Funny Pages

april fool's is coming up and who likes pranks more than kids? well, nobody. you can probably hear, all the way at your house, how hard my son laughs at "america's funniest home videos". but instead of filming the baby eating dog food, here's an idea for some good clean fun (with no damaging photographic evidence).

your child can author their own joke book. they can write their favorites or make up a few, color in some pages, staple and voila! instant first edition. we all know plenty of people who could use some laughs. how about giving it to someone who is sick? or anyone in a senior center? or the frowny-downy dry cleaner in your neighborhood?

the lesson: spreading smiles is contagious - and it doesn't cost anything to be nice (or funny).

***added bonus: knock knock. who's spending time with their kids that requires silliness?

here's a link for some jokes for kids

Acme Holiday - Easter

in honor of easter and the story of the loaves and the fishes, let's spread the loaf, people. sure there are bunnies, eggs and cadbury chocolates to partake in, but this is a little bit less obvious. at SPREAD THE BREAD, kids are encouraged to bake a loaf of bread and wrap it up with notes of gratitude. this gift is then given to ANYONE your child feels deserves it; police officer, librarian, trash collector, coach - whomever!

there are thousands of bread recipes to be found online or you can go the "cliffnotes" version by picking up a frozen pre-made loaf in the freezer section of any market.

the lesson: it's so easy to show thanks and support to people who have earned it. when your child sees the intense impact a simple gesture can make, they might be motivated to act in a "giving" and "grateful" way more often. and really, that's the whole point, isn't it? or most of the point, anyway.

***added bonus: warm fresh bread out of your oven slathered in butter??? please, like you're not going to bake another one for yourselves?


here's a link to spread the bread for more details

here's a link for a simple bread recipe for kids

Acme Holiday - St. Partick's Day

not much "giving back" in the traditional st. patty's day activities of searching for a pot of gold or drinking shamrock shakes, so here's another thought. yes, it's drastic, yes, it's mostly for boys, and yes, most of you won't do it BUT, here goes...

the st. baldrick's day foundation organizes head shaving to raise awareness and funds for kids with cancer. your child can be a "shavee" to show their support for this cause. log onto the site to find the allocated barber in your neighborhood. before the buzz, go online for details and have your child solicit donations from family and friends. look, at least the weather is getting warmer.

the lesson: your child could have a deeper level of understanding for chemotherapy patients as they go through this process. it might touch them in a way neither of you could imagine and quite possibly send them on a quest to help find a cure in our lifetime. for example.

***added bonus: no more fighting about washing his hair.

here's the link to the st. baldrick's foundation

One Small Step

mmmm, ahhhh, spring is in the air. smells a bit like... rotten crocs from last summer???

say what you will about crocs, yes, unattractive, yes, ubiquitous, yes, middle-american children everywhere running around in them, but they really serve their purpose. cheap (ish), slip on, waterproof and ALMOST indestructible. now that we are spring cleaning and gearing up for the warmer months, here is the place for those shredded crocs that haven't seen sunlight in months. SOLES UNITED will take old worn out pairs and recycle them into new, wearable ones to send to children in need.

the lesson: waste not want not?

***added bonus: once you're already back there in the dark corners of your kid's closet, you might find some treasure. not sure what, but that's what makes it an added bonus.


here's a link: "soles united" for info and drop off locations