THIS week's poll question is about Webkinz.

By now, I'm sure most people have heard of these things, but I'm not sure everyone knows how they work. What appear to be cute, cuddly stuffed animals are really a one year restricted access pass into a hugely popular social networking sites for kids.

Using the access code that comes attached to each Webkinz, children enter a world to themselves, where keeping up with the Joneses is the name of the game. In order to gain access to more popular areas, it'll cost you another Webkinz or it's equivalent in electric bills as users earn virtual money playing games and answering quizzes.

As a marketer, I have to give Ganz, the maker of Webkinz, a lot of credit. That it preys on children and leverages many parents' inability to say no to their children makes me a bit nervous.

Marketing to children is tried and true, but as a father, I don't find it very honorable and will probably not be having any Webkinz in my house.

My oldest daughter plays a bit on Club Penguin, another social network aimed at children. It has free and pay services and was purchased by Disney last week for up to $700 million, so if you still don't think there is money in social networks, it's time to smell the Scratch N Sniff.

DAD TALK

* Do you think social networks for kids are a good or bad thing?
* What social networks have you allowed your children to play on?
* How do you feel about the business ethics of marketing subscription-based toys to children?

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DO your children eat the vegetables you put on their plates at dinner time? If not, there is a sure fire way to get them to start. Simply hide them in foods they do like.

Today's post will look at some recipes you can make that the kids will love and they all include vegetables. These recipes are so good, they may not even know there are vegetables in them!

1. Chicken Noodle and Corn Soup

You will need:

* 1 Can of Cream of Chicken Soup
* 1 Can of Creamed Corn
* 1 Packet of Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
* 1 Can of Milk (use same can from soup)
* 2 Cans of Water

COMBINE the chicken soup, creamed corn, water and milk into a medium-sized saucepan. Once the mix begins to BOIL, add the soup mix and simmer for about ten minutes. STIR regularly so the noodles don't stick. Serve and enjoy.

2. Chicken and Corn Meatballs

You will need:

* 1 Lb. Chicken Mince
* 8 oz. Can of Creamed Corn
* 1 Cup of Bread Crumbs
* Two teaspoons of Olive Oil
* Salt and Pepper

COMBINE and mix chicken, corn and bread crumbs and ROLL meatballs into desired size before refrigerating for approximately 30 minutes. Over medium heat, FRY meatballs in olive oil for approximately ten minutes or until browned. Next, cover the frying pan and STEAM the meatballs another five minutes. Serve with salad or other vegetables your children like.

3. Tomato, Cucumber and Spinach Pasta

You will need:

* 2 Cups Uncooked Penne Pasta
* 9 oz. of Italian Sausage
* 1 Package of Spinach Leaves
* 1 Can of Stewed Tomatoes
* 1 Cucumber
* 1 Cup of Shredded Cheese
* 2 Tablespoons of Grated Parmesan Cheese

COOK the pasta as directed on package. At the same time, FRY the sausage as desired. Drain fat if any. SLICE the cucumber and add to sausage with tomatoes and spinach, cooking for about two minutes or until spinach is wilted. Stir, remove from heat and cover to retain heat. DRAIN the pasta and place in a large serving bowl. ADD the meat mixture on top of the pasta and the cheeses on top of the meat mixture.

4. Beef and Green Bean Noodles

You will need:

* 1 Package of Hormel Beef Tips and Gravy
* 1 Package of medium-sized egg noodles
* Butter
* Frozen Green Beans, Peas or both

COOK the beef tips according to the package. COOK the noodles, tossed in butter, according to the package, as well. STEAM the frozen veggies until desired crispness and POUR the finished beef tips and veggies on top of the noodles and serve.

5. Tater Tot Casserole

You will need:

* 1 lb of ground beef
* 1 Can of Mushroom Soup
* 1 Can of Cream Corn
* 1 Onion
* 1 Bag of Tater Tots

BROWN the beef with diced onion. DRAIN the fat and add the mushroom soup and cream corn. Next, SPREAD the mix into a casserole dish and top with tater tots. BAKE for approximately 30 minutes at 350 degrees then BROIL until tater tots are brown and crispy and serve.

Though many of these recipes begin with corn, you can experiment with other vegetables if you wish. Corn, peas, carrots and potatoes work well in these dishes, but my kids prefer corn so that's what I typically use.

Either way, I have gotten them to eat more and more vegetables the more creative I have gotten. Be creative in your cooking and your kids will stop fussing about veggies too.

IT'S said that early learning and stimulation can account for up to 15% of an infant's potential IQ. One way to increase this number is to find toys designed specifically for infants. One such toy is the I Qube Educational Toy from Baby Smart Start.

If the testimonials have any validity, the I Qube performs very well at keeping your baby's attention and focus. According to the site, it also:

* Reduces your newborn baby's weight loss
* Speeds your baby's growth
* Accelerates your baby's muscle control
* Accelerates your baby's hand-eye coordination
* Develops your baby's curiosity
* Develops your baby's attention span
* Makes your baby more content and secure
* Develops your baby's IQ potential by as much as 30 points

If even one of these points is true, the I Qube is well worth the $5 Baby Smart Start charges. To top it off, shipping is free and is made from recycled and non-toxic materials.

DAD TALK

* How important do you think the first year of your baby's life is to future intelligence?
* What other toys have you found success with for your newborn?
* If you end up buying one, please let us know your thoughts.

I'M a firm believer in spending time with your kids without the tv and am always looking for crafts and activities to do with my kids that don't cost a fortune. Over at Lifehacker, they posted 10 ways to entertain young children for $1 or less.

I've tried several of these ideas with my daughters and have had a great time, and to say the least, you can't beat the price.

DAD TALK

* What crafts have you made with your kids for under $1?
* Got any free game ideas? Pass them on to the Dadviser community.

AS I pointed out yesterday, learning to cook is one of the 5 keys to becoming a great single father. Though I have seriously increased my cooking skills over the past few years, I have yet to share any recipes with the Dadviser community.

In an effort to keep all the development categories well rounded, I have decided to add 3 or 4 new recipe ideas each Friday. For the most part, they will be simple ideas requiring few ingredients and have (at least at my house) been kid tested.

Without further ado, here are my first installments:

1. Bacon and Cheese Toast -

You will need:

* Bread (as many slices as you want)
* Bacon Pieces
* Grated Cheese
* Tomato Sauce
* Eggs (1 for each 4 slices of bread)

Spread the tomato sauce on each bread slice and place them on an oven tray. Mix the remaining ingredients together, spooning the mixture onto the bread slices. Place in 180 degree oven until golden on top. Cut islices in halves and serve.

2. Potato Bake -

You will need:

* 4-5 peeled, thinly sliced, medium-sized potatoes
* 1 Finely Diced Onion
* 300ml thickened cream
* Crushed Garlic
* Diced Bacon
* Grated Cheese

In oven or microwave safe dish, place the ingredients in the following layers:

Fill the bottom of the dish with potatoes. Next, sprinkle the onions, bacon and cheese on top. Drizzle a layer of cream on top of the other ingredients, sprinkling garlic as desired. Once you have done this, start over again with another layer of potatoes, finally sprinkling a layer of cheese on the very top.

Depending on the size of the container, baking should take approximately 25-30 minutes. Cook until potatoes are soft and top is golden brown.

3. Vegetable Pie -

You will need:

* A half dozen eggs
* Diced Bacon
* 1 Diced Onion
* 1 Grated Carrot
* 2 Grated Zuchinnis
* 1/2 cup of grated Cheese
* 1 Diced Tomato
* 1/2 cup of Corn
* 1/4 cup of Milk

Mix all the vegetables, cheese and bacon in a mixing bowl before pouring into a baking dish. In another bowl, whisk the milk and eggs and then pour on top of other ingredients. Add some cheese on top and place uncovered baking dish in 200 degree oven for approximately 1 hour or until golden brown.

4. Fruit Pizza -

You will need:

* 1 Roll of Sugar Cookie Dough
* 1 Brick of Cream Cheese
* 1 Tea Spoon of Sugar
* 1/4 Melted Apple Jelly
* Sliced Fruit and/or Berries

Cut the cookie dough into ridged circles and place them on a round pizza pan. Cook the cookie according to the cookie dough directions. Next, whip together cream cheese and sugar, spreading over the cooled cookie. Place the fruit on top of the cream cheese according to taste. Afterwards, brush on the melted apple jelly and cool for after dinner.

There you have an easy lunch idea, two great dinner ideas and a tasty dessert the whole family will enjoy.

DAD TALK

* Have some recipe ideas that busy fathers can make? Share them!
* If you try these recipes, let us know what you think of them.
* Anyone notice how much we like bacon at my house?

YESTERDAY, I got a few emails asking me about things I do with my children now that I don't have t.v. in the house. According to many studies, the television is on for nearly eight hours a day in the average American home, with each family member taking in over four hours individually. Obviously, figuring out how to replace this time with more constructive activities is vital.

There are many things you can do, and it is up to you and your children's interests to figure out which are best for your family, but here are a few things we do around my house:

Play Board Games - This is probably my children's favorite thing to do, especially when I'm playing with them. I'm not sure if it's the chance to beat daddy, learning to be more strategic or just having the attention of a grownup, but they have a beaming smile throughout.

Read - Children absolutely love reading, and apparently even more so when they get to do it with their parents. Children don't want to tell you how good they are at things, they want to show you. Read with your kids. You'll be glad you did.

Walk or Bike - I walk and bike with my kids several times a week. Not only is it more healthy than watching television, it's a good bonding experience and you get the chance to teach your children about your area's history.

Go to the Park - My kids love the park as I'm sure your children do. There is something for everyone there, from toddler to teen. The only limit is your imagination.

Visit the Library - Not always the most popular choice in the computer age, but my kids still enjoy the library, especially my oldest daughter. Time your visits for when the library is having special events or readings to increase the fun factor.

Volunteer - I volunteer quite a bit in my life and think it is a great thing to teach your children. The first couple of times, they may not be so hot on the idea of "wasting" their Saturday helping other people and getting nothing in return, but after that, they begin to realize helping out gives back in its own way. I am planning to build Mother's Day baskets next week with my children to give to mother's in our local hospital. Not only will they enjoy building the baskets, I'm sure they will feel good about themselves when they see the smiles they make for others. For more volunteer ideas, check out Volunteer Match

Gardening - My kids actually got me interested in this one. While my father has a beautiful backyard and a green thumb to match, I don't really have either. What I do have is the willingness to learn and a love of watching my children plant flowers and vegetables and grow anxious to see the results. Gardening provides a fun way to teach your children other things, as well, such as the need for a healthy diet.

These are some of my family's favorites, but the list can go on and on. There are a million crafts and games to play and a whole world outside waiting to be explored. My best advice is to let your kids tell you what they want to do and go from there. After awhile, you'll learn what works best for you and your kids.

Have fun!