My seven year old son told me about a website he accesses at school during computer time. After reviewing it I was very impressed.  Starfall is a great website for children to explore and discover reading in a fun and exciting way. The site it's full of interactive fun, stories, ABC Printouts, and more. My youngest enjoys the ABC printouts in addition to the games.

The website is a cheerful combination of playful buttons and bright colours.  The contrast of buttons and background keeps the eyes drawn toward the upper half of the page where the fun is. The design elements are appropriately geared toward the site's intended audience. Another excellent feature is that every word on the site is clickable and will read aloud.

On the lower portion of the screen there is links for parents and teachers and also an educational store. I would recommend Starfall to all parents with young children leaning to read. I would definitely give it 5 stars.

In my attempt to make Oatmeal Squares I ended up making something better.  I put Oatmeal Squares in my kids' lunch for a healthy treat.  Sometimes they eat it, sometimes they don't but this time I ended up making a Crunchy Yogurt Topping and they keep asking for more yogurt with the yummy topping. This is a super easy recipe made in the microwave.

Yummy Yogurt Topping

• 1/2 cup  butter or non-hydrogenated margarine
• 1/2 tsp  vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup  packed brown sugar
• 2 cups    rolled oats (not instant)

In a 2-L/8-in glass or microwave safe dish, microwave butter for 40 -60 seconds on high until melted. Stir in vanilla and sugar. Mix well. Stir in rolled oats and mix well. Firmly press mixture into pan.  Microwave on high for 5-6 minutes.  Let cool.  When removing from dish break up into small pieces (crumble). Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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Now that spring is here and the snow has finally melted my boys constantly want to go for bike rides but I want to make sure that their bikes are ready.We decided to do our own bike tune-up which was an activity we could all do together and it also saved us paying $40 a bike for someone else to do it. Most bicycle experts recommend a tune-up at least once a year and higher-end bicycles tend to need a complete overhaul at least once a year

What You Will Need For Tuning Your Bicycle:

• Screwdrivers
• An adjustable wrench or set of wrenches
• Tongue and groove pliers (channel locks)
• Oil and non-flammable non-toxic cleaning solvent

What to do:

1. Clean your bike using a non-toxic all-purpose bicycle cleaner and degreaser.
2. Check for any loose screws or bolts and tighten them.
3. Check your tire pressure and pump if needed. You also need to check for wear. Bald spots mean you need to replace your tires.
4. Check brake lever and caliper action. Also, make sure the brake pads are at the right height by squeezing the bicycle's brake pads against the bikes rim. The bike's brakes should not rub on the tire nor should they be able to slip under the bike rim. Check brake-pads for wear. The rear pads tend to go first.
5. Check all cables. Rusting or fraying cables, derailleurs or brakes are dangerous. Replace them immediately.
6. Inspect the chain by doing a back pedal and watch for any jamming. A slack chain should be replaced. Finally, oil the chain with a chain lubricant.
7. Clean up, put your tools away and go for a bike ride

I found a great online supplier for mountain bikes, mountain bike parts, and accessories they also have a very informative technical support library and if you have a question about a product they sell they have a toll free number you can phone. Also, if you find a lower price at a competitor within 30 days of your purchase, they will issue you a refund for the difference.

Have fun. 

Eat a piece of Chocolate - there are several bioactive compounds in chocolate that promote alertness, lessen pain and promote well-being. 

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With taxiing my boys around to all their extra curricular activities I’ve let the housework slide quite a bit. But now that their hockey season is over we can now get down to some much needed housecleaning.  I learned that I needed to get the boys involved otherwise my housecleaning efforts are useless, so we came up with a pretty good system.  First of all it had to be fun and this took a bit of trial and error.  I armed my youngest who is 5 with a rag and a spray bottle filled with vinegar and water and let him go nuts.  He just loves looking for things he can clean.  He’ll clean all the hard surfaces even the walls! My older boy aged 7 loves vacuuming and washing floors, so we use one of those jet mops where you put the pads on the bottom (we use rags) and press a button to squirt out the cleaner, this saves on a big mess and it’s fun for him.  But one of the best ways to make it fun and pump up the adrenaline is by cranking up our favourite music and just going crazy. 

To make your own Non-toxic cleaning kit go to Care2 Healthy and Green Living or copy and paste into your address bar: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html

Yesterday was such a beautiful day my boys and I went to the park and collected pinecones to make bird feeders.  My boys love watching the different birds that comes into our yard.  We have quite a few different species that live in our neighbourhood.  My favourite is the Blue Jay and my boys love the Cardinal.  We also have a pair of Doves that hang out on a regular basis. I bought a Bird Watching book to help identify the different types of birds that are native to our country.  I love scouting out birds with my boys it’s great quality time that I get to spend with them doing something we all enjoy. As much as I try I cannot get into the whole hockey thing, so I will leave that to their father.

How to Make a Simple Pinecone Bird Feeder

Materials you will need:

• Large, open pinecone
• Smooth peanut butter
• Birdseed
• Paper plate, pie tin or cookie sheet
• Butter knife or spoon
• A few feet of string, fishing line or ribbon
• Scissors

Optional: High-energy bird foods such as dried fruit (cut in small pieces), chopped nuts, sunflower seeds or millet 

How to make: 

1. Tie a string around the wider, stem end of the pinecone. (About 3 sections down)
2. Spread peanut butter inside the pinecone and around the edges using the butter knife or back of the spoon
3. Pour some bird seed into a paper plate and roll the pinecone in the birdseed until well covered
4. Hang the bird feeder outside on a tree branch

You’ve considered all the time, costs, & responsibilities of adding a new family member. Now it’s time to decide what kind of dog will suit you and your family.

First lets consider your lifestyle

• Small children and the elderly – If you have small children or elderly living in the home you should consider the size and energy level of your dog. Puppies are usually very active and large or rambunctious dogs could accidentally knock over or harm a small child or an adult who's unsteady on their feet.
• Home environment - If a neat, tidy home, free of animal hair is important you may decide on a dog that has minimal shedding.
• Other animals in the home – Consider the adjustment of the pets you already have. While your cat might love to have an animal friend to play with, a pet that has had exclusive access to your attentions may resent sharing you.
• Landscaping – Many dogs will be tempted to dig holes in your lawn, and dog urine can leave yellow patches.
• Time - Perhaps most important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll be making a commitment that will last the lifetime of your dog, perhaps 10, 15, or 20 years.

 What size dog fits your lifestyle?

You may think that a smaller dog would be happier than a larger one in an apartment or a condo without a yard but that isn’t necessarily true. All dogs need daily outdoor exercise, but some need more than others. For example, a tiny terrier can be extremely rambunctious and needs lots of outdoor activity while the massive Newfoundland prefers lounging around and taking leisurely walks.

Puppy or mature dog?

Puppies may be adorable, but they require more time and attention for housetraining and behavior training, which may include patiently tolerating “accidents” and a chewing phase. If you don’t have time to meet a puppy’s needs or prefer not to deal with training you may decide to adopt an older dog. Also, small children in your family may not have the patience or ability to manage a puppy’s enthusiasm.

There are over 150 different types of purebred dogs, and an even larger number of mixed breeds. A good start would be to hang around dog parks and talk to other dog owners.  IAMS has a really helpful Dog Bread Selector tool to help you find your perfect match.

• Teach your child to replace their negative mental messages. For example:

• Try not to diminish your child’s feelings. For example try not saying things like Don’t be silly or It’s not that bad or Boys don’t cry.
• Notice the positive actions of your child and be sure to comment on them (I’m proud of you, keep up the good work, you’re so smart).
• Leave work at work and focus on family when at home.
• Tell your child you Love them at least once a day.
• Assure your child that it’s ok to make mistakes.
• Play hooky one day and spend the entire day together. Go to a Children’s Museum, a theme park, or the zoo.
• Create a family scrapbook together.
• Take time off work to volunteer in your child’s classroom or for a school trip.
• Don’t say, I told you so.

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Having your child help prepare dinner is a great way to spend quality time together but it can also be very educational. Children are naturally curious and like to ask a lot of questions so this is a good time to introduce them to a variety of healthy food choices. Not only can you teach them the benefits of healthy eating but when using a recipe you are also teaching your child how to follow instructions. This activity also helps with their organizational skills when they gather together the tools and ingredients needed to complete the recipe.

Teamwork is another skill gained when you and your child work together to accomplish the task at hand. This is also the perfect opportunity to strengthen their math skills by letting your child help you measure ingredients such as flour, sugar or liquids. They can also count solid ingredients as well as adding and taking them away. The possibilities are limitless.

Make cooking fun and watch it unleash their creativity. For example, let them create their own pizza or after dinner let them design their own sundae for dessert.  These examples also help children develop their fine motor skills by coordinating the picking up the toppings and placing them on the item (fingers in coordination with the eyes). 

Another benefit is the emotional effect. You are helping build your child's self-esteem. When they see the end result and they realize what their contribution has accomplished they feel a sense of pride in themselves for a job well done. This sense of pride is increased exponentially if you are their cheerleader showing them positive reinforcement with encouragement and praise.

Who would have thought that an everyday ritual such as dinner could have such beneficial results?

For a sample of easy to use recipes visit our website at http://devotedtoparenting.com/food_fun.html