4 Mess Free Snacks for Your Kids While on a Road Trip

April 30, 2013 By 1 Comment

road trip snacksTaking a road trip with the whole family can be one of the most incredible experiences you will all have together. Road trips allow you to truly take in the landscape and the attractions while you travel, and you have the freedom to go wherever you want at your own pace. Travelling with kids can be a little challenging though if you aren’t fully prepared, so it helps to have a few things sorted out before you leave. Entertainment and snacks seem to be the two biggest issues when it comes to keeping everyone happy on a road trip, so taking the time to organise this pre-trip will definitely help everything to go a lot smoother.

When it comes to snacks, you want to find things that are healthy, tasty and nutritious. This might seem easy, but when you are travelling in a car for hours on end, you also need to consider the mess factor! If you’re planning on going away with the whole family for a car adventure, here are 4 mess free snack ideas for your kids while you’re on a road trip.

Fresh Fruit Slices

While some fresh fruit can be messy, if you stick to pre-prepared slices of apples, peeled oranges, small strawberry segments and grapes, you have the chance to give your kids a fresh healthy snack that won’t get smeared throughout the car and onto their clothes. Just remember to refrigerate the fruit prior to leaving, keep the segments in a zip lock back and preferably store it in a cool bag to keep it fresh and firm. A packet of wet wipes is great to have on hand to stave away any sticky fingers after the snack.

Homemade Potato Chips

Making your own potato chips is a quick and healthy alternative to other highly coloured and processed savoury snacks. Simply slice the potato finely, lightly season, then bake in the oven with a light spray of canola. Once crisp, remove and leave to cool before popping into small Tupperware boxes for the trip. Your kids will love the feeling of having a treat, and you can relax knowing that they’re snacking healthily.

Whole Grain Sandwich Snacks

Sandwiches and crackers can get messy on long trips, so try these bite sizes whole grain snacks instead. Using a moist whole grain bread reduces the amount of crumbs, and cutting the sandwiches into small bite sized pieces means less opportunity for the filling to spill. Keep it simple, ham and cheese is a firm favourite, as is peanut butter and jam for the sweet tooths in the family.

DIY Trail Mix

Making your own trail mix is a great way to keep an eye on what your kids are actually snacking on. Rather than trusting commercial mixes which can be high in sugars, make your own from your kid’s favourite dried fruits and nuts. Package these into small portions and seal in zip lock bags for a quick, easy and tasty treat for even the longest road trip.

When planning a road trip with the kids, the last thing you want is sticky fingers and smeared food mashed into the beautiful upholstery of your brand new Suzuki Kizashi. To avoid heartache, stick to these simple and mess free snacks that your kids will love, without redecorating the interior of your car! These wholesome and healthy treats are easy to make and are tasty enough that your kids will really enjoy their special road trip snacks for the whole duration of your adventure.

About the Author

Amanda is mother of 3 young boys who is an active blogger amongst the online mothering community.

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9 Most Loved Kids Party Songs

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

To ensure that your kids birthday is an absolute success, spend some time planning the music. It’s an often overlooked aspect of parties until the last minute, and it can be hard to create a great playlist with limited time to spare!

birthday party
Here are 9 of the most loved kids party songs that you can use to create a fun and happy atmosphere.

I Like to Move It

This song became a huge hit with kids after it starred prominently in the blockbuster movie Madagascar. Kids simply love to get up and dance to this catchy and energetic tune as sung by King Julian in the film.

Macarena

The old dance-line pop tune that many parents will have partied to in their youth saw a massive resurgence after it appeared in the popular Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. The movie also included some other classics such as Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Funky Town and Achy Breaky Heart.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight

If you have a little Princess who loves her Disney classics, you’ll simply have to play this beautiful ballad at some time throughout the party. There is also an entire CD released with a range of the most popular songs from films featuring everyone’s favourite Disney Princesses.

Hakuna Matata

Another classic Disney song that still gets the kids up and moving is the iconic Hakuna Matata from the Lion King.

I’m a Believer

This energetic Smash Mouth hit is bound to get the kids grooving, especially amongst the Shrek fans. The track was one of many popular songs to be featured in the hugely successful animated film, including Accidentally in Love, Hallelujah, Dance to the Music and the Latin American tunes of Livin La Vida Loca.

Shake Your Sillies Out

There’s nothing better than watching a group of kids having fun and dancing along to this silly track from some of the best songsters in the child entertainment business, the Wiggles. Let the kids go wild and literally ‘shake their sillies out’ with this fantastic party track.

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

This great little song from highly popular Dora the Explorer will have the little ones dancing and singing along, while following all the actions by heart. Simple yet fun, this is a hot hit with the younger kids.

Under the Sea

Another Disney classic, this beautiful calypso style pop tune comes from The Little Mermaid, and is a wonderful track to play at your kids party. Upbeat and tropical, all the kids will be grooving along in no time.

Elmo’s World

All the Sesame Street fans will be singing along word for word when this cute and fun party song comes on. Sung in Elmo’s distinctive voice, this track is a great addition to any kids party playlist.

Once you’ve got the music planned, don’t forget to leave plenty of time to choose your kids birthday invitation designs. It helps to have a theme for the party in mind before you start planning everything, so that the music, invites and even the food can all be coordinated to match.

Written by Emma Jane

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Stuart Miles – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

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Lessons Children Can Learn from Caring for a Pet

March 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

If you have a child, you’ll start hearing pleas from a very young age for a pet. Whether you choose to purchase a goldfish or go down to the shelter to find a furry friend, your family’s pet provides more than just a cute face and friendship. There are many lessons that a child can learn from helping take care of a pet.

caring for a pet
Learning Responsibility

One of the best lessons that children can learn from taking care of pets is responsibility. As you start the family discussion about whether or not to get a pet, you’ll want to go over all of the chores that will need to be done to help take care of it. Divvy out these chores in advance so that your children know their expectations. Chores can include cleaning out a cat’s litter box or small animal cages, providing the pet with food and clean water, and taking the dog for walks. Caring for a small animal and taking on this new level of responsibility can be a great lesson for children.

Learning Commitment

From first stocking up on pet essentials at shops like Dogscorner.co.uk to walking the dog even when it’s freezing outside, your child will learn that caring for a pet is a long-term commitment. They can’t get out of the responsibility after the novelty wears off, and will learn that some worthwhile endeavours in life require time and effort. Children will learn what it means to be reliable, because they have a living creature that’s depending on them for food, water, and play.

Learning New Methods of Communication

Interacting with a non-verbal creature helps children pick up on emotional cues. They can learn new ways to communicate by becoming attuned to the indications that a pet gives to show its feelings. This is carried over into human interaction, making children more conscious of body language and emotions. Many children are interested in how their pet is feeling, becoming more empathetic in their daily lives.

Learning Unconditional Love

Perhaps the most important lesson that a child can learn from taking care of a pet has nothing to do with purchasing dog collars at dogscorner.co.uk and accessories or feeding it every day. They can see that the pet loves them no matter what, which can be a huge confidence boost during formative years. Even when a child has a bad day at school, they can come home and see that their dog loves them for who they are without any judgment. Children may know that they are loved by their parents, but a dog’s love carries no expectations.

These are just a few of the ways that having a pet can change your child’s life. They provide companionship, love, and a reason to take on new responsibility. The lessons learned can be well worth the effort.

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Tina Phillips – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

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