Whole Child Development
We have some picky eaters in our family, and I’m not just talking about the shorter members. I wrote recently about the boundaries we’ve set as a family when it comes to eating dinner. Admittedly, those boundaries won’t work for every family, but they seem to work for us right now.
I love Laura Numeroff’s stories, and the kids do too! In her predictable, yet amusing pattern, the characters begin with one activity, which inevitably leads to another, then another, then another, till you’re right back where you started again. Whether it’s the mouse with the cookie, the pig with the pancake, the moose with the muffin, or one of their many friends, kids learn to expect the unexpected!
There are few things better than a frothy cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day. Though I discovered recently that there’s even more to be gained than a warm belly.
There’s something special about bread. It may be its universal nature, found in different forms all around the world. Ann Morris’ book, Bread, Bread, Bread takes a fantastic around the world photo journey examining bread throughout a variety of cultures. (It’s a great book I would strongly recommend as part of a food unit like the one I outline over here.)
My boys and I came home from a beautiful fall hike to find the perfect surprise on our doorstep! Friends had dropped by a kit for making simple (and delicious) pumpkin cookies!
I’ve mentioned before, and I’ll mention many times again: I love fall! The sight, the sound, the smell, and yes, the taste!
Homemade root beer is always a sign of a special occasion at our house, but there’s just something about fall and Halloween that makes this brew especially exciting. The magic (and the science) is in the dry ice. It’s available at most grocery stores, but you usually have to ask for it at the check out stand or at guest services. Made of frozen carbon dioxide, this solid changes directly to the gas phase, without a liquid stage between (a process called sublimation). In addition to the cool fog effect, the dry ice actually carbonates your drink as it dissipates!
(Be sure to use tongs or gloves when handling dry ice as it is actually so cold that it burns the skin on contact. Obviously, this also means you must give adequate supervision for children as you use this substance.)
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and with it comes my boys’ request for frozen treats. While you can certianly grab twin pops in your freezer section for a buck a bag, making your own cool summer treats can be a great opportunity for building basic science experiences with concepts like freezing , melting, and the broader concept of physical change. In addition to that, creating these fun treats together builds confidence, good memories, and even some physical skills. Oh, and they’re delicious! Here are four fun and tasty treats to make this summer: [Read more…]
This is a repost of one of the very first blog posts I wrote. Since there were only about three of you reading here back then, I thought it might be time to revisit!
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