Posts Tagged ‘childhood’
Spies Like Us: Secret Codes pt 3
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
It’s time for another installment in our spy series: Invisible Ink!
As you know from parts one and two, a good spy needs multiple ways to deliver secret messages. You need something up your sleeve should a code get broken.
Today’s method of secret message delivery uses science. Our friend Mithi taught us that certain fruits and veggies contain anthocyanins and that anthocyanins change color when they mix with an acid or base.
For this spy activity, we’re going to use what Mithi taught us and create a chemical reaction between an acid (grape juice/activating agent) and a base (baking soda solution). When acids and bases touch, they create a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction will reveal our hidden message.
Experiment time: See if you can use other acids and bases—ooh! try lemon juice and milk—that will create the same effect.
Tags: afterschool fun, childhood, friends, parties, Playdate, science, spy
Posted in Games & Creative Play, Science Fun | No Comments »
Roller Skating
Monday, March 28th, 2011
This weekend, the family went for a little adventure. We went roller skating. (more…)
Tags: childhood
Posted in Ideas and Inspiration | No Comments »
Anorak Magazine!
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
The new issue of Anorak Magazine just arrived! And it’s all about the great Outdoors.
In it, you’ll find a contribution from yours truly. (SQUEE!) We had some fun with Capture the Flag. The kids even made their own flags for it.
Here’s a flip through peek at the issue:
You can find it in select Barnes & Noble bookstores here in the United States. But you can also order a copy from the Anorak shop. That’s how we get ours and it’s surprisingly fast delivery. So make sure you check it out. It truly is my favorite kid magazine on the market.
What makes it my favorite? It’s playful, approachable, and smart. It cleverly introduces kids to design, aesthetics, humor, original storytelling and activities that are just plain fun!
Tags: Arts & Crafts, childhood, friends, Playdate, storytelling
Posted in Ideas and Inspiration | 2 Comments »
Free Printables: Valentine’s Day Cards
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
Ah yes, it’s that time of year where shoeboxes get papered over with hearts aplenty. If you’re like me, you’ve waited until this week to even consider that your kids need to start filling out Valentine’s Day cards.
Have no fear! We have some freebies that you can print out for junior to start on when he or she gets home from school today. You can find them in the Love Issue.
Click on the picture above or here to download these adorable gender-neutral cards designed by artist Sara Michener.
And while you’re clicking through the Love Issue, check out this Valentine essay from author Shawn K Stout. We agree with Diana—it should be required reading for all girls! (and boys too).
Tags: Arts & Crafts, childhood, friends, holidays, love issue
Posted in Ideas and Inspiration | No Comments »
Reliving Childhood
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
We’ve been having a great deal of fun over on the Ellie Bellie Kids facebook fan page recalling things we loved to play when we were little. We’ve talked about writing newsletters, playing orphanage, even dressing up poodles as nurses (thanks for that one Dawn!).
And then someone wrote, “this feels like therapy.” And you know what, it kind of does. Except you won’t feel like reaching for a box of tissues and it makes you feel light and jaunty afterward.
So I thought, hey, let’s move the therapy session over here. Let’s begin, shall we?
Background: A recent play report came out that said most parents have forgotten how to play. Now this is no shocker. I’m a parent myself and know exactly what it’s like. But rather than go the whole, why have we lost the ability to be playful? Let’s start with something much MUCH more fun! Let’s start with taking a look at when we were.
I’ll start:
Okay when I was a kid, there are a few activities that I remember very fondly: 1. Turning the couch around and making it into my own news desk (naturally news cast followed) 2. Creating commercials for Quackers Cereal (it was part of a school project where we had to come up with our own products and a commercial for it using a persuasion technique—I chose spokesperson: a duck puppet was involved) and 3. dressing up with my brother and putting on performances for my mom.
Now it’s your turn: What were some of your favorite playtime activities?
Tags: childhood, Parenting
Posted in Ideas and Inspiration | 2 Comments »
Winter Carnival
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
School closed? Stuck indoors? Kids driving you batty? Have them create their own Winter Carnival.
Tags: afterschool fun, childhood, friends, games, Parenting, Playdate
Posted in Games & Creative Play, Parties & Celebrations | No Comments »
Year of Play: Play with Your Food!
Monday, January 10th, 2011
How should we begin the year of play? Let’s start by playing with our food!
Tags: childhood, Food, Parenting
Posted in Cooking | 2 Comments »
Links You’ll Want to Bookmark
Friday, January 7th, 2011
Today on Twitter, some friends* sent me links that deserve, nay, begged to be passed on. Bookmark them, save them in your tabs, do whatever works for you, but set aside some time tonight to read them.
The first is a New York Times article about the movement to restore play. It’s given me a great deal of hope for the future and is a must read for any family.
Next up is a piece inhabitots did on Digital Story Telling. You know how I love some good storytelling exercises. And this is especially timely as my daughter dreams of producing a craft show for kids.
And last up is a piece about how children give parents the power to change. I found it inspiring and loved the positive view of the parent/child dynamic.
Before I go, I want to leave you with this observation: last night, one of the news programs dedicated an episode to celebrity diets, and today Gywneth’s Goop arrived in my inbox praising a cleanse/detoxifying diet for the new year.
This year, I say we make a resolution to commit to cleanse and detoxify something that has a real and meaningful impact on our future—our children’s play.
*A very special thank you to Erica and Molly for the links.
Tags: childhood, Parenting, storytelling
Posted in News | 2 Comments »
