Mother’s Day is a time to share with moms how special they are in our lives. Children can be encouraged to find ways to thank their moms for being so important to them.

Mother's Day Breakfast

This idea allows for all ages of children to cook up a wonderful and healthy breakfast for mom. By doing the work the night before, everyone can enjoy the morning and be with mom. Have a child make this breakfast with dad, other siblings, grandparents, or whomever you can get into the kitchen. Cooking also teaches important skills.

Overnight Creamy Crock Pot Oatmeal Grease crock pot with butter Add 1 ½ cup milk 1 cup water 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup regular oatmeal ¼ cup dried cranberries or raisins Makes 2 servings Mix well in crock pot. Depending on size/type of crock pot cook on low overnight from 4 to 8 hours. Top with milk, brown sugar, fruit, or maple syrup. This makes a wonderful hot and healthy breakfast for mom and you. Overnight Breakfast Monkey Bread 24 ounces frozen dinner roll dough ¾ cup brown sugar 1 (3.4 ounce) package butterscotch pudding mix(not instant) 2 teaspoons cinnamon ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans ½ cup melted butter The night before grease a bundt or tube pan. Place ¼ cup of nuts in bottom of pan. Mix brown sugar, pudding mix, and cinnamon together. Place one layer of frozen dinner rolls in pan on top of nuts. Sprinkle half of the sugar/pudding/cinnamon mix over the frozen rolls. Pour half of the melted butter over the mix and rolls. Add second layer of frozen dinner rolls dough and add remaining nuts, sugar/pudding/cinnamon mix, and melted butter. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator. Next morning, bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 30 minutes. Let stand a few minutes and turn pan over onto serving platter. Pull apart while warm and enjoy. Banana Pumpkin Shake Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and foamy. Serve immediately. 1 cup of milk 1 cup of ice 4 tablespoons canned pumpkin 1 banana 1 teaspoon vanilla Make a homemade placemat, place oatmeal, monkey bread, and banana pumpkin shake on a tray and wake up mom with a special breakfast.

Use regular or steel cut oatmeal Monkey bread layered and ready for overnight refrigeration Baked monkey bread Banana Pumpkin Shake Sample decorated place mat for tray Tray for serving Mom

Math Review Using Flashcards

At the end of the school year it is always fun to see skills a child has learned or improved. Math is a subject that is easily reviewed with flashcards. You can use addition, subtraction, division or multiplication flash cards.

• We will start using division flashcards.
• Begin by simply holding up one card and allow child to give the correct answer.
• Next, lay 3 to 6 cards in front of a child depending on their ability. Ask them to select the lowest answer. Child needs to know all the answers in order to select the lowest answer.
• After a few turns, ask for highest answer.
• For an older student, you may want to use a timer and see how many cards they can collect in 3 minutes.

Math Flashcards Game

Children have made progress during the school year and using math flashcards at home allows a child to share what they have learned. This idea can be used with addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division flash cards and can be played with 2 or 4 players.

• Deal at least 10 flashcards to each player.
• Each player lays out a card and states aloud the answer (think WAR card game).
• The player with the highest answer collects the cards. In case of a tie, the players play another card to see who has the highest number.
• Looking at the photo - one player said "9" as 10 minus 1 equals 9. Other player said "6" as 11 minus 5 equals 6. Player saying "9" wins the round and collects those 2 cards.
• Play continues until all the cards are played and the winner is the one having the greatest number of cards.

This activity has the involvement of the 2 or 4 players for EVERY play which allows for lots of math facts to be reviewed. Also, an easy and fun way to review math during the summer months.