Snowman Building "Kit"

We had our second snow of the season yesterday.  It included a slippery layer of ice that shone in the sun like glass.  Our outdoor view was transformed into a sea of diamonds in the sun's reflection.  Yes, winter had arrived with a mighty announcement that the season was here to stay.

Then it struck me!  It was time to bring out the snowman building "kit"!  When the next big wet snow blew in, we would be ready for some outdoor fun.  I added whole carrots to my grocery list and made sure nothing had fallen out of my kit during storage.

You can prepare a snowman building kit too!  Here is what you will need:

Snowman building "kit"

1.  An old hat - any color, shape or material
2.  A scarf or one long, skinny piece of fabric (strips from on old towel, blanket or sheet will work)
3.  Buttons or round rocks for the eyes and mouth.
     Lightweight wire (floral wire works well, or even wire twist ties from bread sacks are effective) can be  
     added to the buttons so you can stick them into the snow.

4.  A long carrot for the nose
5.  Sticks, that are straight for the arms
6.  A bubble pipe left over from summer fun can also be added to your snowman's mouth

Add these accessories to giant snowballs and POOF you have created a snowman!  

 Why not try your hand at a snow family?  Make snow pets too!

The Finished Product...with a happy boy!

What kind of snowmen can you build?   

Please send us pictures of your creations.  We would love to see what your creativity discovers!

Inspired by the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes: 

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky Baxa

Available from http://www.Amazon.com

in both paperback and electronic versions.

Blog posts are many times an extension of this book. 

We started at 500+ and are counting upward and onward!

Apple Judging Contest and so much more

Fall is fast approaching and orchards are displaying the fruits of their labor.

Scarecrows, corn mazes, colored leaves, pumpkins and apples are the symbols of the season.

For the next several weeks we will explore a variety of seasonal activities

for you and your family to enjoy.

Today, we will start off with an apple judging contest.

Visit your local grocery store's produce department, farmer's market or orchard and pick up at least two each, of several different types of apples. Try to get at least four to six different types of apples i.e. Jonathan, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, McIntosh, etc.

Make the shopping and selection of apples part of the experience.

        -How many different varieties of apples are there to choose from?

        -How are they different and alike?
  
       -How many colors can you find?

       - What are the different types of apples used for?

Bonus activity: Count your apples as you shop. For additional fun you can even do some math problems as you go along.

          -If we buy 12 apples and there are 4 family members, how many apples does
            each person get to eat, if we divide them equally?

         -If we have 4 different kinds of apples and we buy 4 of each kind, how many
          apples will we buy?

         -If the apples are 49 cents apiece, how much will our apples cost?

Design your math problems to be developmentally appropriate for your child. These activities can range from one to one correspondence with counting for the younger child, up to complex problems for the older child.

On the day of the contest, line all the apples up on a table or counter. Your contest can be the same day as your shopping trip, or on a different day, depending on your schedule.



Photo Source:  http://www.thinkplaytoday.com

Display your pairs of apples, giving each variety its own plate. Cut one of the apples into slices and set it next to a whole apple of the same variety.

 



 Photo Source:  http://www.veggiegardentips.com

First decide on the criteria used to judge your apples. You can have serious and/or fun categories. Here are some ideas to get you started:

                *Serious: color, smell, texture/ crispness, flavor, juiciness, etc.

                *Silly: heart shaped, biggest, most round, funny shape, most variety in colors, shiniest, etc.

If you want to go a step farther, older children can make out judging contest forms so each judge can write down their own observations and rating system. Develop prize categories and make ribbons. Let them go with their imaginations. What else can they come up with?

Younger children can observe, discuss and, of course, taste! This is a great activity that is not only fun and nutritious, it also teaches observation and tasting skills, skills in comparing and contrasting, and encourages discussion and possibly debate. Your favorite apple may be the Red Delicious and your child's may be Gala.  Be able to defend your preference using a variety of adjectives.

Let the judging begin! Don't forget the caramel sauce to finish off the leftovers after the judging!

Too many apples to finish eating after the contest?  Don't let the fun stop!

 

                     Remember a cut apple turns brown when it is exposed to the air.

                     Dipping cut apples in orange juice (or any citrus juice) or a lemon-lime soda;

                     or sprinkling with ascorbic acid used in canning/freezing will help prevent browning.

.

 

Here are a few ideas to do with your leftover apples after the judging contest:

· Stuffed apples

 

Directions: 

 

1.  Wash the apple. 

 

2. With a sharp paring knife, cut the top off horizontally (so that it makes a lid). Hollow out the apple, and keep all pieces that do not have core or seeds.

 

3.  Chop all of the usable apple pieces from what you have hollowed out of the apple. Put them into a small bowl.

 

4.   Mix in desired ingredients.

 

     Ideas for mixtures 

   * peanut butter, honey, and raisins together.

   * peanut butter, sunflower seeds, raisins, cinnamon

   * for a unique entree, fill your apple with chicken salad or an avocado salsa.

 

4).  Stuff your hollowed apple with the filling mixture, packing in your mixture tightly to cover all surfaces.  Cover your apple with the "lid".

OR you can just CORE your apple and then
stuff the middle with your mixture.

Photo Source :   http://www.hubpages.com

 

 



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What other ingredients may taste good in your apple?  Experiment to find your favorite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to make your apple hot?

    

      Mix brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, chopped walnuts and raisins together. Stuff your cored apple and set it in a baking dish. Bake in a moderate (350 degree Fahrenheit) oven until the apple flesh is soft and the stuffing has melted. You may want to baste your apple a few times during the cooking process to allow the juices to totally sink into your apple. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream. What a delicious treat, and your kitchen will smell good too!

 Photo Source:  http://www.organicsoul.com



• Home Made Applesauce - quick and easy for one meal's serving

Peel, core and slice an apple for each person that will be at the meal. Place prepared apples in a sauce pan and add enough apple juice to just barely cover the apples.

Add cinnamon, cloves and allspice to taste. (Cinnamon ratio should be twice as much as cloves and allspice)

Heat until tender.

Mash to desired consistency. Serve hot or cold.

For an extra flare, add cinnamon red hots while cooking the apple mixture. Cook red hots until melted, mixing with your apple mixture. This cinnamon applesauce is a special treat and is a favorite with the kids.

 

 

In the days ahead you can add to your apple theme with lots of correlation activities.  Keep in mind, to maximize your child's learning,  it is always best to start with the REAL thing and then branch out into the abstract.

Here are some ideas:

 

-visit an apple orchard and pick apples off of the tree

-counting apples

-slice an apple in half and count the seeds

-use half an apple to paint stamp pictures

-draw apples

-create a story about apples, apple seeds, apple trees, etc.

-read the story of Johnny Appleseed

-read stories about apples

 

- etc.  What else can you think of to do?

Inspired by the book

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky Baxa

Available from Amazon.com

 






 

 

 

 

 

Banana Secret Messages

How about a quick, fun idea?  An idea so easy you can do it today!

All you need is a banana, an ink pen and a little imagination..

 

We recently had a party with the movie,  Despicable Me as the theme. 

 

Below are some bananas that became "minion" guests at the party.

 

 

As "minion" ideas swirled in my head, new ideas evolved as well.  There are other things you can do with this technique in mind.


 You can write any message on the banana, draw a heart or smiley face, or add an "x" and "o" for hugs and kisses.

If you want your message to be secret, evolving after a few hours (for packed lunches); write your message on the outside of the banana peeling with the non-pointed end of a wooden skewer or other like object. As the day progresses, your message will appear on the banana peeling! Why? You are essentially bruising the banana and it will become dark with time.

This can be done for your children, spouse, added to a care package for a friend or relative, etc.

This type of activity is sure to bring a smile to your loved ones face as it warms their heart from your taking the time to think of them.

 

Sharing special moments, creating fond memories,  does not have to take a lot of time, effort or money.  Small acts of kindness produce long remembered big results.

Who can you make smile today?

Inspired from the book: 

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky Baxa

Available from http://www.Amazon.com

in both Kindle and Paperback versions

The Value of a Smile- Smile Coupons

Let's continue on with last week's blog entry.  After all, the simple smile is probably the fastest, easiest thing you can do, yet it is often them most overlooked

in our hurry up, electronic, screen based society.

Here is a quote from one of my favorite books.  :-)

"Smiles are such an amazing, wonderful thing. It doesn't cost anything, you never run out of them when giving them away and you never tire of receiving them.  If you give one away you are not more poor.  Yet if you get a smile you are somehow richer, boosting you up and filling you with happiness.  A smile only takes a minute, but the memory of that smile may last  a lifetime. The amazing thing about smiles is that when you give one away, it somehow makes you feel just as happy as the person you gave it to.  A smile tells someone that you like them, that you are friends, it communicates good will and   acceptance.  A smile makes the home a happier place to be and  business more pleasant.  A   simple smile cheers you up, pushes away sadness or fears, gives encouragement and makes  pain and trouble a whole lot easier to deal with.  You can not buy a smile  or steal one.  A smile  has no value at all until it is given freely and lovingly away or until it is received.  What an amazing, simple action. Yet it carries such a huge value! Why not give some smiles away today?  Your happiness tank will be filled as you fill-up the tanks of those around you!  It has been said that a smile  is worth a THOUSAND words!  Proverbs 17:22  (NIV) says:  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”  A smile is like good medicine.  It makes us cheerful.  Even if you don’t really “feel” like smiling, if you try it for awhile, most of the time,  you begin to feel happier as a   result. It will make people wonder what you have been up to.  

Make some smile coupons and give them  to your children. Use them  to help ease stressful situations, during trials and disappointments. Could you stay upset  if your child pulled out a coupon and  handed it to you?  Do you think you might get a smile from a sad child if you     presented a coupon out of your pocket especially for them?  You don’t even need a physical coupon.  Every parents pockets can be filled with an endless supply of smiles to share with  children at a needed time.  Just reach inside your pocket, pretend to dig deep looking for the perfect smile and “ta-da!” pull out their uniquely designed smile just for them!"

Give it a try! 

.  

  Gather up crayons, colored pencils, stencils and paper; and,  organize a family event.

Have everyone create their own personalized smile coupons. 

 Here is an example

 

Source: 

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes: 

                         Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share  

   by Becky Baxa 

Available from http://www.Amazon.com

in both Kindle and Paperback versions

Daily Question

Would you like to start the New Year by increasing the closeness of family members?

 

 Increasing your interaction and communication with family members is as easy as

asking a simple question.

 

The  activity below will be as popular with your teenager as it will be with your preschool aged child.

 

I have participated in this activity successfully with my preschool classes as well as when I taught High School.  It always amazed me how the student who was failing, refused to do their homework or participate in class, and who faithfully tried to sleep, would visibly sit up straight, become animated, make eye contact and brighten up when it was their turn to answer the daily question.  And before I got to their name I would have sworn they were not paying attention.  Kids love it when you take interest in who they are and you show respect for their opinions. 

It was a use of time whose value could not be measured.  It was wonderful!

 

Remember:  Start chatting about just “stuff” with your children when they are very young.

It is so easy to fall into the bad habit of only talking at our children, instead

of talking with our children. 

 

Talking about the little things when children are young, 

makes talking about the big things a lot easier when they get older!

 

Here's how to begin:

· Create a daily question for family members each day. 
      It won't be long until “What is today’s question?” will be everyone's favorite time of the day.

 

· You and your children will have lots of fun with this activity.  You will learn many things about each other.  It won’t be long before kids will be “hounding” you for the day’s question.  Everyone has a  turn to answer the question and everyone else needs to respectfully listen to each person’s answer.  During each child’s answer they must have your  undivided attention for that moment.  When you answer they must respectfully listen to you.  Everyone involved in this is a winner as you learn to share, communicate, and respect other people’s opinions and viewpoints. 

· Below are some ideas to get you going.  When you run out of questions, ask your children to help you generate more.  Their creativity will be impressive and will tell you what is important to them, in addition to what they would like to share and talk about with you.  Active listening  will be a huge asset during this time.

 

Sample Question ideas: 

1.  What is your favorite?:  color, snack food, ice cream, candy, TV show, song, cookie, singer, sport, birthday cake, breakfast food, pie, sports team, subject to learn about  (not a class in school), winter activity, summer activity, board game, card game, video game, pastime, cartoon, type of book, type of movie, vegetable, etc. 

2.  Where is someplace you would like to visit? 

3.  What is something you would NEVER do?
 

4.   What is your favorite hobby?  If you don’t have a hobby, what is something that you are     

       interested in learning about?

5.   What is the vegetable you HATE the most?

6. How do you like your potatoes prepared, mashed, scalloped, au gratin, boiled, baked , French

      fried?

 7.   What was your favorite Halloween costume?

 8.   What was your favorite Christmas present?

 9.   What was your most embarrassing moment?

 10.  What scares you the most?

 11.  What was a time you were really frightened?

 12.  What is a dream of  yours?

 13.  If you could bring one person back to life to visit with, who would it be?

 14.  What is one thing you would like to do (a goal) in life?

 15.  What do you love to do the most?

 

16.  What is something you would like to learn how to do?

17.  Who would you like to meet in person some day?

 

 

 

This Blog Post was inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95
 
OR

Kindle Edition $9.99

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out from the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

Dallas Public Library - Dallas, Texas