Oh, my! I just realized Father's Day is two days away. This week has been so busy for me that I really haven't had much time to think about ways to celebrate. And seeing as my husband wants to spend the day golfing, then perhaps we can start off the day with a healthy, easy-to-make, Father's Day breakfast à la Dinosaur Train. Here are some neat ideas:

• T-rex Footprint Pancakes – with adult help, children shape the batter into the large three-toed feet of a Tyrannosaurus.  
• Paleontologist Pancakes – make small pancakes, then stack them up 5 or 6 high (maybe putting apple sauce or sour cream between them), and hiding “fossils” between the layers – the fossils being pieces of strawberry, banana slices, chocolate chips, and so on.  
• Stegosaurus Smoothie – a colorful, healthy fruit smoothie made with a blend of yogurt, a frozen banana, and any other fruit you wish. Serve it on a dish with a rim. In the middle of the dish, place a line of triangular fruit pieces – such as pineapple, apples, or cantaloupe. These little fruity triangles will look like the plates on a stegosaurus’ back. 
• Triceratops Eggs – scrambled eggs that have “horns” sticking out of them – made of breadsticks.

If you're kids like to draw, perhaps they can have them illustrate a menu. You can also discuss kitchen safety by pointing out jobs that kids can do and those that are best left to the adults. You can also show them a clip from Gilbert the Junior Conductor in which the Pteranadon Family enjoys eating breakfast on the Dinosaur Train. You can also read about ideas for a Dinosaur Train inspired herbivore picnic.

Then, everyone can gather around to play The Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game where players choose a character – Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Don, Cory, Tank or Mr. Conductor – and try to move the fastest along the tracks. Speed through the three dinosaur eras: Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous along the beautiful scenery. Special Stopwatch spaces will help you get closer to the nest, while Dinosaur Crossing spaces will send you back. The first player to reach the nest area in the center of the board wins. This game is for 2 to 6 players and is geared towards children ages 4 and older. (SRP $12.00). Would you like to try it out? You can win one here on Toronto Teacher Mom.

One reader of Toronto Teacher Mom will a copy of the Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game. (approximately valued at $12). For your main entry, which is mandatory, visit the Dinosaur Train website and tell me which activity you think your child might like to do with dad this Father's Day. Leave your answer in a comment on this post along with a way to contact you if you win. (You need to click on the word "comments" at the bottom of this post to take you to the comment form.)

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry indicating what you have done. Include additional comments if indicated below.

• Add my button to your blog.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• Like Dinosaur Train on Facebook
• Like Toronto Teacher Mom on Facebook and leave a comment stating you entered to win a Dinosaur Train prize pack.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet up to three times a day for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

Contest ends June 24 at 10pm EST and is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

And the winner is:

12. Heather R.

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to o provide my U.S. readers with a chance to win a Dinosaur Train game.  Breakfast ideas courtesy of Dinosaur Train. I was not compensated in any way. The thoughts expressed in this post are strictly my own opinions.

This March, the American Dietetic Association is celebrating National Nutrition Month® which focuses on nutrition education and the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The theme this year is “Eat right with Color,” which aims to encourage everyone to include a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy on a daily basis.

We all know how a healthy diet is important to our well-being. This month, Dinosaur Train invites you and your child to prepare a vegetarian or herbivore picnic full of healthy foods by visiting Dinosaur Train on PBS.org. Further resources for parents can be found on the American Dietetic Association site at www.eatright.org/nnm where you can download a PDF list of healthy snacks for kids. Here is a sampling:

1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.
2. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants on a log.”
3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
4. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.
5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy
sandwich.

Next, Buddy can help you and your child prepare a vegetarian (herbivore) picnic with The Have A Brachiosaurus Picnic activity which "helps young children to learn what foods fit into an herbivore's diet (fruits and vegetables); reminds children about the importance of hand washing before eating; and also creates an opportunity to discuss why all animals need to eliminate waste from their bodies (a.k.a. “poop”)." This activity is aimed at children ages 3-6 and includes a list of the required ingredients for fun foods such as:

• Brachiosaurus Super Salad: The kids will have fun tearing up green leafy veggies into bite-size pieces and mixing ranch dressing with green coloring to make a tasty topping.
• Sauropod Sandwich: With a plastic knife, cut pieces of whole wheat bread in the shape of a favorite dinosaur and spread with cheese spread or peanut butter.
• Herbivore Herb and Spinach Spread: Mix frozen spinach, dried onion soup mix, sour cream, celery sticks and crackers
• Green Juice: Fill a child’s plastic cup with apple juice and add green food color to make a green beverage fit for an herbivore.

In addition to celebrating National Nutrition Month with fun healthy ideas, Dinosaur Train is offering one of my U.S. followers a copy of DINOSAUR TRAIN: PTERANODON FAMILY WORLD TOUR ADVENTURE DVD, which will be released on March 15 from Paramount Home Entertainment and PBS Kids. The hit television series Dinosaur Train® airs daily on PBS KIDS® (check local listings).

For a chance to win the DINOSAUR TRAIN: PTERANODON FAMILY WORLD TOUR ADVENTURE DVD, leave a comment on this post with a healthy eating tip that works for your kids. (You need to click on the word "comments" at the bottom of this post to take you to the comment form.)

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry indicating what you have done.

• Like The Jim Henson Company Fan Page on Facebook
• Like Toronto Teacher Mom on Facebook
• Share this giveaway on Facebook or via email. (1 entry each) 
• Follow Toronto Teacher Mom via Google Friend Connect
• Follow Henson Parents on Twitter
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

Contest ends March 26 at 11pm EST and is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for posting this giveaway.

This Valentine’s Day, celebrate with Buddy and the entire Dinosaur Train®  clan by downloading the all-new Dinosaur Train Valentine’s Day cards. AND find the “perfect match” with the Dinosaur Train Make A Match game from Pressman Toy! The Dinosaur Train Make A Match is a special matching game that features a Buddy figure. With Buddy and his friends, children get to sharpen their memory skills and fun at the same time! There are 48 game cards featuring favorite Dinosaurs from Dinosaur Train. To begin play, shuffle the cards and lay them face down in 6 rows of 8 cards each. Players take turns turning over any two cards so all players can see them and try to find a matching pair. The game features “Take Buddy” cards, “Wild Cards” and “Lose a Pair” cards to add to the excitement. At the end of the game, players count their matching card sets and add extra points for the player holding Buddy. The player with the most points wins. The Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game is for 2 to 4 players, ages 3 to 6, and is available at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide for just $9.99.

Click on the picture to begin download.

For more Valentine’s Day fun, check out the new Flying with Buddy game that reinforces counting skills as Buddy collects seashells. Players use the mouse to control the flight of Buddy, Don and Tiny. Move the mouse UP and Buddy raises his legs, and Don and Tiny fly higher. Move the mouse DOWN and Don and Tiny fly lower, and Buddy reaches to grab the shells on the ground. After one minute of gameplay, the characters return to their nest to count the treasures they collected. Check it out for at pbskids.org. It's free!


For a chance to win the Dinosaur Train Make a Match Game, tell me how you plan to spend Valentine's Day this year by leaving a comment on this post. (You need to click on the word "comments" at the bottom of this post to take you to the comment form.)

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry indicating what you have done.

• Like The Jim Henson Company Fan Page on Facebook
• Like Pressman Toy on Facebook
• Like Toronto Teacher Mom on Facebook
• Share this giveaway on Facebook or via email. (1 entry each) 
• Follow Toronto Teacher Mom via Google Friend Connect
• Follow Henson Parents on Twitter
• Follow Pressman Toy on Twitter
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

Contest ends February 14 at 11pm EST and is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.