Parent's Time Out 
October 5, 2001

Reminder: Don't forget to join our Great "Time Out" Showdown! 
Find out the details by clicking here and checking out the Time Out for that week.

This weekly feature of the Online Exchange is committed to helping parents take back quality time and devote it more fully to spending it with their children. Here is where you can start to take a Time Out from the TV, computer, housework, and bills. It only takes a few minutes to do fun and memorable things with your children and we will lend a hand each week to get you started. Tune in here for encouragement, fun and easy things to do, and other tidbits, all geared just for you and your precious ones.

~ Time Out for the Week

Keep your kids occupied and your business growing!

(c)2001 Alberta Johnson

How many times have you been in the middle of a major deadline with a business project or assignment, when, all of a sudden, your home office door opens, and it's your child saying "Mommy/Daddy, I'm bored...." ?

You usually just groan and say "Honey, go play with your toys or watch tv...."

Well, sometimes that works and sometimes, you have to stop what you're doing and think of an activity to keep your child busy and out of your hair for awhile.

Children--especially young children--get bored easily. They need a constant string of activities to keep
themselves occupied.

One of the more popular activities for children is making art projects. They absolutely love art!

So I'm going to do something special for  you and your business. I'm going to share one of my more popular art projects with you. It will give your children a fun activity to do, keeping them occupied for a couple of hours--giving you a chance to finish that business report or project that's due today.

Enjoy!

=========================================================

"PAPER MOSAIC ANIMALS"

Grade Level:

1st or 2nd Gr.


Materials:

colored construction papers-3 x 6" in size, in various colors, 12 x 18" black construction paper, glue,
scissors, pencils, erasers, Xeroxed sheets of animals, scraps for practice drawings

Procedure:

1)Use one 12 x 18" black sheet to draw one large animal (rabbits, elephants, turtles, pigs, etc.) that nearly
fills the paper.

2)Choose several 3 x 6" colors for your animal's body parts.

3)Take one 3 x 6" color and cut it into 1/2" wide strips.

4)Next, cut a 1/2" strip into smaller squares, approximately 1/2" in size. Now you have a small pile
of tiny squares that are about 1/2" x 1/2".

5)Use these small squares to fill in a part of the animal's body. (Spread a small amount of glue where you
want the squares to go. Place the squares carefully on the glue, close together.)

6)When one part of the body is filled, choose another part of the body to fill. (If you have squares left, use those squares to fill another part of the body that you want to be that same color.)

7)When you're ready, choose another 3 x 6" color and cut it into the 1/2" x 1/2" squares. Use these to fill
the next part of the body that you chose.

8)Repeat this process until all parts of the animal's body are filled.

9)Put away to dry.


=========================================================
Alberta Johnson is the Editor/Publisher of "K-6 Art Lesson Plans", a web site that offers weekly art lessons geared towards Kdg. through 6th gr. children. These lesson plans have goals, objectives, assessments, and color photos. Children have great fun with them, and parents, teachers, scout and club leaders love them, too. Visit our site at: http://www.k6artlessonplans.com

~ What's for Dinner?

SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS


Ingredients 
************** 
1 cup brown sugar 
1 tbsp. dry mustard 
3/4 cup vinegar 
1 cup ketchup 
1 chopped onion 
3/4 cup water 
1 cup pineapple tidbits 
2 lbs. hamburger 
2 egg whites (beaten)


Procedure 
************* 
Combine chopped onions with hamburger and egg whites. Form into balls. Combine all other ingredients and pour over meatballs baking uncovered for 1 hour. Serve with rice.
NOTE: you can also cook meatballs on the stove until cooked and then put into oven with sauce for 20 mins. 

Temperature: 350°

Baking Time: 45-60 minutes.

~ Just for You

Someone to talk to...

Some times, that is all you need. A little advice, and a lot of resources to vent! For top parenting discussion boards and chat rooms, go here. Just be sure to set some kind of limit for yourself. These can be addictive. Also, be sure not to give out any personal information. If an email address is required to get in, open a free account with yahoo or something. Protect yourself, and meet some great people too.

~ Recommended Site of the Week

Parenting Matters

Here is a site that covers all the bases, even providing encouragement and information for grandparents!
http://www.lifematters.com/parentn.html

Thank you for joining us for this weeks Time Out! Now the rest is up to you. Take the time to do the things suggested, or think of your own ways to spend precious time with your family. But most importantly, HAVE FUN!!  

Be sure to tell your friends about us! Highlight the parts of the page you like the best and print it. Then keep a folder of ideas and recipes.

We would like to hear from you! If you have a favorite family site or craft, send it to us and we might share it with our readers. Or, just let us know what you think of our feature. 
Contact Sara.


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Giving Credit were Credit is Due...
We search all over for great tips, ideas and recipes and don't want to forget to let you know where it all comes from. This week we would like to thank the following:
www.k6artlessonplans.com             www.abcparenting.com
www.recipeplace.com                     www.lifematters.com