Lora Langston's Blog, page 47
May 18, 2014
10 Toy Safety Tips for Babies and Toddlers
10 Game and Toy Safety Tips for Caregivers
10 Game and Toy Safety Tips for toddlers.
Toys! Mommy, can I have that toy? Can I, can I, can I? Think before you give in and buy it. All toys are not created equal. Toy safety isn't just for infants and toddlers. Children with special needs are prone to accidents with toys too. Even young, elementary-age children can choke on small toy parts or game pieces. Until about age six, kids have a tendency to put everything in their mouths.
Toy shopping shouldn't be done on sight alone. When shopping for toys, consider the child's age and ability. Don't waste money on flashy toys the child may not be capable of playing with.
Toy labels give safety warnings and recommended ages for safe toy play.
Children, especially those under the age of three, love to put toys and small objects in their mouth. Small game pieces, broken toys, or loose parts are choking hazards. If something can fit inside the center of a cardboard toilet roll or paper towel tube, consider it a choking hazard.
When putting a toy or game together, always read the instructions. Items put together incorrectly can fall apart and become a choking hazard.
Plastic bags and packaging are dangerous. They can be stuck in the mouth or placed over the nose. It isn't just bags that cause suffocation. A small toddler or infant can suffocate on a piece of plastic stuck over their mouth and nose.
Children, especially infants and babies, must be supervised at all times during toy and game play. Never leave the room and leave a small child unattended.
Don't mix baby toys with those of older children. Small blocks are especially attractive to younger children. Keep older children's toys put away in containers. Teach older siblings to put their toys away.
When toys break, discard them! Don't keep old toys around. Check toys often for broken or loose parts and sharp edges.
Toy storage is essential. Toys on the stairs can cause family members to trip and fall. Toys left out on the floor can be swallowed by a toddler. Keep toys for babies stored separately from toys for older children.
Toys with wheels and motors can pinch fingers or entangle hair. Watch children closely with these types of toys. Even cars designed for toddlers can present a problem.
For more game and toy safety tips visit safekids.org.
For game and toy recalls visit www.cpsc.gov.
Recommended Reading:
Where Is Baby's Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book
Safety Smart Science with Bill Nye the Science Guy: Fire Classroom Edition
10 Game and Toy Safety Tips for toddlers.
Toys! Mommy, can I have that toy? Can I, can I, can I? Think before you give in and buy it. All toys are not created equal. Toy safety isn't just for infants and toddlers. Children with special needs are prone to accidents with toys too. Even young, elementary-age children can choke on small toy parts or game pieces. Until about age six, kids have a tendency to put everything in their mouths.
Toy shopping shouldn't be done on sight alone. When shopping for toys, consider the child's age and ability. Don't waste money on flashy toys the child may not be capable of playing with.
Toy labels give safety warnings and recommended ages for safe toy play.
Children, especially those under the age of three, love to put toys and small objects in their mouth. Small game pieces, broken toys, or loose parts are choking hazards. If something can fit inside the center of a cardboard toilet roll or paper towel tube, consider it a choking hazard.
When putting a toy or game together, always read the instructions. Items put together incorrectly can fall apart and become a choking hazard.
Plastic bags and packaging are dangerous. They can be stuck in the mouth or placed over the nose. It isn't just bags that cause suffocation. A small toddler or infant can suffocate on a piece of plastic stuck over their mouth and nose.
Children, especially infants and babies, must be supervised at all times during toy and game play. Never leave the room and leave a small child unattended.
Don't mix baby toys with those of older children. Small blocks are especially attractive to younger children. Keep older children's toys put away in containers. Teach older siblings to put their toys away.
When toys break, discard them! Don't keep old toys around. Check toys often for broken or loose parts and sharp edges.
Toy storage is essential. Toys on the stairs can cause family members to trip and fall. Toys left out on the floor can be swallowed by a toddler. Keep toys for babies stored separately from toys for older children.
Toys with wheels and motors can pinch fingers or entangle hair. Watch children closely with these types of toys. Even cars designed for toddlers can present a problem.
For more game and toy safety tips visit safekids.org.
For game and toy recalls visit www.cpsc.gov.
Recommended Reading:
Where Is Baby's Belly Button? A Lift-the-Flap Book
Safety Smart Science with Bill Nye the Science Guy: Fire Classroom Edition
May 16, 2014
Sensory Play: Plan your Curriculum and Lesson Plan
Sensory Play Lesson Plans are a Breeze when you Link up on Friday
Are you looking for sensory activities to do with a baby, toddler, preschooler, elementary age, or teen child? Each month, we've got you covered with a linky party. If you have a blog or website, please link up your posts.
Children with sensory processing disorders, such as Autism, benefit in the same way younger children do. Children can explore their senses with these activities and become accustomed to the sensation of cold paint on their fingers, the sound of crackling paper, the smell of scented doughs or spice paints, the taste of edible crafts, and the visual impact of it all. Enjoy!
Sensory Play Link Up Party helps with your Lesson Plan.
Here at Kids Creative Chaos, we've got a lot of Pinterest followers! Each month we'll choose 10 of our favorite link ups and pin them to our profile. Leave your Pinterest name in the comments. We'll hop over and follow you too! http://www.pinterest.com/kidschaos
Recommended Reading:
Learning and Playing Outdoors: How to Plan and Create an Inspiring Outdoor Environment (Practitioners' Guides)
Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment, Second Edition (TPBA2)
Are you looking for sensory activities to do with a baby, toddler, preschooler, elementary age, or teen child? Each month, we've got you covered with a linky party. If you have a blog or website, please link up your posts.
Children with sensory processing disorders, such as Autism, benefit in the same way younger children do. Children can explore their senses with these activities and become accustomed to the sensation of cold paint on their fingers, the sound of crackling paper, the smell of scented doughs or spice paints, the taste of edible crafts, and the visual impact of it all. Enjoy!
Sensory Play Link Up Party helps with your Lesson Plan.
Here at Kids Creative Chaos, we've got a lot of Pinterest followers! Each month we'll choose 10 of our favorite link ups and pin them to our profile. Leave your Pinterest name in the comments. We'll hop over and follow you too! http://www.pinterest.com/kidschaos
Recommended Reading:
Learning and Playing Outdoors: How to Plan and Create an Inspiring Outdoor Environment (Practitioners' Guides)
Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment, Second Edition (TPBA2)
May 15, 2014
Sensory Baby Play: Teach your Baby with Music Play
Your Baby Can Learn by Playing Music
Have you ever wondered how a toddler would interact if you put musical instruments in front of her? Babies and toddlers learn through play. Music is sound, rhythm, and more. All of that can translate to music, math, and science!
A great way for a toddler to learn is by hitting a drum, shaking a maraca, a tambourine, or some shaker eggs. You can make your own drum, grab some pots and pans, or buy a baby music set to teach your baby to play music.
We’ve experimented with the B. Parum Pum Pum Drum Set
. This set is for ages 18 months-24 months, and it is perfect for baby sensory play.
Music is one of the best forms of baby and toddler sensory play.
Our baby tester loved playing with this toy. She laughed and mimicked mommy hitting the drum. Beat the drum and count out to ten. This is a great way to introduce counting to a toddler. Practice with them.
Make your own drum, grab some pots and pans,
or buy a baby music set to teach your baby to play music.
Will she tap the drum ten times too? Make it a game and practice each day. You can experiment with patterns too. You know, rumpa pum pum. Tap the drum or shake a shaker in a numerical pattern: 3-1-3-1-3-1 or 5-2-5-2-5-2 and so on. If you speak the counting of each beat, the child will begin to learn to count as well: “One- two three- one- one- two- three- one- one- two- three- one.
Baby’s favorite toy in the B. Parum Pum Pum Drum Set is the shaker egg. Whenever she shakes it she laughs! Each instrument makes a different sound which is excellent for sensory play. Demonstrate each toy’s sound to your toddler. Can she copy the sound with her voice? “Shh Shh Shh Shh”. Practicing to copy these sounds, and moving her lips to form the sounds, can help her learn to speak.
This music play set should entertain your child, keeping her busy for long enough for you to do the dishes! If you have older children, they can join in on the fun too. Let them be a babysitter and play tutor. They will enjoy making music (or just banging and shaking the instruments to make noise). All of the items store inside the drum so it stays together making it easy to put away.
Baby play with musical Instruments helps a child learn creativity through play. Another way to teach creativity and reduce sensory issues is to paint. Starting art lessons early will aid in color and shape recognition. Check out the recommended reading list below to find more posts and books on sensory play for babies and toddlers.
Recommended Reading:
What is Sensory Play Based Learning?
Music for Babies
The Wheels on the Bus (Pudgy Board Book)
Have you ever wondered how a toddler would interact if you put musical instruments in front of her? Babies and toddlers learn through play. Music is sound, rhythm, and more. All of that can translate to music, math, and science!
A great way for a toddler to learn is by hitting a drum, shaking a maraca, a tambourine, or some shaker eggs. You can make your own drum, grab some pots and pans, or buy a baby music set to teach your baby to play music.
We’ve experimented with the B. Parum Pum Pum Drum Set
. This set is for ages 18 months-24 months, and it is perfect for baby sensory play.Music is one of the best forms of baby and toddler sensory play.
Our baby tester loved playing with this toy. She laughed and mimicked mommy hitting the drum. Beat the drum and count out to ten. This is a great way to introduce counting to a toddler. Practice with them.
Make your own drum, grab some pots and pans,
or buy a baby music set to teach your baby to play music.
Will she tap the drum ten times too? Make it a game and practice each day. You can experiment with patterns too. You know, rumpa pum pum. Tap the drum or shake a shaker in a numerical pattern: 3-1-3-1-3-1 or 5-2-5-2-5-2 and so on. If you speak the counting of each beat, the child will begin to learn to count as well: “One- two three- one- one- two- three- one- one- two- three- one.
Baby’s favorite toy in the B. Parum Pum Pum Drum Set is the shaker egg. Whenever she shakes it she laughs! Each instrument makes a different sound which is excellent for sensory play. Demonstrate each toy’s sound to your toddler. Can she copy the sound with her voice? “Shh Shh Shh Shh”. Practicing to copy these sounds, and moving her lips to form the sounds, can help her learn to speak.
This music play set should entertain your child, keeping her busy for long enough for you to do the dishes! If you have older children, they can join in on the fun too. Let them be a babysitter and play tutor. They will enjoy making music (or just banging and shaking the instruments to make noise). All of the items store inside the drum so it stays together making it easy to put away.
Baby play with musical Instruments helps a child learn creativity through play. Another way to teach creativity and reduce sensory issues is to paint. Starting art lessons early will aid in color and shape recognition. Check out the recommended reading list below to find more posts and books on sensory play for babies and toddlers.
Recommended Reading:
What is Sensory Play Based Learning?
Music for Babies
The Wheels on the Bus (Pudgy Board Book)
May 13, 2014
Be Happy: Happiness Quotes and Sayings
Don't Worry, Be Happy _ Happiness Quote Poster for Facebook
It seems like there isn't enough happiness to go around, especially on Facebook. We've compiled a list of happiness quotes for your Facebook posts. Share them on your wall or on a friend's page, and don't worry, be happy!
Happiness quotes and sayings, "Be so happy".
Friendship Quote
Be the reason someone smiles today.
Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect, it means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.
Leave a little sparkle wherever you go!
No one is too old for fairy tales.
Be happy, not because everything is good, but because you can see the good in everything.
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
No one needs a smile as much as the person who fails to give one.
The bad news is there is no key to happiness. The good news is, it isn't locked!
Be happy; it drives people crazy!
"I have decided to be happy, because it is good for my health" - Voltaire.
Recommended Reading:
The Art of Happiness, The Dalai Llama
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids
It seems like there isn't enough happiness to go around, especially on Facebook. We've compiled a list of happiness quotes for your Facebook posts. Share them on your wall or on a friend's page, and don't worry, be happy!
Happiness quotes and sayings, "Be so happy".
Friendship Quote
Be the reason someone smiles today.
Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect, it means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.
Leave a little sparkle wherever you go!
No one is too old for fairy tales.
Be happy, not because everything is good, but because you can see the good in everything.
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
No one needs a smile as much as the person who fails to give one.
The bad news is there is no key to happiness. The good news is, it isn't locked!
Be happy; it drives people crazy!
"I have decided to be happy, because it is good for my health" - Voltaire.
Recommended Reading:
The Art of Happiness, The Dalai Llama
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids
May 9, 2014
Free Printable Minecraft CrossWord Search: Test your Minecraft Knowledge
Our FREE printable Minecraft Crossword Puzzle will Test your Knowledge of Minecraft
Do you know any Minecraft addicts? Are you looking for a Minecraft Birthday Party Activity? Maybe, you've run out of things to do in your after-school program, and the kids are restless? This printable worksheet is a fun way to test your knowledge of Minecraft. How cool is your Mom? Can she pass the test?
Free Printable Minecraft Activity: Word Search Quiz.
Click this link to get the Free PDF on our host, Mediafire.
Free Printable Minecraft Word Search: Test your Knowledge
Printable Minecraft Crossword Puzzle.
What your score says about you:
30 = Minecraft Addict. Nailed it. Enough said. Congrats on a perfect score, maybe a little less Minecrafting and a little more studying for tests? Just sayin'. I'm surprised even you knew that one answer, you know which one I mean. It was a toughy!
28-29 = Minecraft Artisan. You spend more time crafting than interacting. You need to get outside and play! No fair taking your phone outside and playing Minecraft Pocket Edition
. Pat yourself on the back though, you are a Minecraft Pro.
25-27 = Minecraft Specialist. Hooray, pretty good stuff. You haven't gone overboard on Minecraft... yet. Be strong. You probably enjoy other activities, maybe some Minecraft role playing?
20-24 = Minecraft Player. Play on! Enjoy! Balance real life with your gaming pleasure.
15-19 = Minecraft Newbie. Welp, if this were a test, you woulda failed it. Luckily, Minecraft isn't the real world. Keep gaming, keep playing. You obviously haven't failed the game of life, so congrats on that!
10-14 = Minecraft Pretender. You want to be in the cool, Minecraft crowd, but you just don't get it. You know just enough to drop some cool buzzwords. You often hear yourself saying, "Minecraft? Yeah, I've played that game."
1-9 = Mom. You must be a Minecraft Mom. You hear the words, "Steve", "Pig", and "Mods", but that is about all you know about Minecraft. What? You aren't a mom? Well... play on, my friend, play on! Your crafting table awaits.
Recommended Reading:
Make your Own Minecraft Style Block Puzzle
Minecraft: Redstone Handbook: An Official Mojang Book
The Amazing Tale of Steve: A Minecraft Novel!
Do you know any Minecraft addicts? Are you looking for a Minecraft Birthday Party Activity? Maybe, you've run out of things to do in your after-school program, and the kids are restless? This printable worksheet is a fun way to test your knowledge of Minecraft. How cool is your Mom? Can she pass the test?
Free Printable Minecraft Activity: Word Search Quiz.
Click this link to get the Free PDF on our host, Mediafire.
Free Printable Minecraft Word Search: Test your Knowledge
Printable Minecraft Crossword Puzzle.
What your score says about you:
30 = Minecraft Addict. Nailed it. Enough said. Congrats on a perfect score, maybe a little less Minecrafting and a little more studying for tests? Just sayin'. I'm surprised even you knew that one answer, you know which one I mean. It was a toughy!
28-29 = Minecraft Artisan. You spend more time crafting than interacting. You need to get outside and play! No fair taking your phone outside and playing Minecraft Pocket Edition
. Pat yourself on the back though, you are a Minecraft Pro.25-27 = Minecraft Specialist. Hooray, pretty good stuff. You haven't gone overboard on Minecraft... yet. Be strong. You probably enjoy other activities, maybe some Minecraft role playing?
20-24 = Minecraft Player. Play on! Enjoy! Balance real life with your gaming pleasure.
15-19 = Minecraft Newbie. Welp, if this were a test, you woulda failed it. Luckily, Minecraft isn't the real world. Keep gaming, keep playing. You obviously haven't failed the game of life, so congrats on that!
10-14 = Minecraft Pretender. You want to be in the cool, Minecraft crowd, but you just don't get it. You know just enough to drop some cool buzzwords. You often hear yourself saying, "Minecraft? Yeah, I've played that game."
1-9 = Mom. You must be a Minecraft Mom. You hear the words, "Steve", "Pig", and "Mods", but that is about all you know about Minecraft. What? You aren't a mom? Well... play on, my friend, play on! Your crafting table awaits.
Recommended Reading:
Make your Own Minecraft Style Block Puzzle
Minecraft: Redstone Handbook: An Official Mojang Book
The Amazing Tale of Steve: A Minecraft Novel!
May 7, 2014
June Calendar Special Days Holidays
Planning your Calendar for June? Don't Forget to Celebrate these Special Holidays
June, is summer in the states. People are outside, children are frolicking in the park, birds are happily tweeting. How do we celebrate? With picnics, of course. In the states, there are two well-known June holidays, Flag Day, and Father's Day.
June Calendar of Special Days and Holidays for Activities.
Flag Day 14 - Make a felt Flag, Make a colored rice flag! For Flag Day, you could dress up like the Statue of Liberty.
Juneteenth 19 - What is Juneteenth? It recognizes the emancipation of African Americans and is a national holiday for celebrating the end of slavery. Celebrate Juneteenth with a Barack Obama Paperbag Puppet.
Father's Day in U.S. - 15 (third Sunday) Father's Day Crafts to Make and Origami with Money for Dad.
Origami Money Art from Powerful Mothering.
Summer Solstice - 21 Sunshine Crafts and Activities for Preschool from Inner Child Fun. Tie Dye Suns from Creative Family Fun.
National Doughnut Day - (First Friday in June) Make homemade doughnuts.
Go Fishing Day 18 - Here is a super cute fishing activity and song. Math Fishing Activity for Toddlers. Buddy and Buggy also has a Fish Theme Birthday Party post!
Paul Bunyan Day - 28 You could go see a Lumberjack show. We did that one year in Northern Michigan. How about a Lumberjack Birthday Party? Little Treats blog has some amazing ideas, like the little tree party favors pictured below.
Lumberjack Birthday Party or Paul Bunyan Celebration Party Favors
from Little Treats blog.
Here is a fun game to play straight from elementary pe class, but play it with teenagers at a birthday party for a real hoot!
Lumberjacks and Farmers
You will need orange cones, if you have a cut up log, that's even better! These are your logs for the lumberjacks to "chop down".
Divide into a team of lumberjacks and a team of farmers. Spread the cones or small stumps around the yard, half sitting up, half lying on their side.
The farmers have to set up all of the "logs". The lumberjacks have to knock them all over! Players can only use their hands. No kicking over the logs! After a few minutes, call time. The team with the most upright or knocked over wins!
Recommended Reading:
Paul Bunyan Swings His Axe
Paul Bunyan (Reading rainbow book)
June, is summer in the states. People are outside, children are frolicking in the park, birds are happily tweeting. How do we celebrate? With picnics, of course. In the states, there are two well-known June holidays, Flag Day, and Father's Day.
June Calendar of Special Days and Holidays for Activities.
Flag Day 14 - Make a felt Flag, Make a colored rice flag! For Flag Day, you could dress up like the Statue of Liberty.
Juneteenth 19 - What is Juneteenth? It recognizes the emancipation of African Americans and is a national holiday for celebrating the end of slavery. Celebrate Juneteenth with a Barack Obama Paperbag Puppet.
Father's Day in U.S. - 15 (third Sunday) Father's Day Crafts to Make and Origami with Money for Dad.
Origami Money Art from Powerful Mothering.
Summer Solstice - 21 Sunshine Crafts and Activities for Preschool from Inner Child Fun. Tie Dye Suns from Creative Family Fun.
National Doughnut Day - (First Friday in June) Make homemade doughnuts.
Go Fishing Day 18 - Here is a super cute fishing activity and song. Math Fishing Activity for Toddlers. Buddy and Buggy also has a Fish Theme Birthday Party post!
Paul Bunyan Day - 28 You could go see a Lumberjack show. We did that one year in Northern Michigan. How about a Lumberjack Birthday Party? Little Treats blog has some amazing ideas, like the little tree party favors pictured below.
Lumberjack Birthday Party or Paul Bunyan Celebration Party Favors
from Little Treats blog.
Here is a fun game to play straight from elementary pe class, but play it with teenagers at a birthday party for a real hoot!
Lumberjacks and Farmers
You will need orange cones, if you have a cut up log, that's even better! These are your logs for the lumberjacks to "chop down".
Divide into a team of lumberjacks and a team of farmers. Spread the cones or small stumps around the yard, half sitting up, half lying on their side.
The farmers have to set up all of the "logs". The lumberjacks have to knock them all over! Players can only use their hands. No kicking over the logs! After a few minutes, call time. The team with the most upright or knocked over wins!
Recommended Reading:
Paul Bunyan Swings His Axe
Paul Bunyan (Reading rainbow book)
May 5, 2014
Throw a Birthday Party for Teen Girls with these 5 Fun Ideas
5 Fun Birthday Party Ideas for Teenage Girls
Are you all out of fresh ideas for a Girls' Teen Birthday Party? We searched Pinterest and found some fun ideas that your teen daughter will love. It isn't a party without games, favors, and a fun theme!
We found this very stylish Volleyball theme party idea at Kara's Party Ideas. I particularly like the chocolate fuel candy bars!
Throw a volleyball theme party for your daughter
like this one from Kara's Party Ideas.
Volleyball! With this party theme, make sure you schedule time to play a game of their favorite sport, but change it up a notch with giant, inflatable volleyballs. If you're really cool, and really want to impress, truck in a load of sand! Change the sport for an athletic teen boy's birthday party theme.
These kids played soccer with our giant volleyball. Grab a net, a truck load of sand, and turn your backyard into a beach volleyball court!
Afterward, chill out with volleyball cupcakes and healthy (or not so healthy snacks). It is a birthday party, you can take a little break!
Sports and Volleyball cupcakes from Cake Central.
Beach or Pool Party! I know, it has been done before. Really a pool party? But, you can make it your own! You've got leftover sand from last year's volleyball party, so use it! Bring on the sandals and fruity mocktails. Give the girls colorful beach towels in your daughter's favorite beach party colors. To make it extra spectacular, make sand castle cupcakes like these from Confections of a Sugarholic blog.
Sandcastle cupcake from Confections of a Sugarholic.
Give each girl a party favor- fill a sand pail with girly goodies and treats! You can also make some permanent moon sand style castles as a fun birthday party activity for teens.
Use sand from your vacation to make a permanent keepsake sandcastle
memento like this one from Spoonful.com
Glamping! Oh the fun that the girls can have while camping! S'mores, bonfire, and ghost stories in luxury. Set up a nail painting tent, a food tent, and a movie tent! The girl's can travel from glamorous tent to glamourous tent. Add a fuzzy rug in each tent and gather your beautician to do their hairs and nails, then visit the food tent and place an order. Let Dad in on the act, he can be a fancy concierge/delivery boy (make him wear a tux).
We Heart Parties has this beautiful party food setup with an owl theme. Don't let those hoots scare you when you are sleeping in the tent!
A Night on the Red Carpet! Have the guests wear prom-style party dresses for this Oscar party theme birthday. Roll out a "red carpet" leading to your front door, for party favors the girls can create Oscar sculptures, then practice their thank you speech at a mic stand as their friends present them with a handmade oscar. Celebrate with a golden slice of birthday cake. For more Oscar Party Ideas visit DesignDazzle.com
Spa! Bring on the sliced cucumbers, body scrubs, nail polish, sleeping masks, and special fruit water. Did you know you can add glow sticks to clear nail polish to make them glow-in-the-dark?
Glow-in-the-dark nail polish.
We found this on Pinterest with no citation.
Spa Fruit Water Recipe
1 orange
1 lemon
3 to 4 strawberries.
Slice the fruits and put in water.
Chill for a couple of hours prior to serving.
Recommended Reading:
Slumber Party Wars
The Best Christmas Party Ever
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Are you all out of fresh ideas for a Girls' Teen Birthday Party? We searched Pinterest and found some fun ideas that your teen daughter will love. It isn't a party without games, favors, and a fun theme!
We found this very stylish Volleyball theme party idea at Kara's Party Ideas. I particularly like the chocolate fuel candy bars!
Throw a volleyball theme party for your daughter
like this one from Kara's Party Ideas.
Volleyball! With this party theme, make sure you schedule time to play a game of their favorite sport, but change it up a notch with giant, inflatable volleyballs. If you're really cool, and really want to impress, truck in a load of sand! Change the sport for an athletic teen boy's birthday party theme.
These kids played soccer with our giant volleyball. Grab a net, a truck load of sand, and turn your backyard into a beach volleyball court!
Afterward, chill out with volleyball cupcakes and healthy (or not so healthy snacks). It is a birthday party, you can take a little break!
Sports and Volleyball cupcakes from Cake Central.
Beach or Pool Party! I know, it has been done before. Really a pool party? But, you can make it your own! You've got leftover sand from last year's volleyball party, so use it! Bring on the sandals and fruity mocktails. Give the girls colorful beach towels in your daughter's favorite beach party colors. To make it extra spectacular, make sand castle cupcakes like these from Confections of a Sugarholic blog.
Sandcastle cupcake from Confections of a Sugarholic.
Give each girl a party favor- fill a sand pail with girly goodies and treats! You can also make some permanent moon sand style castles as a fun birthday party activity for teens.
Use sand from your vacation to make a permanent keepsake sandcastle
memento like this one from Spoonful.com
Glamping! Oh the fun that the girls can have while camping! S'mores, bonfire, and ghost stories in luxury. Set up a nail painting tent, a food tent, and a movie tent! The girl's can travel from glamorous tent to glamourous tent. Add a fuzzy rug in each tent and gather your beautician to do their hairs and nails, then visit the food tent and place an order. Let Dad in on the act, he can be a fancy concierge/delivery boy (make him wear a tux).
We Heart Parties has this beautiful party food setup with an owl theme. Don't let those hoots scare you when you are sleeping in the tent!
A Night on the Red Carpet! Have the guests wear prom-style party dresses for this Oscar party theme birthday. Roll out a "red carpet" leading to your front door, for party favors the girls can create Oscar sculptures, then practice their thank you speech at a mic stand as their friends present them with a handmade oscar. Celebrate with a golden slice of birthday cake. For more Oscar Party Ideas visit DesignDazzle.com
Spa! Bring on the sliced cucumbers, body scrubs, nail polish, sleeping masks, and special fruit water. Did you know you can add glow sticks to clear nail polish to make them glow-in-the-dark?
Glow-in-the-dark nail polish.
We found this on Pinterest with no citation.
Spa Fruit Water Recipe
1 orange
1 lemon
3 to 4 strawberries.
Slice the fruits and put in water.
Chill for a couple of hours prior to serving.
Recommended Reading:
Slumber Party Wars
The Best Christmas Party Ever
Sign up for our free newsletter!
May 3, 2014
Mother's Day Activities for Kids with Sayings and Quotes
Fun Ideas and Activities to Celebrate Mother's Day with Kids
Mother's Day. So many activities are cliche. Buy Mom a new vacuum cleaner (Hey, I'd be okay with that), bring her breakfast in bed, give her a bouquet, a lovely card with a nice quote, some handprint art... What other things can you do with Mom for Mother's Day? Well, it depends on the Mom. Some Moms are offended by a gift of a household appliance; some are ecstatic (me).
Scroll to the bottom for Mother's Day cards and quotes.
Quotes and Sayings for Mother's Day.
When is Mother's Day 2014?
Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May or May 11, 2014.
If it were me, I would like to celebrate Mother's Day this way:
Breakfast in bed? Aww.. that's sweet, but if you make breakfast in bed that means the kitchen is a nightmare. I'd rather sleep in and go out to eat at a restaurant. It doesn't have to be my favorite, we'll save that for my birthday, because, after all, it is Mother's Day and you are my children. Without them, we wouldn't be celebrating. We can eat some place everyone likes. On my Birthday, were having seafood and cheesecake.
Now what do we do?
Let's do something fun and untraditional. One year, my parents were in Florida for Easter. After the Easter Bunny visited, we had dinner at Chuck E. Cheese. It was Awesome. We had the entire place to ourselves for an hour and then another family came in, even so it was very cool! I got to play games and sing with Chuck E.- Happy Mother's Day! Playing with the kids was a lot of fun.
Do things as a family! No, I don't mean a movie. Interact, engage:
Go Bowling.
Go to the park and play on the playground with your kids- don't just sit on a bench.
Garden. Instead of a bouquet, get Mom some flowers, gardening gloves, and seeds and then go outside and help her plant them while you talk about fun times together. "Hey, Mom, remember that time when we..."
Take a dinner cruise on a river boat.
Paint a picture! Gather supplies, go outside, and paint a landscape together. It doesn't have to be perfect. Everyone pitches in and paints something. Take it outside so Mom doesn't have to clean up the mess.
Visit a theme park.
Finally, tell Mom you have a great idea. You want to visit a retirement home. Gather construction paper and fabric scraps. Sit down as a family and make those cliche Mother's Day Crafts together- you are making memories. Design a variety of cards for "Mothers", buy some flowers at the grocery on the way to the home, and go deliver some smiles. Give each lovely Mother a carnation and a card. A lot of people are forgotten or separated by distance from loving family members. Making their day special will make your day memorable! Make a paper basket for Mom.
Here are some cute Mother's Day Card Crafts and Sayings.
This beautiful picture from Artrageous Afternoon is inspired by Pablo Picasso's, " Hands with Bouquet ". Hop over to see Picasso's version.
Give a bouquet to a Mother in a retirement home, like this one from
Artrageous Afternoon blog. Inspired by Pablo Picasso's, "Hands on Bouquet".
Or this one, have each family member draw some flowers on white paper, outline them in a darker color, and then cut them out and paste them to the front of a Mother's Day card. Family Collaboration at its finest. This was a class project from Artrageous Afternoon blog. We'll be making this one for sure!
You'll need a nice sentiment for your Mother's Day Card. Here are some fun sayings for cards:
"Mothers hold their children's hands for awhile and their hearts forever."
"God could not be everywhere, therefore, he made Mothers.
"Wow! Mom!"
"I love how we don't have to say out loud that I am your favorite child."
"A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take."
"Just want to say... Happy Mother's Day!"
"The best moms get promoted to grandmas."
So, grab your construction paper, glue, and markers and get crafting! There are a lot of Moms who need an extra pick me up!
Happy Mother's Day!
Recommended Reading:
The Night Before Mother's Day
Cool Father's Day Crafts
Chocolate, Flowers, or Teddy Bears
Mother's Day. So many activities are cliche. Buy Mom a new vacuum cleaner (Hey, I'd be okay with that), bring her breakfast in bed, give her a bouquet, a lovely card with a nice quote, some handprint art... What other things can you do with Mom for Mother's Day? Well, it depends on the Mom. Some Moms are offended by a gift of a household appliance; some are ecstatic (me).
Scroll to the bottom for Mother's Day cards and quotes.
Quotes and Sayings for Mother's Day.
When is Mother's Day 2014?
Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May or May 11, 2014.
If it were me, I would like to celebrate Mother's Day this way:
Breakfast in bed? Aww.. that's sweet, but if you make breakfast in bed that means the kitchen is a nightmare. I'd rather sleep in and go out to eat at a restaurant. It doesn't have to be my favorite, we'll save that for my birthday, because, after all, it is Mother's Day and you are my children. Without them, we wouldn't be celebrating. We can eat some place everyone likes. On my Birthday, were having seafood and cheesecake.
Now what do we do?
Let's do something fun and untraditional. One year, my parents were in Florida for Easter. After the Easter Bunny visited, we had dinner at Chuck E. Cheese. It was Awesome. We had the entire place to ourselves for an hour and then another family came in, even so it was very cool! I got to play games and sing with Chuck E.- Happy Mother's Day! Playing with the kids was a lot of fun.
Do things as a family! No, I don't mean a movie. Interact, engage:
Go Bowling.
Go to the park and play on the playground with your kids- don't just sit on a bench.
Garden. Instead of a bouquet, get Mom some flowers, gardening gloves, and seeds and then go outside and help her plant them while you talk about fun times together. "Hey, Mom, remember that time when we..."
Take a dinner cruise on a river boat.
Paint a picture! Gather supplies, go outside, and paint a landscape together. It doesn't have to be perfect. Everyone pitches in and paints something. Take it outside so Mom doesn't have to clean up the mess.
Visit a theme park.
Finally, tell Mom you have a great idea. You want to visit a retirement home. Gather construction paper and fabric scraps. Sit down as a family and make those cliche Mother's Day Crafts together- you are making memories. Design a variety of cards for "Mothers", buy some flowers at the grocery on the way to the home, and go deliver some smiles. Give each lovely Mother a carnation and a card. A lot of people are forgotten or separated by distance from loving family members. Making their day special will make your day memorable! Make a paper basket for Mom.
Here are some cute Mother's Day Card Crafts and Sayings.
This beautiful picture from Artrageous Afternoon is inspired by Pablo Picasso's, " Hands with Bouquet ". Hop over to see Picasso's version.
Give a bouquet to a Mother in a retirement home, like this one from
Artrageous Afternoon blog. Inspired by Pablo Picasso's, "Hands on Bouquet".
Or this one, have each family member draw some flowers on white paper, outline them in a darker color, and then cut them out and paste them to the front of a Mother's Day card. Family Collaboration at its finest. This was a class project from Artrageous Afternoon blog. We'll be making this one for sure!
You'll need a nice sentiment for your Mother's Day Card. Here are some fun sayings for cards:
"Mothers hold their children's hands for awhile and their hearts forever."
"God could not be everywhere, therefore, he made Mothers.
"Wow! Mom!"
"I love how we don't have to say out loud that I am your favorite child."
"A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take."
"Just want to say... Happy Mother's Day!"
"The best moms get promoted to grandmas."
So, grab your construction paper, glue, and markers and get crafting! There are a lot of Moms who need an extra pick me up!
Happy Mother's Day!
Recommended Reading:
The Night Before Mother's Day
Cool Father's Day Crafts
Chocolate, Flowers, or Teddy Bears
May 1, 2014
What does Non-GMO, Organic, and Fair Trade Mean?
GMO, Non-Gmo, Organic, Fair Trade? What does it all mean?
Lately, I've been getting a lot of social media marketing work from companies with a non-gmo platform. This would be a good topic for a homeschool research paper. You've heard organic and nonorganic- is this the same thing? How are Fair Trade and GMO related? Let's talk about that. Let's learn about that, okay? Enjoy!
What does Non-GMO, Organic, and Fair Trade Mean?
Chaotic Confessions: The first time I heard non-gmo, I was all like, "Yeah, I've heard of that, I know what that is." and I did... sort of. I knew it was something an ecologically minded, environmentally friendly, bleeding heart should support, but I didn't know why- exactly.
It is okay... you can admit it too. When you don't know something, never be afraid to ask. What is the worst that can happen? Someone will laugh at you. Guess what, most of the time they don't know the answer either, they're just trying not to get found out! I get laughed at all the time, but I also know a lot of things others don't, because I am willing to look stupid uneducated/naive. You wouldn't believe all of the amazing things you can learn, if you aren't afraid to ask!
GMO - this is how we see it, but it is really G.M.O. which stands for a Genetically Modified Organism. That sounds bad. It doesn't mean every GMO is bad. They were designed for good. That's the idea anyway, but like all things political, people seem to be either for or against them. Yeah... I'm just going to tell you the facts.
Genetically Modified Organism - Wikipedia says a whole lotta stuff! The simple answer is it is what it says it is, an organism that has been genetically modified using science and engineering techniques. In a manner of speaking, most are designed to avoid herbicides or to act as insecticides. Here is a better definition of GMO.
Glofish are genetically modified organisms. They glow, because some scientist made them glow. (My kids want one, the only reason we don't have any yet is because we are still learning to keep fish alive.)
Genetic modification involves mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes. Remember Dolly, the cloned sheep? That's weird, right? I don't know. A lot of people want to clone (or do clone) their pets. If it were legal, you know people would clone loved ones. I miss my dog.
Cloning food though, when there isn't enough? Modifying plants so they grow where they won't normally... It seems like their heart is in the right place.
What's the problem? The fear of the unknown, of unpleasant genetic mutations, of making cancer causing things. And then, there's the whole we aren't God thing, we won't touch that one either. Just listing it here for the whys and why nots.
So, if that is what a GMO is, then what is a Non-gmo? The opposite, of course. If you visit the Non-GMO Project, you can find products that are GMO free. Hearty Naturals 100% Organic, Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil is also Non-GMO.
Is this the same as Organic and Non-organic? Well, it can be. It mostly is, but Non-organic things could be either GMO or Non-GMO depending on how they are made or manufactured. The scary part here is... some things are sometimes considered Organic, when they have direct contact with GMO's. Get it? Got it? Good!
For example, your organic milk from your free range cow was fed a GMO grain or even a GMO grass. So, although your milk isn't processed in a non-organic way, the cow ate genetically modified food. That can't be right? Can it?
The idea behind organic is that it is all natural. You find an apple tree never treated for bugs, the apples aren't as big because it also isn't genetically modified in any way = Organic.
When mothers are breastfeeding, they are told not to take certain medications, because the medication may find its way to the milk supply... If your cow eats a chemical, you eat a chemical.
That's a brief, easygoing definition of GMO vs. Non-GMO and Organic vs. Non-Organic. You should Google for more information.
Now, on to Fairtrade. People who tout organic and non-gmo also tout fairtrade products. What is Fairtrade? It is based on international trading practices and people who create products from marginalized countries. It works to help sustainable development and improved trading conditions. No children working for 5 cents an hour or day to make our clothing. No woman from a third world country tricked into selling her handmade goods for pennies on the dollar. The true definition is more complicated than that, but you get the idea. Respect others, respect the Earth. Compassionate Essentials is a fair trade market selling handmade jewelry.
Ahh... did you catch the word sustainable up there? Have you heard the word sustainability and wondered what it means? It seems like such a big, scary word, but it is really simple. Sustain means to keep going, to comfort, to help, to assist, to support. Help yourself to live, support yourself by growing a garden. Sustain the environment by recycling. Go green! Sustainability? Will it be able to continue without being completely destroyed? If you grow an organic garden vs. a massive farm plot that utilizes GMO's, you can save our natural resources. If all the factories and technology are destroyed will you be able to sustain your life and that of your family? Recycling helps save trees. Get it? Got it? Good!
You may also want to visit Green Rainbow Revolution, a company dedicated to offering Non-GMOs.
Recommended Reading:
Fair Trade
Seeds of Deception
Compassionate Essentials Blog
Lately, I've been getting a lot of social media marketing work from companies with a non-gmo platform. This would be a good topic for a homeschool research paper. You've heard organic and nonorganic- is this the same thing? How are Fair Trade and GMO related? Let's talk about that. Let's learn about that, okay? Enjoy!
What does Non-GMO, Organic, and Fair Trade Mean?
Chaotic Confessions: The first time I heard non-gmo, I was all like, "Yeah, I've heard of that, I know what that is." and I did... sort of. I knew it was something an ecologically minded, environmentally friendly, bleeding heart should support, but I didn't know why- exactly.
It is okay... you can admit it too. When you don't know something, never be afraid to ask. What is the worst that can happen? Someone will laugh at you. Guess what, most of the time they don't know the answer either, they're just trying not to get found out! I get laughed at all the time, but I also know a lot of things others don't, because I am willing to look stupid uneducated/naive. You wouldn't believe all of the amazing things you can learn, if you aren't afraid to ask!
GMO - this is how we see it, but it is really G.M.O. which stands for a Genetically Modified Organism. That sounds bad. It doesn't mean every GMO is bad. They were designed for good. That's the idea anyway, but like all things political, people seem to be either for or against them. Yeah... I'm just going to tell you the facts.
Genetically Modified Organism - Wikipedia says a whole lotta stuff! The simple answer is it is what it says it is, an organism that has been genetically modified using science and engineering techniques. In a manner of speaking, most are designed to avoid herbicides or to act as insecticides. Here is a better definition of GMO.
Glofish are genetically modified organisms. They glow, because some scientist made them glow. (My kids want one, the only reason we don't have any yet is because we are still learning to keep fish alive.)
Genetic modification involves mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes. Remember Dolly, the cloned sheep? That's weird, right? I don't know. A lot of people want to clone (or do clone) their pets. If it were legal, you know people would clone loved ones. I miss my dog.
Cloning food though, when there isn't enough? Modifying plants so they grow where they won't normally... It seems like their heart is in the right place.
What's the problem? The fear of the unknown, of unpleasant genetic mutations, of making cancer causing things. And then, there's the whole we aren't God thing, we won't touch that one either. Just listing it here for the whys and why nots.
So, if that is what a GMO is, then what is a Non-gmo? The opposite, of course. If you visit the Non-GMO Project, you can find products that are GMO free. Hearty Naturals 100% Organic, Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil is also Non-GMO.
Is this the same as Organic and Non-organic? Well, it can be. It mostly is, but Non-organic things could be either GMO or Non-GMO depending on how they are made or manufactured. The scary part here is... some things are sometimes considered Organic, when they have direct contact with GMO's. Get it? Got it? Good!
For example, your organic milk from your free range cow was fed a GMO grain or even a GMO grass. So, although your milk isn't processed in a non-organic way, the cow ate genetically modified food. That can't be right? Can it?
The idea behind organic is that it is all natural. You find an apple tree never treated for bugs, the apples aren't as big because it also isn't genetically modified in any way = Organic.
When mothers are breastfeeding, they are told not to take certain medications, because the medication may find its way to the milk supply... If your cow eats a chemical, you eat a chemical.
That's a brief, easygoing definition of GMO vs. Non-GMO and Organic vs. Non-Organic. You should Google for more information.
Now, on to Fairtrade. People who tout organic and non-gmo also tout fairtrade products. What is Fairtrade? It is based on international trading practices and people who create products from marginalized countries. It works to help sustainable development and improved trading conditions. No children working for 5 cents an hour or day to make our clothing. No woman from a third world country tricked into selling her handmade goods for pennies on the dollar. The true definition is more complicated than that, but you get the idea. Respect others, respect the Earth. Compassionate Essentials is a fair trade market selling handmade jewelry.
Ahh... did you catch the word sustainable up there? Have you heard the word sustainability and wondered what it means? It seems like such a big, scary word, but it is really simple. Sustain means to keep going, to comfort, to help, to assist, to support. Help yourself to live, support yourself by growing a garden. Sustain the environment by recycling. Go green! Sustainability? Will it be able to continue without being completely destroyed? If you grow an organic garden vs. a massive farm plot that utilizes GMO's, you can save our natural resources. If all the factories and technology are destroyed will you be able to sustain your life and that of your family? Recycling helps save trees. Get it? Got it? Good!
You may also want to visit Green Rainbow Revolution, a company dedicated to offering Non-GMOs.
Recommended Reading:
Fair Trade
Seeds of Deception
Compassionate Essentials Blog
April 30, 2014
My Trip to the Manatee Viewing Center in Florida
Sea Cows: My Trip to the Manatee Preserve in Florida
Looking for FREE things to do with the kids? Mayhem is guest posting. She tells about our visit to the Florida Manatee Preserve in Apollo Beach, Florida. Enjoy!
My family and I went to a Manatee Preserve in Florida. It had a factory thing next to it and a lot of Palm Trees. The factory is in Apollo Beach. It was free.
A sea cow from the Manatee Viewing Center in Florida.
The water near the factory was warm. In cold weather, the warm water attracts the Manatees. We thought we saw a manatee, it turned out to be a shark! We also saw long fish, they had to be up to 10 or 20 feet long! These fish were called Tarpons.
I learned a lot about Manatees. Manatees are awesome!!!!!!! Manatees are sometimes known as sea cows, and the first manatees were thought to be mermaids. Manatees do not breathe water, they are mammals. My trip to the Manatee Preserve in Florida was fun.
Recommended Reading:
National Geographic Readers: Manatees
Baby Manatee (Seaworld Library)
Looking for FREE things to do with the kids? Mayhem is guest posting. She tells about our visit to the Florida Manatee Preserve in Apollo Beach, Florida. Enjoy!
My family and I went to a Manatee Preserve in Florida. It had a factory thing next to it and a lot of Palm Trees. The factory is in Apollo Beach. It was free.
A sea cow from the Manatee Viewing Center in Florida.
The water near the factory was warm. In cold weather, the warm water attracts the Manatees. We thought we saw a manatee, it turned out to be a shark! We also saw long fish, they had to be up to 10 or 20 feet long! These fish were called Tarpons.
I learned a lot about Manatees. Manatees are awesome!!!!!!! Manatees are sometimes known as sea cows, and the first manatees were thought to be mermaids. Manatees do not breathe water, they are mammals. My trip to the Manatee Preserve in Florida was fun.
Recommended Reading:
National Geographic Readers: Manatees
Baby Manatee (Seaworld Library)
