Sports-Minded

Whether dear old Dad likes to play sports or is happy being an armchair quarterback, he might enjoy a sports-related gift.  If he plays golf, some new covers for his clubs or a personalized golf towel to hang on his bag are both fun and functional gifts. For those dads who prefer to watch others play, a DVD set featuring famous sports highlights and the best plays of all time will likely be a slam dunk.  Take a look at these six blog entries for more sports related gifts.

• Father’s Day Gift Idea!
• Great Father’s Day Gifts to Make Him Feel Like the Man of the House
• Father’s Day 2013—Tips for Tailoring the Gift to Your Dad
• Father’s Day Gifts
• Best Father’s Day Gift for Gadget Lovers
• Top 5 Eco-Friendly Father’s Day Gifts

Gear-Head

For the dad that loves to tinker on his car and has been dreaming of owning a sports car someday, a car-themed gift may be just the thing he needs.  You might also want to get your dad an accessory for his car, like new floor mats or the latest in car stereos.  Check out these six blogs to find more car-related gift ideas.

• Ten Outrageous Auto-Themed Father’s Day Gifts
• New Book Celebrates 50 Years of the Porsche 911
• Quirky Gifts for Father’s Day
• Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• Tanga—Motor Trend Magazine Subscription $4.49 – Think Father’s Day Gift
• 10 Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts for Under $20

Tech-Savvy

Even if your dad is tech-challenged, he probably still has some of the basics, like a tablet or a smart phone. Buy him a case to carry his electronics, preferably one that complements another interest of his. Whether he enjoys a good craft brew or loves to play pool, you should be able to find the ideal case for him. If you can’t find the perfect case to buy, get a kit so he can make his own case. These six blog articles will suggest other tech toys for dad.

• 10 Gifts Under $50 Perfect for Father’s Day
• 8 Father’s Day Gifts Your Dad Won’t Completely Hate
• Father’s Day Gifts of Gadgetry
• Level Father’s Day Gifts for 21^st Century Dads
• 8 Father’s Day Tech Gifts from the Future
• Gadgets as Gifts for Grads, Mother’s Day & Father’s Day

DIY Specialist

You can almost never go wrong by buying dad tools. With so many new tools coming out on the market, you’re sure to find something to add to his collection. Have a dad who has it all? Sneak a peek at his tools to see which ones need to be replaced or purchase a personalized tool box. Read through these six blog postings to get more ideas for what to buy dad for Father’s Day.

• Dewalt Tool Sale Going on Now—Perfect for Father’s Day or the Handywoman!
• Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• Fort Worth Father’s Day 2013 Gift Ideas
• Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• Father’s Day Gift Idea

Homemade

Homemade gifts from his favorite pint-sized playmates will always bring a smile to Dad’s face. Help the little ones make Father’s Day a special one this year. Start by bringing him breakfast in bed with the newspaper already folded open to the sports page, then surprise him with homemade cards and gifts. These six blogs are full of homemade gift ideas that you can help your little ones make for Dad this year.

• Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• 50 Best Father’s Day Gift Ideas and Free Printables
• Gifts for Dad: 10 Crafts for Father’s Day
• 5 Easy DIY Father’s Day Gifts
• Handmade Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• Homemade Father’s Day Gift Idea: Chocolate Truffles

1. To Kill a Mockingbird – A beloved study of racial injustice and intolerance that simultaneously explores the experience of youth and exploration through the eyes of narrator Scout Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird may be greeted with groans when it shows up on an English class reading list, but is sure to capture his imagination within the first few pages.
2. The Hobbit – Convincing kids to pick up the first installment in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic Middle Earth universe may be a bit easier in the light of recent big screen adaptations, but it’s still a classic that shouldn’t be missed. Great adventure, friendship and the exploration of corruption as a concept also make this tale a thought-provoking ride.
3. The Catcher in the Rye – The darling of progressive Young Adult literature aficionados and the bane of censors’ existence, J.D. Salinger’s frank depiction of the turbulence, confusion and indignities that can all too often come with adolescents still strikes a chord with that audience today. There is some questionable language, however.
4. The Giver – A modern classic in its own right, The Giver was eventually followed by the books that made up The Giver Quartet: Gathering Blue, The Messenger and Son respectively. Even without the continuation of the tale, The Giver stands on its own as a moralistic tale about leaving childhood behind, embarking into the great unknown journey of adulthood.
5. Lord of the Flies – The struggle to survive in the wake of a plane crash leaves a group of young boys struggling with their primal instincts, to establish their own sort of chaotic society. Fans of The Hunger Games may be especially drawn to the themes of brutality and primitive survival, but parents should be prepared for at least a discussion or two about the use of violence as a plot device.
6. Rebecca – The romance and mystery in Daphne Du Maurier’s classic are enough to appeal to any teenage girl, but the most remarkable aspect of the novel isn’t always immediately obvious. Du Maurier’s heroine is vividly drawn and multifaceted, one that wistful teen girls everywhere are able to identify with. After becoming so entangled in her world and the things that she lives through, young readers will invariably become attached to her. They may not realize until they’re asked, however, that they made it through this harrowing journey without ever learning their beloved heroine’s first name.
7. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn – Vibrant and relatable, Betty Smith’s Francie Nolan is an unforgettable protagonist that brings Brooklyn in the 1900s, poverty and the meaning of beauty to undeniable life. A classic coming-of-age tale that’s sure to resonate with even today’s teens, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn deserves a place on every summer reading list.
8. Wuthering Heights – Devotees to the turbulent love affair of Bella and Edward are sure to eagerly snap up this classic tragedy, due to to Bella Swan’s professed adoration throughout The Twilight Saga. Emily Brontë’s classic also serves up a heaping helping of stormy romance, which will also resonate with Twilight fans.
9. The Outsiders – A stark exploration of societal structure and class systems, S.E. Hinton’s mid-century classic was completed when she was a junior in high school, published when she was eighteen years old. The novelty of being written by a teenager alone may be enough to draw the interest of young readers, with the captivating story keeping that interest until the last page is finished.
10. Tuck Everlasting – Natalie Babbitt’s beautiful examination of immortality and its implications was selected as an ALA Notable Book and has won a wide array of awards since its publication. While it’s best suited for younger teens, older ones may also find themselves swept away by the poetic phrasing and romantic, lilting style.

If your teen has an eReader or a smartphone, fostering a love of classic literature can be quite a money-saving proposition, as books that have fallen into the public domain can be downloaded in digital format for free in many cases. Be sure that you’re exploring the perfectly legal world of free eBooks with your teenager, encouraging an appreciation for both the value of a dollar and the value of intellectual enrichment.

1. “The Dog Ate My Homework” – There’s something about a classic that never goes out of style, and this lie is definitely one of them. While it’s so cliché that it probably wouldn’t be believed even if it were true, teens still cling to the old excuse of canine interference when they haven’t done their homework.
2. “I Can Drive” – Without a valid license, insurance and the permission of a parent, teenagers should never get behind the wheel of a car. Still, some kids will actually try to get over on this one and dupe an unsuspecting relative or friend. The consequences of getting caught in this lie while driving are just not worth it, but that doesn’t stop a teen from trying to get away with the deed.
3. “I Promise I Won’t Get Angry” – Someone once said promises are made to be broken, though they’re generally considered a sacred oath. This is a very popular lie among the female set, who are known for telling their friends that they really want to know the truth about something and promising that they can handle it when the truth comes out.
4. “Everybody Else is Doing It” – From experimentation with drugs to drinking to teen sex, the lie that everyone else is partaking in a risky activity convinces other teens that they’ll be ostracized if they don’t fall in line. While it’s a common one, this lie can be particularly problematic and can lead to very real consequences.
5. “It’s Not a Big Deal” – Teens have a way of dismissing very serious situations with an attitude, claiming that they are “no big deal.” In fact, most of the things they’re so dismissive of are very big deals, and that’s why they feel inclined to downplay their importance.
6. “I Just Went Over to My Friend’s House to Study” – When kids go places they have no business going or they sneak out on a date without your permission, the great cover-up is often a study session with friends. While you may think your little genius is hitting the books and getting brainier, the truth is she is out roaming the mall with friends or worse.
7. “I’m Spending The Night With a Friend” – Make sure that the friend your teen says she is spending the night with is actually the friend she’s going to visit. It’s not just in the movies where a teenager will leave with a girlfriend for a sleepover only to wind up at some boy’s house or an all-night party when the parents are gone for the weekend.
8. “Everybody Else Got the Same Bad Grade” – This ranks up there with “My teacher hates me!” Very rarely does an entire class have failing marks on a test or quiz, so if your child hands you this malarkey, contact the school and find out if the teacher is really as bad as your kid would have you believe.
9. “My Little Brother Did It” – When asking teens about some of the crazy lies they told, blaming transgressions on younger siblings was pretty popular. It’s an easy lie to tell, as little ones are often inadvertently destructive and rarely willing to accept responsibility. Blaming a broken lamp on a younger sibling is right up there with claiming that the dog ate homework in terms of popularity, largely because it’s not always easy to disprove.
10. “My Parents are Rich” – With all the reality shows on TV depicting lavish lifestyles and celebrating extreme privilege, it’s no wonder that many kids wish they were living the life of an heiress. Kids lie to each other about their parent’s income because it’s cool to be wealthy, without a thought about the consequences or moral implications.

Unfortunately, society often regards white lies as a necessary evil, and the consequences for lying are not always immediate or meaningful. Oftentimes there are no consequences at all, so kids learn to continue to lie in hopes they don’t get caught. Establishing a habit of lying to cover one’s tracks can lead to very real consequences in adulthood; after all, “I can drive without a license” isn’t far removed from, “I only had a few drinks, I’m perfectly fine to drive.”

Soups

Gnocchi has a pillowy texture that works well in soups, especially when combined with chicken and sausage. Or, if you’re looking for a lighter soup, you don’t have to use any meat at all. Your family will love the soups highlighted in these six blog entries.

• Sausage-Gnocchi Soup—Six Ingredient Recipe! Because there aren’t many ingredients in this soup, it’s the perfect quick weeknight meal.
• Chicken and Gnocchi Soup {Recipe} Make this Olive Garden knock-off recipe for your family tonight and be a dinnertime hero.
• Chicken Basil Gnocchi Soup Recipe You’ll need basil flavored gnocchi for this soup recipe.
• Pesto Chicken and Gnocchi Soup If you have some pesto in your kitchen that needs to be used up, this might be the recipe for you.
• Gnocchi in Tomato Broth Learn how to make gnocchi from scratch in this recipe.
• Gnocchi Soup with Lemon and Dill If you like broth based soups, this is perfect for you.

Side Dishes

Since gnocchi is made from potatoes, you can use any of these dishes as a twist to any meat and potatoes type meal.  The next time you’re making meatloaf, try adding Crispy Gnocchi with Pistachio Pesto as a side for a new twist on an old favorite.  These side dishes would also be something special to bring to your next potluck.  Give one of these recipes a try after you check out these six blog articles.

• Portobello Gnocchi Salad Recipe This is perfect for the vegetarian in your life.
• Potato Gnocchi are Easier to Make than You Think Something different to fix for an appetizer or side dish.
• Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Side Dish You don’t always have to use white potatoes to make gnocchi; try this sweet potato gnocchi dish too!
• Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina—Baked Gnocchi with Tomato, Mozzarella, & Fontina This dish can be a main dish for vegetarians or a side dish for non-vegetarians.
• Crab & Gnocchi Gratin Hearty enough to be a main dish, but tasty enough to be a side dish for holiday dinners, this crab and gnocchi gratin is the perfect complement to any meal.
• Crispy Gnocchi with Pistachio Pesto You can enjoy gnocchi in a whole new way with this tasty recipe.

Entrées

It might seem like gnocchi would be only a side dish, but it’s actually quite versatile.  The next time you’re making a pasta dish, replace the pasta with gnocchi for an Italian dish called Gnocchi with Mushroom, Tomato and Herb Ragout.  Or try fixing a lamb dish with gnocchi for a special occasion. Break from tradition and change things up a little.  For other new ideas, take a look at these six blog entries.

• Gnocchi with Mushroom, Tomato and Herb Ragout Make this ragout and toss it over some gnocchi for a different flavor.
• Gnocchi Ham Casserole A new twist on a meat and potatoes meal.
• Gnocchi with Asparagus and Pancetta This recipe tastes like springtime in a pan.
• Gnocchi with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce Taste this decadent meal and you’ll think you’re in Italy.
• Uyigur Style Lamb—Three Peppers, check out this video where she makes Yuigur Use this stir-fry to whip up a quick and healthy meal for your loved ones.
• Gnocchi Carbonara Enjoy this special occasion recipe that is rich with tasty ingredients.

Be Attentive

It’s far easier for a rebellious teen to sneak out of the house when he knows that his parents are largely oblivious to his actions. If he knows that you’re watching him closely and are attuned to his behavior, however, he may be a bit less eager to test his escape-artist skills. Staying up all night to monitor your child’s comings and goings might leave you temporarily exhausted, but making sure that your child knows how closely he’s being observed will be well worth the lack of sleep in the long run.

Get Involved

It’s not uncommon for teenagers to act out and display rebellious behavior as a means of gaining his parents’ attention. If you work full-time or are frequently away from home, your teen may feel that the only way he can get your attention is to behave so badly that it forces you to notice him. While it’s important to give your teenager enough space to assert his independence and establish himself as an individual entity, it’s just as important to let him know that you’re always there for him and that you take an active interest in his life.

Monitor Social Networking and Cell Phone Use

Making a habit of snooping through your teen’s cell phone or monitoring his social networking accounts when he’s given you no cause for suspicion can breed resentment and anger in an otherwise happy kid. When your child consistently proves that he can’t be trusted to stay in the house after curfew or to be respectful of house rules, however, all bets are off. There’s very little point in sneaking out of the house to hang out with friends if your teen can’t coordinate with them without the risk of tipping you off, so don’t be afraid to be the nosy parent until he’s made a concerted effort to regain your trust. You may also find that confiscating his cell phone at night and keeping it in your own room hinders his plans, especially if it’s a smartphone that’s connected to social networking accounts and serves as a hub for all of his communication efforts.

Think Twice Before You Resort to Drastic Measures

The iconic image of an angry father nailing a teenage daughter’s window shut may be the first thing that comes to mind when you discover that your teen has been sneaking out of the house, but sealing windows with nails, screws or bars can actually create a very dangerous fire hazard and impede her ability to escape in the event of an emergency. Rather than rendering windows useless, consider the installation of a home security system that will alert you when windows or exterior doors are open. Keeping the security code a secret from your child may be difficult, but it will also keep him from being able to slip out of the house silently.

Don’t Issue Idle Threats

If you’ve explained that another episode of breaking curfew to sneak out of the house will result in the loss of a treasured privilege or restriction from favorite activities, you have to stick to your guns. Regardless of how hard your teen fights you or the protests she makes, it’s essential that you let her know that bad choices have negative consequences. If you’re easily dissuaded from the forewarned punishment, your teen will start to believe that there are no real consequences for disrespecting house rules and being openly defiant.

1. Hard-Boiled – Dropping eggs in a bath of boiling water is one of the more convenient, fuss-free ways of cooking them. For those who prefer their yolks solidly cooked, hard-boiling is the way to go. Hard-boiled eggs can also be packed in a bag lunch for a quick protein boost in a midday meal.
2. Soft-Boiled – While runny yolks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, there are plenty of people who swear by them. If members of your family fall into that camp, soft-boiling an egg provides a quick and easy cooking method that gets breakfast on the table in no time.
3. Scrambled – You can add salt, pepper, milk or other ingredients to whipped eggs before cooking them, but scrambled eggs can also be cooked without a single additional ingredient. Just sure to cook them slowly, as it doesn’t take long to turn scrambled eggs into a dry, rubbery mess.
4. Sunny-Side Up – The preferred frying method for the soft-yolk set, sunny-side-up eggs are cooked through without ever being flipped to preserve the perfectly round, soft, yellow center.
5. Over-Hard – When an egg is cooked “over-hard,” it’s fried on both sides until the yolk has solidified. While sunny-side-up eggs aren’t flipped at all, over-easy eggs maintain the soft yolk and are flipped once during the cooking process.
6. Poached – Whether you use an egg poacher to keep your egg in one convenient piece or opt to let your poaching egg flow freely through the water, poached eggs require no oil for cooking and are a staple ingredient in the famed brunch dish Eggs Benedict.
7. Shirred – Baking eggs in a flat-bottomed dish with butter results in shirred eggs, which is a simple method of baking eggs that can be dressed up with breadcrumbs or cheese, along with garnishes of fresh herbs.
8. Deviled – There are a variety of ways to prepare the yolk-based filling for deviled eggs, but most include mustard, relish and a dusting of paprika for presentation. A staple at every barbecue or potluck, these delightful appetizers prove that eggs aren’t just for breakfast.
9. In an Omelette – Whether you’re a Denver omelette fan that prefers onions, peppers and ham or a plain-cheese sort of person, you’re only limited by the ingredients on hand when it comes to an omelette. Once you’ve mastered the art of flipping these beauties, you’ll be able to turn out a different variety for every member of the family.
10. In the Basket – You can use a waffle or a piece of toast for this method; either way, eggs in the basket is a delicious and fun way of cooking your morning meal. Just cut a hole in the center of your bread or waffle and place it in a skillet. Crack an egg into the hole, and cook it to your desired level of doneness. Keep the heat of your stove in mind, though; you don’t want the bread to burn before the egg is fully cooked.
11. Mexican-Style – For a South-of-the-Border treat, why not opt for huevos rancheros? Roughly translated into “rancher’s eggs,” huevos rancheros are fried eggs served on top of a corn tortilla and topped with a tomato-chili sauce.
12. Coddled – Coddled eggs are cooked just the way it sounds: very gently. There are two methods for coddling eggs, either in the shell in water that’s just below the boiling point or in an egg coddler placed in a water bath.

Eggs contain not only high-quality proteins, but also all nine of the essential amino acids. They’re also packed with choline, a nutrient that regulates the nervous system and supports brain health. One of the only naturally-occurring, edible sources of vitamin D is fresh eggs, and the carotenoid content of eggs supports eye health. Macular degeneration and the risk of cataracts can be lowered by a diet rich in lutein and zeazanthin, which are more readily available in eggs than almost any other dietary source.

1. Use Status Updates to Your Advantage – If you have a fairly large friends list that contains plenty of parents, you may be surprised at how easily a simple status update fills your inbox with inquiries. Letting your friends, relatives and acquaintances know that you’re accepting clients may be enough to fill your roster completely.
2. Start a Professional Page – Snagging the occasional babysitting job with a quick status update is great for casual sitters, but it’s wise for those with bigger plans to create a professional page specifically for their burgeoning business. It’s much easier to present a capable, professional image when your status updates regarding availability aren’t interspersed with pictures of cats and questionable humor.
3. Encourage Satisfied Clients to Like and Share Your Page – Word of mouth and great references are one of the most powerful weapons in your arsenal when it comes to landing babysitting jobs. Encourage your regular clients to like your professional page, post testimonials and share the page and their experience with you with their friends.
4. Put the “Networking” Into “Social Networking” – Reach out to the people you know, look for ways to get new likes and interact with the people that follow you so that you’re able to network properly. Remember, you’re selling a service, and the best way to boost those sales is to make sure that you’re networking and looking for new connections.
5. Be Privacy-Savvy – Even if you set up a professional page for your babysitting business, prospective clients will still be able to find a personal page that you maintain. You should make sure that you understand Facebook’s privacy settings to ensure those clients aren’t able to see things that they may deem questionable. You should also understand that most parents will not take kindly to the idea of your posting pictures of their children without permission. Privacy is important online, especially for childcare providers.
6. Watch What You Say – It’s natural to have the urge to vent when you’re upset, but you should always be aware of what you’re posting on Facebook when you’re using it as a tool to find new clients. Never badmouth clients that you’ve worked for, even on your personal page. It will damage your credibility, and could easily cost you new clients in the future.
7. Join Local Groups – Look for any local childcare and parenting groups in your city and join them. Offer your services through these communities, and establish an online presence there so that parents in your area know who you are when they find themselves in need of a sitter. You should also actively participate in conversations; don’t just spam the community with promotional posts.
8. Consider Paid Advertising – Facebook now offers the chance to pay for advertising, with several options available. You can pay for your professional page to be promoted, or even to ensure that a status update regarding your availability through your personal page reaches the widest possible audience. Paid advertising can be pricey, but it can also be a valuable investment.
9. Share Relevant Links – When you have a following through your professional page, you need to keep your name out there and your posts appearing in parents’ newsfeeds. Don’t just talk about your rates and availability; share links to blogs or online articles that are relevant to parenting and childcare. A carefully curated timeline can make your followers look forward to your posts, and can actually be a promotional tool in themselves.
10. Foster Discussion About Childcare – Get your followers involved in conversation on your professional page! When they contribute through comments or like a status, their activity will show up in the ticker and be visible to their friends, which will increase your reach and the scope of your audience.

With a bit of web knowledge and dedication, you can easily turn your free time into a viable revenue stream through babysitting. Garnering attention and raising your visibility in the babysitting industry is easier than ever with sites like Facebook. Still, it’s important that you have some experience in the childcare field and are certified in CPR and first aid before you start advertising. Parents need to know that their children are in capable hands, and aren’t likely to hire a sitter that doesn’t have the proper emergency preparedness training.

Traditional

If you are a fan of traditional pizza flavors, you might want to try one of the recipes on these five blog posts.  From pepperoni to deep dish sausage pizza, these options are sure to please the entire family.  These recipes are particularly good for families with kids because none are too spicy or topped with unusual ingredients that finicky kids might not like.

• Pizzeria Style Pepperoni Pizza
• Deep Dish Sausage Pizza with Spinach Salad
• BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe
• Deep Dish Hawaiian Pizza
• Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza

Gourmet

Are you ready to switch up your pizza?  There’s no denying that pizza in any form is tasty, so why not live on the edge and try a sausage, fennel and ricotta pizza tonight instead of the usual pepperoni? Another sumptuous favorite is the fig jam, onion and goat cheese pizza. While it may sound unusual, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you take your first bite. Throw caution to the wind and try one of these five recipes for gourmet pizza.

• Smoked Sausage Pizza Recipe
• Sausage, Fennel and Ricotta Pizza
• Easy Asparagus Chicken Alfredo Pizza
• Fig Jam, Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza
• Gourmet Pizza Recipe for Home Movie Night

Vegetarian

Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or just trying to find something new to serve for “Meatless Monday,” you should be able to find something in the next five posts that will please you. These vegetarian pizza recipes range from the traditional Hawaiian to the unusual ‘Go Green’ pizza.

• Vegan Hawaiian Pizza Recipe
• My Yummy Homemade Vegetarian Pizza Recipe
• Go Green Veggie Pizza
• Quick and Easy Vegan Pizza Recipe
• Garden Fresh Pizza

Gluten-Free

At first glance, a gluten free diet is definitely pizza free. Pizza lovers with a gluten intolerance don’t have to despair though, as more and gluten-friendly pizza options are becoming available. These five blog posts feature gluten-free pizza recipes, some of which are vegetarian too.

• Gluten-Free, Gourmet, Thin Crust Pizza Recipe with Chebe Pizza Dough
• Gluten-Free Vegetarian Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella
• Gluten-Free Vegan Pizza
• Healthy Vegan Pizza Recipe
• Super Low Calorie, Easy Gluten Free Pizza

Grilled

Keep the house cool this summer by getting your pizza fix on the grill. You can even get the kids get involved by bringing out bowls of various toppings and letting them top their own pizzas.  Roll out the pizza rounds inside and then throw them on the grill for about five minutes.  Remove the crust and put it on a cookie sheet so that it can be topped.  Just make sure the toppings are already cooked so that all you have to do is warm everything through and melt the cheese.  For some grilled pizza ideas take a look at these five blog articles.

• Grilled Pizza with Spinach and Ricotta
• Grilled Pizza
• Simple and Kid-Friendly: Grilled Chicken Taco Pizza Recipe
• Grilled Pizza Tuscan
• Recipe Thursday: Grilled Pizza!

Sweet

Nothing finishes off a meal like something sweet.  Turn your favorite dinner into a dessert by using cookie dough for the crust and your family’s favorite sweet toppings.  For some dessert pizza ideas give these five blogs a look.

• Nutella Easter Pizza
• Chocolate Rocky Road Sweet Pizza Recipe
• Sweet & Spicy Strawberry Pizza
• Fruit Pizza Recipe Ideas: How to Make a Dutch Almond Cookie Pizza Crust Recipe
• Betty’s Chocolate Turtle Dessert Pizza Recipe

1. Doodoo Pad – Young children love colors and textures, which is why you’ll want to include this free app in your child’s drawing games. Doodoo Pad comes with over 14 different styles of brush, including rainbow, neon and crayon. Brushes and colors are randomly selected, meaning your child can create completely unique pictures with surprise results. The app also has a video replay and access to your photo gallery.
2. Drawing Pad+ – This $0.99 app lets your child pair the iPhone with other devices, allowing friends to collaborate on and share drawing projects. Completed drawings can be printed, copied, sent to friends or used as the iPhone’s background. Other simple features include an erase function, round and square line styles and a nine color history bar. This app is available for both the iPhone and iPad.
3. Kaleidoscope Drawing Pad – There was a time, not so long ago, when kids were fascinated for hours by the simple Kaleidoscope. All the colors of the spectrum, with glowing, rainbow and neon brushes, are brought together with this app. The app mimics the gorgeous patterns created by a traditional kaleidoscope so that your child’s drawings can really come to life. It only takes a few strokes to create beautiful drawings, which you can then watch back using the built-in movie mode. Kaleidoscope Drawing Pad is available for free from the iTunes store.
4. Zoodle Pad – Your child will learn about line width, use of color and control with this free app for the iPhone and iPad. The easy-to-use interface allows the user to adjust color, line direction and thickness with simple movements and strokes of the screen. If your child wants to practice his tracing and retouching skills, you can upload pre-existing images from your iPhone or computer. There is also a stamp feature, which provides images for your child to color.
5. Color & Draw for Kids – More than just a coloring book, Color & Draw for Kids is a fully interactive training tool for young, budding artists. Your child, with the help of voice instruction, can complete drawings, color them and then save them to a dedicated image gallery. Unlike many other drawing apps, Color & Draw for kids does not auto-fill sections of the drawing. The user can create unique palettes, too, which encourages children to experiment with colors and textures. This fantastic app is available for $0.99 from the iTunes store.
6. Drawing Den – This app is, paradoxically, both a simple and advanced-featured app. As the parent, you can adjust the settings in Drawing Den to suit your child’s age and ability. However, the settings features are designed in such a way that they are not easily accessible to the child. You can choose whether your child can draw outside the lines and how many colors are available. The basic version of the app is free; however, you can unlock all features with a single purchase of $2.99.
7. Draw Pad Pro – There are a lot of apps out there with “pad” in the name, however, this really is a drawing pad. You can choose from multiple page styles, switching between blank canvases to lined pages, for instance. There are over 20 pen colors and six different sizes. The easy zoom feature, with a pinch of the finger and thumb, allows your child to get up close and personal with their drawing, too. Draw Pad Pro costs $1.99 from the iTunes store, and is compatible with all Apple handheld devices.
8. MyBrushes for iPhone – An app that aims to bring simple, yet detailed painting tools to the iPhone, MyBrushes for iPhone is available for $0.99 from the app store. There are over 50 background style templates to choose from, as well as over 100 types of brushes. Watch your child take his work to the next level and share his masterpieces with the world.
9. Drawing and Painting Pad – Simple, yet packed full of great features, Drawing and Paint Pad is the ideal app to help your child learn about colors, shapes, lines and contours. Tools are laid out along the top of the screen and down the left hand side, which makes this app usable for children of all ages. You can download Drawing and Painting Pad for free from iTunes.
10. Chalk Pad for iPhone – No child’s collection of drawing tools is complete without a chalk board – or in this case, a Chalk Pad. There is nothing complicated about this free app. Your child can choose from an unlimited number of colors, which they can then use to create detailed and imaginative chalk art.

1. Use Number Magnets– Most little ones love playing with magnets, and if you have number magnets, the refrigerator make the perfect place for playing with them. These work well for number recognition, which is the first step in building good math skills. Be sure to use large, solid magnets rather than large plastic numbers with small magnetic pieces to prevent accidental ingestion.
2. Count Things Together – Make a game out of simple counting for your youngster. Ask questions like, “How many fingers to you have?” “How many feet?” When counting is a game that’s encouraged with humor and fun, kids really enjoy seeing how far they can go with their number knowledge. Just be prepared for it to last longer than you planned!
3. Work on Simple Addition – For example, one orange plus another orange makes two oranges. If you add another orange how many will you have? Keep it simple and keep it fun.
4. Sort Colored Objects – You can use colored blocks, pieces of candy, crayons or whatever you have available to work on pattern recognition and sorting skills. Teach your child to sort different amounts into different piles, i.e., five blue candies in this pile; three red ones in this pile; six orange ones here, and so on.
5. Speak Math – When it makes sense, use math terms with your child so she will get used to hearing them. You can always add and subtract things and even when doing laundry two socks added together equal a pair. The more math terms you can slip into your vocabulary, the more you child will become familiar with them.
6. Create Math Games – When your child is ready, think of ways to use objects such as balls, blocks, and coins to create visual representations of simple math problems. For example, using coins, show how multiplying by 2 works. If you add sound effects when you demonstrate the movement of the objects, the concept may even stick a little better.
7. Play Card Games – A regular deck of cards can be used to help with math skills. Certain games require addition and subtraction skills, and those are the ones you’ll want to work with. Teach your kids how to play, and watch the math skills increase. This strategy works very well for kids under seven years old because they will learn number recognition and develop addition skills. They will also have a lot of fun while learning.
8. Play Sudoku Together – This number game has gained great popularity, and really uses the brain cells. Sudoku puzzles contain grid cells in which numbers 1 through 9 are placed but no row is complete. The player must figure out which numbers are missing and fill them in so that each row up and across has only one of each number in the series. It’s a lot of fun, and it really hones the math skills.
9. Don’t Turn Your Nose Up at Computer Games– There are scores of computer games available for every level of skill and if you play with your child, it can be a time for bonding as well as learning. Even if you’re limiting screen time, this is one electronic pursuit that’s effective enough to warrant the occasional exception.
10. Give Kids a Retail Education – Perhaps you’ve heard of retail therapy. To make math fun and practical for your kids, try a little retail education! Kids are always making a fuss about how there isn’t anything to eat at home or how they don’t have any clothes to wear. Give your child a certain amount of money to take him shopping, and let him figure out what he can afford with the money he has on hand. You will be reinforcing addition and subtraction skills no matter what, but if things are on sale there may be some percentages in there to figure out as well.
11. Cook Together – One of the easiest methods of helping kids learn about fractions is through cooking. One cup of a particular ingredient can be broken down into its various components. Clear measuring cups work wonderfully for showing kids how the different parts make up the whole. Get the kids to help figure out how to double or cut recipes in half.
12. Celebrate Pi – That’s right, there is actually a day to celebrate the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Math aficionados the world over pay homage to this math symbol annually on March 14. On this day discussions abound relating to the significance of Pi. Cool memorabilia is available for purchase for those who are so inclined. So make some pie and talk about Pi!