Child's Life April Contest

Only a few more days to enter our April contest! This month you could win 15 beautifully decorated cookies with your child’s picture on them or a theme of your preference like “Dora the Explorer” (everything edible $45 value). Click here to enter.

Healthy Lunches to Go

If you have a child in school you already know how hard it can be to pack a variety of lunches throughout the week that are healthy, easy to make and that your kids will eat! By this time of year, with only a couple months left before summer break, many of us are just stuck in a rut when it comes to this morning task. Need some help? Check out the The Canadian Health Network (CHN) 'Healthy Lunches to Go' website from the Dietitians of Canada.

The site is full of helpful advice, tips and ideas to get you back on track. Check out the Cool Lunch Guide for a simple way to make quick interesting lunches that fit the healthy bill. Learn about Food Safety, Nutrition labels, allergies and more. The site even features some interactive tools both for older kids and adults - things like games and quizzes as well as links to tools like EATracker to help you keep track of what you're eating daily. Register online for the Lunch Tip of the Day and receive lunch tips by email or even text messaged to your cell phone.

Visit the site: Canadian Health Network - Healthy Lunches To Go

Book Review - The Amazing Activity Handbook

What a great book for parents to share with their kids! I was at the book store yesterday and found the most amazing book on clearance for only $9.99! It is called the "Amazing Activity Handbook". It has four sections: Indoor games, Things to make and do, Outdoor Games and Fun on the Move. The suggestions are simple but there are games and activities that will bring you back to your childhood. Port-starboard, Cat's Cradle and Tiddlywinks are just a few suggestions of games with instructions. There are tons of really easy-to-make crafts and my favourite section is "Fun on the move".

We go on many long roadtrips with our two kids so this section is invaluable! Animal, vegetable or mineral? Twenty questions(recommended for kids 7+) is a great game to point out interesting things on your trip. Word association games, storytelling games and travel songs are all ways you can have fun with your kids on your next trip.

I give this book a 9 out of 10. The layout, easy to read content and simple but fun suggestions make this book a great resource. You could bring it on your next trip or quickly reference it at home when you are lacking inspiration in the craft and game department.

More info about this book at Amazon.ca

~ Shannon