Check out these fun printables and craft ideas:

Disney Family Fun - Star Spangled Fun

Kaboose - 4th of July

Apples 4 the Tacher - 4th of July coloring pages

Teaching Tiny Toys - 4th of July party ideas

Happy 4th of July!

I came across an audio course that helps parents deal with the terrible twos, all the way up to beyond 6 years old. It is called Talking to your Toddler.

Do the terrible twos have you stressed out? Is your 4-year old’s behavior driving you nuts? Are temper tantrums a regular event in your house? Maybe you find yourself pulling out your hair because your kids are out of control? Do you feel guilty because you yell at your kids even though you love them tons?

What I love about this program is that it uses language strategies, words you can use to make a bad situation into a better one. This program is all about communication, and how you can better understand your toddler, and they can do the same with you.

Toddlers thrive for communication at this age as their vocabulary is limited. Getting attention from a temper tantrum is how they begin to communicate once they see that it is affective. If you know this scenario well, take a look into Talking with Toddler - it may just save your sanity!

New from Huggies, Enjoy the Ride Rewards.

This new program offers moms a chance to earn reward points which can be spent on chances to win valuable prizes such as trips, gift cards and more!

You earn points by entering special codes that will be located on direct mail pieces, magazine ads, and online -through taking polls, watching videos and participating in other fun activities.

Sign up for free at www.enjoytheriderewards.com

Diaper Dude, a lifestyle and a Brand that was born from the idea that fatherhood doesn’t have to be complicated, has 2 new eco-friendly products just in time for Earth Day:
The Green Dude, aptly named for both its color and echo friendly materials, contains a large compartment to hold those essentials needed for a day out with your little and a bonus compartment just for dad.  Also contains a padded changing pad, an insulated bottle holder, removable cell phone holder, breathable mesh padding for a comfortable fit and our ever popular dad check list screen printed under the front flap. Made of recycled PET material (plastic water bottles) rewoven into durable polyester.

Also available is the Diaper Dude Earth Day organic cotton t-shirt and onesie for $39.99.  A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Global Green USA.   You might see Jerry O’Connell, Charlie Sheen, Andrew Firestone, Joel Madden and Ben Affleck rockin’ this around town.

Earth Day is April 22nd, but being green is fashionable year round.

For more great Daddy gear check out Diaper Dude.

On April 22nd more than 500 million people and national governments in 175 countries will celebrate Earth Day.

Education experts at Goddard, the country’s leading child care franchise company, offer the following fun projects that you can do at home to teach your toddlers and preschools about the environment:

1. Create the Earth. Eco-friendly coffee filters make great miniature earths.  In two separate cups, use food coloring to make blue and green colored water. Then allow the children to use eyedroppers to drop the colors on their Earth (coffee filter). When the colored water is dropped on the filter it spreads a bit and the children can create land and water shapes on their “little earths.”
2. Lights Out, Flashlights On. Play “I Spy” in the dark.  Have the children use flashlights to locate objects they can use to become more “green,” such as a light switch or recycle bins.
3. Go for a Nature Walk. Place tape, sticky side out, on the children’s wrists and take them outside to collect things in nature. You could also decorate a sack and go around the neighborhood picking up litter.
4. Dress It Up! Hold a fashion show using old newspapers as the runway. Create vests by using grocery sacks decorated with recycled supplies such as used yogurt cups, etc. Glue recycled materials to the vests and decorate with paint. Then let your kids show off the “beauty of recyclables” while learning what items can be recycled.
5. Make Rainsticks. Recycle old paper towel rolls by making rainsticks. Have the children close the bottom of the stick with paper and tape. Then fill with beans or rice. You can also crumple up some aluminum foil to make a louder sound. Let the children decorate the rainsticks with construction paper. Use this activity to talk about the importance of clean water and water conservation.

About Goddard Systems, Inc. www.goddardschool.com

Recently named #1 Childcare Franchise in the United States, by Entrepreneur magazine, for the eighth consecutive year (January 2009) and one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales), by Franchise Times, for the second consecutive year (October 2008); Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI) is expanding The Goddard School® network throughout the United States. Headquartered in King of Prussia , Pennsylvania , GSI currently licenses 320+ franchised schools with more than 40,000 students in 37 states. With a successful system in place and dedicated franchisees, GSI is the acknowledged leader in franchised childcare and a premier childcare provider in the United States .

Have you been looking for a way to make potty training easier?

Finally there’s a potty training approach that’s flexible and fun. You can tailor it to fit the way your child learns best, so you can keep your Big Kid® engaged from start to finish.

No matter what your child’s phase of training, you’ll love the Pull-Ups® Big Kid® Central Potty Training Success DVD. You’ll discover techniques, tips, songs and games to help you and your child succeed. Order your free copy today.

Available while supplies last.

You will need to sign up to make a purchase, and use Amanda.anuraga@babylegs.com as a reference.
SuperSofts Babylegs are a bit longer and have more stretch than the standard BabyLegs . Fits baby-tweens.

1. Goldfish Crackers

2. Cheerios

3. Animal Crackers

4. Stickers

5. Soft fruit snacks

6.  Mini M&M’s

7. Hair bows for the little girls

8. Character Band-Aids

9. Pretzels

10. Cookies - Like Gerber Graduates Banana Cookies