Celebrating Life With Children In September

Here are ten simple pleasures you can enjoy with your children this month. . Ask your child to read a book to you. Younger children can look at the pictures and describe whats going on in the book. Older children can read a current chapter in the book they are reading. . Make a Back-to-School time capsule with each child. This is a great tradition for the first week of school. Over the years, youll have an album of memories that really tells a story. Here are instructions and ideas on things to include at the Family Fun website: http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famfschool/famfschool.html . Choose one Saturday this month to be Kids' Day. For one day this month, they choose what to eat for meals, when to get dressed, what to do . Ask each family member to start a gratitude journal. Younger children can draw pictures instead of words. . Make a big bowl of popcorn, gather pillows, dim the lights and splurge on a Pay-Per-View kids movie. . Take a walk with your children and let them decide the pace, as well as where to go. Allow them to linger over a stream or a single flower if they wish. Budget a lot more time for this than you might think you need so youre sure to be unhurried and relaxed. . Plan a short bit of special time with each child.an hour or so to connect over hot cocoa or lemonade. Ask them about new friendships and express a genuine interest in their social lives at the beginning of this school year. . Take an art class with your child. . Blast music when you all are doing chores together. . Start working on homemade holiday gifts together. Now is the time to make some headway on those fun projects and still be relaxed enough to enjoy the process.