The Boredom Buster Kit is a sure way to get kids using their creative muscles for fun playtime. With a little planning and time, you'll have loads of creative ideas to keep you and your kids happy. Creating the kit together when your kids are bored is a great way to teach them to exercise their imaginations.

Creating Your Kit:

1. Along with your children, write down a long list of activities you enjoy. Get the kids to make their own lists, as well. If you need some ideas to get started, here are some our family enjoyed.

* Write a letter or postcard or draw a picture for a relative who lives far away
* Make paper dolls using old magazines or catalogs and design clothes for them
* Try a new craft or recipe. This is a good one if a trip to the library is possible to find children's craft books or cookbooks.
* Make your own board game or play a family favorite
* Sew your own sock puppets out of lonely socks without a match

2. Check to see if anything needs to be purchased or gathered for use in the boredom kit. If so, make a note of what those items are for later.

3. Cut the list of ideas into strips.

4. Find an old box to be your Ideas holder. A tissue box or old shoe box works great for this part. Have your kids decorate it, then cut a hole large enough to get a hand into, then place the strips into the box.

5. Add a larger storage box to house items like art supplies, dress up clothes or anything else needed for your kit

6. Next time your children complain of not having anything to do, suggest they pick an activity out of the Boredom Buster Kit.

For younger children who can't create lists or for an alternative to the Boredom Buster Kit, make a Surprise Kit instead. Surprise Kits are a welcome way to chase away boredom for any age. Pick up small items that you think your children might enjoy. Activity books with favorite characters would make any budding artist smile. New sunglasses or bracelets would delight the fashionista in your family while the animal lover might enjoy stickers of their favorite animal.

Why are seeing these trends in girls with aggressive bullying? As the school year begins, it is important, as a parent, to be aware of what your children are facing and be in a position to help them through their challenges. We will discuss some of these issues in this brief article.

The Good, the Bad, and the Bully

So why are more aggressive types of bullying with girls on the rise in the last 20 years? I point, in part, to societal changes, and the way we view power is at the core. Our world is based on what I call a control-based model of power. Many of us are informally taught four dichotomies that we live by: Good/Bad, Right/Wrong, Strong/Weak, Win/Lose.

Classically, girls have been socialized to be good, which in most circumstances means surrendering looking strong to get approval from those in power who would judge the person as being good and obedient. These young “good girls” would then grow up to be “good wives” and often live in the shadow of their husband, unfortunately never challenging for power and often not truly feeling fulfilled.

Because girls and women were not socialized to be strong, they would not directly challenge others to be strong because they were more focused on gaining acceptance, so their behavior would often be expressed in passive-aggressive and/or more manipulative, having to express their power over others while also looking good. Bullying occurred with girls in the past, but it was not as obvious, and girls/women who played the game well were often able to avoid having to face consequences for their actions, because they could coyly play innocent.

Times Change

In the last 40 years the playing field has changed, literally. Women have moved into the board room and onto the ball field. More and more, little girls are being encouraged to compete on the same playing field as men in sports, academics, and in the workplace. The effects of this are subtle and obvious.

Whereas boys and men were socialized into the win-at-all-costs mentality, girls and women are falling into the same belief system more than ever. Remember that if you look strong, you increase your chance of winning. Then you, as the winner, define what is good and right. Girls are learning this more and more, and because they want to look strong, they have to find their strength through whatever means they can.

If one looks at these situations where girls are more aggressively bullying, like boys, it can happen in almost a pack mentality, and because others are doing it, it seems to make it more acceptable. There is a safety in numbers and inside every bully(persecutor) is someone who once felt like a victim and therefore someone who lives feeling fear. There are also your lone girl bullies, and whether or not the bully is alone or with a pack, they still feel a great deal of inadequacy and don’t know where they fit in, so they have to force their way into believing that they have power over others.

Girls Will Be Girls?

It is crucial that we look at our society collectively, if we are going to change this trend. So many people want to point to “human nature” in promoting certain behaviors and the idea that boys will be boys, but these are not boys. This IS a direct result of culture and socialization. It is not that these girls need to change, we all need to change. I look at the parents that turn the collective eye to their own children who behave this way and shake my head. How can you let this happen? What don’t you want to see? Please have the courage to look at yourself and your child, and see what you have contributed to creating.

Temper, Temper

Temperament, or our innate approach to the world, is often talked about in developmental psychology. Temperament contributes to how we respond to new situations, persist in when challenged, as well as many other features, and I include an innate approach to power. In my hierarchical view of power, I talk about four dichotomies: good/bad, right/wring, strong/weak, and win/lose. I believe that kids are often born looking at the world through one or more of these dichotomies. While we may have temperamental tendencies that we are born with, I would have to say that bullies are made, not born that way. For example, some kids are born wanting to look strong, but it does not mean that they will end up to be bullies if they are taught to use their strength in “good and right” ways. That is where parenting and society come into play. We have the power to foster a more cooperative and productive use of power in boys and girls.

We have to help teach all of our children to learn to find their power within ourselves, not from other people. As we are teaching girls “girl power” teach them healthy ways to find it.

About the Author Erik Fisher, PhD, aka Dr. E…, is a licensed psychologist and author who has been featured on NBC, CBS, FOX and CNN. Visit him at www.ErikFisher.com to learn more about his books The Art of Empowered Parenting and The Art of Managing Everyday Conflict or to check out his blog. Blog | Website | Follow him on Twitter

How’s it feel? Like I have energy I haven’t had since I was my daughter’s age. It’s also exhausting, because she had more energy, too.

I’m loving it. I’m being creative with meals, paging through cookbooks with enthusiasm, and excitedly loading up reusable grocery bags with produce, soy products, nuts and grains. Together, we cook everyday – balanced menus, because I know that I’m even more responsible than before for ensuring that we get the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Also notable: I’ve gained two pounds. Something I can use.

Now you know the results, but you don’t know why the hay I said nay in the first place. Let me tell you…

1. Food allergies: My daughter’s allergic to wheat and dairy. This means that excepting meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, she was already living with a diet that was largely plant- and alternative-grains based, and avoiding prepared, packaged foods. I’m sensitive to those foods, too.

2. Cost: Eating a diet made up largely of beans, legumes, rice (and other grains, like quinoa) and plants is less expensive than the traditional North American animal-based diet. I can get a few days’ worth of vegan meals for about $10, but add in meat and potatoes, with a side of dairy, and I’d need at least $35.

3. Ethics: Of course, I don’t like the idea of an animal slaughtered, or living in cramped or festering conditions. The thought of an animal never really seeing outside, being raised just for me to drink milk isn’t kosher in my mind. Then, I read The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan, and discovered why cows get so many antibiotics. Shudder.

4. The Environment: I won’t quote statistics, but finding out how much raising one cow for beef costs the environment in water, resources and waste is mind-blowing. Greenhouse Effect? We could rename it the Slaughter House Effect.

5. Time and effort: We’re naturally grazers, my daughter and I. Sitting down to a single meal is often too much for our easily-distracted minds to handle – we get antsy. We’re often trolling the streets of Vancouver, at a friend’s house, or just in the mood for ______. Vegan mini-meals give us the versatility and spontaneity that a meat-based diet didn’t, because we don’t have to cook the majority of our foods, now.

I could probably list off another dozen reasons why going vegan makes sense for us. What about for you, though: Do you have any reasons for eating more plants, nuts, beans and legumes, or cutting down on animal products?

About the Author Terra (aka Zoeyjane) is a single mom to a crazed nymph of a preschooler in Vancouver. After rocking at making rich people more money, selling them shiny shoes and helping them deal with their unimpressed clients, something made her think parenthood might come easy. She’s since learned her lesson, with a lot of time outs along the way. When she’s not trying to get the yelling to stop and ignoring the jumping of a child high on agave syrup, she works from home as a freelance writer and small business consultant, blogs on various sites and remains active in social media. Profile | Her Main Site | Follow Her on Twitter

For the Garden
The winter is the perfect time to grow some plants inside. If your hostess misses her garden, bring a few fresh herb pots over. All you need are a few small clay pots, a bag of potting soil, and a few seeds. All kids love to help with this one. Cover a table with a vinyl table cloth and be prepared for them to get a little messy. Have them fill the pot halfway and then drop 2 or 3 seeds in and cover them up. Leave some room at the top of the pot, or when you water soil will spill out. All types of basil, lemon balm, mint, cilantro, or thyme are great seeds to start this way.

Giver's Log has an amazing DIY Seed Tape that's a perfect gift to make. She uses newspaper, flour paste, and seeds to make a gift that gives all summer long. You can use flower, vegetable, or herb seeds. To plant, just roll them out in the garden and cover with a little more soil. Her 6 year old made cool flowers out of newspaper to decorate them, so it's beautiful as well as practical.

For the House
Everyone always needs more napkins. Next time you see some white cotton napkins on sale, stock up. Use fabric paint to add cool motifs on them. Stamps are another tool to use, they are great for adults like me who can't draw. You can even make natural dye from tea or plants and show your children how they used to do it. After the napkins are dyed and dried, teach the kids some napkin folding. Who knows, maybe you can get them to fold them again for your next dinner party.

For the Tummy
Gourmet food gifts are great presents, but they can be pricey. Try your hand at making them at home. Flavored ketchup is easy to make. Family Fun has recipes for Smoky Ketchup, Fiesta Ketchup, and Key West Ketchup that are super tasty. Only let older kids make the fiesta one, since it contains hot peppers. The other two are perfect for younger children. Measure out all the ingredients and let them mix them. Depending on their ages, they could help you fill the bottles as well. Home made labels can be decorated with stamps or brand them with your families best drawing.

Vanilla sugar is an ingredient I'm seeing more in recipes these days. It's as simple to make as putting fresh vanilla beans in a jar and cover with sugar. Try it with orange peel or your organic scented geranium leaves for an unusual treat. You can set up an assembly line with a few children and you'll have gifts for the rest of the year!

Put away a few of your projects for thank you gifts. They are great for last minute baby sitters or for your kids to bring for Grandma when they're staying over night. Everyone appreciates a thank you.

It’s been given a bad reputation as a babysitter, a time wasting device & a source of squabbling. Otherwise known as a Video Game console. This item once deemed as an unhealthy activity is now being revamped into a hub for families to connect with one another.

In the past video games were often battles between a child & the system, but if the game did have a 2-player mode it was for head to head battles which usually turned into heated arguments before the Game Over screen appeared.

Fast forward to present day and you can see that the video game companies are listening to their customers. Sure you can still buy a multitude of violent games, but never before has there been such a variety of family participation games as there are now.

A few examples of these would be Mario Kart, Lego Games & Rock Band.

Starting with Mario Kart, yes there is a multi-player head to head mode, but it also offers a team mode where you, along with your additional players, help each other to race against the video system’s team. Next would be the Lego movie themed games (Star Wars, Batman & Indiana Jones). In their multi-player modes the focus again is to help each other. In order to get to the next level, Players are required to combine their tools and moves in order to accomplish the task required. Then we get to Rock Band. This game became so popular with families it’s been reincarnated over & over to the point where young children now know who the Beatles are and can sing along with their Parents and Grandparents!

So the next time you’re at the local video entertainment store, take a look at the Family Games and see which one might be right for your family. While you’re there you might want to put a hold on the newest release combining two Family Favorites … arriving soon Lego Rock Band.

About the Author Lisa McDonald is mother to one son, works full time andpart time, is an organizer of women's group, and Co-Host of Me-Fest - so you know time management is TRULY important to her. You can always find Lisa on Twitter at where she often talks about activities like blogging, event planning and being a Mom Her Profile | Her Blog | Follow Her on Twitter