FREE Life Science Curriculum For Kids

Here is a terrific science curriculum for elementary-aged children. The life science course is FREE to download. It covers everything from biomes, life cycles, senses to body organs, classifications and health. It is written in a very engaging format and my kids have really enjoyed the course. I download and print out the pages and put them into a binder so it makes a handy science textbook. Whether you homeschool or not, this curriculum as well as the paid science courses are well worth the time.
http://eequalsmcq.com/ClassicScienceLife.htm 

FREE Disney Autographs

A fun surprise for your child is a Disney photo and autograph. All you have to do is send a request to one of the addresses below asking for a certain character's autographed photo and maybe a line or two about why you like that particular character (it makes them feel good)! At this time, the requests must be made by old-fashioned snail mail. I would definitely plan ahead if you are wanting the autograph by a certain date. The turn around time is weeks to months.

Walt Disney Company
Attn: Fan Mail Department
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

or
Attn: Character Name
Walt Disney World Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL  32820

I would send it to both addresses and see which one responds faster. It is also a good idea to include the child's name as they might even personalize it for them! A great treat for your little Disney fan!

ABCya: Free Computer Games for Kids

ABCya is a website with FREE educational computer games for elementary aged children. The games are modeled after elementary grade lessons and incorporate fun graphics. My kids both enjoy playing on ABCya and I have used the website with them for years. There are games for kindergarten through grade 5 and they include lessons in reading, math, science, social studies and holidays.
http://www.abcya.com/

FREE Santa Greetings

Delight and surprise your child this Christmas season with either a letter or video message from Santa Claus. I have always used the free versions of each service although they have additional services for a fee if you want to add to your letter or video. I appreciate the fact that even with the free option, there are many ways to customize the message for your child and it is easy to use, taking only a few minutes to put together. We have done this for a few years and the kids are always so happy to get a personal greeting from Santa.

Free Letters:
http://www.freelettersfromsantaclaus.com/free_printable_letters_from_santa.asp

http://www.easyfreesantaletter.com/

Free Videos:
http://www.portablenorthpole.com/home

http://www.freepersonalizedvideogreetingfromsantaclaus.com/

3 FREE Online Radio Choices

I like freebies and I like music so it makes sense that I would find some radio alternatives that are free of charge and able to be customized to the music I want to listen to. These days there are lots of choices for online music streaming. I have listed my top three picks. I prefer to choose the genre or search by artists and listen to other artists that are similar. While these radio alternatives are free for use of the basic service, there are options to purchase non-advertising listening and further control of "stations".

My favorite and probably one of the best known would be Pandora. I think that it is easy to use and the advertising is not too overbearing.
Pandora


AOL Radio is another option for free music. You can search by pre-made stations or create your own station or playlist.
AOL Radio

Grooveshark is a third option with lots of potential listening choices. There are many genre stations to pick from including classical to hard rock to rap. A paying option is also available for more access to songs.
Grooveshark

FREE Thanksgiving Recipe Ebook

Some of the best meals and favorite dishes are centered around Thanksgiving dinner. I have compiled my favorite holiday recipes to include in this Thanksgiving mini-cookbook and you can download a free copy of this ebook at Smashwords and Barnes and Noble:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/215704

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/turkey-time-erin-thomas/1112818855?ean=2940044796263

Free Resources From Crayola

The Crayola website has a wide array of free activity, coloring and educator resources. Most of the coloring pages have the option to print and color or color online. Some of the categories include: science, social studies, Disney, holidays, seasons, sports and words and letters. My kids really like the online coloring option and I have found some helpful resources to supplement their lessons.
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/

5 FREE Things To Do In St. Louis

St. Louis is such an awesome city for a family vacation. Fun activities, historical places to see and all kinds of unique attractions make it a top destination for families. While you could easily fill a week with everything there is to do in this heartland city, I have highlighted a few possibilities that are free.

1) St. Louis Zoo- I have always
enjoyed visiting this zoo. It is a large zoo and houses over 19,000 animals. My kids love the penguin and orangutan exhibits. While the zoo admission itself is free, you can pay for additional perks such as the train,stingray petting, carousel, movie and 4D simulator. If you wish to park in the zoo lot, there is a parking fee; however, we have found parking right outside of the zoo gates with success.
http://www.stlzoo.org/

2) Grant's Farm- This wonderful family experience has been a St. Louis tradition for many years. The park is named after Ulysses S. Grant and is home to 900 animals. Among the attractions are: a guided tram ride through the Deer Park, animal shows, a visit to the Budweiser Clydesdales, and tour of Grant's Cabin on the grounds. There is a parking fee per vehicle, but admission to the park is free to everyone.
 http://anheuser-busch.com/index.php/our-heritage/grants-farm/

3) The Gateway Arch- what visit to St. Louis would be complete without a stop at the famed Gateway Arch. Visiting the outside grounds of the Arch and going inside to check out the Museum of Westward Expansion are free of charge. Plus, it is located next to the Mississippi River so you can add a stroll along the riverbanks to your excursion. If you would like to take the trip up to the top of the Arch, there is a fee.
http://www.gatewayarch.com/

4) St. Louis Science Center- my kids really loved out visit to this highly hands-on museum. General admission is free and there is more than enough to occupy with a myriad of exhibits focusing on all kinds of science topics. There is a charge for tickets to the Omnimax theater.
http://www.slsc.org/

5) Anheuser Busch Brewery Tours- The breweries in St. Louis are a big part of the city's history and seeing the manufacturing and technology utilized to run and make a worldwide brand is actually very interesting. Whether or not you even like beer, it is a well-run tour and one of the better factory tours that I have been on. Plus, being free is an added bonus. It also includes a visit with the Clydesdale horses in site, which is a big draw for the kids.
http://stlouis.about.com/od/freethingstodo/p/Anheuser-Busch-Brewery-Tour-In-St-Louis.htm

FREE Kids' Workshops and Classes

There are quite a few retail stores that offer FREE or very economically-priced workshops for children. These classes foster do-it-yourself skills, promote creativity and teach safety lessons. The workshops are largely aimed at the 5-12 yr. old age group.

Lowes and Home Depot both have free workshops. The kids make fun projects or crafts. I have a few that I've been using for several years: think Thanksgiving turkey napkin holder!
Lowes Build and Grow
Home Depot

There is a small charge for the Michaels craft store Kids Club. The craft opportunities are really cute and do not seem to take a high level of parental expertise.
Michaels Kids Club

The Disney Store also offers kids' events with music, stories and crafts. Check out the store locator and events page to see if anything is coming up.
Disney Store

The Pottery Barn also offers storytimes and
kid-related activiites. Other than the events listed at the top of the page, there are usually book club announcements farther down the page.
Pottery Barn Kids

These events, workshops and activities provide terrific opportunities to spend some time with your child without breaking the bank. My kids look forward to the ones that they attend and they almost always get something to take home with them and a certificate. 

Progressive Phonics: Helping Your Child To Read

Progressive Phonics is a reading program for beginning readers as well as readers with a bit more experience. The best part is that it's absolutely FREE! From learning the alphabet to advanced phonics, the program also includes worksheet and activity sheets to complement the lessons. I have used this and my kids  really enjoy the cute and silly stories. I actually print them out and paste them into a blank journaling book for them to look at and read.

www.progressivephonics.com

Webrangers: Free National Park Service Site For Kids

Webrangers is a fun interactive website, which is actually the National Park Service's online Junior Ranger program for kids of all ages. You will find lots of games and activities plus the opportunity to earn rewards. There are activities concerning nature, history, science, animals, famous people, and the national parks. The skill levels are easy, medium and hard so all ages can find things that are the right level for them. Kids can customize their own online ranger stations as well.
 The best part is that it is FREE to join and play! It truly is a great resource.
http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/index.cfm

FREE Thanksgiving Activity Ebook

Thanksgiving is such a terrific time of counting blessings, but it is also a fairly overlooked holiday in the shadows of Halloween fun and Christmas hoopla. I created this ebook to offer some fun activities leading up to Thanksgiving to celebrate this important holiday. It is refreshing to see the kids get excited about a holiday that does not involve obscene amounts of candy or presents and Christmas music overload.

The ebook is FREE and can be found on Smashwords in various formats or on Barnes and Noble or Apple iTunes store.

Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
Apple

Check out my ebook store with other titles:http://theeveryday-mom.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

FREE Music Resource: DSO Kids

Learning about music can be a very enriching experience for children. Classical music, in particular, has been shown to have many worthwhile benefits for young minds. Knowing about the orchestra, famous composers and a wide range of instruments are all helpful for training kids in music study. One website that does a fantastic job of incorporating these components is DSO kids. DSO is a kid-friendly site of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. There are numerous games and listening activities focusing on famous composers spanning several centuries, music theory, and instruments of the orchestra. These games can be played by early elementary students with some parental help and by older elementary and middle school students on their own. My kids have learned a lot from using this website and they especially like hearing the different instruments.
Check out this wonderful resource for helping to introduce your child to the world of classical music.
http://www.dsokids.com/

5 FREE Things To Do In The Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Area

The Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area is chock full of activities and fun family adventures. The good news is that there are quite a few FREE places to check out. I have highlighted 5 below.

1) The Smoky Mountains National Park- Duh!! This beautiful expanse of park providing the scenic backdrop for the area seems like a no-brainer, but quite a few visitors to the area never step foot in the actual park. We took a narrated tour in to the park and our guide told us that it is approximated that half of all visitors to the area don't actually go to the national park. Cades Cove, Clingman's Dome and Sugarlands Visitor Center are just a few of the highlights to visit while in the park.

2) Visit The Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge. This mega-store features anything and everything Christmas. The kids will love perusing the many displays and enjoying the Christmas spirit all year long. Across the street, The Inn at Christmas Place is a Christmas-themed hotel that is also fun to explore and check out the displays.

3) Stroll the streets of Gatlinburg. Taking a walk down the quaint streets of Gatlinburg is great for people-watching and checking out the fun trinket shops and candy-making stores. Head on over to the riverwalk along the Little Pigeon River, right off the main drag in Gatlinburg. A little quieter stroll and lovely scenery.

4)  Old Mill/Patriot's Park. The Old Mill Shopping District features the Old Mill itself, which sits along the Little Pigeon River,and some cute shops including the Old Mill's general store. I enjoy the restaurant at The Old Mill, although this is not free, it is definitely tasty. Walking around the grounds is free, but if you want to take a tour of the inside of the mill, there is a small fee.  Patriot Park is next to the Mill and is a nice park featuring displays pertaining to American heritage and patriotism. It was a perfect place to let the kids run off some energy.

5) Drive the Arts and Craft Loop. This loop has a plethora of handmade arts and crafts from local artisans. Take the loop and check out painting, pottery, wood crafts, leather crafting, candles, glass-blowing, basket weaving, quilting and more. There is no fee to just take the loop and stop to watch the artisans at work; however, if you don't wish to drive it yourself, there are trolleys available for a nominal fee that will take you along the loop.

The Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area has so many fun family activities- many of which are free or very budget-friendly. Take some time to check them out on your next trip to the Smokies.

5 Tips for Saving Money on Eating Out

Most people enjoy eating out, but with the economy sluggish, it can be an expense that many families just can not afford on a regular basis. While it would be nice to have a home cooked meal every day, the fact is that in today's fast-paced society, there are many days where dinner comes at a restaurant table. So, how can you still work in the growing expense of eating out with kids? We do not eat out as much as we have in the past, but I have tried to stick to some "restaurant rules" to keep costs down while still enjoying a meal out. Of course, there are special occasions, but for the routine restaurant  trip, I really attempt to stick to a budget.
Here are a few tips I try to follow:

1) Check out the kids' eat free deals and/or coupons/Groupons/Entertainment books first before deciding where to go. Unless it is someone's birthday meal and they have carte blanche in the decision about where they want to eat, try to go for one of the places where you know there is going to be a savings. Case in point, we recently had dinner at Steak-N-Shake for $12 for a family of four. The kids got a free meal since it was kids' eat free on the weekends and we had a coupon for the hamburger and fries meal that I usually get. Plus, we had a coupon for buy one, get one free milkshakes so my husband and I were both able to get full-size milkshakes. That is a huge savings! There are several websites dedicated to helping you find the best deals for eating out with kids.
http://www.mykidseatfree.com/welcome.asp
http://www.kidsmealdeals.com/

2) Drink water. It's great for you and your digestion and it's free. Think about how much that glass of soda is going to cost you, especially when half of it is filled with ice. And, I love soda pop, but when eating out it is very rare that I would actually purchase one. Anymore, a beverage in most restaurants will cost at least $2-$3, multiply that times every person in your family, each time you eat out and it can seriously add up.

3) Stay clear of desserts and appetizers in addition to a full meal. If you are ordering a meal, cutting out a $5-$8 add-on like an appetizer and/or  dessert will save a lot of money. I know so many people that order the appetizer in addition to their meal and then barely eat a bite of the actual entree since they filled up on the first course. Obviously, there are exceptions, but we do not routinely go out as a family and order a bunch of additional things besides our main meal.

4) In the same breath, embrace the appetizer. Many times, appetizers are fairly large and can actually be the preferred choice to the entrees. In that case, why not order an appetizer as your meal. It will no doubt be cheaper. My daughter and I will sometimes split a larger appetizer and we still can not eat it all, but it saved us from purchasing two separate meals.

5) This is completely dependent on the place you are eating and the ages of your kids, but when at all feasible, have them split a meal. With my children's ages, there are still restaurants where the kids' portions are fairly large. After I realized that neither of them were able to eat more than half of their own meals, I started having them share. There were certain places where the kids' meal consisted of 3-4 large chicken tenders and a whole plate of fries and cup of fruit and my toddler/preschooler was in no way able to eat the whole meal.

3 Websites To Score Free Samples

So, you like to save money and get some fun freebies in the mail? If the answer is YES, then check out these 3 freebie sampling sites. I like checking out the new samples each week and while some of them will overlap, you can find quite a few originals. I have to admit that it is kind of a rush when they start showing up in the mail. Don't judge- it's the little things. It truly does come in handy, especially when you receive travel sizes of toiletries, which is great for trips.

1. Start Sampling: I like to check out the samples and forums headers for lots of freebies.
     http://startsampling.com/

2. My Savings: I usually will peruse the free samples and free stuff headers. They always seem to be updated regularly.
     http://www.mysavings.com/

3. Free Stuff Times  I feel like this site is easy to navigate and offers very up-to-date offers.
    http://www.freestufftimes.com/

Starfall for Beginning Readers

Starfall is a beginning reading website for young children, mainly aged 3-7. Great graphics and fun games make learning letter sounds easy and enjoyable. There is a paid portion, but the free part has more than enough to keep children busy.
Website address: http://www.starfall.com/