Volunteering for Kids, Live Butterfly Garden Kit

We all want our kids to have a sense of appreciation and gratitude . Volunteering is a good way of giving back and develop a deep sense of appreciation and happiness.
Even kids as young as 4-5 can volunteer . Little children could start by donating books or school supplies. Bigger kids could donate their time.

Check out the following site where you can donate and find more information about the work they do:
www.booksforthirdworld.org/ (New and gently used books ) www.projectnightnight.org/DonateItems.html (They accept new or gently used books,Stuffed Animals, Blankets,Gift cards, Flannel Fabrics)

For Bay Area Residents a website called http://www.handsonbayarea.org/ is an excellent resource to find volunteering opportunities for and with kids. Click here to find family projects.

I recently became aware of a web site called volunteermatch.org. Its purpose is to match volunteers with volunteer opportunities based on your geographic location. It's free, it's easy and it uses your ZIP code to find an opportunity in your area. On the search form you can check the box ''great for kids'' to find opportunities that welcome kids. You can choose the type of volunteer work that interests you (Animals, Children, etc.) and it will show you the opportunities available. Most of the links that you will see may not be appropriate for kids, but some will.

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Todays Amazing Deal

Live Butterfly Garden

Watch them grow then let them go! See one of Nature's greatest miracles right before your eyes with this butterfly raising kit.The Butterfly Garden Kit is a perfect way to teach young learners about metamorphosis. They can witness the development of the butterfly from egg to adult . The butterflies' development takes approximately three weeks . Amazon has it on sale for $13.85 and eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping.

United Nations Tree Planting Program

Its time to go green

Studies have found that an average American family needs to plant 30 trees to offset the CO2 produced by their daily energy use.Its our responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint on our planet.

Here is an excellent opportunity for children to join and pledge with kids worldwide to plant 7 billion trees .

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has launched a worldwide PLANT FOR THE PLANET: THE BILLION TREE CAMPAIGN.

Their goal is to plant 7 billion plants by the end of 2009.

You can plant a tree at home with your family, in your community with your class at school,with girls or boy scouts or any other group.

Click here to enter tree planting pledges online .

Each pledge can be anything from a single tree to several million trees. The responsibility will lie with the person/organization making the pledge via the campaign website to arrange for the tree planting. All contributing participants will receive a certificate of involvement. They will be encouraged to follow up via the web site so UNEP can verify that the trees have survived.

They have a very informative website. It gives information about how to plant trees, facts & figures,videos. They also have a counter showing how many trees have been pledged , how many have been planted. As of May 18, 2009 there have been approximately 5.3 million pledged and 3.1 million planted. The campaign strongly encourages the planting of indigenous trees and trees that are appropriate to the local environment.

Lets all join today and protect our planet for our kids and teach our kids to be environmentally responsible.

Barnes &Noble Reading Program, Kids Clothing Deal

Barnes & Noble has an amazing Summer Reading Program: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/

Here's How It Works:
1. Kids read any eight (8) books of their own choosing.
2. Kids use the Summer Reading Journal to tell their favorite part of each book. A parent/guardian signs the journal when it's complete. You can also get a Spanish-language Reading Journal.
3. Children bring their completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 26th & September 7th, 2009.
4. Barnes and Noble will give them a coupon for a FREE book! They can choose from a list of exceptional paperback titles.
* * Eligible books will be listed on the coupon. There is a limit of one (1) form per school-age child (grades 1-6).

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Gymboree who sell cute, quality children's clothing have a circle of friends 30%off sale ongoing which ends on Sunday, May17th, 2009.Tanks and shorts are as low as $7.99. You can use the 30%off online with the code GYMCIRCLE or click here to print the coupon for in store purchases. You can also earn Gymbucks.

Reading Pledge, Backpacks Deal with Free shipping

Here is a Reading pledge that kids can take and sign this summer. Another incentive for kids to stay motivated to read.

Summer Reading Pledge

It is time for me to get into reading gear,
Because summertime is very near.

Reading is always fun,
Whether I do it in the shade or in the sun!

It is very groovy to read,
And 30 minutes each day is about what I need.

The library is where I can borrow books for free,
And I will find one that is near me.

I will learn a new word each day,
But I will still find time to play.

I will read a book to a family member and to a friend,
Before the summer comes to an end.

And when it is time to go back to school,
I will already know that books are cool!

SIGNATURE:____________________________________________

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Backpacks, lunch bags and accessories deal with free shipping.

The Company Store has been in business since 1911 providing excellent quality products. They have cute backpacks and accessories for little boys and girls on clearance ranging from $3.99 to $14.99 . They have trucks, pirate, sports ,dinosaur themed backpacks for boys and flower, fairy, cat, ballerina backpacks for girls.

Use Code T9WELCOME for free shipping.

Borders Reading Challenge, Scholastic Warehouse Sale

Another amazing activity and deal for the Childrens Literacy Week .

Borders Bookstore have a Summer Reading Challenge. If your child is 12 years or younger , he/she will have to read any 8 books of their choice. Complete the form at this link and bring it in to a Borders store near you to receive 50% off selected books.

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This is a book sale you will not want to miss. I have shopped at these sales before. These warehouse sales are too good to be true. The books are up to 80% off and more at the ScholasticBook Fairs BIG Event Warehouse Book Sale.
•Thousands of titles are up to 80% off the cover price
•Hundreds of items are for $1 or less
.You can also receive a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $60-$100 or $15 off a purchase greater than $100 when you pre-register online .
They have over 200 locations. To find a sale near you, click find a sale.

Scholastic Reading Program, Bakugan deals

Here is an interesting resource to consider keeping the Children's Literacy Week and the approaching summer in mind. It sometimes becomes a challenge to keep our children motivated to read during summer. Research shows that Summer is a critical time to maintain and even advance children's reading levels. Here is a good resource to help keep the kids motivated.
Scholastic has a fun reading program this summer .
- Kids ages 8 and above can join the Virtual Reading camp where they will compete against other readers.
-Younger kids can join a Family Playground. It will help younger kids get interested and stay interested in reading.

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For the parents of Bakugan Crazy kids.. here is an amazing opportunity to save some money. Walmart online has the following on sale -
Bakugan Booster Packs for $2.50 (5 colors available).
SpinMaster Bakugan BakuMat Travel Arena on sale for $4.00.
Bakugan Brawlers Battle Pack for $10.
Shipping is $0.97 per item, if you choose the Ship to Store option , then shipping is free.

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I would really appreciate some feedback from all of you who have viewed this blog. Please leave me comments to let me know, if this information is useful to you, what activities did you do, any deals that you took advantage of.

Childrens Literacy Week, Amazon Deal

May 11-17 is Children's Book Week--the oldest national literacy event in the United States. It is an annual event that began in 1919. In 1944, the Children's Book Council was established, and it has administered the celebration ever since. During Children’s Book Week, public libraries, school libraries, and bookstores generally have special activities for children that are designed to encourage a love of books.
According to the Children’s Book Council --A celebration of the written word, Children's Book Week introduces young people to new authors and ideas in schools, libraries, homes and bookstores. Through Children's Book Week, the Children's Book Council encourages young people and their caregivers to discover the complexity of the world beyond their own experience through books.

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Amazon has deals on books for young readers. They have new and perennial favorites , the 2009 Children's Choice Award finalists , and a free download of the official Children's Book Week bookmark And, great savings on the latest new releases, bestsellers, and more for young readers.