1 Hour : Make It : Watermelon Pops

image via familyfun.com

I saw these watermelon popsicles a couple years ago in Family Fun magazine, and really hope my kids and I can make them for the 4th of July.

Supplies:

Watermelon

Popsicle sticks

Star-shaped cookie cutter

• Use the cookie cutter to cut star shapes from 1-inch thick seedless watermelon.
• Insert a popsicle stick into each star, then place on an aluminum-foil covered baking sheet.
• Cover the stars with another sheet of foil and freeze for 1 hour, until set.
• Eat outside on a hot day!

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15 Minutes : Make It : Tissue Stamp

image via ehow.com

Funny how my kids love those little hand stamps they receive at the entrances of museums, zoos, etc. Here's an unusual way to get a personalized stamp--using tissue paper instead of an inkpad.

Choose a piece of tissue paper that's dark or bright. Cut out a shape that is small enough to fit on your child's hand. Moisten the back of her hand with a bit of water, then press the shape down on it. Smooth the paper down. Peel the paper away to see the tissue transfer.

From an old Parenting magazine (May 2006) that I found in my laundry room closet.

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Friday Focus : Travel Time

image by redroko

On long roadtrips, we have plenty of activities to pass the time. I admit that we do start a DVD once or twice during a full day of driving (I can't handle seeing their unblinking eyes more often than that); we also read, sing, look out the windows (quiet, "bored" time is not always a bad thing), play games, color, and occasionally sleep.

But then there are those moments when nothing seems to work, everyone is restless, and, really, the kids just need some new 5-minute novelty to re-instate their sanity. Here are a couple ideas that I used on our recent 10-hour drive to San Diego.

--With a pen, draw a simple face on your child's thumb. Ask them questions to create a personality for their new friend. (What's is his name? Favorite color, animal, thing to do?)

--Take turns reciting nursery rhymes.

--Toss your child a small blanket to use for hiding, as a tent, etc. Magical for my two-year-old.

--Do a spelling bee; use words that are appropriate for age and level.

--Tell a story from your childhood.

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1 Hour : Read It : Alphabet Series

image via bn.com

Sleeping Bear Press has published an excellent series of non-fiction picture books that appeal to both my oldest son and my younger children. The series includes a book for every U.S. state, every popular sport, many cultures, and even educational topics. A few of our favorites include:

N is for Our Nation's Capital (A Washington DC Alphabet)

R is for Rhyme (A Poetry Alphabet)

P is for Putt (A Golf Alphabet)

P is for Passport (A World Alphabet)

Each book feature beautiful illustrations, a rhyme for the letter and word on that page, and a detailed sidebar that provides additional information. I can't say enough about these books. They challenge 10-year-olds with new concepts; they are accessible for young readers who are learning basics of a topic.

Find a complete list of titles at Sleeping Bear Press. Also, a list of the state books is available here. Books are available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

(Note: I classified this book as a 1 hour activity because my kids ask so many questions while we read that it takes that long to read an entire A to Z book.)

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Quick Share : B&N Summer Reading

image here

Today we picked up the forms for Barnes & Noble's Summer Reading Program. After completing (and recording) eight books, kids get to choose a free book from B&N (from their list of "eligible" books--sorry, kiddo, you can't choose that $20 hardcover Harry Potter).

Details and printable form available here.

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Friday Focus : Travel Time

image here

I love to travel. I even love to travel with my four kids. I will not say that every moment of driving/flying time is filled with fun, educational, time-consuming activities. I will not say that we never use our DVD player to calm the ants in the pants. I will not say that the kids sit quietly in their seats, content to look out at passing scenery. But I will say that the happy moments outweigh the grumpy ones.

Having a supply of games makes every trip better. My kids enjoy Car Bingo, especially the eeboo version that I save for "any trip that is longer than 3 hours one-way". Or, here's a printable travel bingo, and a bingo-like picture list that I like.

More games:

Alphabet game: Easily played by any kid who recognizes letters. When my kids are very young, I challenge them to just find the letters in their name, since these are usually the first ones they know. A variation we play when there are no road signs for miles and miles and miles (try Wyoming, or southern Utah) goes like this: name one animal for each letter of the alphabet--supersmartypants 10-year old has to think of animals with more than two syllables. Or, name places for each letter--anything from a town to a country to a planet is acceptable in our family.

License Plate game: This one is great for the cross-country trips (yes, I've done that; it was far better than I thought it would be). Just write down the name of the state as you see its plate; avid players may want to keep tally of how many from each state they see.

Favorites: Our family's all-purpose game. Take turns asking questions that everyone answers: favorite color, animal, movie, book, breakfast food, summer activity, school subject, etc.

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15 Minutes : Make It : Salt Art

image via Family Fun

Though this project does take a little advance preparation, I think the result will keep us busy on the back porch for some time. The instructions call for making patterns on glue-covered paper, but I'm sure a blank sidewalk (glue-free) would work as well. I know all my kids--from age 2 to age 10--will figure out their own ways of creating art with their shakers.

Step 1: Tint the Salt For each color, put approximately 1 cup of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of liquid watercolor or 20 to 25 drops of food coloring in a ziplock bag. Seal each bag, removing as much air as you can. Outside, let your child shake, smash, and knead the contents until all of the salt is dyed. Next, pour the salt onto newspaper-lined trays to dry for about 2 hours (or just open the bags and let the grains dry overnight). When it's no longer wet to the touch, pour the salt into clean, dry spice shakers, one color per shaker.

Step 2: Make a Pattern Offer your child a glue stick and some stiff paper or a paper plate. Encourage her to scribble all over the paper with the glue.

Step 3: Add Color Hand your child the shakers of dyed salt and show her how to sprinkle it onto the paper. Once the glue has dried, simply shake off the excess salt.

Instructions from FamilyFun.com

More detailed instructions available at Kaboose.com

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Friday Focus : A Mind for Math, Part 3

image by redroko

Sorting is a basic math concept that can be learned at a very young age. My 2-year-old has mastered his simple sorting toy (four shapes) and works very hard at his more complicated one. I love holding him on my lap as he tries to figure it out.

For the 4- and 6-year-olds, I have an egg carton filled with colored beads. I think you can guess their task. We sort by color most often; sometimes they like to create their own sorting technique--one of each color in each space, or one bead in the first space, two in the second, and so on. I'm always amazed how long they like this activity.

To further boost math skills, find other sorting activities around your house:
Sort socks in the laundry
Sort toy cars by color, type, etc.
Sort treasures from a walk (pinecones, sticks, rocks)
Put the silverware in the correct tray places (a good chore for little ones
Sort buttons, blocks, legos, etc.

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15 Minutes : Read It : A Tree is Nice

image via bn.com

A Tree is Nice comes to mind when I think of summertime books. Charming, old pictures sweetly depict the simple, child-like reasons to like trees. This award-winner makes us want to plant more trees and love trees like Anne (of Green Gables) does.

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1 Hour : Make It : Felty Friends

image via FamilyFun

My daughter and I want to make this cute take on a paper doll. I will have to do the little bit of sewing, but she'll be great help with other parts of the project.

See the full instructions at FamilyFun.com

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15 Minutes : Make It : Fruit Popsicles

image via La Tartine Gourmande

My kids love any excuse to make Popsicles and with the weather really warming up we're going to have to start making batches of these yummy, yet healthy, treats. Typically we make our favorite fruit and yogurt smoothie and freeze it in either molds or small paper cups with sticks. The kids love adding ingredients to the blender and helping pour and freeze the Popsicles. The anticipation is the real killer.

Below there's a recipe for Orange Banana Popsicles that my grandma always had handy in the freezer. La Tartine Gourmande also has some great gourmet versions too.


Orange-Banana Popsicles

1 - 8 oz container yogurt, any flavor or plain
1 - 12 oz can frozen orange juice mixed with 3 cans of water
1 - 14 oz can pineapple juice
5 very ripe bananas

Mix and freeze.

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15 Minutes : Play It : Ice Painting

image via here

Hot day + ice cubes + sidewalk = ice painting.

Refreshing and no cleanup.

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Friday Focus : A Mind for Math, Part 2

We have found many math-themed books over the past years. Here are a few of our favorites: Tasha Tudor is one of my favorite author-illustrators. 1 is One is a very beautiful beginning counting book.

How Much is a Million, by David Schwartz, helps children and parents alike to visualize that huge number.

My fourth-grader loves G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book. Every letter describes a math concept--some of them fairly advanced--and my son soaked it all in, and then taught bits of it to his little siblings. They love to astound strangers with this one: "How much is 10 to the power of 10 to the power of 100?" (Stunned look from innocent adult.) "Googol!"

One Grain of Rice, by the always excellent Demi, relates a clever story that uses math to teach doubles. Even if the concept is over their heads, the art is too gorgeous to miss.

We also like to check out Stuart Murphy's books when we go to the library. He has written many short picture books that weave basic math principles into a simple story. Some are better than others, and all have kooky, cartoon-ish illustrations; still, our favorites include Henry the Fourth and House for Birdie.

images via Amazon and Barnes & Noble

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15 Minutes : Play It : Tic, Tac. . .Oh No

My oldest has loved sidewalk chalk hopscotch since before he was two. He used to beg and beg his auntie and I to draw him new boards everyday. FamilyFun has some great variations on lots of sidewalk games here. I really like their Tic, Tac. . .Oh No version.




Tic-tac-toe is a simple classic, but in this driveway version, a single toss can bring about a reversal of fortune.

WHAT YOU NEED:
Chalk
10 stones

HOW TO PLAY:
1. Setup: Mark out a 9-square tic-tac-toe grid and a toss line. Our grid was about 3 feet by 3 feet. Have each player use chalk to decorate 4 stones with his "team" color, and a 5th stone -- the "change" stone -- in a different color.

2. Players take turns tossing their stones, trying to get 3 in a row. If a player misses the board or lands in an occupied spot, he picks up his rock and his turn is over.

3. Once a game, each player can toss the change stone to try to take over an opponent's box. To be successful, he must land the stone on the targeted square. If he misses, he must pick up his stone, and his turn is over. The winner is the first player to get tic-tac-toe.

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1 Hour : Visit It : Walter Wick Exhibit

image via WalterWick.com

Brigham Young University's Museum of Art is currently featuring a kid-friendly exhibit entitled Walter Wick: Games, Gizmos, and Toys in the Attic. My kids and I saw pieces from a cardboard city (they wanted to make their own at home), large framed prints from the artist's I Spy series, and the above set that was created for a photo shoot. This was one art event that kept the kids eager and interested. (The excited mood even carried over to a couple other areas of the museum where we saw recycled art and American portraiture.)

The BYU-MOA exhibit runs through August 1st. On June 10th, the museum will host a special family art day using Wick's works as the theme.

Learn more about Walter Wick's art and publications here.

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