17May2017
Kids Health, Kids Health Guide
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May 17, 2017

Why Bedtime Routine for Baby is Important? 

As soon as possible, you should start a bedtime routine with your baby. You can start when the baby is six to eight weeks old, and your baby will surely reap benefits from the early routine setup. Establishing a stipulated system will make your baby appreciable of the consistent pattern. The baby will be comfortable knowing beforehand what is it follow next. This would facilitate better and faster sleep for your baby. Even without your presence in the house, make an attempt to maintain the routine of the baby. And when you try to settle down your baby in a new place, the bedtime routine will ease the baby.

Some tips that you can involve in organizing the routine of the baby are giving your baby a bath, helping him to get into pajamas, telling stories, or playing a game. Select activities that soothe the mind rather than those that excite the mind, because they would help your baby to fall asleep faster.

Keeping track of a baby by following a bedtime routine is beneficial to both the parents and the baby. At the fag end of the day, the routine gives an opportunity for the child and the parent to create a special bond between them. Following are a few ideas worth a try:

Babies Need Good Sleep

Light Exercises  

Bedtime Routine

At times you should allow the baby to let his stored energy to escape before you settle him down. Two good ways to do so are bouncing in a bouncer or on a knee or having a ride on a horse. When the excitement is done with, change into an activity that is quieting and relaxing. Follow this only when your little one goes to sleep effortlessly during bedtime, or it might be too much excitement for him.

Warm Bath

A warm bath cleans the baby and makes him relax. Then again if you see that your baby can not adjust with a bath at night and feels uncomfortable and can not go to sleep, then it would be prudent to strike it out from the list of bedtime routines. 

Bedtime Activities

Indulging in some quiet playing games can bring some fun moments to the bedtime ritual, like a floor game, stacking blocks, or peek-a-boo.

One of the most famous bedtime routine that almost all parents do is reading stories to the baby at night. This ritual has many benefits– it introduces your baby to the new world where he would grow up to be through a huge vocabulary and is a step towards acquiring skills of language.

Bedtime Routine

Singing is another idea. Sing a popular song and let the process grow into a tradition in your family. By and by your baby will understand that when the song ends its time for him to get some shut-eye.

Baby Bedtime Routine

On the way to the bed, bid good night to inanimate objects in the house like favorite toys and other items. You can also include pets and other family members– this way your baby will get acquainted with the various things in the house and would begin to understand and identify things by their names. Because they would be his childhood playmates for sometime, leave out no stuffed toy.

A host of other activities could be included in your bedtime routine. Indulge yourself and the baby with the fun methods and let them be a great time for the two of you.

6Apr2017
Kids Development, Music and Children's Development, Music for Children
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April 6, 2017

Music is a vital part of every kid’s growth. An excellent tune can usually illuminate their eyes, urge them to move and also dance, as well as aid infuse a feeling of self-confidence. And also it doesn’t end there.

 

The media’s popularization of searching for from research studies suggesting a causal web link between songs training as well as spatial reasoning in kids (Rauscher et al. 1993, 1997) has actually captured the attention of several and also stimulated rate of interest in the inclusion of music in early childhood education and learning.


Music Early Child Development

I’ve heard a million parents lament the fact that they didn’t get their children interested in music sooner. There are also hundreds of adults out there that wish they had learned how to play an instrument when they were younger.

Studies actually support the idea that music stimulates certain brain connections and can actually help children grow smarter!

Music also provides an invaluable outlet for safe expression of feelings and emotions, and can also serve as an important learning tool throughout your children’s lives!

Music helps educate in many ways, by developing children’s memory skills and nourishing their spirit.

Now, some children are a bit resistant to music at first, but you can easily find ways to encourage them to enjoy music in many different forms early in life.

You need to simply adopt some creative ways to introduce music in your children’s life without forcing them to take on a task they aren’t interested in (Hint: don’t go buy a saxophone and tell them to practice or else).

Here’s how you can successfully and gently introduce music into your children’s life:


Music and Child Brain Development

1) Allow them the opportunity to select an instrument they are interested in. Even if that instrument is something you consider too large or incompatible for them. When they do, be willing to let your children make their own decisions and encourage them.

2) Play a variety of different music in the home whenever your children are around. Turn on the radio and turn off the TV, and make a point to try and play something different every day.

3) Teach your children how to sign songs. Children learn through music. You can use songs to teach numbers, the alphabet and even help develop basic memory skills.

4) Help your children make up their own songs. This will encourage them to use their natural creativity and talent.

5) Hum a tune with your child. When they try something a little different, praise them.

6) Consider taking your children to age appropriate concerts. There are many concerts specifically designed with children in mind, chock full of songs and beats that will entertain and delight even the youngest of children.

Music is an important part of the developmental process children go through.


Why Music is Important for Child Development 

Children who are involved in activities such as band or other musical outlets are less likely to get involved in problematic behaviors and dangerous after school activities.

Music has even reportedly increased the intelligence of newborns, particularly building spatial reasoning. Music also makes the world a happier place to live in.

You’ll enjoy learning as much as your children will, and you can even explore music together!

By introducing your children to music while they are still young, you will ultimately improve their lives and their appreciation of the world in many ways.

Even if that instrument is something you consider incompatible or too large for them. Be willing to let your children make their own decisions and encourage them when they do.

Teach your children how to sign songs is a good idea, as it provide them with many benefits of music in early childhood education. Children learn through music. You can use songs to teach numbers, the alphabet and even help develop basic memory skills.

5Apr2017
Kids Health, Kids Nutrition
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April 5, 2017


Grow Your Own Vegetables

During the last decades there has been a change towards mechanization and homogenization of farming, which uses pesticides, additives, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers and mass-production techniques. All these are clearly affecting mankind’s health, and new diseases are spreading rapidly amongst humans and animals (bird’s flu being the most recent one). Hence, ensuring that kids nutrition is being taken care of is a task that is easily said, but difficult to be done.

The World Health Organization produces reports to show how the use of chemicals and other products on food, coupled with the manufacturing processes involved, are actually a threat for our health and a threat for our kids nutrition. 

If you have space for a few pots or even a small piece of land, it is a wise decision to grow your own organic vegetable garden. Today I’m presenting you with seven reasons for doing this:

Grow Your Own Vegetable

1. You will have no additives in your vegetables. Research by organic food associations has shown that additives in our food can cause heart diseases, osteoporosis, migraines and hyperactivity.

2. There will be no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers used. These chemical products are applied to obtain crops all the time regardless plagues or weather conditions, and affect the quality as well as the nutrition of the vegetables. Besides, pesticides are usually poisonous to humans.

3. Your vegetables will not be genetically modified (GM). Antibiotics, drugs and hormones are used on vegetables to grow more and larger ones. One of the consequences of this practice are vegetables which look all the same and are usually tasteless. Besides, we end up consuming the vegetables with zero nutrition and the hormones that have been used on the vegetables, with the potential risks for our health.

4. Eating your own organic vegetables will be much more healthy for you. They will not contain any of the products or chemicals named above, and they will be much more natural than any ones you would find at the supermarket. Because you will then know that nothing has been added to your vegetables, your health will not be at risk. Most importantly, the kids nutrition can be well taken care of.  

5. Your own organic vegetables will be much more tasty. The use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones make vegetables grow unnaturally and take the taste away from them. With organic vegetables, your cooking will be enhanced as their flavour will show fully.

6. Organic farming is friendly to the environment. Because you won’t use pesticides or other equally harming products on your vegetables, you will not damage the soil or the air with the chemical components.

7. When you grow your own organic vegetables you are contributing to your own self-sustainability and the sustainability of the planet. Small communities have been founded where members exchange products that they grow naturally, thus contributing to create a friendly and better place for us all.

Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables

In the end, eating organic products only means that we do not add anything else to them than they would naturally have. As you can guess, additives, hormones, fertilizers or pesticides are not components of naturally grown food. To better care for your health, grown your own organic vegetables -and a few pots is all you need.

Antibiotics, hormones and drugs are used on vegetables to grow more and larger ones. We end up consuming the hormones that have been used on the vegetables, with the potential risks for our health.

The use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones make vegetables grow unnaturally and take the taste away from them. Because you won’t use pesticides or other equally harming products on your vegetables, you will not damage the soil or the air with the chemical components.

To better care for your health and your kids nutrition, grow your own organic vegetables and a few pots is all you need.

22Mar2017
Kids Health, Kids Health Guide
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March 22, 2017


Best weight loss programs for teens 

Overweight not only hampers the health of adults, but it is injurious to teens and kids as well. Hence, if you are in the teen ages and feel troubled by those extra kilos around your waist, don’t wait any further to embrace a suitable weight loss programs for teens that you think works well for your body. Get the act together today itself! Given below are few invaluable teen weight loss tips, as seen in many of the best weight loss programs for teens prescribed by expert nutritionists, which could help you to take the fight to your foe – over weight.

Overweight – in a very basic level – is caused due to excessive consumption of food. Hence the best weight loss programs for teens must have a suggestion to control the daily intake of food, especially fatty and oily victuals. Also take care to avoid milk products, all sorts of junk foods and artificial drinks.

Another aspect that most best weight loss programs for teens suggests is to drink lots of water and incorporate fruits, raw vegetables, and fibrous foods into the diet. It is vital in balancing the nutrient content in the body caused due to the reduction in the normal intake (assuming you are following the first suggestion as such).

Replace your normal snacks – such as a packet of chips or potato wafers – with something that is healthier to your system. That is, substitute your chips or other fat and oil rich snacks with something like frozen grapes, cherry tomatoes, baby carrot or low-fat pudding or yogurt, instead.

Take few hours every day to workout in the gym or spend some time running or playing your favorite sport. Such physical activities could burn away those extra calories from under your skin. In fact this is the most important step one could find in all the best weight loss programs for teens suggested by experts.

But, the most important of all the suggestions is that you must nurture a strong will to follow the diet program, you choose, religiously. Else, no best weight loss programs for teens could help you bring down your weight. Yes, it can be hard work, but the end result is worth the pain you endure during the process. Good Luck!

20Mar2017
Kids Health, Kids Health Guide
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March 20, 2017

Did you know that simply eating breakfast raises your metabolism by 10 percent? Oatmeal is one of the most powerful breakfast foods of them all. If you are looking to get your body in great shape, you should incorporate this as a staple food in your diet.

Oatmeal is the perfect meal to start your day because it boosts your energy and has plenty of fiber to keep you full and satisfied. Oatmeal breaks down slowly in the stomach, giving you long-lasting energy. It is also full of water-soluble fibers, which play a crucial role in making you feel full over a longer period of time. Studies have also shown that oatmeal reduces cholesterol, maintains blood sugar levels and fights against heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and obesity.

Benefits of oatmeal

If you want to add some powerful antioxidants to your oatmeal, simply throw on some blueberries and raspberries. These delicious fruits are packed with antioxidants that fight against heart disease, cancer, and a multitude of other ailments. Blueberries have also been proven to preserve vision. This powerful fruit rated highest in antioxidants among over 40 fruits and vegetables.

What more could you ask out of the first meal of your day? However, oatmeal doesn’t just have to be for breakfast. You can use it a couple hours before you exercise to energize your workout. You can even include oatmeal in your smoothies. It is also a wonderful addition to muffins and even as a covering for chicken breasts.


Keep in mind that you must buy the unsweetened, unflavored variety. To spice it up a little, you can use bananas, berries, or milk. The downfall of pre-flavored oatmeal is that it often comes loaded with sugar calories. So, stick to the good stuff.

If you’re looking for oatmeal with a little more texture, you can try out the steel-cut oat variety. Although this type does take a little longer to cook, I find that it is well worth the wait. They have a somewhat chewier texture and heartier flavor than rolled oats. Once you try this variety, you may never go back.

If your having trouble with late night binges, have a bowl of oatmeal instead. This will help squash your cravings. Not to mention, you’ll be avoiding any junk food or empty calories.

If your looking to get in the best shape of your life, I suggest your alternate your morning meals between oatmeal on one day and have eggs and meat on another. This will put your fat-burning into overdrive.

16Mar2017
Kids Health, Kids Health Guide
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March 16, 2017

Obesity is a condition that can shorten your life and can seriously affect you mentally and physically. It often has its roots in childhood. Obesity in children is growing at a frighteningly fast rate. There are more obese children now than ever before. Parents are letting their carelessness with their own diets spill over into their children’s lives.

Kids Obesity

Here are a few points to think about when trying to prevent obesity and health problems for your children.

Small children are normally energetic and often require snacks in-between meals. It is most important to choose healthy snacks for your children.

Alternative snacks can include:

  • Vegetable snacks like carrot sticks and celery boats are a good and fun alternative to chips and “junk food” snacks.
  • Fruit can be substituted for candies and sugar snacks.

Can we control kids obesity?

Soda and sugar snacks like candy produce hyperactivity in many young children and will sow the seeds for problems later in life. It also leads to dental problems and the beginnings of obesity. It is good to keep these foods in check and use alternatives if possible. Sugar is a known addictive food in that the more you eat the more you want to eat. This can quickly escalate into a serious eating problem and can lead to obesity as the body stores excess sugar as fat.

Breakfast cereals are perhaps the biggest problems in children’s diets. Everyone is in a hurry in the morning and it is easy to reach for the cereal packet for a quick family breakfast. However be careful of these presweetened cereals as they give unnecessary large amounts of sugar to your child’s system laying the grounds for sugar addiction. Now there are many alternatives to presweetened cereals. There are many good tasting “healthy” cereals providing added fiber and less if any sugar. These are good for your children as they will provide them with a much more nutritious breakfast and not just fill them up with sugar and excess carbohydrates.

Fast food habits also begin when children are quite small. This is reinforced by extensive TV advertising and propaganda for these foods. It is almost inbred in us to eat hamburgers chips and other fast food. Children have an inborn liking for these foods and can easily become quite addicted to them. It is wise to try to keep these foods in limit, as they are not the healthiest foods to eat, especially for children who are growing and need nutritious foods to develop properly.

Good eating habits begin when children are very young. It can start from the time they first start to eat. It is very important to a child’s health to start good eating habits at a young age. It is possible to lay the foundations of good and healthy eating habits when children are still quite small. It is just a question of educating ourselves and passing on good habits to our children. When you do this you reduce the possibility of obesity in your children and all the mental and physical risks involved.

15Mar2017
Exercises for Kids, Kids Fitness
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March 15, 2017

When adults think about exercise, we usually imagine the gym, running or a treadmill, or lifting weights. It is important you know that for kids, exercise is being physically active and having fun. So how will you teach the children about exercise? Let’s find out!

Teaching kids about exercise

Teach Them the Benefits of Exercise

Here are some of the benefits of exercise that kids need to know about. When teaching kids about exercise, tell them that they will have:

  • Won’t be overweight
  • Won’t be at a risk of developing diabetes
  • Will live a better life
  • Will have low cholesterol and blood pressure
  • Will have a leaner body and minimum body fat
  • Strong bones and muscles
  • Will sleep better


Elements of Fitness

If you want the kids to learn more about exercise, you need to teach them about all the small details. The three elements of fitness are:

  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Endurance

 

Now the main question is how can you develop all these elements when teaching kids about exercise? Here is how:

 

Endurance

The kids will develop endurance when they will do aerobics that will increase their heart rate and will deliver oxygen to all the cells of the body. Here are some sports that they can practice:

  • walking
  • tennis
  • swimming
  • soccer
  • running
  • jogging
  • inline skating
  • ice skating
  • bicycling
  • basketball

KIDS EXERCISE

Strength

Strength doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to lift heavy weights. Lifting weights is great, but it should only be done under the supervision of an adult. Kids don’t need to lift heavy weights in order to be strong, because at their age it is all about eating a healthy diet and doing some regular exercise. The kids can do the following exercises to strengthen their muscles:

  • stomach crunches
  • Push-ups
  •  pull-ups

Flexibility

Flexibility is improved with the help of stretching exercises. When you stretch to your maximum potential, the joints and the muscles bend and you get a full range of motion. Encourage your kids to stretch every day, even if it only for five minutes.

Sedentary Lifestyle Is a Problem

One of the main problems that we are facing today is that our lifestyle is sedentary, which means that we are not moving as much as we used to, and the same goes for the kids. Kids these days watch TV for over seven hours, which means that they are not getting the right amount of exercise. When teaching kids about exercise, make sure that you encourage the kids to exercise and limit their TV time to maximum two hours per day.

Why Exercise Is Important

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) has provided the following guideline:

Age Minimum Daily Activity Comments
Infant No requirements Helps With motor Development
Toddler 1.5 hours Half an hour of planned activity and one hour of unplanned physical activity
Preschooler 2 hours One hour of planned activity and one hour of unplanned physical activity
School age More than 1 hour With a break after every 15 minutes
13Mar2017
Kids Health, Kids Nutrition
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March 13, 2017


Kid’s Food Pyramid

The key to having a good and healthy child is that you are well aware of the kids’ food pyramid. You need to make sure that whatever you are feeding your child is nutritious and comes from the five food groups. According to nutritionists, the food from the food groups is to be served in a given proportion throughout the day. If your child will eat a well balanced life, it will improve their physical and mental health.

Five Food Groups

You must be thinking what the five food groups are. Let’s have a look at them:

  1. Vegetables and Beans: This should take up the largest part of your plate and you should encourage your child to eat it with every meal. The reason why they are recommended by nutritionists is that they are a good source of vitamins, fibers, and minerals that help a growing child.
  2. Lean meat, fish, eggs, and seeds: Our body needs constant protein in order to make adrenaline and hemoglobin. In addition to this, it builds and repairs our organs, tissues, and muscles.
  3. Grains: Avoid taking refined versions and always opt for wholegrain version of rice, bread, noodles, and cereals.
  4. Fruit: It is an excellent source of fiber, minerals, and vitamins that help our body to stay healthy and strengthens our immune system.
  5. Dairy: It is an excellent source of calcium that helps in keeping the bones strong. Make sure your child drinks milk every day.

How Often You Should Eat and What

You have just learnt about the kids’ food pyramid but how should you be eating these foods? Let’s have a look:

Eat Frequently

There are some foods that you should be eating frequently. These include the following:

  • Beans and lentils
  • Breads
  • Cereals such as rice and pasta
  • Fruit and vegetables

 

The reason why you need to eat these frequently is that they are rich in minerals, fibers, and vitamins. Don’t just pick one kind of food, but eat all of them.

Eat Sometimes

These are the foods that you and your kids should be eating in a small proportion every once in a while:

  • Chicken (without skin)
  • Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt
  • Fish
  • Meat
  • Nuts

 

These foods are an excellent source of protein, which we need to repair tissues and keep healthy.

Eat Once In a While

These are the foods that have a very high sugar content but next to no minerals, fibers, and vitamins. These are considered ‘extras’ and one serving once in a while is more than enough.

  • Cake or muffin (1 medium piece)
  • Chocolate coated bars (1 bar)
  • Crisps (one small bag)
  • Ice cream (2 scoops)
  • Lollies or chocolate (one piece or one small bar)
  • Sweet biscuits (2 small)


The reason why we categorize these foods in a kids’ food pyramid is because of how often they should be eaten. The ‘Eat Frequently’ foods are at the bottom of the pyramid, the ‘Eat Sometimes’ food in the middle, whereas the ‘Eat Once In a While’ are at the top of the pyramid.

9Mar2017
Kids Development, Motivation
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March 9, 2017


How to motivate children to learn in the classroom

Thinking about how to motivate children to learn in the classroom? We all know how hard it is to motivate children when it comes to doing work in the classroom, thanks to their small attention spans and their habit of preferring to do things later. If you are a teacher, you need to learn how to motivate children in the classroom so that they can learn better and are more focused. Here are some tips that will help you out:

Learning How to Motivate Children to Learn In the Classroom

Praise Their Efforts

Everyone loves being praised and same goes for children. Some of the ways in which you can promote learning in children are:

• Recognizing their work in class
• Presenting and displaying their work on the class board
• Sending praising notes home to the parents
• Having a weekly award system
• Acknowledging the students hard work in whatever way you can
• Leaving positive comments on their written work


Motivate children

Avoid Extremely High Expectations

In order to motivate children, you need to avoid having unrealistic expectations from them. One great way to go about is to let them know about your realistic expectations. Make sure that the child sets goals for themselves and that you celebrate whenever they achieve a goal or reach a milestone.

Spread Happiness

You need to show that you are very enthusiastic about the subject you are teaching. In order to help them understand better, you need to give them appropriate examples. If you are teaching really young kids, one great way is to use alliteration because such phrases are easier to remember.

Mix It Up to Motivate Children

Different people will claim that different teaching methods work for a child. In order to cater to every child, you need to have an eclectic approach that includes a mix of all the teaching styles. Make sure that you break down all the activities that you will do in class. One great way to go about is:

• Have an introduction
• Introduce the new concept
• Have discussion
• Have a group activity
• Close the class with a Q/A session

Just make sure that the students know what you expect from them and that they come prepared for the class.


Learning in children

Give Them Classroom Jobs

On great way to encourage learning in children is to assign them tasks for the week. Some of the classroom jobs include:

• Cleaning the boards
• Pick start of class music
• putting up chairs
• Take Attendance
• Update Calendar
• Watch class pet

Tips to Motivate Children

• Know the names of the students
• Pay attention to the students needs
• Encourage interaction and shared learning
• Maintain eye contact
• Give examples
• Encourage students to share their views
• Plan fun activities
• Be consistent

In conclusion, you know now how to motivate children to learn in the classroom.

8Mar2017
Kids Recipes, Snack
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March 8, 2017

Healthy Snack Recipes For Kids To Make

Making your kids eat healthy is much more difficult than encouraging them to make food for themselves. If you want to develop your child’s interest, you will have to be creative and come up with innovative ideas. We have saved you the effort and have come up with healthy snack recipes for kids to make that your children will absolutely love.

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Sandwiches

Make small round sandwiches and place them like a caterpillar in order to encourage your kids to eat healthy food.

2. Rice Cake Owls

Make delicious rice cakes and shape them as owls. Not only is this cute but a healthy food too.

3. Apple Turtles

Cut up fruit in cute shapes and serve them to your little ones. You will be surprised to see how the food will disappear from the plate.

4. Apple Race Car Snacks

You can cut fruit in the shape of cars and serve them to your children. You will be surprised with how much your children will love this. Plus, there is so much room for creativity.

5. 3 Ingredient Mini Muffins

You can easily make this 3 ingredient mini muffins within 15 minutes and that too without any hassle. Perfect for your child’s lunchbox!

6. No Bake Coconut And Date Balls

Ask your kids to help you out with this super easy recipe and they will happily oblige. Mash the dates after deseeding them, and mix them with shredded coconut to get a healthy snack that will satisfy your child’s sweet tooth.

7. 3 Ingredient Real Fruit Jelly

Jelly is always a treat for children. Homemade jelly is great because it has no additives and uses only three basic ingredients which are gelatin, juice, and raspberries.

8. 2 Ingredient Pancakes

You might not know this, but it is possible for you to make a pancake with only two ingredients. Take some bananas, add eggs, and blend them in a blender. You will have the perfect batter to make the most amazing food for your child.

9. 2 Ingredient Muesli Bars

Muesli bars are good for your child’s health and they are made with only two ingredients! Your kids can easily make them under your supervision and they will taste so much than readymade bars.

10. Banana Smoothie

What can be better healthy snack recipes for kids to make than a glass of cold banana smoothie? This is super easy to make and all you need is bananas, cinnamon, honey, and yogurt. Delicious!

11. Cheese And Vegemite Scrolls

Scrolls are extremely popular with children and they are super healthy too. You can make them at home and fill them with cheese and vegetables. Super yum and perfect snack for school!

In conclusion, these are some of the healthy snack recipes for kids to make. Since they are so easy to make your kids might just end up making these themselves. Happy cooking to you and your kids!

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