Valentine’s Day S’Mores Bark Dessert Recipe

This Valentine’s Day S’Mores Bark Dessert Recipe  is so easy to make, and tastes super yummy, too! Kids will love helping you make this fun and simple Valentine’s Day treat. The recipe yields enough that you can give some away to friends, or take it to a Valentine’s Day party. Of course, it’s a great Valentine’s Day dessert for that special someone, also!

 

 

Two things this mama loves: cooking with my kiddos, and any combination of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate!

Since you won’t find me camping much during the winter, I have to use a little creativity to get my Smore’s fix. My original go-to was a s’mores topping on my brownies. While I was making cracker candy this holiday season, I thought, “why not try this with my beloved smores?”

It was a HIT! Here’s how to make this Valentine’s Day S’Mores Bark Dessert Recipe:

 

Valentine’s Day S’Mores Bark Dessert Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 sleeves of graham crackers, broken into halves and quarters
• 3/4 cup of butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 to 4 cups mini marshmallows
• 4 full-sized Hershey Bars or 2 giant Hershey Bars
• Valentine’s M&Ms

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 15 x 10 x 1 inch jelly-roll pan with parchment paper, and top with broken graham crackers. Cover pan completely.

2.) Next, in a small saucepan, slowly melt the butter completely over low heat.

3.) Then add the brown sugar all at once, and stir until smooth and melted. Allow the mixture to boil while stirring constantly for about 2 minutes, or until it begins to thicken.

4.) Remove butter mixture from heat, and evenly pour over the top of the graham crackers. Use a spatula to smooth mixture over evenly, and place into the oven for 5 minutes.

5.) Take the pan out of the oven, and immediately sprinkle small squares of chocolate, marshmallows, and Valentines M&Ms all over the top. This is where my little one liked to help me!

 

 

6.) Place the pan back into the oven for 2-4 minutes, or until you notice the marshmallows start to puff up. Allow the pan to cool fully before breaking up into squares.

 

 

 

There are so many great uses for this easy recipe – a fun Valentine’s treat for Daddy, grandparents, neighbors, and teachers! Enjoy!

 

 

More Valentine’s Day Recipes

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day treat without chocolate, then you’ll want try these Valentines Fruity Pebbles Treats. You could also try these Camp Fire Cones in the backyard. We love the strawberries!

Move over, Willy Wonka, there’s a new kid-made chocolate factory in town!

 

More Valentine’s Day Recipes

If sweets aren’t your thing, you can always try these sweet Valentine’s Day photoshoot ideas, or have a Valentine’s Day crafting session! And don’t forget your DIY valentines!

 

Want more Valentines Day ideas? Like our Facebook page for more yummy recipes!

The post Valentine’s Day S’Mores Bark Dessert Recipe appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

from Kids Activities Blog http://bit.ly/2FcsW3X

Valentine’s Day S’Mores Bark Dessert Recipe

This Valentine's Day S'Mores Bark Dessert Recipe  is so easy to make, and tastes super yummy, too! Kids will love helping you make this fun and simple Valentine's Day treat. The recipe yields enough that you can give some away to friends, or take it to a Valentine's Day party. Of course, it's a great Valentine's Day dessert for that special someone, also!

 

 

Two things this mama loves: cooking with my kiddos, and any combination of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate!

Since you won't find me camping much during the winter, I have to use a little creativity to get my Smore's fix. My original go-to was a s'mores topping on my brownies. While I was making cracker candy this holiday season, I thought, "why not try this with my beloved smores?"

It was a HIT! Here's how to make this Valentine's Day S'Mores Bark Dessert Recipe:

 

Valentine's Day S'Mores Bark Dessert Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 sleeves of graham crackers, broken into halves and quarters
• 3/4 cup of butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 to 4 cups mini marshmallows
• 4 full-sized Hershey Bars or 2 giant Hershey Bars
• Valentine's M&Ms

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 15 x 10 x 1 inch jelly-roll pan with parchment paper, and top with broken graham crackers. Cover pan completely.

2.) Next, in a small saucepan, slowly melt the butter completely over low heat.

3.) Then add the brown sugar all at once, and stir until smooth and melted. Allow the mixture to boil while stirring constantly for about 2 minutes, or until it begins to thicken.

4.) Remove butter mixture from heat, and evenly pour over the top of the graham crackers. Use a spatula to smooth mixture over evenly, and place into the oven for 5 minutes.

5.) Take the pan out of the oven, and immediately sprinkle small squares of chocolate, marshmallows, and Valentines M&Ms all over the top. This is where my little one liked to help me!

 

 

6.) Place the pan back into the oven for 2-4 minutes, or until you notice the marshmallows start to puff up. Allow the pan to cool fully before breaking up into squares.

 

 

 

There are so many great uses for this easy recipe – a fun Valentine's treat for Daddy, grandparents, neighbors, and teachers! Enjoy!

 

 

More Valentine's Day Recipes

If you're looking for a Valentine's Day treat without chocolate, then you'll want try these Valentines Fruity Pebbles Treats. You could also try these Camp Fire Cones in the backyard. We love the strawberries!

Move over, Willy Wonka, there's a new kid-made chocolate factory in town!

 

More Valentine's Day Recipes

If sweets aren't your thing, you can always try these sweet Valentine's Day photoshoot ideas, or have a Valentine's Day crafting session! And don't forget your DIY valentines!

 

Want more Valentines Day ideas? Like our Facebook page for more yummy recipes!

The post Valentine's Day S'Mores Bark Dessert Recipe appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

from Kids Activities Blog http://bit.ly/2FcsW3X

How to Teach Your Preschooler To Read

Have you ever wondered how to teach your preschooler to read? Creating a strong foundation for reading in preschool years is vital for a child’s future success.

Studies show that children need writing to help them learn to read, they need reading to help them learn to write, and they need oral language skills to help them learn about both.

That circle just makes my head spin!

And you know what? The responsibility of providing a firm foundation in early literacy sits squarely on the shoulders of their caregivers.

That means us, moms!

Creating a Foundation for Reading in Preschool

But what the heck is early literacy? 

“Early literacy” is the term used for early reading and writing skills in preschool.

As a mom, that means that everything I do — from writing my son’s name on his paper to pointing out the words on the signs in the grocery store to playing with letter magnets on the fridge — helps to build his foundation for reading.

These early childhood skills help kids become active learners who are able to successfully navigate written and oral language.

So, how do you create that strong foundation for reading in your kids? It all starts with introducing them to the world around them.

Some affiliate links below.

How to Develop Early Reading Skills in Preschool

Exposure to Books

It’s never too early to start reading to your child. Even if your baby is still in his bouncy seat or your toddler is playing with his toys and barely seems to be listening, you can still break out a book and read to him.

Infants and toddlers can benefit greatly from hearing new vocabulary and listening to vocal expressions! I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I read, “Going on a Bear Hunt,” to my boys when they were little, because it has such fun opportunities to vary your voice as you read.

But reading aloud without interaction is not enough to build a strong, solid foundation. Engaging preschoolers while you read read and asking questions helps them connect vocabulary to the world around them. Some questions could be, “Have you ever been on an airplane like the character?” or “What do oranges taste like to you?”

Questions that encourage the development of critical thinking are also vital to developing a strong reader. You can ask, “What do you think will happen next?” or “How do you think the character felt?”

Studies show that children make significantly more gains when read to and asked questions versus when they are passive listeners. That means that we have to expose our kids to a wide variety of reading material and engage them through thoughtful, interactive questions. Ask them what they think about the book and share in their excitement about what’s coming next.

Integrate Technology

Technology has given us parents a new avenue for supporting our children’s early literacy development.

One of our favorites is ABCmouse, an online reading program that gives kids as young as two a chance to practice letter recognition, basic phonics, and other skills.

My boys loved, loved, loved “playing” on that site, and I loved that they were really learning. For them, it was like a video game but I knew they were getting so much more out of it!

From handheld devices with educational apps to desktop computers that provide interactive learning, using technology is key to a building a young child’s foundation in reading.

Don’t have a laptop or tablet? It’s okay! You can even download apps to your phone for them to use.

Learning Games and Activities

Learning games enhance play by focusing kids’ attention on specific skills.

Alphabet activities are the perfect introduction to letters for little ones and offer a hands-on, tactile approach. Creative worksheets are a fun way to help kids learn.

They can explore phonics and letters with crafts (break out the glitter and glue!), and engage a variety of senses to create a learning experience that lets them see, hear, smell, touch, and possibly even taste the world around them.

So, start playing with your children more, reading constantly, and asking questions that will help them understand how the world around them is connected to the written word. You have the power to create a strong foundation for reading in preschool when you begin to see early literacy in new ways.

You can do it! And, we have your back. Happy learning!

If you’ve ever thought about trying ABCmouse.com to help your kids learn, NOW is the time! They’ve offered Kids Activities Blog readers a risk-free, 30-day special that can’t be beat. It’s worked SO well for our family and we hope it works for you too! CLICK HERE to try it NOW!

The post How to Teach Your Preschooler To Read appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

from Kids Activities Blog http://bit.ly/2LQZNN1

How to Teach Your Preschooler To Read

Have you ever wondered how to teach your preschooler to read? Creating a strong foundation for reading in preschool years is vital for a child's future success.

Studies show that children need writing to help them learn to read, they need reading to help them learn to write, and they need oral language skills to help them learn about both.

That circle just makes my head spin!

And you know what? The responsibility of providing a firm foundation in early literacy sits squarely on the shoulders of their caregivers.

That means us, moms!

Creating a Foundation for Reading in Preschool

But what the heck is early literacy? 

"Early literacy" is the term used for early reading and writing skills in preschool.

As a mom, that means that everything I do — from writing my son's name on his paper to pointing out the words on the signs in the grocery store to playing with letter magnets on the fridge — helps to build his foundation for reading.

These early childhood skills help kids become active learners who are able to successfully navigate written and oral language.

So, how do you create that strong foundation for reading in your kids? It all starts with introducing them to the world around them.

Some affiliate links below.

How to Develop Early Reading Skills in Preschool

Exposure to Books

It's never too early to start reading to your child. Even if your baby is still in his bouncy seat or your toddler is playing with his toys and barely seems to be listening, you can still break out a book and read to him.

Infants and toddlers can benefit greatly from hearing new vocabulary and listening to vocal expressions! I can't even begin to tell you how many times I read, "Going on a Bear Hunt," to my boys when they were little, because it has such fun opportunities to vary your voice as you read.

But reading aloud without interaction is not enough to build a strong, solid foundation. Engaging preschoolers while you read read and asking questions helps them connect vocabulary to the world around them. Some questions could be, "Have you ever been on an airplane like the character?" or "What do oranges taste like to you?"

Questions that encourage the development of critical thinking are also vital to developing a strong reader. You can ask, "What do you think will happen next?" or "How do you think the character felt?"

Studies show that children make significantly more gains when read to and asked questions versus when they are passive listeners. That means that we have to expose our kids to a wide variety of reading material and engage them through thoughtful, interactive questions. Ask them what they think about the book and share in their excitement about what's coming next.

Integrate Technology

Technology has given us parents a new avenue for supporting our children's early literacy development.

One of our favorites is ABCmouse, an online reading program that gives kids as young as two a chance to practice letter recognition, basic phonics, and other skills.

My boys loved, loved, loved "playing" on that site, and I loved that they were really learning. For them, it was like a video game but I knew they were getting so much more out of it!

From handheld devices with educational apps to desktop computers that provide interactive learning, using technology is key to a building a young child's foundation in reading.

Don't have a laptop or tablet? It's okay! You can even download apps to your phone for them to use.

Learning Games and Activities

Learning games enhance play by focusing kids' attention on specific skills.

Alphabet activities are the perfect introduction to letters for little ones and offer a hands-on, tactile approach. Creative worksheets are a fun way to help kids learn.

They can explore phonics and letters with crafts (break out the glitter and glue!), and engage a variety of senses to create a learning experience that lets them see, hear, smell, touch, and possibly even taste the world around them.

So, start playing with your children more, reading constantly, and asking questions that will help them understand how the world around them is connected to the written word. You have the power to create a strong foundation for reading in preschool when you begin to see early literacy in new ways.

You can do it! And, we have your back. Happy learning!

If you've ever thought about trying ABCmouse.com to help your kids learn, NOW is the time! They've offered Kids Activities Blog readers a risk-free, 30-day special that can't be beat. It's worked SO well for our family and we hope it works for you too! CLICK HERE to try it NOW!

The post How to Teach Your Preschooler To Read appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

from Kids Activities Blog http://bit.ly/2LQZNN1

18 Effective Ways To Organize With Mason Jars

I love using mason jars for fun storage solutions.

A home can be a more peaceful place when it's organized. Using jars to keep little things in one place makes so much sense.

Here are some really great and effective ways to use them to organize your home! (affiliates included)

18 Effective Ways To Organize With Mason Jars

Bathroom Organizer – Make this fun wall caddy with mason jars to hang and hold cotton balls, makeup brushes, and anything else you want to grab quickly. via The DIY Playbook

Spice Drawer – Use mini mason jars to make yourself an awesome spice drawer where you can find everything you need fast. via Bright Green Door

Hanging Kitchen Storage – Use the space under the cabinets to store your pastas and other foods. via HGTV

Craft Storage – Mason jars are the perfect place to keep all your small craft supplies like buttons and other odds and ends. via Poofy Cheeks

Pantry Storage – Instead of keeping everything in it's original box, move it to a jar and have the most beautifully organized pantry ever! via HomeTalk

Coffee Creamer Container – I never knew that your coffee creamer lid could fit on a jar just perfectly! Switch it over for a pretty way to keep your creamer on the counter. via Yesterday on Tuesday

Pencil Holder – Decorate a jar for an adorable pencil holder. via Mason Jar Crafts Love

Ribbon Organizer – They also make the most perfect place to store ribbon! via Yesterday on Tuesday

Bathroom Accessories Holder – These giant jars in your bathroom make matching accessories to hold cotton balls and q-tips. via Happy Go Lucky

Toothbrush Holder – This is a super cool and fun way to hold your toothbrushes! via Fireflies and Mudpies

Makeup Storage – Little pods of makeup go great in a jar! via Modern Design Life

Kitchen Set – I adore this mason jar farmhouse kitchen set. It comes with a soap dispenser, a utensil holder, a sponge holder, and more. via Etsy

Flour and Sugar – A mason jar is the perfect solution to storing these items! via Whipperberry

Picnic Caddy – So cute for storing plastic cutlery and straws! via Clean and Scentsible

Labels

Food Label Free Printables – These gorgeous free labels cover everything from cookies to coffee. via Emanuela Hoffman

Chalkboard Labels – Grab these chalkboard labels you can customize.

Pantry Labels – Here are more pantry labels you will love! via Elephant Shoe

Colorful Labels – These free labels are bright and colorful and will make your kitchen pop! via Becoming Martha

Ready to organize the entire house?  We LOVE this declutter course! 

For more simple hacks, please follow our Facebook page.

The post 18 Effective Ways To Organize With Mason Jars appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

from Kids Activities Blog http://bit.ly/2sjYcXr

18 Effective Ways To Organize With Mason Jars

I love using mason jars for fun storage solutions.

A home can be a more peaceful place when it’s organized. Using jars to keep little things in one place makes so much sense.

Here are some really great and effective ways to use them to organize your home! (affiliates included)

18 Effective Ways To Organize With Mason Jars

Bathroom Organizer – Make this fun wall caddy with mason jars to hang and hold cotton balls, makeup brushes, and anything else you want to grab quickly. via The DIY Playbook

Spice Drawer – Use mini mason jars to make yourself an awesome spice drawer where you can find everything you need fast. via Bright Green Door

Hanging Kitchen Storage – Use the space under the cabinets to store your pastas and other foods. via HGTV

Craft Storage – Mason jars are the perfect place to keep all your small craft supplies like buttons and other odds and ends. via Poofy Cheeks

Pantry Storage – Instead of keeping everything in it’s original box, move it to a jar and have the most beautifully organized pantry ever! via HomeTalk

Coffee Creamer Container – I never knew that your coffee creamer lid could fit on a jar just perfectly! Switch it over for a pretty way to keep your creamer on the counter. via Yesterday on Tuesday

Pencil Holder – Decorate a jar for an adorable pencil holder. via Mason Jar Crafts Love

Ribbon Organizer – They also make the most perfect place to store ribbon! via Yesterday on Tuesday

Bathroom Accessories Holder – These giant jars in your bathroom make matching accessories to hold cotton balls and q-tips. via Happy Go Lucky

Toothbrush Holder – This is a super cool and fun way to hold your toothbrushes! via Fireflies and Mudpies

Makeup Storage – Little pods of makeup go great in a jar! via Modern Design Life

Kitchen Set – I adore this mason jar farmhouse kitchen set. It comes with a soap dispenser, a utensil holder, a sponge holder, and more. via Etsy

Flour and Sugar – A mason jar is the perfect solution to storing these items! via Whipperberry

Picnic Caddy – So cute for storing plastic cutlery and straws! via Clean and Scentsible

Labels

Food Label Free Printables – These gorgeous free labels cover everything from cookies to coffee. via Emanuela Hoffman

Chalkboard Labels – Grab these chalkboard labels you can customize.

Pantry Labels – Here are more pantry labels you will love! via Elephant Shoe

Colorful Labels – These free labels are bright and colorful and will make your kitchen pop! via Becoming Martha

Ready to organize the entire house?  We LOVE this declutter course! 

For more simple hacks, please follow our Facebook page.

The post 18 Effective Ways To Organize With Mason Jars appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

from Kids Activities Blog http://bit.ly/2sjYcXr

5 Refreshing Lunch Ideas to Cure the Winter Blues

Is your family stuck in a lunch rut? If your family's lunch box needs an overhaul, check out today's Family Food Live.

Today I will share 5 Refreshing Lunch Ideas to Cure the Winter Blues!

Family Food Live can be seen every Wednesday and Friday at 12 Noon EST/11 am CST on Facebook! Today I'll be live on the Quirky Momma Facebook page. But make sure you like both the Burnt Macaroni Facebook page and the Quirky Momma Facebook page now so you never miss an episode!

If you missed today's Family Food Live,  here's a look:

Here's a look at today's recipes!

5 Refreshing Lunch Ideas to Cure the Winter Blues

Do the winter  blues have you down? Cheer up with these yummy recipes!

 

Chicken Salad in a Jar

Shopping List:

• 2 Cups Rotisserie Chicken
• 1/3 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1/4 cup Red Onion, diced
• 2 Celery Stalks, diced
• 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 Cups Spinach
• 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
• 1 Green Apple, chopped
• 1/2 cup Pecans
• 1 cup Red Grapes
• Mason Jar with a Lid

Instructions:

• For the Chicken Salad
• Cup up the chicken into bite-size chunks
• In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken, yogurt, red onion, celery, salt and pepper and lemon juice
• Spoon the chicken salad to the bottom of the mason jar
• Start layering the rest of the salad with the spinach next, followed by dried cranberries, apples, pecans and grapes
• Cover and refrigerate or serve

Lunch 1

Shopping List:

• Zucchini Cupcakes
• Chicken Salad (recipe above)
• Crackers
• Mandarin Oranges
• Grapes

Lunch 2

Shopping List:

• Holly's Easy Guac that you can live on
• Tortilla Chips
• Corn Muffin
• Blueberries
• Kiwi

Lunch 3

Shopping List:

• Salami Rolls
• Hardboiled Egg
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Popcorn

Lunch 4

Shopping List:

• Turkey Rolls
• Snap Peas
• Pineapple
• Zucchini Cupcakes (recipe above)
• Mandarin Oranges

Join Family Food Live with Holly and  Chris every Wednesday and Friday at Noon CST on either the Quirky Momma Facebook page or the Burnt Macaroni Facebook page!
We are also so excited to share our first Family Food Live Apron with you. Be the first to pick one up and start cooking with us! Just click buy now below!

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