Category Archives: Kids

Make some pretty flowers for Mother’s Day!

What you’ll need:

  • Construction paper
  • Acrylic paint
  • Green chenille stems
  • Scissors
  • White craft glue

How to make it:

  1. Cut out simple flower shapes from construction paper.
  2. Dip child’s finger into acrylic paint and dab off excess, then press onto each petal. Dab a contrasting color into the center of the flower.
  3. Cut chenille stem in half.
  4. Glue chenille stem to the back of the flower.
  5. Display your pretty flowers in our Sunshine Flower Pot.

Tips:

  • While this is a simple craft, if you are working with smaller children you may want to cut out the flower shapes ahead of time.
  • If you don’t have chenille sticks you can substitute with craft sticks or straws.
  • You can use plain white paper and colorful paints if you don’t have construction paper.

From http://crafts.kaboose.com/fingerprint-flowers.html

Play with Dr. Seuss!

On this day in 1904, Dr. Seuss was born.  Today is a great day to share a favorite Dr. Seuss book with a child or let them share their favorite Dr. Seuss book with you.

Celebrate his birthday with reading and fun activities.

Check out the Seussville website for an endless selection of:

  • online activities
  • print and play games & activities
  • list of events in your area

dr-seuss-kids-activity-pages-cat-in-the-hat-spot-the-difference-sheet-1

Visit a pumpkin patch!

pumpkinpatchinfield

Pumpkin Patches:

Belvedere Plantation. Pumpkin Patch opens Sept 29. This working farm celebrates the fall harvest time with pumpkin picking, bonfires, evening hayrides, and a cornfield maze! Pick pumpkins by light on Fri/Sat nights. Other attractions include pedal tractors, pig races, a pumpkin mountain slide, barnyard animals, and the fun barn with giant rope swings. Food and other specialty items sold on the premises. 1401 Belvedere Plantation, F’burg, 22408. www.belvedereplantation.com

Clark’s Farm. Opens Sept 22 – Oct 31. Open 7 days/week from 10am – 6pm. Activities include: farm animals, a hay mountain, large maze, face painting, pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, great cutouts for photos, a moon-bounce, and pony rides on weekends. Food, hot apple cider, and specialty craft items sold on premises. Price of admission includes a pumpkin! 712 Courthouse Rd, Stafford, 22554.www.clarksfarmusa.com

The Corn Maze. Sept. 29 – Nov 4 (Fri, Sat, Sun) 10am – 6pm). 5 acre corn maze, barnyard animals, hayrides, pumpkins, picnic area and more. 4501 Old Tavern Rd., The Plains, 20198.www.cornmazeintheplains.com

Cows N Corn. Sept 15 – Oct 28. Corn maze, tour the farm via hayride, learn how to make butter, visit with the animals, pumpkin picking. 5255 Catlett Rd., Midland, 22728. 540-439-4806.www.cows-n-corn.com

Cox Farms. Open Sept 29 – Oct 31 from 10am – 6pm. Hayrides, 5 giant slides, farm animals, rope swing, kid zone, pumpkins and more. 5621 Braddock Rd, Centreville, 20120. www.coxfarms.com

Great Country Farms. Sept 29 – Oct 28; 9am – 6pm. Come pick your pumpkins, visit the pumpkin princess, cheer for your favorite pig as they race around the track, and watch P-Rex as he chomps on pumpkins! 18780 Foggy Bottom Rd, Bluemont, VA. www.greatcountryfarms.com

Liberty Mills Farm. Sept. 15 – Nov. 4. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, games and more. 9166 Liberty Mills Rd., Somerset, 22972. www.libertymillsfarm.com

Miller Farms Market. Opens mid-September. Free hayrides to and from the pumpkin patch. 12101 Orange Plank Rd., Locust Grove, 22508. 540-972-2680. www.millerfarmsmarket.com

Mt. Olympus Berry Farm. Pumpkin patch and hayrides. 23298 Jeff Davis Hwy, Ruther Glen, 22546. 804-448-0395. www.mtolympusfarm.com/home.html

Round Hill Farm. A tractor-drawn hayride carries your family or group to the Pumpkin Patch. Pick-your-own or select from pre-picked pumpkins at the farms open-air market. Other activities include the barnyard petting-zoo with more than 30 farm animals, two hay bale mazes, a corn maze, rope swings, kiddie zip line, pony rides, and picnic area. The farm is open to the public on weekends from October 1st to October 31, 3pm -6pm on weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm on weekends . 6347 Everona Rd., Culpeper, 22701. www.round-hill-farm.com

Snead’s Asparagus Farm. Open daily. This working farm has a huge pumpkin patch for pick your own. Other activities include, pedal tractors, rope swings in the barn, hayrides, farm animals, and a picnic area. Admission is FREE on weekdays; you pay for your pumpkin only. Admission on weekends is $10 per car. 18294 Tidewater Tr, F’burg, 22408. 540-371-1070. www.sneadsfarm.com

Ticonderoga Farms. Open Daily: 9am – 6pm. Hayrides to pick your own pumpkins, cow train, petting zoo, moon bounce, swings, tee-pee hut play, antique tractors and more! 26469 Ticonderoga Rd., Chantilly, 20152. 703-327-4424. www.ticonderoga.com

Westmoreland Berry Farm. Oct 1 – 31. 9am – 5pm. Pick your pumpkins in their pumpkin patch. Other activities include a goat walk, playground, picnic area, ice cream shop and more!. Seasonal food items available in the farm store. 1235 Berry Farm Lane, Oak Grove.www.westmorelandberryfarm.com

Have fun with the Olympics!

You will find lots of fun ideas for games, crafts, printables, activities and recipes related to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on the

Camp Au Pair in America – London Olympics

Fun Fact: The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions, used alone, in one or in five different colors, which are, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green and red. The Olympic symbol (the Olympic rings) expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.

Summer fun!

Known  as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
Here are some fun facts about the food you are likely to enjoy while celebrating the 4th of July!
Although there is no fixed menu for the celebration of the Fourth, you can count on traditional favorites such as hamburgers and hot dogs, chicken, ribs, garden salads, potato salad, chips and watermelon.
There’s a 1-in-6 chance the beef on your backyard grill came from Texas. The Lone Star State is the leader in the production of cattle and calves.
The chicken on your barbecue grill probably came from one of the top broiler-producing states: Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina and Mississippi.
The lettuce in your salad or on your hamburger probably was grown in California, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of USA lettuce production.
Fresh tomatoes in your salad most likely came from Florida or California, which, combined, produced more than two-thirds of U.S. tomatoes. The ketchup on your hamburger or hot dog probably came from California, which accounts for 95 percent of processed tomato production.
As to potato salad or potato chips or fries, Idaho and Washington produces about one-half of the nation’s spuds.
For dessert, six states — California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Arizona and Indiana — combined to produce about 80 percent of watermelons last year.
And the apples in your apple pie? They most likely came from Washington or New York, the two top apple producing states.
And for the children, visit this link for fun coloring pages, craft ideas, puzzles and games to celebrate the 4th of July holiday
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/

Are your kids out of school and bored already? Here are some great ideas for fun things to do with kids:

Have a teddy bear picnic. Host it for your kids and their favorite stuffed animals. Make lunch fun and turn it into an indoor or outdoor picnic instead.

Do a string painting- get string and cut it into various lenghts. Dip the string into bowls of kid paint and get creative.

Make a nature collage- take the kids for a walk and collect things for nature…flowers, acorns, leaves, grass and glue them all onto paper or cardboard to make a collage.

Food Jewelry- string macaroni, cheerios, noodles or straws onto a string. Make necklaces, bracelets, anklets or belts

Make a playhouse- get a large appliance box, paint and decorate it and make a playhouse.

E. B. White was born today!

Born in 1899 EB White wrote 3 well-known children’s classics: Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan. These are wonderful books to read aloud to children ages 5 through 10. You can also check the library for videos of Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web. With school age children you can start a several day project of making a piggy bank.

Visit www.fun.familyeducation.com for all the details.

Photo from  stellaandhenry.com

It’s national sugar cookie day!

Sugar cookies are perfect for cutting out shapes with cookie cutters. Do it the easy way during the hot summer and purchase ready made dough in the freezer or refrigerator section of the grocery store.

Recipe:

  • Cream 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter with 2/3 cup sugar.
  • Beat in 1 egg.
  • Add 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  • Chill 3-4 hours before rolling.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Spread a little flour on the counter to keep dough from sticking.
  • Roll 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes using cookie cutters or a glass. Place on cookie sheet.
  • Bake 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned.
  • Allow to cool before eating.

photo by http://flickr.com/people/22334306@N02