Tag Archives: kids

January 31st ~ Backwards Day

Backwards Carissa Rogers FlickrBackward Day is a day to do everything backwards and is especially popular with school-aged kids. Think… writing backwards, reading backwards, wear your shirt with the back in the front. Eat your dinner but start with dessert. Use your imagination.

Photo: Carissa Rogers (Flickr)

Winter Fun

Check out the APIA Winter Fun Pinboard on Pinterest for some fun ideas on these cold snowy days

Snowman Slam {Game for Kids}

Posted by Crystal Underwood
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/12/snowman-slam-game-for-kids.html

snowman slam game

This game is fun for the whole family, and you likely have most of the materials to make it already on hand.

Snowman Slam Materials

  • White cups
  • Black & orange craft foam or construction paper
  • White socks
  • Glue
  • Scissors

To make the snowmen: decorate six white cups using black and orange craft foam.  To make the snowballs: tightly ball up three white socks.  That’s it!

This game is so easy to make, and kids have so much fun with it.  The idea is simple; toss the snowballs to knock down the snowmen

snowman slam 3

Such a simple concept and yet so much FUN!

Snowman slam 6

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Childcare focus

At some point this winter your host child will probably develop a fever, i.e. a body temperature that is higher than the normal 98.6 F.  It is very important to realize that fever itself is not an illness-only a symptom of one.  When your host child has a fever, his/her heart rate and breathing will speed up slightly in addition to feeling slightly warm. She/he may appear flushed and perspiration may be present as well.  Do not give medicine to your host child with out the permission of your host family.  There are strict guidelines for dosages and they MUST be followed.

Thanksgiving Fun For Kids

Click here for some fun craft ideas!

Click here for some fun craft ideas!

Here are some activities you can do with the children to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Click on the picture or any of the links below to find crafts, coloring sheets, spelling worksheets, math puzzles,  nametags and more.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/thanksgiving/

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/thanksgiving-crafts-ideas

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/23-clever-crafts-to-keep-the-kids-busy-on-thanksgiving

Spider Web Snacks

Here is a fun Hal­loween treat of the sea­son. Who knew eat­ing spi­der webs could be so yummy?! These are easy, inex­pen­sive, and cute!

Ingre­di­ents:

– pret­zel sticks
– white chocolate/bark candy coating
– choco­late (baker’s, candy coat­ing, or chips would prob­a­bly all work)
– raisins
– bag­gie or pas­try bag
– wax paper

Direc­tions:

Lay out your pret­zels on the wax paper in “star­burst” arrange­ments of 6 or 8 pret­zels (it’s a good idea to put it on a cookie sheet for trans­port stability).

After melt­ing your white chocolate/bark coat­ing, place in a bag­gie and cut the cor­ner off (or use a pas­try bag).  Start pip­ing your choco­late in the mid­dle of the pret­zel arrange­ment, mak­ing sure to coat all the pretzels.
Con­tinue pip­ing out­ward around the pret­zels, until you have a web.  Then, place two raisins in the mid­dle for the body of the spider.
Melt your reg­u­lar choco­late and pipe over the raisins.  I found that the spi­ders turned out bet­ter when I piped the legs of the spi­der first and then did the body.  Place in the fridge for a few min­utes until the choco­late is hard.  Then, gen­tly peel back the wax paper.…and eat!
By Sara @MomEndeavors

Arts and Crafts for Fall, Halloween & Thanksgiving

Please click here to view arts and crafts ideas for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving with kids

Please click here to view arts and crafts ideas for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving with kids

Some fun craft ideas for the season!

APIA Fall, Halloween & Thanksgiving pinboard with lots of great activity ideas. Visit. http://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/fall-halloween-thanksgiving/

October is National Pizza Month

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Click here to find fun pizza recipes like these “pizza pops” on kidspot.com

Pizza is easy and fun to make and can be a nutritious meal for the children and is easy to make at home.

You will need a ready-made pizza dough or a ready-made crust, shredded mozzarella cheese and a jar of pizza sauce.  First the dough or crust goes on a cookie sheet or pizza pan. Then spread the sauce, add the other toppings, and last of all, sprinkle the cheese. Bake as directed for the crust. Be careful, and keep the children away from the oven as the oven must be very hot to make a nice crusty pizza.

If you want to get a little fancier and try these pizza pops. Click on photo for recipes.

Click here for a coloring page where kids can draw in toppings and make their own pizza.

More kid friendly recipes here

Cookie Month

Cookies are popular every day, but since this is Cookie month you might want to bake your own with children ages 4 and up, or buy large plain sugar cookies at the store and have fun decorating them with store-bought icing, chocolate chips, sprinkles and other toppings.

Click here for some fun cookie recipes to try with your kids

Click here for some fun cookie recipes to try with your kids

Childproofing

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With shorter days and colder weather, you and the children are probably spending more time inside the house. Please be sure that the house is “childproof” with these simple tips:

  • Children are curious; many small children put everything into their mouths. Be sure no small objects are within the child’s reach.
  • Plastic bags, long cords and very soft pillows can be dangerous to children.
  • If a toy gets broken and has sharp edges, keep it away from children!
  • Be sure that laundry soap and other cleaners are out of reach of the children.
  • Don’t leave any medicines in reach of children, not even vitamins.
  • Keep scissors and knives out of reach.
  • Store the toys that belong to older children out of reach of babies and toddlers.
  • Many cosmetic items and toiletries, such as mouthwash, perfume, nail polish, and hair spray, are poisonous. Keep them out of children’s reach.

Photo: audi_insperation

John Philip Sousa’s birthday

5819184201_df0392f0e7John Philip Sousa was born in 1854 and is famous for composing marches – classic American patriotic music. Make a marching band with the children and have a parade. Children love to make noise, and you don’t need fancy instruments. Try two pot lids as cymbals, a stick and an empty cardboard or plastic container as a drum. Sandpaper rubbed together makes a great noise too! Homemade flags or paper hats would dress up your parade even more.

Photo: Brandon Giesbrecht