KidsPark centers offer day, evening and weekend care for children ages 2-11 and is open almost each and every day of the year with parent schedule friendly hours – they’re open from 8 am to 10 pm Monday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. KidsPark also offers recession conscience prices (about $7.50 per hour) so most families can afford it. There’s no reservation needed – families register once and they’re in the KidsPark system.

Safety - KidsPark exceeds state licensing requirements with an average teacher-child ratio of 1:8. At all times, no matter the number of children present there are two staff on site. If a child needs one-on-one attention, another teacher is available to the group.

All KidsPark staff is:

• Certified in First Aid and CPR
• Screened by the Department of Justice
• Trained in Early Childhood Education and Recreation
• Required to attend staff development and skill building workshops

KidsPark offers lots of hands-on projects, art projects, games and a pretty slick calendar of seasonal special events. Additionally, various areas for different activities are designated at each center. Such as…

• Creation Station – for art, cooking, hands-on-science and more.
• Activity Area – where kids can play individually or in group with toys, play pretend in the playhouse or investigate the book nook.
• Mountain of Energy – an active minded structure that kids can pretend is a mountain, space ship and more.
• Theater – an areaused for story times, music, G-rated movies, games and guest performers.
• Sport Court – perfect for kids tired of being inside all winter, kids can kick goals, shoot baskets, play 4-square or just enjoy a game of catch.
• Blue Crew – a school-age area that encourages interaction with peers. Older kids can learn more detailed art projects, play age appropriate games and non-violent video games or do homework.

The only downside I see to KidsPark is that there are not nearly enough of them. Current locations include Arlington/Texas, Jacksonville/FL, Scottsdale/AZ, Olathe/Kansas and in California – Chico, Northridge, Corona, Fresno, Rocklin, Sacramento, and their pilot centers in San Jose, CA. That said there are also three additional locations opening in the first half of 2010.

If you live in one of the areas with a KidsPark you may want to check them out for holiday care this year while they’re out of school or while you need to holiday shop OR set up a date night with your partner.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1.  Go to the park.
2.  Watch a dvd and eat popcorn.
3.  Make pancakes.
4.  Make playdough.
5.  Play with playdough.
6.  Build something with blocks.
7.  Play school.  Let your child be the teacher.
8.  Paint or draw together.
9.  Ride bikes.
10.  Go for a walk around the neighborhood.
11.  Garden together.
12.  Visit a neighbor.
13.  Do something special for an elderly person such as clean their house, do their errands, cook, or visit.
14.  Write a card or letter to someone.
15.  Sing songs.
16.  Play video games together.
17.  Pray for the needy.
18.  Make Oobleck.
19.  Go through all of the toys and organize them.
20.  Visit a farm to pick fruits and vegetables.
21. Have a picnic lunch.
22. Play board games.
23. Create a photo book or scrapbook.
24. Go camping.
25. Tell jokes.

Also, check out these free winter fun ideas. What low cost fun activities can you suggest?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Here are few ways to save on babysitting.

1)  Go on a lunch date. This is our newest way to save.  Our three oldest children are in school and our youngest is in preschool part-time.  We finally have a consistent time that we can get out together.

2)  Trade babysitting with others.  If you know of other parents that have kids, offer to trade with them.  Everyone needs some time alone and they would probably be willing to work something out.

3)  Call on friends and relatives.  We are really unfortunate that we don’t live near family.  If I did, we wouldn’t have any issue with babysitting.  Thankfully, we have a person that we call on every few months to give us a night out together.  She does this for free because she loves us.  I used to do this more often before I had kids.  There’s nothing wrong with helping people out, right?!?

4)  Join a babysitting co-op.  Some co-ops are very organized and they have systems with points where you can earn points per hour, per child, etc.  It sounds a little complicated, but these parents have found a system that works for them.

5)  Check into community babysitting services.  Some churches offer free or low cost babysitting.  Sometimes it is a fundraiser for the youth group.  Activities are planned and supervised by adults while the youth of the church play with your kids.  Some churches offer a night of free babysitting as a service to the community.

What ways do you save on babysitting?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1)  Grocery store customer cards – Some stores, such as Food Lion have a program for schools.  Basically, the school registers at the grocery store and then the parents, grandparents, etc register their store card under the school’s account.  The school automatically gets proceeds from the sales.  There’s no need to sell anything.

2)  Restaurant fundraiser - Your child’s school can sign up at a restaurant such as Chick-Fil-A for a special fundraiser night.  Proceeds from that night go to the school.  Again, no need to sell anything.  If you want to show your support, you just come to the restaurant to eat.

3)  Cookie dough - Most people like cookie dough, especially around the holidays.  It’s easy to sell and it brings in a lot of money.  I was talking to a teacher last month and she said their school made about $10,000!

4)  Invest-in-a-Kid – My kids’ school does a fundraiser where they don’t sell anything. They simply ask for monetary donations for things the school needs.  It gives parents an opportunity to just give without having to sell.

5)  Candy bars -  These are a bit more aggravating, but pretty easy to sell.  After all, they’re only a buck. Most anyone will buy a candy bar. People don’t have to wait around for something to be ordered.

6)  Sodas - Schools can partner up with a soda company such as Pepsi or Coca-Cola. They take orders and money for the soda and then the soda is picked at the school on the arranged date. No delivery needed.  Usually the soda is about the same price as the soda from the grocery store.

7)  Read-a-thon or Walk-a-thon – Most people don’t mind donating money if the kids are going to do something useful like reading or walking.

8)  Silent auction – Parents and the community donate items of value.  It’s an easy fundraiser and you can get some great bargains.

9)  Coupon books – Each year my husband and I buy at least one coupon book which has coupons for dining out and entertainment.  The books generally sell for $20 and the school gets $10 for each book sold.  Most coupons in the book are for buy 1 get 1 free.

10)  Dinner or festival – Have a dinner or festival for the community.  Usually, schools serve spaghetti because it’s an easy, cheap meal.  Perhaps the school could do a fundraiser dinner and silent auction on the same night.

11)  Buy a privilege.  Some schools have one day each month where the kids can pay $1 to wear a hat to school.  I’ve also heard of paying $1 to wear a costume, flip flops, or crazy clothes.

12)  Box tops  – Most schools participate in this program and it’s super easy with no pressure.  Simply save the box tops from specially marked products.  The schools get 10 cents for each box top.

What do you think of these fundraiser ideas?  Do you have any others to add to the list?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

 1)  Utilize available light: Turn off your flash and use a tripod or even the back of a chair to stabilize your camera and use a slow shutter speed to photograph your child by jack- o- lantern or candle light.

2)  Light your child from below: For a really “haunting” photo, have them hold a flashlight below their face pointed up. Under-lighting is sinister and very scary.

3)  Tell a story with your camera: Start with a “still life” that says “Halloween” (a costume box, a jack-o-lantern, an empty trick or treat bag, etc). Next photograph your child before the transition from suburban student to blood dripping vampire. Capture the make up, the costume, the process.

4)  Create a portrait of them in costume as if it were real: A princess on her throne, a cowgirl in front of a barn, or a ghoul in the cemetery. Engage your child in the fantasy.

5)  Photograph the haul! Every child remembers the special Halloween when the mountain of candy was beyond belief. Photograph them close up using a wide angle setting. Fill the frame with candy as well as their joyful expression.

Do you enjoy taking Halloween photos of your children?  Which ones are your favorite?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

The event is on August 15, 2009 from 10 am until 1 pm and is available while supplies last.  For more information, visit The Knack website.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Click here to find a Shoney’s near you.

Thanks Bargain Briana.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I have received several free Fisher Price dvds and have found them to be a great addition to our dvd collection. 

Thanks to iMommies for the tip.  Image from Fisher Price.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

“Beach” is an upbeat and fun tune that tells of magical treasure maps, dolphins playing in the surf, and dancing in the sand.  As always, Charity has included the lyrics and chords for the song.

It’s ok if you’ve missed out on the other free downloads.  Check out Charity’s free song of the month archive and you can still have them for free.  There are currently seven songs in the archive.

I hope that you’ll drop in and listen to a few other tunes and download your free copy of “Beach”.  Happy Friday!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

In honor of Mother’s Day, our May song is a reworking of the age-old Rock-a-Bye Baby. I’ve always felt the traditional version lacked the comfort of a lullaby, with the baby falling out of the tree and all. So here’s an adaptation that sings about the manifestations of unconditional mother love and safety available to us in every moment, no matter who or where or how we are. It’s called Rock-a-Bye, and is a song for the mother — and the child — in each of us. Dream on!

Free gift idea – You’ll receive an email for each download request. Forward the download link to a loved one, along with a special note.

Charity & the JAMband have one more great freebie for you.  You can download I’m a Little Bunny.  Enjoy this springtime song with your little ones.  Jump, hop, laugh, and dance while you pretend to be a bunny.

While you’re at the JAMband site, take a few minutes to listen to more music.  My favorite still remains Peanut Butter and Jam.  From the mouth of my 3-year-old, “This music makes me happy!”.

Enjoy!

image from Charity & the JAMband

Post from: Thrifty Mommy