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Wednesday, February 27, 2013 by Shelley Miles
Parenting, Sleep Routines, March Activities
March 31 - Easter, National Sleep Awareness Week
One of my favorite childhood traditions was the annual cousin sleepover and Easter egg hunt. We waited anxiously for my aunt to give us the green light to start the hunt. We sprinted all over the house finding the chocolate eggs. Here are 15 Creative Ideas for the best Easter Egg Hunt ever.
Bring out your inner bunny. It’s time to do the Bunny Hop!
Everyone needs that perfect Easter Bonnet to wear for all the festivities. My favorite is the paper plate variety. Paper plate easter bonnet
While you are creating the perfect bonnet, enjoy Bing Crosby singing Irving Berlin’s Easter Parade.
We all—adults and children—need an adequate amount of restful sleep to function at our best during the day. One way to help children drift off to dreamland is to provide them with a routine that signals their active day is coming to an end.
Children will really look forward to bedtime when it includes reading a book all about them. On several pieces of 81/2 x 11 paper, write a story about your child’s bedtime routine. For example, “After dinner, (child’s name) plays a quiet game. Then she puts on her pajamas. Her favorites are the ones with stripes. Next, she brushes her teeth.” etc. Ask your child to illustrate each page. Then stack the pages, punch three holes (equally spaced) along the spine, and tie the pages together with yarn. The last page of the book should read, “Then (child’s name) finishes reading his special bedtime book. He kisses Mommy and Daddy good night, closes his eyes, and goes to sleep. Sweet dreams, (child’s name)!”
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
March Activities, Crafts
March 1-National Pig Day
Open any farm-themed book for kids, and you will surely find lots of these round, pink, barnyard friends for your child to identify.
Make a pig ‘mask” by decorating the bottom of a small paper cup. Punch to holds in the side of the cup and attach some string. Oink, oink!
Have a passion for pigs? Read The Complete Pig: An Entertaining History of Pigs of the World filled with porcine facts, triva and humor. Or watch this adorable video of cute little piggies.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
March Activities, Book List
MARCH 2-Read Across America Day/Dr. Seuss’s Birthday
Reading is widely acknowledged to be the most beneficial thing a parent can do with a child in terms of bolstering language skills and imagination. Reading is also an excellent vehicle for expanding your child’s awareness of different places and people.
Be sure to take some time out today and read a story to your child. And since it is also Dr. Seuss’s (1904-1991) birthday, it’s the perfect opportunity to introduce your child to "The Cat in the Hat", "Green Eggs and Ham", or any of this legendary writer/illustrator’s many wacky and wonderful rhyming works. Enjoy some Seuss Games to play in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
Games, March Activities
MARCH 5 - Yo Yo and Skill Toys week
Walk the Dog, Round the World, Sleeping Are you ready too Yo Yo? This simple toy is inexpensive, lots of fun, builds concentration and coordination skills in kids – and gets them up off the couch. Yo Yos can be found in most toy stores. Check out these cool tricks you can learn after mastering the basics. Be careful, this is addictive for adults too!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
Outings, Science, March activities
March 6 - Snowshoe day.
If you’ve ever walked in deep snow, you know that snowshoes are essential for walking through the snow. Strapping on snowshoes let’s you walk In places that would otherwise be inaccessible. Take your family on a vigorous and beautiful snowshoe adventure. Here are some helpful tips to make your snow shoeing adventure one that the whole family will enjoy.
- Always go in a group
- Go on a familiar trail.
- Wear enough layers for warmth. Keep dry. Bring extra socks.
- Practice basic snow shoe techniques with the kids at home. No before you go.
- Bring sunscreen and lip balm
- Bring a trail map
- Drink plenty of water. Bring extra water and snacks.
- Don’t stay out to0 long. When the kids are tired, it’s time to go back.
Have a great time. And don’t forget the hot chocolate.
Besides fun, snowshoes offer a lesson in physics – how distributing weigh across a broader surface keeps you from sinking in. Try this experiment at home to illustrate the point.
- Step out in some piled up snow with just shoes. Measure how far you sink.
- Put some big pieces of cardboard down in the snow. Stand on them. See how you don’t sink into the snow. Kids can experiment with bigger or smaller pieces of cardboard to see if there are any differences.
- See if the size and weight ofr the person in standing in the snow changes the results.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
March Activities, Crafts
MARCH 11 - Johnny Appleseed Day
The apple first appeared in America around 1630. Apples became widespread due to the work of John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed, who planted orchards and sold apple tree saplings. Today we can find apples growing in every corner of the country.
The next time you eat an apple, save the seeds for this easy craft activity: Thank you Dr. Cindy for sharing this activity.
- Have your child paint the bottom of two white paper plates red.
- Glue apple seeds to the other (non-painted) side of the plates.
- Punch a hole in the side of one plate, about 1/2" in from the edge. Repeat on the other plate.
- Place the plates on top of each other (painted sides facing out), lining up the two holes.
- Thread red yarn through the holes and tie in a bow, forming a “hinge” that allows the paper apple to open and close.
- Add a paper stem, and enjoy peeking inside your apple to look at the seeds.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
March activities, Math, Recipes
MARCH 14 - Pi Day, Potato Chip Day
Pi is the number you get if you divide the circumfrence of any circle by it's diameter - approximately 3.14. A fun way to teach this concept is to take some rope or string.. Go out in the back yard and make some circles. Then lay down a piece of rope accross the circles to measure the diameter. Take the rope that is the diameter- and see how many times if fits around the circle. You'll end up with 3 plus a bit. That is pi. Try it on different sized circles and see what happens. Then - head in for a bite of your favorite piece of pie. Ideas for learning about Pi
In the summer of 1853, Native American George Crum was employed as a chef at an elegant resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. One dinner guest found Crum's French fries too thick for his liking and rejected the order. Crum decided to rile the guest by producing fries too thin and crisp to skewer with a fork. The plan backfired. The guest was ecstatic over the browned, paper-thin potatoes, and other diners began requesting Crum's potato chips Potato Chip Recipe What a great example of the Beautiful Oops.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
March Activities, Crafts
March 16 - Youth Art Month
Turn an area of your home into an art gallery and give a show in honor of your child. Use a bulletin board, the front of the fridge, or a hallway wall to display your little Picasso’s masterpieces. Establish a time for the “show” to begin, distribute tickets to family members, and give out fliers with a biography of the “artist.” Finish up with a reception complete with refreshments. Later, put the works of art carefully in storage or frame for ongoing enjoyment.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
Recipes, Games, March activities
MARCH 19 - Corn Dog Day
Not exactly health food, but delicious. Corn dogs first made their appearance in the 1920's and became really popular in the 40's. Corndogs are basically hot dogs on a stick, dipped in a cornbread batter and deep - fried. You can make them at home with this recipe. Corn Dog Recipe
Corndog day is part of March Madness basketball fun. So go out and shoot a few baskets - or better yet, play sock basketball. As the kids help you pair up socks, set up a laundry basket a few feet away, and toss the folded socks in. Score!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by Shelley Miles
March Activities, Crafts
MARCH 20 - First Day of Spring
Today marks the spring equinox, when the sun is above and below the horizon for an equal amount of time all over the world. This means we have twelve hours of daylight, and twelve hours of night.
Celebrate the coming of this glorious season by turning yourself and your child into walking, talking springtime flowers.
- Paint the back of a paper plate (dessert-size for your child, dinner-size for you) in a bright, springy color.
- Next, cut flower petals out of colored construction paper and glue them all around the painted edge of the plate.
- Punch a hole in each side of the plate, and thread equal lengths of yarn through each hole and tie off.
- Don your flower hats and tie under the chin.
- Curl up on the ground, then slowly “grow,” stretching your leaves (arms) to the sun!
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