Madagascar Party Ideas!

Planning a Madagascar themed party? Here's a great activity for kids:

Paper plate animal masks!

All you need are paper plates, scissors, glue, construction paper, markers, or whatever else you want to decorate your masks with!

Looking for decorations? Check out these King of the Jungle decorations! Click here to order.

Best iPhone and iPad Apps for Kids

Peekaboo Barn
Available for iPad iPhone or Android


This app will help your child learn the names of animals and the sounds the make by tapping the big red barn and guessing the animal by sound or picture! Available in English and Spanish.

Make it Pop
Available for iPad/iPhone


Really engaging for children who like to make things pop! Kids will learn shapes from popping bubbles, letters from popping balloons, colors from popping firework rockets, and numbers from popping popcorn!



The Monster at the End of This Book
Available for iPad/iPhone


Starring Sesame Street's Grover! This app brings to life the 1971 book of the same name that you'll remember from your childhood! Through different activities your child will help decide how to move the story along developing listening and beginning reader skills.

The New Rice Crispy Treat!

Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars


Ingredients:
6 cups Peanut Butter Cheerios
2 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
10 ounces marshmallows (approx. 40)
1 cup chocolate chips


Directions:
-Prep a 9×13 pan with cooking spray or buttered parchment.
-In a pan over medium high heat melt the butter and peanut butter. Add in the marshmallows and let them melt.
-Add the Peanut Butter Cheerios and stir to combine making sure all of the cereal gets coated.
-Press into the prepped pan and while the cereal is still warm, sprinkle the chocolate chips on top so they melt slightly.
-Let cool and cut into squares. These taste best if served the same day.

Making Summer Rain

Has a rainy day taken over your summer plans? Here's a great art project for kids on that rainy day!

Making Rainsticks

If you've never heard of them, a rain stick recreates the sound of the rain by turning the stick upside down. It's easy to create one of your own and what better way to spend a rainy day than creating your own rain stick. Here's how:

Materials:
cardboard tube (paper towel or toilet paper roll)
card stock or cardboard
tape
aluminum foil
seeds (beans or rice work as well)
markers or paint to decorate
any other additional items to decorate

Directions:
- Cut out two circles from either the newspaper or the cardstock to fit on the ends of the cardboard tube.
- Attach one circle to one end with tape.
- Twist a piece of aluminum foil into a snake like shape. Place it inside the tube.
- Add seeds (beans or rice) to the inside.
- Place your hand over the tube and listen to the sound. Add or remove seeds until you like the sound of the movement of the seeds.
- Cover the other end of the tube with the other circle and tape.
- Decorate your rainstick with paint, markers, beads, and any other material that you have chosen.
- Let it dry before playing with your new rainstick.

Review: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted takes the kids to the circus! I would explain the plot, but it's the colors, action, and energetic music that makes this movie the great wild ride that it is. Madagascar 3 follows all of our favorite characters Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), and Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) on their crazy journey to return to the Big Apple from Africa. But at first attempt they crash their monkey-powered plane into a Monte Carlo casino and catch the attention of and animal control office Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) to escape from capture they pretend to be circus animals and join the traveling troop ,Circus Zaragoza. Members of Circus Zaragoza introduce our Madagascar newcomers Vitaly the Tiger (Bryan Cranston), Stefano the Sea Lion (Martin Short), and Gia the Jaguar (Jessica Chastain). Along their travels kids will be excited and educated by the amazing European backdrops. Watch it in 3D or not either way this movie will entertain kids of all ages!