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They may coach people seeking to adopt, assist them with writing or placing ads or adoption resumés, tell them what to say when a call comes in, and so forth. They are usually not licensed (although some facilitators may be licensed social workers) and, thus, might not be policed or overseen by any governmental authority. However, after a birthmother says she wants to place her child, the adoption must be turned over to an adoption agency or an attorney....

20 to 30 minutes Materials None Directions Why walk on the same old route when you can head out on an adventure designed by your child? Let your child give directions for the route and follow along agreeably. Extensions Help your child plan the next walk before heading out. Write down her directions to take along.Pick your next picnic spot by following your child’s directions to take a certain number of steps and turns....

Ants will eat just about anything, which is one reason they’re such pests. All of the meat plant and animal materials. Some ants also love sweets. Others like greasy and/or protein foods. The ants you find foraging in your kitchen are workers charged with the mission of bringing food back for their colony mates. What’s more, they’re also responsible for telling their buddies where food can be found. They do so by depositing a trail of pheromone, which stays in place for a long, long time....

Sharing the alphabet with your child helps him begin to recognize the shapes of letters and link them with sounds. He will soon learn the difference between individual letters – what they look like and what they sound like. What you need: Alphabet books Glue or glue stick Safety scissors Paper Pencils, crayons, markers Alphabet magnets What to do: The first activities in the list below work well with younger children....

Effort: Quick and easy — no sewing required Materials: Extra large white sweatshirt Black stretch pants White cloth shoes Permanent markers (in various colors) String White canvas hat (optional) Instructions: Dress your child in the clothes, and hang the colorful markers around her neck. As she trick-or-treats at school or in the neighborhood, friends and neighbors can sign this human autograph book! You can also add a white canvas hat for people to sign....

Whether it’s your own or a stranger’s pet, your child should be taught how to approach a dog or deal with one that appears threatening. It’s best if kids avoid dogs they don’t know and remember not to chase, tease, or pull the tail of a dog they do know. The Humane Society of the United States offers these additional tips for children: Ask permission before petting someone else’s dog (or cat)....

Age group: 18-40 months Duration of activity: 15 minutes Materials: Fabric paints in a variety of colors Pie tins (one for each color) Sponges Scissors Large light-colored towel Here is a chance to let your child show his creativity and create something that he will enjoy using.

Overview The drawback of making homemade baby food is that it can be a lot of work, including boiling, steaming, baking, peeling, deseeding, chopping, pureeing, mixing, heating, and cleaning of the blender and other kitchen tools. No wonder many of us stock up on prepared jars of baby food at the grocery store. If you choose the DIY route, we’ll let you in on a little secret: Homemade baby food doesn’t have to be a painstaking, daily endeavor....

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou Superbly told, with the poet’s gift for language and observation, Angelou’s autobiography of her childhood in Arkansas. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte In early nineteenth-century England, an orphaned young woman accepts employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall, a country estate owned by the mysteriously remote Mr. Rochester. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald The timeless story of Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy Buchanan is widely acknowledged to be the closest thing to the “Great American Novel” ever written....