Crazy Colors Fun Kid Experiment As A Party Activity

Writen by Anne-Marie Killer

Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for your next kid birthday party.

This activity, which is strictly speaking a kid science experiment, can be used in any party as entertainment. Even better: have a "Mad Chemist" theme and use this idea as one of the kid experiments.

Fill a plate or saucer with milk and put in a few drops of food coloring on top of the milk in different spots. The smaller the drops the better.

Use a spoon to pour a small amount of dishwashing liquid into the milk. Pouring it into the center works best.

Now watch the colors dance and explode.

This might sound very simple to you, but I've done this a few times with kids aged 6 - 10 and was amazed at how much pleasure this gave them! Let them each do their own - provide different colors and encourage them to try out different things. You will be amazed at the beautiful patterns they manage to create. Allow them to repeat the process a few times. They'll get the hang of it after one or two tries. If the kids are too small to do it themselves, you can do it as a demonstration. Or, why not just let them bring old clothes with, put down lots of old newspapers and allow them to make a big mess. They will love you for it!

Explanation: Water has a "skin" called surface tension. This is a force on the surface of water which pulls it inwards. Soap or dishwashing liquid breaks down the surface tension and stops the skin from forming. This stops water sticking together in drops and so it flows more easily into all the places where dirt collects.

Anne-Marie Killer is a mother of two teenagers and a toddler. She is the webmaster and owner of Perfect Party Ideas, Read her blog where she documents the process of setting up Perfect Party Ideas.

Why Did God Make People Different From Each Other

Writen by Carey Kinsolving

Rich vs. poor. Israeli vs. Palestinian. Girls vs. boys. Wouldn't the world run much more easily if people were alike?

Wrong, says Michael, age 7. God made us different from one another so "He wouldn't be bored." Or, to put it another way, "God likes to see different faces," says Kallan, 7.

"The world would be so plain if everyone was the same," says Amanda, 10. In fact, "it would be a world full of mirrors," where "Mom might take home the wrong kid," say Mallory, 11, and Ashley, 6.

Being different from each other is "like our ID" so "we won't get lost," say Alex, 8, and Kristin, 6.

OK, so God spared moms the confusion of trying to distinguish between identical kids, except in the case of twins. But what if we all wanted to do the same kind of work? "We have to have people who want to do all sorts of things and work at different jobs," says Leslie, 12. "Little odd jobs are very important."

Does that include emptying the trash and making your bed? If everyone were the same, "everyone would have the same habits, and it'd be miserable," says Alex, 10.

Can you imagine a world where everyone was a newspaper columnist? There would be no editors! As someone once said, editors have the important job of separating the wheat from the chaff and making sure the chaff gets printed.

God wanted variety, says Nicole, 9, "because it is much more funner this way, and God knows that." God wanted "to show His ability to be creative" by "making every color," say Andy, 12, and Perry, 10.

Perry, do you know what's around the throne of God? Check out Revelation 4 and 5, where the Apostle John describes Jesus Christ in heaven with "a rainbow around the throne." The redeemed ones before the throne are "out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation."

God loves variety. In fact, his glory is so great, he requires different expressions of praise. What kind of sound would an orchestra make if every member played a trumpet? To produce a beautiful, harmonious sound, individual orchestra members must unite their diverse talents and instruments under the direction of one skilled conductor.

Even though we are different, we can all be united if we follow the conductor. The love of God unites all Christians because it transcends national, cultural, economic and racial differences.

OK, so we're not united now. But we can be. How do we know? On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed for the unity of future believers: "And the glory that You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in oneness, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me" (John 17:22-23).

Why did God make us different? To unite us in a glorious symphony with His Son, who has always been in perfect harmony with His Father. For Jeremy, 11, God is the great conductor who "made us different so there would be different kinds of worship."

Let's pay attention to our conductor. God wants you to join in the heavenly rainbow.

Point to ponder: God makes us one in his Son.

Scriptures to remember: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body ... For in fact the body is not one member but many" (I Corinthians 12:13a and 14).

Question to consider: Is there something I need to change in my attitude or actions to experience the reality of being a unique person in the body of Christ unified by God's Spirit?

Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated columnist, producer, author, speaker and website developer. To see Carey's Kid TV Interviews and more, visit http://www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/ The Kids Talk About God website contains free, online content for children and families. Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own book. Watch for free the adventures of an 11-year-old girl traveling around the world, visiting missionaries in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print Bible pictures drawn by kids that illustrate Scripture verses. Receive a complimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons. Bible quotations in this column are from the New King James Version. Copyright 2006 Carey Kinsolving

7 Steps Parents Can Take To Improve Communication With Their Children

Writen by Lisa Paisley-Cleveland

1. Remember that kids often do not talk about things to fit "your time to talk" schedule.
It is important to interact with your children in various ways. You may find that your children will talk about an incident in school that occurred several days or a month ago while helping you bake a cake, do laundry or on the way home from soccer or dance class.

2. When your child is sharing something important to them shut up and listen.
It is easy to turn off communication if you are always interrupting (even if you know where the story is going), or offering advice before he/she has completed their account of the details. You will get your turn.

3. Please do not give an hour long "good advice" lecture.
Children will tend not to share with you if they know that they will have to listen to a long, and for them, boring lecture on life's do's and don'ts. Be concise, relevant and respectful of what they have shared.

4. Punishment should fit the crime.
A sure way to discourage and even shut down communication is for a child to feel fearful that in their communication something will surface that may result in harsh punishment. Parents must be mindful that kids make mistakes and as parents we must be there to teach, to nurture, to protect, to guide and to love. Harsh punishment for small infractions inhibits communication and sends a confusing message about those in authority. Be thoughtful about discipline.

5. Be understanding of their "culture".
Sometimes we forget that we were children once; wearing weird looking clothes, listening to music our parents hated, and even creating a language just for our friends to understand. As parents we should always be clear about what is acceptable, but just stay mindful that "this too will pass". If our kids are feeling harshly judged this will have an impact on what they share.

6. Establish a routine that brings the family together at least once per week.
Some families can eat together nightly while others find that their work schedules make this impossible. Sitting down together, at the same table, for diner is a wonderful way to enjoy each other's company and talk about each other's day. Having prayer time is another. Think about putting into practice a family routine that fits your situation and stick with it!

7. The most important step parents can take to improve communication with their children is model positive communication.
Whether you are a married couple or single parent children will observe how you communicate with other adults. Communication is a learned behavior and it is important that you practice a positive style of communication for your children to emulate.

Lisa Paisley-Cleveland, LCSW, CEO Sharpervision Consultants, LLC is dedicated to helping adults improve skills for positive and healthy relationships at work and in their personal lives. http://www.just-between-us.net http://www.Atlastmatchmaking.com