The Five Minute Parent
Deborah Shelton
(Reviewer - Rebecca Brown)
2002 Bayou Publishing.
ISBN: 1886298130

Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones. With splendid illustrations by Frankie Gordon.

What to do when you hear those dread words: “Mom, I'm bored!” Other than whining to your kids about what boredom really is, & instead of hooking them up to the TV IV, why not get their attention by whipping out this little book, opening it to a page ... & diving in to an adventure you'll all remember?

The thing about parenting is that we all assume it comes naturally & easily. Anyone in this modern world who's been there & done it knows it ain't so! When your children succumb to the boredom bug, I bet most of you silently commiserate: “Me too!”

Nothing Deborah Shelton shows us need cost an arm or a leg, most can be found around your home anyway. First of all you've got to learn something about Getting Organized. Then you can rustle up an hour or two delving into:
Adventures in Art
Weird and Wacky Science Experiments
Writing and Wishing You Were Here
Games and Sports, of Sorts
Family Fun Time
Easy Crafts for All Ages
Music, Movement and Mayhem
Puppets, Critters and Creepy-Crawlies
Celebrations Using Your Imagination
Cooking and Munching In The Kitchen &
Outside Fun Guide.

There is even a section on Family Resource Centers by State.

The Five Minute Parent is your First Aid Kit for when your tribe has hungry minds, & is in need of something new & fun & inspirational. The Mom I handed my copy off to stopped me in the bank to let me know how much she appreciated the gift, & how much she enjoyed Deborah Shelton's ideas, some of which she remembered doing with her parents & her teachers, & had simply forgotten in the press of the present!

Highly recommended for when you all, parents & children, need to take time to reconnect & make some memories.
(05/02/04)

Rebecca