Unplugged play: no batteries required!

by on September 30, 2012
in play learn explore, Unplugged Play · 53 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.  Update:  I didn’t quite get the original 31 days series written back in October, but this is a work-in-progress and I’ll keep adding Unplugged Play ideas as we go.

Today’s the day!  We’re beginning our much anticipated series on  Unplugged play:  no batteries required.

It seems, at times, like play and childhood are becoming obsolete.  We live in such a hurry-up world that it can be easy to forget that life doesn’t have to be that fast-paced and play doesn’t require batteries or the endorsement of a television character.   I invite you and your kids to slow down and reconnect with simple play.  It is time to get back to basics and have a little fun doing so!

Unplugged Play

Each idea will feature a short post with a simple idea or two for “unplugged” play – no batteries or power cords required.  Whether or not you choose to unplug from all other electronics (video games, television, computer, other screen time, etc) is up to you.

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Weekend links: October play, learn, explore

by on September 30, 2012
in play learn explore, showcase · 7 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

October, one of my favorite months of the year, begins tomorrow.  Today’s weekend links focus on some ideas for playing, learning, and exploring during this month, taken from some of my favorite bloggers and Pinterest finds.

Plus, this October we’re going to be sharing a series featuring 31 Days of Unplugged Play.  It’s going to be wonderful!

Play

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A crafty gift that keeps on giving: Kiwi Crate

by on September 28, 2012
in crafts · 4 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

From time to time people ask me how I “do it all” with the kids – homeschooling, crafting, parenting, etc.  I’ll let you in on a secret:  I let other people do some of the work for me.

Whether it is using the monthly childcare guides from Little Acorn Learning, having part of our groceries delivered, or simply surfing the internet for ideas, I take help wherever I can get it.

Kiwi Crate

Enter Kiwi Crate:  a monthly subscription service with themed crafts for your kids that, get this, includes everything you need in the box.  (All I had to add was water for paint rinsing and some newspapers to cover the table).

You just have to gather your children, open the box, and get started.  Ta da!  And I get to look like a crafty-mama genius!

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What is a cloud?

by on September 26, 2012
in play learn explore · 2 Comments

The following is by contributor Catherine Way of Indirect Observations.
In my part of the world (subtropical Northern Australia) at the moment, the weather is changing from cool, sunny dry season weather to hot, sticky, rainy wet season weather.  We call this time of year the ‘build-up’  The humidity builds up making it hot and sticky.  The build-up will eventually be broken by the arrival of monsoon rains.

The build-up means that clouds have returned to our skies – everything from wispy, barely there, white streaks to tall, dramatic sculptures.  We have also had many foggy mornings – my children tell me  this is ‘the clouds touching the ground.’  We have even had the odd dark, ominous looking cloud that made us talk about the possibility of rain.

It seemed a good time to do some cloud and weather related investigations.  The variable weather of Autumn or Spring in more temperate parts of the world also brings variable weather, making this an excellent time to explore weather with your children.

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Holiday kids’ gift craft-along September link up

by on September 25, 2012
in crafts, holidays & celebrations · 6 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

Well, here we are friends:  less than 100 days before Christmas.  Have you started your holiday crafting yet?   What gifts are you going to be making for your kids this year?

Holiday Kids’ Gift Craft-along

It is the 25th of September, which means it is time for our monthly Holiday Kids’ Gift Craft-along link up.  I’d love to see what you are making and how your projects are progressing.

I’m taking the day as a North Pole Day and I’ll be updating facebook, twitter, and instagram all day long with my crafting endeavors.  If you want to join in, I’m using the hashtag #SKcraftalong.

I plan to play some holiday music and maybe watch a holiday movie or two and knit, stitch, and glue the day away  (well, after homeschool and when I’m not taking care of the kiddos, of course) – yes, I’ll be crafting the day away in my own little North Pole (in Indy, on a rainy day in September).  There’s going to be cocoa at some point, too.

Beyond today, I’m trying to dedicate 15 minutes every day toward working on holiday gifts.

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