrade, July 28 Be safe and eco-friendly while grilling out. Pack it Again, Sam by Michelle Andrade, July 21 (1 comment) Reuse old packaging as much as you can. Stamp It! by Michelle Andrade, July 18 Put a message on the outside of the envelope. Cooks Aplenty, Cooks Galore by Michelle Andrade, July 14 (1 comment) Use mealtime as a teaching time. Be an Air Expert by Michelle Andrade, July 11 What do you know about air quality? The Hunger Site by Michelle Andrade, July 10 (1 comment) Fight hunger with just one click. The Meaning of It All by Michelle Andrade, July 9 Learn a meaningful new word and teach it to your kids. Don't Ever Give Up by Michelle Andrade, July 8 (1 comment) Continue to make a difference, you philanthropist, you. Pedal Power by Michelle Andrade, June 26 (1 comment) Ride a bike to get where you're headed. Books and Authors a Million by Michelle Andrade, June 25 Go deeper than the book and learn about an author. Media Fast by Michelle Andrade, June 24 (2 comments) Bypass your reliance on digital entertainment. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Remind by Michelle Andrade, June 20 Put recycling on the calendar. Star Light, Star Bright by Kathy Dippolito, June 19 (1 comment) What do you know about the night sky? In With the New, Reuse the Old by Michelle Andrade, June 18 (1 comment) Nine out of ten dentists say to reuse your old toothbrush. Day of the Dad by Michelle Andrade, June 13 Celebrate dad this weekend. Cannonball!!! by Michelle Andrade, June 9 (1 comment) Make sure you follow these summertime rules. You Are What You Eat? by Michelle Andrade, June 6 (1 comment) How much food does your family throw away? Next Steps in Africa by Michelle Andrade, June 4 Here's what some folks are doing over there. It's June! by Michelle Andrade, June 2 (2 comments) And that means big things are in store! Share The Mail by Kathy Dippolito, May 30 Send letters and learn a lot. Meet A New Animal by Michelle Andrade, May 29 Introduce the family to a new species. Read To Feed by Michelle Andrade, May 28 Read and raise money. It's a win-win. Coffee Plants by Michelle Andrade, May 23 (2 comments) Dump out old coffee grounds with the kids! Talk to a Senior by Michelle Andrade, May 21 Bridge the generation gap with a hello. Reuse It by Michelle Andrade, May 16 Clean your house and reuse almost everything! Just Pick It Up! by Michelle Andrade, May 13 Carry the essentials with you. Celebrate Mom by Luanne Davidson, May 9 Hear from a mom on how to celebrate mom. An African Education by Michelle Andrade, May 8 Educate your family about another world. Search Before You Donate by Michelle Andrade, May 6 (2 comments) Investigate with your family where your money's going. May Is by Michelle Andrade, May 5 May is a bunch of stuff. Here's what we found. Talk About Volunteering by Michelle Andrade, May 2 Have a conversation about helping others. Go State! by Michelle Andrade, May 1 Visit your local State Park! Be Cool, CarPool by Michelle Andrade, April 30 Join with others at the end of each month. Arbor Day by Michelle Andrade, April 25 Tree education is of utmost importance. Administrative Professionals' Day by Michelle Andrade, April 23 Thank those who specialize in getting it done. Smaller Can Last Longer by Michelle Andrade, April 17 Where can your money make the biggest difference? Stimulate Someone's Life by Michelle Andrade, April 16 Here's how you can still shop and help others. Donate That Refund by Michelle Andrade, April 15 At least some of it. Buy Twice by Michelle Andrade, April 14 And help out someone near you. Unplug Your Kids by Michelle Andrade, April 11 (2 comments) See what happens when your kids de-digitalize. Tax Time Talk by Michelle Andrade, April 10 Use next week as a chance to have a good talk. Stories of Survival by Michelle Andrade, April 9 Share with your kids the stories of those who've survived. Get It Reviewed by Michelle Andrade, April 4 (1 comment) Get a heads up on what you're reading. Lights Out by Michelle Andrade, March 28 Celebrate Earth Hour in a creative way. This Little Light of Mine by Michelle Andrade, March 27 (1 comment) Make a game out of saving energy. Dress with a Message by Michelle Andrade, March 26 Messages matter - even on kids' clothes. Play Fair by Michelle Andrade, March 25 Teach your kids where their stuff came from. Water Use Inventory by Michelle Andrade, March 20 Get the kids involved in saving water at home. Go Back to School by Michelle Andrade, March 18 Find out what's needed at a local school. Model Your Kids by Kathy Dippolito, February 29 Build a model with your kids today. Bedroom Clean by Michelle Andrade, February 28 Keep that bedroom clean by starting small! Meaningful To You by Michelle Andrade, February 27 Start a Petition. Reuse-Box by Michelle Andrade, February 26 See how many different types of cardboard boxes you can use for art projects. Back-To-Front by Kathy Dippolito, February 22 .yadot eb uoy nac yllis woH Love My Family by Kathy Dippolito, February 15 Help the love to last all year with a special "I Love You" box for each member of the family. Hide and Surprise by Kathy Dippolito, February 8 Play a game of "Hide and Surprise" with the entire family. Kisses and Hugs by Michelle Andrade, February 6 Show affection toward your kids on a regular basis -- make it a family tradition. Do Something by Kathy Dippolito, February 1 (4 comments) Do something nice for someone else without being caught. When Is Enough Enough? by Michelle Andrade, January 31 Clean up and clean out the house. Then, make a firm resolve to buy less because enough is enough. Movie Night With A Twist by Kathy Dippolito, January 25 (2 comments) Take your family time back in time with classic movies! Set An Example by Michelle Andrade, January 23 Set an example by exercising with your kids. Water Sense by Michelle Andrade, January 22 Being more efficient with your appliances. What To Do With This Day by Michelle Andrade, January 21 Listen to the words of MLK, Junior. MLK Jr. Day by Michelle Andrade, January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is Monday, January 21, 2008. No Grown-Ups Allowed! by Kathy Dippolito, January 11 Leave your grown-up hat at the door and have some kid-like fun with YOUR kids. A Few of My Favorite Things by Kathy Dippolito, January 4 (1 comment) An activity to bring your favorite things that may be a season away into your home today. Let the Holiday Spirit Last All Year by Kathy Dippolito, December 28 (2 comments) Keep your holiday cards to spread the love throughout the year. Put It Away by Michelle Andrade, December 27 As you clean up from Christmas, take the chance to talk about gratitude and use put-away time as a chance to encourage your children to donate their unused toys - since they now have all these new ones. Sign In by Michelle Andrade, December 26 (1 comment) Sign a petition that is meaningful to you and your family today! Tell It In A Story by Michelle Andrade, December 21 Take a journey with the kids today and have them tell it to you in a story. Please Clean Up that Mess! by Michelle Andrade, December 20 (2 comments) Cleaning up messes can be friendly for our kids and the Earth! Kids Helping Kids by Michelle Andrade, December 19 How can we teach our kids about helping other kids around the world? For the Birds by Kathy Dippolito, December 14 (1 comment) Easy treats to make for our fine feathered friends and bring the family together for some quality time. Parking It! by Michelle Andrade, December 13 It is easy to pick up trash together as you walk to and from the park. Picture Paper by Michelle Andrade, December 7 Use a nice trick to reuse some of those old magazine to make some nifty wrapping paper! Collect Away! by Michelle Andrade, December 4 What to do with those envelopes? We have an idea! Let's Go Fly a Kite! by Kathy Dippolito, November 30 Let's go fly a kite... and send it soaring! Fill the Land by Michelle Andrade, November 29 What is the difference if we recycle or not? Responsible One by Michelle Andrade, November 28 Give the gift of responsibility to you kids! Be Thankful All Year Long by Kathy Dippolito, November 23 We know Thanksgiving is a day for giving thanks, but what about the rest of the year?

one minute nibbles Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Convened My Own Supreme Court by Luanne Davidson, October 2 Take some time as a family to get involved in the judicial system. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Given My Own Awards by Luanne Davidson, September 25 (2 comments) By encouraging our children in the day-to-day activities, we prepare them for being a success in the real world. Greener, Cleaner Community by Julie Berbiglia, September 23 20 Weeks of How to Make Your City Cleaner and Greener Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Written Better Job Descriptions by Luanne Davidson, September 11 Clearly define responsibilities for everyone in the family and there's no need for confusion or fuss. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Could Have Staged My Own Pentathlon by Luanne Davidson, September 4 Champion the family together for a cleaning events. Spaces Simplified, part 3 by Michelle Andrade, September 2 Spaces Simplified provides expert help to de-clutter, organize, and beautify your home or corporate space in a way that benefits your life as a whole. Your space should give you energy, not drain it away. It should be--and can be-- a source of inspiration and tangible support as well as a reminder of who you are when you're at your best... -Spaces Simplified, www.spacessimplified.com Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda: I Should Have Employed My Own Child Labor by Luanne Davidson, August 28 Fully employ your children with activities appropriate for their age and you will teach them true responsibility. Spaces Simplified, part 2 by Michelle Andrade, August 26 Spaces Simplified provides expert help to de-clutter, organize, and beautify your home or corporate space in a way that benefits your life as a whole. Your space should give you energy, not drain it away. It should be--and can be-- a source of inspiration and tangible support as well as a reminder of who you are when you're at your best... -Spaces Simplified, www.spacessimplified.com Spaces Simplified, Part 1 by Michelle Andrade, August 19 Spaces Simplified provides expert help to de-clutter, organize, and beautify your home or corporate space in a way that benefits your life as a whole. Your space should give you energy, not drain it away. It should be--and can be-- a source of inspiration and tangible support as well as a reminder of who you are when you're at your best... -Spaces Simplified, www.spacessimplified.com Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Could Have Bought Two For One by Luanne Davidson, August 14 Saving money is great, and we all love coupons. But what about using those savings to get things for someone else who needs it a bit more than us? Cool Families Host AFS Students by Michelle Andrade, August 6 AFS-USA works toward a more just and peaceful world by providing international and intercultural learning experiences to individuals, families, schools, and communities through a global volunteer partnership. Cool Moms In The Community: Encouraging Philanthropy at a Young Age, part II by Beth Kanter, August 5 Beth Kanter, mother of many trades, speaks to us about raising our children to be philanthropically minded. Last week,Beth began sharing with us how she has brought giving into her daily life with her children. This week, she shares more ideas that she has done in her own home to help teach her children about making a difference. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Put My Children In The Driver's Seat Earlier by Luanne Davidson, July 31 When we give our children a turn at the driver's seat, we are allowing them the opportunity to practice being in control, make decisions, and understand responsibility and accountability. Cool Moms In The Community: Encouraging Philanthropy at a Young Age by Beth Kanter, July 29 Beth Kanter, mother of many trades, speaks to us about raising our children to be philanthropically minded. Digging In The Dirt by Michelle Andrade, July 25 Let your kids be a part of the planting, watering, watching, digging, cleaning, cutting, cooking AND eating and they will see the entire food process! Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Declared the Dog Days of Summer by Luanne Davidson, July 17 Take this summer to have some dog-gone fun! Do Something Creative by Tamara Batarseh, July 16 Show your creativity to your children and they will be inspired to seek out their own. Picking Tomatoes by Michelle Andrade, July 15 (1 comment) Backyard farming is more than just a great thing for the Earth... it's also an amazing learning experience. Gardening is truly a family affair. A Complaint Free World by Michelle Andrade, July 14 (2 comments) Our perspective can change the way we save the world. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Shoulda Christmas-ed In July by Luanne Davidson, July 10 (1 comment) Many organizations reap the benefits of giving around Christmas time. Bring that giving spirit into the summer months, too, by Christmas-ing in July. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Created More Collages by Luanne Davidson, June 26 Collage making with our kids can be a valuable tool in teaching diversity, similarity, and self-expression. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Could Have Set Up Summer on the Summer Solstice by Luanne Davidson, June 19 Take this summer solstice to set the tone for the entire summer. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Fed The Birds by Luanne Davidson, June 5 (2 comments) Learn about birds with your kids through the art of bird watching. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Would Have Taught More Economics Class At Home by Luanne Davidson, May 15 (1 comment) Taking the time to teach our children vital home economics tools will help them as they grow. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Would Have Danced Around The May Pole by Luanne Davidson, May 1 Take the opportunity to celebrate May Day with the family. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Accomplished More Field Trips by Luanne Davidson, April 24 Going out as a family can be more than just a chore. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Painted More Pottery by Luanne Davidson, April 3 Spend some time with your family making pottery. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: I Should Have Baked More Cookies by Luanne Davidson, March 20 (1 comment) Bake together as a family to teach your children lessons for school and life. Sow A Thought by Michelle Andrade, January 28 Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny. **Charles Reade** Get Even by Michelle Andrade, January 21 (1 comment) The only people to get even with are the people who have helped you. **Anonymous** If You Don't Like Something by Michelle Andrade, January 14 If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain. **Maya Angelou** Art of Awakening Their Natural Curiosity by Michelle Andrade, January 7 The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards. **Anatole France** Another Fresh New Year by Michelle Andrade, December 31 (2 comments) Another fresh new year is here.. Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! **William Arthur Ward** Animals by Michelle Andrade, December 28 Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. **George Eliot** When You Feel Like Giving Up by Michelle Andrade, December 27 When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place. **Unknown** Experience by Michelle Andrade, December 26 Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you. **Aldous Huxley** Christmas Thoughts by Michelle Andrade, December 25 Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. **Another Kid** What Love Looks Like by Michelle Andrade, December 24 What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. **Saint Augustine** Motivate Daily by Michelle Andrade, December 21 People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. **Zig Ziglar** Final Forming of a Person's Character by Michelle Andrade, December 20 Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands. **Anne Frank** Keep Yourself Centered by Michelle Andrade, December 19 You have a very powerful mind that can make anything happen as long as you keep yourself centered. **Dr. Wayne W. Dyer** Motivation by Michelle Andrade, December 18 Motivation comes from within. **Author Unknown** Ordinary Situations by Michelle Andrade, December 17 Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations. **Jean Paul Richter** Human Choice by Michelle Andrade, December 14 The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice. **George Eliot** Your thoughts by Michelle Andrade, December 13 (4 comments) Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny. **David O. McKay** What Worth by Michelle Andrade, December 12 (2 comments) What worth has beauty if it is not seen? **Italian Proverb** Don't follow by Michelle Andrade, December 11 Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. **Harold R. McAlindon** I cherish you by Michelle Andrade, December 10 Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them. **Richard L. Evans** Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: Taught a new word a Day by Luanne Davidson, December 6 What words are you teaching your kids? Be Bold by Michelle Andrade, December 3 …Boldness has Magic, Power and Genius. **Johann Wolfgang von Goethe**