Remember these herbs?
Well, like all growing things, they required a little support as they developed. So, we continued the old-school theme by staking them with yardsticks. It's been cool because the kids can really measure their growth for real. I hear exclamations like, "Mom! The dill grew two inches overnight!"
What a simple (and delicious) little math lesson.
Dear Parents,
I'm writing to you from CAMP MOM. Wish you were here! The activities are super fun, the drinks are ice cold, and, at the end the day, the kids always wind up covered in mud from head to toe. Lots and lots of mud. But isn't that precisely why garden hoses were invented?
Here's a list of some of the classic summertime activities on our CAMP MOM itinerary:
* backyard camping (with tents)
* picnics (love 'em!)
* lemonade stands
* fishing
* skipping rocks
* little red wagon rides
* sprinklers
* sidewalk chalk
* bubbles
* squirt toys
* kite-flying
* impromptu parades (complete with marching, flag-waving, and musical instruments)
* swinging on the swings
* sandbox
* spraying our fire/garden hose
* bike riding
* scooter riding
* swimming
* catching (and releasing) fireflies
* outdoor movie nights
* campfires in our fire pit
* sunrise (aka 8 AM) yoga
* practicing cartwheels
* hula-hooping
* jumping rope
* playing leap frog
* playing hopscotch
* playing go-to games (like: red light, green light; what time is it mr. shark?; red rover; mother may i?; freeze tag; hide and seek; steal the bacon; SPUD; ringalario)
* whiffle ball
* badminton
* horseshoes
* obstacle courses
* harvesting our backyard garden
* beach combing
* sandcastles
* hanging wash on our child-sized clothesline
* playing pick-up games of basketball & soccer
* tossing a football
* relay races
* sack races
* three-legged races
* egg-and-spoon races
* drinking "bug juice"
* making s'mores
* eating fresh berries with homemade, hand-shaken whipped cream
* playing tin-can-telephone
* building a clubhouse
* building a fort
* playing marbles
* playing jacks
* scavenger hunts
* treasure hunts (bury a treasure. mark it with an X. draw a map. say AARGH.)
* writing postcards
* tucking messages into bottles
* writing in the sand
* "painting" the fence with brushes and buckets of water
* water balloons
* making dandelion wishes
* making daisy chains
* making (more) mudpies
* nature walks
* birdwatching
* cloud-watching
* star-gazing
* sleeping bags
* a good, old-fashioned hootenanny (aka sing-a-long)
* family dance parties
* (surprise) ice cream runs (in pajamas)
* bedtime stories by flashlight
*** sweet dreams of an endless summer ***
I'm sure I forgot something... what's on your summer itinerary?
Keep in touch,
Jen
I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with fresh squeezed orange juice. We have a simple hand juicer (bought for about $5.00 at the grocery store) that I set out in the morning alongside a couple of oranges cut in half, and some glasses. Jack is in charge of twisting, turning, and squeezing the oranges, and then pouring the fresh juice into the glasses. Then he gets to enjoy the fruits of his labor. It’s a cheerful (and healthy) ritual that takes only a couple of extra minutes. The best part? All that work really wakes up his little hands, getting them ready to rise and shine for the big day ahead.
What's your favorite way to start the day? Please share!
We have a little shelf in the kitchen where we have always kept a few kids cookbooks and some favorite foodie-fiction (green eggs anyone?). Oh, and our gardening book (see here and here) is at home here too, in case we need some "fruit of the earth" ideas.
Jack has taken to pulling out his cookbooks, Pretend Soup and Salad People when hungry and "reading" through the recipes. These cookbooks actually make great early reading books. The picture cues give just enough (but not too much) info; there are words that repeat throughout like stir, cup, and mix; and each recipe ends with a hearty "EAT!" which Jack loves to exclaim. They're tasty too, and totally do-able for can-do kids.
Yesterday at lunch time, Jack pulled one out and decided to make "Bagel Faces." And (with a little set up), he got to work, made it himself, and nibbled a ton of veggies while creating his Bagel Guy.
Of course, he ate every last bite.
Later, he went back to his book and chose a recipe for dinner, Tiny Tacos. Same deal: I just did a little set up and he assembled the rest himself. Another recipe read, another meal cooked, another clean plate.
I never thought of it before, but cookbooks make such reinforcing reading. Kids are deliciously rewarded for their reading efforts. What a great way to make the connection between reading, and learning, and doing. And hey, maybe someday Jack will be cooking for me. (I wonder if he's ready to tackle Thanksgiving dinner yet? Wishful thinking!)
Are your kids fond of reading anything unexpected?
And the winner is:
chocolate chip.
We're big on voting around here. I mean the kind of day-to-day voting that teaches a child that everyone has a choice and each opinion counts. Some recent hotly-contested races include:
Which movie to watch on movie night?
Oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookies?
Vanilla ice cream or mint chocolate chip?
Blueberry or chocolate chip pancakes?
(I am realizing now that many of the campaigns have included chocolate chips. That may be my son's political influence...)
With the help (yet again) of our handy-dandy clipboard, we make tally marks to weigh-in on the household issues where the final decision is up for grabs. (We don't, for instance, weigh-in on weather or not to brush our teeth, or what time to go to bed.)
This post may seem glib considering the enormous decision our country is making today. But, for kids, the freedom to choose is a big deal. And for parents too. When my children are teenagers, I can't think of anything I'd find more reassuring than to feel that they are good decision-makers. The first time they ask to borrow the keys, and leave to meet their friends, what could be more important than their ability to make good choices?
Providing opportunities for children to exercise their freedom of choice definitely does not mean kids rule. Too much choice is overwhelming for a child, and unsettling, to say the least. But offering a couple of options, when appropriate, helps children learn the difference between the laws of life (like wearing a seat belt) and the choices (like wearing a blue shirt or a red one).
So when we decided to make cookies today, as sustenance before hitting our local village hall to cast our ballot, we put it to the vote. Cinnamon or chocolate chip. I started campaigning for cinnamon early on. But Gracie was the swing vote, and she waved her arms wildly when Jack said chocolate chip (although I think the jumping, wiggling dance he did while polling her may have furthered his cause).
It's all smoke and mirrors, isn't it? I demand a re-count.
