Have you ever clicked on the Issues tab up there in the header? No?! Well, you’re in for a special treat. Click on over for some great Sunday reading. You’ll find thoughtful essays, beautiful photos, projects for the kids and more. Happy Sunday!

Long time readers know we’re lovers of spy games and stuff. For newbies to Classic Play, here’s a link to get you caught up: Impromptu Spy Games for when you’re shopping for a car, furniture, suit or other excruciatingly boring thing.

So when I was thinking about making gifts for the kids this year, I went back to our spy roots and came up with the idea to make hollowed out books. They’re super cool, inexpensive (two books from a thrift store cost me $1.38 before tax) and easy to make.

You'll glue the side of the book so the pages all stick together. Just make sure you fold back the first couple pages so they don't get glued. That way when someone opens the book, they'll see pages not what's inside.

Makeshift press: trifle bowl filled with clementines. I put a paper bag between the first couple pages and the glued ones.

While it's more time consuming, you'll get better results if you cut each page individually rather than try to cut through several pages at once.

Present as is, or fill with spy gear.

For a real tutorial filled with tips and techniques click here. It’s far better than anything I could have written.

Now, if you want to take the gift one step further, fill the book with more spy goodies, like these:
Wooden Decoder (my kids have this and love it!)
Daring Disguises
Invisible Ink and UV Spy Pen
Spy Glasses
Fingerprint Kit

PS. This would also make a great sibling gift for older kids who can use exacto knives.

Owning a piece of work made by an independent artist is a remarkable thing. Especially, for a kid. It’s inspiring to hold something knowing that at one point, the artist did too. There’s a connection. We become patrons. That’s pretty incredible when you think about it, isn’t it?

In a world of big boxiness, I am grateful for those who soften the corners for us and our kids. Here are a few of my favorites:

klt:works | courtney courtney
Anorak Magazine | Mod Tots

Art doesn’t need to be perfect, nor does it need to conform to a certain standard. That’s the beauty of it. Oftentimes, art is simply a vehicle for exploration and experimentation (ie. “play”ing around). Below are some of my favorite experimental art projects we’ve done here on Classic Play.

Some of these projects challenge your child to think about materials in a new way (cork, paper bag project). Others offer a glimpse into how your child sees the world (self-portrait napkins, give a kid a camera). A few will strengthen your child’s fine motor skills (tee shirt design, painting). Then there are those cleverly embedded with multiple lessons, like planning and science (make your own play mat, pH painting). The rest? Well, they’re just for fun.

self portrait napkin | cork figures | watercolor masks
masquerade masks | tee-shirt design | watercolor flowers
make your own play mat | pH painting | hat making
give a kid a camera | vehicle design | paper bag challenge

I don’t care for this turning the clocks back stuff. It gets dark way too early. By the time the kids finish their homework, they only have an hour or so to play outside before it’s pitch black.

But what can I do? I suppose I could go all Arizona or Hawaii and just not recognize time changes. I’d show up an hour late everywhere. When people said, “You’re late!” I’d respond, “No. I’m right on time.”

Instead, I thought I’d spend the next couple days posting ideas that celebrate the evening hours, mostly as a reminder to myself it’s not all bad. I think that’s what they call in the biz, a schema shift.*

First up is a piece that appeared in last year’s Science issue. The idea was pretty simple—drive out to a place away from the city lights and watch the stars come out. It was one of the most beautiful shoots we’ve ever done. The light was amazing.

I mean, take a look at the photos. It looks like we’re in a painting. In fact, a friend remarked last year when I posted them, “I’m so happy I know you, because I’d probably hate you if I just saw the photos.” But I can take no credit for any of part of it. While I came up with the outing idea, it was Dave and the scenery that worked their magic. The kids and I were just along for the ride.

One of the things that struck me most about our field trip was how—I hesitate to use the word magical because a) it’s hokey and b) I used it in that last paragraph, but since I can’t think of a better word, I’m going to be both redundant and predictable here—magical it was.

I guess what I’m trying to articulate is that it was strange to think about something so simple like watching the sun set and the stars come out, being so marvelously entertaining. Not just for the kids, but for Dave and I too.

And I suppose, [insert begrudging tone] I have turning back the clocks to thank. I recognize it’s far more challenging to do an outing like this in the summer, when the kids are up way past their bedtimes—people fall apart, there’s crying and yelling. And yes, by people, I mean me.

Click here to read the original piece. Oh and if you decide to do this activity with your family, may I suggest taking a thermos full of spiced apple cider? Click here for the recipe.

*Aww yeah, cognitive behavioral psych nerd score.

photos by Dave K Cooper

This weekend the fall foliage was beautiful and the weather just right, which meant it was perfect for a walk in the woods.

Lucky for us, we have some lovely state parks nearby that have babbling brooks, large gray rocks, tall trees, and pretty easy hiking.

One of the things I love about taking these walks with the family—I hesitate to call it a hike because it’s not at all strenuous—is that there’s an element of adventure built in. There are fallen trees to walk on, rocks to climb, and streams to leap across.

I find myself loosening up a bit and encourage the kids to be more adventurous. It’s a good exercise for someone who is pretty uptight about physical danger.

What I love most about this season are the leaves—they way they look, the rustling sound they make in the trees, the way they crunch under your feet as you walk, and the beautiful way they twirl as they fall from up high.

The change in seasons seems so fleeting, doesn’t it? You blink your eyes and you’ve entered a new one. This weekend, just for a moment, we didn’t blink.

I prefer to keep things pretty simple when it comes to gift wrapping. The materials I find myself coming back to time and time again are tissue paper and crepe paper streamers. It’s probably because I can always find a stash of those two left over somewhere in my house. I have a tendency to squirrel away left overs from parties. You just never know when a scrap or bit might come in handy, right?

Sometimes I’ll get all crafty and wind the streamer into a flower shape. But usually, I just tie a nice big bow.

Do you have a favorite material you use to wrap gifts?

By the way, if you’re looking for some amazing gift wrapping/packaging inspiration, check out Shimtokk. It’s beautiful!

Halloween is a week away. This means we have seven full days to celebrate all sorts of ghoulish delights. Here’s a list of 10 great ideas for you and your family to get your Halloween on.

1. Let’s start with the obvious—costumes. Heather had a great round up on (cool)progeny. I especially appreciated her thoughts on what being the “perfect parent” means to her.

2. I tucked some free printable lunchbox jokes into the kids’ boxes today. They made me laugh!

3. And how about these milkshakes for an after dinner treat? I don’t know if I have the patience to paint chocolate on the inside of a glass, but they sure are cute.

4. Here’s a little Halloween decorating inspiration from our friend Joya. Don’t you just love the playfully spooky effect?

5. Looking for some spooky movies to watch with the kids? Classic Play critics offer their reviews of popular family Halloween movies.

6. Thinking of doing a little Halloween baking? Try these mini muffin tin pumpkin pies from Marie Barron of Make and Takes.

7. Looking for some Halloween science-themed activities for a classroom or kids’ party? One Charming Party came up with some great ones.

8. Searching for Halloween themed games? We have you covered.

9. Try something new this year with the pumpkins—try using cookie cutters to carve them. Modern Kids Messy Parents shows you how.

10. And finally, looking for some amazing inspiration for lunch? Check out this amazing bento box.