Kids Activities

Posted by Elece Hollis

Dear Parents and Teachers,

There are many things a person needs to be aware of when caring for an infant, toddler, or child. When training older kids to be good sitters, I call these basic things the "know-knows" of babysitting. That little pun may help the would-be babysitter see what he is facing before he takes on his first job.

He should know the children he will be keeping. What peculiarities or problems the child might have, like allergies, for example. He should know the place where he is caring for them and what dangers are inherent in that place. He show know how to entertain the children safely. He should know how to handle emergencies, how to get help in crisis, and that he is responsible for the children's safety.

I recommend the sitter be at least thirteen years of age before caring for children on his own, with no adult present. He or she would benefit from taking a babysitting class and a first aid course. Training is essential if children are to be happy and safe.

Many young people want to take on babysitting jobs, but are they ready? They can be.

~Elece~

Posted by Elece Hollis

Dear Parents,

Kids always enjoy foods they have prepared themselves. Granola is as simple to make as party mix. The child will enjoy all the measuring and stirring involved and only need help when baking the granola and pouring it out to separate and cool.

Granola may be a food your children shun, but most children love this homemade version, especially when the recipe is adjusted to fit their preferences and dietary needs.

Granola is made from oatmeal, honey, seeds, nuts and raisins and is a good fingerfood. It has been served as a snack and breakfast food in my home for many years. Loved by adults and children alike, this recipe has been passed on to my grandchildren.

We have produced batches to send granny and it ships well. It makes a tasteful gift for friends and family. Your little cooks will love making granola.

~Elece~

Posted by Elece Hollis

Hello Teachers,

How much does Johnny weigh? Would he not be interested in finding what his weight would be on the moon? Would he be fascinated by the difference in his weight and that of a bird, an elephant, or a banana? Most children would be.

Kids love to weigh things and this project will give them simple practice. The article, How to Weigh Things, will also inform of basic facts about weight measurement and compare it to the metric system.

Students will use a bathroom scale, a fish scale, a grocery produce scale, and a postage scale to weigh items on a list. Chart and compare the findings. A balance scale will also come in handy in the classroom.

Hold a discussion of the pros and cons of metric measure as opposed to English measure used in the United States. What metric measures of weight are familiar to your students? Compare weights of food packaging to make students more aware of the many uses of weighing in everyday life.

~Elece~

Posted by Elece Hollis

Dear Parents and Grandparents,

Wouldn't it be great to have a child around who loved tools and wanted to fix things around the house? Can you imagine the benefits and increase in selfconfidence a child could gain through learning to do simple repairs.

Encourage your child to follow the directions, help assemble new items, and take part in house remodeling and rennovations so that he will be able to tackle needed repairs in his own home or workplace when he is grown.

A simple saying like "lefty--loosey, righty-tighty " can save a child many moments of frustrations when tightening and loosening screws. Just think of all the little tips and tricks that he can learn to save time and become a skilled handyman.

Let him choose a repair project and go to work on it. Things might not turn out perfect, but the child will learn and improve his skills with time and practice.

A trip to a flea market , the attic, or a garage sale may provide just the project needed (an old coffee table, a wobbly chair, or an old toy) and some spare starter tools besides. Children learn by doing so allow the child to make mistakes and learn from them. You will all have a great time.

~Elece~

Posted by Elece Hollis

Hello Parents and Teachers,

The chipmunk is a cheerful litle animal that children love to read and study about. If your students live in chipmunk territory, they will have an opportunity to observe chipmunks and learn about these small cute creatures.

What do chipmunks eat? Where do they live? Do they hibernate like bears through the winter? What sound do they make? Do they live in nests? Answer these questions and rev up the curiosity about chipmunks--a fun animal to study.

Encourage the students to make journals or charts to show when and where they saw chipmunks and what the chipmunks were eating. Art can be included with this chipmunk study also as the subtle differences in coloring will make for an interesting discussion of colors and tones. Students can draw and color the chipmunks they see. Chipmunks can be used as the basis for a nice lapbooking project.

Who doesn't love the comical and cute little chipmunk?

~Elece

Posted by Elece Hollis

Hello Parents and Grands,

As the summer progresses, children seem to tire of the same old things. They start to use that awful forbidden word again--bored. Here is an idea for some nice sloppy fun mashing amd mixing in the kitchen--almost as messy as dyeing Easter eggs!

Making their own popsicles is quick and fairly simple . The children can use their imaginations to concoct wild and wonderful flavors and shapes. Orange, grape, cherry and lime can make way for orange-pineapple, peach, coconut and guava. If you have fresh fruit , canned fruits, fruit juice or jello, you are in business.

Buy popsicle molds at the dollar store or make do with plastic cups or ice cube trays. Herd those kids into the kitchen and let them play.

Your kids will have a blast and make a delightful mess making popsicles on a hot day. Let them make them last thing at night or early in the morning to allow them at least three hours to freeze.

~Elece~

Posted by Elece Hollis

Hello Parents and Teachers,

Welcome to Kids' Activities.

Summer is spinning rapidly to an end. The gardens are lanquishing in the late summer heat. As you plan classwork and unit studies for your children, don't miss a chance to study the premier butterfly. Beloved by all, the Monarch is a butterfly that is both beautiful to watch and fascinating to study.

Also, look at the amazing feat of migration which has made this species so popular. What an exciting study monarch butterflies make for students. If there are milkweed plants growing in your area, likely you can find monarchs, their eggs, and their pale green chrysalises. You may have the opportunity of observing the butterflies emerge and of studying the annual migration.

The milkweed is the only plant that the Monarch caterpillar will feed on. See a photo that will help you recognize it in field or meadow. Teach your kids to recognize the caterpillar and the monarch while differentiating it from the similar Viceroy butterfly.

~ Elece

Posted by Elece Hollis

Dear Readers,

Keep those children learning all summer! Studying insects can be great fun for the whole family. Why not go on a bear hunt!

The Isabella Tiger moth is best known for its caterpillar the Woolly Bear. This caterpillar is easily identified and children love to watch it curl up when it is touched. This simple self-defense mechanism helps the caterpillar hide from birds and other predators.

Children can hunt and observe the caterpillars and keep some for the purpose of watching the Tiger Moth build its cocoon and just a few days later emerge as a large moth.

It is a wonderful science project and will help the students develop a love of insects as they observe the life cycle and the metamorphosis of this creature.

Learn about what characteristics make an insect different from a bug. Learn how to identify the caterpillar and also the difference in true legs, prolegs, and prop-legs.

Read Woolly Bear Hunting and get interest stirred up for the study of this fascinating insect.

~Elece~

Posted by Elece Hollis

Hi Moms and Dads,

Have you heard the latest trend in party-giving? More parents are shying away from parties at fast food restaurants and amusement parks and saving time and headache by giving birthday parties at home for the kids.

Theme parties are an old idea, but the choices are so varied that you can easily come up with a party idea new to the neighborhood. This is one I have tried with my own kids and it proved a real sucess --The Crazy Hat Party.

Each child is asked to design and create a hat to wear-- freaky, funny, silly, goofy, crazy hats. Ideas for invitations, decorations, food and games make it lively and fun.

The party can be for birthday or just about any celebration of family and friends. I hope you have fun.

~Elece

Posted by Elece Hollis

Hello Friends,

I hope you are enjoying the first few days of summer. If you should be going to the ocean this summer or spending anytime on the beach if even near a lake or stream, you might encourage your child to create a treasure box to remember his summer with. He can collect, clean, sort and glue small seashells to a wooden box and shellac it to keep as a reminer of the fun he had.

If you are staying at home, or far from any beaches, the child can still use shells from a hobby store and make a box. Studying the shells and about the ocean with its sand shores and tides is a good summertime educational project.

The box pictured with the article, Make a Seashell Treasure Box, was made by a small girl. She didn't like my directions and used her own eye for art to decorate her box her own way. Hey, that's what it is all about, right? Creativity and individualism?

If we as parents and teachers take over craft and art projects and demand they are done in the prescribed way we are liable to squelch a child's creative spirit. So use the project idea and allow the child leeway to decorate his box in the way most beautiful to him.

~Elece