Sending love and good thoughts to everyone in the Boston area. Stay Strong.
Spring Activities for Families
Happy Thursday & Welcome to the Kid's Co-op! This is a weekly feature here at Local Fun for Kids. I, along with a group of other bloggers, bring you the latest and greatest greatest kid-friendly crafts, activities, educational resources and recipes.
I know many of us are in sports-mode right now. Spring is in full swing! On the go-dinners, late nights and schedule changes can be tough, but having the chance to spend more time with friends and seeing my kids do what they love makes it worth it.
Do You Know About TeachHUB Education News & Resources?
{Sponsored Post - All Opinions Are My Own}
Having children can make you think about many things in a whole new light, and, for me, education is definitely one of them. Even though education has always been a big part of my life, as my kids get older, I have become fascinated by how my kids learn and what it takes to advance them to the next level.
Education & Curiosity
According to the teachers at TeachHub.com, success in education starts with curiosity and curiosity starts at home. Both of my kids are very curious (as most kids are) and they also have very unique styles of learning. One will sit down and do work-sheets for fun, while the other prefers hands on experiences, thinking about those experiences and then asking a million questions. (Well, maybe not a million, but it sure does feel like it!)
FREE April 22 - 26, 2013: National Park Week
Did you know that April 22-26 is National Park Week?
During this week, you can take advantage of free admission to U.S. national parks that usually charge entrance fees. Isn't that a great excuse to go on an outdoor adventure with your kids?
According to the National Park Service Website "In addition to free admission to all American national parks on Fee-Free Days, many national park-related businesses and destinations offer special discounts and added value promotions on Fee-Free Days."
CLICK HERE to visit the National Park Service Fee-Free Days website.
"Children are born naturalists. They explore the world with all of their senses, experiment in the environment, and communicate their discoveries to those around them."
- The Audubon Nature Preschool
National Library Week: April 14-20, 2013
Did you know it's National Library Week? Yes, this week we are honoring libraries across the country by celebrating their contributions to society and promoting library use.
If you've ever read my post Ten Reasons Why Your Local Library is the Perfect Place for Local Fun, you know I'm a fan of our local library. When my kids were babies and toddlers, we were always at our local library. They have many age appropriate programs with books, crafts, music and play time. It's a great place to socialize with other local moms, and get your kids out of the house.
This week, head over to your library to see what's new and take part in the celebration!
Learn more about National Library Week here.
Easy Sensory Play Ideas From Babble
Summer is around the corner and there will be many moments where moms everywhere, including myself, need quick boredom busters for their kids. I'm not talking about complicated crafts that you have to plan ahead or buy lots of supplies. I'm talking about EASY boredom busters where you can mostly use things you already have around the house.
Babble recently published a post called 25 Sensory Recipes Play Recipes for Kids. I was so excited to see my Sand and Sea Keepsake highlighted in this post! There are so many other cool sensory play ideas in this post, I have to share it with you.
Reminder: Register at KidsBowlFree.com
Just a reminder that it's time to sign up for the Kids Bowl Free program.
Kids Bowl Free is a summer bowling program hosted by 1000 bowling centers in the US & Canada. Kids receive 2 free games of bowling everyday during the summer. There is no cost to participate.
How do you register for The Kids Bowl Free Program?
You can watch this video to learn more or just head on over to KidsBowlFree.com to sign up. Registration is open now for many centers now and more are opening every day.
Pssst... they are are working on mobile coupons, so hopefully we'll be using this new paperless system soon!
Have you participated in this program? Are you a loyal Kids Bowl Free family?
Continue here to read: 5 Reasons Why Bowling is Fun For Kids
Lots of Things to Do With the Kids
Hello! I can't believe it's already time for another Kid's Co-op. If you're new here, this is a weekly feature of kid-friendly crafts and activities. Feel free to browse all of the creative ideas and if you have one to add, just link it up!
Please link directly to your best kid crafts, activities, kid related projects or family friendly recipes.
Grab a button so every one can see where you like to party:
/">src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i357/localfunforkids/kidscoop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" />
Why Is Travel Good for Kids?
Traveling after children will never be the same as traveling before children. My previous vacations of cocktails and little black dresses turned into days filled with diapers and sippy cups. It can be a bit hard adjusting to this change, but after it definitely gets better as my kids get older, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Do you like traveling with your kids? My husband and I have been away for one weekend by ourselves, but other than that, all of our vacations have included our children. No matter how crasy it can get, it truly wouldn't feel the same without them.
Family travel enables you to make memories that will last a lifetime. When I was younger, my parents took my sisters and I on long car rides all over the Eastern U.S. We went to more museums, exhibits, festivals, and different cities than I can count. I really think it helped me have an appreciation for art and culture. Even though I may not remember every little detail of each adventure we went on, these memories are part of who I am today.
Why is Travel Good For Kids?
I believe that travel is so important for children's development. When you're traveling as a family, you learn things that you couldn't learn from a book. You get to use all of your senses to explore a new environment. Kids learn about different ways of life, grow their communication skills, and experience things they never even dreamed about. Plus, getting to see things from your children's perspective, for the first time, is a priceless experience.
In the past, I've written a bunch of articles about family travel and I wanted to share some of them with you.
1) Traveling with Kids? Use Blogs to Plan your Getaway
2) Tips for Family Travel on a Budget
3) Basic Tips for Traveling With Kids
4) 17 Travel Tips For Long Car Rides With Kids
5) Disney with Kids: Tips from some of the Best Disney Blogs
6) 10 Disney Tips on Everything from Toy Story Mania, Epcot, PhotoPass & More!
Why do YOU think travel is good for kids? Where is the coolest place you have taken your kids? Do you have any favorite memories from your childhood?
Leave me a comment and let me know.
Win Tickets to the 2013 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship! Discount Code
Calling all Rugby Fans!
The 2013 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship is coming to the Philly area in June! The tournament is taking place June 1st & 2nd at PPL Park (home of the Philadelphia Union Soccer team) right outside of the city.
The tournament will feature 20 of the nation’s top college teams, including local schools Penn, Temple, Delaware, Penn State, St. Joseph’s, and Kutztown. Throughout the 44 matches in two days, the teams will strive for the championship title and the sought-after Pete Dawkins trophy. This tournament has a reputation for being the most prestigious college rugby tournament in the country, and it looks like a fun-filled, action packed event.
Find your discount code here:
Easy Craft: Seashell Vacation Memory Jars
Family vacations seem to go by so fast, but I found a way to capture our memories and enjoy them for years to come. It all started when we went to Ft. Meyers Beach, FL.
While we were in Ft. Meyers, Sanibel and Captiva, we found some amazing shells, a dried up starfish and even the shell of a mini sea urchin. They were so beautiful, I wanted a simple way to display them and remember our special moments. So, on a visit to IKEA, I bought a glass jar and carefully placed all of our treasures inside.
Then, on a family vacation to Cape Cod, we collected the smoothest rocks and some sand from the beach. I got a smaller glass (also from IKEA) and placed the rocks in the jar along with a little bit of sand from our trip.
When we recently went to Naples, FL and collected shells and a sea sponge that washed up on the beach, you know what I did with them, right? Yep, I got another glass jar and gently placed our new treasures into the jar.
There are moments when we look at the jars or open them up and re-inspect our collections. The kids and I like to see and feel our trinkets and reminisce about our special moments on our family vacations. These memory jars are so easy to make and, in my opinion, are a million times better than anything from a souvenir shop.
Here's another one of my favorite crafts to use those little seashells from vacation:
Sand & Shell Ornament Craft for Kids
If you don't have any shells, here's an easy seashell crafts for kids using a paper plate:
Easy Preschool Paper Plate Seashell Craft
Do you do anything special to capture your special vacation memories?
Updated Local Events Calendar
Spring Allergies & Air Purifiers {Sponsored}
Allergies are not fun! My husband and I both get seasonal allergies and we're on a mission to make them as minimal as possible. Of course, that's easier said than done. This year, we began using local honey to try and reduce our allergies. I've read conflicting reports about whether or not it actually works, but we're giving it a shot anyway. It's a sweet alternative to sugar and we're supporting a local business, so even if it doesn't work, I'm still on the up-and-up!
Another thing I've been considering is buying an air purifier for our home. The last time I saw an Allergist, I remember her saying that it was important to keep the air in the bedroom clean because it can have a positive impact on allergies. Keeping a clean indoor environment in key! So when Best Buy asked me to tell you about the Air Purifiers that they sell, I thought it would be a good chance to check them out and learn more.
It was interesting learning all about Air Purifiers. They're all unique and there are price points to suit various budgets. Many of them help reduce allergens, germs, odors and airborne particles.
Best Buy is currently offering a Friends/Family offer for Air Purification systems. Just print the coupon below and take it to our best buy store by April 15th to save 20% on any Air Purification product (as specified on the coupon.)
Have you ever used an in-home air purifier? Do you want to try one?
Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card.
Science Ideas for Little Kids
Being a mom is tough. Just when you have your kids figured out, they go and change. They grow, their personalities evolve, they get smarter and more curious.
Now that my kids are 5 and 7 years old, they are asking more complex questions every day. I feel like they expect me to be a human encyclopedia. So, this week on the Kid’s Co-op, all of the science-related ideas really caught my attention. I feel like I need to step up my game and teach my kids things they would never expect me to know. We can learn new things together.
Here are a few projects from the Kid's Co-op to help teach kids about science:
Cool Facts About Painted Lady Butterflies
Playful Ways to Learn About Seeds
Kids Can Make A Bird Feeder At Home Depot
FREE BIRD FEEDER WORKSHOP FOR KIDS
This Saturday, April 6th, at Home Depot, your kids ages 5 - 12 can participate in a FREE hands-on workshop. The workshop takes places between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m and you will need to register here.
All kids get to keep their bird feeder craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, pin and certificate. Paint will be provided at the workshop for children to personalize their bird feeder craft!
If you can't make it to this workshop, your kids can also make a bird feeder at home. Here are some of my past blog posts that show you how:
Easy Bird Feeder Craft for Kids
How to Make 5 Easy Bird Feeder Crafts for Kids
Disney Fans New Movie: #FindingDory
Just this morning, it was announced that FINDING DORY, the sequel to 2003’s Oscar®-winning film FINDING NEMO, will be released in theatres everywhere on November 25, 2015! I know it's still a pretty far away, but I wanted to give you a little bit of info from the press release:
Director and Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton takes audiences back to the extraordinary underwater world created in the original film. “There is no Dory without Ellen,” said Stanton. “She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world—not to mention our team here at Pixar. One thing we couldn’t stop thinking about was why she was all alone in the ocean on the day she met Marlin. In ‘Finding Dory,’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way.”
According to Stanton, “Finding Dory” takes place about a year after the first film, and features returning favorites Marlin, Nemo and the Tank Gang, among others. Set in part along the California coastline, the story also welcomes a host of new characters, including a few who will prove to be a very important part of Dory’s life.
Are you looking forward to this? What's your favorite Disney movie?
Philly Area Moms Raise Money for Cancer & Have Fun!
The MOM Prom of Aston & Media has teamed up with Red Hot Dance Fitness to “dance for donations,” and awareness for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, at the Granite Run Mall on Sunday, April 7, 2013 from 12:30-2PM.
Have fun while participating in a complete workout! Instead of paying for the class, participants will be urged to make a donation to the foundation dedicated to finding cures for kids with cancer. To add to the fun, Red Hot Dance Fitness will host a Dance Mob, which participants can learn prior to attending through their website.
The MOM Prom of Aston & Media will also host their 2nd annual event benefiting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation on Saturday, May 4 at Barnarby’s in Aston.
For more information on Dancing for Donations and the MOM Prom visit: http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/79249 or contact contact Rebecca Mucklow: rebstuartc21@aol.com
Celebrate Graduation: Win $50 off your total order at Tiny Prints!
In just a few months, I will be the proud mom of a preschool graduate. It sounds a little weird to say that. With my first son, I don't think we did anything special when he "graduated" preschool. However, this time around is different, because when my little guy leaves preschool, that's it! No more preschoolers for me.
It's nice to be moving forward and I know this is where we're meant to be. It's really a good feeling and I am excited to see my son graduate preschool with his friends.
When Tiny Prints found out I had a graduate in the family, they offered me a gift certificate for telling you all about their graduation products and one of my lucky readers will win a $50 off their order Tiny Prints! There are so many things I want from their website and I have always been very pleased with everything I've ever ordered from them.
Spring Break: A Snowy Morning at Tyler Arboretum
As soon as spring break started, my 5-year-old son excitedly said "I don't have school tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day, or the next day, or the next day..." It was fun to see him so happy, but there was also a part of me wondering how we were all going to stay content spending almost 24/7 together for the next 9 days.
Everyone always say kids "grow up so quickly," and it really is so true. My kids are getting bigger every day, and I am enjoying these moments of their childhood. There will always be other moments when they drive me crazy, and we all get frustrated, but we are very fortunate to have so many giggly, happy moments.
.
April Fools Day Ideas for Kids via Pinterest
Do you like to celebrate April Fools Day with your kids? If so, Laura from Dr. Play Mom has a Pinterest board you won't want to miss. Continue here to see April Fools & Playful Pranks on Pinterest.
