It’s really easy to throw a Mardi Gras party for kids, but it may be better to shift the party back to the weekend, since most kids will be in school the Wednesday after Fat Tuesday.

If you’re from an area where Mardi Gras is a big time of celebration, you will likely have your traditions. Kids love looking forward to and doing family things year after year.  It’s really nice to look back and remember all the fun and silly things everyone did in the name of fun.

For families outside the big key cities like New Orleans where Mardi Gras is a huge celebration, celebrating Fat Tuesday can be a good holiday to add to the yearly list. It falls during the end of winter slump when it’s still cold and there are still a lot of days of school to knock out, so it is a welcome break from the grind for many families.

You don’t have to spend loads of time or money to have a good Mardi Gras party for or with your kids. In fact, you really just need to provide some basic supplies, and the kids are creative enough to make it a great afternoon or evening on their own.

We are living in an age where the amount of time that children spend on the computer rivals the amount of time spent watching television. Today, children go into kindergarten knowing how to turn on the computer, use a mouse and even plunk out a few letters on the keyboard.

I believe that the computer, like the television, should be used by children in moderation and, when used, should have some sort of educational value. With any of these educational websites and computer games, you can feel confident that your child’s time spent on the computer is worthwhile.

The birthday party goodie bag, it’s a parting gift that the host gives to each guest, almost as if to say, thank you for coming to my party. This never occurred when I was growing up. Oh, perhaps you would leave a birthday party with a balloon animal if a clown was the entertainment, but beyond that, goodie bags just weren’t part of the deal. I’m not sure how this suddenly became the norm, but many of my friends across the country are aware of this expectation.

So, you’ve spent a significant amount of money on your child’s party alone and now you need to put together goodie bags for each child. What can you do that won’t cost a fortune?

Are your children planning to pass out Valentines cards in their classes this year? I don’t know about you, but the selection of pre-made Valentines that you can purchase at the drugstore, seem to fall short for me. I’m not a huge fan of “character” merchandise. I know that kids are all crazy about Star Wars right now, but I much prefer traditional Valentines.

Making your own cards, especially for a classroom full of schoolmates, can seem like too much work. Actually, it’s not that much work. Here’s a tip. Don’t put any of the recipient’s names on the cards. You’ll want your child to decorate them and simply sign their own name. Also, don’t use glitter or glitter glue. It’s too messy and takes too long to dry.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you have children, they probably really enjoy making gifts for the people they love. I think that it’s important for children to learn that giving a gift should come from the heart. The old saying, it’s the thought that counts, really is true. That’s why, rather than spending a lot of money on “things”, teach your children about the importance of giving by encouraging them to make Valentine’s gifts this year. Here are some quick and easy Valentine’s Day gift ideas.

How often do you find yourself passing your iPhone to your child in an attempt to appease him while you are waiting in a line or trying to get something done? It’s amazing how technologically adept children are, so it’s likely your child is capable of playing just about any game that you have downloaded to your phone. Rather than let him monkey around with Angry Birds all the time, wouldn’t it be nice if you had a stash of educational apps geared towards children? Here are a few of my favorites.

If you’re looking for a fun birthday party idea for your tween daughter, then consider a hotel slumber party. It’s an easy party plan, and it’s something your little girl will remember forever.

My friend Sandy was trying to think of something special to do for her daughter’s 13th birthday party. After some brainstorming, she came up with the idea to host a slumber party at a local motel.

This idea may sound a little odd to start with, but I thought it was genius. And, it turned out terrific. My friend’s daughter and her friends had a grand time, and I’m sure those memories made will be treasured always.

It’s always fun to build a snowman and especially when you put together a really awesome one. Put on your thinking caps and pull them down tight and warm and have the most awesome snowman on the block.

We always enjoy bundling up and getting artistic with a new blanket of snow. Well, we don’t get many of those in North Carolina, but we make the most of the snow when we do. And, we are not always artistic as much as creative. But, it’s all good. Sometimes the silliest snowmen rock the most. And, we’ve had a few of those around here.

Getting cabin fever after a big snow? While it’s tempting to stay in where it’s warm, some outdoor fun can be invigorating and will build fun memories for the whole family. So, pull on the galoshes, mittens, and heavy coats and enjoy some snow play. 

I still get excited about snow days. I guess the boys’ enthusiasm is contagious. They are thrilled to get a day off school (even though they have to make it up later), and they are always game for a snowball fight or other snowy day fun.

Although you may feel that you’ve outgrown snow play, it really is a blast to get out in the yard or neighborhood and enjoy the fresh, cold air and some physical activity. It’s good exercise to boot – if you need an extra incentive.

Remember, too, that while you may know all the snow games, your kids may not. So, be sure to turn them on to all the cool (or cold) stuff you can do in the snow.

If the kids are going stir crazy during a snowstorm, then get them up and busy making Snow Cream. They’ll have a blast with this snow recipe, and everyone gets to enjoy a tasty treat that has been enjoyed for generations.

When I was growing up, we always got very excited when it snowed. We typically got one or two snows per year here in the piedmont of North Carolina, and most of the time, it was just a light dusting. Now and then, though, we’d get a big snow. Then, we’d make snowmen, snow forts, and Snow Cream.