Mickey Mouse Club House : 2013

Pluto's Veggie Skateboards

Try this nutritious veggie side dish with your Road Rally Family Night meal!

You'll Need

1 extra large carrot, peeled
2 small zucchini
3 slices mozzarella or Swiss cheese

Instructions

Cut carrot in half. To make the board part of the skateboard, slice carrot lengthwise into four 4-inch-long slices.
Trim the top and bottom ends from the zucchini. To make the skateboard wheels, cut zucchini into eight 2-inch-thick slices.
Cut cheese slices into strips, circles, stars, or any other shaped desired. For fancy shapes, use small fondant cutters.
To assemble skateboards, place a carrot strip on top of two zucchini wheels. Decorate carrot with cheese.

Bambi's Butterfly Bobby Pins

When a butterfly landed on little Bambi's nose, he learned to speak its name. Made of soft felt and bobby pins, this sweet tribute to the film makes the perfect preschool project.

You'll Need

One 9- by 12-inch piece of felt
One 9- by 12-inch piece of fabric
One 9- by 12-inch sheet of double stick fusible web
Scissors (Cutting intended for grown-ups only)
Sequins
6 bobby pins
Ribbon

Instructions

Print template and cut out butterfly shape.
Peel backing from one side of the fusible web. The web will be tacky. Stick the tacky side onto the felt. Peel the backing from the other side of fusible web. Press the fabric onto the exposed webbing. Set iron to low and iron both sides, fusing the fabric to the felt. Note: This is a parent's job.
Trace the butterfly template onto the fused felt and fabric. You should be able to fit six butterflies. Cut out butterflies.
Preschoolers can decorate their butterflies by gluing scraps of felt and sequins to their wings.
Once it's decorated, slide a bobby pin over the center of the butterfly. Cut a piece of ribbon or a scrap of felt and glue it to the bobby pin to create a butterfly body.
Once the butterflies are dry, let kids slip them into their hair or onto the collars of their shirts.

Bouquet of Veggie Flowers [Kids Food]

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Colorful, cheery, happy-go-lucky, plucky. Minnie and Daisy? Well, yes... but our zippy, zesty veggie flowers are just as light-hearted and fun as our two favorite gal pals. Make individual bouquets to place in small vases or in tea cups.

You'll Need

12 asparagus
12 green beans
12 snow peas
1 bunch radishes, cut into 1/8-inch thick slices
1 large carrot, peeled
1 hothouse cucumber, cut into 1/8-inch thick slices
1 red bell pepper, seeds and membrane removed
1 yellow bell pepper, seeds and membrane removed
1 head curly leaf lettuce or kale

Instructions

Place a medium saucepan of water over high heat and bring to a boil. Add asparagus and green beans and cook for 30 seconds. Drain under cold running water and set aside.
Cut cucumber into flower shapes with flower cutters.
Cut radishes into flower shapes with flower cutters.
Using a small knife or a channel knife, cut channels into the length of the carrot then slice thinly into individual flowers. Alternatively, you can slice carrots into 1/8-inch slices then cut into flower shapes with flower cutters.
Using a variety of flower-shaped cutters, cut peppers into flowers.
Place lettuce or kale inside small, clean vases or tea cups so that curly ends come up to the top of the vase. Arrange vegetable flowers so that they stand upright. Place asparagus, green beans and snow peas to look like an arrangement of flowers.

Makes 6 servings.

Curious George

Curious George is the protagonist of a series of popular children's books by the same name, written by Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey. The books feature a curious brown monkey named George, who is brought from his home in Africa by "The Man with The Yellow Hat" to live with him in a big city. When the first story, Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys was published in France in 1939, George was named Fifi.[1] In the United Kingdom, George was originally called "Zozo" in 1941, apparently to avoid using the name of the then King George VI for a monkey.[1] Books featuring the adventures of Curious George have been translated from the original French into many other languages in addition to English. The books are popular worldwide. The series was written and drawn by the team of Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey. The couple fled Paris in June 1940 on self-made bicycles, carrying the Curious George manuscript with them.[2][3] At first only H. A. Rey was credited for the work in order to distinguish the Reys' books from the large number of children's books written by female authors. Later, Hans Rey was credited for the illustrations and Margret Rey for the writing. The Reys produced many other children's books, but the Curious George series was the most popular. The books have been re-edited continuously in the six decades since the first volume came out. The current United States publisher is Houghton Mifflin Harcourt of Boston.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto star in the series, which focuses on interacting with the viewer to stimulate problem solving. Pete, Clarabelle Cow, Ludwig Von

Drake, Chip 'n' Dale, Willie the Giant, Butch, Figaro the Kitten, Humphrey the Bear, Salty the Seal, and Mortimer Mouse have made guest appearances. Disney says that each episode has the characters help children "solve a specific age-appropriate problem utilizing basic skills, such as identifying shapes and counting through ten." The series uses "Disney Junior's 'whole child' curriculum of cognitive, social and creative learning opportunities.Once the problem of the episode has been explained, Mickey invites viewers to join him at the Mousekadoer, a giant Mickey-head-shaped computer whose main function is to distribute the day's Mousekatools, a collection (usually 3,4, or possibly 5) of objects needed to solve the day's problem, to Mickey. Once the tools have been shown to Mickey on the Mousekadoer screen, they are quickly downloaded to Toodles, a small, Mickey-head-shaped flying extension of the Mousekadoer. By calling, "Oh Toodles!" Mickey summons him to pop up from where he is hiding and fly up to the screen so the viewer can pick which tool Mickey needs for the current situation. One of the tools is a "Mystery Mousekatool", which is a surprise tool represented by a question mark.

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 10

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 9

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 8

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 8

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 7

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 6

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 5

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 4

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 3

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 3

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 2

Pluto´s Wild Adventure - Episode 1

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Numbers Roundup

Rustle Up Some Fun! Howdy Mousekeroos! It's time to put on your cowboy hats, grab your lassos and help Mickey, Goofy and all your Clubhouse pals wrangle a boisterous herd of wild numbers into Mickey Corral. Laugh it up as you count 'em down from 10 to 1, and rustle up the right Mouseketools to catch those rascally numbers! Then search for Daisy Bo Peep's lost sheep, decode a secret message, and solve more super fun puzzles. For big surprises and rootin', tootin' fun from sun up to sundown, count on "Mickey's Numbers Round-Up". Subtitles: Spanish And French.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally Online

Rev up the fun with "Road Racin' Mickey" and all your Clubhouse pals in a full-length adventure that'll have you movin' and groovin' all the way to the finish line! Join the gang on a wild ride through Mickey Park, the desert, Mistletoe Mountain and the jungle! Along the way, you'll help pick the right Mousketools and find "Mickey Markers" that unlock special surprises. And, share the excitement when Toodles and Goofy team up to rescue "Piston Pete." There's laughter and fast-paced fun around every corner in "Road Rally". Language: English, Spanish, French, Subtitles: Spanish, French.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Numbers Roundup Online

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Choo Choo Express Online

Join Mickey, Toodles and the gang for this magical full-length adventure you'll enjoy year-round! Ride the amazing Clubhouse Train to the top of the mountain, and help load the train cars full of incredible, never-melting, "Easy-Freezy" snow! Share in the excitement when you arrive back at the Clubhouse to ski and make snow angels...in summer! Hop back on board and race to each station to pick up guests in time for the coolest snow party ever! It's always the season of fun when you ride on Mickey's "Choo-Choo Express". "Mickey's Big Job", with 3 Fun Ways To Watch and Play. 3 Fun Ways To Watch And Play: "Disney's FastPlay" - Enjoy the movie without using the remote; "Interactive Adventure Mode 1" (Ages 2-3) - Use remote to answer fun questions about colors, shapes, sizes as the story moves along, and "Interactive Adventure Mode 2" (Ages 4-6) - Move to a higher level with more challenging questions using remote; Bonus Episode: "Mickey's Big Job".

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Big Splash Online

Aloha, Everybody! Ready for waves of laughter and adventure? Then put on your floaties, grab your boogie boards and jump in! It's the hottest day of the year - even Goofy's chicken noodle ice cream cone has melted into soup! So Mickey and his pals are cooling off at Star Lake. Pete's hosting a Hawaiian luau, and it just might be the best beach bash ever, but only if YOU can help the gang pick the right mousketools to get the party started. You'll ride a tide of fun with Mickey as you reel in a big, red Gooey fish, float above the clouds with Pluto in a giant soap bubble and help Donald rescue a flock of lost ducks. Filled with music, excitement and magical surprises, "Mickey's Big Splash" will make you shout, "Mouseka-bunga". Languages: English, French and Spanish; Subtitles: English SDH.

Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Storybook Surprises

The only thing more fun than listening to a story is actually being part of it. So just say the magical words, "Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse" - and let the enchantment begin! When Donald Duck turns into a frog after drinking Professor Von Drake's new potion, only a kiss from Princess Daisy can change him back. But she's locked away in the Tallest Tower! Will you help Mickey choose the right Mouseketools to rescue Daisy and de-frog Donald? There's nonstop fun, excitement and new challenges around every corner as you help solve a Goldilocks-style mystery, wake Sleeping Minnie from a hundred-year nap, outsmart pesky Pete on a race through the woods and more! Let your imagination soar as you join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and the whole Clubhouse gang of classic characters as they set off on amazing music-filled storybook adventures inspired by your favorite fairy tales. No matter what your age, "Mickey's Storybook Surprises" will make you believe in Mouskemagic.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure Online

Blast off with Mickey and his crew and race across the galaxy on an interplanetary quest for hidden out-of-this-world treasure. Twinkling treasure stars will help point the way, but first, you'll have to find them - with a little help from Toodles - and the right Mouseketools! Meet Moon Men Chip and Dale, Martian Mickey from Mars, and Pluto from Pluto, but watch out for crafty Space Pirate Pete, who wants the treasure all for himself. Packed with songs and surprises, "Space Adventure" will transport you to a whole new dimension of fun.

Watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Bow-Toons Online

Minnie's Bow-Toons is an American animated television series that premiered on November 14, 2011 on Disney Channel's preschool-oriented programming block, Disney Junior and later on 18 November 2011 on Disney Junior in the UK.[1][2] It is a short-form series targeted at younger girls and one of the spin-offs from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. The series is based on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode, Minnie's Bow-tique, where Minnie opens her boutique that was filled with a variety of bows and bow-ties. In the US, the series currently airs weekdays at 8:55 AM on Disney Channel's programming block, Disney Junior and it aired on the 24/7 Disney Junior channel on March 23, 2012. This show introduces Minnie's twin nieces, Millie and Melody Mouse starting with the episode, "Trouble Times Two".

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Online

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is a CGI animated interactive children's television series, that premiered in prime time on Disney Channel on May 5, 2006. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney daily block intended for preschoolers. On February 14, 2011, it was moved to the Disney Junior block, serving as Playhouse Disney's replacement. It is the only Mickey Mouse program to be aimed at preschoolers. The series was co-developed by Bobs Gannaway, who is also responsible for "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" Production of the show was put on a four-month suspension in the spring of 2009, due to the death of voice artist Wayne Allwine, the longtime voice of Mickey Mouse. Production has resumed now that Bret Iwan has been cast as Mickey's voice, the latest in a series of performers who have voiced Mickey since 1928 (Mickey's original voice on film and later on television in most of his appearances from 1928 to 1961 was the character's creator, Walt Disney).

A Birthday is such a Special Day

A birthday is such a special day. It’s the one day of the year where we get to truly celebrate the little person that our child is growing into. That’s why planning a birthday party takes some thought. I find that if you pick a theme, it helps to keep the plans from getting scattered and gives you something to work with when you are buying or creating things for the party. If you have a little pirate on your hands, DisneyJunior.ca has done the work for you! Check out this super cool Jack and the Neverland Pirate birthday plan: Pirate Party Or you could give these themes a try: Rock Star There are so many ways you can go with this party. You could: • Do Karaoke, play rock band, or have an air guitar competition. • Have your guests design their own guitar out of Bristol board. • Ask permission to use spray colour in your guests’ hair and do their make up for an added “rock star” element. Cake: A guitar shaped cake would be cool, but you could also get an image of their favourite rock star on a regular cake. Most grocery stores have the capability to scan images onto cakes. Loot Bags: Glow in the dark necklaces, dollar store star shaped sunglasses, temporary tattoos. Princess So many fun ideas here too: • Have your guests come dressed as their favourite princess. • Decorate your front door so it feels like they are entering a castle. • Announce each princess as she enters the party “Presenting Princess Rebecca.” • Have “tea” with fancy tea cups and plates. • Have each guest design their own crown using construction paper and glitter or beads. Cakes: There are many princess cakes available at grocery stores, or you could bake cupcakes and top each one with a plastic princess ring. It’s a treat and a treasure! Loot Bags: costume jewelry, tiaras, candy necklaces, ring pops. Fire Fighter Party This one could be very cool! • Buy plastic fire fighter helmets for each guest. • Create an obstacle course in your back yard and have your guest save a stuffed kitten from a play climber. • Draw a house on fire on your driveway using chalk, let your guests use water guns or hoses to put out the flames. • Talk to your local fire department to see if they will come by with a fire truck for your guests to tour. Cakes: A cake shaped like a fire truck, Dalmatian, or firemen’s hat would be great. Loot Bags: Check the dollar store for plastic fire fighter badges, a Hot Wheels fire truck, fire truck stickers. Teddy Bears’ Picnic Party Who doesn’t love a picnic? • Have each guest bring their favourite teddy bears (be sure to have extras in case someone forgets.) • Set up a picnic area in your backyard or at a local park. • Pack a picnic basket with your party treats. Cakes: A bear shaped cake would be perfect, or cupcakes with bear faces on them. Loot Bags: A mini plush bear, fill baby food jars with honey and add a tag that says “Hope you had a SWEET time”, bear shaped cookies or Bear Paws (they are nut free!) There are endless possibilities for customizing your party to fit your child’s unique personality, so put on your thinking cap and get creative for your child’s next birthday.

Practice your math skills while cooking

Whether you hope to bring out your childrens’ inner Picasso or deepest Einstein, the way to help them along is to cook with them. The multiple skills acquired while just having fun go well beyond making cookies. The pleasure of measuring, mixing, squishing and fixing do come with buckets of learning. Children are tactile learners, they want to feel, do, taste and experience the things that are going on around them. While it may slow parents down to include kids daily, it is an investment worth making as often as possible. The bonus is that reducing the fear of cooking helps young children become young adults equipped to take their health into their hands. The cooking kid will be ready to take up the spatula at university to save money and calories that their counterparts can’t. Being the one who can whip up a meal makes sure that there will be plenty of friends around to do the dishes. Measuring is Math Learning to cook means learning to measure and that makes a delicious connection of numbers to outcome. A simple cookie recipe like the one below is a great place to start. Knowing that a specific amount of an ingredient or two turns into a delicious treat is only the end result. Being able to carefully measure flour, sugar and butter lays down the pathways to math, learning that a certain size cup holds more or less and is different than another is knowledge they will need for kindergarten. The technique of levelling off the flour isn’t just fun, it also shows that being precise is important in math. Mixing is Science Watching 2 ingredients blend together to form a dough and then change texture when baked is not magic, its chemistry. Knowing that oil and water repel each other and that baking soda mixed with vinegar will cause an explosion sets up a fascination for what other chemicals can do. The explanation of why baking powder makes things rise should be simple for a 3 year old: “it reacts with water and heat”. But when they get to grade 5 sciences and find out that it is really carbon dioxide that is released as it pushes oxygen out of the way is the kind of head start they need. They are already fascinated with the outcome and have tangible proof that it works. Plating is Art Plunking a bunch of too hot cookies in a pile will ruin them but having patience can create beauty. Allowing cookies to cool and then arranging them on a plate with a sprinkle of sugar and some berries is a creative endeavour. Show your child how to stack in a checker board pattern and take a picture. Then make a starburst and take another photo, how do they compare? Which one looks better? Why? What if you add some colour? One large strawberry on a few mint leaves looks better than a bunch all scattered because it creates a focal point. And every piece of art, moment of the day, activity of childhood needs a focal point. What every parent needs is a few teaching tools that kids have no idea are anything but play time. If mom gets a cup of tea and a cookie in the deal then so be it! Simple Nut Butter Cookies This recipe is completely kid proof, any which way that it comes together will net something edible. Preparation time:10 minutes Servings: 36 cookies (2 cookies per serving) 2 cups any combo of all-natural nut butters (try almond, peanut, sunflower seed…) ¼ cup molasses ¼ cup honey 1 egg 3-6 tbsp whole-wheat flour, divided Combine all ingredients except flour in a bowl and mix with a spatula. Sprinkle in 1 tbsp of flour at a time until dough comes together and is quite thick and less sticky. Use your hands to roll into 36 small balls and place onto a baking sheet. Press with a fork. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. The cookies should be a little soft in the middle; they will harden as they cool. *reprinted by permission of www.myfriendinfood.com Theresa Albert, DHN, RNCP is a nutritionist and parent who knows how hard it is to raise kids with good eating habits. She is a mulit-media personality with her fingers in every pie that encourages healthy attitudes toward food and health. Sign up for her free newsletter to receive news, tips and recipes to feed any fast family!

Developing a Sense of Adventure

With spring seemingly around the corner, parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they can soon start to pack away winter coats and accessories for yet another year. It is a time for renewed interest in escaping to the outdoors and planning excursions that will help beat the winter blues. For preschoolers, trips to the local science centre, art gallery or zoo can provide a myriad of experiential learning opportunities and an excellent foundation for making real-world connections. There is also plenty of fun to be had in the comfort of one’s own home. But whether the sun is here to stay or if Jack Frost won’t go away, it is best to be prepared with a variety of ideas that will help keep boredom at bay, all the while developing your child’s sense of adventure. Since the day they were born, children experience the world through their five senses, which actually kick in while in utero. Their sense of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell are stimulated on a daily basis, from the sound of building blocks tumbling to the ground or the smell of cookies baking in the oven. Preschoolers are naturally curious about their environment so why not harness their innate desire to explore by setting out on mini-adventures? Here are some ideas that you can try: Get outdoors for a leisurely stroll to take in the sights and sounds of spring. Use a magnifying glass to look for new plant life that may be spurting up from the ground or make a set of binoculars using toilet paper rolls and go bird watching. How many different animal sounds can you hear? If you’re stuck indoors, pull out your stash of costumes, old clothes and accessories. Have them use a mirror to see what they look like before putting on a fashion show and posing for pictures. Or encourage imaginative play by re-enacting their favourite story. Set up a little corner store with items from the pantry or the toy box and label them with prices using sticky notes. Price them according to your child’s mathematical ability and give them real money to spend. This will provide practical use of basic math skills while also reinforcing the notion that money can’t buy everything. Invite the kids into the kitchen to prepare a simple snack or baked good. Learning to follow a recipe not only helps build literacy skills, it also provides real-life application of measurement and math skills. Why not set up a sensory station while you’re there? While the kids have their eyes closed, they can dip their hands into one of a series of bowls that can contain different fruits or vegetables for a mystery taste test. Have them describe the flavours and smells as well as the different textures before making their final guess. Bring out the craft supplies and allow your children’s inner Picasso to explore elements of art by going on a scavenger hunt in your home. Look for different kinds of texture and take a crayon rubbing using various colours. Help them cut out basic shapes from their texture rubbings and create patterned designs by gluing them on a piece of construction paper You can also visit DisneyJunior.ca for colouring pages, puzzles and games for some fun and learning that your kids will surely love. Just remember, children can benefit from different types of play and varying levels of interactivity. Don’t worry so much about being by their side all day long. Allow them room for independent and unstructured play so that they can explore and discover what their interests are. To them, it’s all one great big adventure. Article by Diana Mancuso, Blogger at Toronto Teacher Mom

Not So ‘Creepy’-Crawlies

A Bugs Life’ has to be one of my all-time favourite Disney movies, but there my fondness of creepy-crawlies ends. I’m a feet-up-on-the-sofa-if-a-spider-scurries-past, run-swatting-and-flailing-if-a-wasp-buzzes-around, squeal-if-a-worm-touches-my-gardening-hand kind of person. But, I realise I’ve got to get a grip to allow my kids at least a fighting chance of not growing up with similar phobias and embarrassing themselves with ridiculous wasp-evasion dancing at picnics. In fact as a parent it’s up to me to teach my kids what good the bugs are doing in the garden and how their presence affects the ecosystem by attracting birds and other wildlife. So I’m encouraging my little ones to garden; to get dirt under their fingernails; to make friends with the worms. They know that bees are vital for our plants’ and flowers’ survival; worms return valuable nutrients to the soil; ladybugs eat aphids that would otherwise destroy our plants. They’re learning which plants will attract the useful insects. I’m teaching them that insects are living creatures that should not be squished or stomped on. On a recent trip to our local garden centre we were shown some fun ways kids can get more familiar with bugs: Making a Bug Hotel Fill a flower pot with short lengths of bamboo, leaves, twigs, beech nuts and the like and leave it on its side in the garden. It doesn’t have to be neat – bugs aren’t fussy about the interior design – as long as there are lots of nooks and crannies to hide in. The hollow bamboo canes are the perfect habitat for beneficial insects such as spiders, ladybirds, lacewings and even bees laying eggs. It only takes a few days for the bugs to move in, then it’s time to take a deep breath (and a back seat) as the kids investigate their new tenants with a magnifying glass. Making a Worm Castle Use a large mayo jar with a few pebbles at the bottom and fill it with about 10cm of moist soil. Carefully add a couple of earthworms and give them some ‘worm food’ such as apple peel, eggshells, and tea bags. Covering the jar with black paper keeps out the light and gives it an underground feel. Your little ones will enjoy observing the worms as they go about their business tunnelling, eating and making worm casts. So far it’s going well: my four-year-old is happy to collect that invading spider and put it outside; my seven-year-old is keenly investigating her bug hotel guests. And I’ve learned that the much-maligned wasp is actually quite a useful garden visitor. In addition to eating pests like caterpillars and aphids, he plays a part in pollination as he buzzes from flower to flower. He also recycles dead wood and often buries it thus returning valuable nutrients to the soil. Who knows, in time I may even convince myself that crawlies aren’t so ‘creepy’ after all. Then again…what was that moving in the corner?

Tips for Inspiring Good Values in Your Kids

Recently, my family watched the new Disney Junior princess, Sofia the First in her premiere special, and I found myself thinking about the lesson Sofia learned that behaving like a true princess must come from the heart. Although I believe my own little prince and princesses are good kids, how can I ensure that I am passing on the key values of a life well lived: honesty, loyalty, courage, independence, compassion and grace? It’s not easy to be a parent, but I still do my best to really make an effort to focus on my children and parent consciously. Beyond the very critical act of living my life with the very values that I hope to pass onto my kids, I also try to make learning life lessons fun and relevant. • Read with your kids: Reading takes you to other places and helps you to understand others through their experiences. Even if those experiences are fictional, that understanding teaches compassion. I recently started reading Charlotte’s Web to my kids and the discussions it has spawned have been heartwarming as I hear them really grasp that everyone is special in their own way. • Encourage older kids to read to younger siblings: If you have an older child that knows how to read, having them read to their younger sibling(s) not only increases the basic benefit of reading to everyone, but also encourages compassion, caring and bonding between siblings. (Plus, your older kids will feel so proud of their accomplishment!) • Take trips into the community to do acts of service: When my son turned five, we asked everyone to bring donations for the Food Bank instead of gifts. It was a wonderful lesson in sharing and compassion. We also ask our kids to donate part of their allowance to charity by using a separate jar in their room. If those ideas don’t appeal, there are many others: pick up trash in the park; volunteer to hand out food in a homeless shelter; or collect toys, clothes, and books and donate them to a Woman’s Shelter. • Make your kids Special Helpers: In my son’s class, a different child is the Special Helper each day. I decided to try the concept at home and it’s worked quite well. Each day, my Special Helper sets the table for dinner, feeds the cat, and assists me with general tidying. The Special Helper is also allowed to be the first one into the minivan, chooses the type of juice I offer at snack time, and picks the television show we watch after school. It’s a win-win and has encouraged both independent thought as well as compassion. What kind of ideas do you have to inspire your children to good values? Share them with the Disney Junior Canada community now.