Posts Tagged ‘friends’
May Day Flower Cones
Thursday, April 28th, 2011
A number of years ago, I saw a May Day craft in a Martha Stewart magazine. It was a tutorial for making little paper cones filled with fresh flowers to hang on neighbors’ doors on May first (May Day). It’s such a sweet, cute and simple way to celebrate community.
The activity below is a kid’s version of the May Day Flower Cone. Kids can spread a little spring time cheer by leaving these flower filled cones on the doors of their neighborhood friends or teacher’s classrooms at school.
There are a couple things I rather like about this project. First, if you use the white crayon to create boarders, kids can pretty much paint anywhere on the paper (inside, outside the lines, doesn’t matter) and they’ll still end up making lovely flowers (nod to Kirsten for that bit of brilliance!). Second, you can omit steps to make it go faster—don’t cut out leaves, skip the crayon part bit, etc. Third, each flower will be unique and come on, how cute is that? And fourth, it’s great activity for a play date, rainy day or weekend.
One more note: I didn’t cut out a true cone. I just winged it. But if you would like a template to cut out a real cone shape, just google: paper cone pattern. You’ll have no shortage of options.
Tags: Arts & Crafts, friends, holidays, Playdate
Posted in Arts & Crafts, Parties & Celebrations | 2 Comments »
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 »
Cooking with Robot: Root Beer 2
Thursday, March 24th, 2011
Robot’s back! And this time he’s showing kids a quick and easy way to make their very own root beer. (more…)
Tags: Food, friends, Robot
Posted in Cooking | 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 »
Interview with Meg Rosker of Let Children Play!
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
Today I want to introduce you to someone. She’s a play advocate who is helping beat the Playvolution drum. Her name is Meg Rosker and you may know her from this NY Times article, or perhaps her Back to Basics: All of Us Need Play and Recess article on Mamapedia or, you may have seen her post Throwing the First Punch igniting conversations on Twitter and Facebook feeds everywhere.
Meg was kind enough to agree to an interview so you guys could get to know her, the work she’s doing and the very real need to bring on the Playvolution! Do you guys like that? I threw it together and I’m making it stick, or at least trying to anyway.
Enough of my rambling, let’s meet Meg!
You are a champion for play. How did you arrive here?
When I realized that my life was influential upon not only the lives of my children, but on the lives of millions of other children as well, I saw how important it was that I took action to advocate for play. This is something that all children everywhere have in common. They all need to play.
The Playvolution has started to take off recently. But there have been those championing it for years. Who do you look to or read for inspiration?
Lenore Skenazy of Free Range Kids is my biggest inspiration. She took a risk to stand up for what she knew was true. Children need to explore and find themselves independent of adults looking over their shoulder. She took the risk of being dubbed “America’s worst mom” because she knew she needed to reach out to all families. She receives a lot of ridicule at times, but she has consistently advocated for our kids in a world that spends a lot of time worrying and being fearful, rather than molding responsible, happy citizens. She could have simply taken care of her own children, but instead she reached out to all families in America so their kids could have the same freedom in their lives that her own children experienced.
What can parents do to address their children’s developmental need to play?
It is the parent’s responsibility to encourage and reward their children as they express themselves in their own, unique way.
What were your favorite playtime activities as a kid?
I imagined myself being my dreams. I spent a lot of time day dreaming and pretending in the backyard. I used to dream I was Barbara Streisand or Audry Hepburn. Other days I would speak in a British accent in the grocery store to my mother. I danced in the backyard to the Beach Boys, made berry and mud soup in the yard with friends, I dressed up the cat and pushed him around in a baby carriage and even played dentist with the dog.
What are your favorite playtime activities with your kids today?
I bring out a lot of inventive possibilities for them to play with and then see what they are interested in at that particular moment. Sometimes it’s a box of cars, modeling clay or blocks. Other times it may be playing with pots and pans filled with water or flour or both. My son enjoys dressing up as characters from history, like a civil war soldier or a knight. All my kids love to play babies by putting pillows in the laundry baskets and laying down inside. They get pretty inventive!
What role do you see parents playing in bringing back play?
They have to stand up to the so called “experts” that say play isn’t important. The research is out there and our experience as parents tells us that play time and children are forever linked. Play time is a valuable learning time, not to take a backseat to other academics.
What role do you see schools playing in bringing back play?
Their role is to initiate parents to stand up and speak out. Schools aren’t doing a lot right now. Their resistance is the catalyst to move the play movement forward.
Anything you’d like to add that I haven’t asked?
Parents have to believe that they have a right to speak out. They feel that the people they entrust to educate their children know more than they do. In certain areas this may be correct, but the area of play is where educators today fall far short of the mark, to the point of harming or restricting the natural development of our children. As it is the right and obligation for every citizen to vote, it is the right and obligation of every parent to speak out.
Meg Rosker is a play advocate, mother, writer and former public school teacher. She lives with her three kids on the beach in Florida. She writes at www.letchildrenplay.com
Tags: friends, News, Parenting, playvolution
Posted in Guest Posts | No 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 »
Spies Like Us: Secret Codes pt 2
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
Last week we brought you a way to write secret messages using a mirror.
But any good spy knows he or she needs more than one way to deliver secret messages in the event a code is cracked. So today, we’re bringing you another lesson in cryptology. Introducing cylinder writing or better yet, and more super-secret-agent-spy-like sounding, make your own scytale. Oooh! Aaah!
Tags: afterschool fun, friends, spy
Posted in Games & Creative Play | 5 Comments »
Happy Birthday to Us!
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
One year ago today, I wrote our first post. The post is as true now as it was then, it is all about the love.
I have so much I want to say, to reflect on. But for now, I think I’ll simply blow out the candle and make a wish…
Thank you to everyone who was a part of this year. A special thanks to our brilliant, creative, funny, thought provoking, entertaining and all around amazing contributors. They created something beautiful. I am forever grateful to them.
And also, a sincere thanks to you! for reading us and helping spread the word about the work we’re doing here.
Now, before I start to wax all nostalgic and whatnot or get teary-eyed, let’s eat some cake!
Tags: friends
Posted in Ideas and Inspiration | 8 Comments »
