May 22nd, 2013 | Posted in
Features
I have no real reason for this post, except to say that I snapped this picture yesterday and it made me smile. In a day in age when we fear our kids growing up too fast, it’s nice to see kids just goofing off on a hot summer afternoon.
ps. It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the US, which, signals the start of summer for us. Do you have any summer plans? My friend Leslie is taking a summer hiatus from her blog. I can’t wait to see her come back refreshed and full of new ideas.
pps. We have a super fun jammed packed summer here scheduled on Classic Play, including a special summer camp for the kids. Stay tuned!
May 21st, 2013 | Posted in
Arts & Crafts
Does your preschooler come home with tons and tons of art projects? Here’s a simple clever way to get a little more life out of them—turn them into a puzzle.
You’ll need: 
May 21st, 2013 | Posted in
Features
Loved this interview with Ali Jardine—her honesty, how she’s found something that lets her be creative, they way she’s challenging society’s perception of girls. I just stumbled across the her work today (thanks to this video) but it’s fair to say, I’m pledging life long fan. Check it out…
Ali Jardine – Like Knows Like from Like Knows Like on Vimeo.
ps. When you have time, check out the other interviews on Like Knows Like. Inspiring people, inspiring project.
May 20th, 2013 | Posted in
Features
This post is sponsored by Disney Story. To find out more about this brand-new story-creation app – and how it puts the power of storytelling in your hands – click here.
What is it with kids and forts? Is it the need to carve out a space that’s all their own? Recreating a womb where they feel safe? I don’t know. What I do know is that kids love forts. But my kids rarely build their own anymore. I wondered if they’d outgrown them. So it was a surprise the other day when my kids asked if they could construct a massive fort in our living room.
I said sure, as long as they cleaned it up without arguing. They pulled the sheets off the beds, grabbed every chair in the house and took over the entire room. They even brought down a small fan to cool and circulate the air around the fort. When asked to describe the experience, the kids said “It. Was. Awesome.”
I have to admit, I thought the whole thing was adorable. It reminded me of the forts I loved as a kid. The first was a clearing under some overgrown forsythia in my backyard. I hung out in it until I realized there were critters in there with me. And then there was the time I built a fort out of couch cushions and even snuck in a small tv. I watched reruns of I Dream of Genie until everyone noticed there was no place to sit in the house.
I documented my kids’ fort building with Disney’s new Story app. Have you seen this app yet? It allows you to capture pictures, videos and thoughts to tell your story, or in this case, my kids’ story. The best part for me is that I can share the stories on facebook or email (for friends and family not on facebook).
My kids are obsessed with the app. They’ve created a list of stories they want to send to their grandparents now. Next up, “The time we created a movie theater!” Oh boy…
Download the Disney Story app from iTunes – for FREE – right here!
Disney Story Twitter
Disney Story Facebook
May 17th, 2013 | Posted in
Features
scene from last weekend
What a week. Did you enter the Genie Wishes giveaway? Love that book. Also, while there weren’t a ton of comments here on the blog about this post, I recieved a TON privately. Seems like lots and lots of you want to talk about it in not quite such a public forum. I completely understand.
Okay, so I’m checking out a bit early today. I’m meeting up my friend Ania. She’s in Baltimore for the day. I’m taking her to check out the new modern art wing at the BMA. Should be fun. I’ll see you back here next week.
Now go out there and have some fun this weekend! You deserve it.
Some things that caught my eye this week…
Jennie Runk puts unexpected fame to good use
Ideas for using all those instagram pictures
Art journaling with kids
yes please
also, yes
advice for taking better photos of your kids (from the best ;)
And here are some things I’ve written elsewhere this week…
10 parties to throw this summer
preparing kids for their first sleepover
plant markers
how to hold an art show – more tips
ps. Did you know you can find Classic Play on facebook and instagram (@classic_play)?
May 16th, 2013 | Posted in
Parenting
“The other day I found out my 7 year old asked his friend’s sister to take off her shirt during a game of “double dog dare.” I don’t know where he found out about the game or why he did such a thing. I tried to do a search to see how I should handle it, but all I found were what to do if my child was the one asked to take off his shirt. Help!”
Oh boy. No one ever said this parenting job would be easy, did they?
I want to tell you not to panic, but I can imagine how you feel. Our minds often leap to ahhh! sexual predator. Probably because of all the news stories we hear. Thanks Dateline.
So before we proceed, I think it’s important for us to untangle our adult concept of sex/sexuality from a kid’s. They are not the same.
May 15th, 2013 | Posted in
The Reading Nook
Last week, we held a small party to celebrate the launch of my friend Elisabeth Dahl’s first book, Genie Wishes. Genie Wishes follows the ups and downs of fifth grader Genie Kunkle. There’s friendship trouble, body changes, and on top of it all, Genie is selected to be the class blogger. Her challenge? Write about her and her classmate’s wishes, hopes and dreams.
Elisabeth beautifully captured the transition from childhood to adolescence in the book. As a parent, I sincerely appreciated how Elisabeth wrote Genie. She isn’t bold, brash, or boy crazy. Instead, she unfolds with maturity and finds her voice.
It’s a rite of passage read for the next generation of girls.
Here are more photos and giveaway details…
May 14th, 2013 | Posted in
Pepperidge Farm's Goldfish Smiles
Is there anything more quintessentially “kid” than riding a bike? My kids waited all winter to get their bikes out. And you better believe, at the first sign of spring they were to ready to roll. Before they could, the bikes needed a tune up. This post is an introduction to a piece I wrote for Goldfish Smiles about getting your kids’ bikes up to speed.
Bike riding is a great way for our family to be active, but doesn’t require spending on uniforms or sport associations. Plus, I love scooting along with my kids…I thought it’d be a good time to go over some general maintenance to get the kids’ bikes up to speed.[click here for the full article]
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