Make a date for fun

Here’s a fun January activity from MagicalChildhood.com: Gather your family, get out those new calendars and make appointments for fun things to do over the coming year.

Don’t stop at birthdays and special events; pick a few random dates and see what fun things you can come up with. Go to the movies on March 27. Have a picnic on June 19. Play in the sprinkler on July 28 (Mom and Dad, too!). Do something nice for a neighbor in May.

Then if something comes up that you don’t want to do, you can honestly say you already have plans.

Some parents feel like pushovers, survey says

Are parents too lenient with their children? Yes, most moms admit.

According to a survey by Parents magazine, 88 percent of mothers say they think parents let children get away with too much. And four out of 10 wish they were stricter than they are.

Other survey findings:

• Forty-two percent of moms say they don’t follow through on threats because they get worn down.
• Forty percent of moms worry that their children are or will be spoiled.
• Forty-six percent lose their temper when trying to get kids to behave.
• Almost 70 percent say their own children behave better than most.

Books teach value of animal kingdom

Classic books like “Black Beauty,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Secret of NIMH” are good choices for parents who want to teach their children to be compassionate toward animals, according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA’s other top picks for animal-friendly children’s books include:

• “Miss Spider’s Tea Party,” by David Kirk. Miss Spider is snubbed because of spiders’ scary reputations, but wins over her guests by showing kindness to fellow critters.
• “A Turkey for Thanksgiving,” by Eve Bunting. Mr. Moose tries to get his friend the turkey invited to Thanksgiving dinner instead of served as the main course.
• “Shiloh,” by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. A boy tries to help a beagle named Shiloh whose owner mistreats him.