10 Family-Friendly Earth Day Activities
Posted by Auntie Em
Looking for ideas for celebrating this year’s Earth Day with your family? Here’s a list of 10 eco-friendly family activities compiled by the Kiddie Academy education team:
- Involve your children in finding ways to repurpose things you already own before you purchase new items.
- Ask your children to help you gather gently used items and donate them to charity organizations.
- Turn packaging items like cartons or plastic sleeves into new art projects – instead of sending them to a landfill.
- Sew an old pillowcase into a new tote bag; use it to replace plastic bags when you shop.
- Take a nature walk together and discuss what you see along the way – like streams or flowers.
- Walk – don’t drive – to the neighborhood playground.
- Shop at your local thrift stores with [...]
Rainy Day Craft Tutorial: Broken Umbrella to Indoor Parachute
Posted by MarthaLooking for a fun rainy day activity? Here’s an easy way to re-purpose a broken umbrella into a mini-parachute game.
This fun, eco-friendly kids craft project also allows you to sneak in a little education. What better way to illustrate the laws of gravity? Follow these simple instructions, and you’ll have a 5 foot mini-parachute that folds up for easy storage.
Supply List:
Broken umbrella – the larger the better.
Scissors
Optional:
Low temp glue gun or hand sewing needle and thread
Small piece of feltI just happened to have a broken Ikea umbrella that was perfect for this craft. However, if you don’t have a broken umbrella, you can easily pick up a used umbrella at a thrift store. [...]
Top Five Lies Said to My Toddler
Posted by G.I. JaneI don’t even know how I got myself into these lies; they just happened. I think they appeared somewhere between trying to get through the day and knowing what’s best for my daughter. Not a good excuse, I know.
This past weekend I was consciously aware of the lies, or little fibs as I now like to think of them, that I repeatedly made. Here are my top five:
- Have one more bite and I’ll…fill in the blank with whatever sounds enticing to a kid. My toddler is going through the grazing stage and forgets to eat. Therefore, I’ll nudge her to take a bite every now and then…just so I know she’s getting some food. My “one more bite” is a lie. It’s usually three or four before I’m caught not doing what I promised.
- It’s broken. In an effort to not change the DVD every minute, or giving her my phone, or letting her wear my nice [...]
Toddlers Do Not Make Good Flowergirls
Posted by G.I. Jane
I understand that having a flower girl in one’s wedding is a tradition that dates back to early Greek and Roman times (really, I’m not making this up) and is meant to scatter some type of flower or grain to represent fertility or eternal love or something…However, it seems to me, as a mother of a two year old that tradition would be better served by a young girl that will ACTUALLY walk down the aisle or ACTUALLY scatter said flowers. Not throw tantrums or refuse to move. And should that young girl not exist, then perhaps forgoing the flower girl tradition should be the next option. I’m sure the bride will still be fertile or happy in her marriage without stepping on a few wilted petals– trust me, I know.
Now, I [...]
In the Bag
Posted by Martha
Before you hit the road this holiday season, consider packing a Kids’ Activity Bag. Yes, it’s one more thing for your list, but it will definitely be worth the effort.With a whopping four successful road trips under my belt, I feel like I’ve achieved a higher rank from these armed forces of motherhood. Activity bags are now my number one weapon against bored, seat-kicking, sister-hitting, whiny children. And they look positively cute! The best one by far was last summer’s trip to the grandparents. The long stretches of highway have resulted in a lengthy list of things no mommy soldier should be without.
At ease, moms.
Here are a few ideas for items to include in your Travel Activity Bag:
• Bubbles (with a reminder to blow them out the window)
• Ring Pops or [...]The Inside Scoop to Halloween
Posted by Kiddie Academy
Click here for more Family Halloween Fun
Spooky Scoop Compiled by Kiddie AcademyTrick-or- Treating Just Got Educational
Posted by Kiddie AcademyHalloween is getting a bad rap—we’ve assumed it’s all costumes and candy with a splash of historical reference. But we’ve just found a way to sneak a little education into trick-or-treating with counting candy! Who knew, right?!?
Check out this math activity that your child can do post trick-or-treating. And we don’t mean, “one for them, one for mom…”
Talking Politics…with Kids?
Posted by Kiddie AcademyIt’s an election year and talk of politics is everywhere. Though this subject can often be a sensitive one, it shouldn’t be off limits with your children. There are many positive ways to talk about an election or politics with your kids that may help reinfoce the importance of respect.
Check out our tips and ideas about teaching your children about this subject:
Homework Can Be Manageable?
Posted by Erin
The summer is over and it’s back to school again. Is the opening song from Grease 2 playing in anyone else’s head? No? Okay, just me.
With a new school year comes homework. I’m determined not to end up in the fetal position as I did last year after the countless arguments and struggles with getting my child to complete the homework task. Nope, not this mama bear. I have a new strategy and found some tips on making homework manageable.
Check out the Kiddie Academy Homework Checklist for ideas on homework, including making a homework bin!
The Playground is Scary
Posted by G.I. Jane
My husband and I took our daughter to a new recycled tire playground this past weekend and it was definitely a little overwhelming…for us, not her.I’ve been anxiously waiting a year and a half to be able to take her to playgrounds and let her frolic around, though most of her frolicking was done with me in hand since she’s still a little young for much of the equipment. I expected that; I was okay with it. What I didn’t expect was the awkward interaction between the playground parents.
I was taken aback by the lack of playground etiquette. I’m kind of new to this scene, but aren’t parents supposed reiterating manners on the playground? Like “watch out for the baby” or “wait in line for the swing” or “don’t go up [...]
