The Art of Collecting
If you have children you’ve certainly experienced the phenomenon of “the collection.” From pencils or shells, to baseball cards or stamps, to rocks or pinecones, these “treasures” can range from the mundane to the elaborate & valuable. You’ve certainly heard stories of baseball or comic book collections selling for thousands of dollars? Well even the smallest wrapper has value to a child.
Toddlers and preschoolers show early signs of collecting as they gather items and plead for them not to be disturbed or thrown away. These “early collections” are often boxed, bagged, hidden in drawers …even pockets! But as much as these items might clog a vacuum or attract a few ants; these collections tell stories.
When you come upon a collection sit down with your child and ask questions. Why did they like the item? What do they want to do with the item? Empower your child to build a story; inanimate objects to us, take on a life of their own for a child. If it is an animal or item which should be returned to nature, help your child learn what a habitat is and why it should be released responsibly.
We’ve got a great activity for you this week – Collection Containers! Celebrate the discoveries by acknowledging the power of discovery. With a cylindrical package like a coffee can or oatmeal box and a toilet or paper towel roll and some potential found treasures to decorate with – you will have a safe place for everything. (we like to keep ours next to the washer – a great place to empty pockets).
Follow along and share your creations with us on Facebook. Let’s Go Chipper!
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Sunny Side up Sunday
I’m hungry? …What’s for breakfast? A Sunday morning full of sunshine and the trails mapped out for the family hike but soccer – the quarter finals of the Women’s World Cup – keeps us inside cheering. We can’t even move to get a bowl of cereal for the kids. And then, our seven year old exclaims: “I know how to make breakfast!”
Swiftly, the pan comes out with eggs and butter ready to go. Standing by her side making sure all is safe; the eggs get cracked, the bubbling sounds send wafts of morning breakfast flavors throughout the house. Bagels in toasting, the game going into overtime, Brazil scores, minutes to go, cross-kick and US heads it in. Game tied again! What will the results be?
For now, we call victory for Sunny Side up and the sunshine will just have to wait.
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First Camping Trip
As the Great American Camp Out approaches, celebrating another year of connecting families across the country for a night under the stars, we are excited to greet the weekend with more families joining Chipper on camping adventures. This week, we’d like to share the story of a family just building their camping traditions. With two active kids, jobs, and daily life Jill and her husband, Sean, haven’t lost sight of the opportunity to just pause and be present with the experience of watching their children make their way into the great outdoors.
The Melchionda Family’s First Camping Trip:
Preparing for our first overnight foray proved to be a bit of work – between buying new gear, meal planning, packing bags for the whole family and getting everything in the car, I have to admit I was wiped out by the time we hit the road! But, for the kids, the planning and preparation was a big part of the fun. They delighted in packing and unpacking their back-packs, had a blast breaking in new sleeping bags on the stairs, testing flashlights – in each other eyes – and choosing which favorite toys to bring along.
To prepare for what to expect on our camping adventure, we read stories about camping and made our list of the things we hoped to see on our adventure. For my kids, this list included: roasting marshmallows and making s’mores, ghost stories, looking at stars, being dirty and waking up really, really early in the morning. I agreed that I liked those things too, except the waking-up early part. My list also included watching my kids play in the campsite, the sounds of their laughter against the backdrop of crickets & a crackling fire, snuggling up as a family in our tent and the smell of the smoke in their hair. Helping the kids prepare for the camping experience was an important part of the process – it helped them know what to expect, and to enjoy the experience fully. Happy to report that our trip was a success, we returned home happy, tired and very, very dirty.
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Bed head, dirty clothes, bumps and bruises – oh my!
The perfect signs of a great summer! Even though summer brings the stresses of “what am I going to do with my kids” the opportunity to just sit on your back porch, deck, or blanket on the grass and watch your child explore is worth the extra load of laundry. For young kids – especially two to six years old, the opportunity to dig in the dirt and experience multi-sensory activities is vital to helping develop a greater sense of self. From fine motor skills to gross motor skills, to brain development like critical thinking, problem solving, team building – a few bumps along the way should be expected.
Childhood is a special time because it provides an opportunity to test limits (while still having a caregiver close by even when unnoticed). This summer, promise yourself to slow down, stop and let your child play, take risks and get dirty. Take off your shoes, dig in the dirt, roll in the grass, and don’t brush your hair. Relax, laugh, and be silly! It’s summer, after all!
Research actually shows that the effects of not letting a child play and take risks are actually more detrimental to the emotional and physical growth of a child than the risk associated with a child climbing a tree. So let yourself say “okay” the next time your child wants to explore.
Here are a few ways Chipper will be going out on a limb to celebrate the freedoms of summer:
- Looking under logs & rocks to find bugs!
- Climbing trees
- Planting seeds and watching what grows
- Moonlit hikes in jammies past bedtime!
- Family camp-out (even if it’s only right in your backyard)
Join us in the great outdoors.
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Celebrating the Planet With Kids
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Hi Chipper friends. We are excited to share a blog from our Ambassador Debi Huang, founder of Go Explore Nature. As we travel the country connecting children to the great outdoors we share what one family is doing to celebrate Earth Day, everyday!Earth Day is right around the corner (April 22) and I gotta admit, I’m a little stressed about it. But not for the reasons you might think. See, we try to celebrate the earth in some small way every day. So how can we possibly make Earth Day something special?
Of course, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Plant a tree. Pick up litter at a favorite beach or park. Hang a bird feeder. Go for a hike. Enjoy a picnic. Read a book beside a favorite tree. The list of possibilities is nearly endless. And each of these small actions has a big impact – especially when shared with kids. Spending time in nature connects kids to the world around them and gives them reason to care about it.
Take it from me. My two kids (who are 6 ½ and 3 years old) have been spending time outside climbing trees, digging in the dirt and exploring trails since they were old enough to walk. These days they care about the trees, flowers, birds, streams and meadows as much as many of their favorite books and toys.
And that’s saying a lot.
So we’ve decided that the best way to make this Earth Day a little extra special is to share our love of the planet with friends – just like Chipper does!
Weather permitting, we’ll enjoy some time at our school’s learning garden. We’ll go on a bug hunt, plant some wildflowers – maybe even read a favorite book on a patch of grass. Whatever we do, we’ll be spending time outside with others.
What could be more important for our planet than that?
To learn more about Debi and her blog, please visit www.goexplorenature.com
Get Ready for the Let’s Go Chipper! Into the Great Outdoors Tour
Chipper’s got big plans for helping families connect with nature this summer. But the fun starts now!
The Let’s Go Chipper! Into the Great Outdoors tour kicks off April 1st – no fooling and we have big plans for Earth Day (April 22). It’s our get-ready for summer program but every day is an opportunity to connect and experience the great outdoors. Each month will be packed with get-ready fun dedicated to one of three themes: the planet, our parks and the people who dedicate their lives to preserving them.
The Chipper Team will be leading events in local communities, state, and national parks, and retail locations to help families gear up and get ready for explorations in nature. There will be story times, guided hikes and nature-based activities taking place in several U.S. cities. If you have an event, please share it with us on Facebook and we’ll include in our weekly newsletters.
But don’t worry if you can’t make it to a Chipper event in person. Several Chipper Ambassadors will help create a virtual path to the great outdoors by sharing their own ideas and activities for getting outside and connecting their families with nature.
We’d love to have you join the fun! Become a Chipper Ambassador, attend a Chipper event, or follow the virtual path that Chipper and his Ambassadors are paving to get families into nature on Facebook and Twitter.
Then let us know what you’re up to! Send your tips, ideas and photos to connect@letsgochipper.com to help encourage others to go explore the outdoors, too.
This week we welcome Debi Huang of Go Explore Nature, a wonderful blog that will offer you great ideas to try at home.
Hope to see you outside!
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It’s Time to Wonder
If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in. Rachel Carlson
The Chipper Ambassador team lived this quote today, celebrating the changing of the clocks and the wink of spring when the sunshine finally peeked through the clouds in the early evening; the day was still upon us though at this time, the day before, it was dark.
The morning started with a story time and activities at REI in Fremont, California – an hour drive past mountains blanketed in shades of green and dotted with wild flowers. Like clockwork, the doors opened and children from birth to ten skipped in ready to play with Chipper, read, sing, and make crafts.
Many times, parents are secure enough to let their children engage with us while sipping coffee and enjoying conversations with friends or new acquaintances. But today, parents knelt, side-by-side, with their children, guiding and enjoying the time. There was no “hurry up” or “let me help you” …it was just joy and “great job.” And there were no tears.
Engaging in a child-like way: with wonder, excitement, curiosity, occasional frustration, and elation brings joy. It brings connection in an open-hearted way. It brings understanding. With stories about nature read, and crafts made from recycled items found around the house, we waved goodbye to over twenty children knowing they were welcoming a new day hand-in-hand with parents ready to explore.
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Ask and You Shall Receive
As an adult, do you prefer to be asked or told what to do? The simple act of turning a statement or directive into a question completely changes the spirit of the moment. When you take this thought and apply it to a child – even as young as two – the results are surprisingly positive. Especially in the middle of winter.
The thought of bundling a child up in the dead of winter just to maintain a connection with nature seems about as pleasant as pulling a child from a birthday party right when cake is being served – would you ever?
The arguing and rationalizing over how many layers, the socks, the shoes …ear muffs, scarf or knit cap? And if you’re pro-active you’ve probably already bundled yourself up; so feeling “heated” by the moment is only exacerbated by the layers you can’t undo because you’re ready to go.
Next time you are in get-ready mode try empowering your child to make the logical decisions. Remember, children as young as two can rationalize these moments even if they can’t verbalize. A few Chipper tips to get you started:
- Lay your clothes out and dress together. Ask questions that will guide your child to making the right choice
- “It’s cold outside, which shirt should I wear? What shirt should you wear?”
- “Do I put on my shorts?”
- “Do I wear sandals or my boots?”
Make it silly, saying “I don’t need to wear my gloves, it’s hot outside.”
You challenge your child’s logical thinking and by making it playful they will engage in helping you get ready by getting ready themselves. Ask, “Show me how?”
The simple act of switching a directive into a question empowers independent thinking in your child; while also teaching them to think about themselves in relation to others. It’s a basic step but one to grow on …especially when engaging with nature.
The Parks are Free For Exploring
There are many state and local parks accessible – even within walking distance that you might not even know about. Sitting down with your children to explore your own local maps and destinations is a wonderful opportunity to talk about how our land is preserved and the wonderful ways you can engage with it.
Simple ideas like
• Unfolding a map - not via the computer but the experience of touching the paper and running your fingers along the places you can visit – is a tactile experience for a child.
• Holding the map and playing a game of “discovery” by calling out places then helping your child search for them on the paper (prompt by referencing colors, what the illustration is, etc.)
• Letting your child take the lead when walking a trail and asking questions – welcome all answers because a child’s imagination will come up with wonderful explanations at this age
These are simple ways to empower your child’s learning process; while you will also help them naturally exercise curiosity, leadership, critical thinking, and relationship management …all through play. For children under six these experiences are vital for social and emotional growth and starting within the home is a positive first step for everyone.
To learn more about our state and local parks visit www.nps.gov and www.npca.org.
Twirl, Skip, Splash, Jump
It was the perfect plan: rain boots on, slicker zipped up and out the door we dashed – another puddle jumping Sunday. Our dog tugged at the leash and I’m still not sure if it was because she wanted to catch the ducks she knew would be floating along the canal or the cars with their windshield wipers swishing back and forth. I held Gracie’s leash tightly while the kids twirled their umbrellas and raced along the sidewalk to the path.
No one was there. It wasn’t a dark day but rather light colored clouds offering a quick shower and a chill only California people would call “cold.” We dodged raindrops in the rain, gave the dog a good walk then made it home to warm up before the school play. It was only at the play that I had learned I was crazy.
“You are crazy for taking your kids out in the rain like that today.” I turned to look at a parent whom I recognized but didn’t know their name. “What?” I asked. “Why would you take your kids out on a day like today?” “Because it was fun,” I said matter-o-factly. “We all got exercise, drank from the sky, and watched the Great Egrets and Blue Herons hunt for worms in the marsh.” A disbelieving shrug and the under-the-breath comment “your kid’s are going to catch a cold in the rain.”
Yes, I Googled it. Can Playing in the rain make you sick?” I didn’t have time to read the over four million responses that came up but I felt confident with the answers which validated what my mother had always told me when I squished through the mud in our backyard wearing my dad’s rain boots.
Rain and cold weather don’t make you sick – but it does make you stay inside more which puts you in contact with more people. More people allows for more germs to spread. And more germs can put you at a greater risk for getting sick. So, skip, twirl, slosh, jump, and splash! Let’s Go Chipper …Into the Great Outdoors.
Stepping into Nature
A Salmon Spawning Sunday
It’s also more important than ever to keep our waterways clean as I witnessed on our hike today. While making our way along the fish ladders and then down to the stream where you can sometimes spot salmon laying eggs, we were shocked to discover a loud noise swooshing through the trees was not a bird – but a water bottle thrown by a passenger in a truck crossing the bridge. A silent moment overcame us as we stood amongst lush foliage, in such a wide variety of greens, and wet rocks sparkling from the sun sneaking through the trees. What a contrast, a contradiction. The salmon spawn in an area known for its conscientious citizens and we wondered how someone “just passing through” could show such a lack of respect; we also wondered if it was a local lacking appreciation for what they had access to each and every day.
It was only a moment before Avery felt compelled to carefully step rock-to-rock and retrieve the bottle wobbling in a perfect spot for salmon to nest and spawn. She also found a softball, toilet seat, and plastic bag. I was proud, Avery felt empowered.
We must all feel responsible and care for the environment. Young children are intuitively empathetic so engage and explore the great outdoors with them, and be amazed – inspired – by what they imagine and express.
You can slip and give into the sweets this year but commit to the resolution “just one piece” when it comes to picking up trash in your path each day in 2010.
Let’s Go Chipper!
Retrieving a bottle littering a stream bed for salmon
Fish Ladders for Salmon
Pocket Parks in the City
pocket parks in new york city
Continue Reading February 1, 2010 at 3:54 am Leave a comment
Waking up to Nature
Putting a little nature into the morning routine help kids wake up the body and mind, and prepare for a good day.
A Natural Milestone
Earth Day celebrations – forty years of service and dedication is now passed on to our children, will we encourage and inspire them to do the same?
Teaching Children to Care for the Earth
When children are playfully engaged good values and character are positively reinforced. Let’s Go Chipper helps teach children the principles of Leave No Trace.
Celebrating Families and Independence
This Sunday, families and friends across the country will celebrate our nation’s independence –flaunting red, white, and blue on the Fourth of July. It was in 1776 – 234 years ago – that our fore father’s signed the Declaration of Independence. Written by Thomas Jefferson, it is the day America declared itself independent of the British Empire.
So as parades go by and communities celebrate, Chipper’s Tips assure everyone will be in full cheer:
1.Stay Together! Large crowds often form on Fourth of July fireworks displays, parades, and other such outside events, so please stay close together to ensure everyone’s safety. Pick an easy and familiar spot to meet at in case someone gets lost. Remember Chipper’s tip: “You can play, but don’t stray.”
2.Be safe! Fireworks are dangerous when not handled properly, so keep children at a safe distance and under constant parent supervision.
3.Careful cooking! When barbecuing, prevent injuries or burns by making sure all children stay away from the cooking area and keep all fires under control with water nearby at campsites in case of an emergency. Don’t forget to leave no trace and clean up afterwards, making sure all flames are put out.
4.Think of your Pets! Pets often become frightened with loud noises such as those made by fireworks, so be prepared to either leave them at home, bring something to shelter them with, or bring something that might help comfort them in such a distressful time. Most importantly, prevent possible injuries by restraining them in some way and ensuring that they, too, keep their distance from all fireworks as well.
5. Sun Protection! Remember to re-apply sunscreen every two hours or so to prevent any possible sun damage. Chipper’s tip: “From your head to your toes, and don’t forget your nose.”
Happy 4th of July!
Feeling Chipper Head-to-Toe
Chipper playfully teaches children to wear sunscreen and the importance of head-to-toe protection.
Family Camping with Chipper
family camping trips are fun when following a few of Chipper’s tips
Feel’n Chipper in the Parks
Celebrate National Parks & Recs month this July. Connecting families at the local parks help foster a stronger community and a love for the great outdoors in children.
The Perseid Meteor Shower
Chipper adventures into the great outdoors to see one of the year’s greatest meteor showers – The Perseid Meteor Shower. Help kids see stars at night with Chipper’s great tips.
Chipper Tips for Healthy Back to School Habits
Chipper tips for back to school lunch planning. Chipper offers a few simple ideas to playfully teach your children healthy eating habits when at school this year.
Last Minute Summer Fun
Connecting kids to outdoor educational activities and neighbors.
Continue Reading September 3, 2010 at 3:43 pm Leave a comment
Falling Into the Great Outdoors
When is the last time you climbed a tree? When is the last time you piled the leaves high only to knock them everywhere; or wondered why the leaves change colors this time of year? The latter is a question just posed to me as I chased my daughter down the path with the dog close behind. We had just stopped to pick up a big cattail, my daughter was excited to have it as her tail. Once off her bike, she couldn’t resist picking and poking through the grasses to see if she could find something else: “a ladybug, piddle bug, anything, she said.”
Foraging around a tree she asked, “Mom, why are the leaves forgetting to be green?” Only a child could ask the question just so, but I was left blue without an answer. I promised to “look it up” when we got home.
The answer, of course, lies in the magic of nature. According to scientist there are many environmental factors that cause shrubs, plants, and trees to change throughout the seasons but let’s simplify so kids will understand the story and be excited to go out and explore.
A leaf is a food source and is dependent on air, water, night, and the light of day. It uses Chlorophyll to survive. Chlorophyll is green and covers up the leaf – and any of its colors – when it is living.
In the fall, the days are shorter so the leaf can’t get as much food from the sun. When this happens the chlorophyll breaks down and the green disappears revealing a leaf’s true colors like red, yellow, orange, and brown. The magic of nature is a great lesson to share …followed by crunching, crackling, and tumbling. The fall leaves are here.
Chipper Tips for Happy Holidays
Daylight savings is here which means the holidays are just around the corner and so is the stress of planning activities with friends, keeping kids entertained or “mindful” at gatherings, and managing expenses.
Chipper has a few quick tips as you approach the holidays: playful yet disciplined to help create boundaries for yourself and those around you.
1. It’s not “No” it’s “not Now” – Don’t give in to yourself or child as it pertains to food, activities, or purchases but help set up a goal-oriented mindset. Establish the goal, write it down, work for it, and then reward. It becomes a game and everyone can celebrate the win – be it a sweet, ski outing, or outfit/toy. Do this together with your child so they understand there are things that you want and need to work for as well.
2. I’m Chipper for_ -we all say “I’m thankful” at Thanksgiving but adopt this phrase and fill in the blank everyday with yourself or child. Research shows by focusing on what makes you happy you can improve your physical and mental health. The Mayo Clinic offers extensive research on the matter – but just try it for yourself. Identify something immediately in front of you to be happy about – I’m Chipper for skipping, bumping into a friend, the penny I found, or the sunshine coming through the clouds. You can change your mindset and the effect is longer-lasting.
3. Being prepared – How many times have you said “you wish you would have been better prepared”? Adopt this exercise – get what you need done out of your head, off of your Blackberry, and on to a pad that sits right with your keys or someplace accessible. Is it dry cleaning for you? Snack pack for your child? Whatever it is, just write it down and put it in a place where you can see it immediately. Sound familiar? Maybe something you saw your own parent do when you were a child? It works. Get it out of your head so you can just get it done.
Three tips but one final thought. Simplify. Let go and be okay with everything just the way it is this year. Embrace it actually and feel lucky for where you are right now, and set goals for where you want to be in the New Year. Let’s Go Chipper!
Back to www.letsgochipper.com
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