Shhhhh, in just over a week the one day moms stop what they are doing and except as their day will be here: Mother’s Day!
Whether it’s a brunch, breakfast in bed (how about some heart shaped toast for mom using a cookie cutter?!) or just a day away with friends it’s the one-day mothers worldwide get to let go and have the family take care of them. If you’re a mom reading this just push the “share” button because we’ve got some fun ideas this year to help make it special.
Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official holiday in the US in 1914 when Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation. Anna’s mission was to honor her own mother whom was a peace activist on both sides of the civil war. Today, families around the world celebrate moms with gifts and flowers. This year, what about something a little more sentimental?
Take the time to sit down with your child and talk about what it means to be a parent. Write a list of things mom does to make everyone feel special. With these thoughtful ideas you can create the perfect gift to make mom feel special:
1. A Portrait of Mom:
What could be more creative than a personalized collage for mom? Do a search around the house and even in the recycle bin. Find little trinkets, images from magazines, old photos, pins and beads or whatever you can find that represents mom and everything she loves. Simply arrange your findings onto a poster or recycled cardboard and glue down. You can create mom’s smiling face or maybe an animal she loves. It’s up to you!
2. DIY Functional Faceplate:
The LivingPlug INLET + Make Your Own Faceplate Bundle truly makes DIY gifts easy! Simply choose a photo of you and mom or of something mom loves then upload and crop into a square! Order by Monday May 4th to get your Faceplate printed and sent in time for Mother’s Day!
Recycling is a wonderful place to start DIY projects and is also a great way to show your love to Mother Nature! Find a container, box, can or anything you can recycle into a “Love Bucket” filled with positive, loving notes to mom or even “chore coupons” like “I’ll wash the dishes for a week!” or “I’ll help fold laundry for a month!”
Simply find a container (we used recycled gum containers) and decorate with paints, glitter, paper flowers, hearts etc. Fill the container with recycled paper scraps, each one with a note or chore coupon written on it. Glue on a ribbon to hang around the house or simply place on mom’s bedside table. It’s a great DIY that’ll keep in giving!
What are some other DIY gifts you’ve made for mom?Share with us on Facebook or in the comments below!
Kids can be picky eaters, especially when it comes to trying new and nutritious foods like beets. Many parents don’t even consider serving certain foods thinking their kids will turn up their nose at them. Don’t underestimate this tiny, red root vegetable though. It’s packed full of energy-boosting, heart-healthy nutrients and makes a colorful addition to any dish. Go ahead and give beets a chance!
“Mom, if we’re Irish how come I can’t see Leprechauns?” Hmmm, I had to ponder this question last year as I walked with my daughter from school on a rainy day. Our path was under dark clouds streaked with little cracks allowing just enough sunshine to peak through and make for a magical skyline.
I opted for the easy out: “Leprechauns are magical like fairies so you can feel their spirit around you but you can’t always see them.” It didn’t work. We’re at the tail end of “Do you believes” and the Leprechaun answer wasn’t buying me any time. She challenged me on how I can believe things I don’t see or have proof of.
How do we exercise the magical little spirit born from a clear conscience that fades at an age far to young for my liking? Make believe and “Let’s Pretend” games have lost out to apps that distort your voice or change your face into a circus character. We aren’t relying on our imagination when the device is directing us, and many parents feel pressured to push their kids to perform over free play.
I’m never one to give up and continued on about how there is much around us we cannot see but if we just take a moment and wonder, the feeling of hope and faith will win over our mindset and the need for intellectualizing the matter at hand. I explained to my daughter that we don’t always need an explanation when we feel a certain way. The ability to believe in ourselves is important; our thoughts, feelings, actions, and attitude toward the world around us should be enough sometimes. We don’t always need proof.
It was a simple conversation but the base of it was “self doubt.” I knew my daughter was feeling doubt with herself so she was having doubt in everything else around her.
We continued on and looked up at the sky marveling at how it can change in an instant. The clouds had parted even more which made a beaming of light lead straight to a large painted map on the blacktop. It sparked excitement in my daughter and just as she looked ahead ready to race to the playground she stopped. She grabbed my hand firmly. I looked at her concerned and she just pointed ahead without a comment.
Literally the beam of light lead right to a man crouched over the giant map painted on the blacktop. He wore a black old-fashioned suit with big black boots. He slowly stood up and turned slowly as if realizing he had been found. My daughter and I stared at the man – astonished – it was a Leprechaun! No kidding, the man wore a suit too short we could see his boots and ankles. He even had a rounded top hat and a full beard.
We approached slowly; my daughter never let go of my hand. The man stood silently as we neared. I felt the pull of my daughter so I walked away from the map and eased us toward the swings. He watched us and then gave me a wry smile and walked on across the blacktop to the grass.
My daughter and I stopped and turned, both of us silent. Then she looked at me with wonder.
“It’s what you believe, that matters.” … I gave her a smile and she released my hand from hers and bolted to the swings.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your kids and make this recipe and a Recycle Leprechaun Craft! Traditional Soda Bread was not the sweet raisin-and-caraway-filled loaf many Americans eat today. A real soda bread is a simple loaf with a beautifully browned, craggy crust and a nice chew, best eaten liberally smeared with salty Irish butter.
The ads in the papers, TV, and push notifications on our apps all say “Presidential Savings” to capitalize on a day meant for celebrating our US leaders whom have lead this country to where it is today. You might not like where we are today as a nation but if you turn off the noise and focus in on family you’ll quickly realize the most important guidance starts in the home and empowers the core character of our children. And feel lucky that you only have to guide your family and not the many layers of government that help the President run a country of billions.
My own parents instilled in us the understanding that we are all a part of what makes a home, community, country and world, good. Treat your neighbor with respect, care for the environment around you, and never shy away from lending a helping hand.
There are many ways to instill a sense of giving in your children. The basic assigning of age-appropriate tasks like making the bed to taking out the trash teach responsibility which is at the core of self-discipline. Introducing your children to experiences, which include people or animals in need, will activate their hearts and emotions allowing everyone to tap into empathy. It’s empathy that drives our compassion to help others and perhaps that is why so many presidents had dogs in the White House. Sure, it makes for incredible photo ops but research shows caring for an animal or having an animal in the home reduces stress and increases compassion.
Schools across the nation are beginning to welcome pets into the classroom to help teach responsibility and care for others. This tail-wagging program is helping reduce the stress of bullying cases for these participating schools. I’ve often wondered why we need a pet to teach us this when human-to-human interaction should excite these emotions. After years of working with animals through 4-H and now as a foster family for Rocket Dog rescue I realize it is the innate understanding of unconditional love. Dogs and most pets don’t hold anything against us. They will give love, be an enthusiastic participant in play and stand by your side no matter what you choose to do. They won’t judge. They lift you up when you feel down.
Research shows having a companion beaming with unconditional love and attentiveness strengthens our own emotions and helps us with relationships. Our four-legged friends keep us physically fit; they stop to say hello to neighbors which helps strengthen our awareness of our community. They help us think beyond ourselves. As we celebrate President’s Day – remember: to lead is to guide others with decisiveness based on realizing what is best for all and with compassion for everyone.
Imagine if our world leaders met at dog parks instead of windowless rooms with hardback chairs. I imagine we would treat each other differently. Like Harry S. Truman once said
Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of the country as Wall Street and the railroads.
An inspired childhood is our gift to our kids and it is built on what we give emotionally, do to set an example, and provide as a means to supporting the skills our children will need to grow up and be successful independent contributive adults. It is the giving of ourselves and the sharing of our own stories – how will you build your family foundation?
The pressure to raise a high achieving, conscientious and contributing child can overshadow the benefits of giving back as an individual or family. When we help others, we are reminded of what we have and don’t have in life. It is an opportunity to teach our children what life is really about and how we can contribute for the betterment of our community and world. Helping excites emotions of empathy, joy, guilt, and often leaves us motivated to do more. But understanding these emotions and convictions isn’t intuitive.
So when is the right time to teach our kids about giving, and what are some of the steps we can take to connect them with opportunities to help in the community?
Research has shown that a child can start determining right from wrong by the age of 6 months, and by the age of 15 months, a child realizes for every action there is a reaction. A person drops something and the child – not yet walking – crawls over, picks it up, and gives it back. Now that we know there is reason to believe every child has the capability to grow up and give back, let’s take time to allow our kids to grow into the opportunities to contribute.
Beyond the physical action of committing to a specific organization, each day you can find ways to excite the emotional, mindfulness of your children just by presenting positive experiences. By doing so you are exciting the intuitive mindset; understanding that a child will care for what they love, or feel a positive connection towards. Ask for help and empower their minds to think creatively about how they can solve a situation. Little helpers become creative thought leaders so guide the process and provide age-appropriate opportunities that work for your family.
For example, without joining an organization you can model helpful behavior for your kids under five just by picking up trash on the sidewalk as you make your way to the park; holding open the door for the next person as you walk into a store; or taking the shopping cart back for the person parked next to you at the grocery store. Children mirror what they see and these early interactions will allow them to experience a positive reaction, thankfulness.
Next time you are on a hike with your three year old talk to them about keeping the trails clean so the plants and animals will stay healthy. Bring an extra bag to pick up any trash and then talk about the best way to discard it. The walk is healthy and you are teaching your child about environmental stewardship in a joyful way.
For children under five years old the opportunity to give and contribute is within daily activities and experiences so identify activities that tap into interests as well. Like art!
Next time you host the play-date or birthday party try infusing crafts into the celebration. Decorate cards then string them up and donate to your community nursing home or Veteran’s hospital. By the time your children reach the age of six or older bring them to the nursing home to deliver the gifts. Click here for some great recycle craft ideas!
Many elderly people are part of an Adopt-a-Grandparent program and the activities provide opportunities for younger children to visit, sing, read, participate in crafts, and hear stories of times we don’t even think about anymore. These are also opportunities for children to connect in a safe environment and learn respect for adults.
From friendly visits to dog walks, young children can give back without the pressure of “saving the world” so acknowledge these sweet moments as real learning experiences. And remember to be patient; new experiences can take a child out of their comfort zone. Other ways you can help connect your young child/children to giving back are:
Baking or bringing a meal for a friend or family– Next time a new baby arrives, a friend is sick, or you know of a friend-in-need ask your child to help pack a welcome meal or package then deliver together.
Walk the dog, take out the trash, water the lawn, the simple gesture to a friend or family member will receive gratitude and it will impact the way a child sees themselves in relation to others.
When children reach school age, allow them to participate in organizations like Girl and Boy Scouts, which provide necessary training for various activities. These organizations also work closely to ensure the safety of your children while also teaching leadership skills.
Additional opportunities include:
Serving at a Soup Kitchen: Through your church or civic organization, check the minimum age requirement and chaperon the experience. The lesson is powerful; be prepared to discuss mental health to financial matters with your children.
Babysitting at Sunday School: Helping out within a familiar environment builds a sense of pride and community. Your child will also receive feedback from others, which helps reinforce good character and a contributive mindset.
By the time your children reach tween to teen years you might even consider an international trip to help build a library, latrines, or work building new homes for communities-in-need. With the holidays fast approaching take a moment to identify something you can do as a family and get ready to make it a tradition!
The turkey is in the oven, the pumpkin pie is cooling, and little fingers are picking mini marshmallows off the top of the yams. Approximately 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States. That’s a lot of turkey! Now even though it’s called ‘turkey day’, cooking isn’t the only fun activity your family can do on this day of thanks. Besides eating, Thanksgiving is a great holiday to discuss family traditions, connect with extended family, and show your appreciation and gratitude.
Here are some kid-friendly activities for the whole family as you await the bird in the oven:
1. Leaf Hunt!
Search for some colorful fall leaves outside or print and color some Chipper Fall Leaves or Helping Hands. Then hide them around the house! Make it a treasure hunt by giving clues of thanksgiving related items! Here are a few example hints to get your started:
Pumpkin Pie is really great and very yummy. What do I need to help me eat and put it in my tummy? (Answer: The Silverware Drawer)
Turkey, Potatoes, Green Beans on my plate. This is where we eat the turkey dinner, it tastes so great! (Answer: The Dining Room Table)
Family time and meet and greet! When we relax together, this is our seat! (Answer: The Living Room Couch)
Happy Hunting! You can also create gorgeous cards (or see the craft below!) and name tags for your Turkey dinner using your leaves and mod podge after your game:
2. Turkey Run!
The mountains of food seems endless on Thanksgiving Day, and so do the cravings for more than one slice of pumpkin pie; but not if your family works up an appetite! ‘Turkey Trots’ are very popular and can help raise funds for a good cause. Take a look at this website and see how you can join a “Turkey Trot” near you! Or take a stroll around the block with the whole family after dinner to help digest the big meal. a simple walk is a great opportunity for some great family conversation!
3. Let’s Learn About Our Family!
What better time for kids to learn about the family history than on Thanksgiving, when the entire family is gathered together! Print out a Chipper Family Tree and have the kids interact with each family member to see where they belong on the tree. When dinner is finally ready, bring out the completed tree and have each member tell a family story!
4. Thanksgiving Day Placemat!
Print out our complimentary and have your little ones color and fill it out. It’s a great way to keep the kiddos occupied while also teaching them about healthy eating habits and what they are thankful for! Click here or on the image below to download and print (please use legal paper or print on two letter sized paper and tape together).
5. Recycle Craft Turkeys!
Create a cute centerpiece for your table or use them as name tags for your Thanksgiving feast seating!
Materials:
Recycled Toilet Paper Roll
Tape or Glue (we love double stick tape!)
Markers or colored pencils
Pipe Cleaners or some Fall Leaves
Googly Eyes (optional)
Recycled paper colored or construction paper and some scissors (optional)
Popsicle stick and square of paper if making name tag for table
Directions:
Start with your Turkey face! Draw eyes, a neck waddle, a beak or use googly eyes, cut a triangle from construction paper for the beak and waddle.
Draw on some wings and feathers with markers or colored pencils.
Now add your tail feathers! Find some colorful fall leaves outdoors and glue or tape on to the back of your roll. Or curl some pipe cleaners with your fingers and glue or tape on. Add feet with folded pipe cleaners or cut some out of paper and attach to the bottom of your turkey with glue or tape.
If you are creating a name tag, cut out a small rectangle of white paper, write on your name, then attach to your popsicle stick with glue or tape. Then attach to your turkey, sticking it to the inside back end of your toilet toll with glue or tape.
Add to your table so everyone know where to sit! Or just place in the center or around the house for some fun decorations. You can even use them as napkin holders! Just fold your napkin through the center of the roll.
EXTRA CRAFT: If you find some pinecones outside while searching for leaves, add some googly eyes, paper beaks, and feathers with hot glue (with supervision) to create festive table decorations!
For more fun Thanksgiving activities, visit our Thanksgiving Pinterest Board! Please share your crafts with us in the comments below. Have a Fall-tastic Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble 🙂
The Holiday season is upon us and it’s time to start the fun! More often than not, games and activities these days are played on a screen. Kids aged 8 to 18 spend, on average, 44.5 hours per week in front of a screen, according to the Department of Health. Whether they are watching their favorite show or writing… er, typing a school assignment, the amount of time kids (and adults too!) spend looking at a screen is flabbergasting!
Apps and online games can be educating, fun, and beneficial in various ways but we cannot underestimate the importance of real-life experiences and play. Play is a remarkably creative process that fosters emotional health, imagination, original thinking, problem solving, critical thinking, and self-regulation. As children actively invent their own scenarios in play, they work their way through the challenges life presents and gain confidence and a sense of mastery. When they play with materials, children are building a foundation for understanding concepts and skills that form the basis for later academic learning.
Combining the digital and durable worlds is something our Let’s Go Chipper!™ programs have been encouraging for years and now our friends at Magic Toy Maker are bringing in some cute spuds from the App world righto your doorstep. Little Airplane’s Small Potatoes, a popular kid’s show in the UK starring adorable, singing spuds, has come to life in a new app, Small Potatoes Magic Toy Maker. Dress up and personalize your Small Potato with an array of Holiday outfits on the app then get it delivered right to your doorstep for under $20! Shipping is free until November 11th so don’t miss out on the fun! Plus, you can design your very own gift tag with a variety of fun backgrounds and stamps to personalize a present.
There are hundreds if not thousands of new apps to choose from out there but the Small Potatoes Magic Toy Maker is different because it integrates online play with a physical good! Nothing is more magical during the Holiday Season than bringing imagination to life in the form of a soft and cuddly plush toy designed with love. Download it today for free on iTunes or Google Play and join the conversation on the Magic Toy Maker Facebook page!
Monday Mayhem: You start off strong ready to conquer the week and by the end of the day you wonder if you’ll even make it to Wednesday. Sound familiar? Part of this feeling comes from being conscious of everything you have on your “to do” list rather than the task at hand. So start the week of by listing your “to do’s” on a daily basis then let it go so everything can fall into place and happen. At the top of the list is probably what you need to pick up or make for dinner. As we welcome a week we know will end in screams – rightfully so – let’s kick-off some Halloween fun that will also encourage your kids into the kitchen.
Here are two simple Mighty Mummy dinner ideas to kick off this Monday …and maybe even repeat before you go Trick o’ Treating. “Playing with your food” never tasted so good …er ghoulish.
Mummy Pizza
Ingredients:
½ cup black olives, sliced
1 package of mozzarella cheese, sliced
English muffins
½ cup pizza sauce (click in the link for an easy recipe or buy it pre-made!)
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Open your English muffin and spread some pizza sauce on it. Let the kids do this – they’ll loved it!
Next, give each mummy two eyes using the black olive slices.
Lastly, use to cut the mozzarella cheese slices into strips. Again, it doesn’t have to be perfect. The kids can lay them over the top of the crust.
Bake 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy 🙂
Mummy Dogs
Ingredients:
8 hot dogs
1 can prepared dough of your choice
mustard or ketchup, for serving
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375˚F
Roll out the dough very thin, then use a pizza cutter to cut skinny strips of dough.
Wrap each hotdog. Leave a little bit of open space around the “face” of the mummy. Keep wrapping in a crisscross pattern until covered. Let the kids do this, it feels sticky & fun. Repeat, then lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or baking mat.
Bake 18-20 minutes, until the dough is nice and golden brown.
Use a toothpick to make ‘eyes’ with mustard or ketchup, admire, then enjoy 🙂
What other Halloween snacks do you and your kids love to make? Share with us in the comments below or on Facebook.
Helping your family “Fall Back!” – Daylight Savings Time ends November 2, 2AM
An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.
– Winston Churchill
Before we had kids, I used to love the end of daylight savings time – a wonderfully lazy Sunday morning gift. In that gloriously anticipated hour, I’d sleep late, or indulge in coffee and reading the Sunday paper front to back (yes, back in the day of the paper actually showing up on your doorstep).
As a parent, next Sunday reminds us that there are no more free hours. Instead, we walk out of work in the dark and wake the kids up when their little bodies are telling them it’s still too early.
Your overtired, off-schedule little ones can be a challenge, but take heart: it usually takes less than two weeks for circadian rhythms to adjust. As the family looks forward to a snuggly autumn and winter, here are some tips for “falling back” more gracefully:
Be consistent. Keep meals and activities schedules in place. Keeping your routine with little standard time tweaks will help ease the transition.
Get outside. Sunshine is the reset button. When you can get your kids into the sunshine first thing in the morning, their bodies will adjust more easily. No sunshine? No worries. Just seeing the light of day, and the fresh air, makes the moment the perfect wake-up call. Check out this list of 50 ways to get outdoors in your own backyard for some ideas!
Adjust your schedules. Start bedtime 15 minutes earlier a week as you head into the November 1 weekend.
Nap. Nap. Nap. If you have young children, watch for signs of fatigue and put them down before they miss their sleep window. Crankiness doesn’t help the transition.
Give your early risers what they need. For children over four years old, early rising will be an issue. Give them a stack of new library books and an alarm clock. Agree that they must stay in bed until their “wake-up time,” and allow them to peruse their new books if they’re up early or download some FREE coloring pages here. Blackout curtains can help since it will be much lighter in the morning.
Connect. On Sunday, take advantage of that gloriously anticipated hour to enjoy your family. Take a fall leaf walk in the park before the winter weather sets in. In the evening, enjoy an early dinner, a cuddle on the couch; and an early evening story or movie.
Chipper Family Moments Pamphlet for November! Click here to sign up.
With your child snuggled next to you, reminisce about the good old days where you took that extra hour to sleep in your bed. Free of diaper wipes, stuffed animals, blankies, and shin guards, you could read the whole paper. Today, you’ve got the whole world in your arms.
Chipper Tip: Remember to check your smoke alarm and flashlight batteries when you set your clock back and add a few more canned items or flats of water to your grocery list – you are winter ready!
Why do mummies never reveal their true age? Because they like to keep it under wraps!
Make some fun Recycle Halloween Crafts! Click here for instructions.
Halloween is almost here and is a time where both kids and parents get out the cute or scary costumes, the spooky decorations and the delicious candy for a family fun holiday! Enter our Halloween Contest by sharing your costume ideas or past costume pictures to our Facebook wall! Winner will receive our Chipper Family Moments intro box of fun ideas and activities to connect family.
Click here to enter our Chipper Family Moments Halloween Contest!
Whether you’re Olaf, Elsa or even a scary Vampire this year, Halloween can also be a useful learning experience in both manners as well as safety for your little ghosts and ghouls. Three rules to remember this upcoming Halloween; be safe, be healthy; and don’t forget your manners!
Caution! Witch Crossing.
Help your children be safe by giving them flashlights, reflectors, or glow sticks to help them see and be seen by drivers when crossing the streets. According to safekids.org, on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year, so make sure they’re prepared, understand the importance of staying on the sidewalks, and are aware of their surroundings. A parent or responsible goblin should always accompany the young witches and wizards and should remind them to only visit homes with a porch light on and NEVER enter the home or vehicle of a stranger.
Happy Healthy Haunting!
Click here for Healthy Halloween Snacks and Treats!
Remembering to keep happy and healthy eating habits with all the surrounding candy can be quite a challenging task. Remind your children how important it is to eat a good meal prior to trick-or-treating and to avoid tummy aches by rationing treats for the days after Halloween; all things in moderation. It’s also very important to sort and check each of the prized candy to confirm no tampering was done. An adult should throw away spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious treats. To promote healthy diets for children, some companies will even buy back the candy from your little ones this year; to find a place near you, check out this website >>>> http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/
I Witch You A Happy Halloween!
Halloween is a great opportunity to practice good manners. Remind your little goblins, ghosts and ghouls not to be greedy. One piece of candy from each house is the general Halloween rule and a nice “Thank you!” at each and every house is a must. Even if the candy choice isn’t a favorite of your little ones, a “Thank you!” is still important and shows everyone how polite and well mannered your young Trick-Or-Treaters really are. Another great way to practice good manners is to remember to stay on walkways and avoid stepping on flowerbeds and lawns. Teach your little minions (or monsters?) to treat each home they approach like it’s their own! What other manners do you teach your kids during All Hallows Eve? Share with us in the comments below or on Facebook!
We just couldn’t resist one last treat – Have A Fang-Tastic night!
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” ― David Steindl-Rast
Daily expressions of deeply felt gratitude is a common experience among happy, healthy families. Like any other good habit, learning to feel and express gratitude takes practice. Fortunately, even before you’re great at being thankful, practicing gratitude will affect the happiness and success of every family member. To build your gratitude habit, adopt some of the following practices:
1. See the Sunrise – Starting your day with a quiet moment of reflection centers both your body and mind. Before your day gets away from you, imagine the people and things that are gifts in your life. Activating your brain with what’s so great about parenting, you are better prepared to greet the inevitable “ Mommmmmmm, where are my cleats, flash cards, homework I forgot to do?” with appreciation and patience.
2. Express and model gratitude – Albert Einstein once said, “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.” This means you. Declare your gratitude as it happens—often and out loud to whomever will hear it. There’s plenty to notice: Healthy kids, secure homes, great teachers, a cup of coffee, the driver who stopped so you could cross the street, and the trash that was taken out before you asked. It’s all a gift. Showing appreciation builds and encourages our friends and family. It also reminds them of the gifts in their own lives.
3. Make creative fun ways to show gratitude in your home – Whether you have toddlers or teens, there are wonderful ways for children to learn to visually express gratitude.
Try a family gratitude journal. Each person in the family is asked to share one good thing at dinner which is then added to the journal.
Fill a jar or bowl with tags, leaves, or stones.
The family fridge or a whiteboard are excellent places to display our joy at the gifts. Place post-its at kid level to note things as they happen.
You will find this exercise will quickly build on itself.
4. Make time to get out together – Walk out that door! Throw caution to the wind! The benefit of 30 minutes–as a family–outdoors far outweighs dirty dishes in the sink or the unmowed lawn. Call out to your gang to put down the electronics, come out of your bedroom, and walk away from the clothes hamper. Instead, walk together to the park. Jump on your bikes and let the kids be the guides. Get an ice cream. Make up a neighborhood scavenger hunt. Talk, share, ask questions, connect.
Being truly present is a gift. When we give quality time to our kids we are showing them love. Be grateful for them. They will be grateful for you. (even if they don’t always say so.)
Remember the year 2000? In the United States, a pound of bacon only cost $3 and a gallon of gas set people back $1.26. The iPhone was still 7 years away from being introduced. But on September 2, 2000, some hearty adventurers, tired of being tied to an office cubicle day after day, launched Geocaching.com. The adventure to inspire outdoor play through GPS technology began.
Just like any story-worthy journey, Geocaching.com’s beginning was filled with uncertainty. Before “geocache” joined the ranks of approved Scrabble words or a Geocaching game piece rocketed to the International Space Station, Geocaching.com launched with only 75 geocaches. Today the site lists the locations and descriptions of nearly 2.5 million geocaches. Adventure is truly waiting to be discovered all around you, as long as you’re in the 180+ countries where geocaches are hidden [hint: you are].
Here are some more little known facts about the game you love:
The activity of geocaching was originally known as the GPS Stash Hunt.
What we now know as the first geocache was hidden on May 3, 2000.
The cost of running Geocaching.com was originally funded by the sale of donated tshirts.
More than 9 million people have created Geocaching profiles.
The word ‘geocache’ means ‘hidden location on Earth’, as ‘geo’ means Earth, and ‘cache’ is French for a hidden location or place.
Share your Geocaching birthday wishes and personal geocaching fun facts (like when you started geocaching) on the Geocaching Facebook page.
The mere mention of the word ‘treasure’ is guaranteed to light up kids’ eyes. So, why not take them on a real-life treasure hunt with geocaching? People use global positioning devices and the internet to seek out items hidden by others. “When my guys were 12 and 13 it was fun to do geocaching where you find people’s hidden items via internet clues and GPS. It’s done all over the world [and] it’s fun to hide items too,” says mom of two, Kerri Hopkins. Want to try it? Check out Geocaching.com for help and download their free app!
Let’s Go Chipper into the Great Outdoors and find some Geocaches! When, where or what was your last Geocache? Share your story in the comments below or on Facebook!
This past Friday I was so excited to come home from work because I knew the house would be clean. I’m not one to have cleaning help but after fostering three dogs and many family-and-friends travelers I raised the white flag and said “Calgon take me away!” The smell and the shine was worth the slip – one turn down the hallway in my socks and I was grabbing the wall to stay up because the floors were waxed (did I pay extra for that?).
Friday night is family night so at dinner I couldn’t help but bring up the conversation on how keeping the house clean and organized really helped me feel empowered to get through each day. A silly topic to kids, and maybe shallow thinking to some, but having an organized and clean house does make me feel like I’ve got everything in order. I do walk out the door feeling like I can get everything done. It’s my thing and I want it to be everyone else’s “thing” as well.
I’ve directed everyone over the years on what I expect them to keep clean in their bedrooms and what I expect everyone to help with around the home. Not one wanting to be the author of many “Chore” charts I’ve posted notes and raised my voice a few times – none of it really created consistency. So before taking the family dinner down the path of “don’t get anything dirty” I decided to ask a few questions.
Where should we hike this weekend?
Who needs what for back-to-school supplies?
What’s for dessert and what’s our movie for tonight?
If you can believe – my youngest exclaimed: “Whatever we do we have to keep the house clean.” What? I couldn’t believe it so I asked, “How are we going to do that?”
Without another prompt my other daughter immediately shared a list she had created when she was little on how she would keep her room clean. It was full of pictures and symbols she said represented everything. With that simple prompt both girls set out to write up a list of items they would focus on to help keep the house clean.
When presented Callie shared that she would include vacuuming because she knew how important a clean floor is when you are cooking. Callie presented her list to us, and wanted to share with other families. Her excitement and deliberation were so evident; her next goal is to laminate the list so she can check and wipe off to start again each week.
The power of conversation goes beyond the boardroom or cocktail party – bringing relevant topics to the family table like individual needs or weekend activity ideas sparks thoughtful conversation and engages kids on a new level. Kids are empathetic and they want to help – when we ask what they can do around the home or for us as parents/caregivers we ignite curiosity; executive function kicks in, leadership skills, and a sense of worth are a part of this as well.
According to research, children even younger than 15 months have empathy and realize others and their needs. When we consider physical abilities and emotional readiness we can set personal expectations and engage with our children in a much more positive and constructive way. When we include our children in the conversation about all noted above they feel responsible to the overall wellbeing of the family. A strong sense of emotional responsibility is powerful in the most positive way.
Try posing a question over telling someone what to do. How does the person respond? Do you find the conversation and actions more positive? Model this approach with your spouse or partner, do you find the results more positive? It’s a simple switch in the way we communicate but the results are impactful and beneficial to everyone.
With a clean house and committed siblings the weekend was so pleasant – I’d like to know what questions will you ask this week?
Take advantage of the clear Summer Skies! There are many opportunities to have fun this Summer, and one of them require only your backyard, some family and friends, and a clear night. The answer? Stargazing! It’s not only a fun, bonding experience but you and your little ones can learn something new!
Why stargaze?
Our galaxy is filled with planets, comets, asteroids, nebulas, black holes, and stars! Everyone should take advantage of the beautiful view available anywhere on a clear night. Not only is it fun and inspiring to look at the amazing night sky, there are also many chances to learning something new about our Universe. Here are some facts and information to answer any questions your little ones might have!
What are stars?
Remember the song “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?” It perfectly describes our fascination with those twinkly dots of light! They are bright, but some are brighter than others. They are also extremely distant from us. The closest stars to Earth after the Sun (yes, the Sun is a star!) are Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, which form a binary pair (two stars that orbit each other). The third star, which may or may not be part of our solar system, is Proxima Centauri and is about 4.22 light-years from Earth.
Stars are made out of very hot gases and produce their own energy. There are many types of stars and when a star gets old (think several billion years!), it starts to die and all of its gases are pushed into space. New stars are soon made out of those gases. Yes, even stars recycle! Some of the heavy metals found in human chemistry and other life on our planet were created from dying stars. You can scientifically say we all have a little star dust in us!
What about those shapes and patterns?
The patterns seen up in the sky are called constellations. They are patterns made out of stars, each different than the other, varying from animals to mythological creatures. But you can’t see all of the 88 modern constellations in one night. While some are visible right from your backyard, there are even more on the other side of the world.
Some cool constellations you must see:
Orion – Named after a hunter from Greek mythology, you can see it from all over the world! Just look for the distinctive 3 star belt.
Ursa Major & Ursa Minor a.k.a Big Dipper & Little Dipper – They can be found right near each other and look like large, square spoons.
Hercules – Dedicated to the strong and immortal son of Zeus, the king of the mythological Greek gods, it is the fifth largest of the modern constellations.
Draco – Latin for “Dragon” and shaped like the fantastical mythological creature, this constellation can be seen all year.
How to Stargaze:
Everyone will enjoy this wonderful night activity on a warm summer night or anytime of the year. Here are some directions to get started:
1. Check your local weather reports for the best clear night to stargaze. Here’s a great website to check besides your local weather report: http://www.noaa.gov
Tip:The best night to stargaze is one before a rest day or the weekend as you will be pretty tired after a long night of stargazing!
2. Have supplies ready before the night of the event:
• Clothes and blankets, bundle up in layers, the temperature could suddenly drop at night even though it summer
• Pillows, rug, blanket or anything comfortable to lay down on and keep you dry and clean
• Snacks and drinks to nibble on while watching
• Binoculars and/or telescopes – if you don’t have any binoculars or telescopes available, try a FREE Stargazing Apps:
3. Chose a location. It could vary from your backyard to your nearest park. Keep in mind to choose a location with the fewest lights to have a better view of the starlight!
4. Decide on when to go, gather all your supplies, and have fun! Consider waiting for one of the several meteor showers throughout the year. Count how many shooting stars you see and don’t forget to make a wish! Here’s a list of meteor showers in 2014:
Name
Date of Peak
Moon
Quadrantids
Night of January 2
Just past new
Lyrids
Night of April 21
Rises around 3 a.m.
Eta Aquarids
Night of May 5
Sets after midnight
Comet 209P/LINEAR
Night of May 23
Early morning crescent
Perseids
Night of August 12
In view most of the night
Orionids
Night of October 21
Dawn crescent
Leonids
Nights of November 16/17
Early morning crescent
Geminids
Night of December 13
In view after midnigh
Obsessed with stargazing or don’t have the time to do it during the week?
Stargaze right from your home with this quick craft!
Materials:
An old jar with its lid
Blue or black construction paper or use markers/crayons/colored pencils to color recycled paper
A hole puncher
A glow stick
Directions:
Roll up the construction paper inside your jar and cut out any excess that overlaps so it fits exactly inside the jar.
Hole punch “stars” anywhere on the construction. Tip: Want authentic star patterns? Use this Constellations guide to help you draw constellations.
Roll the construction paper inside the jar and place 2-3 glowsticks or battery operated lights inside.
Twist on lid to jar to close tightly.
Turn off all the lights and enjoy your new stargazing jar!
Stargaze this weekend or even tonight to see the Perseids Meteor Shower! Share your star gazing tips with Chipper below.
The morning hustle: head down getting everyone up and out the door with little time to wrap my head around what is really important to me on this day. Dashing out the door with totes, lunches, and kids in tow we zip to the highway for the first drop-off on the last week of summer camps. Music on, conversations fragmented and a red light finally offers me the first brief moment I get to pause. On this particular day, the pause at what my daughters call “the longest light” is suddenly so worth it.
“Mom, what book do you think that mom is reading to her daughter?” I look over and marvel that through the oncoming traffic and nestled into a bus shelter surrounded by the hedge greening the road my daughter notices a mother and daughter quietly reading; so focused they don’t hear or realize life whizzing by them. What a way to start the day. I am reminded that it only takes a few moments to make a meaningful connection with your child. Sitting closely, turning the pages, and discussing the story, I thought to myself “what an opportunity to connect.”
The green light sets us back on our way but I stayed in the right hand lane with the slower traffic so I could spend a little more time with my kids today. We talked about the summer library program and how we needed to catch up since we didn’t read as much while on vacation. My eldest daughter reminded her sister of the book she’s suggested, and for once my youngest agrees it might be time to try a “bigger” book. She asked if I would sit with her to read it in the beginning in case she had trouble with some of the words or understanding the story. I agreed.
For the next ten or so minutes we named all the books we could remember reading. We shared our favorite books we had read together as kids, and I shared the book my mom gave me years ago repeating what she wrote on the inside cover. I still cherish the message today.
Snuggle up and read with your kids.
Reading is essential to the positive upbringing of a child. The benefits are never ending but a few important ones come to mind:
The opportunity to snuggle up and physically connect – using your voice to put life into the story, hands to depict characters and scenes all add to the magic of the moment.
Left to right – run your finger along the page as you read and you help your child understand that’s the way to read a book. Read then discuss the illustrations to teach visual storytelling. Sometimes words and pictures are different but it’s interesting how they can tell the same story.
Engaging your child’s imagination excites verbal skills – repeating words, and asking questions will spark conversation and help your child form complete sentences as well as learn new words daily.
Academic excellence – it’s probably the number one goal most parents have when they think of their child’s future. Research shows early reading moments will help students perform better in school.
Interpersonal relationships – all stories are based on relationships and the opportunity to learn through imaginative stories will help young children build basic skills for positive interpersonal relationships.
There are more reasons to read together and LeVar Burton is probably the biggest champion of reading to children. Research continues to validate the benefits at every age and stage of a child’s early brain development.
I could spend hours reading through this research but inspired by the mother and daughter sitting at the bus stop I’d rather turn the page with my own children and create a story or two of our own. What is your favorite childhood book – share with us on Facebook or start reading today with your children.
During summer and spring we all see our gardens and surroundings fill with gorgeous flowers that we want to bring inside to liven the house! Let your kids feel as though they are a helpful part of decorating the house with these fun vases made out of recycled cans. Not only are crafts fun, they help improve emotional, physical and mental development! Read more about the benefits of crafting.
Encourage spending quality family time together with this project and get out of the house and into nature to explore allowing your children to develop a connection. It’s very beneficial and important to take a break from your busy week and enjoy the outdoors with your loved ones! Read about the importance of spending time in nature.
What you need:
Metal Can (soup or food can; or go big with a coffee can or oatmeal container)
Glue or Tape
Construction Paper or Recycles Paper
Scissors
Extras: Paper, Cotton Balls, Ribbons, Buttons, Pipe Cleaners, or anything fun you want to stick on your can
Optional: Flower Seeds and Soil
Instructions:
Sit down as a family and let your minds go wild! Make a can that encompasses your personality that you would be proud to have around the house. Clean out the cans and make sure all materials are laid out before you begin the project.
To make a woven paper decoration for your can as seen above, just cut 1 inch thick strips of paper from two different colors of construction paper (or try using folded strips of Newspaper from the Funnies section!)
Lay two strips of your paper in the shape of a plus sign and tape them together. Weave another strip through and tape the ends of horizontal strips to one of the vertical strips, alternating top and bottom attachments.
Weave the remaining vertical strips, securing their ends to the top and bottom horizontal strips. Trim off any extra paper and use tape or glue to attach to your can!
Once your cans are done, take a family hike to pick up flowers to put in the cans. Or add dirt and some seeds to grow your own plants in the can.
Place somewhere fun in the house and enjoy! Make sure to read directions on your seed packet and put it in the sun if you decide to grow your own flowers.
What other uses can you find for your decorated can? Share with Chipper in the comments below!
The travel frenzy is everywhere. More cars are on the road, trains on the track, and planes in the air to get families to far-off (or close by) destinations for a chance to relax. Raise your hand if this just sounds like a one-way ticket to stress!
Recently, we traveled overseas – total flying time there 16 hours, nine of those hours included an orchestra of crying kids each out-screaming the other. At one point the stress level in our section was so high even the adult passengers joined in just to feel like they were also being heard. While you can’t program good behavior when traveling, preparing before you go will help your child feel more safe, secure and ready. Here are a few Chipper Tips so you’re ready for takeoff:Plan Your Flight: Picking the right day and time is important when looking for best fares but it is also important to think about how your child feels during the day. So, night flights might save you some spending cash but the stress of keeping fellow passengers awake because your child can’t sleep isn’t worth the savings. Download and print our Chipper Checklist for your child!
Think about what’s best for you as a family when it comes to timing.
Bulkhead seats offer more legroom which can allow for some “floor time” when flying so choose your seats wisely.
For longer flights (overseas) you can often order a special meal or kids meal for free so check into this when booking flights.Pack Right: Packing is the perfect opportunity to get your child involved and it helps empower independence.
Make a checklist together and then get packing.
Favorite T-shirts, shorts or shoes – get them in the bag.
A small tote or backpack that your child can carry will help them feel like a happy traveler. Have an extra set of clothes, favorite plushy, coloring book or activity, and a special snack or sweet they get to choose on their own to have on the flight.Be On Time: Dashing to the gate is fine when you’re on your own but it is a stress builder when traveling with a child.
Before you go discuss what happens through check-in.
Arrive early and ask questions to help your child guide everyone and feel like the travel leader.
Be at the gate and wave to everyone on the ground – count how many people will wave back to help your child feel a part of the process. Most importantly though, be there to get first boarding and help your child say hello to the flight attendants. Establishing a deeper relationship will help build respect for all travelers.
For non-drowsy passengers, have your activities but also relax the “no media” rules as most flights provide entertainment and it’s a treat to get to watch together.
Take a walk through the cabin and play “The Captain Says.” It’s just like Simon Says and you can take a couple turns through the cabin having fun while stretching your legs and relaxing your child. Some favorites for us: “Walk like a penguin;” “Reach up high and stretch your arms;” “Put your hands on your knees like you’re hiding from the flight attendants;” …then back to your seat.
Always have a favorite food and a few special snacks in your own bag. If your child loves pizza bring the slices. Have a lollipop for the descent as it keeps kids busy and the swallowing helps keep ears clear.
Pressure-Free Landing and you’re on your way. Children even under three can understand your visual prompts and conversation when packing and preparing to fly so start early when getting ready to go and include your children.
When we include our children in the process of planning and preparing for a trip or even daily activities we help them gain independence and the confidence to help out in the home.
Everyone loves to know that they are appreciated and loved no matter what age; but with our busy schedules today we often forget to stop for a moment to make sure everyone truly knows how important they are in our lives.
According to the Raising Children Network, any kind of acknowledgement will help to build confidence, develop a relationship and encourage good behavior. Emotional literacy is also an essential skill to develop within children starting at a young age and by allowing them to express themselves through these notes you greatly enhancing their literacy by allowing them to be emotional in an nonverbal way.
The container for this week will help ensure that these special thoughts and acknowledgements are not forgotten by making cute ‘mailboxes’ for everyone in the family.
Once the mailboxes are complete and placed somewhere central in the house with paper and pens, everyone will be able to capture their thoughts of appreciation by simply slipping a note into a family member’s mailbox. You can also make it a family event to read everyone’s notes out loud, allowing the family to gather together once again.
What you need:
Coffee or Oatmeal cylinder container
Tape
Scissors
Magazines, paper, paint or anything you want to stick on your container
Scratch paper for your notes to each other
Pens for writing notes
Creativity and Imagination!
Making your container:
Find a time your family is all free and begin to collect materials to decorate your container.
Cut a slit in the top of the container making a place your special notes can be placed.
Let your minds go wild and make a container that represents you and you want to have on show in the house.
Chipper made this cute “Piggy Bank” container with pink construction paper. Make your own animal (cow, horse, squirrel, etc.) or just decorate it with markers/crayons, nature materials, glitter … sky’s the limit! Add a “tail” to your mailbox by folding a strip of paper back and forth until you’ve reached the end then tape it to your container.
What kind of notes will you deliver to your family? It can be as simple as, “Thank you for doing the dishes!” to a more elaborate message of appreciation for behavior, actions, or even a hug! There’s nothing like getting some appreciation after a long day of work or school so consider making it a weekly family action.
Share your family mail boxes with Chipper and the gang in the comments below or on Facebook! We’d love to see what you come up with 🙂
This Thursday, 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.
Get your own Chipper Plushy at our store!
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.”
Summertime is the perfect time to let kids explore while you’re outside; whether in your backyard, the beach, or a local park keeping everyone within eyesight or earshot creates a safe space for children to exercise some independence. And these explorations usually end up with kids coming back to you with pockets full of special “finds.”
This week we welcome our summer Chipper Intern, Alexa Swartz, and her ideas on where to put the treasures you decide to keep.
Chipper Intern – Alexa Swartz
I remember collecting things as a child when out hiking with my family. Many items are a part of nature so my parents always taught us the principals of Leave No Trace which meant we needed to leave most of what we found with nature and the animals using it as a resource for their habitat. But some items made it home and the mementos soon took over drawers and countertops. I like thinking back on this time and I realize it’s so easy to allow kids to contain these souvenirs with fun containers to store them in!
As an intern for Lets Go Chipper I will be posting weekly container crafts to offer ideas for all your keepsakes – they even make great packaging ideas for birthday gifts or housewarming gifts.
Not only will these crafts create a fun way for kids to store all their pieces of summer, but making crafts actually helps improve fine motor skills, strategic thinking and builds self-esteem in the process. Read more about the benefits of crafting!
Week 1: The Gum Container
What you need:
A plastic gum container
Mod Podge, glue, or tape
Scissors
Pipe Cleaners
Magazines, paper, paint or anything you want to stick on your container
Creativity
How to make your container:
Set out materials on an easily cleanable surface allowing your child to create without worry. Breaking down a cardboard box is an easy way to create a workspace that protects counters or tables you don’t want to get dirty.
Encourage your child to make a plan and think about what they want before immediately jumping in.
Feel free to create! There is no right or wrong in this project so let their imaginations take flight and see what the container ends up looking like. Let them use any medium and design they want. This project is about the process and fun and memories that come from creating the container, don’t dwell on if the child will like the outcome and just let them enjoy the process.
Enjoy! Fill the container with anything, from pens and pencils at school, to sticks and rocks found around the garden. Let it contain whatever the child perceives to be important to them.
What else would you do with this container? Share with Chipper in the comments below!
Today’s children are losing their connection with our natural world and spend over seven hours a day of “screen time.” The negative effects are lack of physical exercise and opportunities to explore creatively and exercise our critical thinking. That’s the research, but what if we just go on our gut instinct and reflect on how our days unfold?
When we pause the “research and worry” button and consider our basic desire to connect with our children and just play, we should all feel confident in just saying “yes” to taking time to join our kids on the floor, grass, or on the swing set! Adventure into the park, take a walk around the block, or get the bikes out. Nature is waiting for us.
Children in touch with their natural environment are healthier, do better in school, have increased creativity and improved concentration. Realizing these benefits and sharing adventures and experiences help broaden a child’s perspective on life which leads to a stronger emotional spirit. Even more so leading children in guided experiences, engaging in hands on activities, and exciting conversation will inspire a contributive spirit so today’s child will become a more conscientious, involved student and member of the community.
So what can we do?
Let’s get physical – Be active, play outside, and just excite a sense of freedom to explore
Connect with the outdoors – Provide access to safe, green spaces
Discover the five senses – Provide activities which will engage seeing things in nature, listening to nature, touching, smelling … even tasting
Participate – Provide opportunities for your kids to engage in the process and therefore be interested in taking care of the animals they find in nature
Most importantly for parents – don’t fear getting dirty. We say, “It’s not a good day unless you do a load of laundry.” So next time you have the urge to check your phone or text a friend when your child is close by, put it back in the bag … maybe play a little “tag” and see how letting go can make you feel connected to your child and remind you of how easy it is to build your own care free spirit.
How do you get outdoors with the kids? Share with Chipper!
Explore the outdoors with your little one(s) and collect nature materials to make cute critters! Not only will you a foster a connection with nature, your kids can also exercise their imaginations and creativity. There is so much you can find outside: nuts, rocks, sticks, leaves, petals, and more.
Picture from naturallymom
Chipper Playfully Teaches: Earth and Space Science, Creative Arts and Fine Motor Skills.
Adventure into the great outdoors with young children and use the natural materials as craft supplies for creating creatures from the children’s imagination or animals identified on the walks.
Collect with a Partner
Timing: One Hour
Explore and collect: 15 minutes
Craft Time: 30 minutes
Extra 15 minutes: Travel time and padding because projects with young children will always take longer than you plan!
What you need:
Reusable tote to carry found treasures
Cardboard bases from recycled boxes and scrap paper and materials for accessorizing crafts
Glue and string
A partner or chaperone
Imagination
Create a crocodile!
Chippers Tips:
Explain the rules of staying together “You can play, but don’t stray!” and the project
Check off that everyone has their tote for collecting items. While exploring, be it in the backyard of a school facility, house, childcare center, or beyond the yard, keep children on track by talking about what they might find; the colors, shapes, texture and more.
Assist young children with glue or glue gun and string assembly.
Welcome conversation while exploring. What do you see, hear, smell and feel?
Get bit by nature…creatively!
Upon returning, sit down and talk about the items in the bag and what can be made; a butterfly from leaves, a nature cake, a boat from sticks, a car from rocks and bark. Welcome the conversation and encourage the creativity!
A veggie garden is a great place to teach your youngsters valuable lessons while spending satisfying time together. Gardening is more entertaining than any video game; I have yet to meet a child who didn’t get a kick out of playing in the dirt, planting seeds and watching them grow. And finally, there’s no better way to get kids to eat veggies than to grow their own.
Jasper the Jack Rabbit and Chipper help out in the garden!
So where do you start? These 10 ideas just might inspire your gardener-in-training:
Take a field trip. Visit a farmers market or produce aisle and talk about what you see. Explain the life cycle of a veggie, from seed to fruit to dinner table. Have kids taste-test a few varieties, then help them plant the ones they like.
Let them choose. While at a nursery or garden center, ask your kids to pick out a few seeds or plants they want to grow. Also let them select any extras, like trellises or containers. If they’re involved at the very beginning, they’re more likely to remain interested throughout the growing season.
Give ’em some space. Pint-size gardeners love to have their own little section of a garden. They’ll treat this space with extra-special care. Let them make the decisions, from what gets planted to keeping the occasional “pet” weed.
Tools of the trade. On birthdays or other occasions, give your children a colorful garden tool, apron or hat. Make it a game to get dressed up as a gardener when it’s time to play outside.
Family history lesson. Use your time outside as an opportunity to tell kids about your family. Was Great-Grandpa a gardener? Did Aunt Nora grow heirloom tomatoes? It’s a great way to get them interested in relatives and radishes at the same time.
Theme gardens. Try an alphabet garden, where your kids choose everything from asparagus to zucchini. Or create a garden of miniatures with cherry tomatoes or mini-pumpkins.
Be realistic. You can’t expect a 6-year-old to spend an afternoon weeding, so you’ll have to perform some of the mundane tasks yourself. When kids do tackle these chores, don’t expect perfection—a few jagged rows or a weed here and there won’t matter. Remember that kids have short attention spans, so make your garden a fun place where they can see real results.
Let’s go crazy. Kids love unusual varieties, so don’t be a conformist. Instead, walk on the wild side with yellow tomatoes, white eggplants, purple carrots, brightly colored chard and giant pumpkins.
Teachable moments. Explain how natural vegetable gardening promotes healthy living by providing safe, nutritious, low-cost food for the family. Also point out that growing your own veggies means more exercise, no pesticides and less pollution from delivery trucks.
Continue in the kitchen. Invite your children to help you make dinner by adding cut-up garden produce to a salad or soup, and let them snack on a few as you cook. Don’t be surprised if they learn to love veggies.
The bottom line? Kids imitate what they see. If you love to grow things, chances are they’ll be enthusiastic, too. And remember that one of the most important things you’ll ever grow is a gardener.
Plan a community garden for your school or neighborhood! Collect spare change to fund the project and teach your kids how they can help make change for the better!
10 Best Veggies For Kids To Grow
Sugar snap peas. Kids love to eat them fresh off the vine and they are packed with Vitamin C!
Lettuce. Easy to grow and lots of cool color varieties, plus it contains a considerable amount of iron.
Pumpkins. Plant a smaller variety, like Jack Be Little, for your smaller helpers. Don’t forget to eat the seeds which help keep heart heathy!
Radishes. Within a month, these fast growers are ready to pick AND they help keep away allergy sniffles.. Just for giggles, try red, white and purple varieties.
Carrots. Quick-growing carrots are perfect for short attention spans. In addition, they are filled with powerful vitamins that support your eye sight.
Potatoes. Kids really dig potatoes, which are as much fun to harvest as to eat. These nutrient-dense veggies can be cooked dozens of ways!
Green beans. The big seeds are fun and easy to plant. Plus they are packed with Vitamin B!
Cherry tomatoes. Little hands love to pick these tiny fruits. They are sweet and nutritious, filled with fiber, protein and Vitamin C.
Sunflowers. These beauties take off without much work, and come in tall or small varieties. Plus, it’s fun to harvest the seeds, or leave out the seed heads to attract birds.
Broccoli. Like many veggies, garden-fresh broccoli tastes sweeter than store-bought. Broccoli is also a powerful antioxidant and great for bone health.
What other veggies do you kids love to grow? Share with Chipper in the comments!
Chipper playfully teaches Earth and Space Science, Creative Arts and Fine Motor Skills.Create your own special nature journal with recycled materials that can both help save the environment and embrace the beauty of nature!
Collect Your Materials
Explore and Collect materials like:
Recycled paper (Paper bags, used computer paper, light colored newspaper, light colored magazine pages, etc.)
Cereal Box or any recycled cardboard box
Hole puncher
String and yarn
Paint, markers, crayons, colored pencils
Leaves, petals, seeds, and sticks
Chippers Tips:
During your outdoor adventures, help your child engage their five senses to evaluate what they see, smell, taste, hear, and feel. When they find something that peaks their curiosity, ask questions and peak their interest in drawing or writing it in their journal.
Ideas to inspire creativity – cloud chasing or finding characters in clouds, bird watching, evaluating insects, making silly faces with friends, eating a piece of fruit and finding various types of leaves!
Tell your child to, “Play but don’t stray!” when they are exploring and to “Keep your tail on the trail!”
Make your journal.
Making your Nature Journal:
For cover: Decide on the size of your journal and trace and cut out from your cereal box or every day box. You can use either side of the box to face out.
Decorate the cover using collected and coloring materials.
Journal pages: cut the paper bags or found papers to just within the size of the cover.
With adult help use a hole puncher to make 3-5 holes lined up on the front and back cover. Do the same with the inside journal pages.
Weave the yarn/string to connect the journal and tie a bow at the top or bottom to secure the bindry.
Time for creating! Encourage story telling through pictures and images, words, and found materials all celebrating nature or daily experiences. Make it a weekly activity to explore the outdoors and then add to your nature journal!
Celebrate Easter and Earth Day with this cute recycle bunny craft! For many of us, Easteris the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. For others, this time of Spring celebrates the Jewish holiday of Passover. However, for those who aren’t religious, Easter is followed with the tradition of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving baskets of candy.
This tradition of bunnies, eggs and candy go back to the holiday’s root purpose: procreation! Easter was originally the celebration of Ishtar, the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility. Her symbols (like the egg and the bunny) were and still are fertility and sex symbols. After Roman Emperor Constantine decided to Christianize the Empire, Easter was changed to represent the rebirth Jesus as well as the spring season of birth and growth. Who knew!
Have some fun with your kids creating this colorful and playful bunny from a recycled toilet roll. Create a habitat for the bunny with other recycled material and let your children’s imaginations roam or take it outside and explore nature with your recycle craft bunny!
Supplies:
Recycled Toilet Roll
Paper (Chipper used red and white but choose any two colors or use paint!)
Markers
Pompoms
Scissors
Glue
Googly Eyes
Directions:
Cut two long skinny bunny ears out in the same color and cut two more smaller ones out in a different color. Glue the smaller ones inside of the larger ones to create bunny ears.
Cover the roll with paper your used for larger ears, cut with scissors to fit and tape or glue to attach to toilet roll. Or paint it whatever color you like!
Glue the ears to the inside of the toilet paper roll with smaller ears facing forward.
Glue on googly eyes and small pompoms for nose and tail. Add any other decorations that you can think of!
Draw on whiskers with marker or pen. Try adding a smiling bunny face too!
Place your bunny somewhere around the house or classroom OR go outside and hop around!
Make it a teachable moment! Check out these fun facts about bunnies and share with your little ones. Have a Chipper Easter! 🙂
Can you believe we have a generation growing up realizing that we are all different and that we should celebrate not criticize, shame, nor ignore individuals needing our kindness and support. We live during a time when parents have enough information teach their children acceptance and even more so to acknowledge that we all have a right to reach our potential? We share knowledge through so many channels and, collectively, we can make change for the better.
One of the best ways to teach your children acceptance is through education. Give age-appropriate information and then look for influential and inspiring individuals either aligned with the cause or someone faced with the challenges. Share your own experiences as a child and how you overcame indifferences through education.
When you educate you empower empathy and the interest to help. Collaborate within your community and come up with ideas to support causes or share Chipper’s Making Change for the Better initiative where every person can help reduce waste while increasing financial support for others in need.
April marks Autism Awareness and Acceptance month and Earth Day – so we have reasons to celebrate when noting causes which support people and nature … a very Chipper cause!
We are moved and inspired by the work of Dr. Temple Grandin, animal science doctor, professor, best selling author, autism activist and probably most noted in the livestock industry as an exceptional animal behaviorist for her teaching the industry more humane livestock handling processes. In 2004, Grandin received the “Proggy” award in the “Visionary” category, from PETA. It should be noted that Dr. Temple Grandin was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two but she regularly speaks and shares of her success stemming from early support and a supportive foundation built by family and educators. Read her most recent book.
During the month of April we will support A4CWSN giving away books and Chipper plush and sharing stories. Join us raising awareness and acceptance and learn more at Autism Speaks.
Autism Awareness: Make Change for the Better!
Educate and Inspire Action
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex set of neurological disorders and developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. ASD is generally diagnosed before three years of age. There is no known cause of autism, but early intervention plays a huge role in treatment and can greatly improve a child’s development.
Autism is a spectrum condition; this means that although some people with autism may share certain difficulties; their conditions may affect them in different ways. Many individuals with autism can live independent lives but others may need a lifetime of special support. In March 2012, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued their ADDM autism prevalence report. The report revealed that 1 in every 88 births in the United States is shown to have a form of autism. The report also shows on average 1 in 54 boys were diagnosed with autism, and 1 in 252 girls. Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
The Facts
There is no medical detection or cure for autism
Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many prevalent childhood diseases
Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism
The annual cost of autism is $60 billion
The annual cost of autism per person over a lifespan is 3.2 million
The annual cost of autism is $60 billion
60% of costs are in adult services
The Hope
When we all work together we can help fund more research into the causes of autism, provide families with financial support, and increase awareness and acceptance of autism spectrum disorders.
Did you know? One 14.5 ounce can (standard soup can) filled with mixed coins can average anywhere from $12 – $45+. Imagine if you find a few dollar bills laying around as well – put them in the can and let’s help contribute.Your spare change makes a difference!
The snow is melting, the time has changed and the weather is officially transitioning to warmer days that linger into the night. It’s spring. What a time to connect.
What other reason do you need to take your kids outside – sunshine synthesizes the vitamin D, fresh air helps clear the mind, and the trails are ready so pull out the map. Overwhelmed by what to do? Then ease into the change; stay home and get to know your backyard, front porch, even your windowsill. It’s time to garden!
Tilling the soil is tactile which excites the senses. Allowing your child to touch the soil when planting gives them the physical experience which is beneficial especially to kinesthetic learners. The gentle push of a seed into a can or container inspires an emotional connection. Ask questions like “what will grow here,” “how will you take care of your seed?”
By taking time to brighten up your home with plants and flowers you welcome a new season while teaching your child about weather, caring for the environment, parenting, and even cooking! Planting carrots takes just a few feet sideways and down and the magic of pulling out a crunchy snack from the ground in the middle of summer is something to remember. Have you ever wondered how long it takes to grow a carrot or the many different shapes – take a look here!
At the end of the day, watering and checking your plants gives your children a sense of responsibility and an appreciation for schedules. If you are considering flowers, hop on over to one of our favorite blogs – Frog Mom and see what’s growing on.
The biggest “aha” for parents is the reminder that getting dirty has its benefits and place in a child’s life …so let’s get growing! We’ll see you in the garden.
You see the signs right? And it seems obvious but millions of pounds of trash and plastic enter our waterways through our curbside drainage system each year. The effect on our plant and sea life is huge: about 22,000 bodies of water in the United States are considered “impaired” by the Environmental Protection Agency due to this pollution.
As we celebrate National Wildlife Week and the theme being “water,” be inspired to take action over just acknowledging the importance of clean water for our animals on land and sea.
What we can do:
If you see it, own it: Lead by example and pick up trash when you see it on the ground. Use good judgment, plastic/foil chip bags, paper bags, and plastic bottles are generally safe to pick up but be safe first.
Make the grade: Collaborate with your classroom and take a walk through the neighborhood. A good stroll is healthy for both mind and body and the clean up helps foster a deeper connection with your community.
Power to the Park Ranger – Chipper is the most enthusiastic ambassador in town and always pays respect to the ranger. Invite your local state or national park ranger, or junior ranger, into the classroom to teach kids about streams, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, even the little puddle along the path. All give life to the forest and eventually make it to the sea. Teaching kids the principals of Leave No Trace will inspire them to pick up any litter along the trails during spring and summer hiking and camping adventures
Here are some great tips and things to keep in mind:
Collaborate as a family, school, and community and join Chipper in Making Change for the Better – what we do as individuals makes a different for all! Print the label below, attach to recycled can, collect change, and donate to the Ocean Conservancy to help keep our water ways clean!
When I first created Chipper his big adventures were to start at the windowsill of a bed and breakfast cottage nestled within a bed of color reminiscent of a Monet’s Garden painting. Chipper would delight in tales delivered by the cottage owner while guests were off exploring for the day; because Chipper knew kids were meant to be neither seen nor heard from here. I remember sharing the mission of my little squirrel with a producer whom looked at me and said: “Squirrels are rodents and I hate rodents in my garden.” That squirrels are active, curious creatures ready to explore and engage meant little to this producer …and, more importantly, passionate gardener.
Last week, I remembered my early inspiration after reading Weeds Find a Way, by author and poet Cindy Jenson-Elliott and illustrated by Carolyn Fisher. That another writer would find beauty and personality in something otherwise destined to be dug up and discarded gave me a sense of camaraderie so I flipped through the pages. And then, I took the hardback book with me to story time. How would the kids see themselves when asked: “Are you a weed or a plant?” “And what is the difference?”
Both the story and illustrations captured the children’s (6-10 year olds) attention and the word for the day became “empathy.” The story excited conversation and reasons why we should just let the weeds grow.
There is a very whimsical rhythm to the flow of the text and illustrations and you feel like you are being blown carefree through the pages. Take time to discuss what it means to coexist and delight in the conversation. I highly recommend this book for the classroom and a perfect page-turner for the overnight with the grandparents. Pull the jacket cover off and save it as my ten year old did as she is determined to save this one for her own children some day. “I want it to look new again.”
The Chipper mom in me took to finding Jenson-Elliott so I could go knee deep into the weeds to learn a little bit more. I found a late bloomer to science and a teacher making up time as Jenson-Elliott designs Teacher guides to support her growing list of children’s books. Enjoy our conversation and happy planting:
Do you see children as weeds or flowers/plants? Weeds as plants are a wonderful metaphor for children. They are resilient, tenacious, beautiful, clever, adaptable, without all of our interventions, just as they are.
What is your earliest experience realizing the difference between a weed and a flower: I remember my curiosity about the difference between the planted and an unplanted world. I remember wondering around age four who planted certain plants. We lived in a really verdant area around Philadelphia, with yards that had probably once been landscaped but had reverted to a tangle of green.
We had a very overgrown rose garden that my mother struggled to bring to order, and I remember many afternoons running around in the back while she trimmed the thorny stems. We were new to the big old house, and it had been inhabited by a very old man before we moved in, so the formal rows of roses were leggy. One day I found remnants of a vegetable garden, broken down corn stalks, a tiny ear of Indian corn, growing behind the garage. All around it were wildflowers—weeds! —Queen Anne’s lace, black eyed Susans. One day I found a jack-in-the-pulpit. I have a very clear memory of seeing the little “man” inside his pulpit and how wonderful it was.
Living in suburbia, and seeing urban landscaping, a lot of kids—myself included—may think that someone went around and planted everything they see. I think I asked my mother, “Who planted those trees?” I really didn’t understand her answer: “No one, they just grew there.” It seemed mysterious and amazing, this world without people. Even today, I find that fact really moving, almost a relief. Singer Dana Lyons has a great line in his song, “Willy Says:” “Here’s a story that you may not comprehend. The parking lot will crack and bloom again. There’s a world beneath the pavement that will never end.” The natural world is so beautiful without our intervention. We don’t really have to do anything—just appreciate it.
What tips can you offer parents and educators on using the analogy of weeds/flowers and the lessons in developing friendships? I have curriculum in my free curriculum guide, downloadable on my website, that speaks to this issue. While I did not intentionally set out to teach a social-emotional lesson, I realized how embedded those lessons are after the book came out. Kind of funny that way—poets often don’t know what their poems are about until after they are written.
Weeds can teach us a lot in the social-emotional realm. They hold many qualities that we hope to engender in our children as human beings, and as learners. We hope they have grit – the ability to stick with something no matter what, withstand hardship, and thrive in spite of – and because of – challenges.
Weeds can also teach us a lot about appreciating the diverse qualities of others – the hidden beauties we may not see the first time we meet someone. Weeds teach us to look again at something we think we know well – or someone we think we have all figured out. When we have an opinion about someone – we think they are a “weed” rather than a flower, for example – we jump to conclusions about who they are. When we look more deeply, we can come to appreciate is that everyone has wonderful qualities – even thorny personalities.
Some wonderful curricula and teacher training for helping children learn to appreciate each other in the classroom and beyond are the Responsive Classroom and Second Step, and my all-time favorite book, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk.
What’s your favorite weed? In my neighborhood, I think cheeseweed is one of my favorites. It is in the mallow family, like many landscaping plants, and has geranium-like leaves. I would love to see fireweed, though, which Carolyn Fisher put in those beautiful final pictures in the book. I was not familiar with it before she did the art, but everyone I have shown the book to who is from Canada or the northwest says, “Ah! Fireweed! I love fireweed!” Carolyn, who lives in Canada, added many weeds I didn’t know in the art, and then I went back in and added them in the text.
How do your children inspire your storytelling? My science work with children has most inspired my work. I came to science late – in my early 30s –when I went back to school and took as many science classes as I could fit in before I had to go back to work full time. Every class was a revelation, a wonder, from biology to chemistry to geology and physics. Teaching science and gardening, and writing about science and gardening, have been ways for me to explore ideas more deeply and share those with children. We learn science through experiencing that joy and wonder of the world, and I would like every child to have a chance to feel the awe of understanding something amazing about our extraordinary ordinary world.
Rainy season has arrived! Whether you are experiencing snow and rain in the North West or a sunny summer on the opposite hemisphere, condensation is a common occurrence that can turn into an educational lesson for your little one(s).
In the car or at home, windows fog and water drops form. In the bathroom after a long shower, mirrors get fogged. Use these teachable moments to talk about the water cycle and it’s importance to our entire planet. Let your kids know about water conservation, especially during droughts, when bathing, brushing teeth, or washing dishes and clothes. As the saying goes, “Waste not, want not!” The more we save, the more have in the long run!
Water is important for our survival and also for the survival of plants and animals. During rainy season, explore the outdoors and search for little critters soaking in the rain like Chester the Wise Old Frog and Bruce the Banana Slug. Some animals and plants need more water than others. Humans, for example, should drink around 2-3 liters of water a day, where as giraffes get most of their moisture from leaves, so they can go months without drinking water!
Teach your kiddos about the following terms so they become familiar with the water cycle! Try some of the activities to illustrate their meaning and give your child an opportunity to really understand this important ecological process.
1. Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers or lakes or the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river, lake or ocean and goes into the air, forming clouds.
Illustrate: Boil some water in a kettle so children can see the vapor rising!
2. Condensation is when water vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into liquid, forming clouds. Clouds are made up of tiny water molecules.
Illustrate: Use a window, mirror or any glass surface and breath on it. Your warm breath forms a foggy layer that is like a thin cloud on your mirror! Use your fingers to draw a smiley face 🙂
3. Precipitation occurs when so much water has condensed that the air cannot hold it anymore. The water molecules start to bounce and shake (precipitate), making the cloud so heavy that the water falls back to the earth in the form of rain drop or rainfall. The water can also fall hail, sleet or snow depending on how cold it is.
Illustrate: Pour a glass of cold water on a hot day and watch what happens. Or if it’s still cold out, place a cup of warm water on the counter. Then put some ice on to a plate and place on top of the cup. Water will start to form on the outside of the glass and drip down the sides. That water didn’t somehow leak through the glass! It actually came from the air. Water vapor in the warm air turns back into liquid when it touches the cold glass. This is precipitation in action!
4. Collection: When water falls back to earth as precipitation, it may fall back in the oceans, lakes or rivers or it may end up on land. When it ends up on land, it will either soak into the earth and become part of the “ground water” that plants and animals use to drink or it may run over the soil and collect in the oceans, lakes or rivers where the cycle starts!
Illustrate: After a rainy day or snow fall, go outside with your kids and try to find evidence of water collection: puddles form, street gutters flow, and plants soak in the rain! Take a little trip and visit your local water reservoir to see where your town’s drinking water comes from. The more they see and experience, the more your children will understand!
What other ways can you illustrate the water cycle? Share with Chipper! We love hearing about your outdoor adventures and educational stories!
Americans represent 5% of the world’s population, but generate 30% of the world’s garbage. Now, more than ever, we need to do our part to reuse, reduce, recycle, reconsider and reimagine before we throw something away. Teaching our children to reduce waste is a crucial element to the future of our planet and species. Of the garbage Americans throw out, half could be recycled, which is enough to fill a football stadium from top to bottom everyday. Let’s work together to lower this number – we can start by being creative!
Recycling Resources for Plastic Bottle Caps
Check with your city. Some cities do accept plastic bottle caps, but they may require that you remove the cap from the bottle and put it in the bin separately. The only way to find out is to check with your city. Try Googling something like “[YourCity] Plastic Recycling.” Lots of cities now have websites where that information is easy to access.
Whole Foods. Some Whole Foods Markets and other grocery stores accept #5 plastic caps for recycling along with their plastic bag recycling. Next time you’re shopping, check their bins to see if yours does, too!
Earth911. A go-to resource for any recycling question. You can search the Earth911 database for “plastic caps” to find facilities near you that will accept them.
Caps Can Do. If you can’t find a local place to drop off your plastic caps for recycling, you can ship them to Caps Can Do, a company that specializes in recycling #5 plastic!
Recycling is great, but reusing is better when you consider how inefficient plastic recycling is. TThere are many fun ways to reuse plastic caps, no matter your skill level. The possibilities are endless when you go through your recycling and trash bins with a creative mindset! Recycle crafts in general help kids learn to come up with their own ideas, build their creative confidence and mobile skills, and envision new purposes for common objects.
For example, you can make some adorable magnets from recycled bottle caps or lids. Notorious for their longevity in the landfills (plastic takes over 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill!), plastic lids can be reimagined to make fun recycle crafts, gifts and decorations!
Plastic Bottle Cap Magnets
Image from The Crafty Crow
Materials:
Plastic lids and tops
Permanent markers
Hot glue gun or craft glue
Sticky magnet tape to put your creations on the fridge
Decorations: Multi-colored plastic (think of using the strip from around milk jugs or bread bag holders), construction paper, or felt…and any thing colorful you have around the house, like buttons, yarn, etc. Recycled magazines are perfect for cutting out letters and numbers to make into magnets.
Optional: googly eyes for cute looking faces
Cut wine corks if your lid is too deep to magnetize or just flip you lid and use the inside to decorate
Photo from Esprit Cabane
Directions:
Simply draw your face or creature on the lid with a permanent marker then use the hot glue gun or craft glue to add flare! From googly eyes, to pipe cleaners, have fun making monster lids, lady bug friends, or keep it simple with various facial expressions:
Photo from Esprit Cabane
Photo from Crafts by Amanda
There are many thing you can do with your recycled plastic bottle caps and lids! Extend the life of your hand soap with a home-made soap dish from EcoKaren:
Make some cute stamps with your lids, styrofoam and some paint from The Long Thread:
Or save your bottle caps and lids by color and get crafty! Here are some example of some beautiful art pieces made with recycled plastic:
Image from Stark State
Image from Art Grange
Image from How We Montessori
Image from Rolla City
What can you craft with your plastic lids and bottle caps? Share with Chipper!
A day long hike turning over rocks, jumping in and out of streams, and casting magical spells on each other was only made better by the sounds of my mom strumming her guitar singing “Puff the Magic Dragon” by the campfire. Even as a young girl, I always cried because it made me think of my first dog, Puff, a playful sheepdog ever loyal and at the ready to be my best friend. The song about a magical dragon sparked many adventures with my own imaginary friends. No matter where we went camping it always felt like the land called Honalee after that first night and most requested campfire song.
Imagination is a powerful tool for children and when we nourish it we help foster the creative spirit which even scientist say is necessary. Dr. Michio Kaku, Theoretical Physicist and author says creativity plays into the “aha” moment; this allows the scientist to think outside the box and push towards new beneficial discoveries be it in medicine, engineering, space programs, all of it. Imagination is the first seed of creativity and kids need the opportunity to exercise theirs through multi-sensory experiences. I say this because with so many apps on the market today, I often wonder if they stifle and stunt imagination over excite the wonder of true explorations that engage our five senses.
I recently discovered Puff’s Land of Honalee had gone digital so I was curious to see if after 50 years, could the magic still be sparked by tapping on an app. Puff’s Playground app welcomes all ages into Creative Cove, a creativity center with a plethora of tools to paint, draw, create mixed media collages, or simply use coloring pages from the original artwork Puff, the Magic Dragon storybook.
A fan of puzzles, I enlisted the help of my two daughters to join me in Puzzle Plantation where we connected the pieces to bring images from the original Puff to life. In Castle of Concentration we engaged in a classic game of memory featuring character art but innovated with playful sound effects.
A magical, good kids app.
Created by FatRedCouch, a Marin-based interactive media company headquartered in the former building of George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic, as well as Pixar, I was happy to see the spirit of imagination was alive and well along with the level of quality in the artwork and production. A quick browse through the publisher’s portfolio of apps and you can see they are indeed committed to creating good kids apps.
There is plenty to do with this app (it’s free with in app purchasing) but we hit our self-prescribed family-allotted time limit so it was time to grab our sticks and go have some fun on Mt. Tam frolicking in the mist we call fog this time of year. The app sparked memories for me and created another layer of wonder for my kids, I knew it would translate to more pictures being drawn at the kitchen table.
I’m a Chipper mom and, to me, a good kids app should inspire thought, conversation, and creativity. I want a Good Kids App to be playful and embrace nature, art, science, music, and educate while having fun. Sounds like a lot but it’s not when you focus truly on the development of a child; when it comes to imagination just excite it and watch the wonder light up. If you are choosing an app, I hope you will follow Chipper’s GoodKidsApp guidelines:
Is it story-based with a clear, kind message
Does it engage and excite imagination away from the gadget
Does it spark conversation and promote learning
Puff’s Playground app does this and more for us as I quickly learned while listening to my girls sing a cherished song introduced by Peter, Paul, and Mary more than 50 years ago. Time to frolick!
Tell your kids Mushrooms taste better than slugs! Bruce the Banana Slug LOVES mushrooms!
If Meatless Monday is the only day on your calendar for vegetarian dishes we have a new recipe for you to be chipper about. Even your picky eater whom refuses to eat their veggies will consider these healthy bite-size bursts of flavor on any day. Mushroom Nuggets – call them “earth balls” – are a delicious alternative to “chicken nuggets.” Each bite-sized nugget is packed with flavor and conveniently hides the healthy stuff like beans, mushrooms and veggie protein – yes, the stuff your kids bemoan.
Or make as veggie burgers…
These bites are savory, slightly cheesy, with a hint of sweetness and accents of earthy flavors. Do you think your kids will notice the health benefits? Just tell them that they are going to have a ball at dinner tonight.
Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamin D; they boost your immunity, are high in antioxidants, and increase your metabolism. And they go from snack to meal; try stuffing these tiny falafel-sized bites into pitas, wraps or over pasta.
Store a few mushroom bites in the fridge for a grab and go lunch. Salads, sandwiches, pitas and more love these bites. Use any way you would a meatball!
Mushroom Nuggets Makes about two dozen | Recipe & photos by KATHYPATALSKY
Spices:
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp dried parsley flakes
1/2 cup nutritional yeast (add more if you’d like more cheezy flavor)
1 Tbsp mushroom powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
A few dashes pepper
2 Tbsp salt-free spice blend
Liquid:
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp maple or agave syrup
2 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce
2 Tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup water (or low-salt veggie broth for added flavor)
Base:
1 1/2 cups TVP or TSP (textured veggie or soy protein)
1 can Cannellini beans, drained
1 1/2 cups mushrooms, chopped
1/3 cup diced sweet onion (omit for onion-opposed kids)
1/2 cup flour
Sauté in 1-2 Tbsp safflower oil.
To make:
1. Combine all the spices in a large mixing bowl. This can be a fun math moment for kids: How many tablespoons of spices are we adding? How many teaspoons in a table spoon?
2. Add in the liquids and the base ingredients. Grab a large fork and start mashing well – especially the beans. Another great step for kids to jump in and help. Wear ’em out with the mashing! Try to break them down as much as possible so they provide a sticky agent which binds the mixture. The TVP will begin absorbing the liquid as well to thicken the mix.
3. Next, add in the flour for the final step. You can add in a tablespoon at a time until you are comfortable with the consistency. You want the mixture to be like a very wet bean patty.
4. Turn a nonstick skillet on med-high heat – add about 1-2 Tbsp of safflower oil. Safflower oil is perfect because it gives these nuggets crispy edges.
5. When oil is hot, grab golf ball sized balls and roll in a big of flour (roll in some nutritional yeast for added savory flavor) – then plop onto skillet. Another fun moment for kids to help out and get a little messy! Allow each side to cook for about a minute or two. Try not to burn, but you do want a nice brown color to the exterior.
6. Place on a paper towel to rest a few minutes – they will further bind as they cool – serve hot and enjoy!
“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” –Leo F. Buscaglia
Through play, children try out new skills, explore their imagination and creativity, and develop relationships with other people in their lives. Play can be an especially powerful bonding time for you, as a parent or caregiver. Playtime with your child also brings out the best in you. The beauty of this learning and growing time is that the motivation for a young child to play is already there – it is enjoyable!
Chipper is an ambassador in the national movement to prevent Summer Learning Loss, build 21st Century Life Skills and save hands-on learning in schools. Now, more than ever, kids need resources to develop healthy habits in a playful way. According to a recent article from Scientific American Magazine, “Free, imaginative play is crucial for normal social, emotional and cognitive development. It makes us better adjusted, smarter and less stressed.”
Here are 5 tips for parents and teachers to help their children develop healthy learning habits:
Encourage play. Playing alone and with others not only builds brain development, it also helps children develop social skills and a sense of ethics. The most effective play is free of evaluation and correction (after all, throwing a ball shouldn’t be “right” or “wrong”), while promoting autonomy.
Play together. In addition to their ABCs and 123s, preschool children are learning and developing life skills that will shape who they grow into as adults. One of these building blocks is learning to play well with others and accepting one another’s differences. Camp is a great place for kids to interact with each other.
Get adequate sleep and proper nutrition. Your child will do their best if they get to sleep early and eat a healthy breakfast each day before school. A daily diet of junk food is not compatible with learning. It can cause listlessness and hyperactivity, which can impair a child’s ability to learn. Skipping breakfast, especially, is a detriment to a child’s education.
Continue year-long education. Routine provides structure, which is often lacking during the summer months when children all too quickly become detached from the lessons they learned throughout the school year. Maintaining a schedule throughout the summer supports an environment that is less of a contrast to the classroom and provides a healthy balance between building skills, play and rest. An easy way for parents to keep their kids learning throughout the summer is by signing them up for camp.
Monitor screen-time. While there are quite a few educational and engaging mobile apps and games to play on TV today, balance the tech time with “climb a tree” time. Curious exploration, social interaction and play should be on the daily to-do list.
Play helps a child learn to solve problems, promotes flexibility and motivation, teaches regulation of emotions and builds resilience and confidence. It is also essential to the development of the child’s brain, forming the basis of healthy cognitive function and mastery of the child’s physical world.
If you take just a moment to reflect on your own childhood you will most likely recall days playing hide-and-seek, kick-the-can, or just riding bikes to the local park. Now think about what your child will remember back to when they are an adult. From the camp or school program you choose to the activities you provide at home, see each decision as an opportunity to enrich your child’s life and excite their motivation to play and explore their own interests. In honor of National Backyard Games Week, here are 50 ways to play in your own backyard!
One week till Christmas! Are you ready for the festivities? Celebrate in style and try decorating with some of these cute crafts made from recycled materials. They are fun and easy to make and a great way to spend some time with your kids. The Holidays are about spending time with the ones you love and making everything sparkle and glow (from the inside-out). 7 days left — 7 crafts: Time to get Crafty this Christmas!
1) Corky Rudolph Decoration:
All you need for this simple craft is a recycled cork (which should be plentiful during the Holidays), a brown pipe cleaner, a red bead or pin for the nose, and some googly eyes! Don’t have ornament hooks? Just bend some paper clips out–they work great! Don’t want to buy googly eyes? Just draw some on with a permanent marker, cut some out with paper, or find something around the house like buttons, push pins, or pom poms.
Instructions:
Twist you brown pipe cleaner around your cork in the middle and then shape ends into antlers. Then ass your nose and eyes: use glue (hot glue gun works best but any will work if you let dry long enough) or just stick in a push pin nose. Then attach your ornament hook/paper clip/string, hang on your tree or around the house, and voila! You have a quirky Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer decoration!
You can also make cute Recycled Toilet Roll Rudolphs or from lids too! All you need is:
Recycled Toilet Paper Roll
Pipe Cleaners
Brown Paper Bag
Googly Eyes
Something red, like a sequin or a red marker, for Rudolph’s nose!
Tape (Double-Stick works best!)
Scissors
How to:
Use scissors to trim your paper bag down and wrap your toilet roll. Use tape to attach.
Twist some pipe cleaners into antlers and attach to the inside of your roll with tape.
Use scraps from your paper bag leftovers to cut out ears! Use a black marker of pen to color in your ears and attach to the inside of your roll with tape.
Tape or draw on googly eyes and nose.
Make all of Santa’s Reindeer and place around the home, whether on your tree or the Christmas dinner table, for some festive decor!
Use the same materials but with metal-adhesive glue and add a ribbon to make a cute reindeer lid ornament!
2) CD Ornament:
Put your Recycled CD in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to get this spider-web effect!
Use recycled wrapping paper and old Christmas cards to decorate too!
Create a personalized ornament add to your collection by using a recycled CD! Not only does it provide a sturdy base for your ornament, but you can design some neat looks with its circular shape. This would is a great project to showcase your family’s holiday photos through the years. Or get nuts with some puffy/glitter paint! Anther idea is to color your CD with some markers, add Elmer glue, and let dry for a pastel colored CD decoration.
Recycled CD’s become beautiful tree hangers!
Represent your 4-legged family member this Holiday Season!
3) Clay Pot Snowman
Use an old plant pot or a recycled plastic cups to make snowmen! Find some wrapping paper or use recycled paper first and wrap your pot/cup using tape or glue. Then use markers or puffy paint to make your snowman face! Torn fabric or ribbon can be used to decorate the top. Just cover a cup with some paper, poke a hole in the top with scissors to hang (with string, ribbon or a bent paper clip), and let your child use their imagination to make a original ornament!
4) Egg Carton Silver Bells
Transform a simple egg carton cup into a fabulous bell ornament! This is a simple project, good for a parent and young child to make together on a winter night!
Materials Needed:
Egg Carton
Foil
Large Needle
Thin ribbon or yarn (thread works too since these are quite light!)
Scissors
You can do the parts that need scissors and needle depending on your little one(s) age(s). Your child(ren) can wrap the foil and hang the finished bell. Each bell is made using one cup cut from an egg carton. Start off by cutting off an egg carton cup and trimming around the edges. Cut a piece of tin foil about 6-inches square and wrap it around the egg carton cup and tuck the extra foil into the inside of the cup. Set the foil wrapped egg carton cup on your table upside down (open side should be on the table). Poke a small hole in the center of the egg carton cup using a needle. Cut about 12-inches of narrow ribbon or thick yarn. Holding the two ends of the ribbon together, tie two or three knots on top of each other. Push the other end (the looped end) up through the hole so that the knot is inside the bell. Pull the ribbon up as far as it will go. Your bell is now ready to decorate if you like. You can decorate with stickers, glitter, or anything else you have around or just leave it plain. Hang on your Christmas tree and enjoy!
5) Festive Container
Make a fun container perfect for a Holiday gift of cookies/etc. using a recycled Pringles potato chip container or a coffee container or a oatmeal container (pretty much any container you have used that has a sealed top). You can even send these in the mail!
Materials Needed:
Container
Items to Decorate (see below)
Glue
Instructions:
Clean out the inside with paper towels letting them absorb most of the oil that might be left in the can or whatever was in your recycled container. Then using paper, fabric, or wrapping paper cover the outside. Hot glue works best for the fabric and wrapping paper; white glue or tacky glue is sometimes better for construction paper. Both work fine though so use whatever you have. Now get creative! Decorate with markers, glitter and sequins–sky’s the limit!
If you are using this container for cookies, put waxed paper inside once the outside is decorated. Stack cookies into the can just like the chips used to be. If there is a little space at the top and another cookie won’t fit you can use a little waxed paper to act as packing. Put the top back on and you have a wonderful cookie gift for friends, family or Santa!
6) Old Bags, New Look
Why spend money on new gift bags every year? Re-use, Reduce, and Recycle! Save sturdy store bags throughout the year. As the holidays approach, the family personalizes the bags (and covers any store names or logos) by gluing on old holiday cards.
Materials Needed:
Sturdy store bags
Glue
Old holiday cards
Wrapping paper
Glitter pens
Stickers
Instructions:
Glue old holiday cards (you can also added pieces of wrapping paper) to sturdy store bags you’ve saved. You can embellish the bags with glitter pens, adding stickers and other decorative touches. Save money, have fun, and give customized gift bags to all your loved one this year!
7) Home Made Dreidel from Plastic Bottle Caps
Here’s a Hanukkah craft that’s also a Hanukkah game! Spinning tops are a traditional Hanukkah toy, so what better activity to engage the kids this Hanukkah than with a simple technique for making their own brigade of spinning tops? These tops spin so amazingly well, it’s almost hard to believe!
You’ll Need:
plastic bottle caps: either from regular soda bottles, wide mouthed juice bottles, or bottles like vinegar bottles
toothpicks or wooden skewers
a thick needle or sharp item, such as a hat pin or those metal things you use to hold poultry together for roasting (employed by an adult only)
colorful electrical tape (optional)
quick drying glue (optional
How To:
Make a hole exactly in the middle of the bottle cap. Some caps have a small bump there, if not eyeball it. A hole not in the center will result in a imbalanced top.
Enlarge hole if necessary by moving needle around while still in the hole.
Insert tooth pick or skewer through hole, trim second side of toothpick (dangerous) or shorten skewer.
Secure toothpick with a few dabs of glue, though usually not necessary, and decorate with small pieces of electric tape.
Have fun!
7) Plastic Cup Ornaments (2 kinds!)
Why spend money on ornaments every year when you can make your own and recycle!? Make beautiful ornaments from colored and melted plastic cups or make your own mini-snow globe!
Materials for Shrinky Dink Cup Ornament:
Plastic cup
Permanent markers
Ribbon, string or paper clip to hang
Oven
Baking sheet or aluminum
How to Make Shrinky Dink Cup Ornament:
Decorate your plastic cup with permanent markers. Any design will do or try a snowman face on a white cup! Drawing Christmas trees or wreaths and stars is great too.
Place ornament on tray or aluminum sheet at low temperature, watching until they shrivel down. This doesn’t take long and it is fun to watch! Let them cool for at least 5 minutes.
Poke a hole and attach string, ribbon or un-bent paper clip to hang on tree. Enjoy!
BONUS: Snow Globe
Materials for Snow Globe:
Plastic cup
Crafting glue
Cardboard
Fake snow or crumbled pieces of white paper – Glitter works too!
Miniatures from the store or make your own snow creatures from paper and cardboard and markers!
Beads (Optional)
Fishing Wire or string
How to Make Plastic Cup Snow Globe:
Place your plastic cup on a piece of recycled cardboard and trace the circular edge with a pencil.
Cut around the outer side of your traced circle so there will be a small edge when you glue on your cup.
Poke a small hole into the top of your cup and string through your fishing wire or string and double knot to attach. Feel free to decorate with beads to add an extra touch!
Now decorate your cardboard! Glue on christmas miniatures from the store or create your own by coloring on paper, gluing to cardboard to stiffen, then glueing to cardboard base.
Crumple small pieces of white paper to create snow or buy some fake snow from the store. Glitter work well too and adds an extra sparkle to your ornament.
Once you have glued on your miniatures to your cardboard base and let them dry, fill your cup with your fake snow or glitter and then glue on your cardboard base with miniatures attached.
Once dry and your cup is attached to your cardboard base securely, find a place to hang it on your tree and enjoy!
Every parent has a favorite horror story about The Morning Rush. There’s the tale of the backwards shirt, only discovered when you arrive at school. Or the Day the Thermos Exploded in the Backpack. Or there’s just an ongoing tale of many, many days of profound rush and general frenzy. What can you do besides stand like an addled deer in your child’s zooming headlights? Many experts say that that answer lies in routine, routine, routine! Here’s an activity that can help get all of you calmly out the door in the morning. It helps with reading development, too. Plus, it’s fun!
What You Need:
At least 7 pages of card stock paper
Digital camera
Markers
Three hole punch
Clip on rings
What You Do:
Start by folding a sheet of typing paper in half lengthwise. Sit down with your child, discuss what really happens every morning, and in the left hand column, make a list of six common features. Be prepared to laugh—kids can be amazingly observant. In our house, for example, a standard event was, “Mom forgets her cell phone and we have to double back to get it.” At the top of the page, you can mark this list, “Nonfiction,” and explain to your child that that means it’s a statement of true facts.
Now, on the right hand side, ask your child what might change in each case to make things run smoother. (If you already have a smooth morning routine, go ahead and jump straight to this phase—you can just record what you already do.) Write the ideas on small post-its—you can then move them around when you’re done to make a logical sequence.
Now you’re ready for some reading and writing. Have your child write each of the six things you just discussed onto a horizontal card stock page, creating six pages in order that convey a sensible, sane, orderly morning routine. At the very least, you’ll want to include items like putting on clothes (right side out), eating breakfast, and brushing teeth, and make sure you include a page for a Chipper goodbye before the school day starts!
Now have your little one use the markers to illustrate every page, with himself or herself in a starring role, of course.
Place three holes in the left margin and clip the book with clip on rings. This way, you can add or subtract pages later.
At night before bed, have your child read the book to you. Talk it through and envision how the morning will go. Do it again and again … and prepare to be amazed by the improvements in your morning routine!
Of course, on another day, feel free to take out that other list. There may be quite another tale to write about (perhaps one to laugh about once better routines are in place). Now, Let’s Go Chipper back-to-school!
School’s started up again and making sure your child stays focused and alert during the day depends a lot on what and how much they are eating! Encourage mid-morning or afternoon snacks to keep you little ones energized. Tuck one of these healthy goodies into their backpack so they can have something to nibble on during the long school day.
The snacks below are packed with the flavors kids love, and the critical protein, whole grains, and vitamins they need to be their best! Each one provides a bit of sweetness for flavor and a burst of energy, plus vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Having a tasty snack to munch on after school (when they are always impatient for some sort of food) also helps your children to avoid cheap junk food that may be available around or on school grounds. Try five these snacks out to have a Chipper school year!
1) Ants on a Log
This healthy snack is one that kids can make all on their own. Simply spread some crunchy peanut butter and sweet raisins over celery for a smart snacking option.
Ingredients:
5 stalks celery
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup raisins
Instructions:
Cut the celery stalks in half. Spread with peanut butter. Sprinkle with raisins.
2) Apple Cinnamon Bran Mini-Muffins
A big muffin is often too much for a little kid. These bite-size bran muffins, made with the goodness of apple and cinnamon, are perfect for preschoolers to preteens and are just the right size for snacking between meals.
Ingredients:
1-1/4 cups (300 mL) natural bran (not cereal)
1 cup (250 mL) all purpose flour
1/2 cup (125 mL) brown sugar
2-1/2 tsp. (12 mL) baking powder
1/2 tsp. (2 mL) cinnamon
1/2 cup (125 mL) milk
1/3 cup (75 mL) vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 medium apple, peeled and finely chopped
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease the cups in two mini muffin pans.
In a large bowl, stir together the bran, flour, brown sugar, baking powder and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, oil and eggs. Add the milk mixture to the bran mixture, stirring until just combined. Fold in the chopped apple.
Spoon batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling each cup to the top. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
Makes 20 to 22 miniature muffins.
3) Apple Autumn Salad
This tart and tangy fruit salad tosses together tart green apples, dried cranberries, cherries and almonds in a refreshing vanilla yogurt for a delightful taste of fall.
Ingredients:
4 tart green apples, cored and chopped
1/4 cup blanched slivered almonds, toasted
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped dried cherries
1 (8 ounce) container vanilla yogurt
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, stir together the apples, almonds, cranberries, cherries and yogurt until evenly coated.
4) Banana and Peanut Butter Wraps
Kids go bananas for these simple after-school snacks. The peanut butter and banana filling, sprinkled with raisins and drizzled with honey, is a wholesome way to satisfy their sweet and salty cravings.
Ingredients:
1 (6 inch) flour tortilla
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey
1 banana
2 tablespoons raisins
Instructions:
Lay tortilla flat. Spread peanut butter and honey on tortilla. Place banana in the middle and sprinkle in the raisins. Wrap, and serve.
5) Juicy Fruit Salad
Juicy to the core, this tropical blend of pineapple chunks, orange segments, diced apple, banana slices and grapes makes a sweet gesture for your little ones when they’re looking for a quick snack.
Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can pineapple chunks with juice
1 apple – peeled, cored and diced
1 orange – peeled, diced and juice reserved
1 banana, sliced
1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
Instructions:
In a large bowl, toss together the pineapple, apple, orange, banana and grapes. Add the juice from the pineapple and orange and let chill until serving.
School Lunch Advice for Kids at Every Age
Try the tips below to make your child’s lunch healthy AND worth looking forward to.
For home-packed lunches:
Avoid the morning rush by preparing lunch the night before and chilling it in the refrigerator.
Put slices of tomatoes in a separate bag or container so they don’t make sandwiches soggy.
Instead potato or corn chips, pack a healthier alternative like veggie chips, bagel rounds, or baked tortilla crisps.
Round out the meal with kid-sized veggies—baby carrots, celery sticks, or broccoli florets—and a low-fat or fat-free dip.
Low-fat, high fiber mini muffins make a great dessert alternative to cupcakes or high-fat cookies.
Use a cookie cutter to transform a plain square sandwich into something unique.
Turn a container of low-fat yogurt into a complete meal by sending along some stir-ins like granola, trail mix, unsalted chopped nuts, or whole grain cereal.
Consider alternatives to sandwich bread like burger buns, pita rounds, soft tortillas, and large lettuce leaves (for a no-sog wrap for savory fillings).
For school cafeteria lunches:
Look over the cafeteria menu with your child ahead of time. Try to agree on items your child like and that are healthy.
Ask the school’s parent-teacher group to arrange a presentation by the food service department. Express your interest in ensuring that healthy food choices be offered in school cafeterias and vending machines.
To prevent food-related illness, following the guidelines below when preparing and packing lunches.
Watch the temperature. Harmful bacteria grow best between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F, so it’s important to keep perishable foods outside this danger zone as much as possible. Foods susceptible to bacterial growth—especially high protein foods like meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and eggs—should never be in the danger zone for more than two hours (one hour in warm weather conditions). Foods destined for the lunch box should be kept in the refrigerator until just before your child leaves for school.
To maintain lunch food at a cool temperature, pack a frozen juice box or water bottle in an insulated lunch bag; you can also use a freezable gel pack. Try to position the coldest item at the top of the bag since cool air settles.
Keep it clean. Always wash your hands (and your child’s) before preparing food. Wash them again after handling eggs or raw meat so you don’t cross contaminate other foods or surfaces. Be sure that utensils, counters, and cutting boards are also clean when you begin. If raw meat or eggs touches a surface, clean it with warm soapy water before allowing another food to come in contact with it.
Be aware of food hazards. Some common lunch foods pose health hazards than you might not expect. Some of the most common include:
Raw eggs.Uncooked eggs may be contaminated with salmonella. Young children are especially susceptible to this harmful organism, so avoid giving them foods like homemade mayonnaise or uncooked eggnog.
Peanuts. Children who are allergic to peanuts can have a life-threatening reaction to even microscopic amounts. This is why some schools have banned foods that contain peanuts. Unfortunately, many processed foods contain trace amounts of peanuts, even if they aren’t listed on the ingredient label. If you’re child attends school with a youngster who has a peanut allergy, be sure to pay attention to any guidelines given to you by the school. (To learn more about peanut and other food allergies, check out Medline.)
Tuna. Albacore tuna—so-called “white” tuna—has relatively high levels of mercury. Though not considered dangerous for most adults, young children and pregnant women should avoid eating more than one meal (about six ounces) of albacore per week. Shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish have less mercury, and are safe for up to two meals per week.
Is There Lead in Your Child’s Lunch Bag?
In 2005, tests by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission revealed that some soft vinyl lunch carriers contained lead. Though the government insisted that the risk associated with these products is very low, parents have reason to be concerned. Lead is an insidious nerve toxin that can lead to retardation and other health problems. Young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead.
Although the Food and Drug Administration has asked manufacturers and suppliers to stop using lead in the lunch carriers, it is possible that these products remain in homes and on store shelves. It is also possible, though not likely, that other types of plastic lunch carriers might have lead in them.
To protect your child, consider taking these safeguards:
Avoid soft lunch carriers made from vinyl (or PVC).
Look for carriers from reputable suppliers that are certified as lead free.
If you have a soft lunch carrier and want to know if it contains lead, pick up a home lead testing kit at a well-stocked hardware store or home center.
Check out these environmentally-safe Lunch Totes from Let’s Go Chipper! Perfect for school lunches or summer picnics!
“Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.” -Unknown
Click here for 50 Ways to Explore Nature in Your Own Backyard!
Unfortunately, many schools do not encourage and facilitate connections with the great outdoors. More and more, it is up to parents to teach their little ones about all the mysteries of nature and to get them outside to discover our natural environment for themselves. That’s why Chipper wants to help–parents, teachers, communities. We need to get our future generations inspired by the wonders of our planet so they can continue to appreciate and protect our beautiful home.
Some schools have realized what should be common sense by now: Nature has a HUGE positive effect on kids (and people of all ages). East Bay Regional Parks District, in Oakland, Calif., is applying for a $2.6 million Federal Grant to develop innovative curriculum blending academic lessons with time spent in the outdoors. Not every parent or teacher instinctively brings nature into the house or classroom though, and that’s where Chipper comes in! Here are a few simple ideas to get you and your kids outside and excited by nature:
Click here to learn how to make a nature bracelet on your next walk! All you need is some duct tape–it’s that simple!
Take a Nature Hike! After dinner, on the weekend, or anytime you can take a short walk–Get out there! In your backyard, the local park, or your nearest forest, just being under an open sky amongst the flora and fauna will inspire you and your little ones. On your hike, especially this fall, discover leaves and their many colors, shapes and sizes (maybe even jump in some and collect a few), roll over logs in search of creepy crawlies and discover places to hide just like the animals do. After the hike, head inside to make fall leaf art and check out fun books for fall, such as Chipper’s Helping Hands book + craft! As children work with natural materials such as pine cones or seed pods and arrange them into patterns or mosaic-like pictures, they develop a deeper appreciation for the beauty of the natural world, while strengthening skills in classification and close observation. Before your hike, make a Nature Journal where your kids can write about the saw on their hike and put all their nature treasures the found and collected along the way!
Let Your Child Lead! Playing with your kids outside will create priceless connections between you as well as between you both and nature! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play time is crucial to a child’s development and contributes to their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being.[1]Just take them outside and let them lead you to an activity or discovery. Provide opportunities for spontaneous imaginative play, such as building a fort, running through sprinklers, building a snowman or just some old fashion building blocks or dress up!
“Play is the child’s work. The world is his laboratory, and he its scientist. Play is the research by which he explores himself and his relationship to the world.” – M. Paul Friedberg
Click here to read about Music for Connection and Communication
Chance to Dance! Play some of you and your kids favorite music in the back yard and start moving those feet! Music and movement experiences are vital to children’s healthy development. Well-equipped outdoor Music and Movement Areas provide an ideal place for children to learn about sound, pitch, rhythm and tonality on their own; manipulate a variety of nature-based musical instruments; and express musical concepts by moving their bodies to music.
Label plants in your kids garden and let them decorate the space to make it their own!
Gardening Fun! Involving children in gardening at an early age gives them the opportunity to develop a sense of wonder about the world and be amazed every day with each new discovery. Plant a little section in your yard or at school (or even a small one inside the house with a few basic plants) that your child can plan, plant and up-keep! No matter their age, include them while gardening or watering plants. Click here for tips and ideas on gardening with kids!
Here’s one truly inspirational video from a young 13 year-old-girl that uses film to learn about and teach others about environmental issues: Nature Kids Clip: Miranda Andersen
Let’s Get Chipper for nature and get outdoors today! Please share your outdoor activities and discoveries with us!
Don’t throw away your old egg cartons next time your finished with your dozen eggs! Instead, have fun with the kids and try some of these ideas to recycle or re-use the containers! Not only are these cartons great for organizing jewelry or desk items, they can be used to hold small round craft items when doing crafts or make a great Rock Collection holder! Egg cartons also work great for holding and protecting Christmas decorations.
Get creative and paint your carton to your liking or simply use it as a paint palette! You can also make a project out of it and use your carton as plant containers or seed starters and teach your little ones how to grow plants. Just poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Fill about 3/4 with potting soil and vermiculite. Plant seeds and set in a sunny window. Then have your children follow their growth and have them help you transplant and harvest when ready! It gets you all outdoors, spending quality time together, while teaching them about various plants.
Here are a few other great ideas. Share some of yours with us!
Make Tulips with Old Egg Cartons
This is an easy project kids can do by themselves or with very little help, and these flowers make a great Mother’s Day present. Or, make a bunch for a lovely Spring bouquet!
You will need:
Clean cardboard egg cartons
Scissors
Green chenille (pipe cleaners)
Elmer’s glue
Paint
Cut the egg carton into separate cups, leaving some of the middle “pop-up” sections. Cut the main cups into the pointed shape of the tulip petals. With the point of the scissors or a sharp pencil, poke a hole in the bottom of each cup. Paint and decorate each cup however you like.
Cut the little center “pop-up” sections between the egg cups into small pointed shapes that will go beneath the tulip cups. Poke a hole in the center of each and paint green.
When the pieces are dry, poke a piece of green chenille through the holes. Tie a loop on the end in the cup so it can’t pull back out, and add a dab of glue between the two sections. Shape the chenille into leaf shapes and leave a few inches at the bottom for the stem.
You can stick the stems of several flowers into some clay or floral foam in the bottom of a pot. Or just tie together and wrap with pretty paper and a ribbon to give to mom!
Use some of the same materials to make some bug critter friends! Make legs and wings from pipe cleaners and use pompoms and googly eyes for their face and eyes. Look around the house and through your trash and recycle bins and get creative with your decorations.
What else can you do with recycled egg cartons? Share with Chipper!
The following health and safety tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – Edited by Chipper!Making the First Day Easier
First of all, stay chipper and positive–don’t stress out! School is fun and a place to learn.
Remind your child that there are probably a lot of students who are uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
Point out the positive aspects of starting school: It will be fun! She’ll see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh her positive memories about previous years, when she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits because she had a good time.
Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your youngster can walk to school or ride with on the bus.
If you feel it is appropriate, drive your child (or walk with her) to school and pick her up on the first day.
Backpack Safety
Choose a back pack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child’s body weight.
Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
If your school allows, consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.
Traveling To and From School
Review the basic rules with your youngster:
School Bus
If your child’s has lap/shoulder seat belts, make sure your child uses one at all times when in the bus. If your child’s school bus does not have lap/shoulder belts, encourage the school to buy or lease buses with lap/shoulder belts.
Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
Do not move around on the bus.
Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing the street.
Make sure to always remain in clear view of the bus driver.
Children should always board and exit the bus at locations that provide safe access to the bus or to the school building.
Car
All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car or booster seat.
Your child should ride in a car seat with a harness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when she has reached the top weight or height allowed for her seat, her shoulders are above the top harness slots, or her ears have reached the top of the seat.
Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4′ 9″ in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age). This means that the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down and the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, and not the stomach.
All children younger than 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles. If you must drive more children than can fit in the rear seat (when carpooling, for example), move the front-seat passenger’s seat as far back as possible and have the child ride in a booster seat if the seat belts do not fit properly without it.
Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You should require seat belt use, limit the number of teen passengers, and do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone conversations or texting to prevent driver distraction. Limit nighttime driving and driving in inclement weather. Familiarize yourself with your state’s graduated driver’s license law and consider the use of a parent-teen driver agreement to facilitate the early driving learning process. For a sample parent-teen driver agreement, click here.
Bike
Always wear a helmet, no matter how short or long the ride.
Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic.
Use appropriate hand signals.
Respect traffic lights and stop signs.
Wear bright color clothing to increase visibility.
Make sure your child’s walk to a school is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.
Be realistic about your child’s pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision.
If your children are young or are walking to a new school, walk with them the first week or until you are sure they know the route and can do it safely.
Bright colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers.
In neighborhoods with higher levels of traffic, consider starting a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.
Eating During the School Day
Most schools regularly send schedules of cafeteria menus home. With this advance information, you can plan on packing lunch on the days when the main course is one your child prefers not to eat.
Try to get your child’s school to stock healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water and 100 percent fruit juice in the vending machines.
Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%. Restrict your child’s soft drink consumption.
Bullying
Bullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. It can happen at school, on the playground, on the school bus, in the neighborhood, or over the Internet.
When Your Child Is Bullied
Help your child learn how to respond by teaching your child how to:
Look the bully in the eye.
Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
Walk away.
Teach your child how to say in a firm voice.
“I don’t like what you are doing.”
“Please do NOT talk to me like that.”
“Why would you say that?”
Teach your child when and how to ask for help.
Encourage your child to make friends with other children.
Support activities that interest your child.
Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions.
Make sure an adult who knows about the bullying can watch out for your child’s safety and well-being when you cannot be there.
When Your Child Is the Bully
Be sure your child knows that bullying is never OK.
Set firm and consistent limits on your child’s aggressive behavior.
Be a positive role mode. Show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening or hurting someone.
Use effective, non-physical discipline, such as loss of privileges.
Develop practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, counselors, and parents of the children your child has bullied.
When Your Child Is a Bystander
Tell your child not to cheer on or even quietly watch bullying.
Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult about the bullying.
Help your child support other children who may be bullied. Encourage your child to include these children in activities.
Encourage your child to join with others in telling bullies to stop.
Before and After School Child Care
During early and middle childhood, youngsters need supervision. A responsible adult should be available to get them ready and off to school in the morning and watch over them after school until you return home from work.
Children approaching adolescence (11- and 12-year-olds) should not come home to an empty house in the afternoon unless they show unusual maturity for their age.
If alternate adult supervision is not available, parents should make special efforts to supervise their children from a distance. Children should have a set time when they are expected to arrive at home and should check in with a neighbor or with a parent by telephone.
If you choose a commercial after-school program, inquire about the training of the staff. There should be a high staff-to-child ratio, and the rooms and the playground should be safe.
Developing Good Homework and Study Habits
Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Youngsters need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that is quiet, without distractions, and promotes study.
Schedule ample time for homework.
Establish a household rule that the TV set stays off during homework time.
Supervise computer and Internet use.
Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child’s homework for her.
Take steps to help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying. It may be helpful to close the books for a few minutes, stretch, and take a break periodically when it will not be too disruptive.
If your child is struggling with a particular subject, and you aren’t able to help her yourself, a tutor can be a good solution. Talk it over with your child’s teacher first.
It’s just about time when the kids are going back to school at last! According to the National Association of School Psychologists, getting a new school year off to a good start can influence children’s attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. The transition from August to September can be difficult for both children and parents after a long summer of broken routines and various trips. Even children who are eager to return to class must adjust to the greater levels of activity, structure, and, for some, pressures associated with school life.
The degree of adjustment depends on the child, but parents and family can help their children manage the increased pace of life by starting early, being realistic, and staying Chipper! Re-establish your regular bedtime and eating schedules early so it won’t be as hard to set once school actually starts. Have your children do some scholastic activities to prepare them mentally to start stuffing their little brains! Restart their memorization skills with Chipper’s fun Matching Game App.
Your child will benefit most from one or two activities that are fun, reinforce social development, and teach new skills! Chipper’s coloring pages App are easy, no-mess activities for your kids to play while on-the-go, shopping for back-to-school. For those of you with preschoolers, Chipper’s Pillow Backpack is the perfect item for your little one’s to hold a few necessities while having something to rest their little heads on during nap time! Sing-a-long songs with all of Chipper’s friends are a fun way for them to shape up their reading skills and dance moves. Check out Chipper’s store to see all our great school items, including Chipper Backpack Plush Clip-on, reusable totes, fun backpacks with matching lunch bags, and much more! Get Chipper with your kids this school year!
Click here for a fun activity to Explore the Senses in Nature! (by Stacy Teet)
Exploring nature is good or the body and the soul! Playing outside creates meaningful connections with peers, siblings and family while also providing necessary exercise. We can learn so much about our planet and ourselves by just stepping into the forest. Enjoying the great outdoors doesn’t have to be limited to hiking, camping or heading to the mountains for a weekend getaway (although those are all fine ideas). Connecting with nature is as simple as heading out the back door! Why not try one of these ideas in your very own yard this Summer?
Go cloud watching
Build a fort
climb a tree
Roar at the moon
Go on a nature scavenger hunt
Plant a garden
Create a backyard beach
Explore a flower
Run barefoot through the grass (especially wet grass)
Dig in the dirt
Watch ants
Camp out in your backyard
Tour your neighbor’s front gardens
Take a color walk and name all the colors you see
Jump in puddles
Birdwatching expedition
Bake mud cakes
Raise a caterpillar; release a butterfly
Build a fairy house with twigs and leaves
Make leaf, rock or bark rubbings (get creative and make an outside art project out of it)
Start a back yard field guide (complete with a drawn map and descriptions)
Create rock art (trying to balance as many rocks on each other can be fun too–Rock Jinga!
Gaze at the stars and find shapes
Plant a tree from seed or some flowers
Play with sticks (sword fights are always fun but be careful!)
Build snow animals during the Winter
Watch a sunset or a sunrise from your yard; look at it each day and see how the sun moves!
Go butterfly watching (and maybe catch a few!)
Host a back yard garden tour or throw a planting party!
Make a moon journal
Run through a pile of leaves
Start a seed collection..or a rock collection!
Paint with mud
Take a flower walk (collect some, place in a thick book, for a fun, beautiful dried-flower craft!)
Create a fairy garden
Go on a backyard photo shoot and make a album of your findings later!
Search for spider webs
Go on a back yard safari
Explore a tree
Design a backyard hiking trail
Create a treasure map
Enjoy a backyard campfire
Go on a bird scavenger hunt
Make a bird-feeder
Start a nature journal
Paint rocks
Create land art
Take a compass walk
Make sand angels (or a nice snow angel in Winter)
Go on a backyard bug hunt
Dig and plant!
There’s so much to do with out going very far! For more ideas and inspiration to get you and your family outside and connecting with nature, visit: http://goexplorenature.blogspot.com. Get outdoors and get Chipper today!
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.
Whether it’s a brunch, breakfast in bed (how about some heart shaped toast for mom using a cookie cutter?!) or just a day away with friends it’s the one-day mothers worldwide get to let go and have the family take care of them. If you’re a mom reading this just push the “share” button because we’ve got some fun ideas this year to help make it special.
The ads in the papers, TV, and push notifications on our apps all say “Presidential Savings” to capitalize on a day meant for celebrating our US leaders whom have lead this country to where it is today. You might not like where we are today as a nation but if you turn off the noise and focus in on family you’ll quickly realize the most important guidance starts in the home and empowers the core character of our children. And feel lucky that you only have to guide your family and not the many layers of government that help the President run a country of billions.
empathy. It’s empathy that drives our compassion to help others and perhaps that is why so many presidents had dogs in the White House. Sure, it makes for incredible photo ops but research shows caring for an animal or having an animal in the home reduces stress and increases compassion.
The pressure to raise a high achieving, conscientious and contributing child can overshadow the benefits of giving back as an individual or family. When we help others, we are reminded of what we have and don’t have in life. It is an opportunity to teach our children what life is really about and how we can contribute for the betterment of our community and world. Helping excites emotions of empathy, joy, guilt, and often leaves us motivated to do more. But understanding these emotions and convictions isn’t intuitive.
Create a cute centerpiece for your table or use them as name tags for your Thanksgiving feast seating!
Monday
Directions:
Remember the year 2000? In the United States, a pound of bacon only cost $3 and a gallon of gas set people back $1.26. The iPhone was still 7 years away from being introduced. But on September 2, 2000, some hearty adventurers, tired of being tied to an office cubicle day after day, launched Geocaching.com. The adventure to inspire outdoor play through GPS technology began.
This past Friday I was so excited to come home from work because I knew the house would be clean. I’m not one to have cleaning help but after fostering three dogs and many family-and-friends travelers I raised the white flag and said “Calgon take me away!” The smell and the shine was worth the slip – one turn down the hallway in my socks and I was grabbing the wall to stay up because the floors were waxed (did I pay extra for that?).
Some cool constellations you must see:
What you need:
Making your container:
Can you believe we have a generation growing up realizing that we are all different and that we should celebrate not criticize, shame, nor ignore individuals needing our kindness and support. We live during a time when parents have enough information teach their children acceptance and even more so to acknowledge that we all have a right to reach our potential? We share knowledge through so many channels and, collectively, we can make change for the better.
Transform a simple egg carton cup into a fabulous bell ornament! This is a simple project, good for a parent and young child to make together on a winter night!
(pretty much any container you have used that has a sealed top). You can even send these in the mail!
The following health and safety tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – Edited by Chipper!Making the First Day Easier
Let's Go Chipper! 