Fun at Home

I know today is Halloween, but I’m already looking ahead to November, a month when we focus on family, food and, for some of us, on growing ugly mustaches. It’s also a great time to reflect on all of the good things in our lives.

Between all of the daily posts on social media, and the multitude of videos, articles, and books on the subject, it’s easy to feel like gratitude is just another trend, unworthy of your time and attention. This can be especially true if you’re feeling like some of your “friends” on Facebook are using the posts to humbly brag on their own lives and accomplishment (#blessed). However, there are many scientifically proven benefits to practicing gratitude that range from improving sleep to helping build relationships.

Even though I’ve read all of the research and know how helpful it is, I’ve always had a really tough time keeping up with a gratitude journal. It just feels too much like work to me.That’s why I decided to search for other ways to practice gratitude.

Take a look at seven ways to help you feel more grateful and balanced during this stressful, holiday season, without writing a single journal entry.

1.Meditate- Most of us don’t take time in our day to self-reflect. We’re so busy rushing from one task to the next, that we never stop to just be still. I recommend adding at least five minutes of meditation to each day. I love the Insight Timer app, which has dozens of guided meditations on the theme of gratitude. Taking just a few minutes to quiet our overworked brains can be so powerful!

2. Take a Pic- This idea came to me this morning, as I was rushing to take my big kids to school. I was not in a great mood as it was 7 am and I was awake, but when I pulled out of our driveway I saw the an almost full moon in the middle of a beautiful pink and orange sky. The beauty of that moment hit me with a wave of gratitude. If you have trouble coming up with gratitude lists after a long day, take pictures instead. If you can capture some of those grateful moments, it makes reflecting on them much easier.

3. Start a Gratitude Jar– Skip the pressure of the daily journal entry by keeping a gratitude jar this November. Add something to it whenever the mood strikes. Everyone in your family who is old enough to talk can contribute something to the jar. It could also be a way for family members to say thank you for the kind things you do for one another.

4. Play the Grateful Game– This idea, from Teach Beside Me, is another great way for the whole family to practice gratitude. If you played the game Pick Up Sticks as a kid, this is the same concept, except, when you pick up a stick, you have to say something you’re thankful for that matches that colored stick’s category. For example, if you pick up a red stick you have to name a person you’re thankful for, green sticks mean you need to share a food that you’re thankful for, and so on. If you can’t find the game, make your own with colored straws.

5. Have a Gratitude Storytime– These books are a great way to teach kids and adults alike about thankfulness:

• The Thankful Book- by Todd Parr– This fun book shows you that you can be thankful for things both big and small. Kids will love the silly illustrations.
• PAWS and THINK Series: Be Thankful for What You Have- by Miranda Mittleman– See the world through a dog’s eyes in this heartwarming story that teaches kids to appreciate the simple things.
• Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes– This beautifully illustrated book follows a family discussing all of the things they are thankful for. It includes a space at the back to record your own thankful thoughts.
• The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan– In this memoir, Kaplan spends a year living gratefully and documents the changes this made in her marriage, career and life in general.
• Almost Everything: Notes on Hope by Anne Lamott– In her newest book, Lamott helps readers discover the hope and wisdom within themselves, even at the darkest of times. It came out last week and I just bought it to listen to on Audible. Book club, anyone?

6. Put Gratitude Out Into the World– Instead of just writing about the people you’re thankful for, say thank you to them in a genuine and specific way, give compliments freely when someone does, says or wears something that brings you joy. Don’t keep those thoughts to yourself.

7. Give Back– It’s easy for all of us to be so focused on our own problems that we forget how much we have compared to so many: a place to live, food, water, free public education, etc. It’s especially important for us to teach our children who have luckily never known another way of life outside of their comfy beds, Friday night pizza dinners and screen time.

There is no better way to bring home this lesson than to help others in need:

• Host a holiday party or playdate to benefit Feed More. Here’s a list of their most needed items.
• Volunteer in Feed More’s Community Kitchen and put together healthy meals for hungry children and homebound adults in your own community.
• Organize a fundraiser for refugees.
• Create Giving Bags by filling gallon bags with gloves, socks, hand and foot warmers, water, snacks and dollar bills. Hand them out to homeless men and women in your community.
• Organize a drive for your local hospital: VCU Health is currently looking for chemo care kits, fleece blankets and waiting room kits for both kids and adults. All items should be new, except for books and magazines.

Bonus: My holiday survival advice, take it or leave it:

• If you’re spending too much time stressing this holiday season, it is truly worth it to take five minutes to just be alone with your thoughts. If no one in your family will give you five minutes of peace, like my crazy crew, go take the dog for a walk, hide in your car or lock yourself in the bathroom. They can survive without you!
• If you’re feeling less than and comparing yourself to everyone’s highlight reels on Facebook and Instagram, it’s also worth it to take a social media hiatus over the next few months.
• When it comes to holiday dinners, decor and gift giving, do whatever works best for you and your family, and leave the rest to the Pinterest overachievers. Remember that they are a small 1% of the population with too much time on their hands. We’re too busy being adults with many important things to do!
• Expressing gratitude shouldn’t feel like another chore on your already massive holiday to-do list. It should be something that builds closeness within your family and brings contentment within yourself. If it feels artificial to you, don’t do it.
• When all else fails, there really isn’t much that an enitre bottle of wine, a hot bath and a few hours of Bravo reality TV can’t fix. You’ll either A) forget your troubles, B) fall asleep  C) feel more content with the drama in your own life, and possibly D) all the above. It’s basically fool-proof.

In the spirit of this post, thank you for taking the time to read my writing. Most of the time, like 99.9%, I have no idea what I’m doing, but writing things that may potentially help or entertain others brings me tons of joy.

Good luck this November! If your SO’s are considering celebrating Movember, extra good luck to you. I’ll cross my fingers that they look more Tom Selleck and less Michael Cera!

How YOU doin?

Oh HELL no.

♥ Erin

You don’t have to resign yourself to The Wiggles and Kidz Bop for the next 10 years! There are artists out there who make music designed for kids, but still mindful of their parents who may explode at any moment if they have to listen to Pink Fong’s Baby Shark one more damn time!!!

(Woah, shit just got real there for a minute…..sorry.)

Here’s a playlist filled with artists my kids love, and who I actually like. It’s too late for me, but I hope this list helps you avoid a Pink Fong induced meltdown.

Jack Johnson,  Curious George Soundtrack– I actually bought this before I had my 8 year old, and we’ve never stopped listening to it. It’s the same Jack Johnson you know and love. My favorites are the White Stripes cover We’re Going to Be Friends and the 3 R’s, a really cute song about recycling.

Koo Koo Kangeroo, Rad-trospective– These guys are hilarious and we love their weird and quirky songs like Rollin in the Minivan, Cat Party and Baby Crocodile. Be wary though, these songs will get stuck in your head.

Ziggy Marley, Family Time– If you love reggae like I do, I highly recommend this album. My kids and I have an especially great time dancing to the title track.

The Diggity Dudes, Presidential Physical Fitness Test– We were lucky enough to catch this dad band live at Willow Lawn’s Mommy and Me events 5 years ago. This album is full of silly lyrics and catchy tunes. Our favorite track is Sugar Coaster, which has a really great message about what too much sugar does to your body. You won’t be able to stop yourself from singing along.

Kira Wiley, Dance for the Sun, Yoga Songs for Kids– These mellow tunes are perfect for nap time or if you’re trying to get your little ones to sleep in the car. They are also great for teaching kids about mindfulness.

Walter Martin, We’re All Young Together– Walter Martin is the lead singer of the group The Walkmen. His children’s album is full of whimsical songs and beautiful melodies. I love the track, I-M-A-G-I-N-A-T-I-O-N, but the whole album is great.

Laurie Berkner, The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection– Laurie Berkner tells so many fun stories in this upbeat pop collection. Her songs are also extremely danceable and perfect for family dance parties.

They Might Be Giants, Here Come the ABCs or Here Comes Science– I have loved They Might Be Giants since early high school. Their songs are so fun. All of their children’s albums are awesome and educational.

Ask the Storybots– This is music from our favorite Netflix show. Every show begins with a question that the five bots, have to research and answer. These catchy songs are great for kids who ask a lot of questions.

The Barenaked Ladies, Snacktime!– Barenaked Ladies are another one of my favorite bands from high school. Their children’s album give you the same silly banter between Ed and Steve and lots of catchy pop tunes about topics kids can relate to.

Johnny Cash, The Johnny Cash Children’s Album– If you love classic country, you’ll love this Johnny Cash album. It’s kids songs done Cash style, darker and quirkier than traditional kids’ tunes, but still lots of fun.

Ozomatli Presents Ozmokidz– I love Ozomatli. Their funky music has a little bit of everything: latin, reggae, electronica, zydeco, rock. It’s hard music to pigeon-hole. Their music for kids is just as funky and weird and full of fun songs like, Moose on the Loose and Germs.

Peter Himmelman, My Best Friend is a Salamander– The songs on this album have clever and thoughtful lyrics that are great for kids and adults as well.

Caspar Babypants, This is Fun!– Remember the band, The Presidents of the United States of America? Who could forget their song, Peaches? Caspar Babypants is the kids’ tune singing alter ego of Chris Ballew, lead singer of the band. He has made a bunch of albums, but this is my favorite. The songs are as catchy as you remember the POTUSOA songs being!

Happy Listening!

♥ Erin

Reading to my kids has always been one of my favorite things. Snuggled up on the bed or couch under a blanket, staring into their excited faces as I read, that’s a pretty great way to spend an afternoon, even if they do sometimes demand that I read the same book ten times.

While you’re reading (and rereading) that favorite book, did you know that you are also teaching your child early literacy skills:

• Tons of new vocabulary! The more you read to them, the more words they will be exposed to.
• Understanding how books work: how to hold a book, turning pages, print going left to right
• Helping to build motivation, curiosity and memory
• Creating a positive association with learning and reading

Here are 24 of my favorite books for exposing your kids to early literacy, broken down into categories.

ALPHABET

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Touch Think Learn: ABC by Xavier Deneux

ABC Mindful Me by Christiane Engel

ABC For Me: ABC Love by Christiane Engel

NUMBER SENSE

Pete the Cat and his 4 Groovy Buttons by James Dean

How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Little Owl’s 1-2-3 by Divya Srinivasan

Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3 by Sherri Duskey Sherri

COLORS

Baby Colors by Rachel Hale

Edible Colors by Jennifer Vogel Bass

Mouse Paint by Ellen Still Walsh

Splatter by Diane Alber

SHAPES

Press here by Herve Tullet

The Shape of Me and Other Stuff: Dr. Seuss’s Surprising Word Book by Dr. Seuss

Walter’s Wonderful Web: A First Book About Shapes by Tim Hopgood

Shape by Shape by Suse MacDonald

BODY KNOWLEDGE

Counting Kisses by Karen Katz

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Hello World! My Body by Jill McDonald

Inside Your Outside: All About the Human Body by Tish Rabe

ANIMALS AND ANIMAL SOUNDS

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss

My Big Animal Book by Roger Priddy

The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

You are your child’s first and most important teacher. You are the one who will give them their first impressions on the importance of learning and expanding their worlds. The books above are all well-loved by my family, but honestly it doesn’t matter what you read. Just read with enthusiasm, do all the silly voices, and make it as fun for you as it is for them. If you can do that, you won’t just be creating memories, but also enthusiastic readers who never stop learning!

♥ Erin

I try to limit screen time in my house as much as possible, especially for the threenager, but sometimes I need to do something really important, like take an uninterrupted 5-minute shower or hide in the pantry to eat Twizzlers.

At times like those, apps that can keep my kids entertained for more than five minutes are like gold! The following apps aren’t just entertaining, they are also educational and developmentally appropriate. Many of these apps say they are for ages 3 or 4 and up, but I’d definitely give them a try with younger ones. As soon as they show an interest, they can try these apps.

Little Fox Music Box- This sing-along app is super interactive and the fantastic animation really holds kids’ attention. They can also record themselves singing the three songs.

Skills Learned: Early music education, rhythm, memory

Tozzle– I LOVE how easy this puzzle app is for toddlers to use by themselves. It contains over 40 different puzzles that vary in difficulty so the app really grows with them. The puzzles also include fun sounds an animation. For example, the farm animal puzzle moos when you put the cow into the puzzle and quacks when you put in the duck. I’ve had this on my phone for 5 years and all three of my kids loved it.

Toca Kitchen– We’ve really enjoyed all of the Toca Boca apps in our house, but this is always a favorite. You can choose from four different people to feed. You choose the food from the refrigerator and then can chop, sautee and puree before you put the food back on the plate and feed your person. I love how the app has no direction so kids really have to play around with it to figure out how it works. The sounds effects when they are cooking and feeding the people are really cute.

Skills learned: Problem solving, early cooking education, imagination

Toca Hair Salon 3– Just like the kitchen app above, you choose from four people and then can cut, curl, color, and accessorize their hair. The new version also has fun beards you can choose from.

Skills learned: Problem solving, cause and effect, creativity

Draw and Tell by Duck Duck Moose– Duck Duck Moose is another developer that makes educational apps that we’ve loved for years. In Draw and Tell children can make up stories and illustrate them with different colors, stickers and animation. After they finish illustrating, they can record their own voices telling their stories.

Skills learned: Fine motor, storytelling

Starfall ABC– Starfall is an awesome website that my mom used when she taught kindergarten, but my son loved playing on it from the time he was 15 months old. The site is a member service and you pay a small amount each month to access all the content, but there are still a lot of things available on the site for non-members. The apps are just like the website. My favorite one for toddlers is their ABC app. You click on each letter and they give you three different pictures that start with that letter. All of the pictures include fun sounds and animation that make learning the alphabet fun.

Skills learned: Alphabet recognition, fine motor

TALU Town– Take a drive and meet your neighbors in this fun filled, interactive play set. TALU Town rewards exploration and reinforces the value of helping others. With surprises around every corner, your child is sure to enjoy their time in TALU Town.

Skills learned: Shapes and number recognition, matching, kindness

Endless Alphabet– The premise of this app is super simple. They give you a word that needs to be filled in, and you need to click and drag each letter to its place to complete the word. I love that when you drag each letter, it makes the letter’s sound. When kids finish the words they become animated. The animation is super adorable, and I love the vocabulary kids can learn from a young age when using this.

Skills learned: Alphabet recognition, letter sounds, vocabulary, fine motor

Happy Valley Friends– Meet new friends while playing 18 different educational games and 6 unique mini games. Learn shapes, letters, numbers, math, time and more in a friendly environment. This app is full of fun animation and surprises.

Skills learned: Letter, number and shape recognition, telling time, early math skills

Highlights Monster Day– I loved Highlights Magazine when I was a kid so it’s no surprise that their apps are all awesome. This is one of my favorites. Help your toddler learn about friendship, explore the world around them, and develop compassion, kindness and independence. Kids can choose a favorite monster buddy and care for him from morning till night: brush his big teeth, feed him bagels, help with his science experiment and play basketball. At the end of their buddy’s day, they can wash and feed him, and gently send him to bed.

Skills learned: Independence, friendship, kindness, compassion

Try one of these apps today and get a well-deserved moment of peace!

♥ Erin

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had enough of all of this rain. I know it’s important and all that, but it’s really gotten in the way of our pool, beach and amusement park plans over the last few weeks. We’ve spent a lot of time in the house, and I’m not gonna lie, many hours on screens. Here are some great activities to keep your kids active, learning and having a great time, even when you can’t escape the house!

15 Rainy Day Activities for Active Kids and Toddlers:

Get Messy in the Bath– The bath tub is one of the best places to get messy because clean up happens naturally. I love these homemade bath paints from Parenting Chaos.

Jump That Energy Out– Small trampolines like this one from Fisher Price take up very little space, but keep little ones endlessly entertained.

Create Your Own Snuggle Fort– I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like fort-making was one of the highlights of my childhood. I love a good fort! It’s free and keeps kids busy for hours.

Dance it Out with Scarves– These colorful scarves from Amazon are so much fun to dance with or throw up in the air and catch.  I’m always amazed by how long they keep my children entertained.

Go Fishing– I love this laundry basket fishing idea from Munchkins and Moms. Kids love sitting in them so much, why not make a fun game out of it? You can use magnetic fish and fishing poles if you have them, but feel free to get creative like the blogger below.

Paint the Easy Way– Little ones love to paint, but they might not have the ability to grasp a paintbrush yet. I love this cotton ball painting idea from Domestic Mommyhood that makes painting easy for toddlers.

Make it Rain– These rain sticks from Happy Hooligans are colorful and easy enough for toddlers to help make. Let them practice their fine motor by picking up the corn, rice or other small noise-making items and putting them in the paper towel roll.

Host an Animal Pool or Ice Skating Party– How cute and easy would it be to freeze water in a small tray or even a foil pan and make animals their own indoor ice rink like this pic below from I Can Teach My Child. If you don’t have time for the freezing, make the toy animals their own pool or bubble bath.

Become a Sorting Expert– Color sorting is so easy and fun for kids, while also being a great learning opportunity. I love this Cereal sorting mat from I Can Teach My Child. For a more active color sort, give kids a color and have them run around the house with a basket collecting everything they can find that matches the color you chose.

Create a Pillow Roadway– I love this fun idea from Hands On As We Grow! Collect all of the pillows and couch cushions in your house and lay them on the floor to make an indoor roadway for kids to run around on.

Make Child-Sized Art– Get a large piece of paper or poster board and trace the outline of your child’s body. Next, have them color and decorate the inside. This is a great activity to do year after year to see how they grow and how their drawings mature.

Photo credit: Passionate Homemaking

Experiment with Sensory- I love the sensory activities we made last week for playgroup. Check the recipes out here. Another option is an easy sensory bin filled with corn, rice, or anything else small and fun to scoop up and pour out. The yellow sensory bin below is featured on Every Day Chaos and Calm.

Stack ’em Up– How easy is this, but I swear, it keeps them busy! Experiment with cups of different sizes to see what works best for your child.

Photo credit: Everyday Chaos and Calm

Make a Busy Bag– There are so many variations of busy bags, but basically they are engaging activities that kids and toddlers can complete mostly independently, and they are stored in bags so they are ready  to go at any time.  The Teaching Mama does a great job listing some great examples on her blog. Check out her great color sorting bag below.

Have Your Own Mini Toddler Obstacle Course- This is similar to what you’d see at a toddler gymnastics class, an obstacle course that little ones can go through over and over again to work on their gross motor skills and spatial awareness. How fun would it be to create your own obstacle course at home? It just takes some creativity. Start by finding some things that your kids can go under, step over and step on and some bean bags to throw into bins or to balance on their heads. Whatever you do, make sure you model it for them, step by step.

Photo Credit: How to Run a Homemade Daycare

∗ I also have to include this amazing list of 45 age-appropriate indoor learning activities for the littlest of learners, 18-24 month olds.

Hopefully the skies will part and the sun will come shining through again before we know it! Until then, keep your sanity by keeping the little ones occupied and having fun…..and be sure to stock up on wine.

♥ Erin

All this rain we’ve had in RVA lately has left me scrambling to find fun, indoor things to do with my three kids, especially the littlest one who needs a lot of help staying out of trouble. Sensory play is a great indoor activity for kids of all ages, even my eight year old can’t get enough of playdough and slime. However, it’s especially beneficial for little ones because it keeps them busy while also promoting their growth and development.

Three Main Benefits of Sensory Play

1. It promotes the development of many skills including: oral language skills,  fine and gross motor skills,  memory skills and problem solving skills.
2. It helps to relax anxious children.
3. It teaches children to use sensory characteristics (sticky, gooey, dry, cold).

Here are five of my favorite taste-safe sensory play activities: 

Banana Pudding Slime

• 1/4 cup instant pudding mix
• 1 cup corn starch
• 1/3 cup warm water

1. Add instant pudding mix and half of your cornstarch to a mixing bowl. Add 1/3 cup water and stir until slime begins to form (it will be pretty sticky at this point)
2. Slowly add the rest of your cornstarch, stirring as you go. When slime thickens and is hard to stir with a spoon, finish kneading by hand.
3. Making slime isn’t an exact science, and sometimes I need to add a bit more water if the slime is dry, or a bit more corn starch if it is sticky. I’d compare it to making bread: sometimes you need to keep working in flour until you have the perfect consistency.

From The Soccer Mom Blog

Homemade Kinetic Sand

• 1/2 cup flour  
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 Tbsp. oil (any kind) 
• 1 Tbsp. corn syrup.

If it runs a touch on the drier side add a touch more oil in your next recipe.

From Surviving a Teacher’s Salary

Pumpkin Pie Play Clay

• Canned Pumpkin
• Cornstarch 
• Pumpkin Pie Spice

1. Take your pumpkin and stir it until it’s smooth.
2. Add enough pumpkin pie spice that it smells delicious.
3. Slowly add cornstarch and stir.  Once the dough starts drying out, you’ll want to switch to kneading.  You want the dough to roll into a ball, but it should not stick to your hands.
4.  If it is sticking to your hands add a bit more cornstarch; if it is so dry that it won’t form a ball and is crumbling instead, add a small amount of water.

∗The amounts of cornstarch will vary depending on the brand and quantity of canned pumpkin you use. The dough will keep for 2-3 days sealed in the fridge.

From Fun At Home With Kids

Yogurt Silly Putty

• Corn starch
• Yogurt- Make sure it’s a yogurt without chunks of fruit.

1. Mix together 1 cup of yogurt and 3/4 cups of corn starch
2. When the mixture is no longer sticky, pick it up and roll the putty into a ball (to further mix the yogurt and corn starch)
3. If it’s too sticky, sprinkle in additional corn starch. If it’s too dry, add a bit more yogurt

From Smart School House

Ooblek

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of Corn Starch
• 1 Cup of Water
• 10 Drops of Food Coloring (optional)

1.  In a shallow bowl, combine the corn starch and water.  The mixture will be thick and hard to stir, so mix the ingredients by hand.

2.  Add the food coloring and mix well.  We used green food coloring to look like the Oobleck in the Dr. Seuss book, but you can pick any color.

From ABC’s of Literacy

Other great things to use for baby sensory play:

Rice Crispies/Cheerios or other cereal that isn’t a choking hazard

Boxed Mashed Potato Flakes

Ice

Colored Rice

Tapioca Pearls

Gelatin

Sensory play is so much fun for the whole family, and many of the items I used above you probably already have in your pantry. Summer is a great time to experiment and get messy with sensory because, when you’re done, you can throw them in a baby pool in the backyard for easy cleanup. If you try any of the recipes, please let me know how it goes. Let’s get messy!

♥ Erin

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting a little tired of all of this rain!  My three kids have spent way too much time indoors, and that’s made for some really long days. Keep your kids busy and avoid the “I’m bored!” chorus with these inspired indoor ideas.

The sun may come out tomorrow, but if it doesn’t, try one of the ideas above and have some indoor fun.

♥ Erin

How do we teach our kids about racism and prejudice? Other than leading by example, how do we show them to be kind and inclusive to everyone they meet? Reading with your kids, even from a very young age, is a great way to encourage them to ask questions and think about more difficult topics. Here is our list of great books that can help you start the discussion on diversity, prejudice and inclusion, and some advice on how to keep the conversation going.

1. It’s Ok to be Different by Todd Parr– I LOVE all of Todd Parr’s books for their fun illustrations and bold colors, but this one is a great way to show kids that differences are not important and can actually be something for which to be praised and admired.
2. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees– With adorable illustrations and rhymes, this book tells the story of Gerald the Giraffe. He was mocked by all of the other animals for his horrible dancing, until he found his own music and basically became Africa’s So You Think You Can Dance Champion. I love how this teaches that if kids aren’t included or are made fun of, they should just march to their own beat and change the tune.
3. Why Are People Different Colors?: Big issues for little people about identity and diversity by Chris McCurry and Emma Waddington- Two child psychologists wrote this book to help parents and caregivers teach and explain all kinds of big topics to small children. Such a great idea!
4. We’re Different, We’re the Same by Bobbi Kates– I was still in elementary school when this Sesame Street book was released, but the lessons it teaches about diversity are still important and the characters are the ones we all know and love.
5. Whoever You Are by Mem Fox– Children all over the world right now are laughing, crying and playing, no matter where they are or what they look like. With beautiful illustrations, this book shows just how similar we all really are, and that our differences make us special.
6. Imagine by John Lennon – Jean Jullien used Lennon’s powerful lyrics to create abeautiful picture book. The lyrics are timeless and may lead to some great discussions on how we can make the dreams in the song into reality. You may be surprised by how much young children can grasp these complex ideas.
7. I am Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer– This book does a wonderful job of introducing Martin Luther King to young children. It is part of a series of books called Ordinary People Change the World with other subjects like Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart and Rosa Parks. What could be a better lesson than teaching kids that with enough perseverance they could change the world? His other similar books, Heroes for my Daughter and Heroes for my Son, are also awesome!
8. Every Color by Erin Either Kono– Though this book is not specifically designed to teach about race, I think it would be a great way to introduce the topic to young learners. All the polar bear in this story sees is white, white, white until he goes exploring with a little girl to discover all the colors in the world. I think it teaches an important lesson: color-blindness is not the answer, recognizing and celebrating our differences and our sameness is where it’s at.
9. Families, Families, Families by Suzanne Lang– The message in this book is, “If you love each other, than you are a family.” When kids see families that look different from theirs, it can be confusing. This book offers a simple explanation for what makes a family.
10. This Day In June by Gayle E. Pittman– This book discusses the fun and unityof  Pride parade. It’s a great way to teach children about the LGBTQ community. It also includes a section at the back for caregivers on how to discuss gender identity and sexual orientation with our children. Regardless of what you personally believe, these are issues that are important for us to discuss in today’s world.

5 Ways to Encourage Understanding of Diversity and Inclusiveness in Children:

1. Take your children to multi-cultural events around the city. Show them the beauty of differences. Let them interact and play with people who look, pray or sound differently from them.
2. Don’t chastise children for pointing out differences. This can make them feel that there is something wrong with the difference and not just impolite to point. Instead, use it as an opportunity to talk about the differences they noticed. Praise children for noticing and then teach them that we are all different, but that those differences are only a part of who we are.
3. Be on the lookout for teachable moments. There are many times in our lives when the topics of diversity and inclusion can come up naturally. With my kids it was whenever we saw a man or woman asking for money on the street. They asked questions that I tried to answer as honestly as I could, and we had a long discussion about homelessness. Sometimes you might hear or see something that is not in line with your values. This is also a great time to discuss what the appropriate action would’ve been.
4. Teach children to use respectful language and avoid using labels, instead calling people by their names whenever possible.
5. Most importantly, model appropriate behavior. Use inclusive language. If you hear a friend make a racist or bigoted joke, say something. When your kids point out differences, acknowledge them and then point out sameness.

Wishing you days full of kindness, tolerance, and extra sleep (a girl can dream, right?) !

♥ Erin

Good morning! I’ve compiled a list of springtime activities guaranteed to keep the whole family busy as the weather warms up.

Springtime Crafts/Recipes

Birdseed Ornaments from Debbie at One Little Project- I can’t wait to try these with my kids next week!

Hand-print Flower Pots from Connie at Little Stars Learning- These would make great inexpensive mother’s day or preschool teacher gifts!

Button Rain Drops from Kim at The Pinterested Parent- Such a sweet and easy craft, that can be adapted for the littlest crafters. For older kids you can expand the activity by having them sort the buttons by color, shape or size.

Salt Dough Egg Ornaments from Polona at Baby Jungle- We used to make these for Christmas when I was a kid, but the eggs would make great Easter decor!

Ice Cream in a Bag recipe from Genius Kitchen- We actually made this last weekend at our house. My daughters wanted plain vanilla, but for my son I added a few drops of blue and green food coloring and 3 drops of peppermint essential oil and he had a delicious turquoise mint ice cream in under 10 minutes!

Peeps Playdough from Crystal at Growing a Jeweled Rose- I’m not gonna lie, I hate the taste of Peeps. What a great way to use them without exploding them in the microwave, though that’s fun too.

Outdoor Activities

Ice Cream Cone Seedlings from Gardening Know How- How clever is this idea if it works?! Once the seedlings are ready to plant in the ground, you can plant the entire cone so there is no waste!

Make a Butterfly Feeder from Ehow.com- Design your own butterfly feeder. Let your kids choose and add the flowers and glass beads and create something that you can watch and enjoy together until the fall.

Outdoor Sticky Mural from Jenae at I Can Teach My Child – What a great way to save all of the “treasures” that your child finds outside without having to bring them into your house!

Host an Outdoor Sensory Playdate from Crystal at Growing a Jeweled Rose- How fun does this look for kids of all ages?! Use the ideas here or come up with your own, and watch your kids have a blast engaging in sensory play.

Color Hop from Jenae at I Can Teach My Child. This activity is so simple, yet so effective and fun for teaching your toddler colors.

Nature Scavenger Hunt from Shaunna at Fantastic Fun and Learning- A scavenger hunt is so fun, kids will forget they’re learning. You can also adapt them for whatever you want your kids to work on that week: colors, numbers, shapes, etc.

Check out these fantastic sites and get even more great ideas for having fun with your child while teaching them something new!

Growing a Jeweled Rose

I Can Teach my Child

Busy Toddler

Spring is a time to get outside and explore, and to play with our children as if we are still children ourselves. It’s a time to teach them something new, and learn something new about ourselves in the process. Enjoy this great season of new beginnings and family fun!

♥ Erin

Earth Day is next Sunday, April 22nd. What are you doing to celebrate our planet this month? If you need ideas, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve collected ten simple and fun ideas to help your kids celebrate the Earth, while also learning to care for and appreciate her.

Grown Your Own– Nothing makes you appreciate nature like growing your own flowers or fruits and vegetables. You can even start small with an indoor herb garden. You can buy seeds for only 25 cents at the Dollar Tree.

Be a Trash Collector- You can make picking up litter a lot of fun. All you need is a grabber toy like this one. Take a walk around your neighborhood and use the grabber to pick up any litter you see. Talk about what would happen if everyone just threw their trash outside instead of in a trash can.

Feed the Birds– Try making one of these homemade bird feeders and then spend some time outside observing the birds. Talk to your kids about what they’re seeing and how you are helping the birds. Ask them where the birds would be getting their food if they didn’t have the bird feeder.

Cheerio Bird Feeder– This is a great one because kids are able to eat the materials and it doubles as a fine motor activity.

Gelatin Natural Feeder-This feeder is nut-free and seems very quick and easy to make.

Any of these other 12 ideas from The Realistic Mama

Try These Upcycled Crafts- Talk to your kids about how reusing materials gives them a second life!

• Pouch Cap Insects
• Soda Bottle Watering Cans
• Earth Day Tambourine
• Earth Crayons

Decorate Your World- Continue the tradition of RVA Rocks in an even more local way by painting rocks and scattering them around your neighborhood. While you’re out walking around, come up with a list of the other things that make your neighborhood beautiful.

Go Exploring with a Nature Scavenger Hunt– Help your kids discover the wonders of nature that they may not always notice. Use one of these scavenger hunts or create your own.

• Scavenger Hunt from Trish Sutton
• Scavenger Hunt from The Taylor House

Visit a Local Farmer’s Market to Eat the Rainbow– Check out this comprehensive list of local farmer’s markets and plan your visit soon! My favorite are Lakeside, St. Stephen’s and South of the James. Purchase some new colorful fruits and vegetables. Chop them and put them all on a plate and encourage your child to try something new. Explain that all of the new healthy food came from the earth and see if they can come up with other wonderful things that they know come from the earth. This episode of Daniel Tiger always helped my veggie hating daughter to give new food a try.

Heal the Earth– Read the book, Heal the Earth by Julian Lennon, and then draw a large Earth on a piece of paper. Talk to your children about ways they can heal the Earth and write down what they say on the paper. Buy a cheap box of bandaids at the Dollar Tree. Let your kids put a bandaid onto the Earth drawing every time they come up with a way to heal.

Make a Nature Collage– Use contact paper to make this simple and beautiful nature collage. Go out on a nature hunt and have your kids collect flowers, leaves, sticks, pebbles, etc. Then follow the directions here to turn their  treasures into a keepsake.

Celebrate with Snack Time- Try one of these delicious  and adorable snack ideas.

• Earth Day Popcorn
• Classic Ants on a Log
• Tree Snack-Make a tree out using small pretzel sticks for the trunk and branches and sliced grapes for the leaves.
• Earth Day Smoothies

If you live in RVA, don’t forget to check out the local events happening this month:

Earth Day at Maymont– Saturday, April 21st 10 am-12 pm-Registration required.

Sheep to Shawl– Saturday, April 21st 12-4 at Crump Park, FREE- Watch them sheer the sheep, and enjoy live music and food outside in nature.

RVA Earth Day Festival– Saturday, April 21st 12-7 pm-This street festival features local artisans, musicians, food and drink and is located in Richmond’s Manchester neighborhood.

Earth Day of Service– Saturday, April 21st 9 am-12 pm. This service day was organized by the Enrichmond Foundation. You can volunteer to clean up local green spaces. Choose which location in Richmond you’d like to volunteer and sign up here.

Hardywood’s Spring Bada Bing-Saturday, April 21st 11 am-6 pm- Celebrate Earth Day by visiting all of the amazing local artisans that this awesome event has to offer! The event is at their old location on Ownby Lane.

Happy Earth Day!

♥ Erin