1) Children flew to wrong destination

Continental made a huge blunder two weeks ago and they did it twice. There was miscommunication between flight attendants and one girl age 8 was sent to Fayetteville, Arkansas instead of Charlotte, North Carolina and a 10 year old girl ended up in Newark, New Jersey instead of Cleveland Ohio.

The airline apologized to the families and refunded their money, along with upgrading the children to first class accommodations.

2) Summer Back yard activity

Create a treasure map with your children and then turn your backyard into the map. Then hide some treasure and help them have fun finding the buried treasure in the back yard.

3) Airline Policies:

Because of number 1., Each airline has different policies and most airports only allow ticketed passengers past security, creating more questions than answers for parents with children flying alone this summer. The travel experts at Cheapflights.com have compiled an easy-reference chart including 12 major airlines and policies for unaccompanied minors including age restrictions, escort services and flight time limitations.

This guide includes things like:

What to pack, like making sure your child has a cell phone and photo identification. They have advice on do’s and don’ts before and after arriving at the airport..

· Educate yourself. Before making a reservation, contact your preferred carrier for specific information regarding children traveling alone.

· Be smart. Make sure your child doesn’t wear clothing that has their name on it, making it easier for a stranger to convince them that they can be trusted.

4) Free Movies:

"Now in our 19^th year, Regal’s Free Family Film Festival has become an annual tradition for our moviegoers across the country. This year, more than ever, we are proud to offer families a weekly trip to the movies for free,” stated Dick Westerling, Regal Entertainment Group Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising. "During our Free Family Film Festival, we also provide grants for transportation to the movies for numerous Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. We certainly value our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the opportunity to help many children enjoy big screen entertainment for free.”

For a list of participating locations and dates: www.REGmovies.com/nowshowing/freefamilyfilm.aspx.  In addition to the free films, many theatres will have other exciting events, displays and demonstrations during the festival days

5) Hotel Deal:

Stay at Best Western Twice and get a night free:

From now through August 16, members of Best Western Rewards® loyalty program who stay two separate times at any Best Western hotel in the U.S. and Canada will receive a voucher redeemable for a free night at many of its hotels globally. In addition, travelers who book each reservation through www.bestwestern.com earn 250 bonus points, and those who redeem their free night earn qualifying Rewards points during their stay.

HOW IT WORKS:

• A 16,000 point electronic voucher good for a free night at many Best Western properties will be awarded to every Rewards member who completes two separate qualifying stays at any of the 2,200 Best Western hotels in the U.S. and Canada.
• A maximum of two vouchers can be earned during the promotion. Vouchers are combinable and can be used any night of the week, based upon availability.
• Points will be rewarded to travelers even during nights redeemed with the voucher.
• Every reservation made online at www.bestwestern.com will also earn 250 bonus points.

6) Save Money with Coupon Trunk

Coupon Trunk is updated daily with new coupons, codes, and discounts that you can use on purchases to almost anywhere. With the economy in the state it’s in we need to find every way we can save. That’s what I blog for. I hope that a penny here and a penny there I’m helping my family. Having children is expensive and because of Coupon Articles, and Money Saving ideas we’re spending less than before we had children. Can you imagine that?

Check out things like

Baby Coupons
Clothing Coupons
Music Coupons

7) Having a StayCation?

As it turns out, more and more families are spending extra time at home because of the economy. According to a recent Clorox survey, over 60 percent of the Moms surveyed reported an increase in cleaning around the house as their families now spend more time at home. And, not surprisingly, Moms want to save time and money for all of this extra cleaning. Mom Central got together with the MommyDocs and came up with a list of Five Tips for Summer Staycations to keep your family safe and your house cleaner during the summer months this year.

The following are the tips from MommyDocs:

Staying Safe at BBQs. According to a recent survey, 70 percent of Moms are cooking more at home and many are likely switching up their meal routine with an outdoor BBQ. Make sure your kids have a safe BBQ experience by keeping them away from the flames and any sharp knives. Also, don’t forget to check that your child’s hamburger is fully cooked. Always keep a thermometer on hand to be sure all food has reached the appropriate inside temperature.
Keep the Pool Cool and Clean. If your kids love to spend hot afternoons in kiddie pools, you know the importance of cleaning the pool area. Dump out water after each session, and keep the pool clean by disinfecting it with a solution of ¾ cup bleach* to one gallon of water. Don’t forget to rinse well and dry thoroughly after each cleaning (never leave any water in the pool). Be sure to always supervise children when they are in or around any water. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)
Staying Healthy and Hydrated. Spending time in the heat means kids will be more prone to becoming dehydrated. Remind kids to take frequent rest/drink breaks in the shade when playing outside and try to avoid activity during peak sun hours.  Encourage fluids before, during, and after outside activities.
Having Peace of Mind at Playgrounds. Sometimes just getting out of the house is the best way to keep it clean, but before letting kids loose at the playground, ensure the safety of the equipment. Swing seats and slides can really heat up in the sun – test them out before your kids hop on to avoid burns. Be sure the playground surface is composed of a soft material to help prevent injury. All playground equipment should be routinely checked for any broken or loose parts.  As always, adult supervision is a must at all times!
Saving on Spills. Spending extra time around the house, especially with kids, often means more spills to clean up. Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths can start to smell and carry bacteria, but you don’t have to toss them out after a few uses. One option to reduce bacteria is to sanitize sponges and dishrags by soaking them in a bleach solution (¾ cup of bleach* to a gallon of water) for 5 minutes in the sink.  Don’t forget to rinse and dry when done.  A wet sponge can also be microwaved to get rid of bacteria. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)

8 ) Host a Cause Party

Multi-platinum Grammy Award winner singer/songwriter Ashanti launched a kick off party benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of America network member, Boys & Girls Club of Harlem. Ashanti created a video message of charitable giving and hosting a Johnson’s Body Care sponsored Cause Party.

I am going to be part of a Cause Party on Friday. I just received all of my party supplies and the donation money. We’re going to get food and the rest of supplies on Friday right before the party. I’m really excited about it. We’re collecting money for a local charity.

9) Find a Doctor for Summer camp

With summer camp transporting kids outside their doctor’s zip codes or with summer sports having you looking for a great dermatologist’s recommendations, the Vitals widget could be uploaded to your blog to provide your readership with a doctor search tool specifically tailored to locate pediatricians around the nation. Vitals (www.vitals.com) is the premier online doctor evaluation and comparison service with more than two million unique visits per month and a database of the more than 720,000 practicing doctors across all specialties.  Doctor ratings are compiled via a comprehensive review of empirical data, crucial information, peer evaluations and patient feedback.

10) Road Trip Idea that doesn’t involve and iPod

This summer fans of the Yankee’s, Mets, Red Sox, White Socks and Cubs are challenged to get their trivia on as they travel. Hawk’s Nest Publishing brings 5 collector activity books designed to keep kids busy and connected without techie gadgets and gizmos http://www.hawksnestpublishing.com .
Instead of your kids spending long road trips with I-Pods attached to their ears and video games and cell phone texts at their fingertips the whole family can bond over baseball. Each book includes drawings or players for kids to color, crossword puzzles for kids and parents to work on together which –a great way to teach spelling, plus other brain teasers that challenge and teach as they go. Plus each book is updated each year making them a great collectible.

11) Preview a new girls on-line community

Random House will be introducing a new children’s book series this summer aimed at girls, ages 7 – 12, called The Fairy Godmother Academy. The first book in the series, entitled Birdie’s Book, isn’t being released until August 25th, but a new social community centered around games, music and social networking is being launched very soon. Get a special sneak peek at the website starting June 25th. Check it out at www.fairygodmotheracademy.com.

12) Shop Smart Live Well: value without compromise

To help educate consumers, the makers of Hormel Natural Choice® meats have created a supermarket guide to help shoppers find products with the most value, while offering tips and recipes from registered dietitian Patricia M. Bannan. The brochure is available for download along with product coupons at http://www.hormelnatural.com/offers.html.
This downloadable  “Shop Smart, Live Well: Value Without Compromise” guide provides information on healthy, trusted and affordable options that people can feel good about eating and serving to their families. Specifically, the guide offers tips on how to:

1. Decipher various product claims;
2. Identify natural products in the supermarket
3. Make simple, smart shopping choices
4. Trade costly, unhealthy snacks for healthier, more affordable options
5. Live the “Shop Smart, Live Well” philosophy both in and out of the supermarket
6. Create delicious, all-natural recipes the whole family can enjoy

13) Capture the Crunch.

Everyone loves a great pickle in the summer time, or at least everyone in my family.

Vlasic Pickles is in search of “The Cutest Crunch,” and is asking for photo submissions through October 31, 2009. To enter, simply log onto www.vlasic.com and submit one original photo that you think captures the cutest pickle crunch. Please note that photos must utilize Vlasic Pickles, MUST be submitted by someone 18 years or older and must only depict the entrant and/or spouse or children; no other non-family members may be depicted. Entrants must review and agree to the photo upload terms on the Vlasic® website. The winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to New York City, $1,000 and a one-year supply of Vlasic Pickles.