Ask your kids to give "thanks" at Thanksgiving.

Children can have fun giving thanks - and it's a great habit to learn.

At Thanksgiving try to get your kids involved in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Perhaps this is a good time for your child to write a than you note to her teacher of her coach for the positive influences in her life.

Or maybe even write a close friend to say nothing more than, "thank you for being my friend." The idea is to teach kids to appreciate the wonderful things in life - perhaps the things they otherwise take for granted and say, 'thanks.'

This 'spirit of gratitude' can be made into a fun project with scissors and colored paper for the younger kids and/or try calligraphy pens or a computer designs for the older kids. And no, try to send it snail mail and not email. A physical letter of thanks is not only appreciated more, but it is increasingly rare.

Saying "thank you" is free. But the benefits are worth millions.

Have fun and make it an adventure!

Segway into Family Fun!

One of the biggest attractions to hit the holiday and vacation scene is the Segway Personal Transporter.

What is this? It is a motorized scooter on two wheels that you ride standing up. You might have seen them in a few new movies or for rent at your favorite resort, theme park or holiday spot.

You can ride around an area - peddle-free, and take in the sights and sounds of destination (tours are typically two hours). The Personal Transporters are small enough that you can stop and take a break for a while and then jump back on.

Typically young kids aren't allowed to ride them, and helmets are suggested if not required at most locations.

This is a fun especially for mom and the kids will love it,too. The experience is non-stressful and exciting. Currently segwayguidedtours.com is offering tours in over 350 locations around the world - from Paris and Spain to Chicago and Las Vegas.

Maybe this isn't the year to splurge, but it's always time for an adventure. If you and the kids haven't tried a Segway Human Transporter then you're in for a happy surprise and a great new adventure.