Free and Amazing Photo Organizer
So you have kids and a digital camera. That probably means you have anywhere from 1-10000 pictures and videos of them. Most digital cameras come with software to help you organize and edit your photos, but most leave a lot to be desired. One of the best programs out here also happens to be free! It is called Picasa.
This program is amazing. It can watch your picture folders, adding new ones anytime you plug in your camera. It creates thumbnails of all your videos and pictures for easy organizing and editing. You can do a lot of basic editing, cropping, red eye reduction and a bunch more.
One of the best features is you can choose what format to print pictures in. You can have wallets, 5×7, 4×6, all the common formats. You can print out the best pictures and give to family members as gifts!
You can also have it resize images before you email them so you don’t clog your family’s email accounts with glorious pictures of your kids.
Once I discovered this, I threw out the horrible Canon software and have never looked back. And that was about 6000 pictures ago!
Family’s Best Friend on the Cheap
If you have a pet, you know how easy it can be to spend money like no one’s business on them. A new collar, chew toys, fancy food, plush beds, even clothes in some cases! All that can add up very quickly, you would think a tiny sweater would be $5 or so, not $20!
We have one 50 lb dog that we budget $50 a month for and that seems to work out fine. You will have months where the costs will be higher, the yearly checkup is one that comes to mind, but it will usually even out in the end. One way to save money is to purchase any medicine like Frontline or anti-flea soaps or sprays online and NOT at the vet’s office. They can be almost twice as expensive in some cases!
We do splurge a little bit in this food category, buying the slightly expensive Eukanuba pet food instead of a generic product. They are probably all the same but we have been with Eukanuba for the dog’s entire life so why switch now.
If you have a baller like we do, you can find huge lots of used tennis balls on eBay for next to nothing. They usually come from a tennis academy or school and have plenty of bounce left in them. You can usually get them in lots of 50 or more that will last for many many years. Don’t buy fresh tennis balls just for your dog to slobber all over and chew through.
Just keep in mind that pets are quite content with only a few things and really don’t need that plush velvet bed.
Reading Comprehension, Part 3
Some final thoughts on Reading (although I may return to the topic again sometime).
Be sure to include some books in your routine that do not have printed words. Children can look at the pictures and help you tell the story. Talk about what is happening in each picture. Pause occasionally and predict what will happen next. Make connections to the story, “Has you ever seen a helicopter like that?” One of my favorite picture-only books is Good Dog Carl.
Eventually, when your child has the needed attention span, try books that do not have pictures. Talk to your child about what they ’see’ in their minds as you read the words. Or, have them draw pictures to go along with the story.
Be sure to include some non-fiction literature as well. Informational books about animals or trucks can be just as stimulating and interesting for your child.
Establish reading as part of your daily routine and your child will be one step ahead of the game when school begins. Did you know that there are some children who begin Kindergarten not knowing how to turn pages of a book and who cannot recognize the front vs. back of a book?
Finally: Reading is a FREE activity! You don’t even have to buy a book. Visit your local library and borrow books for free. Or spend a little money at a Friends of the Library Book Sale, garage sales, or online book trading sites. Organize a book swap with your neighbors or other parents of young children.
Keep on Reading!
Reading Comprehension, Part 2
Tips for supporting your young child’s reading comprehension:
1. Have your child ‘read’ a story to you. This works especially well when it is a book that you have read to him 159 times already.
2. After reading a story, ask what they remember about it. Talk about your favorite part. Even if your child cannot voice their own thoughts yet, they are getting good modeling from you. me: “What did you like best about that story?” him: silence me: “I really liked the doggie in the story.” him: silence me: “Remember that day when our doggie ran around in circles just like the doggie in the book?” him: smile me: “We were laughing and laughing, just like the little boy in the story.” him: “Molly ran round and round and round!” me: “Yeah, she did!” him: “Read the story again.”
3. If your child has enough words, have him tell Daddy (or anyone - his stuffed bear) about the story. Remember to model doing this yourself for a while first. Even if it sounds silly to you to tell your spouse about the Pokey Little Puppy and his adventures.
4. Make connections to the book. For example, if you are reading a book about baby animals, remind your child of when you saw the baby animals at the zoo. If you read a book about a boy who likes trucks, ask your child if he likes trucks too.
5. Make predictions. Pause throughout the story. Ask your child what he thinks will happen next. Even if they can’t respond, model making predictions yourself. “I think Thomas is going too fast on the tracks. I think he will crash! What do you think will happen?”
Reading Comprehension, Part 1
I have probably said this before, but, being a former teacher, I feel very strongly about it. Read to your child every day! Children who are read to at home will perform better in school on down the road. Take the time now to read to your child. Even 5 minutes a day will help them to develop their own reading skills.
Infants may not understand the words, but they will certainly understand the soothing sound of your voice while you read to them. At this age you are already beginning to model reading fluency to them even if you don’t know it! As your baby grows, begin to choose books that have bright pictures and easy cadences. Rhyming and pattern books are good to start with too.
Older babies may start to grab at the book or even eat it! Don’t worry, keep modeling good reading. You can give them a board book or vinyl book to hold/play with while you read to them. When babies start to reach the toddler phase, they may appear to not be interested in books or sitting still. You can, however, still model good reading to them. Sit and read your own book, magazine or newspaper while they are playing. Read out loud just one of their stories and then go back to reading your own material. Read to your child in little spurts. One short book before each sleep time or maybe even a short book while they are eating a meal.
As your toddler begins to show more interest in books, let them choose what they want you to read to them. You may find yourself reading the same things over and over. If this happens, after a while, pause at familiar lines and see if they can ‘fill in the blank’ for you. To vary the reading selection use the ‘you pick one book and I’ll pick one book’ routine. While you are reading the same book for the fifth time in a day for the fourteenth day in a row, remember that one day you will probably walk into the room to see your child ‘reading’ that book aloud by himself! And all because you read it to him so many times.
When your child is old enough and has the attention span for it, try short chapter books. Read one chapter or more per day. Continue to read to your child (even for just 5 minutes per day) as your child progresses through school. One day they will probably be too ‘old’ for that. Treasure this special time that you have with them and love of reading it will develop.
Thank You Notes
It is easy to have your kids be involved in the thank you note process, no matter what the age.
For the very young: Write thank yous for the gifts your young children have received on note paper made from their own drawings. Let kids fingerpaint or color on blank notecards or on regular paper that can be cut down or folded to fit in an envelope.
For toddlers and pre-schoolers: Let your child ‘write’ the thank you themselves. Then ‘translate’ the scribbles into readable English. If the kids are starting to write their own names, let them sign the thank you note.
For primary ages: Kids can draw a picture of the gift (wearing the sweater from Grandma or playing with the toy from Uncle Matt) and you can write the thank you words they dictate to you. By this age, though, many children should be able to start writing sentences. A simple Thank You Frame (see below) is appropriate for this age.
For older elementary kids and above: By the time your child is in fourth grade an above, they should be capable of writing thank you notes themselves. One strategy for getting kids to get thank you notes done is to not let them use the gift until the thank you has been written. Another idea is to set aside one morning or afternoon for thank you writing. Put all the supplies that kids will need (pens, pencils, paper, envelopes, stamps, addresses, gift lists) on the dining table. Sit down as a family and have everyone complete their holiday thank you notes. You can do yours at the same time and be a good model for your kids!
All Ages: Take a digital picture of your child with or without the gift and attach it to an email to the giver. Or print the picture on regular paper and use that as your stationary.
Gift Giving, Revisited
We have written about inexpensive gift-giving before, but this seems like the right time of year to revisit the subject.
This is a great time of year to bake cookies, breads or other treats for gifts. The oven will help to heat your house and you won’t have to run the heater as much! Wrap up a nice loaf of bread or plate of cookies for your workplace, or your spouse’s. Give treats to your neighbors and friends. Wrap a paper plate with saran wrap, tie a festive bow around it and, voila!, you have a lovely homemade, inexpensive gift.
Break out those craft scissors and some tape to create homemade cards or other crafts. Use old magazines or calendars to do collages. Four greeting cards can be made from just 3 or 4 pieces of 8 1/2 by 11 paper. Visit websites or a local craft store for ideas.
Buy an inexpensive photo frame and paint it or embellish it in some way. Glue on beads or shells. This could be a lovely gift for a grandparent, especially if your kids helped with the frame.
Cross-stitch or embroider on fabric to make a bread cloth, table cloth or napkins. Knitted and crocheted gifts are treasured keepsakes in our home. Keep checking garage sales and rummage sales for unused cross-stitching sets.
Offer to babysit or pet-sit as a Christmas gift. Give another Mom a day to do her Christmas shopping by herself. You know I’d love a gift of time like that!
Your kids can help with most of these projects. This is a great time to teach them about creative giving. Maybe they will even have some gift ideas of their own.
Gifts that Matter
Instead of giving useless knick-knacks to relatives this year, why not make a charitable donation in their name.
There are plenty of worthy causes out there. Charity Navigator is one website devoted to helping you determine what charity is best for your own giving.
Our personal favorite charity is Heifer Project International. HPI has over 800 projects in 50 countries. They offer livestock, education and other resources to families facing hunger throughout the world. With each gift comes the requirement of ‘passing of the gift.’ For example, a family may be given a gift of a pregnant goat along with the education of how to care for the animal. This family, would, in turn, be required to give the next female goat born to another family, creating a positive ripple effect. The goat will provide milk and manure to be used as fertilizer. HPI focuses on sustainable agriculture development education for all gift recipients. There is a donation level for everyone. From a $10 donation toward a ’share of rabbits’ to a $500 Heifer, you can help make someone’s life better. For each $10 donation you may receive an honor card to give to your relative or friend if the donation is a gift in their name.
There are many worthy charities out there. Find one that works for you. Here are some more ideas: Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, Toys for Tots, Cancer Research, Wildlife Conservation.
Or keep your donation local. Donate to your local Zoo, Animal Shelter, Library or School.
Make a Homemade Wreath
In years past, we have bought a fresh Christmas wreath for the front door. This year, to try to save money, I attempted a homemade one and am pretty happy with the results. Here’s what I suggest:
1. Find some greenery. We have a juniper tree in our yard that works very well. If you can, go with something that won’t get brown too quickly. Evergreen-type branches work the best. Cut an armful (more if you want a bigger wreath).
2. Cut some rosemary (if you have it) to use as well. This lends a wonderful aroma to your wreath.
3. I used some red berries from a tree down the street (get permission if you are trimming from a neighbor’s yard!).
4. Lay out a sheet (especially if you put the wreath together inside the house).
5. Find some malleable wire. I used beading wire and it worked quite well.
6. Gather one or two pieces of your evergreen, one or two sprigs of rosemary and one sprig of berries. (I only used 4 sprigs of berries total; not every bunch had one.)
7. Bind them together toward the bottom with the wire.
8. Repeat for as many bunches as you need for the size wreath you plan to make. I think I made about 10 bunches.
9. Now lay the bunches out as you want them to look in your wreath.
10. Bind each bunch together by finding a sturdy part of the evergreen and using the wire to fix it to the next bunch.
11. If you can, purchase or make (using a wire coat hanger) a circle to anchor your wreath. I did not do this.
My wreath is fairly sturdy (I used quite a bit of wire), but it would have been much easier to just affix each bunch to a wire wreath instead of to each other.
12. Attach one more loop of wire to use to hang the wreath.
13. Add ribbons or ornaments to make it even more festive.
hints:
-If you have little ones, do this during a sleep time, as your hands will get very sticky and sappy.
-Our front door gets direct sunlight for most of the day. The berries turned brown after about 5 days and now, after about a week, the greenery is beginning to brown. I estimate that it will last about one more week. If you want to spend a little money at the outset, purchase fake berries to use year after year.
Holiday Paper Crafts
Handprint crafts are my favorite this season. Here are two that we did that were really successful.
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Handprint Wreath
1. Draw half a wreath on two pieces of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Preferably green. Cut out the halves and staple together to form the whole wreath.
2. Trace your child’s hand onto some green paper. I used several different printed papers from a Christmas Paper Stack along with plain green. Cut out handprints.
3. Let your kids glue or tape (double-stick is the best) the hands to the wreath.
4. Make paper embellishments. Cut a ‘ribbon’ out of red paper. Or glue actual ribbon to the wreath. Cut out ‘berries’ out of red paper.
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Handprint Christmas Tree
1. Cut a tree shape out of heavy card stock. It doesn’t have to be green, as the handprints will cover the card stock.
2. Cut a ‘trunk’ out of brown paper and staple to the bottom of the tree.
3. Trace your child’s hand onto green paper. Like the wreath, you could use plain green or several different shades/prints in green. Cut out handprints.
4. Let your kids glue or tape (again, double-stick) hands to the tree. It looks best if you attach the hands facing down and start at the bottom so they are layered to the top. Of course, I just let The Boy attach his willy-nilly, but it still looks good!
5. Cut out a star or angel and tape to the top of the tree.
6. Add ‘ornaments.’ We used stickers, lots of ‘em!
Be sure you write your child’s name and the date on the back of the crafts. In ten years it might be hard to remember which child/year it is from.
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