Quick, Fun, and Creative

            10-Minute Puppets by Noel MacNeal teaches you how to make puppets anywhere, in ten minutes or less, using everyday materials. MacNeal, a longtime puppeteer who has spent more than 20 years on Sesame Street as a performer and production consultant, shows parents how to make 30 puppets using socks, paper bags, napkins, and your own two hands.

        10-Minute Puppets is filled with imaginative ideas, energy, and the pure, childlike pleasure of turning objects into characters. There are finger puppets, sock and glove puppets, cutouts, shadow puppets, and puppets perfect for instant results, for those times when the waiting (for the bank, for dinner) is too long. There are full-color illustrations, instructions are detailed, and there are ideas for puppet shows as well.

Foothills Challenge  

            Walk your way to wellness by stepping out into the Foothills. From the Boise River to the ridge tops at Bogus Basin, 135 miles of trails traverse the foothills and provide a recreational paradise for hiking, running, biking, and riding.

        Routes range from easily accessible .8 mile strolls suitable for beginners to more advanced heart-pumping trails up to 5.8 miles and more. A wide range of trails are listed on a brochure that can be found at ridgetorivers.org.

        The Ridge to Rivers website is also a great resource for recreating in the Foothills. The included list of easy family hikes makes it possible to get everyone involved in enjoying the Boise Foothills!

Summer Safety        

        Keep your family safe this summer by following these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, aap.org.

Lawn Mower Safety

• Try to use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward (and/or stops the blade rotation) if the handle is released.
• Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind mowers.
• Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while mowing.
• Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
• Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.
• Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
• Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.

Choosing Good Media for Your Kids            

            Common Sense Media, www.commonsensemedia.org, is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. Kids are growing up in a media-saturated culture that profoundly impacts their physical, social, and emotional well-being. Common Sense Media provides families with the advice and media reviews they need in order to make the best choices for their children.

                Common Sense Media advises that you do your homework and know your kid. Every kid is different, and every family has different values, concerns, and of course likes and dislikes. And what’s totally appropriate for one 14-year-old may be completely off the mark for another one. Read reviews. Watch the show, visit the website, or listen to the song by yourself. See how the subject matter matches up to your child’s current situation and maturity. If you don’t like what you see or hear, explore alternatives. Common Sense Media reviews thousands of movies, TV shows, websites, albums, books, and even apps. They also compile lists like “positive TV role models for girls,” “best preteen TV,” “adventure movies: fantastic voyages,” “best family movies,” and much more.

Pregnancy Planner 

        From the experts at Parenting magazine comes this essential planner that’s both an informative guide to pregnancy and a keepsake journal for moms-to-be. Organized week by week and packed with insights from experienced moms along with helpful charts and checklists, Pregnancy Planner offers practical and emotional support in a beautiful package. The lay-flat binding and handy tabs make it easy to keep track of the myriad details throughout these nine months, while the stylish design provides an attractive place to document early memories.

        For other reviews of great baby items, feature articles, and local resources, pick up a copy of the new Treasure Valley Baby Magazine. The magazine is available at many area locations as well as online in digital format at treasurevalleyfamily.com.

Ideas to Help with Summer Fun           

            Cheerfully illustrated and designed to inspire family fun, The Kids’ Summer Fun Book (by Claire Gillman and Sam Martin) deserves a place in every family’s home library. Parents will find ideas to recapture their childhood as they join with their kids in dozens of delightful summer activities. Ideas include summer beach parties with a sand castle building theme, hiking and camping trips in the great outdoors, kite flying, snorkeling, and even croquet in the backyard on stay-at-home leisure days.

        Activities are categorized by chapters. Below are some of the activities:

Out of doors: fishing, fossil hunting, rock collecting, and building tree houses.

On the water: building a raft, canoeing and kayaking, swimming and waterskiing, and surfing.

Summer games: beanbag toss, French bowls, softball, sack race, and bicycling.

Crafts ideas: making a terrarium, watercolor painting, designing paper airplanes, and gardening.

Feasting: planning picnics and making lemonade, angel cakes, summer smoothies, and lemon tarts.

K–12 Writing Challenge  

            Borderline Publishing in conjunction with University of Phoenix is hosting a short story writing contest for students in grades K–12. Four age groups will be judged by authors, professors of English, and teachers. The top four contestants in each age group will be chosen (with parental permission) to be included in the second annual Booktoberfest Anthology. All entries will receive recognition. An award ceremony, where winners will receive a savings bond, will be held at the Booktoberfest Fair on October 8, 2011.

                Entries are welcome all summer long, with a final submission deadline of September 16, 2011. Entrants must be from Ada or Canyon County, Idaho. For complete contest rules and an entry form, visit www.booktoberfestidaho.com.

CORRECTION 

        In the June 2011 issue of Treasure Valley Family Magazine we had the incorrect book cover on page 10 for Take Cooking Outside. The two-sided format of Over a Fire: Cooking with a Stick & Cooking Hobo Style makes this book a great addition to your cookbook collection. To purchase this book and other outdoor cookbooks, visit www.cqproducts.com. We apologize for any confusion.