Research The Summer Solstice.
There are plenty of resources out there—from YouTube videos to children’s books—that explain the unique movements of our sun and Earth that make the longest day of the year occur. You can start with this YouTube read-aloud of The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice (by Wendy Pfeffer) to get a great kid-sized overview of the Earth’s movements and many traditions around the world. Since the star of the day (quite literally) is the sun, you can also read up on facts about the sun, as well as flip through kids’ books that celebrate nature and the wonder of Mother Earth more generally.

Soak Up The Sun.
Depending on if your family is made up of early birds or night owls—think about watching the sun rise together or the sun set together. And/or—in between those hours—devote some time to heading outside and enjoying nature and the official kick-off to the summer season. Pack a picnic, a ball, a deck of cards, and other outdoor activities, and enjoy the simplicity of it all. The Summer Solstice means the sun will rise earlier and set later than any other day of the year, which also makes it a special opportunity to let your kiddos stay up late and not get ready for bed until the last rays of sunshine have disappeared.

Do A Sun-Inspired Art Project.
Put your “Pinterest Mom” hat on and search for the best age-appropriate, sun-inspired crafts that you know your children will enjoy. We especially love these tissue paper sun catchers and using SunPrint Paper to create unique art with objects found in nature. KiwiCo also has a great solar system activity kit that allow your kids to DIY their own system of planets that rotate around the sun.

Eat Sun-Tastic Treats.
Hungry? Make a fun Summer Solstice spread that features fruits and veggies and baked goods in the blazing colors of the sun. Create a sun-shaped cake or cookies. Or, talk to your kiddos about the delicious bounty of summer and choose some of your favorite in-season treats for a special meal at home or outdoors. Whatever tickles your tastebuds.

Dress Like The Sun.
Think orange, red, yellow, and glittering metallic gold. Try out a gold glitter makeup tutorial. Apply sparkling, kid-friendly body glitter and sunny-hued nail polish. Put flowers in your hair. Have fun with it!

Get Creative!
After learning about the many sun-worshipping traditions around the world, brainstorm creative ways your family can ring in the Summer Solstice at home. Perhaps it’s making your own sundial with rocks, hosting a beach bonfire, or decorating and dancing around a Maypole. Research your family’s roots and ruminate on what your ancestors might have done to mark the Solstice and go from there. The sky—and sun!—is the limit.

Photo by Eloisa Ramos

How would one celebrate the shortest day of the year? Check out our guide to how to celebrate the Winter Solstice for kid-friendly ideas!

The post How To Celebrate The Summer Solstice With Kids appeared first on MOTHER.

NBA Crossover: Happening on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, this so-called “Comic Con of the NBA” is a celebration of basketball culture, featuring interactive exhibits, live music, merchandise, and appearances by NBA and WNBA players for fans of all ages. Buy a one-day pass or multiple days and be sure to check out the schedule beforehand to see which events are happening and stars are stopping by each day.

NBA All-Star Practice: If watching the main event on Sunday is out of your budget, watching the All-Stars practice the day before is a great option for the family. See the whole NBA All-Star roster (Lebron, Steph, KD, Jayson Tatum, Darius Garland, Ant, etc.) as they warm up in Oakland the day before the big game at kid-friendly morning hours.

NBA All-Star Ruffles Celebrity Game and Rising Stars: Get a look at the younger players (Rising Stars) and celebrities battle it out in fun, non-competitive matches. Even if these celeb names (Kai Cenat, Druski, Shaboozey, Oliver Stark) don’t ring a bell for you, they certainly will for your YouTube-obsessed kiddos!

Mascot Breakfast: A fun All-Star add-on experience, the Mascot Breakfast includes the chance to indulge in a delicious breakfast spread with the opportunity to interact with some of the NBA’s iconic mascots and Warriors Legend Chris Mullin.

HBCU Classic 2025: Watch the men’s basketball programs at Morehouse College and Tuskegee University go head-to-head at Oakland arena and see all of the talent that historically Black colleges and universities have to offer! This event includes open court space available for visitors to join in on the fun.

All-Star Alley, Union Square: No tickets? No problem! Taking place on Powell between Union Square and Market Street, join other NBA fans for a series of retail pop-ups, activations, and branded cable cars that celebrate the city’s big weekend!

For a day-by-day breakdown of even more events happening across the Bay Area, all weekend long, check out this handy Google Doc. 

The post Family-Friendly NBA All-Star Events appeared first on MOTHER.

How to celebrate New Years Eve with kids:

Dress Up. On New Year’s Eve, give your sweats a break and try dusting off a favorite festive dress or jumpsuit instead. Ask the whole family to do the same! If you want to go the traditional NYE route, try something with a little shine, feathers, sequins (we love these affordable sparkly dresses for littles), or mini-tuxedos, suits, and lush velvet options.

Accessorize Head-to-Toe. No need to stop at a NYE outfit upgrade! If you’ve got a little one who loves playing dress-up and “salon,” go to town with your accessories, too. Pull out all of your favorite add-ons (sparkly tiaras, velvet bows, capes, wigs, you name it!), paint your nails, do something fun with your hair, and maybe even try out one of those trendy rhinestone or neon eyeliner tutorials.

DIY Your Party Supplies. Try getting resourceful and creative (and more eco!) when it comes to your NYE party supplies. There are plenty of 2025-themed printables online that you can spruce up with paint and glitter, and we love the idea of using all of your leftover balloons, horns, confetti, sparklers, etc. from past birthday or holiday parties, even if they are in a variety of hodgepodge hues. If you’re really ambitious, check out this DIY Balloon Drop idea, which is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages. (While you’re at it, read up on our tips for throwing a more Earth-friendly party).

Festive Food & Bubbly Drinks. Keep it simple, but festive! Think about ordering in from your favorite local spot, make a favorite appetizer or two, and don’t forget dessert! Chocolate anything will often do. As for beverages, while the adults indulge in bubbly, let your kiddos feel fancy by giving them a flute filled with sparkling apple cider or their favorite flavored fizzy water.

Have A Game Night. Mark the last night of 2024 with a family game night, which could include classic interactive games like charades, Pictionary, Twister, or CatchPhrase, new favorites like the hilarious Pencil Nose, creating your own family-friendly “Minute To Win It” obstacles, or plugging in your karaoke mic and belting out your favorite tunes! You can also create a fun scavenger hunt for the kids to find small treasures around your home.

Reflect & Set Goals. 2024 was a big one in so many ways. Take some time to reflect individually and as a family on how you experienced 2024 (the highs and lows) and the lessons you are taking with you into the year ahead. Be sure to write down the goals, hopes, intentions, or thoughts you have for yourself and your family for 2025. (Here are some prompts to get you started). If you have lost a loved one this year, think about incorporating their memory into your night.

Rally Your Family & Friends. If the pandemic-era has taught us anything, it’s that friends and family are of the utmost importance. If you won’t be able to ring in the New Year with all of your loved ones IRL (nor in the same timezone), you can schedule Zoom calls and FaceTimes to mark the occasion together and share your hopes for 2025.

Countdown Early. If you have little ones whom you need to keep on a schedule, Netflix created a countdown (just type “countdowns” in the search area) for this very reason. You can turn it on right before bed time or any time you gauge the kids are getting tired and ready for bed. Meanwhile, some parents opt to have a “Noon Year’s Party” with the littles, rather than trying to make it a late night.

Kiss At Midnight. Whether it’s an actual smooch or handing your child a Hershey’s Kiss surprise, seal the New Year with this sweet tradition and start 2025 off with lots of love.

For more New Year-themed things to do, check out these great reflection questions for the year ahead and the best guided journals for 2025.

The post How To Celebrate New Years Eve With Kids appeared first on MOTHER.

Decorate an Outdoor Edible Tree for the Animals
As an alternative (or in addition to) a traditional indoor holiday tree, decorating a live outdoor tree with biodegradable, edible ornaments for local birds and other creatures makes for a fun project with kids. We love all these edible ornament ideas from around the web, such as citrus bird feeders, peanut butter pinecones, seed ornaments, and classic popcorn and cranberry garlands. Trim the tree and watch the critters come by and enjoy their treats!

Make Happy Winter Solstice Art + Lanterns
Our favorite winter solstice art project is making lanterns—one of the most popular winter solstice symbols of adding light to the darkest day of the year. There are dozens of DIY-lantern projects out there, and it’s really about finding one that works with what you already have at home. We tend to have an abundance of glass Mason jars, so we use colored tissue paper, cut-out sun, moon, and star shapes, and foraged leaves, and adhere them to the outside of a jar using modpodge or white school glue and paint brushes. Once the final decorations are in place, apply one last thin coat of glue on the outside of the lantern, and let it dry for about an hour. Remember to only decorate the outside of the jar, as once it’s all dry you drop a tea light into it and enjoy the warm glow!

Read Winter Solstice Books
What better time to snuggle up under a blanket and read through a stack of wintery-themed books than the shortest (and likely one of the chilliest) days of the year? The winter solstice book The Shortest Day, written by Newbury Medal–winner Susan Cooper and illustrated by one of our favorite mamas, Carson Ellis, is at the top of our family reading list these days. It moves through times to show how the winter solstice traditions and celebrations have carried on and evolved over centuries—from the earliest pagan traditions. It includes the most beautiful winter solstice images and pictures that you’ll want to pour over again and again.

Recite Winter Solstice Quotes, Poems, or Blessings
The book The Shortest Day utilizes the beautiful 1977 winter solstice poem by Susan Cooper of the same name. Take turns reciting different parts of this beloved winter solstice quote or another winter solstice blessing and spiritual winter solstice quotes found online—including the winter solstice poem Mary Oliver wrote, Snowy Night, and pagan winter solstice quotes—with your children. Our favorite is listed below:

The Shortest Day, by Susan Cooper
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us—listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome, Yule!

Incorporate Celtic and Pagan Symbols Of Yule Time
Do some research with your little ones on specific pagan yule time and celtic winter solstice traditions. This might include incorporating a pagan winter solstice symbol—like Candles (Winter Sun), Pine (Healing), Holly (The God), Mistletoe (The Goddess) and the Yule Tree (Renewal)—into your home.

Make A Winter Solstice Food or Craft, Such As Orange Pomanders
This is a simple winter solstice food craft that’s easy to do with kids and one that you will actually want to keep around the house afterwards. Start with firm oranges and a jar of whole cloves. Use a citrus zester to create patterns in the fruit peel and a small toothpick or skinny nail to make holes where you want the cloves to go (the pre-poked holes make it easier for kids to stick in the cloves). Stick the cloves in the fruit and you’re all set. Place a few in a bowl as a fragrant solstice centerpiece, or hang smaller fruit as ornaments on the tree. They also make sweet winter solstice gifts!

Spend The Night By Spiritual Candlelight
Switching off all the electric lights and doing dinner, homework, bath, story time, and more by the light of flickering candles and warm lantern light makes even mundane activities extra special and spiritual, and also makes the long, dark night more real. It also helps everyone appreciate the modern conveniences we take for granted!

Strike Some Winter Solstice Yoga Moves
Welcome the shortest day of the year with a graceful winter solstice yoga sequence. Here is one great 12-step yoga winter solstice practice to get started.

Experience Winter Solstice At Stonehenge (Virtually)
Stonehenge was specifically created to align with the sun on the winter solstice and summer solstice. On the morning of December 22 (not December 21), the 2022 winter solstice sunrise at Stonehenge  will be live-streamed via Stonehenge Winter Solstice on YouTube.

Make Some Wassail
This traditional warming drink is perfect for sipping during a  solstice celebration (and it makes the house smell incredible). For this traditional winter solstice drink, simply combine 2 quarts apple cider, 1 1/2 cups orange juice, 3/4 cup pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 cinnamon sticks, a dash of ground cinnamon, and a dash of ground cloves in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Discard the cinnamon sticks, pour into mugs, and serve. And for the grown-ups, a splash of rum or cinnamon whisky doesn’t hurt. Combine with other winter solstice food for an over-the-top spread. (For an easy hack, just heat up some pre-mixed Trader Joe’s Wassail!)

Share Funny Winter Solstice Greetings Or Meme
Search the web for winter solstice jokes, winter solstice greetings, and winter solstice funny memes to share with loved ones. (Here’s one to get them started: Knock, knock! // Who’s there? // Yule log. // Yule log who? // Yule log the door after you let me in, won’t you?)

Reflect, Release, Let Go, and Set Intentions For The New Season
The winter solstice is considered the seasonal dark night of the soul. Spiritually, it’s a time to honor both the light and the darkness that resides within each of us. Take small scraps of paper and write down the things that you would like to let go of. When everyone has finished, throw them in the yule log fire, transforming darkness into light. After “letting go,” set intentions for the new season ahead—speak aloud a thing, idea, habit, or practice that you would like to bring into your life.

Happy Winter Solstice!

For more winter family activity ideas, read all about the Danish concept of Hygge, otherwise known as cozy together time!

The post How To Celebrate The Winter Solstice appeared first on MOTHER.

Founded by mom of two Stephanie Muhs, a former New Yorker who previously worked as the senior manager of events at 1stDibs as well as Town & Country—The Grove is intentionally “built for kids, designed for adults,” and prizes hospitality and a community-driven approach for working parents.

In our slideshow below, Muhs gives us a sneak peek of the impressive 5,000 square foot space and tells us more about her vision for the business.

The post Welcome To The Grove appeared first on MOTHER.

Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (Ages 3+)
After Pooh gobbles all the trick-or-treat candy (and immediately feels remorseful, on top of having one monstrous tummy ache), Lumpy and best friend Roo embark on a brave quest to find the dreaded Gobloon. Although the DVD has a Halloween theme, the scares are relatively mild—a few of the worst frights include bats, crows, and a wheelbarrow full of jack o’ lanterns that seem to come alive.

Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest (Ages 3+)
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest features, familiar, friendly characters and treats spooky Halloween images (for example, ghosts and spiders) with gentle humor and a very mild “boo” factor. George’s friends recall the legend of a headless scarecrow (No Noggin), but even that legend is presented in a way that is not truly suspenseful or frightening, making this flick fine for preschool kids.

If You Give A Mouse A Pumpkin (Ages 3+)
This Halloween-themed episode from the wholesome If You Give A Mouse A Cookie series is a gentle entry into the holiday for toddlers and elementary-aged kids. Its presentation of Halloween is entirely nonthreatening, but a main character (Moose) gives voice to some aspects of the holiday that kids might relate to, including images and costumes that can be scary. Happily the story shows him overcome those fears with the support of his friends, reminding viewers that fears don’t have to define you. Positive messages about friendship, teamwork, and kindness round out this sweet holiday special.

Eloise’s Rawther Unusual Halloween (Ages 4+)
It’s Halloween, and the just as The Plaza entertains potential new buyers, the legendary Diamond Jim Johnson returns for his annual hotel haunt. Parents need to know that this film opens with a character’s death in a horse-and-carriage wreck, though it’s not graphic. From there, it features the run-of-the-mill frights of Halloween: ghosts, scary sounds, surprises, and general creepiness.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Ages 4+)
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a Peanuts classic that appeals to all ages. It promotes many favorite American Halloween traditions like trick-or-treating and apple bobbing, not to mention the infamous Great Pumpkin (who must have missed Linus’ pumpkin patch somehow). You can almost smell the donuts, cider, and piles of leaves on a crisp fall day when you start watching this classic Peanuts Halloween special.

A Very Brave Witch and More Great Halloween Stories for Kids (Ages 4+)
With eight stories in the collection, quality and kid-appeal varies from story to story, but each has some charming or attractive element. Some stories, like “A Dark, Dark Tale” and “By the Light of the Halloween Moon,” involve very little narrative, but offer sweet introductions to sprites, witches, and other traditionally scary characters. The variety in animation (three stories feature only still illustrations), narration, and music make this a pleasant mix of simple and more complex seasonal tales that most kids will enjoy throughout the year.

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (Ages 4+)
This movie revolves around Theodore and his struggles with his shaky self-image. Unpleasant encounters with a school bully undermine his self-confidence, but his role in a school play allows him to begin to believe in himself. Meanwhile, a horror movie-obsessed Alvin becomes convinced that the chipmunk’s new neighbor is a werewolf.

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (ages 6+)
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad offers animated adaptations of two children’s literature classics: Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows and Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Often overlooked even by Disney fans, this Disney double-feature is classic animation at its best and features Basil Rathbone and Bing Crosby as narrators. With a cozy Edwardian setting, a dollop of slapstick violence, and a variety of British stereotypes, the tale of Mr. Toad is an endearing foray into Merrie Olde England.

Hotel Transylvania (ages 7+)
Hotel Transylvania is a good introductory “monster movie” for little kids—the monsters are tame, and the story focuses on Dracula and his daughter as she comes of age (118!). “Drac” has planned a huge birthday celebration. As the hotel fills with Mavis’ many monster aunties and uncles — like werewolf Wayne, Frankenstein, Mummy Griffin, and the Invisible Man—an unexpected visitor arrives in the form of 21-year-old Jonathan, a solo backpacker who somehow stumbles across the supposedly untraceable castle.

The Addams Family (Ages 7+)
The Addams Family is the latest take on the popular characters who’ve already been the subject of cartoons, a classic TV show, and two early ’90s movies. It’s not quite as macabre as its live-action predecessors, but there’s still plenty of dark humor, an emphasis on violence and weapons, and incidents when townsfolk raise arms against the eerie Addamses. With its star-studded voice cast and name recognition, audiences will expect more laughs—or frights—from this unremarkable reboot of the legendary macabre comedy.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (ages 7+)
The Nightmare Before Christmas is an offbeat, stop motion-animated movie that’s one of the great family films for all ages. The story centers around Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King—a creature who is to Halloween what Santa is to Christmas. When Jack becomes bored with staging yet another frightnight for the sketchy members of Halloweentown, he wanders away from town one night and stumbles across Christmastown and becomes immediately entranced. Jack decides he needs to bring Christmas to Halloweentown and he is willing to do just about anything to make it happen—even it if means kidnapping Santa himself.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Ages 8+)
Wallace and Gromit run a pest-riddance company, Anti-Pesto. Each night, they’re alerted by the elaborate security system the townspeople have attached to their prized vegetable gardens, and go forth in their well-outfitted truck to capture (but never kill) the offending creatures—typically rodents and rabbits. But an experiment goes awry, and soon a giant were-rabbit is stomping through the town at night, ravaging the squashes and pumpkins, and threatening to shut down Tottington Hall’s annual Giant Vegetable Competition. Wallace and Gromit are on the case.

Frankenweenie (Ages 9+)
Tim Burton’s black-and-white, stop-motion animated film Frankenweenie is the feature-length version of a short he made early in his career. Like most of Burton’s films, Frankenweenie’s tone is dark and creepy and will likely scare kids who are sensitive to the macabre. On the other hand, this tale of a very young Frankenstein who reanimates his beloved pet dog is a great introduction to the horror genre for older kids and tweens who are ready for some scares—like when a group of kids reanimates various pets that go wild (one ends up as big as Godzilla) and terrorize the tow. Both an homage to classic monster movies and a tender relationship drama about the love between a boy and his dog, this is a film that works on so many levels.

Goosebumps (Ages 9+)
Goosebumps is a live-action movie based on the best-selling middle-grade horror novels by R.L. Stine. There are lots of different kinds of monsters (who could certainly frighten young/sensitive kids), and though teens are in peril and there are some scares, the main focus is on action: chasing, fighting, destruction, and chaos. It harks back to a time when horror fans simply loved monsters and took pride in not being afraid of them. The movie parades an endless, imaginative array of monsters and allows viewers to make their own connections.

Hocus Pocus (Ages 10+)
Three hundred years ago in Salem, Mass., three witches murdered a little girl and cursed her older brother, Thackery, turning him into an immortal cat. The witches, better known as the Sanderson Sisters, are hanged for the crime, but just before their sentence is carried out, Winnie Sanderson (Bette Midler), casts a spell to bring them back to life on a future Halloween night. This perennial Halloween favorite is full of silly moments and has lasting Halloween appeal for kids (and adults). Plus, now there’s a Hocus Pocus 2!

Monster House (Ages 10+)
You know that scary old house down the street? Turns out, it’s a real live monster! This animated family horror movie—yup, that’s what it is—centers around three kids who discover that a neighbor’s house is actually a living, breathing monster. Parents need to know this is a pretty scary movie, and the last 20 minutes, in particular, take a turn for the dark. With windows like eyes and a flying carpet that unfurls tongue-like out the front door to scoop up trespassers, the house is a wonderfully alive structure.

Young Frankenstein (Ages 12+)
After denouncing his grandfather’s work as “doo doo,” Young Frankenstein, also known as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, receives word that he’s inherited his famous ancestor’s Transylvanian castle. There, with the help of his lab assistant Inga and pop-eyed hunchback Igor, he discovers a secret library containing his grandfather Victor’s notes on how to bring the dead to life. The 1974 Mel Brooks movie parodies the timeless monster story. Like all of Mel Brooks’ movies, there is plenty of sexual innuendo here—references to “a roll in the hay,” “knockers,” and the use of a German word that clearly means “penis.” The gags might be lame, and the script is almost infantile, but if you thought this film was funny in 1974, you’re just as likely to get a kick out of it today.

Do you have any Halloween flicks loved by the whole family? Share them with us in the comments below! 

And for more ways to get in the spirit, check out these 100+ Halloween Baby Names and 25 Unexpected DIY Costumes for Kids.

The post 15+ Scary (But Not TOO Scary!) Halloween Movies for Kids appeared first on MOTHER.

It’s clear that no matter your child’s age, keeping up those hard-earned skills over the summer is important. And it can also be fun. Whether you have summer school in your future, summer camps, or loads of unstructured time, here are some simple tips to preventing the summer slide and keeping your child’s brain engaged until school starts up again.

Read! Read! Read! Head to the library and stock up on the subjects your kid is into. Note that many libraries have summer reading initiatives and other programming to help fight the summer slump. Make a summer reading goal and help your kid reach it. For inspiration, check out our numerous book roundups—including lists of Black History Books For Kids, Books Featuring Bold & Brave Female Characters, Kids Books That Challenge Gender Norms, Our Favorite Inclusive Kids Books, Kids Books That Encourage Healthy Eating, The Most Beautiful Children’s Books, and a history lesson on Caldecott Award-winning children’s books.

Apps, Games, & More. There are plenty of education-based tech tools that’ll excite your child and help them build and maintain skills over the summer. Common Sense Media has a solid list for ages 2-13 right here. If you’re into the idea of getting your kid into coding, there are also plenty of resources to get started or polish their skills.

Keep Up On Math. Math skills are one of the first things to go over the summer months and some research reports that students lose over 2 months of math learning during the summer. Make sure you keep kids engaged with fun math apps, start that lemonade stand (and have your kid handle all the money), bake with your kids and have them help you with all of the measurements, head to a baseball game and keep score, and find other everyday ways to engage in math. Read your kid math-related books, do Bedtime Math, play games that require math, and even keeping math workbooks and worksheets aren’t entirely out of the question, depending on the child. Need some downtime? Flipping on the stellar PBS Kids show Odd Squad will also keep math problems in rotation in your little one’s mind all summer long. (We like these four tips on summer math via Harvard).

Write, Collect, And Share Memories. Whether it’s with pen and paper and a film camera or a fancier digital scrapbook tool and iPhone, encourage your kids to write their own stories this summer, either recording their own adventures or writing imaginative fiction. They can illustrate their unique stories via drawings, photographs, or smartphone videos.

Look For Learning Opportunities Everywhere. Hit a museum (research your local “free days” beforehand), travel near or far, plan a local adventure, go camping, do an art project, and enjoy nature as much as possible. There are learning opportunities wherever you look and easy ways to take your in-person experiences up a notch when curiosity and creativity is nurtured.

Embrace Downtime. Numerous studies have shown the power of play and unstructured downtime—for both children and adults. Letting your kids get “bored” over the summer and come up with their own entertainment solutions has a plethora of benefits that should be embraced.

For more on this topic, check out our piece on How To Raise A Lifelong Learner; This story was originally published in 2019.

The post Simple Ways To Prevent The “Summer Slide” appeared first on MOTHER.

When it comes to raising creative kids (a goal of many parents), many child psychologists agree that the home environment is critical to the development of creativity. What we do as parents establishes a necessary foundation for a creative lifestyle. Below are 6 simple practices you can easily incorporate into family activities—practices that can positively impact your children’s creative spirit. (Check out more tips here!)

In the same vein, invite your children to invent their own toys. What could they create with a several blocks of wood, a bucket of sand, a small shovel, and a hose? When kids have opportunities to create their own playthings, their creative spirit is both
enhanced and celebrated. In short, don’t always buy toys, invite children to create toys.

Equally important: resist the current movement to reduce or eliminate recess in your child’s elementary school. The consequences of a school day with no recess will have lasting effects on their creativity for years to come. As has been proven in study after study, a day without play can have serious repercussions for children’s evolving sense of creativity both now and well into the future.

In short, take your child to an art gallery, a musical concert, a woodworking exhibit, or a tap dance recital to see what creative people do or create. Provide opportunities for your children to talk with creative people: carpenters, landscape architects, commercial artists, professional authors, glass blowers, guitar players, weavers, craftspeople, or even the next-door neighbor who knits caps for newborns at the local hospital. Offering your child numerous opportunities to view and discuss creative endeavors is a powerful stimulant for their own creative development.

Anthony D. Fredericks, Ed.D. is the author of From Fizzle to Sizzle: The Hidden Forces Crushing Your Creativity and How You Can Overcome Them from which this article is excerpted.

This article was originally published on July 27, 2022

The post 6 Simple Ways to Enhance Your Child’s Creative Spirit appeared first on MOTHER.

It is thought that people have been heralding the arrival of spring with a celebration of eggs long before the arrival of Christianity and the observance of Easter. No matter your religious views, the arrival of spring is a universally joyous occasion and the dyeing of eggs need not be tied exclusively to Easter.

So in celebration of spring and the incredible egg, why not take a Saturday morning in the kitchen with the kids and experiment with natural dying? Below we outline a very easy, kid-friendly, safe exercise in natural dying that will give you the sweetest pastels in one’s Easter basket and beyond. Bonus points: Most of the ingredients are likely already in your pantry!

The post How To: Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs appeared first on MOTHER.

At-Home Art Class. The folks at the de Young Museum have put together 5 amazing art tutorials that will keep littles busy and utilize common supplies you likely already have at home. From creating paint out of egg yolk and spices to using paper to make sculptures—these “deYoungsters” lessons are just the thing to spark creativity on a ho-hum day. Feel free to watch the simple YouTube tutorials (which include kid-sized bits of art history) with your child. Or, if you want an unplugged experience, print out the “lesson plans” that are linked in each video.

Wash Windows Together. This may sound like a chore to adults, but toddlers love to clean! Take advantage of it and get some sparkling windows in the process. Using a small spray bottle containing non-toxic soap and water and a towel, enjoy this household chore together. Washing windows can be an indoor activity, too!

Act Out A Book. Which book are your kids obsessed with these days? Dig into the dress-up box and have them try to act out a live action version.

Make Potions. Dole out a few little cups of water, flour, corn starch, jam, or whatever else your little scientists would love mixing up, and let them start creating.

Dance Party! There’s no better way to burn off some excess energy than by turning up the music and having a dance party in the living room. It’s also a great way to shake things up when your little one is feeling grumpy. Pick a favorite album or playlist. You can even set a timer so when the music goes on, it’s time to drop everything and dance!

Make Crayon-Scrap Candles. Follow these simple steps to turn worn down crayon nubs into colorful candles.

Water Activities. Fill a plastic tub with some water and LEGO Duplos, and give your little one a strainer to fish them out. Only put in as much water as you’re willing to clean up!

Make a Fort. Whether using cardboard boxes, pillows and blankets, or an endless supply of “building” materials, a fort can provide your child with hours of entertainment. Bring a basket of books inside, along with supportive pillows and a favorite blanket. Your little one can relax in this cozy spot to read and re-read favorite books. Your child can also use the fort to simply recharge and have some time to themselves…while you get some work done! The thought of a “secret” spot is both exciting and empowering, and offers children a safe, peaceful place to hide and hangout (even if you know exactly where they are).

Origami. Looking for something new and crafty to try? Origami is always a fun, unique activity to introduce to kids. And if all else fails, attempt some no-fail paper airplanes and try to see who can fly them the farthest.

Make And Sculpt. As a mom, you probably already know what salt dough is and why it’s amazing, but if not, get ready to meet one of your new favorite kid pastimes. Why? Salt dough is a simple modeling dough made from ingredients you already have in your home. It’s great because it engages kids, is easy to make, and requires no glazes or kilns.

Learn a New Language. Check out some Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone programs via your library’s website, and listen to them while you color or work on a puzzle. Or if one person in the family is fluent, chose an hour a day where they only speak in their second language to everyone else.

Gluing Project. Artwork is an excellent fine motor activity for your little one at home. In the spirit of spring/summer, you can cut some colorful butterflies or flowers out of construction paper, and then show your child how to glue the pieces onto a larger piece of paper. Give them just a few choices, or it may overwhelm them and prevent them from settling into the work. Older children can help cut out the shapes for the gluing, and may choose to create a scene on their paper with cut-outs, and possibly even some mixed media.

Pranks. With April Fools day coming up, there is no better time to start brainstorming some good-natured pranks to pull on each other. We love stuffing dad’s shoes with cotton balls, serving someone a cup of blue milk (thanks food coloring!), or making up the bed backwards.

Be A Florist. Collect branches, ferns, and a few blooms and arrange them in a pretty jar.

Go for a Drive. If all else fails, it’s still safe to go for a drive. Consider your child’s interests. Do they love animals? Maybe you have a grassy area nearby with cows they can count as you drive by. Maybe they love cars? Take a spin past the police and fire stations as you discuss the different emergency vehicles you come across.

Raid Your Closet for Tactile Fabrics. Create a collection of like-objects from scarves of various fabrics. Let your child explore the textures. Show your little one how to wave them overhead and twirl around. Place the items in a basket within easy reach so your child can keep this activity in rotation in the coming weeks.

Throw A Bath Party. Turn off the lights, toss in the glow sticks and bubble wands, and crank the music.

Craft Collages from Family Photos And Old Magazines. Kids love cutting stuff up, so hand ’em a not-too-sharp pair of scissors and a stack of paper headed for the recycling bin and let them snip away. Add glue sticks and a sheet of cardboard and prompt them to create something new!

Play Hide-and-Seek. Before you say the house is too small and there are no places to hide, let us just say: that’s the best part! After a few rounds the kids’ creativity will kick in, and they will find spots you would have never thought of!

Sudoko. These brain boosting puzzles can be designed for all ages and skills (as long as you know your numbers and how to count 1-9). There’s even alphabet and color Sudoko!

Learn Some Magic Tricks. Whether you buy a few trick coins or cards from a magic shop, or simply practice your own slight of hand, mastering a few magic tricks is a great way to spend an afternoon and impress the friends once everyone is back together!

Rotate in Old Favorite Toys. You’ll want to make sure your child has an engaging play space. You don’t need a lot of room, often a small shelf in your family room can be the perfect spot since children thrive on being part of the community. In Montessori, it’s recommended to put out 6-8 toys or collections (which can be a tray or basket of like items) at once. This helps support your little one’s sense of order, and allows them to focus on their work and play as they build new skills. ⁣⁣⁣Maybe your child has some old favorite toys and activities in storage. Now could be the perfect time to rotate them back in, as your child will engage with the materials with fresh eyes.

Go Outside. If there is a park or wooded area nearby, just walk over and let them run free. You could also set up pinecones, sticks, and rocks as an obstacle course, choosing different body movements for them to do (jumping, hopping, crab walk, sideways slide, etc.).

Make a Toliet Paper Roll Craft. Because we know you’ve got plenty.  Here are a few fun ideas!

Tic Tac Toe. Spice up this classic play-anywhere game by making a custom board (wood+paint?) and hunting for objects to serve as x’s and o’s. Rocks? Pinecones?

Rummage the Closets for an Impromptu Fashion Show. It’s not like you will be wearing those fancy dresses and heels to a party anytime soon. Let the kids catwalk it up in the sparkly numbers they always dreamed of sporting.

Rock a Family Band. No instruments? Grab spoons and pots!

Host a High Tea and Wear Fancy Outfits and Funny Hats. Let them get gussied up in their holiday best and serve tea out of a proper pot (and let them pour—it’s their favorite part). Cut the crusts off of some cucumber sandwiches and you’re in business.

Make A Yogurt Sundae Buffet. Make a spread of all the classic ice cream toppings like sprinkles, chocolate sauce, nuts, dried coconut, and anything else you have on hand. Let them top their creamy greek yogurt and dig in!

Let Them Flip Through Cookbooks and Pick A Recipe To Make Together. A great way to get kids to try new foods is to let them look through all those mouthwatering pictures and pick their own new dish to try!

Decopage. It’s no secret that kids love to do “big kid stuff” like using knives and scissors (cringe!), not to mention, they love glueing anything and everything together. Let them be big kids, while learning decoupage with scrap newspaper, magazines, safety scissors, and washable glue sticks. Turn the project into a mixed media piece with some buttons, colored paint, glitter, stamps, and more.

Play a Board Game. Put away the iPads, iPhones, and other gadgets, and go old school with a classic board game. From Candy Land to Sorry and Operation to Uno, there are tons of classic games to play with children of all ages and these games make for hours of good old fashioned fun.

Karaoke Competition. Most children love to sing along with their favorite tunes. Clear the living room, make a “stage,” and have the kids take turns singing their favorite songs. Don’t have a mic? Just grab a hairbrush and let loose.

Put On A Puppet Show. Another creative way to get the kids involved in a fun activity is by putting on a puppet show at home. Create a script, make a cardboard box theater, grab some old socks or brown bags (or use dolls) for characters, and put on a show!

Indoor Garden. Bring some miniature clay pots, mulch, and seeds indoors on a non-carpet floor to make an indoor garden. Make it personal by letting the kiddos paint their own pots, choose their seeds, and make some labeled plant markers for each flower and herb.

DIY Bowling. Make bowling pins out of a few leftover water bottles (or whatever tall plastic containers you have on hand), set them up in a long hallway, and use a ball of your choice. This will keep the tots entertained for a while and since the bowling set is lightweight, it’s safe activity to do indoors.

Spread Some Love. Do your relatives live far away? Have the kids write cards, make gifts, or draw pictures to their grandma, aunt, cousin, and friends just because! Or call a nearby retirement center and ask if your kids can make and mail over some cards and crafts for the residents.

Take A Family Bike Ride. It’s a safe way to be outside when social distancing. It may even be OK to ask friends or neighbors to join. Just stay on your bike and keep pedaling!

Make Your Own Puzzles. They draw a colorful picture on an entire page and then cut it into large pieces with scissors. Then you have to try to put the puzzle together once you are off your work call.

Play Simon Says. It’s a great way to get moving on days when it’s not ideal to go outside.

Do a Riddle Scavenger Hunt. Hide a collection of objects around the house and write a list of clues as to where your kiddos can find them. A rock hidden in the laundry basket? “This is where your stinky socks snuggle up and go to sleep at the end of the day.” Take turns and give the kids a shot to hide items and write clues, too. That’s the best part!

Start a Pen Pal. Pick a grandma, friend, aunt, uncle, or cousin whom you can’t see right now and write them a letter. Can’t write yet? Draw a picture. This could be expanded for older kids: how to address an envelope properly, what is your address, how to write a letter with “Dear Friend,” “Sincerely,” etc.

Yoga. Put all those solo mom classes to use and teach the littles some simple poses. You don’t need a yoga mat to do this, and starting each day with a good, peaceful stretch sets the right tone. Check out these 15 great yoga poses for kids to get started!

Spring Cleaning. Pick a cluttered corner of the house/their room and have them take everything out and go through it. Maybe they find toys they want to play with or are done with. Only put the things back that still belong after your purge.

Make Up a Song. Have them tell a story but put them into lyrics of a song. How will the tune go?

Hand Sew Something. Don’t have fabric? Maybe you have an old baby blanket or t-shirt or something that you wouldn’t mind turning into something else. Our favorite beginner project is a felt heart.

Jump On The Bed. I mean, if we are stuck inside for a while…it can be fun to make exceptions to everyday rules.

Read a Longer Chapter Book to Them. Spend 30 minutes a day on a longer story. We love Ronia The Robbers Daughter, the Little House On The Prairie series, anything by Roald Dahl, and The Neverending Story.

Make Paper Flowers. Cut them out of paper and put them in vases all over the house.

Write a Poem. Rhyming and telling silly stories are instinctual for kids. Start by creating short poems and let them fill in the rhyming blanks, Mad-Libs style, then challenge them to create their own!

Get Baking. What kid doesn’t love dessert? What kid doesn’t love to help in the kitchen? Sweeten your day with a mom-and-kid baking extravaganza. Better yet, make a themed dessert with another activity planned—pirate-themed cookies for a treasure hunt or make homemade candy for the movie later. Don’t forget the aprons and baker hats!

Write Letters to Grandma and Grandpa. Many of our favorite relatives are isolating themselves to stay safe. Your child can take pride in drawing some heartfelt pictures for your loved ones, both near and far. Your little one could also make cards for neighbors and drop them off on their doorstep during neighborhood walks. Dropping off the artwork on the same day will give a younger child more immediate gratification as they learn a lesson in compassion.

Create a Treasure Hunt. You know that candy you’ve been stashing away since October? Time to use it to your advantage. Create a fun treasure hunt for the kids throughout the house. This takes a little bit of work on your part, but like a scavenger hunt, it’s really thrilling for littles. Hide objects, prizes, and miniature candy bars throughout the house and make a map to all of the findings. Bonus points if you make an eye patch and telescope from toilet paper rolls for the kiddy pirates!

Plant Something. Snap peas are great because they grow fast and are yummy.

Turn Those Amazon Boxes Into Something Cool. Have them piece together a long maze, a race track, a skyscraper—the options are limitless. Give them tape, glue, scissors, and paper and see what they create.

Play Hair Salon. A water spray bottle, a brush, and a handful of hair elastics, clips, and headbands will keep little hands busy. Plus, the end results will bring on the giggles.

Make Up A Play. Have them create characters and a storyline and practice acting it out. If they have a sibling they could do this together or with puppets and stuffed animals. Have them act it out for you when you are done returning emails.

Zone Out To Music. Let them listen to music, and not just kids’ music—share your favorite songs with them.

Start A Chore Chart. But maybe don’t call them chores. Regular time at home is a great time to give kids a few responsibilities that they will tackle every day.

Become an Activist. What are your kids passionate about? Saving the planet? Being kind to animals? Dig into ways they can actively get involved, on a kid scale. Introduce your little activist to other young people making a difference, like Greta.

Create Chalk Art. Hopscotch on the sidewalk is a classic, but remember, chalk washes off almost all surfaces easily, including wood fences and benches. So let them go nuts!

Make A Milk Carton Craft. Usually where there are kids, there is milk. Lots and lots of milk, which means lots and lots of empty milk cartons. We say: Recycle those bad boys by rinsing them out with hot soapy water, allow them to air dry, and use them for craft time! Here are two super cute ideas to get started.

Make a List. Give them a topic: movies they want to watch, books they want to read, cities they want to visit, things to update in their rooms, friends to call, foods to try, every Fortnite skin ranked—and they’ll spend the afternoon debating and brainstorming in their journals.

Paint Little Finger and Toe Nails. Non-toxic kiddie polish is easy to clean up, so go ahead and let them take a crack at gussying up their own nails (or each others, if they have siblings).

Write a Book With Them. Have them tell you a story and you write it down. Then think about which words would be on a page together and which pictures you would draw to go with the pages. They can draw the pictures for the pages.

Armchair Travel. Was everyone excited for a trip that ended up getting cancelled? Do an art project on the locale and have them draw the things you were expecting to see or do. Research the buildings, plants, and animals that are different and write about it. Build a scene with recycled materials.

Make A Rock and Stick Garden. Do you already have a collection of rocks and sticks at home? If not, on your next nature walk collect some (responsibly) to make one.

Make A DIY Animal Charades Game. They draw pictures of as many animals as they can think of and cut them out into little squares (you can show them pictures of animals to help or have them look in one of their animal books for inspiration). Fold them, put them in a bowl and play charades. This works well for younger kids who can’t read yet, but can act out a “bear” like you’ve never seen before!

Practice With a Rubix Cube. Once kids’ get hooked on this old-school puzzle, they can spin for hours on end. The key is getting a book (or printing out instructions) on how to actually learn to solve it. We know kids as young as 5 or 6 who get the hang of it with knowledgable guidance!

Browse Some Books. Take out a stack of 10-15 books, have them look through them all independently and quietly. It sounds so simple, but kids need this quiet down time, too. If they can read, pick a few books they can read to themselves.

Create Your Own Coloring Pages. Print out simple photographs of friends, family members, or favorite memories in black and white and let the kids color them in.

Make Friendship Bracelets. Learn a few basic weaves and knotting techniques, then let them pick out their own colored string.

Draw or Paint a Self Portrait. Set up in front of a mirror and let them paint their own likeness!

Do a Selfless Act. Start a free mini library, walk an elderly neighbor’s dog, bring in a neighbor’s trash can, or simply help out a sibling or a parent. Aim to have them do one selfless act a day!

Jump Rope. This physical activity takes a lot of energy and can be done in a relatively small space. Come up with songs or movements to try. Got a big living room and a couple siblings? Double Dutch!

Teach Them a Hand Clapping Game From your Childhood. From Miss Mary Mack to Patty Cake, there is a ditty for every age group. Have them practice with a sibling or stuffed animal or wall.

Stickers. Need we say more?

Start a Collection. Speaking of stickers, starting and maintaining a collection is such a throw-back, old school tradition, but even our modern tech-loving kids seem to get into it. If you had a collection as a kid, pass it down to your kids and let them continue it. Or, just find something they like and let them add to it—rubber stamps, coins, unicorns, stickers, cool enamel pins, seashells, painted rocks, you name it.

Make Flarp. Making Flarp (a.k.a. slime) from scratch is an ooey-gooey activity that the whole family can enjoy. Plus it creates a sensory material that offers hours of ongoing play! You can find a great recipe right here.

Play Jacks. This low-tech game is fun for kids of all ages, and helps them perfect their fine motor skills.

Camp In. If you’re not up for a backyard campout yet, then try camping in. Bring your sleeping bags to the living room, tell silly stories with a flashlight in the dark, and make s’mores in the fireplace (or microwave).

Take Photographs. Do you have an old camera sitting around that got forgotten after the iPhone moved in? Teach the kids the basics then set them loose. You can even print out the images and make a book.

Learn Solitaire. Remember when our own parents used to say “play solitaire!” when we were bored? Time to teach your kids how to play. There are more than 150 variations of solitaire to choose from!

Have A Puzzle Marathon. See how many puzzles you can complete and leave them all out on the floor.

Host a Soup Party. Fact: Kids love helping out in the kitchen. And while there are endless simple recipes you can try out together, when it’s cold outside, we immediately think of soup. Why not throw a soup party for the kids? Set up a toppings station complete with Annie’s bunny crackers, croutons, bacon bits, shredded cheese, and more to take it up a notch. The kids will have a blast and warm their bellies at the same time.

For more at-home entertainment ideas, check out our piece on 10 Screen-Free Activities To Try Now, 4 Fun Art Projects Using Natural, Foraged Materials, and 10 Principles For Having A More Playful Family Life.

This article was originally published on March 19, 2020.

The post 100 Screen-Free Things To Do With Kids At Home appeared first on MOTHER.