Sure-Fire Ways to Make School Lunches Fun

Depending upon where you live, your child may or may not have access to school-provided lunches. When this is the case, you need sure-fire ways to make school lunches fun for your students.

Most parents know how important good nutrition is to give their children all the help they can in school. Certain foods can help raise your child’s grades, give them an added push for athletics, and help them maintain a healthy weight. So, even though you want their lunches to be nutritious, finding ways to make them fun will give your child something to look forward to each day.

Here are some ideas to make your kids’ lunches fun and nutritious:

Ask your child what they want in their lunch bag.

Obviously they’ll ask for some items which you’d prefer they did not eat too much of, but you may want to allow them to have some of their favorite things.

Put a note in your child’s lunch bag or box to let them know you’re thinking of them.

The note doesn’t have to be mushy so they’ll be embarrassed by it if their friends read it. In fact, the note could be a secret message between the two of you; no one else has to know what it means. Encourage them if they’re struggling with a subject or if they have a test they’ve studied really hard for.

Choosing a cool lunch box can help your child enjoy lunch a little more.

Using snack-size zip top bags can encourage your child to eat smaller portions. Be sure to get the printed snack-size bags during the holidays to brighten up your child’s lunch.

Keep food safety in mind.

Does your child love yogurt or cheese but you’re hesitant to put them in their lunch because you’re concerned about food safety? Buying a cold pack is one option; you can also freeze your child’s juice box (100% juice only) and allow it to thaw before they eat. This will enable your child to have the items they like and you can rest assured they won’t get sick.

Most children love to dip their foods.

They may love to dunk their carrot sticks into ranch-style dressing. Apples can be dipped in caramel sauce. Even chicken pieces can be dipped into a sauce of their choice.

Make a big deal over holidays or family celebrations.

Pack a piece of birthday cake or cupcake if their birthday falls during the school week. For St. Patrick’s Day, focus on green foods. When Easter gets closer, pack cookies shaped like bunnies or lambs.

Give your child rolled-up sandwiches, or pinwheels, rather than regular sandwiches.

Purchase some flour tortillas, spread their favorite condiments on it, and then layer it with the meats and vegetables. Roll it up tightly and wrap it in plastic wrap. Before you pack your child’s lunch, slice the rolls into one-inch to two-inch wide slices.

You can try some of these sure-fire ways to make school lunches fun for your children. And listen to your child to find out about what their ideas are for making school lunches more fun.

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

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Ways to Raise a Good Reader

Reading for children is an important part of their development. By developing their reading skills, your child will become better at spelling, understanding ideas and concepts and develop positive language skills early on.

Reading is also a lot of fun and a great bonding activity for parents and children. But how do you raise a good reader when you’re competing against a host of electronic devices?

Here are a few tips:

#1 – Read daily. Reading little and often is better than leaving large gaps of time between reading. By making reading a daily activity, you cement that reading is important and just a “part of life” in your child’s mind.

#2 – Visit the library. Many children today have never visited a library outside of school. There are so many other activities and things competing for your child’s attention that the library may be last on their list. But most kids respond positively to an outing at the library. Make visiting the library a regular activity and your children will start to look forward to it.

The library can be a magical place for children and many have activities to help promote reading that are both fun and educational.

#3 – Start a book club. This can easily be done by joining forces with a few other parents. Meet weekly with the children to discuss a new book. This way the children not only see their parents getting involved, but also have the chance to develop grown-up conversational skills at the same time. Discuss the book and then enjoy a few treats; make it fun so that the kids really look forward to it.

#4 – Lead by example. If your kids see you reading from a young age, they may want to do the same thing mommy or daddy are doing. Show your kids that reading is a normal, fun part of life. Tell them about the latest book you’re reading and why you enjoy it. Show them the Sunday newspaper and explain how you learn what’s going on in the world by reading it.

#5 – Read at bedtime. Reading at bedtime is wonderful for both children and parents. It gives parents and kids a few minutes to connect at the end of each day. You can share a story and then discuss a few of the characters. Reading is a great way to unwind and will become a welcomed addition to your bedtime routine.

#6 – Let them choose. Reading tends to become less exciting as children grow. Give your children access to a variety of suitable reading materials to help them realize that reading is fun at any age. Whether it’s comics or how-to books, by providing fun and informative reading material you’ll keep your child hooked and involved.

Another great option for older kids is to share their reading book with mom and dad. You can each read the same book together a few evenings a week. Your child can read one chapter out loud, then you read another and so on. This not only helps you spend time with your child but you get to enjoy a story together. There are some fantastic teenage mystery and action books that most young adults will really enjoy reading.

While raising a good reader may seem to be a harder job than it once was, it’s not too difficult a task. By exposing your children to books from a young age and creating an enthusiasm for reading, you’ll lead by example and help to raise a good reader.

photo credit: jula julz

How to Teach Children Internet Etiquette

At any time of the day or night you can find people communicating through the internet. Unfortunately, not all of that communication is properly understood. To avoid problems when young ones use computers, it’s important to teach children Internet etiquette.

So many people use email these days. It is for this reason the Postal Service claims they’re struggling and will have to make changes to the services they offer. When anyone uses email, they’ll want to understand that tone can come across differently than it may have been meant. This is especially important for children to understand. The potential for misunderstanding is something to consider.

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