Most children fall behind in reading and math during the summer break.  That’s why when the new school year begins, teachers have to spend the first two months bringing the children “back up to speed” with reviews. 

To help your child keep up with mathematics, try bringing them into the kitchen for the summer.  Invite friends over in varying numbers so your children will have to determine how to extend recipes.  If your recipe feeds four, how much meat would you need to double the recipe, triple it, or quadruple it?  Your children probably won’t complain about having to do math if they have something to look forward to.

Even with gas prices the way they are these days, some families are still planning to drive for vacation.  Ask the children to help determine how far you’ll be able to travel when you fill the gas tank and how much it’ll cost.  You might find that your child can help you find a shorter route that will save you money.

You’re never too young to learn how to handle money.  If you have a yard sale this summer, ask them to make change, as well as allowing them to place some of their own items to sell.  This will help them learn the value of money, and how to keep track of it by helping divvy it up at the end of the sale.

Play games with them.  Scrabble and Boggle are great games to help your child’s spelling while they’re out of school, and they’ll have fun in the process.  Yahtzee and Monopoly are good games for math.  Of course, if you’re children are younger, you may have to play games like Chutes and Ladders or a simpler game.

Go to the library as a family and pick out some books that everyone will enjoy.  Then each night, instead of turning on the TV, have family reading hour.  You may find that your children enjoy having to use their imaginations to see the story that they don’t complain so much when they’re told to turn the TV off.

Get them involved in geocaching.  Geocaching is an activity that the entire family can enjoy together.  You get directions to a secret cache of items that you must find.  Most of the time, these items are hidden in forests or someplace not easily accessible.  Not only will you have to learn about reading maps and a compass, it’ll be a great opportunity for your family to enjoy the outdoors together.

If you look around, there are plenty of great places to pick up some summer learning.  Think outside of the schoolroom and you may find that the best places are right in your own home or very nearby.

Recommended Resource: 

Kids Activity Calendar Weekly Activities, Crafts and Games all about the Alphabet For Your Preschooler.  Each week you will receive coloring sheets and worksheets in your email along with craft and activity suggestions and even a snack list that incorporates the letter of the week. What a fun way for your little ones to learn the alphabet and much more.

Reading Solutions for Kids - Resource which aids in teaching children to read.

Zoobooks - Turn a youngster’s love of animals into a love of reading!

 In today’s hectic world, it’s not always easy to find ME TIME. In fact, sometimes we might feel guilty about wanting a bit more of it. But in reality, without time to unwind or to pursue our own interests we can end up a tightly wound ball of nerves ready to explode. That’s not goof for you or your family.

Download this free guide and learn:

• The benefits of me time.
• Re-evaluating how you’re currently spending your time.
• Finding the time YOU need.
• Pitfalls to avoid.
• …and more.

Visit http://schmoozins.com/free-time-for-me-report/522 to download your free report

This Guide is Brought to You By:  This guide is generously provided by Journey to Joy, your guide to a more fulfilling life as a mom.

*You will need Adobe

Looking to make your next event a memorable one? The Party Zone offers discount party supplies and gift ideas to help you create memorable events and enhance your parties theme. Browse our unique selection of affordable party supplies, novelties, accessories, gifts, gift baskets and favors. Sign-up to receive notifications of your own upcoming events; birthday’s, anniversaries, parties and more. Just one of many benefits The Party Zone  offers it’s shoppers.

Summer time is here and there’s no better time the now to get the whole family together for a luau! The Party Zone can help you plan your party with ease. We’ve got decorations, costumes, paper supplies, music and more! We have hundreds of themes to choose from for all of your celebrations. We carry all of the supplies you need to make your special event remembered. Including gifts, cups, plates, invitations, music, decorations and more! And with easy online ordering makes The Party Zone the place to be when planning your next event. 

Here are just a few of our Party Themes:

• Valentine Day
• St. Patrick’s Day

• Holiday Parties

• Wedding/Bridal Party

• Decade Theme Party

• Anniversary Party

• Luau Party

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• Safari Party

• Fiesta Fun

Summer Fun and Learning Can Co-Exist

Learning never ceases during the course of our lifetime.  So too, kids need to be motivated to learn as much as they can, even during summer recess.  Summer fun and learning can co-exist.  Here are some examples of how this can be achieved.

Word games, such as Scrabble, come in small sizes, which are suitable for beach and road trips.  Kids love it!  It stimulates their vocabulary and engages them in friendly competition.  It also enhances their math skills, as they have to add the points every round.  Boggle is another portable word game that kids love.  They can manipulate the letters, make words, and add up points.  This is a great game to take on a camping trip or to the beach.

There are board games that allow the kids to work on words and sentences.  There are computer games, which involve critical thinking.  These games can be competitive, and reinforce group work, and cooperative learning, as well.  Using these types of games keeps the stimulation of the kid’s minds at work.  It’s critical to keep the thought processes flowing, so they are prepared for the following school year.  In playing these games, they can also be taught to accept defeat gracefully.

Another board game, which involves critical thinking, is checkers.  The entire family can challenge each other.  This promotes social stimulation.  Suduko is a game involving math and numbers.  They have a kid’s version, which can be utilized on a rainy day or when there is some down time.

The advantage of utilizing and playing these games is learning, even though the kids do not realize it.  In this way, while they are having fun over the summer, they are actually preparing for the fall term.  Learning not only stimulates their minds, but also reinforces the skills they are taught throughout the school year.  In addition, there are some great sites for computer savvy kids you might want to look at.  They are funbrain.com, math.com, and abcteach.com.

Summer fun and learning can co-exist by utilizing these games and word play.  Without realizing it, your kids will be ready for the next phase in their school career, because time was taken to teach and have fun at the same time.

Fourth of July Party Ideas for Kids
Children all over the United States look forward getting out of school and spending the summer having fun.  One activity many children look forward to is the Fourth of July and the fireworks that light up the sky.  However, younger children may not be able to stay awake until the fireworks begin.  These Fourth of July party ideas for kids may help them enjoy the day even if they do fall asleep prior to the evening’s light show.

A Fourth of July party can be so much fun, especially for little ones.  But how do you prepare a party that children, as well as adults, will enjoy?  Start early making plans and ask for your child’s input.  You may be surprised to find that they have some great ideas for decorations, games, and food.

Let your child help make decorations for the party.  Table toppers with a red, white, and blue glittered chenille stems, foil streamers, and balloons will be festive.  Paint a small coffee can and fill it with sand to help the decorations stand.  You may even want to place some sparklers in the can for later in the evening.

Plan a parade around your neighborhood or wherever you’re hosting your party.  Let the children bring their bikes, wagons, tricycles, or scooters and decorate them with patriotic themes.  Not only will the children have fun showing off their rides, they’ll also be showing off their artistic ability.  Consider having a prize for each age group.

Don’t forget the food!  Barbecue is the normal fare for the Fourth of July.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, and homemade ice cream are always a hit.  Have a watermelon, pie, or hot dog eating contest that everyone can join in.

What activities can children enjoy that only require adult supervision?  Perhaps you can allow the children to make decorated t-shirts with fabric paint.  See who can blow the biggest bubbles, have a water balloon war, and play patriotic music.

If the children in your life are water babies, consider having a pool party.  Be sure to have a small wading pool so even the youngest children can have fun in the water.  To keep children safe while in the pools, assign or hire someone to watch the children.  Use sunscreen to keep them from becoming sunburned.

Finish off your party by allowing the children to stay up late so they can enjoy the fireworks show.  Pack a light jacket just in case the night is cool, and arrive early to find the best seats.  Don’t forget to bring your own chairs, a blanket to sit on, and maybe even a snack.  Be prepared, however, for the children to nod off very quickly after the show is over.

Fourth of July party ideas for children don’t really need to be elaborate for them to be fun.  Decorations, party games, and food are always a safe bet to get children into the party mood.  Top the evening off with a night of fireworks, and the children will say your party was the best ever.

Menu Plan Monday ~ June 16th

Nothing fancy this week for us here:

Tonight:  Spaghetti

Tuesday: Baked Chicken, Scalloped potatoes, salad

Wednesday: Left Over Spaghetti, salad

Thursday:  Tacos

Friday: Pizza night

My weekly meal plans are needed to ensure that things run a bit smoother in the late afternoons when its time to get dinner on teh table for this busy family. It takes all of the guess work and most of the “fuss” out of cooking.

Stop by to read my article on Meal Planning if you are looking to take the “fuss” out of your mealtimes.

 Let us know what you have going on in your kitchen this week

Some women have the worst time trying to figure out what gift to give their husband for Father’s Day each year. Begin now to think about Father’s Day gift ideas for your husband, and you’ll be better prepared when the day arrives.

Before you head out to the store, take some time to listen to what your husband is saying. He may be leaving you subtle (or maybe not so subtle) hints about what he’d like to get as a gift. Has he been mentioning a particular piece of sports equipment? Maybe that would be the perfect gift for him.

Of course, not all men are sports enthusiasts. They may like watching a game every now and then, but they would perhaps rather be actually doing something. Pay attention to his hobbies. If he loves to work with wood, a new woodworking tool might be just the ticket. Don’t worry if you don’t know which tool to get him. Purchase a gift card to his favorite home improvement store. You can allow him to pick out the item that he’d like to have most.

Is your husband a hunter or a fisherman? Take him to the closest sporting goods store. He may be searching for the perfect lure or tackle. Allow him to pick out what he needs to fill his tackle box. By doing so, you may make his Father’s Day.

Does your husband enjoy reading? Check to see if he’s purchased a particular series of books or books about a certain topic. If there is a series he’s been reading, do some investigating and see if there’s a new book in the series that has recently been published. Take this opportunity to get that book so he doesn’t have to go looking for it.

Another possibility, if you have a gaming console, would be to purchase him the newest game that he’s been drooling over. To make the gift even better, take some time to play the game with him, even if it’s not something you’re interested in. He’ll love the fact that you would choose to spend that time doing something he enjoys.

Finally, you could take the initiative to get a babysitter for the children so you and he can go out on the town. Take him to his favorite restaurant and perhaps that new action movie he’s wanted to see. Sure, it may not be the movie you would choose, but you’ll have a good excuse to hold on tight during the scary parts.

After dinner and movie, remember that the most important thing is that you’ve taken the time to think about him, what he likes, and chosen to spend the time with him. That’s really what you need to think about when deciding upon Father’s Day gift ideas for your husband. What would he really like? Then take the time to fulfill that desire.

I was visiting a friends blog here and while reading it I learned that her son’s name means “Firery One”. Well, I’ve known this person (cyberly) for 9years and NEVER knew the meaning of her son’s name yet, the friend uses fireyone as a username on the online forums we post together one.

After finding out the meaning to her son’s name and reading how her son truly lives up to his “fiery” meaning I decided to post about the meanings of my 3 childrens name.

!st up is my oldest (20)
Shayna
Meaning: Beautiful
Gender: Female
Origin: Hebrew

She happens to be beautiful both inside and out!

Next we have: my 16yo
Isreal (she is a female) (here is the meaning for IsrAel)
Meaning: Prince Of God
Gender: Male
Origin: Hebrew

Well, she is truly of GOD! She has been involved in church her FULL life, sings in the choir, dances in the church dance troop, participates in the Youth Programs AND is an usher.  She spents aproximately 10hr a week in church!

Last but not least is my 8yo:
Isaac
Meaning: He Will Laugh
Gender: Male
Origin: Hebrew

WOW did they get this right. Isaac is my “jokester” he has a wonderful sense of humor, is usually the live of any party and is the best “cheerer-upper” that I know!

How fitting that all of my childrens have strong ties to the meanings of their names.

I used the tool here to quickly search the meanings of the names. I would love to see comments with the meanings of the names of yourself and/or your loved one.

Oh and before I go. I have a unique name Aurelia (pronounced Ah-real-lee-ya) and that is Latin for Golden

Also we are African American yet I was Brought up in a Jewish Household until the age of 13 and ALL of my children have Hebrew names.