Carnival Time

This weeks Blog Carnival is a chance for you to review your favourite children's book. We'd love to feature your review here so please use the button below to submit your article to our Carnival.

5 Must Have Books for your Pre-Schooler

This week its all about making a difference to your children's education. There's nothing that prepares a child for school better than being read to right from the start.

So, we're starting off the week with a list of 5 books that I don't mind reading to my kids - even though I've read them a million times before!!

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This story lends itself to all sorts of related learning activities and has such fantastic illustrations.


2. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Suess
This is such a great rhyme and is so much fun to read with a pre-schooler.


3. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This is an absolute classic. We don't read it at bed time in our house as my daughter has to join in the wild rumpus.



4. Hairy Maclary from Donaldsons Dairy by Lynley Dodd
My daughter loves the rhythm of this story. She often wanders around the house repeating phrases she really likes the sound of!


5. Are You My Mother? by P D Eastman
This one has been a favourite of my 2 year old since she was quite small. I can 'read' it to her with my eyes closed . . . and I still think its a good story :)

Show your gratitude

I came across a great post today listing some lovely personal ways to say thank you.

Check it out at

Y IT MIGHT BE LOVE Y

Website Round Up - Saving Water

Puzzled as to why we need to save water? Take a look at these websites and find out about the mounting Water Crisis and what YOU can do about it.

• Pulitzer Centre


• Living Water International


• World Water Day


• ONE - the campaign to make poverty history


• Millenium Water Alliance


• Charity: Water


• Living Water International - the H2O Project


• Discuss the water crisis and what you can do about it

How to make a healthy packed lunch

Image via Wikipedia If the idea of taking your own lunch to work sounds dull, boring and a bit like hard work then think again. It doesn't have to be soggy tomato sandwiches and a banana every day (unless that's what you like!!). Here are some ideas to help you get creative with your lunches.

To make sure your packed lunch is a healthy one, make sure you include something from all the groups below - and make sure to mix it up a little so you don't get bored.

Breads and Cereals
Bread - ciabatta, panini, pita pockets, wraps, buns
Crackers
Muffins or Scones
Pasta or Rice Salad
Sushi

Fruit & Vege
Fruit - fresh, raw, stewed, dried
Salad
Vege sticks - carrots, celery, cucumber
Olives

Dairy or Dairy Alternative
Cheese
Yoghurt
Milk or Soy Drinks

Meat or Meat Alternative
Meat - ham, chicken, fish, last nights left over roast meat
Egg
Beans
Tofu
Nuts

Making your own lunch might sound like just one more thing to do in an already busy morning, but there are ways to save time. If you have lunches to prepare for the whole family you can try the assembly line approach - line up all the slices of bread, butter them all, then add fillings. If you have older children they can help you here and save even more time. And kids are more likely to eat something that they helped prepare - or at least have no excuse if they don't like it!!
You could also try making your lunches the night before. You could cook extra dinner and have the left overs for lunch. Or prepare meals such as soup or casseroles in advance and freeze them. Thaw them overnight and you can heat them up at work - or if you don't have facilities to do this, invest in a thermos and simply heat them up in the morning.

You can keep your lunch fresh by taking a frozen drink packed in your lunch box - but be sure to wrap it so it doesn't make your lunch soggy as it thaws. Another way is to use frozen bread - its easier to spread and will be thawed by lunch time.

To spice up the whole packed lunch experience you could organise a 'Packed Lunch Club' with other like-minded work colleagues where you all bring something to share each day. Or try and find a pleasant spot to eat and have a picnic.

For more great packed lunch ideas go to Kiwi Families or FabulousFoods.Com

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