Guest writer, Emma McDonald, gives five great ideas to thank your child's teacher for all that she does for your child.

How to Thank Your Child's Teacher

These easy outdoor games are competitive, so they are just right when you have favors and prizes to award. They work at family picnics, birthday parties, and other outdoor group events. The best part is you can set them up at a cost of next to nothing! Before you head out, print this list; grab a boom box and some simple supplies; pick up a few prizes; and you're ready to play some great kids' outdoor games.

I was blessed as a child to have a mom who knew how to make fun. Precious memories, I see their value clearly as I share the transmitted joys of learning and creativity with my children.

Learning to read is an adventure that begins in infancy and continues through the elementary years and beyond. Even children who don't like to read (a large number from my observations), must become excellent readers to achieve at the highest level in their K-12 and college educations. The 2000 report of the National Reading Panel describes the building blocks children need to develop excellent reading skills.

• Build spoken language by talking and listening
• Learn about print and books
• Being read to and reading on their own
• Learn to relate the sounds of spoken language to letters and words
• Be able to recognize words when they see them
• Learn to spell and write words
• Learn new words and build their knowledge of what words mean
• Develop the ability to read quickly and naturally
• Build their ability to understand what they read
• Build their knowledge of the world

We know it's important to read to our children, but parents can go beyond just reading to kids to help them become better readers. This is a source for ideas and activities you can do to help your child achieve each of these building blocks and become better readers.

How to Help Your Child Become a Better Reader

Graduations, recitals, softball games, swim team practice, parties, and oh yes, school work - the last few weeks of the school year are a transition time of ending school days and beginning summer activities. Thinking about summer plans motivates us for a last push on a heavy school schedule.

Scheduling Your Summer with K-6 Kids

Children and poetry are a natural fit. They rhythm and language of poetry makes it perfect for reading aloud to your child. To introduce your child to the world of poetry, your first stop should be the bookstore. Then, take the next step to teach your child to memorize poetry. Deepen your child's interest in poetry with at-home activities and fun ways to write poetry.

Children and Poetry

The May basket is an old-fashioned tradition that will delight your special friends and neighbors. Kids love it because they put the basket on the neighbor's door, ring the bell, and run and hide!

May Baskets - A Neighborly Project for Kids

Children with extremes in negative temperament always seem to be in a bad mood. Their constant complaints and apparent unhappiness can wear on a parent. It's easy to fall into a pattern of negative interactions with this child. You have to develop coping strategies that work for you and your child to manage his negative outlook, so that you can teach him appreciation for the small joys in everyday life.

Parenting Your Negative Child

With NFL spokesmen and sponsors, All Pro Dad is a great resource for fathers and children. While the web site offers daily email tips for better fathering and a wide range of free articles and resources, the real power of All Pro Dad is going on in the monthly breakfast meetings in communities around the U.S. Check out Monthly Breakfasts to learn how to get the program going in your community.

Visit All Pro Dad

Find activities and projects for your child with an Earth Day theme.

Earth Day Activities for Kids and Families