| Show Skylight sky Home & Family Roof windows are more affordable and nicer than — Saturday May 6 2000 r- " l "" Standard-Examine- Classifieds ever2D Features Editor : 625-42- 70 Maytag no trickier than Game Boy ave you noticed how quickly your children become proficient with computers and electronic games? Have you also noticed how brain-dea- d they appear when asked to use the washing machine? So did one mother from Nebraska who offered the tip “If you can run a Game Boy you can run a Maytag” She explained how she taught her children to treat stains sort and wash laundry When should children begin doing household chores? As soon as possible say experienced parents If a child can carefully carry his dish to the sink that should be his job Even can help pick up toys sort socks by color or type and do other similar tasks Our first tip below offers some clever insight into assigning chores to children If you have a tip on this subject or any other parenting topic please share it with the rest of us HOUSE-CLEANIN- G ASSIGNMENTS As my they moved ’and how they ate” says Naomi Domben 12 of Huntsville But Domben admits she closed her eyes during part of meal time when live mice were offered to the hungry reptiles “She likes mice” explains her sister Elise 14 More than two dozen children and parents got better acquainted with snakes during a recent class at the Ogden Nature Center The session was the first in a events series of focusing on various critters Bats are next on May 25 and “Slimy Stuff” - frogs salamanders and such - will be featured in September (For more information call the nature Ogden Nature Center offers local children some lessons in “Snakes 101” By BECKY CAIRNS staff Standard-Examin- GDEN - Folks are lined up outside the Ogden Nature Center for The Snake Class Not without some trepidation mind you “These things better be in cages” mutters one wary participant Well the snakes are not in cages exactly but duly contained in clear plastic “Not-So-Sca- center at “We can show them they’re they’re nothing to be afraid of just part of the natural world” she says As a raiser of snakes Allen welcomes the chance to show them BRIAN By CHRIS CASSON MADDEN Scnpps Howard News Service almost the end of the year the time photographs On one copy instruct your children to cut out faces scenes pets even buildings or trees for a photography collage Save fabric remnants buttons or ribbons throughout the year they can then fill in any gaps in their collage which can then be glued onto large sheets of paper or cardboard ' Take their work to a print shop to laminate their creations for place mats or you might want to decide on the best and mat and frame it for an interesting wall hanging children will be much more of schoolhouse As your children begin their summer vacations help their imaginations grow by providing the supplies and the direction for some creative warm-weathprojects These treasures will not only demonstrate your children’s creativity but will also provide you with creations to include in your er Pair your children’s one-of-a-ki- corkboard for a very visual display r r t v - t t j " ’t ! sy' ' - r 1 i rt 1 r’ tv COUNTDOWN TO son BEDTIME My prolonged the bedtime routine as - off “They’re beautiful and just fun to work with” says the owner of See SNAKES3D a chance to be crafty home’s interior design For children older than 6 invest in some inexpensive disposal cameras Encourage them to take pictures of such special events as a family hike in the woods or a celebratory 4 meal Make two copies of their their day at home rather than behind the doors of a photography with their artwork on a r Thomas Smith 8 (front left) and other children get a close look at a com snake during a presentation at the Ogden Nature Center are on summer vacation Howard New Swvig NICHOLSONStandard-Examre- FASCIXAHKS: Help imaginations grow while youngsters JENNIFER LEVYScripp 5) rest Give children ART FOR ARTS SAXE: 621-759- Children - adults too - are often “freaked out” by spiders or snakes or creepy crawling things says Linda Babcock community relations coordinator for the center Finding out more about these creatures and meeting them up close may help put those fears to ry It’s This system works great The house is kept in order and clean and when an area is not clean or a chore is not done we know who is responsible The children also make sure all the family members respect their assigned area by reminding them to pick up after themselves They learned responsibility and respect for each other - Joyce Richardson Pinecrest Calif DAD DATE Since I work full time I don’t have the opportunity to see my children as often as my wife who manages our household full time So as often as possible I take one child at a time on a “dad date” I let them decide what to do and where to go During our “date” 1 focus entirely on them listening carefully to all they have to tell me about their life They love the attention and I cherish the conversations we have - BB Bountiful Utah ”Not-So-Scar- storage boxes Duly contained that is until Gayle Allen lets them loose What happens next could be the stuff of a horror movie Snakes slither in and out and all over the jumble of kids seated on the floor Coiling around young necks Weaving through fingers Sliding up and down arms - even through belt loops Yet far from a creepy film this is the stuff of the Snakes” class And instead of frightening Allen's snakes seem pretty dam fascinating They slither and shed their skin and smell with their tongues They don’t have any arms or legs and they never blink And they eat mice - whole “I thought it was interesting how 4 working day got longer and as our three children got older we agreed to a cleaning system that kept the house clean and orderly We divided all the chores in equal amounts and each of us was given three assignments per week Each Sunday the chores were listed on pieces of paper and we held a drawing Everyone in the family must keep their own room clean and also turn in dirty clothes for the laundry (Mom’s in charge of the laundry) You can also make color copies of the collage and use it for wrapping paper Another fun idea is to get the kids involved in the kitchen - such as baking sugar cookies The children can help pour and mix the ingredients Roll out the dough provide several cookie cutters of various shapes and sizes and let the children decide what shapes to cut out For decoration give them a simple pastry decorator small candies or colored sugars Save their favorite creations by cutting a small hole in the top of the cookie and putting them in a cool dry place to harden Once hard string them for the next Christmas tree or for a hanging mobile in your kitchen Store in an airtight container to prevent rodents from finding the sweet creations Decoupage - the art of decorating surfaces with paper cutouts - is a great craft for older children Decoupage which dates back to the 17th century today can be found on lamps wastebaskets furniture and fireplace and room screens can come The paper cut-ou- ts from many sources -magazines old or new illustrated books or greeting cards Sheet music vintage magazines and old hymn books from antique shops are also a great source for cut-ou- ts And special thematic decoupage papers can be purchased in craft shops Before cutting out a See CRAFTS3D j i long as he could each evening So I started a game called the “Bedtime Clock” I would set my small windup kitchen timer for 1 5 minutes then say “Ready Go!” My son would happily run to his bedroom get in his pajamas brush his teeth and as he hopped into bed yell “I won” My husband and I would applaud his victory I was amazed at how a simple game could change his attitude about going to bed Other moms have told me that kids usually won’t argue with a timer - S W Newport Ohio BABY SHOWER GIFTS Don’t remove the tags attached to gifts you received at a baby shower until you are certain about sizes and specific needs You may need to return or exchange some of your gifts - MPS Scottsdale Ariz your favorite parenting tip or funny story to kidtipsfaaolxom or 0 Tom fax it to (925) McMahon is the author of the parenting books “Kid Tips" and “Teen Tips ” (Pocket Books) Always keep safety age appropriateness and your intimate knowledge ofyour own child in mind when considering use of any tip consult with your child’s pediatrician as necessary E-m- 461-608- |
