healthykids
rate sealed food container, and then
wrap everything in a box topped
with the recipe. When Dad unwraps
the ready-to-go recipe, he’s all set for
an easy-bake treat with his little one.
Fabulous Father’s Day tweens
Cherished Memories ~ Organize
Do-It-Yourself Gifts for Under $10
children to scour the house for small
conversation pieces that symbolize
by Helen Coronato
Dad. Maybe a golf ball, if he shares his
passion for the sport with the kids; a
fork, if family barbecues are a specialty;
F
ather’s Day is a good time to
paint caps. Together, sort screws, nails,
or his favorite weekend baseball cap.
remind Dad of how special and
bolts and other small items into differ-
Place items in a box with a handmade
loved he is. With a little ingenuity,
ent jars, fastening one item from each
note thanking Dad for the memories,
toddlers to teens can skip commercial
jar to the top of the cap, using a strong
for who he is and all that he does.
products and commemorate the day
adhesive (adult job).

with memory-making ideas that go easy

Plant Family Roots ~ Contact a local
on their piggybank and the Earth. preschoolers
nursery to find the best types of trees
Laptop Montage ~ Remind Dad of to plant in your area. Or, visit the Arbor
toddlers home while he’s at the office by creat-
Day Foundation at ArborDay.org/shop-
Hand Print ~ Capture the attention of
ing a picture montage for his laptop ping/giveatree to learn how you can
little hands, as well as their shape, by
computer. Help your preschooler have a tree planted in Dad’s honor in
mixing one cup of applesauce with one
choose a selection of digital family a national forest.
and a quarter cup of cinnamon in a
photos and program the screensaver
bowl. Knead well, shape into a ball and
to show him how much he’s loved.
teens
roll out on a counter. Gently push your

Good Vibes ~ Give dad the gift of relax-
child’s hand down to make an imprint.
High Seas Adventure ~ If Dad dreams
ation, motivation or stimulation with a
Let dry completely.
of a sailing adventure, create his own
personalized music mix. Fill his iPod or
personalized fleet. Cut a piece of con-
burn CDs with labeled musical themes,
Workshop Storage Containers ~ Wash
struction paper into a triangle to make
such as TGIF – Music for the Weekend
and dry used baby food jars. Have your
the sail and decorate with markers and
or Traffic Tranquility – Soothing Sounds
toddler paint the outside of the jars,
stickers. Along the longest edge, punch
for the Morning Rush. Enjoy researching
using equal parts glue and paint and
three holes and weave a plastic straw
some of Dad’s favorite tunes and intro-
then, while they’re still
through. Anchor the bottom of the straw
ducing him to some new sounds, too.
tacky, help him or her
with a small ball of Play-Doh. Attach
cover the jars with
the anchored sail to the top of a plastic
Value Dad’s Counsel ~ Tear out, trim
bits of tissue paper.
lid, such as the cover of a large yogurt
and recycle used pages from a dis-
Next, apply another
container. Make several boats of various
carded notebook and turn it into a new
coat of the paint/
sizes and shapes.
keepsake. Have your teen brainstorm a
glue mixture.
list of questions he wants to ask Dad;
While drying, elementary students
everything from, “What was your favor-
Month-long Fun ~ Because Father’s Day ite thing to do when you were my age?”
is June 21, brainstorm 21 simple things to “If you could change one decision
Dad likes to do, have and eat. Print in your life, what would it be?” Have
out a blank June calendar on recycled your teen type each question onto
paper and fill in his favorites, so he can a mailing label, attach one question
look forward to, for example, a game per blank page and invite Dad to share
night in his honor on a Tuesday, a his answers.
fresh pack of gum on a Thursday
and pizza at six on a Saturday Helen Coronato is a mother, author,
night. Have children assemble speaker and consultant. Her latest
needed supplies and info before June 1,

book, Eco-Friendly Families, is packed
so that the daily gifts are ready to give. with concrete advice, useful tips and
fun strategies for families who want to
Baked Treat ~ Help your child measure go green. Visit HelenCoronato.com for
out all ingredients, store each in a sepa- more eco-living tips.
June 2009 15
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32