Blog Posts by Yahoo! Contributor Network

close-up of food in an outdoor family barbequeIf you're in charge of hosting an all-American barbecue this season, make sure the menu includes some classic dishes and traditional American fare. You can be extra creative with the presentation and décor to set up a beautiful table setting or picnic table for your guests. Finger foods work great for buffet-style gatherings but there are a couple of traditional dishes that you will require serving stations. Remember you can always start off the celebration with a platter of snack items or even some miniature desserts.

Here are eight must-have menu items - and recipes! - for a classic American-style barbecue:

#1: Hot Dogs

One of the easiest items to cook up on the grill, hot dogs are an all-American favorite that can be topped with dozens of different toppings and condiments. You can go Chicago-style by boiling and steaming the hot dog, or grill them up until they're golden brown. Try this Grilled Link Hot Dogs with Homemade Pickle Relish recipe from Bobby Flay.

#2: Pulled

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Basketball is one of the fastest growing youth sports.There is no denying the popularity of youth sports. Dedicated sports fields are full not only on Saturdays, but continually throughout the week. Since sports allow kids to develop important skills, both physical and interpersonal, this surge in popularity is a positive trend. While sports across the board are enjoying increased participation, the following are definite standouts in regards to popularity.

Lacrosse
Lacrosse's Native Americans origins can be traced back to the 1400s. But Lacrosse is not only "the fastest sport on two feet" as its nickname declares; it is arguably the fastest growing sport in the world.

This quick, high scoring game is a combination of soccer, basketball, and hockey. Boys and girls teams are both experiencing increased popularity. Players of all abilities can participate making this an inclusive sport. Plus the addition of top-level college programs could account for the number of high schools taking note of the sport. And since it is a

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Cheerleading is one of the most expensive sports.Parents experience sticker shock well before kids apply to college, thanks to team and individual sports. During elementary school, kids are able to try on various hats on the field and court because recreational sports are more affordable. Less equipment is required, kids learn in groups, and the games are local. When kids reach middle school, the sports become rougher and kids need more safety equipment.

What drives up the cost of the most expensive sports? Safety equipment, high-end equipment, traveling or elite teams where parents foot the bill for transportation and lodging, competitive individual sports where cross training, private lessons, and extra coaching are a necessity. These "extras" add up to an additional $2,000 to $10,000 per year.

Note: * Prices in your area may vary.

Equestrianism

The price of individual sports can run high, thanks to private lessons and equipment. Parents who can afford to buy a kid a horse may not be so concerned about the price of the sport

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Help kids work on their aerobic fitness with simiple running games.Spring and summer are a mom's best excuse to forget about housework and go play outdoor games with the kids. Never one to pass up an opportunity to enhance my son's life, I try to play outdoor games that touch on all aspects of fitness. My son and I play fun games that work on cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance. With simple toys we also work on flexibility, strength and balance. The best outdoor games for kids involve imagination, energy and very little (if any) money.

Hula hoop - What kid doesn't want to play with a hula hoop? This simple toy provides more than fun; it's good for you, too.

* For toddlers - Kids as young as two and three can use a hula hoop while sitting. Have your child sit down with legs out in front of them. Help your child sit up straight to emphasize good posture. The child can lift the hula hoop up above her head, stretching arms up. Then your child can fold her body forward, placing the hula hoop in front of her, stretching the lower back, arms,

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Is your child getting enough vitamin C?Vitamins are more than just little pills to pop; they are the building blocks and support system of our bodies. Well-rounded, healthy diets can provide all a growing body needs, but the reality of our busy lifestyles and sometimes finicky eating patterns can lead to vitamin deficiency. Knowing what to look for is part of the battle. The following signs of vitamin deficiency in children are by no means complete, but it will give you a good idea of potential problems.

Signs your child lacks Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency in children is a common problem. My niece was recently diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency after exhibiting some puzzling symptoms. Signs that your child is not producing enough include late teething, irritability, poor growth, and muscle cramps. Seizures and breathing difficulties could also be traced back to insufficient vitamin D.

Combat vitamin D deficiency with exposure to sunlight, milk, cheese, yogurt, and egg yolks.

Signs your child lacks Vitamin A

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Gymnasts pepare their hands with chalk.Gymnastics are taken as part of a class, an after-school program, or first experienced in gym class. Many kids have had the shared experience of walking on a balance beam, tumbling, and spring boarding over a pommel horse. Gymnastics may be part of your life again, thanks to your daughter, son, niece, or an interest in the Olympics. Explore and share these fun facts about gymnastics.

Who invented the leotard?

The leotard is the gymnastics uniform. Leotards are comfortable, form-fitting, and they give gymnasts and dancers freedom of movement. The leotard is named after French acrobat Jules Leotard (1842-1870). He performed the first flying trapeze act on Nov. 12, 1859 while wearing a body-hugging costume.

Leotard called his costume a "maillot," French for jersey. It was more of a body stocking, complete with long sleeves and full legs. These body stockings were typically worn under clothes, but Leotard used the garment to show off his athletic physique. By 1886 the word leotard was

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On the way back home after dropping off the boys this morning, I navigated the jumble of high-schoolers' cars descending upon the parking lot mere seconds from the bell. One car had its windows down, a familiar song pumping over its speakers.

I remember sitting in the back of my cousin's car with noise-canceling headphones on in an attempt to concentrate as I finished my homework while the same song played. (Clearly, those headphones didn't really cancel noise; at least not the volume teenagers play their music.)

No, I wasn't irresponsible. I just didn't finish the homework even after staying up all night. It used to be that I could always stay up a bit later to finish (I'll just try harder!) but when I realized there was no way I could possibly finish, even without sleep, I panicked. Of course, I had more overnight study sessions in my future, but the quality of the work I produced was questionable. (One day I dragged my pencil from the top of the page to the bottom as I nodded off Read More »from The Homework Monster

Do you need people to keep your child's calendar straight?Do you need "people" to keep your child's calendar straight? Are there so many activities that it is easy to lose track? Do you ever wonder if you are over-scheduling the youngster? If early mornings and late nights are the norm in your family, your child may be overdoing it. Deciding how many activities to permit per child is not a question that carries a decisive answer. Nevertheless, there are some virtually universal gauges that make arrival at your personal number possible.

Take Stock of the Youngster's School Schedule

Elementary school is pretty much over in the early afternoon. Come middle school, there are suddenly sports leagues and other extracurricular activities the school might offer. By the time high school comes around, clubs, study groups, band rehearsals, athletic meets, and college preparation projects seem to turn the school day into a 12-hour day job.

Tip: Adjust the number of extracurricular activities based on the number of school activities your

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