Holiday Activities

Mother’s Day Treat Kids Can Cook

We would all like to give our others the sun and the moon but that’s not possible so here’s a rainbow Mother’s Day treat kids can cook, with a little help.

easy mother's day treatKids can choose some fruit that their mommy likes, such as grapes, strawberries, bananas, oranges, kiwis, peaches, melon, berries, etc. Kids can wash these in cool water and set aside to dry. Using a plastic picnic knife makes it easier for kids to slice the soft fruits while grownups cut the harder ones. Often, younger kids will be able to slice the banana because it’s soft enough.

mothers-day-treat-kids-makePlace the pieces of cut fruit in a pretty bowl or small, individual ones. With so many fruits mixed together, the pieces shouldn’t turn brown, but if this isn’t to be used until later or the next day, add a squeeze of lemon juice and keep in the fridge.

When serving, add a spoon of creamy yogurt, maybe a sprinkle of granola, or a crown of whipped cream. This could also be for breakfast in bed by putting a small bowl on a tray with a napkin, spoon, and maybe a flower.

Involving kids in the kitchen is a treat for them. They feel very grownup to be participating in an adult activity. They like being included and being able to contribute. Making a special fruit dish for Mother’s Day gives them an opportunity to do something nice for their mom. All kids in the family can make this together, participating as they are able. Best of all, everyone in the family can enjoy this rainbow too. Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day Gifts for Kids to Make

mothers-day-book-kids-makeThere are some wonderful Mother’s Day gifts for kids to make but this one seems to say what’s in our hearts using a few simple words and child drawings.

This special “I Love Mommy” booklet uses only one sheet of paper but the folding is quite tricky. There are photos for each step. Adult help needed.

1. Fold paper in half with a hotdog fold–long and thin. Crease sharply. Unfold.
2. Fold paper in half with a hamburger fold–short and wide. Crease well and this time keep folded.
3. Fold paper in half again with a hamburger fold and crease. The paper sort of looks like an extra long dollar bill.

4. Unfold the paper. There will be 8 little sections. They look too small to be useful but are just right for drawings.
5. Refold in half on the hamburger line and cut along the middle line on the fold edge but only to the crease! Just like you were going to cut it in half but stop after one long snip.
6. When you stand it up, the cut part bends out like a diamond.

7. Pull these 2 points right out.
8. Squeeze all these wings together and re-crease the sections.
9. As you lay it down, it has formed a wee book; the pages will turn and none will fall out. It all stays together. There will be 8 pages.

Grownups can print a short sentence on each page according to what kids say, or just a word or two for young toddlers. Kids add the drawings. The front cover is page 1 and the back cover is page 2. Some kids may be able to print on their own or copy from grown-up printing. This is what we did:

Page 1/front cover. I Love Mommy
Page 2. by ______________ (child prints name)
Page 3. Mommy makes ______________. (pancakes or other food)

Page 4. Mommy calls me ____________. (honey, princess, buddy, or nick name)
Page 5. Mommy likes ____________. (flowers, movies, books, etc.)
Page 6. I love Mommy.
Page 7. Mommy loves me.

Page 8/back cover. No words, just hugs and kisses. You can add the year.

Other family members can do this for moms or moms can do this with kids for a keepsake treasure. This is easy to mail. Kids whose moms have moved away or died can draw some memories: My mom read this story. My mom sang this song. We went for a walk. The kids can keep this book to remind them on Mother’s Day since they can’t be with their moms. Kids can make several of  these as gifts for grandmothers too.

These books are small, just like kids, but the memories and love fill hearts.

Cinco de Mayo for Kids

Brought to You by Cinco de Mayo and the Number 5

Everyday learning for kids takes advantage of what is happening at the moment. For a play-of-the-day, how about some fun with Cinco de Mayo for kids? Even if your family does not celebrate this Mexican victory festival, the event can inspire some activities to do at home.

cinco de mayo for kidsKids like to count. They may not have all the numbers in the right order, or know exactly what each one means, but they imitate the behavior of adults and say the numbers. How about trying some of them in Spanish? Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco. Kids may already know some of these from watching Dora on tv.

Since it is Cinco de Mayo, and cinco is five, we can ask kids if they know anything that is 5. Each hand has 5 fingers. Each foot has 5 toes. Kids can jump and hop 5 times, take 5 baby and 5 giant steps, roll over or touch toes 5 times. Set the timer and let them dance, exercise, or run around for 5 minutes.

cinc o de mayo for kidsRed and green are colors in the Mexican flag and many decorations. Kids can find toys that are red and green, like cars, stuffies, and blocks. Using block or some other toy, they could make a pattern with red and green. This pattern uses 3 colors: red, green and blue. Lego and Duplo have red and green bricks. What can they build with them?

The sun is often used in Mexican decorations. With crayons, paint, or chalk, kids can draw and color some suns.

cinco de mayo for kidsFor a snack, guacamole is a favorite from Mexico, with some salsa and taco chips. Kids can help in the kitchen, especially with smashing the avocado and mixing it with a bit of lime juice. They often like foods milder than adults do so you may only want to use a bit of chili powder or skip it for them. 5 chips apparently were not enough for a sun; it needed 6.

Of course, give each other High Fives. What other everyday learning can happen today with Cinco de Mayo for kids?

March into Fun: Magic, Math, and Leprechauns

Stories of leprechauns, rainbows, pots of golds, 3 wishes, and magical powers are especially appealing to children because kids are also little people. So much of their lives is controlled by adults that children feel they have no power at all. This idea is suggested in many stories where the children get swallowed up. Leprechauns, … Continue reading March into Fun: Magic, Math, and Leprechauns