Monday, September 19, 2011

Have a Say at Your Child's School

I felt there was room for improvement when it came to my child's school communicating with the parents.  After doing a bit a research, I realized the school's PTA is responsible for keeping the parents informed of the happenings at school.  So, I decided to become an active member of the PTA at my kids' school. 

I contacted the PTA President via email and found out that there was a need for someone to maintain the fairly new school Facebook page and the newsletter.  So, I quickly volunteered to help out with both - especially since these are the main means of communication with parents, which was my biggest concern. 

Now, I'm a PTA board member.  The title felt a bit overwhelming at first but, working on the Facebook page and newsletter are things I can do at my own pace and on my own hours from home.  So, it is perfect for me being a stay-at-home mom with two Elementary School kids and a 2 1/2 year in tow.  The bonus is, I have the opportunity to speak up about decisions being made at my kids' school and I finally get to see things change that had always worried me. 

If you feel there is a need for change at your child's school and you can spare 1 HOUR per month, join your school's PTA and make a difference in your child's education.  There is a membership fee for the year but, it's usually small.  Our school's PTA membership is $5 for the year.  That's it!  So, join the PTA and speak up for your child.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

You Can Save ALL of Their Artwork

Having kids in school means having tons of artwork and worksheets brought home from school.  Every Mom wishes they could save it all but, who has that kind of storage space?  And throwing our your little one's childhood memories can be hard on you, especially if the kids catch you!  So make it easier on you and them and save every single drawing, painting and letter DIGITALLY! 

With today's technology you can scan your child's artwork and store it on your computer or burn it onto a disk.  If you don't have a scanner, take a picture of it with your digital camera and download it onto your computer.  You can do more than digitally store their masterpieces:
  • Make a DVD slide show
  • Develop the photos of them, frame it and display on a wall
  • Have your child help you make a scrapbook with small photos of their art
  • Make a hardcover book with them via Walmart.com, shutterfly, etc.
  • Share them online for all your friends and family to see
  • Have it turned into an art canvas on websites like Personal Creations
The possibilities are endless with digital replicas of their cherished treasures.  Get creative and have fun!