Quick Takes: The Inner Child

When I win the lottery.....

Im going to release my inner child with a staircase shortcut like this---

P.S. And for my aging soul... an elevator for the ride back up!    :-)  

Quick Takes: Kids Easy-Bake Chicken Recipe

Today's Quick Take is an easy recipe for kids learning to cook.

Easy Coated Chicken:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut boneless chicken into chunks.
Shake [in a small bag] or dredge to coat with dry salad dressing mix.
            [We use1-2 packets of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix]
Place chicken on a cooking sheet and put in the oven to bake.  [I usually turn it once halfway thru]
Bake 30-40 minutes depending on size of chunks and your oven.

[For best food safety teach your kiddos to use a food thermometer to check internal temp. Safe for chicken is 160 degrees]

That's IT.... Two ingredients. No fuss. No stirring.

Try it tonight!


PS: It works with pork too!

Quick Takes: Homemade Beads

Make or use a batch homemade modeling playdough [see yesterday's post for one possible recipe].

Roll beads to desired round, oval, square, rectangular shapes.

Make a hole in each bead with a nail or a rounded toothpick.

[Make it big enough for the string or lace you will be using later.]

Options:

....roll in food coloring without blending, shape and cut into beads before adding holes and baking.

.....Paint to decorate if using white or plain dough.

Bake at 225 degrees a few hours until hard [or leave out overnight to dry thoroughly].

For easy bead-stringing without a needle, dip the end of a string in glue and shape the end into a point. Hanging with the point down, let it dry thoroughly. If you have made the hole in each bead wide enough, a shoelace will also work.

Note:  For younger children be very careful to make the beads large enough to avoid a choking hazard. 

Image credits and thanks to: budgetbarbie.com, blog.craftzine.com

Anything Can Happen: Homemade Modeling Dough

Today a quick recipe for inexpensive, quick to make modeling clay.  Make it ahead yourself or let the kids join in the mixing and kneading. [Adults only adding the boiling water.] 

Mix together:

            3/4 cup flour

            1/2 cup salt

1  1/2 teaspons oil

1/3 cup boiling water

Stir until well blended. [May seem crumbly before kneading.]

Divide and add food coloring, then knead until smooth.


Dough can be used to create beads or little creatures or dollhouse furniture and dishes, decorations or art sculptures.

Younger children can experiment with simpler rolling and making different colored pinwheels, mixing colors, and make impressions with small "tools."

Dough can be stored in an airtight container for relatively short periods of time. To double the fun, join in the creating with your children!

Tomorrow: Hints for turning the dough into baked beads for further creativity.

Image credits and thanks to: robinsnest.hubpages.com, perpetuallynesting.com,sculptedlight.blogspot.com

Quick Takes: Edible Art

For the youngest— [and the young at heart]

Edible fingerpaint:

Make vanilla pudding and let it cool. 


Divide into three different dishes.


Add different food colorings to each bowl. [red, blue, yellow]

Small children can draw on plain paper to their hearts delight and if they get covered with "paint" they can lick their fingers without concern. 


If staining or allergies are a concern, be particular about the coloring used.  


[Alternative: Do the same thing with plain yogurt.]


Image credit and thanks to: theyayagirls.com, raisingsparks.com

Parenting Tips: Indoor Sandbox

Do rainy days leave your kids housebound and grumpy?  Try this solution for the sandbox set in your house....Great for apartments or for indoor rainy day play!

Take out a large baking pan [I use to keep a large tin turkey roaster on hand for this.] On a grander scale, try a shallow plastic storage tub [great because the lid makes it reusable for long periods without getting spilled or spoiled].

Fill with cornmeal . Add some baking spoons, measuring spoons, cups, a few funnels… even a small sand toy will work. 

I used to hide some small plastic or rubber toys [my kids used to love small cars, toy dinosaurs, and jungle animal figures. They would scoop and funnel and sieve until they discovered their “finds” and then play in their make believe world. 


Whether I used cornmeal, or rice [my favorite], or even oatmeal…. I didn’t have to worry if they put some in their mouths during the process. 


Image credit and thanks to: mamabeefromthehive.blogspot.com, steadymom.com

Quick Takes: Quilting Bees

I am spending 12 hours today at a Quilting Bee as a mission project at my church.  We are all making the "Quilt in a Day" style quilts so [in theory] we will have as many quilts finished by 8 pm tonight as there are people attending.  We will see.  We are using a simple design similar to the picture at right. 


But it brings me to today's Quick Take.

Pick a day.... any day... and teach your children some appreciation for the days before going to stores to buy blankets [or clothes, or anything.]  Take a scrap of cloth or a bunch of old wash cloths and some thread and a needle.  Give each child four wash cloths to sew together into a "towel"  Have them stitch their name on one corner [or at least their initial if they are younger]. Have them lay out washcloths on their beds to see how many wash cloths it would take to sew a "blanket" for their bed.  Talk about what a difference the invention of the sewing machine made!

Then go online, or go to a museum and show them the amazing hand sewn quilts of today or days gone by.  As a final amazement... have them check out the stitching samplers hand stitched by young children of early days.

Depending on your children's interests:
--add two more wash cloths and with six sewn together they will have a very usable  doll blanket.
--four wash cloths make a good dryer or window washer when helping clean the car.

Who knows?.... you may inspire a future quilter! A logical next step could be the knot-together squares of fleece type of blankets.  If you have a sewing machine, you can help them make simple blankets with just straight stitching, which allow kids to accomplish something big, with small skills.   [If you need more info, let me know!]

Image credits and thanks:  instructables.com, stichinpost.com, notwithoutsalt.com

Parenting Tips: Buy now and save!

With Valentine's Day two days behind, most stores have now marked down their leftover merchandise.  This is a great chance for parents to dash out and pick up some goodies to parcel out on any number of occasions all year long.  [Of course you can also buy valentine sets and save them for next year's giving to elementary classrooms, but I mean more than that.]

Buy heart shaped boxes:  These can be used to fill with cheery, uplifting love messages to a child who is struggling or discouraged or feeling left out.

Buy heart stickers:  Use these to add at the bottom of anything from "I'll be home soon" messages to even chore lists!

Buy Red plates or bowls or cups  [I'll tell you about using those on Saturday.]

Buy heart shaped stencils: For decorating [and taking up space!] on thank you notes, letters, etc.


Buy heart shaped molds: for making everything from soaps to floating ice cubes.


Heart-Themed Candles/Mugs/Gifts:  Buy a bunch to keep on hand for unexpected hostess gifts, friendship tokens, etc. Mother's Day, Father's Day.. all kinds of occaionsYou can often also find hangings, mottos, etc. that speak of friendship and caring  to sotkc up on for unexpected occasions.

Heart or Love-themed craft projects/materials:  Same uses as the gifts already mentioned. One of my particular favorites is the collections of different size, shape and color foam hearts or wooden hearts!

So, what are you doing still sitting here reading?? Get going.... Take advantage of the markdown sales!   Valentine's Day is over, but the season for love-themed gifts is year round!

Quick Takes: Instant Valentine Treats

I remember years of spending money on cheap valentine cards that came in classroom size packs and were decorated with the cartoon character du jour from Care Bears to Barney to the Wiggles to Disney to Justin B and teen vampires.

Try this quick and simple idea for older kids who still want to pass out a treat or to take to the office next week.
[I saw these special ordered for a wedding and thought how easy they would be to do at home for Valentine's Day.]

1. Buy a bag of candy kisses or hugs. and a package of round sticker dots [red or pink are particularly good for this].

2. Use a magic marker to write short sayings on the sticker dots.   [Love you, Be mine, Cool, Frends, Be Sweet, etc. etc.] Go traditional or be creative!

3. Peel off each sticker dot and place on the flat bottom of the wrapped candy kiss.

4. Fill a bowl or basket with the kiss and hugs with sticker bottoms


Pass them around and have some quick and easy valentine fun.

Parenting Tips: Valentine Scratch-Offs

Get your kids off the couch and get them involved making their own unique valentines with a fun twist....  scratch off messages!

You will need:
index cards [or something similar to use for your messages] or blank cards
dishwashing liquid
a watercolor brush or other small brush
metallic acryllic paint [I like silver or pewter best]*
pieces of clear adhesive paper [such as laminate or Contact® paper] 

How-To:
Make the card and write the secret message that will be covered by the scratch-off paint.

Cover the scratch-off message with small piece of clear adhesive paper to protect it.

Mix the scratch-off paint   [2 parts metallic paint, 2 part dishwashing soap]

Apply one or two coats of paint as needed to cover message, but  be sure to let paint dry between each coat.

Have Fun With This ! !


* You can use red paint for valentine's but it doesn't cover as well or look as good as the metallic paint in my opinion.

Image credits: teachmama.com, artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com

Anything Can Happen: Edible Fun

This is one for younger folks.... but ONLY if no one in the family or who will be playing has a nut allergy!!

Get your critters together... clear a clean spot on the table, lay out a large bowl [or two], wash hands well, put on aprons, and get ready for some creative fun where kids can be sticky, then playful, and can eat any mistakes!   You only need three ingedients to get started.

Edible Play Dough

Mix together:
2 cups powdered milk
2 cups peanut butter

Blend in 3 Tablespoons of honey

Options:
Add more powdered milk a bit at a time if the dough is too sticky to use at first.

Add edible extras for texture, taste, fun or to decorate what you create with the basic dough!

Gather some cookie cutters, presses, decorating stencils or whatever you would like to use for decorating and shaping.  We found that even egg molds will work!

You can decorate your creations with anything edible. [Ideas: nuts, raisins, and chocolate chips mix in well.  Stick pretzels, MandMs, gum drops, string licorice, and even sprinkles can be added to make roads, trees, etc. in your play dough world.]

My granddaughters tend to make fake cookies, cakes, flowers, etc.
My grandsons are more likely to make cars, roads, and villages.
What will your kiddos think of?

Think of it this way.... at least when your little one makes you play cookies of edible dough... you can eat them rather than fake-eating clay or play-doh creations.

Have fun.... after all it's Anything Can Happen Day!

School Bell: Learning Alphabet Letters

For those of you with little ones who are starting to learn their letters... here are two really easy ways to help both entertain your child and help him/her learn.

1. Find the letter
    For a really inexpensive way to give your child lots and lots of practice recognizing letters grab any of the inexpensive word search collections. Instead of using the pages as word searches, use them as letter searches.  Hand the child a page, two crayons, and challenge them to circle all the As in red and all the Ps in blue for example.  [Hint: Pick one with relatively large letters to make it easier.]

When I had little kids around, I would keep a couple of word search pages in my purse in case I needed to keep them occupied for a few minutes [in a waiting room, while I finished a phone call, etc.]

2. Alphabet Around the House
    Using sticky notes or index cards, label things around the house with the first letter of its name.  C/chair, T/table, M/mirror, B/bed  and so on.  You can focus on one letter at a time or do multiple letters depending on your child.  Have the child help you to multiply the fun, the connections, and the learning.

Image credit: sunniebunniezz.com
  

Quick Takes: Yes Day PS

Yes Day  . . .  .
                       Important P.S.
So, I heard from a couple about the Yes Day idea and realized that I had omitted one key element in describing my family celebration of Yes Day.  When I have done Yes Day, I pose it as a day without "No"s.  That means not just from me, but from them.  The challenge is to get through the whole span of time without anyone saying the word "No." 

It's kind of like a team contest, with everybody pulling together to keep the word "No" away.  For example, that means that the kids "can't" say "No" to a parent request either!  [See how it can be a good thing?] You may find that kids will be helping you by discouraging a sibling from making a request that would require a "No" for safety reasons or other significant issue.

Not a single person [which is how to not ruin the day by saying "n_  one"] wants the Yes Day to end before the day is over.  It also helps children find more creative ways to word things than a flat "No".  "Would you like to do my chores next week dear brother?" one child might bait a sibling. "I would love to, but I am afraid that is impossible right now." might be the careful response. The game gets fun and while I wouldn't want it everyday.... for one Yes Day, it can be a lot of fun for everyone.


Image credit: mildlyrelevantthoughts.com, mysalestactics.com

Anything Can Happen: Yes Day?

A while back I got a book for my kids named Yes Day!  [by Amy Krouse Rosenthal,  pub:HarperCollins ].  It tells the whimsical story of a child who suddenly and unexpectedly is granted a day of Yes-es.  Imagine for a moment what we as adults would ask to do on a day when the answer to any question or request was automatically "Yes!" .....

Ok, stop imagining.... you are having way to much fun with the idea.  This book is about kids having that opportunity.  Now, I know that there are certain safety rules that must be followed. But, if you stop and think about it, and especially if you plan ahead, it is amazing how many of our "No"s can in fact be transformed into "Yes" es for a single day.  Thinks about creating a "Yes Day" for your child or children.

The first time I tried it, I didn't even tell the children what was happening.  I wanted to see how long it would be before they noticed that everything was getting a "Yes." It was great fun watching them be delightfully surprised, then when they started realizing what was happening, curiously testing their theory, then their unadulterated joy and exhuberance for the remainder of the day. [To be fair, the first time I tried I chose to start on a Friday afternoon to limit the time frame.] Thereafter  it has remained a rare delight, about once a year, never proclaimed in advance, but sprung on them on a day when the weather, the moods, and everything seems to give it the best shot at success.  Try it!  Let me know how it goes...  Anything can happen!

Anything Can Happen: Remember Hand Shadows?

Did you ever make hand shadows on the wall?  I did.  Winter's early evenings are a great opportunity to teach your children this old time fun. Who knows? You might even rediscover it yourself in the process!

Flying birds are the easiest, but there is a whole world of figures to explore: dogs [see the how-to diagram at right], boys, elephants, rabbits, and many many more.


Click here for a blog with pictures like the one above that will teach you how to help your kids make 5 different hand shadow shapes.

Click here for Henry Bursill's  Hand Shadows To Be Thrown Upon The Wall. Here you can choose from a variety of formats, even slideshow! The free text & illustration version is also available from the Guttenberg project and can be downloaded if you click here.

Google on YouTube for "hand shadows" and you will find a video of Louis Armstrong and friends singing "It's a Wonderful World" with a super sweet baby hand sequence, even a German car commercial based on multiple hands shadows.  And last, but far from least, even if you don't speak the language you can be amazed by the hand shadows in this clip from India's Got Talent tv show.

Go forth and shadow....

Image credits: earlychildcare.wordpress.com

Anything Can Happen: Crazy Great "Swim"

Next time your kids whine that "There's nothing to dooooo," share this.  All over the coast of Maine this is the season for crazy.  Crazy but great.  All kinds of wonderful, worthy organizations raise hundreds and thousands of dollars counting on crazy to win over common sense.  All ages are welcomed to share in a "Polar Bear Dip" .... racing in the middle of winter into freezing cold Maine water clad in bathing suits and accompanied by wild shrieks and screams as water touches skin. More sensible people offer money pledges to encourage this madness and to raise money for cause X or Y.

Next time you go for a dip at your local indoor swimming pool [or those of you who live in southern climes, when you go into the ocean] and complain that the water is too cold at 65 degrees.... think of the crazy, zany, dedicated ones who dove and splashed into the waters of Portland's Casco Bay this January... into water that is around 34 degrees!! Try that Michael Phelps!

Holidays 101: #24- Marshmallow Pops

For a quick, fun vacation activity with kids try these:
[Maybe you can make them and save them for a pint-sized New Year's Eve home party!]

Marshmallow Pops

You need:
Lollypop sticks [or in a pinch popsicle sticks]
Bag of large [or giant] marshmallows
Milk chocolate to melt [ex: milk chocolate chips]
Piece of styrofoam

"Toppings":
      Graham crackers [crushed in a baggie with a rolling pin]
      Snowflake sprinkles [or multi-colored sprinkles]
      Peppermint candies [break up in a baggie w/wrench or hammer]
      Other [get creative.... oreo cookie crumbs, toffee chips, etc.]

Directions:
1. Put each marshmallow on a stick.  [Get several ready at a time.]
2. Melt the milk chocolate [with a little oil added for consistency] in microwave.**
3. Dip/roll the marshmallow in the melted chocolate.
4. While still wet, roll the chocolate covered marshmallow in a topping of your choice.
5. Stick the Pops into the styrofoam or clay to cool and "dry"

6. Eat or put in baggies to save for later. [For gifts, bag two or three and tie with ribbon.] 

ENJOY ! !

** When melting chocolate in a microwave it helps to add a bit of Crisco.  I usually microwave it for about 20 seconds, then stir, then repeat for 15 seconds, then 10 seconds etc. till the chocolate stirs easily.

Holidays 101: #17-Give Something to DO

Has this ever happened to you?...
Everyone has opened their gifts, wrapping paper is strewn everywhere.  You are about ready to start dinner as everyone seems happy and content.  You go into the kitchen and suddenly one of your children appears at your side with two words that you thought surely that day you wouldn't hear...
"I'm bored."  or it's companion.... "There's nothing to do"

One thing that I consider essential for gift giving occasion is something to DO. In my experience if there is no gift that engages the child in play or activity you are asking for trouble.  If they love to read, a book might work, but not unless they truly love curling up with a book.

As the giver of the gifts, this "What's next" attitude can be very annoying!  Recognize that children may become bored... even on a holiday!  If the house is full of relatives and chaos, boredom and "antsy-ness" are not avoided.  Children may need something to safely occupy themselves even more than in an empty house. [Maybe even quietly???]  Plus, let us not forget that the excitement and bustle of holidays and gifts are super-hyped in both the media and children's minds.  What could possibly live up to that?

Also helpful is something to engage people together.  Many activities today are solitary, marked by isolating headphones etc. This makes a gift that is used or done WITH someone is especially nice. Whether a game, or a project, or a puzzle, or what doesn't matter.  What matters is that it lets you give two gifts in one.  The gift itself, and the time spent with another person... especially if that person is you.

So, save yourself a headache and irritation this holiday.  Give something to do, and something that you can do WITH them if you possible can. Try to find a way to schedule the day so that for a part of it you can play with them, giving them that precious gift of attention.  That is far more important to them than a fancy dinner.

Image credits:  halfpastawesome.com, parentingclan.com, parentdish.co.uk, visualphotos.com

Holidays 101: #14- Beyond Building Blocks

Today I recommend cool options for  building for kids who already have the traditional wooden building blocks and are ready for a different kind of building...  each product with a key warning. 

1- Magnetix.  They come in all different size assortments. [17 pcs to 140 pcs!] The strong magnets allow kids to create shapes that can spin and twirl as well as stand or tower.  Start with a small set and if your child goes crazy for them, as one of my did, you may be adding to their collection literally for years!

Warning: Magnetix pieces are too small for toddlers so, if you have toddlers substitue  Jumbo Magneatos  which are a similar product but supersized so that swallowing is not a hazard.

2. A non-magnetic alternative is Zoobs.  These are snap together parts that work on a ball-joint principle.  Each kit comes with directions for assembling the zoobs into a variety of creatures [from turtles to chickens to raptors] and objects [chairs to wheelbarrows to helicopters].

Kids will create figures similar to animals and objects [ex cars] rather than buildings or geometric shapes.  The creations arms, legs, tails, etc. can be moved and shaped.  If you buy a more complex set, they can move on wheels or even be operated by remote control! [Sets for motorized cars, robots, etc.]

Warning! If you want to avoid frustration open the package before giving and when the kids are in bed  or at school, spend some time putting the parts together and taking them apart.  When they are brand new they can be very stiff and difficult for kids.

The time you spend breaking them in will pay off huge dividends when your kids open the gift and start to play. Once you have broken them in the kids will be less frustrated, will instantly adore them and will spend hours and hours making new creations and playing with them.

Note: The company also makes Zoob Jr. for younger kids with softer pieces. I have not tried the Zoob Jr set myself but the idea makes sense.

Holidays 101: #5 Wedgits

Move over building blocks.  For the younger set these are no-fail building toys. For older kids they are a challenge to the creative design minds.

Wedgits
Mfg: ImagAbility

These make great imaginative play and dexterity practice. The smallest set [15 pieces] is under $20, but if you can I would go with the 30 piece set [around $27].  The stack compactly when not in use and when in use can make all kids of towers and designs, limited only by imagination.

They balance almost no matter how you stack them.  For families with toddlers around you will have to take out the smallest piece but the rest are totally safe from swallowing hazards.

The manufacturer says ages 3-8, but I've used it [without the smallest piece] from 2 to teens. GREAT for independent play or playing with a friend. My favorite part was that they were small to transport, fast to pick up and pack up, but gave kids something to "build bigger."

You can also buy a deck of design cards that shows different building options [kind of like a tangram diagram but easier].  With these elementary and adolescents get more involved. Teens won't admit they like them, but you will find them playing with them out of sight!

My kiddos built up to having 60 pieces and created whole futuristic city-scapes for their toy cars and midget people.
AND.... when no one is looking the teens and adults in the house will likely be playing with these as well!