Child gift homemade idea

Birthday file box

I keep a card file of birthdays (in chronological order) for my friends and each person in my family. Throughout the year, I write gift ideas on these cards. As each birthday comes along, I review the notes I have made. Later, I jot down what present I purchased. Then the card is placed in the back, and the next birthday comes to the front.

Amy Parkin Layton, Utah

Promote good behavior while shopping

I've solved my shopping blues by paying my grade-school-age sons to baby-sit themselves while they're out shopping with me. They earn 50 cents for each quarter-hour of good behavior, nothing for bad. I remind them of the rules beforehand, emphasizing that they know right from wrong. On a recent shopping trip, they were motivated to earn money for our upcoming vacation.

Lynn-Ann Lackemacher Ormond Beach, Fla.

Homework in transit

With children in three schools and extracurricular activities as well, our family spends an enormous amount of time on the road. We created a "homework-in-the-car kit," so the kids can make productive use of car time. The kit includes pencils, crayons, scissors, tape, a ruler, paper clips, and a calculator.

Jayne Ferrer Greenville, S.C.

Solution for washing `blanky'

When my first baby's favorite blanket became soiled, getting it away for washing was a problem. To prevent that situation with my second child, I divided her beloved blanket into three pieces. One was always available while the others were washed.

Barbara Bengels Garden City, N.Y.

Marshmallow math

My kindergartner and first-grader love learning math concepts since I introduced "marshmallow math." Instead of dessert, I give each a handful of colored mini-marshmallows and have the kids solve math problems with them. They might group them by color, then tell me how many are in each group. Other times I tell the children to break them into groups of two, three, or five. They think it's a game, but they're learning addition, subtraction, and even multiplication with this sweet game.

Kaarin Marx-Smith Portland, Ore.

Share the joy of gift-giving

My children love to help with gift-wrapping, so I asked them to make finger-painted gift tags. They dip their hands in finger paint, make handprints on paper, and cut out the tags. They add a homemade, old-fashioned touch to gift-giving.

Vicki Watson Columbus, Ohio

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Do you have an innovative solution to a problem in your family, neighborhood, or community7 Family Network would like to hear from you. Write to: Family Network, Better Homes and Gardens[R] Magazine, 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. Please keep replies to 100 words or less. Letters may be edited for space. All letters become the property of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. We will pay $50 for each idea published, if you provide your Social Security number.