This guest post from Kelly Wilson should have been a Homeschooling Notes post!  I am planning to use a couple of her ideas this coming school year!  Be sure to welcome her and visit her site to show her how wonderful my readers are. ~Kelli

By: Kelly Wilson

Teaching Resource Center

www.trcabc.com

Kelly.wilson@trcabc.com

Fun and Easy Outdoor Activities With Kids

Kids will often claim to be bored during the summer, but that phrase may mean that they’re ready to spend some time with you. Here are a few fun activities that not only give you and your kids time together, but also teach them a little about the world around them.

Bubbles

Gather your bottles of bubble solution and all of your bubble-blowing tools. Start by adding a couple of drops of food coloring to the bottle or dish of bubble solution and shake or stir. Blow some bubbles and check to see if they’re clear or if they have taken on any color. Slowly increase the amount of food coloring, keeping track of how many drops you put in and if the bubbles are colored or not.

Chart The Sun’s Travels

Choose a spot on your driveway or patio and mark a large “X” in a space that gets regular sunlight. At about the same time each hour, have your child stand on the “X” and trace his/her shadow with sidewalk chalk, writing the time of day next to it. At the end of the day, take a look at your unusual artwork. The following questions can help you and your child discuss the change in the shadow’s length:

• What happened to the shadow in the morning? In the afternoon?
• What time was the shadow the shortest? What time was it the longest?
• What does this shadow chart tell us about the sun?

Water Balloon Test

This is a fun activity for those unbearably hot days.

If you can, buy a few different brands or sizes of water balloons. Fill them, making sure to keep the brands or sizes separated.

When the water balloons are ready, choose something to throw them against, like the side of the house or the driveway. To make this test fair, the balloons need to be thrown the same way every time.

Keep track of which water balloons bounced and which ones broke right away. Use this information to plan a water balloon party with friends and strategize which water balloons will get everyone soaked the fastest.

These three easy activities should provide some fun with your kids during these warm summer days!

Kelly Wilson is an editor with Teaching Resource Center, a trusted source of high-quality teaching supplies.

Technorati Tags: Easy, Outdoor, Activities, Kids, guest, Wilson, Notes, ideas, Kelli, Resource, Center, Here, world, Bubbles, Gather, solution, tools, Start, food, bottle, dish, Chart, Travels, Choose, patio, sidewalk, length, afternoon, Water, Balloon, Test, Fill, Keep, friends, readers, sizes, trcabc, summer, driveway

No related posts.

All over the internet, on thousands of blogs, even on television are millions of things you should teach your child.  What about the things they can teach us?

1. Color, Religion, Social Status do NOT matter!
2. Playing is (and should be) fun!
3. Playing is necessary!
4. A hug makes everything better!
5. Sick is just an excuse for laziness!
6. I am the best, cutest, funniest, smartest, etc.
7. Be nice to everyone! Forgive and forget!
8. When the sun comes up, it is a whole new day!
9. If it is comfortable: sit on it, wear it, use it!
10. Smile and the world smiles with you… but you can get a ton of attention with a well-planned FIT!
11. (one more thing) If you play continuously, you can stay thin on cookies, PB & J, and orange juice!

What are some other things we should remember or re-learn from our childhood?

No related posts.

Awesome products from my own home state, Alabama!   Team Mom and Backyard Safari Outfitters sent me the following items to review and my kids couldn’t have been more excited. LOL!

Items:

• Cargo Vest – Plenty of pockets, 6 D-Rings, 2 should epaulets for clipping and hanging more gear.  Large pocket for storing binoculars and clear-view chest pocket for Pop-Up Field Guide. MSRP $19.99 Mom Says: Zack (8) is shown wearing the vest.  My “Joe Cool” kid loves it because he could show off his “muscles” and hold his comb, water bottle, and cars in it. LOL!
• Mega View Periscope – Full-view periscope for viewing over boulders, high bushes, backyard fences and around corners.  Three sturdy light-weight sections telescope for a reach of over four feet high to see all out-of-reach views.  Flip the Mega View Periscope upside down and a full 16 inches is submersible for under-water viewing – on docks, poolside, lakes or beaches – all without water in small ears! MSRP $24.99 Mom Says: All of the boys have had a blast sticking this in the pool and looking at all the leaves floating around.  They have also played “I see you” with it.”  In South Alabama, it is pretty flat so we are excited that it can be used in the water.  Now, they want to go to the beach with it. Guess it will be packed for our Cabin vacation!
• Bug Vacuum – Catch LIVE crawling, flying, buzzing bugs in the backyard!  Look at bugs up close with the built-in magnifying glass.  Extra nose cone comes in handy for really big bugs.  The Capture Core attaches to the Backyard Safari Bug Habitat (sold separately) for easy transfer of insects. MSRP $19.99 Mom Says: Tripp (10) and Zack (8) have given up on ever using this. Tank (3) always gets what he wants and this is what he wants. LOL!  He has been filling it up with everything from Ants to Legos. In fact, the vacuum noise is driving me so nuts after days of listening to it, that I am so ready for the batteries to just go ahead and DIE ALREADY!

These are great to incorporate into your homeschooling field trips!  Backyard Safari Outfitters has a TON of goodies… think Christmas gifts!

Backyard Safari Outfitters available at Amazon

No related posts.

This is a guest post by Jacqueline Link

I never thought I would say that I like watching the shows my children enjoy but after today I think I’ve found a favorite. Out of all of the shows they love I would have to say iCarly is the best. It combines all of the elements needed for a good children’s sitcom laughter, drama and real life situations. They have been watching iCarly religiously since it has come on which made me decide to see what it was all about. I especially like how Carly and her friends single handedly created a web show that made them “superstars” overnight, they are living my dream.

The coolest part is that they can act silly and use digitally enhanced sound effects. I have watched over ten episodes now and have actually laughed out loud at her brother Spencer who’s artistic talent is way before his time. My kids think it’s hilarious that I am asking lots of questions about the show to get caught up to speed. It has been a great way to connect with my children. You wouldn’t believe sitting together watching Direct TV could be so rewarding. We especially like to sing the iCarly theme song when the show first comes on. The character has also been trying to start a singing character and will you believe I actually like the first song.

Technorati Tags: guest, Jacqueline, Link, children, laughter, drama, life, friends, Spencer, talent, kids, Direct, theme, song, situations, superstars, episodes

No related posts.

It isn’t like we can just tell our overly-sensitive tween boys that they stink and it is embarrassing us!   So, how do we deal?  Let me give you some background first.

Tripp is 10 and will be 11 in November.  The hair on his legs has gotten REALLY dark and I see some black peach fuzz in the corners of his upper lip!  WHAT!?? But my baby is ONLY TEN! Oh yeah… the other day he reached over me for something and I thought I was going to vomit.  About this same time, I got an email from Mom Central telling me about this awesome new site by Unilever Deodorants: Don’t Fret The Sweat.

The very first Q and A really grabbed me and I begged to be part of this campaign.   Straight from the Don’t Fret The Sweat website:

Q.  My kid seems too young to start using deodorant. How young is too young?

A.  It’s not about being the right age. It’s about whether they need it or not. Kids generally need to start using deodorant when they enter puberty. That’s when special hormones start to affect their sweat glands and cause body odor. And the onset of puberty can be around eight years old or earlier, depending on your kid.

Eight!?  Holy Cow! Thanks goodness I didn’t have to deal with this at 8.  But, isn’t it funny how different kids are?  Zack is 8 and he is in love with smelling good.  So, if it were him that needed deodorant, it would be no big deal.  Alas, it isn’t him!  It is our 10-year old boy in the Autism Spectrum.  Uh huh, yeah…. exactly!  DIFFICULT to say the least.

Anyway, side-tracked, LOL!  Don’tFretTheSweat.com doesn’t just dole out deodorant info and money-saving coupons, but it has loads of very useful articles to help you talk with your Terrible Tweens (and Teens). Whether your child (and you) are having peer pressure issues, confidence problems, or simply hygiene dilemmas, Don’t Fret the Sweat will have a post for you.

After reading “Developing a Tween Hygiene Regime”, I feel more confident about talking to my little boy.  I, personally, see this being a great resource as my three boys go through something I have never had to deal with.   Also, I was sixteen before… well, you know… I didn’t have to deal with puberty at a young age and I understand these changes are much more difficult for kids who are not yet teens or are very young teens.  I have already bookmarked this site to refer back to!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Unilever and received the items necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

Technorati Tags: Fret, Sweat, Honey, STINK, background, Tripp, November, hair, fuzz, About, Central, Deodorants, Kids, odor, onset, Thanks, Zack, Alas, Autism, Spectrum, DIFFICULT, Anyway, info, money, Terrible, Tweens, Teens, Whether, problems, hygiene, Regime, resource, Also, items, addition, gift, card, coupons, articles, dilemmas, yeah, deodorant

No related posts.

UNEXPECTED IDEAS FOR CREATIVE PROJECTS

As a homeschool mom, I know how many hours are wasted looking for neat (and cheap) crafts for my kids.  It is summer here, but in the rainy south, we will have days that we are stuck inside.  I am always looking for things to keep their hands occupied… Enter FedEx’s Out of Office blog!

Mom Central and FedEx sent my boys some goodies to help them try out some of the projects on Out Of Office.

Zack (8) and Tank (3) made the bookmarks since those were the templates they sent us.

Both really had a good time and asked if we could make some more projects!  Later this evening, we will sit down and choose a few more things and add the supplies to our shopping list.  I love quick, easy, not so messy projects!

Aren’t their bookmarks adorable?  Zack is an Alabama Crimson Tide fan, but he made me an Auburn bookmark!  Wasn’t that sweet?

But, kids are not the only ones who can find fun and helpful info at the FedEx Out of Office Blog!  They have several categories, including Home Helpers!  A quick flip through found a GREAT post to help us Spring Clean Paper!  Wonder how you could get a gig like that?  FedEx, if you are reading this blog, I would LOVE to be a blogger on your awesome site.   #imjustsayin

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of FedEx Office and received the items necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Technorati Tags: Notes, FedEx, Office, Blog, Craft, Ideas, CREATIVE, kids, Enter, Central, Zack, Tank, Both, Later, Aren, Alabama, Crimson, Tide, Auburn, info, Home, GREAT, Clean, Paper, Wonder, LOVE, items, addition, gift, card, templates, categories, Helpers, bookmarks

No related posts.

I can promise you that my kids are NOT!

Eureka is looking for all clean children to tell us why they love to clean!  Kids are asked to share their best tips, “why they love to clean” and a photograph for a chance to become Eureka’s Cleanest Kid and win prizes like a Toys ‘R Us gift certificate and new Eureka Clean Living vacuum.  Enter at www.eureka.com/cleankids.

Too bad my boys are messy!  I could really use a new vacuum.   Be sure to take some time and get your kids involved so you have a chance to win those awesome prizes.

*DISCLAIMER – I was asked to share this with my readers.  I was not compensated for this post in any way.*

Technorati Tags: Child, Eureka, Cleanest, kids, tips, gift, certificate, Clean, vacuum, Enter, DISCLAIMER, readers

No related posts.

You know I am always looking for excuses to show off my darling kids. Just to prepare you, this post has a million and one pictures.

Look what the UPS man brought!  Wow, huh?  I mean, what little boy doesn’t like Batman?  Name one, I dare you!

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Washington Shoe Company are unleashing the ultimate Bat-gadget this rainy season with a rain collection inspired by the favorite DC Comics Super Hero, Batman. What better way for young boys to bring their Batman powers to the streets than with a hooded rain slicker with removable cape, Batman boots and a matching Batman umbrella to help them take flight in their adventures.

The Batman-themed collection of rainwear by Washington Shoe Company, a leading manufacturer of footwear and fashion raingear, is geared towards kids and juniors and will retail at $36.95 for the boots, $16 for the umbrella and $50 for the raincoat. Boot sizes range from child’s size 5-13 and youth sizes 1-4. Raincoats are available from size 2T to 6X. The line features a removable cape which can be worn with or without the raincoat and glow in the dark logos so the little Super Heroes are safe even on the rainiest days.

Mom’s can swoop up the complete Batman rain collection at Nordstrom’s nationwide as well as select specialty stores.

We live in Southern Alabama in a county that was just declared the rainiest city in the United States! Yep, we beat Seattle!  So, this was a PERFECT item for me to review, especially as we work our way through Spring.

Doesn’t little Thomas Tank look super cute all decked out in his new Batman rain gear?  His favorite seems to be the boots, but then he has always been a shoe kid.   The boots are made of very good quality material and well, are just plain cute!  *Note: Tank wears a size nine, so that is what we asked for.  They seemed a bit big on him, but not so big that they rubbed blisters.

Western Chief ‘Batman’ Novelty Rain Boot $32.95

Here he is trying to show off the Batman wings of his cape, while Tripp tried to hold the umbrella in the right angle for mom to take a picture.   I, personally, really like the umbrella.  It seems to be kid sized and is pretty tough, though not tough enough for my heathens angels.    Within a few minutes, the boys bent the metal part on the inside that holds the umbrella open. OOPS!  The metal pieces didn’t break and the umbrella still opens, but if you have heathens uuh angels like me, you might want to stick with the boots and raincoat.  LOL! Which is why we don’t have umbrellas.  Oh well… maybe one day they will quit destroying things.

Western Chief ‘Batman’ Novelty Umbrella $14.95

The raincoat… ahh the rain coat!  I love this thing!  It has some glow in the dark places on it, it has an awesome detachable cape, and an oversized hoodie!  The snaps are very easy for Tank (3) to work on his own and, as I said before, it is just plain cute. LOL!

The cape has little handles for the kids to put their hands through to open it like Tank is doing.  Tell me, doesn’t that little fellow look super happy about his Batman goodies!? Western Chief ‘Batman’ Raincoat $44.95

*Disclaimer – Team Mom provided the raincoat, umbrella, and rain boots to help with my review.  Any opinions stated are strictly my own!*

No related posts.

I told you a couple weeks ago about the new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max.  I also said then that I would be bringing you something cool.

What is it?

Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers with Dry Max are our new high performance diapers and the biggest innovation for the Pampers brand in
the last 25 years. Pampers has invented the Dry Max technology to improve the current Swaddlers and Cruisers core. The Cruisers diaper is 20 percent thinner than before. This hard-working diaper helps lock wetness in and is Pampers’ driest diaper ever.

Driest Diaper Ever!

• Twenty (20) percent less bulk, making it Pampers’ thinnest diaper and our driest ever
• Softer outer cover for comfort inside and out
• Tapered design
• Sesame Street® characters***
• Will be offered for the same price as current Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers.

About Dry Max Technology:

• Dry Max describes the new “engine” or core of Cruisers and Swaddlers diapers.
• It allows for the removal of the airfelt (“paper pulp”) found in current Swaddlers and Cruisers, resulting in a thinner and less bulky core. Currently, Pampers is the only brand with this technology on the market.\
• The thinner core is enabled by the new Absorbent Gelling Material (AGM), removing the need for airfelt. The AGM is more permeable, meaning it locks wetness in faster than previous AGM.
• The Dry Max technology will also be available in Pampers Swaddlers diapers for new babies in March 2010.

For More Information:

Be sure to visit the Official Pampers Site to learn more about these awesome new diapers and to even request a free sample!

How To Win:

So, now you want to win this awesome little set, huh? Win a Liz Lange designer diaper clutch and a redeemable coupon for a free week’s supply of diapers of the all-new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max. The clutch retails for $50 and is 100% polyester with genuine leather trim.

REQUIRED: Very simple… just leave me a comment.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, twitter, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Follow me on Twitter

#5. Fave me on technorati

#6. Put my button on your blog.

#7. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!)

CONTEST ENDS:  March 25th at 12 midnight CST

No related posts.

Watch Handy Manny’s Big Race on Saturday, March 20th at 7/6c on Disney Channel!

That is right… PRIMETIME!  The  "Handy Manny Big Race" features guest stars Dale Earnhardt, Jr and Lance Bass.  Handy Manny, his tools, and Eliot team up to revamp Manny’s used race car for the Wood Valley 500 race.  Thomas loves Handy Manny and anything with wheels…  this is definitely going to be on at our house.  Plus, the oldest 2 will pretend there is nothing else on so they can watch, too. 

You can really gear your preschooler(s) up for the show by:

1. Watching a preview on YouTube
2. Making it a Family Night! Find Recipes and more!
3. Playing Manny’s Pit Stop Shop Online Game!
4. Printing out Handy Manny coloring pages online
5. Becoming a Handy Manny Fan on Facebook

Mom can also be prepared:

• What: Handy Manny Twitter Party
• When: Saturday, March 20; 6:30 – 7:30PM ET
• Why: To celebrate the primetime premiere of a new Playhouse Disney special: Handy Manny Big Race!
• Hashtag: #HandyMannyBigRace
• Hosts: Mom Central & Playhouse Disney

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Playhouse Disney.  Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

No related posts.