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Hi, I’m Sharlene!

A mother of 5 boys, grandmother of 12, and author of Good Music Brighter Children. I started the blog, “good parenting brighter children” to share my 40+ years of experience swimming in the delightful (and sometimes shark infested) waters of parenthood. It’s been quite the experience and one I want to share.

Hopefully, you find this blog helpful and inspiring as you travel your own unique parenthood journey.

the latest from the Blog

7 Awesome Ways Fairy Tales Make Kids Larger than Life!

Wow! Here are 8 Absolutely Addicting Fairy Tale Activities!

Amazing Ways to Research Your Ancestry Family Tree with Grandkids

Here are 7 Awesome Dessert Activities to do with Grandkids

Here is the Best Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe to Make with Grandkids!

The Most Fun & Amazing Activities for Valentine’s Day

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NEW POST! FAIRY TALE ACTIVITIES WITH GRANDKIDS & K

NEW POST! FAIRY TALE ACTIVITIES WITH GRANDKIDS & KIDS. “BLUECREST” FAIRY TALE BRACELETS—IN THE STYLE OF BETSEY JOHNSON! This week it’s all about fairy tale activities with grandkids & kids. Each activity compliments something found in a fairy tale—an idea, a token, a theme, a piece of jewelry, etc. One of the fairy tales we read was “Bluecrest”—a handsome prince who is turned into a bird and brings beautiful jewelry to the girl he loves—Princess April. One piece is an emerald-studded bracelet. So, in the gaudy, but fun style of Betsey Johnson and to celebrate, “Bluecrest” we made bracelets from paper plates, paint and glitter. They’re fun to make and even more fun to wear! Move over, Betsey Johnson! Many thanks to @chasing40toes on how to make paper plate roses. Details: link in bio

FUN BOOKS TO HELP KIDS & GRANDKIDS APPRECIATE FAMI

FUN BOOKS TO HELP KIDS & GRANDKIDS APPRECIATE FAMILY & ANCESTORS Here are 8 fun books all about family, ancestors, memorabilia from the past plus tidbits about funny & weird aunts, uncles and other relatives. Read them to your grandkids & kids—it will open up a whole new world about family! Link in bio

GO ON A TREASURE HUNT AND FIND YOUR ANCESTOR’S M

GO ON A TREASURE HUNT AND FIND YOUR ANCESTOR’S MEMORABILIA & HEIRLOOMS Every kid in the world loves to go on a treasure hunt. So, take your grandkids/kids on a treasure hunt around the house looking for mementos, heirlooms and memorabilia from your ancestors. Then discuss each piece and shed some light on your ancestors’ lives. Our grandkids found lots of treasures: watercolor and oil paintings, china-painted glassware, a helmet from WWI (worn by their great-great-grandfather), jewelry, coins, pictures, needlepoint, love letters, recipes and more. Check your attic for things—there are always golden treasures discovered in attics! Our grandkids were mesmerized with this game—so will yours be! Details: link in bio

GRANDKIDS CREATING THE FAMILY TREE & 4-GENERATION

GRANDKIDS CREATING THE FAMILY TREE & 4-GENERATION TIMELINE Sooner or later, it’s important to make the proverbial 4-generation family tree with your grandkids or kids. It’s a great way for them to actually SEE how everyone is connected. Go on my blog and get the link to download this FREE 4-generation genealogy chart. Fill in the blanks and glue on the pictures. The hardest part? Gathering pictures. We all have undesirables in our family tree—so gathering pictures of those people and pasting them on the chart can be impossible. Hence—you’ll have some blanks Remember the saying: “you can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your ancestors or family members.” Believe it. Details: link in bio

GET TO KNOW YOUR ANCESTORS—CONNECT ONE ANOTHER’S HOBBIES, INTERESTS & TALENTS Here’s a fun art activity to help your grandkids and kids get to know their ancestors by comparing/contrasting talents, interests and hobbies. Many of your ancestors will have similar talents, interests and hobbies that your kids or grandkids have. It’s a fun way to connect and feel close to people from days gone by. Grab some clipart from royalty-free sites (Pixabay) that represent your grandkids/kids interests. Ours included—running, cooking, biking, hiking, camping, art & music, books, school, etc. Talk about different ancestors, aunts, uncles & cousins and find the similarities of their interests, etc., like your kids or grandkids. Last—create a board. Ours included hearts, wild paint, and pictures connecting the child’s interests to his/her ancestors that had similar interests. Go to the blog for the gritty details: link in bio

DISCOVERING ANCESTORS WITH GRANDKIDS: IT ALL BEGIN

DISCOVERING ANCESTORS WITH GRANDKIDS: IT ALL BEGINS WITH FAMILY—CREATING A FUN TIMELINE OF FAMILY MEMBERS This week we’re discovering ancestors through fun genealogical research & games. It’s important to teach your grandkids/kids about their ancestors—but it’s equally, if not more important to help them love & cherish their immediate family—so start with—mother, fathers, siblings. Have your grandkids/kids draw a picture of each family member with black ink. Mount the drawings on colored paper. On a big long piece of cardboard, splatter-paint over all. Take actual photos of each family member to stand-by their drawing (in case you can’t recognize them from the drawing—ha-ha!). Discovering family and ancestors is not only fun—it helps connect amazing people from the past and present. Link in bio

BOOKS ALL ABOUT DESSERTS, SUGAR & CHOCOLATE! Don’t forget to read books about desserts to your grandkids/kids before launching into all the activities. We based our theme of desserts this week on the book, “Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons.” It’s a charming book to help your grandkids/kids to understand BIG words such as “cooperate,” “compassionate,” “trustworthy,” “fair/unfair” and more. It’s always fun to learn values while making cookies & ice cream or drawing, painting and creating! Get the list of books her: link in bio

MULTI-MEDIA ARTS & CRAFTS—CAKE MADE FROM TISSUE

MULTI-MEDIA ARTS & CRAFTS—CAKE MADE FROM TISSUE PAPER & PAINTED CANVAS Everyone has glued tissue paper onto cardstock so here is another craft idea using tissue paper, glue and paint while creating a dessert. This is a multi-media art project that is simple and fun. Just glue bits and pieces of tissue paper onto a cake template Top it off with a heart and while everything is drying grab a piece of canvas and let your grandkids/kids paint a colorful background to put your cake on. Your painted canvas backgrounds just may end up more colorful than your cakes! Link for details: in bio

BEST HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM MADE ON A WINTE

BEST HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM MADE ON A WINTER’S DAY You can’t have a theme about desserts without making a few in the kitchen! Here’s an easy-peasy recipe for homemade strawberry ice cream—3 ingredients—that’s it! Let your grandkids/kids help in the kitchen whipping the 3 ingredients together—will take about 10 minutes max. Teach your grandkids the science behind making ice cream while you’re waiting for the yummy dessert to freeze. There is something amazingly delicious about homemade ice cream—even in the winter with snow on the ground. We bundled the kids up and took them out to the garage to watch the ice cream maker turn the liquid into a mass of delectable strawberry ice cream! Best part? Eating cold ice cream with snow falling outside. Link for details in bio

PRINTMAKING ICE CREAM CONES! More fun and colorfu

PRINTMAKING ICE CREAM CONES! More fun and colorful desserts to create! Check out this fun art activity that uses bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, buttons and imagination to create colorful ice cream cones. Paint bubble wrap and stamp the circles on your paper. The bubble wrap gives a fun texture to your ice cream cone. When dry, add to your cones: buttons, straws, plastic whirlygigs, or whatever inspires your grandkids or kids. Toss in a dab of glitter to finish it off! Inspiration: @theartfulparent Link for details in bio

DESSERTS MADE OF PAPER MANIPULATIONS & WEAVING O

DESSERTS MADE OF PAPER MANIPULATIONS & WEAVING Our theme this week with the grandkids is desserts, desserts and more desserts. We engaged in lots of fun activities—arts & crafts, music, books, kitchen fun & more. First—we made these amazing paper manipulations desserts—cupcakes, popsicles and candy. We took paper and squished, rolled, cut, folded and curled lots of colorful printed paper. Next, we glued our paper manipulations onto our dessert template and while everything was drying, the grandkids wove a background to frame their colorful desserts. All you need is paper, glue and a vivid imagination! I saw paper manipulations murals at @colourful_minds_kids (thank you for the inspiration) and decided to turn ours into dessert creations. Plus, we added our woven backgrounds. This craft activity develops amazing fine motor skills, attention skills and sequencing. Paper crafts don’t get much brighter & colorful than this! Link for details: link in bio We’re joining in with @minimadthings @littlegingerstudio #makecreateplay challenge with PAPER from guest host @saaiqahawa

SUPER FUN BOOKS ABOUT CHOCOLATE AND MORE CHOCOLATE

SUPER FUN BOOKS ABOUT CHOCOLATE AND MORE CHOCOLATE! It’s always fun to eat chocolate, and it’s equally fun to read about chocolate. Here are a few children’s books about chocolate—but there are lots more. Which books have your children read about chocolate? Link in bio

FUN, FEMININE & FANCY WAYS TO WRAP YOUR HOT FUDGE

FUN, FEMININE & FANCY WAYS TO WRAP YOUR HOT FUDGE CHOCOLATE SAUCE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY I’ve made this recipe for holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas as well as birthdays, anniversaries, or random gift-giving. If you’re giving this as a gift for someone—try this: wrap the jar in either an antique handkerchief or an antique tea napkin. I’ve done both and they look beautiful, feminine and unique. (Inspiration; #camihoopes) Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day—which means you still have time to make up this sauce for someone you love. But don’t make it by yourself—grab your kids or grandkids and teach them the delectable art and taste of chocolate! LInk in bio

CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO EAT THE MOST DELEC

CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO EAT THE MOST DELECTABLE HOT FUDGE SAUCE—FOR VALENTINE’S DAY & BEYOND! This hot chocolate fudge sauce is perfect over vanilla or chocolate ice cream, as a plate garnish for cheesecake and if cold it can be used as a frosting on cupcakes. However, my favorite way to eat it is dipping one of my chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven into the hot chocolate sauce. A chocoholic’s dream! Get the recipe for the chocolate sauce my chocolate chip cookies here: link in bio

THE STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS & TUTORIALS ON HOW TO

THE STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS & TUTORIALS ON HOW TO MAKE THE BEST HOT FUDGE SAUCE RECIPE When grandkids or kids are just starting to cook & bake in the kitchen, recipes that include step-by-step picture tutorials are always a plus—that’s why I’ve included them on the blog alongside the recipe. This fabulous hot fudge sauce recipe is one you’ll want to keep for years and pass down to future generations. Start with your grandkids or kids and teach them how to make this easy-peasy recipe. Show them how to read a recipe and show them the pictures—because when it comes to cooking & baking a “picture is worth 1000 words.” A winning recipe and just in time for Valentine’s Day! Directions, recipes, tutorials & more here: link in bio

CHOCOLATE FUDGE SAUCE—A PERFECT VALENTINE’S DA

CHOCOLATE FUDGE SAUCE—A PERFECT VALENTINE’S DAY TREAT! It’s Valentine’s Week! Chocolate is synonymous with Valentine’s Day and this hot fudge sauce will answer all your holiday chocolate needs. Easy to make. Tastes delicious. Great over ice cream or right out of the jar. I’ve been making this recipe for 37 years—from a class I took in Sherman Oaks, California given by cookbook author, Marlene Sorosky. Her recipes were amazing and I ended up purchasing most of her cookbooks. However, surprisingly, this recipe wasn’t included in any of her cookbooks. If you want to combine a fun kitchen and Valentine’s Day experience with your grandkids or kids—try this recipe! Recipe & details here: link in bio

EASY-PEASY VALENTINE’S PUZZLES TO MAKE & FOR GRA

EASY-PEASY VALENTINE’S PUZZLES TO MAKE & FOR GRANDKIDS & KIDS TO PUT TOGETHER Puzzles are an amazing brain-builder activity for grandkids & kids. And, here’s an easy-peasy way to make Valentine puzzles! Takes a bit of imagination and creativity, but you can whip these up in no time. Get all the details, links to images and more here: link in bio

GET YOUR GRANDKIDS & KIDS EXCITED FOR VALENTINE’

GET YOUR GRANDKIDS & KIDS EXCITED FOR VALENTINE’S DAY—HERE ARE SOME BOOKS ABOUT VALENTINE’S TO STIR THE EXCITEMENT! Nothing spells anticipation and excitement for ANY holiday than reading books to your grandkids and kids! Start off this holiday in style and read some fun Valentine’s Day books to your grandkids and kids. Here’s a small list to get you started… Some of our favorites?
*There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose
*The Invisible String Details & list: link in bio

9-LAYERED VALENTINE HEART JELL-O. A FUN “GRANDKI

9-LAYERED VALENTINE HEART JELL-O. A FUN “GRANDKIDS & KIDS IN THE KITCHEN ACTIVITY FOR VALENTINE’S DAY! Want a fun, time-consuming activity to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the kitchen? Try making this with your grandkids: 9-layered Finger Jell-O Valentine Hearts! Sorry, but this takes about 90-100 minutes of concentrated time. You use good ole Jell-O (totally non-nutritious—but what the heck—it’s Valentine’s). And you mix and layer each of the 9 layers and then refrigerate. The fun part? Punching out the hearts using heart-shaped cookie cutters and eating these for a GIANT sugar-rush! Be prepared for wild & wooly grandkids afterward! Recipe & mor: link in bio

MAKING PLAYDOH VALENTINE HEARTS THAT HELP KIDS WIT

MAKING PLAYDOH VALENTINE HEARTS THAT HELP KIDS WITH PROPRIOCEPTIVE DEVELOPMENT Did you know that proprioception is one of our 9 senses? Yup—it is! And it’s important for learning and helps kids concentrate and pay attention. One way to develop it is through hard work. We made these playdoh Valentine hearts but instead of using a craft maker—I had the grandkids use good ole-fashioned elbow grease using rolling pins and garlic presses! (helps with proprioception) Give your grandkids playdoh in all the colors of the rainbow, rolling pins and a garlic press. Roll that playdoh flat, curl up like a flower and put on your Valentine’s heart—keep going until it’s filled up. Then—squeeze that playdoh through the garlic press and add those curly-whirly worm-like shapes to the middle. Voila! A colorful Valentine’s heart! And lots of learning in between! Inspiration for clay hearts: @mericherryla Link for details: in bio

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