Sprinkle

Keep summer simple.

Hot weather and bored kiddos tempting you to purchase new Super Soaker plastic water guns?  Yes, kids find these toys entertaining but you probably have enough on hand - scattered in the back of the garage!

First things first, take stock of your munitions!  Rally the troops to test and wipe down your current stockpile.  Label the keepers with a sharpie and store them in laundry baskets in the "KID ZONE" of the garage. 

If you are still prepared to introduce a new item into your water play arsenal, I stumbled upon a simple option I want to share...

Looking for a replacement garden hose at Target, I discovered a line of PURPLE garden hoses and sprinklers.  Fifty feet of lightweight hose was inexpensive and has more creative uses (read: chores - washing car, rinsing garbage cans, watering hanging baskets) than water blasters that require a reload every few minutes and encourage attack play.

Right away, my 9 year-old was inspired to set it up to oscillate on the driveway while he and a friend played basketball in the "rain" in 90+ degree heat!  It has also been a water "volleyball net" for a beach ball and a "car wash" for bikes!

Maybe you already have a hose on hand your kids could use?  Make it accessible and bring on the fun :)  What would your kids do with a sprinkler and a hose?

Order Up!

Know you should be teaching your kids how to prepare meals, but can never find the time?
  

Resigned to the fact that your family will eat out too often again this summer?

...or are you just tired of doing all the work?

What if you could teach skills that will last a life-time,
save money on restaurants, and
make happy memories with your kids?

Organize summer meals by creating a "culinary school" in your own kitchen
and

Make Dinner Matter!

     This summer vacation marks the third year in a row I have made a summer cooking schedule for our family.  In the beginning, I decided to have the kids help me - just so I wouldn't be alone in the kitchen.  Now my food allergic tween proudly prepares entire meals for the family - on her own!  My goal for your family is to keep the expectations realistic and the mood fun.  This means writing the toddler into the rotation too! 
     Sound too complicated?  Hey, you've got weeks worth of soccer practice, or swim lessons on the calendar.  Teaching your kids independence in the kitchen is important.  And less expensive than signing them up for another camp.  What if you just scheduled it in?

For example:
1. COMMIT  I selected the 7 weeks between Monday, June 20th, and Sunday, August 7th.

2. BE REALISTIC  Of the 49 days, I figured 2 per week for special occasions and/or eating out.  Subtracting a vacation week left 30 days to make dinner matter. 

3. ASSIGN DUTY Who gets to cook/help you cook dinner when...?  Put it on the calendar!  (Note: Use the phrase, "gets to," rather than "has to!"  It will change your attitude too.)

Considering?  Read on...

------------------------------------------------------------------

Make Dinner Matter

Step 1 - Menu Plan

One of the benefits of being assigned a night in our house is getting to select the meal!  If this is new for your family, you may want to select a few kid-friendly cookbooks from the library for inspiration.  It also helps to menu plan once a week and shop for as many items as possible at one time.  To save money, you may want to shop first and hit the sales, then menu plan based upon what you purchased. 

Bonus points - As you schedule the meals, display a few days worth of "menus" on the fridge (or computer screen).  Have your kids write (or type) it up.  They look forward to their meal nights!...Can't write yet?  Kids can glue pictures of items - or draw them.

Step 2 - Make Time

Kids in the kitchen need time to explore.  Make sure you allow enough time for food prep, mishaps, and messes!  Then teach them how to clean-up...

Step 3 - Land the Helicopter

Don't hover.  If a particular task makes you nervous, break down the steps and teach your child how to perform it safely.  If your child has never cut an onion, for example, you have a lot of groundwork to lay (use a cold onion, pre-cut manageable chunks, and be ready with sympathy if eyes are burning).  Learning a new task is nerve-wracking if someone keeps catching you doing it wrong. 

Above all be flexible, be realistic, and have fun!  Think you are going to try it?  Have questions?  Let me know...

Knife Skills for Toddlers 
Food Allergy Organization Tips 

p.s. I have a super-picky eater.  On his nights, someone else prepares the meat for the rest of us, as needed,  because meat grosses him out! 

Explore More Day

Kid Magic

First Grade 

                                                       

I, _______________________________________,

(Magician’s name here)

do solemnly swear to uphold the “Magician’s Sacred Oath” by not revealing how the magic tricks I learned today are actually performed.

Tricks

Beginning Magicians:

#1    The Amazing “Guess the Color” Trick  

#2   “Cotton Ball Cups”

More Coordination Required:

#3   The “Rubber Band Hop” 

#4   The Amazing “Guess the Card” Trick 

The Big Finish:

#5   Disappearing “Penny”!       

SECRETS - Shhhh…

#1        The Amazing “Guess the Color” Trick  (supplies - several crayons)

Hand several crayons to an audience member.  Place both hands behind your back.  Closing your eyes, ask the audience member to select a crayon and place it in one of your hands.  While pretending to think deeply, gently scratch the crayon color onto your fingernail.  Have the audience member retrieve the crayon without allowing you to see it.  Bring your hand in front of you and glance at the color on your nail.  Amaze your audience by announcing, “You selected (reveal the color)!”

#2   “Cotton Ball Cups” (supplies - 3 paper cups, 1 cotton ball, crayon/pencil)

Display three paper cups upside down.  Place a cotton ball under the cup that you have secretly marked with a small crayon/pencil mark on the upside down end.  Ask an audience member to quickly mix the cups around without lifting them from the table.  Pretend to think deeply while watching the cups move.  When he/she is finished moving around the cups, look for the cup with the marking.  Dramatically lift the cup to reveal the cotton ball.

#3       The “Rubber Band Hop” (supplies - rubber band)

Place a rubber band around your second and third fingers.  It will be loose.  State, “Watch closely and I will make this rubber band hop to my fourth and fifth fingers!”  Bend all four fingers toward your palm while quickly pulling the rubber band out with your other hand.  When the tips of your fingers reach your palm, release the band.  When you re-open your fingers, the band will have “hopped.”  Practice makes perfect!

#4       The Amazing “Guess the Card” Trick (supplies - deck of cards)

Fan out a deck (or half a deck) of cards.  Have an audience member remove a card and show it to the rest of the audience.  Tell the audience that you can guess which card was removed from the deck.  Restack the deck, then open the deck in half and have the volunteer place the card into the deck.  Secretly look at the card on the open half.  Fan out the deck again, find the card you saw on the open half, and remove the card that follows.  Hold it up to reveal your skill.

#5       Disappearing Penny!  (supplies - penny, salt shaker, paper napkin)

Remember, the name of this trick is the trick!  It is called the “Disappearing Penny,” but it is actually the “Disappearing Salt Shaker!”  Perform this trick sitting down at a table across from your audience.  Cover the salt shaker with the napkin and put your hands over it.  Place the salt shaker (now covered with the napkin) on top of the penny.  Say the magic words and take the napkin with the salt shaker off the table. (The coin is still on the table.)  Pretend that you are disappointed because the coin didn't disappear and the trick has failed.  Meanwhile, release the salt shaker into your lap.  The napkin will retain the shape of the salt shaker.  Carefully repeat the trick, but this time “accidentally” knock against the napkin and act surprised that the salt shaker has disappeared :)

 Have a little magic show of your own!

Me - Mom

My 9 year-old son has requested an opportunity to Guest Blog again.  

He is proud to present his...

Mother's Day Comparing Poem

Me                                                                 Mom
emotional, athletic, energetic            organized, unhoarded, talkative

Lover of                                                       Lover of
sports, singing in the shower,             Declare Order, cooking, and label makers
and rain

Who feels                                                    Who feels
love, sweat, and hypnotized by tv       organization, sympathy,
                                                                           and the need for an office

Who needs                                                 Who needs
mom, tv, and ipods                                  viewers, clients, and kids

Who fears                                                   Who fears
dark, spiders, and losing                          hoarding, stress, and screens

Like to see                                                    Like to see
The USS Enterprise, The Baseball          sunny days, happy kids
Hall of Fame, Great Grandma                 the Queen of Organizing

Thanks kiddo!  You make me smile :)
Previous Guest Blog

Actual illustrated poem from Mother's Day

 

Whose Turn Is It?

"Did anyone feed the dog?"
 "The table should be set for dinner."  
"Who has time to hang the cloth napkins to dry?"

Managing the day-to-day household responsibilities can be a chore.   How to divvy it all up?

When I was a classroom teacher, we assigned jobs by the day: Line Leader, Paper Passer, Attendance... Whenever a need arose, the designated kiddo popped up to help.

Though older kids are less likely to "pop up!" at home, assigning responsibilities by the day has proven effective in our family.  My son has Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.  My daughter is responsible Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  Hubby takes Sunday.

The dog is scratching her bowl.  Whose day is it?
Time for dinner, but the table hasn't been set.  Whose day is it? 
A load of cloth napkins is ready to be hung to dry.  Whose day is it? 

This system is also helpful because it teaches a variety of skills.  When the designated family member is unavailable, I might get a volunteer chirping, "It's not my day, but...I'll feed the dog."

Don't call them chores.  Call them responsibilities.  

Responsibility.  A comic thriller by Nigel Cox. 

Plan Ahead Pranks

Today's blog is devoted to harmless April Fool's Day pranks researched around the web...Because we like to amuse ourselves :) 

Pranks to Play From:

 April Fool Zone

Fake Nail Polish Spill

Pour nail polish on a piece of waxed paper.
Let dry.
Remove.
Place in frustrating location to simulate accidental spill.

Top of Car

Attach cup, newspaper, coat, etc. to the top of your car.
Drive slowly in parking lot.
Act confused when people attempt to help.

May I Have Mayo

Replace the lotion in prankee's bottle with mayonnaise.

(Unless victim has an egg allergy!  Mayo has eggs.)

Link to more pranks...

Speaking of eggs...

Crack Up

Glue the eggs to the bottom of the carton.  Nuff said.

Crack Up Disney Junior Style

Click link to learn how to disguise sweet treats as eggs.

Still Cracking Up...

Hard boil eggs.  Then return them to the carton.
 

Dollar Stores are a quick stop for prank item ideas.  

Like a whoopee cushion (Youtube video.  Cute monkeys.).

Chicago Tribune 3/30/11- Mmmmm.  This is tasty.  April Fools!

Prank happy :)

There is always switching the salt and sugar.  If you're in a pinch...

Spring in the Big Box Store

Spring!  
'Tis the season of reNEWal - and the kids they are a-chirping...
 Mom!  We need new soccer balls!  Ours are...
Too small!
Dirty!
Going flat!

Why would they even bring up soccer balls?  Didn't we come here for new shorts?

And then you see them.  The objects of their desire...

Tie-dye soccer balls!  How to resist?

Not unlike the mating call of birds, Big Box stores entice (even tweet @) us to spend, spend, spend!  Acknowledge the appeal of the wall of colorful soccer balls on display at the Big Box store, but recognize the intent of the display.

Before you bring another soccer ball into the fold, take a few pages from the Big Box store of marketing and apply them in your own space.  Address the condition of all of the balls you already own.  Work with your kids to organize the KIDZONE of the garage.

For now, keep the spring transitional clutter at bay.  Appreciate the brilliant design of the tie-dye soccer balls

...and leave them in their Big Box nest.

Going Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

from,

Declare Order Kids

This mischievous leprechaun chose soccer socks 
to complete his school ensemble  :)

St. Patrick's Day Quiz for kids from Funschool Kaboose

Patty's Day Quiz for tweens from Holiday Spot

Colorful Solutions

My son's fourth grade class whined to their teacher about having to work on writing.  The clever teacher erased the board and assigned a persuasive essay around the topic, "Why We Shouldn't Have To Write This Paper."  In honor of Colorful Solutions, I have asked my son if he would be my guest blogger today...  

I Don't Want To Do Writing Now!

by,

a nine year-old Declare Order kid

     Auggh...I don't want to do writing...I don't want to writing because ISATs just ended and I am exhausted.  I also want to hang out with my friends.

     Our class needs a BIG break.  ISATs are hard because, #1 they are hard, and #2 there are extended responses.  We could feel better if we didn't do writing.  Anyway, writing just make me go bonkers.

     We haven't had much time to talk to friends lately and we would like to hang out.  We also want to see how everyone thinks they did on ISATs.  It would be an adrenaline rush to predict what we got.

     It has been silent lunch for two days in the lunchroom in a row :(  I hate silent lunch!  Because I can't stand being quiet!!!  

     We don't want to do writing because ISATs just ended and we feel like we are going to BURST!  POW!  We haven't had much time to visit with friends lately and if would feel great if we finally got to talk.  

Yay...

Thank you, son, for your persuasive contribution :)  Below, please find a photo of the Colorful Solution I just happened upon for your toothpaste with the missing cap.  Hmm...perhaps we could sacrifice a lid from one of the sample tubes from the dentist?

Colorful Solution

"Looking back, I realize that nurturing curiosity and the instinct to seek solutions are perhaps the most important contributions education can make." ~ Paul Berg

Leo Babauta. zenhabits.net.

Define, "zen."

noun:  school of Mahayana Buddhism asserting that enlightenment 

can come through meditation and intuition rather than faith; China and Japan

Meet Leo Babauta, the creator and writer of  zenhabits.net .  

He is married with six kids and lives in San Francisco... Read more...

His piece, "25 Ways to Simplify Your Life With Kids" 

can be found by clicking the link below...

It starts with, "Self-sufficiency."

Zen Habits

Smile, Breathe, and Go Slowly -
25 Ways To Simplify Your Life With Kids

From 25 Ways To Simplify Your Life With Kids...
#19 reveals even the enlightened among us must get down on the floor and declutter from time-to-time!

#19  "Make decluttering a family event. I like to set aside one day every few months when we go through all the stuff in our rooms and declutter. We do it together, and it can be a bonding time. We end up with trash bags full of junk, boxes full of stuff to donate or give to family, and in the end, much simpler rooms. It’s very satisfying."  ~  Leo Babauta

Smile.  Declutter.  Enlighten.

Seeing Red - A Love Story

Last minute Valentine's Day errands have you frustrated?  Rushing to "put on a show" for your family?

Think you don't have the energy or creativity to do it on your own?

Yes, you DO!  The only Big Box store you need is your own home!  You don't even have to get dressed.

DECLARE ORDER WITH RED.

Take 5 minutes to make a pile of RED household items.  Go ahead.  I'll wait...
I raided my Kitchen, Birthday Box (see archives - Pencil Giving Needs), Gift Wrap drawer and found -

RED STUFF!

FOCUS ON YOUR SCHEDULE. 
What would make the most sense?
For your life.
For today.
A CENTERPIECE?
PLACE SETTINGS?
ENTRY?
LUNCH BOXES?

After looking at the RED STUFF and thinking about OUR schedule,
I chose to RED UP the kitchen table.
I started with the white breakfast bowls...

Hey!  

These look pretty sweet against the RED STUFF! 

Then I remembered the white tablecloth from Thanksgiving...

And...voila!

PRETTYFUL

My mom is an expert at making do.
She taught us that little loving touches can have as much impact as an "in your face" display.  My tween wandered past and asked to help blow up the balloons.  Then lamented she, "hadn't gotten me anything."  But the day is young and she is resourceful...Can't wait!
Thanks, mom. xox

LOVE STORIES

Oooh!  Inspiration!  I think I will take the paper placecards and write thoughtful little one sentence messages on the inside to my husband and kids...

"I love it when you___________.  

It is fun when we ___________.  

I am proud of you when___________."

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Clean Your Room!

Stressed by the mess in your child's room?

  Don't battle - REDUCE! :) 

EASY AS 1, 2, 3...

1.  CLOTHES - Reduce the number of clothes your child is directly responsible for...

One laundry load + 1 outfit for laundry day + 1 nicer outfit?  The rest should not live in the drawer...

2.  TOYS - Reduce the number of toys your child is directly responsible for...

While sorting, look for categories that have open-ended uses and are developmentally appropriate.

An 8 year-old girl example:  One bin of dress-up clothes + 1 bin of dolls and accessories + 1 bin of books.

3.  MAINTENANCE - Store and label the remaining toys and clothes in the back of the closet.  After a month or so, "Go Shopping" in the closet to "purchase" a new set of clothes and toys.  

And then rotate the other ones back into storage!

P. S.  This works for grown-ups too!  

For the past five months, I have kept about 4 shirts and 4 pants in rotation.
The rest are stored.  After 30 days, I swap.  It really does feel like going shopping!
Was initially inspired by the Six Items or Less experiment.
 Please see blog archives:
(What to Wear - "Do or do not, there is no try").