Summer "Bucket List"

Create a bucket list with your kids this summer.  Gather them and ask them what they'd like to do over summer vacation.  Write down ALL of their ideas (even the ridiculously expensive ones).  Go back through and circle the "do-able" ones and head on over to Glogster to put your ideas on paper!  Print it out and post it somewhere that everyone can see it!  Look for opportunities to do the things on your list (put them in your calendar if you must) and enjoy the summer with your kids!

Check out our summer bucket list:

Go Ahead, Make Childhood Magical!

Give Yourself Permission to Let it Go!

Summer is short and childhood doesn't wait.  Give yourself permission this summer to let it go a bit.  Hop in the pool, blow bubbles, run through the sprinkler, catch fireflies, hang in the laundry room less, hang out with your kids more.  

If you love your sister, neighbor, girlfriend, share this on your wall and give them permission to: Go Ahead, Make Childhood Magical!

Thanks to Childhood 101 for the picture!

Make a Cozy Reading Nook

I must admit, reading to my kids is usually reserved for bedtime.  Not because I don't value its importance, not because I don't feel like it, but simply put, I just don't have the time.  GASP!!  For shame.  If your kids bring you a book, unless you are in the middle of performing neurosurgery, DROP EVERYTHING and read to them.  I promise to do the same.

BUT, and there is always a but, here is something you can do to cut down on the requests and increase their independence and control over what they are reading.  Set up a cozy reading nook complete with pillows or a chair and a basket filled with books.  We included a little lantern for effect and voila, perfection.

Of course after I set it up, there were squabbles over whom it belonged to and how long someone is allowed to be in there.  But it seems to have died down and there is a "Respect The Tent" feeling in the air.  My daughter uses it to study for Kindergarten testing (yes, I am serious), my son uses it as a hideout to scare people.  My eight year old likes to park himself in there just to irritate the little ones and my 17 year old really hasn't ventured in there yet ;-).

It was a snap to make and cost about $25.00 for the wood and hardware.  I had the material, chair, basket and books already.  Check out the fantastic directions here at The Lawrence Girls.

Post your reading nook pictures to our Make Childhood Magical facebook page!

Check out our Early Childhood Reading List!

Go Ahead, Make Childhood Magical

National Get Outdoors Day!

Tomorrow is National Get Outdoors Day!

In honor of National Get Outdoors Day, well, do we have to tell you?  GET OUTSIDE and don't forget to take the kids!  What to do?  Take a look at this growing list of outdoor activities!

pitch a tent

make and blow bubbles

go on a nature walk

slip and slide

plant a vegetable garden

count the stars

bon fires!! with s'mores of course!

make popsicles

sidewalk chalk

find and collect bugs

puddle jumping

geocache

treasure hunt

learn to do a cartwheel, walk on hands, somersault, standing back flip...etc... in the grass

go strawberry picking

go raspberry picking

play baseball

freeze tag

hide and seek

spud

red light / green light

go to a baseball game

go swimming

run through the sprinkler

go on a picnic

letterboxing

visit a new playground

climb a tree

make an obstacle course

go for a family bike ride

lawn darts

lemonade stand for charity

rollerblading (aka rollerskating to us old folks)

hula-hooping

hopscotch

jump rope contest

egg toss

go to the beach

water balloon fight

hide and seek

badminton

canoeing

camping

hiking.

scavenger hunt

tennis

flash light tag

what time is it mr. fox?

neighborhood kickball or softball game

feed the ducks

fishing

kick the can

catch fire-flies

put on a circus

Have a suggestion? Comment below and we'll add it to the list!

(thanks to all of my facebook friends for the ideas)

Go Ahead, Make Childhood Magical

Teaching the ABC's through Yoga!

Teaching the ABC's through Yoga!

I'll admit it, when my sister first told me about her "zen" experience with yoga, I envisioned myself in a quiet room, breathing and well, giggling.  Frankly because I am never really that quiet.  But when I attended a yoga class for myself (at the fantastic  School House Wellness Center) I was pleasantly surprised with the level of relaxation I was able to experience AND my sudden increase in maturity (I didn't giggle, not even once).  By the end of class, during the closing relaxation exercise, I fell asleep.  And was suddenly awakened by my own snoring.  Thanks for not laughing at me Tracy and Jen.  YES, I was that relaxed.

I just found this book at the end of the year, but I was able to use a few pages with my preschoolers and they loved it.  They may be little, but they can also have big worries and stresses that we quickly dismiss as simple (because they ARE simple to adults).  Give them the lifelong gift of relaxation and try it with your kids today.  Fun beautiful illustrations with a few poses per letter.  A great way to reinforce the alphabet, its letter sounds and to get their bodies moving in healthy ways.  

Go ahead, Make Childhood Magical

Homemade Finger Paint

Homemade Finger Paint

Bring back finger painting.  YES, I know it is messy.  YES, I know you've sworn off paint and glitter.   YES, I know you think your kids are too old for this.  BUT (and you knew there would be a but) finger painting can be fun for everyone.  You don't need fancy easels or art smocks.  You don't even need a fancy roll of paper.  Just whip up a batch of this homemade, toxin-free, you-can-eat-it-though-I-wouldn't-recommend-it finger paint.  Put on some old clothes and grab those crinkled rolls of wrapping paper from the holidays and let your kids go to town.  Display their finished products and have kiddie-cocktails and appetizers for their art show!  Come on, you know you want to finger paint too. 

1/2 cup cornstarch

3 TBSP Sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups cold water

food coloring

*You may have to play with the consistency by adding more water or cornstarch, but everyone can enjoy that process too!!  Please let your children help you follow directions, measure, pour and mix.  Science, Math, Art, Sensory Experiences...OH MY!!  Go ahead, Make Childhood Magical!

Welcome to Make Childhood Magical!

Welcome to Make Childhood Magical!  

Summer always makes me think of my childhood.  Long, hot summer days. Ice cream trucks. Flashlight tag. Counting stars. Bon fires and roasted marshmallows. MARCO......POLO......  Flash forward a few years and four kids later, I want to recreate that magic for my kids.  But how?

This summer I hope to unplug from the modern world and tune into their world.  (with the exception of my technology habit, of course)  We will try to choose outside over inside.  Books over boob tubes and fun over frantic. 

Join me on this journey back to childhood.  Where we remember all that was right with the world and we share that with our own children.  Let's Make Childhood Magical again!