Calling all VoluntEARS

now here's real incentive for doing some giving back.

in 2010 (just a sneeze away), for a day of service worked, you can earn a free day at the disney theme parks.

here's a link for more info

it is a nice reward for your efforts and a great way for children to get a real pay off for what normally shouldn't get any pay off - except a full heart. click onto the link for participating non profits and specific details for registration.

the lesson: when we expose our kids to service learning, it is important for them to get the idea that they are making a difference, and that alone is it's own reward. however a ride on Pirates feels pretty great, too!

*** added bonus: um... it's a free pass to disneyland.

Acme Holiday - And So It Begins...

alright, people, now is the time. this is your call to action. this is (or "tis") the season...

wanna give your kids an amazing gift? let them choose a toy to buy and donate. it is a great lesson in delayed gratification and an even better lesson in the joys of giving.

even if you don't participate in ANY of the acme sharing activities throughout the year, (i know, i know, i'm not judging you, i get it, life is BUSY) this is your moment to make time.

at the very least, take your children to the drugstore, pick up a toy and then take it to your local firehouse to donate it to TOYS FOR TOTS. this is really "give back 101".

for more advanced lessons, scroll through the acme sharing website archives for tons of ideas for giving, making and appreciating.

happy (beginning of the) holidays.

here's a link for specific drop off info: toysfortots.org

Thanks and Giving

turkey day, such a great excuse to get your family thinking about gratitude, thankfulness and helping others less fortunate (or just others, period).

please encourage your kids to think of the things for which they are thankful. there are so many ways to do this; the kindness chain, the gratitude album, a video journal, drawing pictures and making a book, strips of paper in a hat to be pulled out and read aloud at the table. how about a gratitude tree? there are a lot of ways to do the same thing. all of these activities can be found on the acme sharing website if you just scroll down the archives of past posts.

it's a perfect set up as we enter into the weeks of holiday indulging.

this year let's not let the pies overshadow the point.

Acme Library - An Awesome Book

OMG this is the greatest book of all time! dallas clayton, dad, artist and adorable hipster has written and illustrated this insanely inspiring book for ALL AGES, dream big or go home being the gist of it. he is also a superhero since now, just because you buy one, he will be giving a book to a child who would otherwise not be able to purchase one - we are all familiar with buy one, give one. i am so excited about this!!! it is AWESOME.

run, don't walk your mouse to click onto: veryawesomeworld.com

Acme Holiday - Halloween/ Veteran's Day

my kids have already forgotten about their halloween candy, pretty great. but even better, is HALLOWEEN CANDY BUY BACK. this is where local dentists weigh and pay for your child's candy and ship it out. for $1 per pound, they will pay you for your loot and send it to soldiers on the front lines. of course, soldiers don't need candy as much as kids don't need candy but... it just makes everyone happy.

here's the link: www.halloweencandybuyback.com

***added bonus: and with veteran's day coming up, it's a double whammy!

Acme Library - Pickle Chiffon Pie

no exaggeration, this book was my most most most favorite possession as a child. the story is about caring for and respecting others, there is no villain and love rules. "jolly" roger bradfield is an incredible illustrator capturing all that was cool about the 70's. this is the perfect fairy tale for boys (there are knights on a noble quest) and girls (a benevolent princess). and oh!, there is PIE!

to buy this book, see ACME LIBRARY on the right.

(this only works if you are on the acme sharing website)

Acme Holiday - Trick or Gift

so your kid has their costume, they are thinking of nothing else but trick or treating this weekend, you've got your flashlight and all is good to go.

SO, since you will be going door to door ANYWAY, here is a very easy giving back project/ lesson.

i posted about this last year for halloween so here it is again:

UNICEF has raised over $140 million and saved god only knows how many teeth from cavities.

if you don't know this program, it's where kids ask neighbors for pennies in lieu of candy. money raised is then sent in to help support the very worthy programs in over 150 countries.

since our kids will be at carnivals, class parties and more, they won't, in any way, be deprived of candy this halloween. so trick or treating can become about something else. i am not above bribing my kids to trick of treat for UNICEF and i will buy them their favorite candies in return (is this the wrong message?).

get your boxes at participating IKEA, PIER ONE IMPORTS or HALLMARK stores or

download cute "wrapper" here and affix to any canister at home (i am using one that had bread crumbs).

lesson: we drink clean water, not all children do. unicef helps provide for the kids who need water, medicine, food and education.

***added bonus: not hopped up on sugar, they might get to bed on time after an already over-stimulating day.

here"s a link to read more about it: UNICEF.ORG

Pennies From Heaven

now that the kids are in school and have a rhythm going, how about a class project? greg mortenson (author of THREE CUPS OF TEA, a remarkably inspiring book) brings the pennies for peace program to school kids everywhere.

log onto the site, sign up and "By participating in Pennies for Peace you make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time. While a penny is virtually worthless, in impoverished countries a penny buys a pencil and opens the door to literacy."

the site gives step by step instructions for classes to start a penny jar, weave cultural lessons about the middle east into their curriculum and teach philanthropy.

here is the link: www.penniesforpeace.org

the lesson: with very little effort we can help do something as grand as BUILD A SCHOOL in a foreign country. we can make a difference.

***added bonus: your child feels powerful and you have a cleaner kitchen junk drawer, a cleaner bottom of your purse and a cleaner drink holder in your car!

Horror Story

this is unbelievable! "the story of stuff" will really make you think about what you have, where it comes from, how it's made and where it goes. a serious wake up call for the world of recycling, global warming and consumerism. this 20 minute movie will change the way you shop. it will make you think about STUFF and educate you in a way that you probably had an inkling about, but leaves no room for doubt. i hope everyone gets a chance to watch this. see it first by yourself and then watch it with your kids.

see it here: storyofstuff.com

the lesson: does my family really need another _____? how will it effect our lives vs. how will it effect the world?

***added bonus: an easy way to be inspired to get on that budget.

Important Reminders

today the folks at tiny revolutionary, an amazing website for clothing with a cause (www.tinyrevolutionary.com), sent out this email to celebrate INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY. i couldn't resist sharing it with you all.

- SMILE. The act of smiling releases endorphins and serotonin - the good mood chemicals coarsing through us. Smiling triggers these guys to wake up and start dancing which makes us happy. Happy people are peaceful people. And to paraphrase Elle Woods, peaceful people just don't kill people :).

- NAMETAGS MATTER. Everyone who works in customer service wears a name tag and yet, very few people ever bother to call them by their name. Try including the person's name in your exchange next time and see how it changes the interaction. Recognizing that someone is a person, not a job, is a great way to break down those awkward walls we feel between us and promote understanding.

- LISTEN MORE. We think a HUGE issue with all the nastiness spreading across the air waves has to do with wanting to be heard. Perhaps veryone is screaming so loudly because there is a famine of listeners. Spend a day being a listener . . . even if you totally disagree with what someone is saying, listen. Do not argue. Breathe. Know you do not bare the responsiblity for changing them and their opinions. Everyone's life experience delivers them to a set of conclusions about the way the world works. No single conversation will change anyone but you know what will make them better? Feeling as though they are heard. Be the hearer of their truth, even if it makes you want to run for the hills. People always feel more peaceful when they are heard.

- PET SOMETHING FURRY. This one is just for you. The dog, cat, hamster, etc will get a lot out of it too but not as much as you will. Pets and animals remind us to just be still. In stillness there is peace.

- HUG IT OUT. Hugs are a highly underrated form of peace activism but a really effective strategy for connecting with someone quickly. If we could ditch hand shakes altogether and go for the full body contact we would. Imagine how much better those business meetings would be if you started with a hug? To bolster your hug reserves, check out this Video of the Free Hugs Campaign - we dare you not to cry.

Lunch Bunch

as we pack up the beach chairs and umbrellas to gear up for the year ahead, school supplies, school clothes and new lunch boxes are on the list. here's a few "green" lunch boxes made with safe materials, trash free and keep your kid's food cozy and delish (providing you make something they will eat).

gogreenlunchbox.com

oots at amazon.com

herobags.com

kidskonserve.com

planetbox.com

goodbyn.com

the lesson: this is a very active way in which your kids can feel like they are participating in helping the earth. they can carry their lunch boxes with pride when they know it is made in a healthy way and keeps trash and plastic out of the landfills and oceans.

***added bonus: maybe they will attempt to eat what's in it on order to show it off.

You Are What You Eat

as if we don't already have enough on our plate (wink), i thought it would be nice to try revamping our family meals.

ORGANIC FOOD and why it's important:

children are 4 times more susceptible to pesticides and other toxins than adults. many approved chemicals were registered long before research linked them to cancer and other diseases.

when these chemicals are used in farming, they are not only ON the food, but they are in the air and the run off pollutes our water supply (which we will eventually intake as well).

in non organic farming, more energy is used to produce synthetic fertilizers than is used to till and harvest ALL of the farms in the U.S.

organic produce is far superior in nutrients and vitamins.

there are lots of political reasons like the fact that our taxes are paying for hazardous waste to clean up environmental damage caused by non organic farms BUT

one of the best reasons is because it TASTES SO MUCH BETTER!!!

i found this information and a ton more like it at mmmunch.

this amazing "wholesome nutritional" website (from 2 healthy moms) offers recipes, tips for picky eaters, pantry make-overs and cooking classes for parents. sign up on their website for "tasty tidbits". yummy.

Marco Polo

hopefully your summer has had some beach time, or at the very least, pool time. as you and your family enjoy the buoyant joys of swimming and splashing, remember the dolphins.

makers of THE COVE, a new film by ric o'barry (trainer of FLIPPER), ask us to help save the dolphins. each year in a small village in japan, over 20,000 dolphins are slaughtered and their meat is sold as "whale meat". most japanese people don't know of this injustice.

this movie isn't for the kids but the subject of helping to save these amazing mammals is.

easy things we can do to help is:

1.) choose safe seafood.

2.) write to our leaders to help get the word out in japan.

3.) teach our kids to be kind to all living creatures.

here's a link to write to japanese ambassador fujisaki

*** amazing fact, "of all the wild animals on earth, only dolphins have been known to come to a human's rescue. the primary enemy of a dolphin is humankind".

The Garbage Collector

i have the funniest nephew who loves to find "treasures" everywhere. i don't envy my sister-in-law having to clean out his pockets in the laundry room. while out for dinner last week, he collected straws, cocktail stirrers, tourist's maps and corks. he loves to make "art" with his finds and since they aren't really recycled since they have not yet been used, it's a new kind of project (see "ONE MAN'S TRASH" post below for making a recycle sculpture).

when i found TRASH FOR TEACHING it made me think of him immediately. i know he isn't the only kid who loves this, so here is more info: "Trash for Teaching collects clean and safe cast-off materials from manufacturing processes (that would otherwise become trash) and re-purposes them as educational resources. With those materials we provide a comprehensive arts education program in local school districts."

*but you don't have to be a classroom to benefit. you can order your own box of treasures for T4T by going to their website.

here is the link: T4T

click the link under PRODUCTS for JUNKIT and for $40 you will get a large box of treasure/ art supplies.

at least you won't have to worry about the secret stash of paperclips getting into the washing machine.

Come Fly With Me

lazy hazy days of summer? i hardly think so. the list of projects i had planned to do with my kids is buried deep under a pile of who knows what. how did it get so hectic around here?

you may be in the same boat, but what about the PLANE? most of us will be traveling this summer, if only for a long weekend, and there is no better captive audience than a child on an airplane. what a great time to load up on books with a great moral and read away through the clouds.

for a list of favorites, check out the ACME LIBRARY on the right side of this website. and here are a few new titles to add.

SASSAFRASS - a stray dog finds the meaning of family.

FIREFLIES - if you love it, set it free.

THOSE SHOES - things you have are worth more than things you want.

happy landings!

Supplies Surprise

i know it feels really early for this, but just a little something to keep in mind.

when you start buying school supplies, throw in a few extra folders and pencils to donate.

the school supply drive 101 sponsored by "do something" (a great service leaning site for teenagers) asks you to drop off school supplies at any local STAPLES. they will be distributed to children living in need so that they can more easily attend school in the fall.

here's the link for "do something"

the lesson: it's hard not to take the basics for granted. even school for some kids is a real struggle.

***added bonus: beat the rush and get supplies while you have top choice of trapper keepers (i always hated the name "trapper keeper", just thought i'd share).

Out of the Box

making family time for EXTRAS is a constant uphill battle, i often feel like Sisyphus. but when you see the effects of "extras" like giving, it seems incredibly worthwhile; the kids are engaged, they feel useful and they carry with them a new confidence.

this summer, i challenge you to THE BOX PROJECT. this non profit pairs you with a family living in poverty in the USA. each month, based on the recipient family's needs, you and your family send a box, some months it's filled with food, other months medical supplies and another time may be books and toys - each month might be a combination of all of the above.

i love that it's a scheduled amount of time for your family to set aside each month to focus on others in need. there are letters and pictures exchanged and a real bond forms between the two families.

here's a link: www.boxproject.org

the lesson: a family just like ours is less lucky than we are BUT we can help.

***added bonus: a project to keep them off of the video games at least one day a month this summer.

Acme Birthdays - appreciation circles

today my son celebrated his birthday at school. they have an amazing tradition of making each child a BIRTHDAY APPRECIATION CIRCLE. i bet you could guess that it's where the class sits around while each student says something about the birthday boy (or girl) that they appreciate. but aside from it's obvious name, this was better than any play set from toys r us and something i hope every school does. 

a great way to show gratitude and kindness to others of all ages AND doesn't need to just be for birthdays. try it around the dinner table, a girl scout fireside or a school/ summer camp morning meeting. the boost of confidence is quite a gift for that child.

the lesson: thinking about others and some simple ways to help people feel good. then there's karma - in a circle especially, what comes around goes around!

***added bonus: the savings on presents!!!!

At Home Heroes

i can't fight it. SCREEN TIME is everywhere; TV, computer, video games, portable DVD players, iphones, ipods and portable gaming systems like a DS or PSP. jeesh. that's a lot of screens. if you can't beat em, at least you can make it worthwhile. i know (from too much personal experience) that there are some amazing games on the market that can be used as learning tools. so goes it for online gaming.

HABITAT HEROES is a website with social networking for kids and information to educate and inspire them about the environment. sharon lowe, the founder of HH says that treating other living creatures with respect is of the utmost importance to her family, and that children learn better by playing - we can all agree with that. so she has put to practice these ideas to help teach kids about the animal habitats that are being affected by global warming. players choose an animal and make their way through the site.

www.habitatheroes.com

the lesson: their eyes glued to a screen, at least can be productive. children often relate to animals' struggles as they also feel like voiceless beings themselves.

***added bonus: once kids learn games on this child friendly site, a parent might just have time to say... open a magazine?? return a phone call?? ahh, the dreams. how they change.  

BULLSEYE!

it often feels like i can go weeks, even months, without seeing the big picture. living in a myopic world of my family and the "to-do list", i forget about all the help needed in the world. AND to add insult to injury, i know i'm not alone when i fondly reference those regular, almost mindless, trips to target where very full shopping carts (sometimes two) of god only knows what are de riguer.

here we can solve both of those problems: make meaningful purchases at target AND help those who need it.

the TARGET HOUSE is a home like no other. it is affiliated with the st. jude's children's research hospital and accommodates thousands of families NOT on vacation. they have made a wish list of items that you can easily buy on target.com to help these children feel more comfortable during their treatments.

www.target.com/targethouse and scroll to the bottom to find "wish list"

although you still might need to go to target for toilet paper (and 5 dozen more random items), at least now you can cross off help others from your "to-do list" this week.

'Wich Craft

my kids eat the same lunch almost daily. peanut butter and jelly sandwich for one, and soynut butter and jelly for the other (who has a strict "no nut" policy at school, and yet, somehow they always let me in!). 

making lunches is a deeply tedious task and one of my least favorite mom jobs.

BUT since we're doing it anyway, here's a kooky idea...

what about a sandwich assembly line? a loaf of bread, a jar of PB, a jar of jelly, a butter knife and some ziplock bags. you and your kids can whip out a dozen sandwiches in no time flat.

take them to a shelter, a food bank or just hand them out on the street to those who look like they could use it. it is really fast and really fun and makes a really big difference to the people who are hungry. 

the lesson: if we can help, it's our job to do so. this is the same lesson written here again and again but it's the lesson i really want my kids to own.

***added bonus: while you're at it make a few extras and stockplie for the week's lunch boxes.

Bigger Big Sunday

every spring BIG SUNDAY arrives and this year it is upon us may 3rd. this is a day where families everywhere volunteer to help a long list of organizations. similar to michelle obama's "call to service", this day asks you to just DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING to help out. anywhere.

i keep hearing schools talk about "100% participation" about different things from giving money to parking in the correct pick-up spot, BUT... what if we had a world where giving back had 100% participation? imagine what that would look like. 

here's the link for BIG SUNDAY

if you can't find anything near you, feel free to take ideas listed on this site and have your own "little sunday".

the lesson: true, our kids have homework and soccer and ballet and sunday school. our lives are FULL, but if we can expose them to helping and giving kinds of experiences, they will shine, grow and feel in ways that will reward not only the recipient of the help, but mostly your child. they will feel big and significant in the world. they can make a difference.

*** added bonus: i say SUNDAES for all participants of "big sunday"! of course, you'll have to organize the trip to ben and jerry's on your own.

Say What???

run, don't walk, to the nearest link to amazon.com (if you are on the acme sharing website, it is on your right). i find myself referring to this book ALL THE TIME and it suddenly dawned on me that i should "share" it here. because it would, in fact, make the world a better place for us and our kids if we all had THE handbook for parenting. betsy brown braun is the real deal. her advice is so thoughtful, developmentally appropriate and most of all, comes from common sense (the kind we don't have when we are faced with our kids mid-wrestle, hair-pulling and tears).

"just tell me what to say" by betsy brown braun

Isn't Every Day Earth Day?

here is a fun and easy project to do as a family. create a wildlife habitat for the neighborhood animals. no, not a den for coyotes or skunks, but a bird bath or feeder for your sky bound feathered friends.

log onto the national wildlife federation for details and suggestions to make your backyard (or balcony) a certified natural habitat.

the lesson: what's ours is theirs. wouldn't we want to indulge in the kindness of strangers if we were flying north for the season?

***added bonus: dust off those expensive binoculars you never use and put them to work.

Earth Day - Movie Magic

earth day is right around the corner (it's april 22) and the first item on our list is to take the kids to see the new disney EARTH movie. here is the BEST part... when you purchase a ticket during opening week, disney will plant a tree in the brazilian atlantic rain forest (considered to be the most endangered rain forest since only 7% of it remains).

here is a link to get all the deets

the lesson: having not yet seen the movie, i can only hope that it will give our kids an amazing overview of so many of the wonders and creatures we don't see on a regular basis. this will help them to appreciate it more.

***added bonus: popcorn with m&m's and some red vines all to help this beautiful planet of ours.

Soooo Sweet

the great american bake sale is an organization that helps you put on a (see if you can guess what i'm going to write next) bake sale!!! yay, you guessed right!

they send you a poster, give you the low down on sales, give you an email card to forward to friends and set up an account for you. sure, you could do all of this yourself, but somehow it seems so much more LEGIT.

TGABS (my acronym) gives all of the monies raised to a hunger relief organization in your neighborhood.  this morning my son and his "girlfriend", charlotte, made a whopping $33. if i may go one step further, i would like to recommend baking rice krispies treats - they are the EASIEST thing on the planet to make. melt butter, add mini marshmallows, add cereal, stir and pour - THE END.

here's a link for THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKE SALE

the lesson: basically it's "business school 101": make a product, market and advertise, sell and donate.

***added bonus: it's really fun, great to eat leftovers and who doesn't love sitting around begging people for a dollar.

In The Jeans

i am no fool (most days). i know how impossible it is to ask children to go through their toys and give away the ones they don't use. most kids just can't do it - yet. but clothes? you bet. 

since spring is here, it's time for SPRING CLEANING. 

here is an amazing denim drive that is trying to break the Guinness Book Of World Records for the most clothing recycled. all of these jeans will be turned into cotton fiber insulation for homes damaged in natural disasters.

here's a link for more details: at national geographic kids

jeans (and jackets) must be sent in by june 30th for those of you who do spring cleaning closer to summer. 

***added bonus: a way to kill an hour or two (if you count a trip to the post office to mail them out) until spring break is over and school is back in session.

Cookie Monsters

acme sharing was lucky enough to have a little mention in cookie magazine. if you are a first time visitor from this WELCOME WELCOME. you and i already have a couple of things in common; our interest in raising kids who are socially conscious AND the same taste in periodicals.

this site is set up for parents to help fold in some giving back ideas to the already busy lives of our families. here are a few easy steps:

1.) demonstrate kindness (see post below)

2.) read bedtime stories with a message 

(see ACME LIBRARY on the right)

3.) engage in kid friendly projects that are linked to existing non-profits 

(you will find 75 on this site)

4.) alternative ideas for birthday parties 

(there are a few here)

5.) alternative ideas for birthday gifts 

(you'll find some below)

if you are already a subscriber, forgive the recap. hope it may inspire you to revisit some of the older posts.

Model Behavior

life is MESSY. i often pretend otherwise. keep my ducks in a row, keep a neat house and live and die by my to do list.

but 99.9% of the time, being a parent is not something you can put in a box and tie up with a bow. i am beginning to embrace the chaos. well, "embrace" might be a little strong. but kids get sick, bullies appear, hormones strike and mostly, general madness ensues. my eyes are finally opening (i liked it better in the dark).

how on earth are we supposed to take care of our families AND make the world a better place AND teach our kids about making their world a better place??? sometimes there just isn't time in the day to eat a healthy dinner, let alone hot glue a recycle sculpture project. 

here is where the easiest ACME SHARING activity comes into play. MODEL KINDNESS. it is so easy and most of us (you know who you are) do it anyway. when our children see us taking an extra millisecond to smile at the toll booth person, make idle chit chat with the grocery bagger or say nice things about the world around us, they are learning to be kind and positive.

it is so simple that it feels silly posting about it, but lately i have had NO time or interest to do anything extra and i couldn't help but notice how powerful and effective being nice (and sometimes faking it for the benefit of our little audience) can be.

Acme Library - The Teddy Bear

what a fantastic book to show little ones how powerful kindness can be. the story of a boy losing his bear, sees it now belongs to a homeless (and friendless) man, and forgetting his own loss and pain, decides to forfeit his feelings for someone else's happiness. 

to buy this book, see ACME LIBRARY on the right.

(this only works if you are on the acme sharing website)

Acme Birthdays - sock hop!!

here's an idea for a birthday party that will shake things up, put on a SOCK HOP for your child and their friends. 

disco, 50's or pop - whatever tunes rock your house will set the theme for the dance party.

invite the guests, in lieu of gifts, to bring new pairs of socks for children living in poverty. ask guests to wear crazy socks (i know it's not the most modern idea, but you can make it your own) and dance the day away.

need more ideas? how about a cake shaped like a sock? toe rings for party favors, pedicures on site for the moms, use xmas stocking templates to make brightly colored socks for hanging decorations or a matching game where kids have to find their mate.

to find recipients, please check:

operation school bell

kids in need

or your local shelter, temple or church

the lesson: it's not always all about them, even on their birthdays. 

***added bonus: you try dancing for 2 hours and staying awake! a nap is in their near future.

Dog Day Afternoon

today's field trip to the zoo reminded me that KIDS LOVE ANIMALS, ah, duh, meredith. and it made me think more about projects that would allow kids to feel connected to animals without going to africa on safari or investing in a llama farm.

my friend, stacy, told me about this great idea:

dress up some dogs for adoption day.

1.) either get some bandanas at the surplus store, or a yard of fabric at the fabric store from which you can cut bandana shapes.

2.) give your kids some puffy paints, glitter pens and adhesive jewels.

3.) ask them to make "signs" on these bandanas that will later be worn by parentally challenged pups.

they should say things like:

i'm lovable

i play catch

hug me

i love cuddles

great watch dog

wanna play?

we all know the power of advertising, and every little bit helps.

find a rescue near you

here's a link for petfinder.com

the lesson: you could give your kids the staggeringly scary statistics about stray animals, but that might freak them out. instead, focus on how they are helping a creature who can't really help themselves. this helps kids to feel very empowered.

***added bonus: the time you spend passing out the "necklaces" and helping set up the adoption might satiate their desire to take them all home - at least for this week.