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22A Saturday, December 18, 2010 Give Kids the Gift of Going Green This Holiday Season (MS) -- Few movements in the 21st cen- tury have proven as popular as the "Go Green" movement. An effort to live with a more eco-conscious mindset, the Go Green movement has found entree into all aspects of life, be it the foods we eat, the cars we drive or the products we buy. With the holiday season upon us, par- ents can use the holiday season as an avenue to impart an eco-conscious mind- set on their children. Creativity for Kids, a global manufacturer and distributer with a goal toward inspiring kids to embrace their creative side, offers the following tips to parents hoping to give the gift of going green this holiday season. * Let kids learn on the job. With the hol- iday season comes a host of extra errands and chores. While kids can't cook the holi- day meal or help with the holiday hosting, they can chip in and learn something at the same time. Perhaps no holiday chore is looked for- ward to less than wrapping all those holi- day gifts. While it's often tedious and old hat for adults, kids will no doubt embrace the chance to help Mom and Dad make the gifts look good for friends and family. When The Recycled Cardboard Dollhouse from Creativity for Kids is a great way for parents to give a gift that's both fun and eco-conscious this holiday season. wrapping gifts, use recycled wrapping paper from a year ago or even wrap gifts in newspaper. While doing so, kids will learn the lesson of recycling and reusing, and Mom and Dad will get to spend some quality time with the kids during the otherwise hectic holiday season. * Let kids unwrap the gift of green. Kids likely have a host of items on their holiday wish list this sea- son. While not all those gifts can pull double-duty as both a toy and teaching device, parents can find gifts that are not only fun to play with, but impart an eco-friendly message as well. Creativity for Kids' eco-friendly Recycled Cardboard Dollhouse is easy to assemble and made entire- ly from recycled cardboard. The 21" x 17 " x 9" dollhouse even gets the packaging in on the action, as the inside of the box is printed with a play mat yard, teaching kids that even packaging can be re-pur- posed and put to good use. Upon construction, kids put together the furniture and punch-out paper dolls before using stickers they color in themselves and markers to decorate everything on the interior and exterior of the house. What's more, once kids have finished connecting with their inner interior decorator, they can take their new passion for going green even further by re-purposing items from around the house to accessorize their new dollhouse. * Set a positive example. Parents know kids learn most of their behaviors from their folks. Whether Mom and Dad realize it or not, kids are often watching to see how their parents act, and then mimicking those behaviors and mannerisms themselves. Parents hoping to instill an eco-conscious mindset in their kids this holiday season should realize that Mom and Dad have no greater ally when doing so than themselves. When hosting holiday parties, replace popular disposable paper plates with reusable ones, and let kids know why you're making that choice. Instead of sending out traditional greeting cards for the holidays, send e-cards instead, and explain to kids the ways in which e-cards are more environmentally friendly. With the holiday season upon us once again, parents can make the season even more memorable by making the most of its numerous opportunities to impart an eco-friendly message to their children. For more information on Creativity for Kids, visit www.creativityforkids.com. Red Bluff Daily News (MS) — Once the perfect tree has been selected and placed in the home, the next task is to take out all of the ornaments collected over the years and hang them on the tree. Homemade Ornaments a Treat for the Holidays Part of what makes decorating the tree so mem- orable is the ornaments that have been collected over time — many of them handmade treasures. Looking through them is a trip down memory lane, bringing to mind the happy times these ornaments recall. Today in a hurried society, it may seem easier to simply head to the store and purchase a box full of ornaments for the tree. But spending time creating your own can be a family event that’s a fun way to spend time together. Here are a few ideas. “Tie-Dyed” Balls Create ornaments that have the impression of being tie-dyed. Simply buy a box of clear glass ornaments from a craft store. Pop off the metal top and squirt one or two different colors of acrylic paint into the cen- ter of the ball. Replace the top and twirl the ball around until the paint coats the inside in a marbled pattern. Place on a surface where the balls won’t roll, such as an empty egg carton, and let dry. Wire Ornaments Purchase thin craft wire and small beads of var- ious colors. Bend the wire into holiday shapes, such as candy canes and stars. This can be achieved by wrapping the wire around cookie cut- ters as templates. Thread the beads onto the wire shape until it is completely covered with beads. Use a needle-nose pliers to twist together the two open ends to seal the ornament shut. Popsicle Stick Treasures Craft sticks, popsicle sticks, whatever you call them, these wooden items can be glued and paint- ed to create a number of ornaments for the tree. Fashion them into a triangular shape and paint green for a Christmas tree. Glue a handful togeth- er and paint white for a snowflake. Dust these orna- ments with glitter for even more sparkle on the tree. Craft Foam Creations Pop into any craft store or even toy store and you will likely find packages or loose sheets of thin colored foam that can be cut and designed into everything from sun visors to doorknob signs to fun ornaments for the tree.

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