Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Great Backyard Birdcount 2012
Have some fun with the kids by counting the birds you see around your home this weekend. Follow this link to download the information. Then you can enter your numbers online and see which birds have been counted in your hometown and across the country. It also help ornithologists see the species trends. It's really fun!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Valentine's Day Books and Craft 2012
Reading Suggestions:
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds. What happens if you plant a kiss? Read this charming book and see.
I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. This book tells the true meaning of friendship.
Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell. Is there ever a time that a hug isn't just right? I don't think so.
Never Too Little To Love by Jeanne Wells. Jules the kitten explores the world to find out if everyone regardless of age or size is too little to give love.
Snowy Valentine by David Petersen. Enjoy this story of the search for the perfect gift for Valentine's Day.
Tissue Paper Flowers
You will need:
tissue paper in different colors
buttons
chenille stems
scissors
1-Fold tissue paper so that you have a stack of at least 8 sheets. The more layers you use, the fuller your flower will be. In this picture, I used 16 sheets.
2-Cut out about a 4 inch circle through all the layers. CAREFULLY poke a small hole through the center of the stack of circles.
3-Push a stem through the back of the circles so that 4 inches extends above the circles. Slide a button onto the stem above the circles.
4-Bend the stem and go back down through the other hole in the button and back down through the circles. (the button should be snug against the tissue paper)
5- Twist the end of the stem around itself, right under the circles to hold them in place.
6- Take each layer and squeeze them up over the button. It will form petal shapes and add fullness to your flower.
Make different colored flowers or all the same. Use contrasting or matching colors for the buttons. Stems can be green to look realistic or any fun colors you wish. Place them into a vase with shredded tissue paper, Styrofoam or glass beads in the bottom. You could also tape tissue paper leaves to the stems if you wish. These easy flowers can be used to decorate a table or windowsill. Give them as a gift along with a handmade card. Happy Valentine' Day!
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds. What happens if you plant a kiss? Read this charming book and see.
I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. This book tells the true meaning of friendship.
Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell. Is there ever a time that a hug isn't just right? I don't think so.
Never Too Little To Love by Jeanne Wells. Jules the kitten explores the world to find out if everyone regardless of age or size is too little to give love.
Snowy Valentine by David Petersen. Enjoy this story of the search for the perfect gift for Valentine's Day.
You will need:
tissue paper in different colors
buttons
chenille stems
scissors
1-Fold tissue paper so that you have a stack of at least 8 sheets. The more layers you use, the fuller your flower will be. In this picture, I used 16 sheets.
2-Cut out about a 4 inch circle through all the layers. CAREFULLY poke a small hole through the center of the stack of circles.
3-Push a stem through the back of the circles so that 4 inches extends above the circles. Slide a button onto the stem above the circles.
4-Bend the stem and go back down through the other hole in the button and back down through the circles. (the button should be snug against the tissue paper)
5- Twist the end of the stem around itself, right under the circles to hold them in place.
6- Take each layer and squeeze them up over the button. It will form petal shapes and add fullness to your flower.
Make different colored flowers or all the same. Use contrasting or matching colors for the buttons. Stems can be green to look realistic or any fun colors you wish. Place them into a vase with shredded tissue paper, Styrofoam or glass beads in the bottom. You could also tape tissue paper leaves to the stems if you wish. These easy flowers can be used to decorate a table or windowsill. Give them as a gift along with a handmade card. Happy Valentine' Day!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Healthy Meals For Picky Eaters
If you have a picky eater in your home, you know how frustrating it can be to find healthy meals for them. Here are a few ideas using the food kids love! How much better can that be?
Product Recalls for January 2012
Follow this link for the checklist of products that need to be avoided.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Recommended Immunizations for Children
Follow this link to see the schedules for children 0-6 yrs. and 7-18yrs. They even have a handy printable for you to use to keep accurate records.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Groundhog Day 2012
Here are some fun books for kids for February 2, 2012
Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller. Who could be a good substitute for groundhog for this special holiday? Many animals try. See who is best by sharing this cute book.
Groundhog Day by Gail Gibbons. An all time favorite author does it again with this book that tells about how the holiday got started and some interesting facts about groundhogs.
Double Trouble Groundhog Day by Bethany Roberts. Uh-oh! What happens on this day? Who can solve the problem? Read it together and see.
Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub. Who better to go to weather school than the groundhog? See how it all turns out.
Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! by Abby Levine. Not all groundhogs are happy about popping out of the burrow to do the forecast. What happens if you're shy? See how Gretchen makes out in her new job.
Easy Art Project
For this project you need a brown paper lunch bag, a dessert size paper plate, some drawing paper, crayons and a stapler.
Cut most of the top of the paper bag away to make the "burrow." Fold down the remaining top of the bag toward the outside, making a rim. Color the outside edge of the paper plate in greens to look like grass. Cut the middle out, leaving the outside ring intact. Place the green paper ring on the paper bag rim and staple. Have the kids draw a groundhog any way they wish. You may provide some pictures from books as a reference. Cut the groundhogs out and place them in the paper bag "burrow" with the heads popping out. If the cutouts need to be higher, you can put some tissue paper in the bottom of the bag for support. You can make several and put family member's names on the bag and use as place settings if you wish. Enjoy the holiday and don't forget to share the weather forecast prediction with your child!
Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller. Who could be a good substitute for groundhog for this special holiday? Many animals try. See who is best by sharing this cute book.
Groundhog Day by Gail Gibbons. An all time favorite author does it again with this book that tells about how the holiday got started and some interesting facts about groundhogs.
Double Trouble Groundhog Day by Bethany Roberts. Uh-oh! What happens on this day? Who can solve the problem? Read it together and see.
Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub. Who better to go to weather school than the groundhog? See how it all turns out.
Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! by Abby Levine. Not all groundhogs are happy about popping out of the burrow to do the forecast. What happens if you're shy? See how Gretchen makes out in her new job.
Easy Art Project
For this project you need a brown paper lunch bag, a dessert size paper plate, some drawing paper, crayons and a stapler.
Cut most of the top of the paper bag away to make the "burrow." Fold down the remaining top of the bag toward the outside, making a rim. Color the outside edge of the paper plate in greens to look like grass. Cut the middle out, leaving the outside ring intact. Place the green paper ring on the paper bag rim and staple. Have the kids draw a groundhog any way they wish. You may provide some pictures from books as a reference. Cut the groundhogs out and place them in the paper bag "burrow" with the heads popping out. If the cutouts need to be higher, you can put some tissue paper in the bottom of the bag for support. You can make several and put family member's names on the bag and use as place settings if you wish. Enjoy the holiday and don't forget to share the weather forecast prediction with your child!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Do You Read Grand Magazine?
Grand Magazine is a great online magazine for grandparents. I found this article really interesting. It's about avoiding some common food mistakes with kids. Check it out as well as the other informative articles.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
January Book and Science Activity
To start the new year off with something different, I chose the theme of birdwatching. Even though the weather might keep your children indoors a bit more, there's no reason not to make use of what's right outside you windows.
Here are some of my favorites:
Birds of North America, by Jo S. Kittinger
Professor Pipsqueak's Guide to Birds, by Cynthia Alvarez
Youth's Guide to the Bird's of (individual state) by Adele Porter
Backyard Birds by Karen Stray Nolting
Birds (Sounds of the Wild Series) by Maurice Pledger...a pop up book with recorded bird sounds
Remember even if you can't find these titles at your local bookstore or online, don't forget to visit your local library and get some books for free!
Science Activity: Feed the birds
To make a suet cakes, you will need:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
4 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 handfull of birdseed, especially sunflower seeds)
Mix all together and place in holes drilled in a log, smeared onto tree bark or frozen into cakes and placed on flat tray feeders or in wire suet cages. Make sure to locate it near your window for easy viewing. It may take a few days for the birds to find it, but they will come every day for snacking after they do!
You can attract chickadees, titmice, wrens and even bluebirds. Let the kids draw the different birds they see. Older kids can keep a list of each species that feed. You can see which seeds attract which species. It will provide you and the kids with many hours of enjoyment.
Here are some of my favorites:
Birds of North America, by Jo S. Kittinger
Professor Pipsqueak's Guide to Birds, by Cynthia Alvarez
Youth's Guide to the Bird's of (individual state) by Adele Porter
Backyard Birds by Karen Stray Nolting
Birds (Sounds of the Wild Series) by Maurice Pledger...a pop up book with recorded bird sounds
Remember even if you can't find these titles at your local bookstore or online, don't forget to visit your local library and get some books for free!
Science Activity: Feed the birds
To make a suet cakes, you will need:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
4 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 handfull of birdseed, especially sunflower seeds)
Mix all together and place in holes drilled in a log, smeared onto tree bark or frozen into cakes and placed on flat tray feeders or in wire suet cages. Make sure to locate it near your window for easy viewing. It may take a few days for the birds to find it, but they will come every day for snacking after they do!
You can attract chickadees, titmice, wrens and even bluebirds. Let the kids draw the different birds they see. Older kids can keep a list of each species that feed. You can see which seeds attract which species. It will provide you and the kids with many hours of enjoyment.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Whatever holiday you celebrate and wherever you are for this season, enjoy every minute! The children in your life grow up so fast, as we all know, and they will never be at this age again. Take lots of pictures and record all you memories in you diaries, blogs and scrapbooks. They are treasures!
Friday, December 16, 2011
10 BEST Afternoon School Snacks
Kids have such busy days. No wonder when three or four o'clock rolls around, they need a pick me up. Here are some interesting ideas for healthy but yummy snacks you can provide for your children. The kids can help prepare many of them with you and don't forget to make some your self as well!
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