Elements of a Child-Friendly Garden

by on March 23, 2012
in play learn explore · 35 Comments

The following post is by contributor Catherine Way of Adventures With Kids and originally appeared March 2011.

There are many physical and mental health benefits to children in spending time outdoors.  One easy way to increase the amount of time your child spends outdoors is to make your garden an appealing outdoor play space.

What do children want in an outdoor play space?  Children prefer natural playspaces that have plenty of opportunities for exploration, challenge, interaction and learning.

There are many ways that you can add child-friendly  elements to both big and small gardens.   Adding some of these elements to your garden will help make it a space where you child loves to be.
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Simple as That: The Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Spring

by on March 21, 2012
in play learn explore · 8 Comments

The following post is by editor Kara Fleck.

After such an odd and dreary Winter, I’m so happy that Springtime is here!  The cold, grey days are (mostly) behind us, and in my part of the world we’re already enjoying the green, sunny days and the blues skies of Spring.

While I’m not convinced we won’t still see a March or April snowstorm before Winter truly says farewell, I see Spring’s arrival as an opportunity to use all of our senses to savor the season. I’m especially looking forward to celebrating baby Mia’s first Spring and I can’t wait to introduce her to flowers and exploring outdoors in the sunshine.

I thought it would be fun to carry on what has become a seasonal tradition here at Simple Kids, and list some of the different ways we can experience the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes of Spring with our kids.

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Simple Fun for Young Green Thumbs: Egg Carton Gardening with Your Kids

by on March 19, 2012
in play learn explore · 29 Comments

Spring is finally upon us after a long, cold winter!  Today at Simple Kids, we are celebrating with a fun,  educational project to inspire you and your little ones to get your hands dirty in the garden – Egg Carton Gardening!

First, I have a confession to make. While I love fresh, homegrown vegetables as much as the next gal, my thumb errs on the side of black. My husband typically bears the gardening responsibilities of our home while I handle the cooking. However, this project  is easy enough for a toddler to do.  It’s a great introduction to gardening for kids and novice adults alike.

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Weekend Links

by on March 18, 2012
in showcase · Leave a Comment

Have you heard the joyous news?  The Simple Living Media family grew a little bit bigger this week.  Congratulations Aimee, Danny, and family!  Welcome sweet baby Clara!


I also want to mention two worthwhile things.  The first is a book that I will be reviewing here on Simple Kids in a few weeks, but I don’t want you to wait if you have a Spring birthday or party coming up.  The book is Naturally Fun Parties for Kids; Creating Handmade, Earth-friendly Celebrations for All Seasons and Occasions by Anni Daulter with Heather Fontenot.  It has everything from recipes to crafts to decorating ideas and themes and it is kid-pleaser as well as a simple parenting guide for those of us wanting to offer our children a more natural festivity.

Second, I want to let Simple Kids readers know about contributor Amanda Morgan of Not Just Cute’s new e-course coming out, Parenting With Positive Guidance.  You can check out the details and get registered here.

Have a terrific weekend, everyone!

Cooking with Kids: Irish Flag Stew & Whole Wheat Soda Bread

by on March 16, 2012
in food and nutrition, holidays & celebrations · 25 Comments

The following post by contributor Christen Babb and originally appeared in March of 2010.

Every parent intuitively knows that the more your child is personally invested in a project, the more likely he is to learn and apply the knowledge gained. One of our many jobs as parents is to foster fun learning experiences that will encourage critical thinking and creative expression. If you are anything like me, sometimes it is hard enough to get through the day without adding another “to-do” to my list. However, when I decide to make an otherwise humble, everyday task a learning opportunity for my child, both of us are deeply enriched by the experience, creating a wonderful memory together.

Today, the featured recipes are in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. These recipes create an opportunity to teach your child a little bit about St. Patrick’s Day along with some hands-on-cooking techniques.  Cooking can be an exciting and powerful teaching tool for your child. You can be creative with any of your favorite recipes, applying information about family heritage or religious faith, for example.  As a bonus, your child will be more apt to eat the healthy foods he’s helped prepare!

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