Easter Bunny—New Member of Our Family!Written by Gina Woods
My husband and I decided to give our children a real treat this Easter...A real live Easter Bunny! We made a trip to our local Agway store and, as we suspected, they had several baby bunnies for sale, along with fresh-hatched chicks and ducks. Thank heaven that Darlene, lady working during our visit, knew a good bit about bunnies. She was able to quickly gather essentials we needed to take our new family member home, before our 2 year-old harmed any of little chicks that she insisted on picking up by their necks! I was glad to get out of there! So with supplies in hand, and our furry little friend in a box, we headed for home. We made a quick stop at local Giant Eagle for cat litter, since our new friend will be a house pet. Since this was my first experience with a bunny, I decided to consult my wise friend, internet, for some advice. I learned a lot from sites I visited and it made whole process much easier for us. We especially wanted to learn about litter training, since that would be key to keeping our new friend indoors! I'll share these helpful links with you later in article. If you're thinking of purchasing a bunny of your own, here is a list of essential items you will need to get started. Are you wondering about cost? The bunny was cheap, just $6.50. However, all "stuff" we needed to go along with it added up to about $75.00. These amounts can vary depending on type of bunny you want (pure bred, or mix) and "accessories" you choose. Essential Items: 1. Cage—There are lots of styles and sizes to choose from. We chose a 2' x 2' wire cage. Make sure there is ample room for all items that must be in there plus room for bunny to play! 2. Water bowl—I recommend a heavy ceramic dish that will be heavy enough not to tip over when bunny decides to stand on side! 3. Food bowl—Same recommendation as above. 4. Food—Special pellets just for bunnies. Ask your bunny salesman for recommendations. TIP: I always thought we could feed her scraps of cabbage, carrots, lettuce...you know, all things that "Peter Rabbit" liked! I was quickly cautioned against this. It seems that too much of these good things will cause diarrhea! I've not personally witnessed this as yet, but I'm taking her word for it. These items should only be given in small amounts as "treats" every now and then. 5. Litter pan—Any plastic pan will do. I purchased a corner pan from Petco, which fits nicely in corner of her cage and doesn't take up much space. The back sides are higher than front so bunny can get in and out without much effort.
| | Old-fashioned Ways to Inspire Children Written by Nicole Dean
Walk through any toy store and you will see walls and walls of toys that are loud -- toys that require batteries, have flashing lights, or that look like your child's favorite movie character. But, what about those of us who want to raise children with imagination and curiosity? I'll tell you what we do. We choose to fill our houses with some of following old-fashioned items.Books No house can have enough books. Make sure your house has a representation of great Fiction Books and non-fiction books. A mix of two is very important. Most homes have a deficit of non-fiction books, so make sure your home is filled with Science, History and Art books. Children need to learn to read and appreciate non-fiction books in order to do well in research when they reach higher levels of study. Felt Boards Children love to tell stories with felt. You'll need a felt board to start. You can make your own board from a sheet of felt or purchase a board from one of suppliers below. Once you have board, let fun begin. I personally use both options with my children. StoryTeller has a great line of products -- felt sets, felt books, and so much more. The quality of their products is excellent. Visit their site to get a sample and feel thick felt yourself. Be sure to check out dolls with felt clothing that sticks to them! Go to a craft or fabric store and buy sheets of felt in all colors. Then, cut out shapes in all colors and sizes. (You'll be amazed at how quickly a child will make an alien, ship, house, or person out of nothing but a few circles, rectangles, and triangles.) Blocks and Legos Children can play for hours building towers, bridges, cities, creatures, and more with these toys that inspire creativity, patience, and small-motor skills. When masterpiece is finished, have your child pretend to be a giant and smash through blocks -- or grab a few small cars and drive around new city! Be sure to name city and have your child tell you all about it. Art Supplies Give your child some crayons, scissors, junk mail, and glue. He or she will be entertained for hours if given encouragement. Please SUPERVISE closely if you don't want your child to have a self-induced bad haircut or attach dog to her artwork!
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