As parents and caregivers, what can we do to channel that creative energy? How can we provide them with learning opportunities, help them find success and feel a sense of accomplishment? Here are some other ideas on no-cost activities for children of all ages.

Get Crafty

One way to help children find an outlet for their creative energy is to help them do small crafts that are challenging, yet within their ability to make. Involving them in such crafts will challenge and stretch their minds, and help give them opportunities to be successful and develop self-esteem. An extra bonus from this comes when these young children have the opportunity to give their crafts to people they care about, like parents or grandparents. This gives them the chance to showcase their skills, gain praise and encouragement for their efforts and give children the satisfaction that they have provided something of use and beauty to someone else. I have seen my own children's self-esteem and sense of giving increase tremendously when provided with this opportunity.

How does your garden grow?

Another activity that young kids can participate in, is in helping with a garden or, if space does not permit, at least the nurturing of a plant. One year, my son's wonderful second grade teacher provided him with this invaluable opportunity when he brought home a small seedling of a pumpkin which he had started from a seed. We transplanted the seed into a space where it would have enough room to grow. Every day, my son would water it and check to see how much it had grown. His pride and sense of accomplishment came to fulfillment when, around fall time, the pumpkin plant had provided his family with several pumpkins for Halloween. My son harvested the seeds of these pumpkins, and descendants of his first pumpkin still grow in our little patch every year.

Caring for a pet

Providing a child with the opportunity to care for a pet is something else that a child between the ages of five and seven can participate in. Giving a child the chance to care for the family pet will, like caring for a plant, give the child valuable learning opportunities to become responsible and compassionate. One extra bonus that caring for a pet does for a child is that the child is awarded with friendship and gratitude from the pet, which is especially motivating, and gives the child immediate feedback that his or her service to the pet is appreciated.

Exercise

One final activity that young children can be involved in, one which will benefit them all through their lives, is to help children develop an appreciation and enjoyment of healthy, appropriate exercise. Certainly young children won't be running marathons, but getting young children involved in fun, age-appropriate sports with other children will help them gain an understanding and appreciation for sports as well as develop social skills. Also, doing things as a family that involves healthy, physical activity will help young children learn that physical activity and exercise is fun and rewarding, and will help them develop lifelong healthy habits that will increase their quality of life.

Young children learning about life and how things work can thrive from being given opportunities to be successful. These suggested activities can provide that. Fashioning little crafts, caring for a plant or a cherished pet and developing habits of healthy physical activity can not only give children a sense of success and accomplishment, but help them develop good habits that will be with them their entire lives.

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Most of the time, parent teacher conferences, regardless of the reasons for them, are very pleasant and productive. They can do a lot to help both the parents and teachers know what needs to be done to help an individual student move forward in his learning.

I have found in my experience, that achieving these productive conferences, takes a few simple but important things. Most importantly, both the parent and the teacher need to be honest, respectful to each other, and focus on what both can do to help the student meet his or her potential as a learner.

In addition to this, there are four tips that can help parents prepare for a productive and helpful conference with their children's teachers.

1. Understand most teachers are truly caring, and have your child's best interests at heart

While it is true that there are occasionally teachers out there who are not so great, the vast majority really do care about the kids and want to see them succeed. If a student is having trouble, either academically or behaviorally, it is most likely not because the teacher is incompetent or picking on the student. Focusing on what the parent and teacher can work on together to hold the student accountable for his own actions and choices will do much more to help the student progress than trying to place blame.

2. Know a student's education does not have to go on hold when she walks out the school door

Parents can do a great deal to help their students get ahead by helping them and encouraging them in their homework. Making sure that a student does his or her homework (and has a quiet place to do it) is one thing a parent can do to help a child. In addition, encourage students to wait until after homework is done to play games or go to friends' houses.

3. Letting a teacher know about different challenges in a student's personal life can be very helpful

A job change, a divorce or struggling marriage, a pet's death or many other difficulties can affect how students act and perform at school. Making teachers aware of such things can be very helpful for the teacher. Once the teacher understands a student's unique situation and unique needs and challenges, he can offer empathy and understanding.

4. Remember most teachers are more than willing to meet with parents at times other than the scheduled parent teacher meetings

If a parent has a concern about a student's grade, relationship with peers or anything else that may cause concern, most teachers are more than willing to talk with parents about these things. It doesn't have to be only during the parent teacher conferences that the school schedules. Show consideration by arranging to talk ahead of time at a time that does not interfere with class time.

Remember, the vast majority of teachers really value the kids they teach. They want nothing more than to see them succeed and, ultimately, to become happy, productive adults. Since all responsible parents want the same thing, productive parent teacher conferences will do wonders for a student's learning progress and chances for success.

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There are a few things, however, that a person does need in order to be truly happy. Fortunately, they may not be as difficult for your family to achieve as one may think.

Self-respect

One part of being truly happy is being able to respect yourself. And real self-respect comes, of course, from living in such a way as to make yourself able to feel respect for yourself. Being able to look yourself in the face every day, and say, "I am OK!"� and mean it, adds much to a person's ability to have true and lasting happiness. No matter what others may think of you, if you know you are a worthwhile human being, that's what matters. This self-respect will rub off on your family members.

A sense of purpose

Having something to be enthusiastic about, is a very big help in being truly happy. Purpose comes from having gainful employment that you love, a family to take care of or anything that you do that betters your life and the lives of others around you. In my own life, I have found that the fastest way for me to cheer up if I am feeling low about anything, is to do something nice for someone else. I am amazed how much my own happiness increases just because of that.

Not being too hard on yourself

We all make mistakes. My teenage children are really good at reminding me of that fact. If we do something dumb, tactless, or blurt out the wrong thing at the wrong time, (I'm really good at that) it doesn't mean the world has ended, or that we're not worthwhile people.

Now, of course if we have done something that requires fixing or an apology to someone else, then by all means, we need to fix the mistake we've made. But once that's done and over with, continuing to dwell on the dumb thing we did, and recycling needless guilt isn't very productive. Moving forward, making yourself better day by day, and not being too hard on yourself can help to increase personal and family happiness.

Being at peace with the world

Holding grudges, nursing age-old, secret injuries and down-right hating other people has never helped anyone to be happy - no matter how justified they may feel. That isn't to say that you need to approve of inappropriate things that others might do, or trust people who have shown that they don't deserve your trust. In fact, it is wise to avoid people and situations that are unhealthy for you. But putting aside past injuries by not dwelling on them, and seeing the good in the world wherever you can, is a pretty big part of being able to find happiness - especially in family life.

In the end, happiness is a choice that we make for ourselves. It is something that develops in our own hearts. Having awesome things is nice and there's nothing wrong with seeking to improve the quality of our lives. But, true happiness comes from something more than stuff. Being able to respect ourselves, having a sense of purpose, not being too hard on ourselves and looking for the good in the world are all ways that can help us build and maintain true and lasting happiness.

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Who has not, at one point or another, either said those words to someone else or had those words said to him or herself? I would suspect that anyone old enough to read this, has been annoyed by someone or has been guilty of annoying someone else in his or her lifetime.

It is near impossible for us humans, being the pack animals that we are, not to rub someone the wrong way at some point in our lives. There is hope that this can be minimized, even if it can't be entirely eliminated. Here are four ideas on how to minimize the chances of annoying people, and improve the relationships we have with the people around us.

1. Be mindful of other's wants and needs

It is part of human nature for an individual to often think that he or she is above the rules that other mere mortals are required to follow. For example, a person wanting to get a jump on his yard work on a particular Saturday may think, "Other people may be annoying to their neighbors when they mow their lawns at 4:30 in the morning with their very loud lawn mowers. But I'm not, because I'm special."

While it is true that we are all special, and all unique as members of the human race, it is not OK for us to create unnecessary disturbances for other people whose wants and needs are just as important as our own.

Remember the golden rule: If something someone else does is going to be annoying to us, it's a good bet that if we do the same thing it will be annoying to others.

2. Do what you say you'll do

If you make a promise, whether to your boss, neighbor, child, spouse or parent - keep it. It is that simple. Granted, something unexpected may arise that was not part of the equation at the time the promise was made. Nevertheless, do all you reasonably can to follow through on what you say you'll do.

3. Be on time

Whatever it is; a business meeting, getting a child to an activity or sports event or any other scheduled event where your presence is required, it is important to be there when you need to be there. There are few things more annoying than being late for something because the ride you depended on wasn't on time to take you there. While mistakes and miscommunication are an inevitable part of life, it is possible to minimize these problems by being aware of the needs of others who depend on you. Again, going back to the golden rule. If you don't want someone to be late, do not be late yourself.

4. Apologize

No matter how hard we try, mistakes are still made. We are going to forget or misplace things and be tactless or thoughtless during our lives. By doing so, we will annoy others. When this happens, it is important to apologize to the people we've annoyed, and do what we can to learn skills and behaviors that can help us avoid mistakes in the future.

Again, it all comes back to the golden rule. Do for others what you would like done for yourself. Or, do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself. If we keep this in mind, the times that we annoy people will decrease significantly, and our relationships will be stronger, higher-quality and more productive.

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Often, this is the first time a child has spent any significant time away from home - and from mom. This can prove to be difficult for both the child and the parent. But if parents remember these three steps, they can make the transition from home to kindergarten enjoyable for their children and for themselves, and can help make their children's first memories of education wonderful and positive.

Trust your child's teacher and be supportive of her

Teachers from kindergarten through high school are highly trained, and no matter how long they've been teaching, teachers are required to keep their skills sharp, and up to date. As a high school teacher myself, I know this very well. Kindergarten teachers are well aware that they are the first of many teachers their students will experience throughout their educational careers, and though they are often considered "just" kindergarten teachers, they are as highly skilled, often more, than their colleagues in the higher grades. They are the ones entrusted with building the first foundations of children's education, and they take their job very seriously. Mostly, know that your child's teacher cares about her, and will do everything she can to help your child develop the skills she will need to progress on to the higher grades.

Prepare your child for school

Find a way to get your child used to the idea of going away to school, and that the experience will be a positive one, rather than an anxious, or frightening one. The school your child will be attending likely allows the parents and kindergarteners to come to school and meet the teacher and get to know the classroom where they will spend much of their day. Make sure to take advantage of this, so that your child can meet her teacher, help her teacher have an understanding of what skills she already has, get to know her classroom, and become used to the idea that she will be going away to school soon, and can start getting excited about it.

Trust that your child will adjust to being at school

Kindergarten is a big step for a child, and is a big part of a child's growth into eventually being completely independent. It is important for parents to support their children in taking this step. Again, if this is the first time a child has spent significant time away from home, there may be some separation anxiety, and a child may have a hard time at first in saying goodbye to a parent. If a child is clingy on the first days of school, it is important for parents to understand their child's anxiety, but not to feed it by lingering longer than they need to. Again, trusting the teacher, and the child's ability to adjust to school is important here.

I remember my first day of kindergarten. I was terribly nervous, but when my mom dropped me off, my teacher, whom I'd already met the previous spring, involved me in an activity in which I happily became engaged. When I finally thought to look around for my mom and saw that she wasn't there, I felt a little afraid. But my teacher was so skillful at engaging me in my learning activity, that I quickly forgot my fear. After that, I adjusted to the idea that I was a big girl, and didn't need to be with my mom all the time.

Because of my mom's support of my teacher, and her trust that I could adjust to being away from her, my first experience with school and with kindergarten was a very positive one, which helped me develop a very positive attitude toward my education as a whole.

Help your child understand that school is a fun and rewarding experience

As you send your own child to kindergarten, remember that while it can be a little scary, both for you and your child, it can also be a wonderfully rewarding time, and a great opportunity for your child to learn to be confident and independent. And this will help build a positive foundation for the rest of your child's educational experience.

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For many families, the cost of buying lunch at school is too high to comfortably fit in their budgets. So they have opted to send their kids to school with a sack lunch. For these families, here are three tips to make their kids' lunches healthy, economical and fun to eat.

Make sure your child's lunch is well-balanced and healthy

Following the guidelines of the food pyramid can be helpful here. Make sure the food in your child's lunch bag has the right amount of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats, as well as vitamins. One possible lunch could include the following: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread (provided there are no peanut or other allergy issues) a pudding cup, a small bag of carrots, an apple, a juice box of 100 percent fruit juice and one or two whole wheat chocolate chip cookies.* Omitting the juice box and including money for a carton of milk may also be an option.

Be mindful of what can stay fresh without refrigeration

Kids' lunches usually sit on the shelf of their coat rack, or in backpacks from morning until lunchtime, and these of course, are at room temperature. Being aware of what can reasonably keep for that long can help keep your child's lunch fresh.

When I was a child, I remember I had a friend who brought her lunch to school, and in the lunch was a boiled egg. After lunch, she started getting stomach pains, and had to go home. It ended up not being anything serious, but she and her mom came to the conclusion that it likely had something to do with the boiled egg in her lunch that had sat unrefrigerated on the shelf all morning.

Make sure that your child enjoys what is included in her lunch bag

A home lunch can be both healthy and tasty for a child. Being aware of the sorts of healthy foods a child likes, can help her enjoy lunchtime. My daughter loves crisp apples. It doesn't matter what kind they are, so long as they are crisp and crunchy. But she cannot stand pears. For that reason, I would never pack a lunch for her with a pear in it, but I would include an apple, which is both healthy for her, and something that I know will be eaten rather than thrown away.

Additionally, including something sweet, which also has nutritional value, like the whole wheat cookies, can give your child something to look forward to at lunchtime that is also good for her.

knowing what to pack in a child's sack lunch can help make a child's lunch healthy, safe, and delicious, while helping parents save money at the same time. And this can make both parents and kids happy with the choice to bring a lunch from home.

*Below, I have included a recipe for whole wheat chocolate chip cookies that you and your children may also enjoy:

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

¾ cup white sugar

¾ cup packed brown sugar

½ butter or margarine

½ cup oil (preferably canola oil)

1 t. vanilla

1 egg

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 t. baking soda

¼ t. salt

¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the sugars, butter, oil, vanilla and egg until blended. Beat in flour, baking soda and salt until well-blended. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.

On an ungreased cookie sheet drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.

Bake seven to nine minutes until cookies are golden brown. Cool for at least one minute before eating.

These cookies are delicious either cooled or still warm.

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"Hey Mitch,"� I remember saying as I stood and walked over the gate to talk to him, wondering why he didn't have his usual trademark smile on his face.

"Hey,"� he said, his voice soft as his fingers hooked into the wires of the chain link fence between us.

This wasn't like Mitchell. He is usually a vivacious and talkative boy.

"What's up?"� I asked.

To this simple question, the poor boy dropped his head, and burst into sudden tears.

Alarmed, I went through the gate, and put my arm around the crying child.

"What's wrong Mitchell?"� I asked again.

At first, Mitchell couldn't speak through his sobs, but when he finally was able to speak, my heart sank at what he said: "My mom and dad are getting a divorce!"�

There are many things that teachers, relatives, care providers and other caring adults can do to help children whose parents have been divorced, or are in the process of divorcing. Perhaps the three most important steps a caring adult can take to support children through this difficult time, are to help children remember that they can still love both parents, that they have friends (both kids and grownups) who support them, and that what has happened between their parents, is not their fault.

Children still love both parents

First of all, children often feel as if they have to take sides in a split between their parents; that in order to be loyal to one parent, they cannot be loyal to the other. It is important for caring adults in the life of a child who is experiencing divorce to help the child know that this is simply not true. A child has the right to love both parents just as much as before even though the parents don't live in the same house any more.

An adult caregiver or relative can encourage the child in this by always speaking positively of both parents. This can be difficult if the caring adult is a friend or relative of one of the parents and has opinions connected to the divorce. However, it is vital that she keep her opinions to herself when communicating with the child. Always staying positive about both parents, regardless of personal bias is important for the happiness and well being of the child who cares about both his parents, and wants to love them both.

Children have the support of others

It is important to help the child remember that he has a support system that he can turn to for advice or just to cry and talk about his feelings. While I was sad for Mitchell the day that he came to tell me what was going on between his parents, I was honored that he felt safe talking to me about the situation. I was glad that I was able to do what I could to comfort him. I am pleased when I see Mitchell hanging out with my own or other children, and laughing and playing as he used to do. I also know that he has other caring adults, teachers and grandparents who love and care for him just as they always have, and that has made a big difference in helping Mitchell through the sorrow of his parents splitting up.

The children are not at fault

It is important for caring adults to help children understand that the difficulties between their parents is not their fault. Often, a child may think, "If I had just been a better child"�"� "If I'd tried harder in school"�"� or "If I had just worked harder to keep my parents together"�"� then their parents would not have separated. But none of these ways of thinking are correct. A divorce is never a child's fault, and children should never have to feel responsible or guilty for the difficulties between their parents.

Caring adult relatives, teachers and caregivers need to be mindful that children may be unnecessarily taking on feelings of guilt and responsibility, and these adults need to help children eliminate these thoughts from their minds. Often, simply sitting with a child and reminding him that what has happened is not because of anything he did, can do a lot to help relieve children of these unnecessary feelings.

Divorce is always difficult and painful - especially for the children. The adults in these childrens' lives can help by being mindful of their needs and do what they can to be supportive. Supportive adults can help children understand that they still have the right to love both parents, they have supportive friends and relatives and that what happened is not their fault.

*Name has been changed.

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However, there are wonderful rewards for being able to let go of the feelings of hurt or bitterness. These rewards are worth the effort it takes to let go of anger and allow oneself to heal, and to forgive.

First, being unable to forgive leaves one dwelling on the past; focusing on things that cannot be changed. Not only is it futile to dwell upon the past, it is unhealthy. Dwelling upon past events, either real or perceived wrongs, keeps one from letting go of toxic, destructive bitterness that can hurt the person who feels injured far more than the person with whom he is angry.

Additionally, continuing to hold onto feelings of unforgiveness prevents one from progressing forward and bettering oneself as a person. When one continues to hold onto feelings of unforgiveness and unwilling to let them go, this creates a stagnant situation. The person who is unwilling to forgive doesn't have room in his heart to allow for personal growth and self-realization. While it is often difficult to let go of the past in order to regain the ability to progress forward, and move beyond the anger of the past, the effort is always worth it.

Being unable to forgive also keeps us from forming, strengthening, or healing valuable relationships. Sometimes, if the person who committed the wrong is truly sorry and willing to try to make amends, then being unwilling to forgive deprives one of the opportunity to have a healthy bond with the person he has not forgiven. Granted, sometimes an offender is unrepentant, even possibly dangerous. In such situations, having a healthy relationship with that person may be impossible. Even then, regardless of the offender's personal situation, letting go of bitter feelings will benefit the one who was injured and help him move beyond the hurt of the past.

When one is able to let go of the pain of the past, release bitterness and forgive others, he is more easily able to find peace for himself. He will be able to be happier. He will have more to give to others such as friends, spouse, children, and those who need his strength.

Being able to forgive grants the forgiver many benefits that he would not have if he did not allow himself to let go of the anger. He will avoid allowing bitterness to damage him emotionally, he will be able to move forward and find time for personal growth, and he will be able to achieve peace for himself. Now, he will be able to give of himself to those around him.

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In teaching my children about race and ethnicity, I have had an advantage because they already know their own family members whose blood hails from all over the world. Even so, it is important for me to teach my children about the value and variety of different ethnic groups. In doing so, I have emphasized four important things.

First, one of the things that make the human race so wonderful is the great variety of people who live on our planet. There are many different countries, continents and climates from which people come. Because of these different environments and climates, people often look different; they may have varying tones of color in their skin as well as hair and eyes; facial features and height may also vary between different ethnic groups as well. These differences are what make individuals so unique.

Second, there are a marvelous variety of cultures as well. Along with the way members of different ethnic groups look on the outside, there are also equally different cultures as well. Different groups of people have different traditions, different ways of doing things, different ways of dress, etc. I have made sure to teach my children that a person's culture and traditions are important to him or her. Although people from different cultures might not do things the way we do, they deserve our respect.

Third, while it is important for each of us to value ourselves and our own traditions and cultures, it is a valuable skill to be able to appreciate and value other cultures and traditions, to learn about them, and to experience them. It's important to appreciate the people who live and practice their own traditions.

Fourth, perhaps most importantly, I have tried hard to teach my children that traditions, cultures and races may be different among people all over the world, we are all human. We all have worth, and we all have something positive we can contribute to this world.

A person's race or way of doing things does not make him or her less or better than another person; just different and unique. And that is what it means to be a part of the human race. A family is group of individuals where everyone is unique and special in a wonderful way.

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Needless to say, when we get together, we are not the typical family group where everyone looks relatively the same. In teaching my children about race and ethnicity, I have had an advantage because they already know their own family members whose blood hails from all over the world. Even so, it is important for me to teach my children about the value and variety of different ethnic groups. I doing so, I have emphasized four important things.

1. Variety

One of the things that make the human race so wonderful is the great variety of people who live on our planet. There are many different countries, continents and climates that people come from. Because of these different environments and climates, people often look different; they may have varying tones of skin and eye color as well as a variety of hair styles, facial features and height. These differences are what make different races, and different individuals so unique.

2. Cultures

There is a marvelous variety of cultures in our world. Similar to the way members of different ethnic groups look on the outside, there are equally different traditions, languages and ways of thinking as well. Different groups of people have different traditions, different ways of doing things, different ways of dress, etc. I have made sure to teach my children that a person's culture and traditions are important to him or her, and though they may not do things the way we do, they are to be respected.

3. Learn about traditions and cultures

While it is important for each of us to value ourselves and our own traditions and cultures, it is a valuable skill to be able to appreciate and value other cultures and traditions. This is why it is important to learn about them, experience them and to appreciate the people who live and practice these traditions.

4. We are all human

Perhaps most importantly, I have tried hard to teach my children that different traditions, cultures and races may exist in groups all over the world, yet at the same time, we are all human. We all have worth, and we all have something positive we can contribute to this world.

A person's race or way of doing things does not make him less or better than another person. People are all different and unique no matter what part of the world they come from. And that is what it means to be a part of the human race. A family is a group of individuals where everyone is unique and special in a wonderful way.

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