1. Produce a Stop-Motion Movie.  Use a digital camera to snap digital sots of your children acting out their favorite story, load them onto your Mac, and into iPhoto, then launch iMovie HD and start a new project.  Click photo, then uncheck the Ken Burns Effect and slide the hare-and tortoise slider (clip duration) all the way to the left so the duration reads 0:03.  Select Last Roll from the pop-up menu above the photo above the photo browser to display your images, press Command-a to select all, and then drag your images into the timeline.  Click the Play button to see a rough cut of your animation in action.  Upload to YouTube to share with family and friends. 

2. Build Your Own Animal Menagerie. Have fun and learn about animals at the same time.  Form Wild offers a collection of printable graphics ($24 each or $100 for all 5 sets, www.formwild.com) that lets you and your kids print and create multidimensional animal figures.  Once they’re printed, cut out, and pieced together, your kids can establish their own personal zoo. 

3. Make a Lasting Impression. In iPhoto, you can create unforgettable gifts and keepsakes. Like a hardcover photo book complete with customized dust jacket and foil stamped cover. Or a full-bleed softcover photo book, wire-bound to lie perfectly flat. 

For a step by step guide to creating an iPhoto Book click here.
 
4. Goof Of with Photo Booth. My daughter and friends will actually sit and goof around with Photo Booth for hours.  You’ll need a Mac with with an iSight camera or other webcam-to amuse kids of all ages (including adults).  With Photo Booth open and the camera on, just click the 1 or 2 button next to Effects ad select the one you want before snapping a photo. 


5. Toy Around with Photoshop Filters. If you’re like me you know that it’s quite easy to waste an hour here and there applying crazy filters and effects to photos in Adobe Photoshop.  Children are as easily entertained as we are.  Just show them where teh Filter menu is in Photoshop, open a few images, and let them have at it.  You’ll find free and commercial filter at www.photoshop-filters.com.