Simple Kids

Grab Your Dancing Rain Boots for Marsh Mud Madness with Roger Day

Jennifer — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:45:36 +0000

For it to only be June, I’ve been celebrating summer over on Swing Whistle Zing for far too long it seems—I think we got Spring Fever a little bit too early in our house. In any case, I hope your summer plans involve catching some life music whether it’s at a neighborhood restaurant or a full-blown concert stadium.

But if your opportunities to catch live music are few and far between you might enjoy catching a concert on DVD, right in your air-conditioned living room, and I’ve got a recommendation that is sure to please the whole family.

Rodger Day has a new release called Marsh Mud Madness that was filmed and produced in conjunction with the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island and the Savannah Music Festival.

This DVD, featuring 12 songs, is a wonderful hybrid of educational video segments and concert footage from the Savannah Music Festival. You and your family will learn all about the eco system of this East Coast barrier island while singing along with Roger’s original music about this unique location and its inhabitants.

If you have Wild Kratts fans in your house, the short video segments that introduce each song are sure to be a hit—they are well presented by Day with similar Kratt-like enthusiasm. Educators and parents may also enjoy checking out the study guides that accompany the DVD to enhance your experience in the classroom or while doing a summer home study.

While I do have big time Wild Kratts fans in my house, I should not forget to mention that Roger Day’s music is an important part of what makes this DVD worth checking out. His performance is lively and as enjoyable as if you were able to attend a concert. Throughout the performance he encourages participation, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself singing along after the first viewing.

I’ve posted a little preview of Marsh Mud Madness over on Swing Whistle Zing, where you can also check out my summer interview series: Sounds of Summer which includes an interviews with some great children’s artists, including Roger Day, to find out what they’re listening to and where they’ll be playing all summer long. Perhaps someone is coming to your neighborhood?

Now go dance in some mud!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

Grab Your Dancing Rain Boots for Marsh Mud Madness with Roger Day is a post from Simple Kids

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Weekend links and exploring the world with Little Passports

Kara — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:06:47 +0000

Note: there are some affiliate links in this post. Thank you!

10 Ways to Make the World More Beautiful with Miss Rumphius ::: Jump into a Book
Five Playful Ways to Work on Listening and Following Directions ::: Playing with Words 365
All About My Dad: a Fun Questionnaire for Father’s Day ::: Not Just Cute
Why I’m Not Striving for Balance this Summer ::: Life as Mom

If your family isn’t taking a vacation this summer, Little Passports can help your child “travel” and learn about different cultures around the world. For instance, did you know each year between June 21 and 24, different European countries celebrate Midsummer’s Eve and Midsummer Day, including Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway? Traditionally, people prepare their houses for Midsummer celebrations by decorating their homes with colorful flowers and wreaths.

Little Passports has more fun facts for your children to learn in each monthly delivery. You can follow Little Passports on Pinterest, too.

You can sign up for Little Passports with a 1 month trial, 3 month subscription or a 1 year subscription. Our family has purchased the World traveler subscription (for my first grader) and the USA subscription (for my fifth grader). I’m also a Little Passports affiliate.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends! Celebrate the fathers in your life and enjoy time with your families.

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

Weekend links and exploring the world with Little Passports is a post from Simple Kids

Keeping cool on hot days: baby doll washing

Kara — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:01:55 +0000

Yesterday proved to be quite a wild weather day here in Indiana. In the afternoon the temperatures soared into the 90s (though it felt even hotter) and by late evening we were listening to the wind howl and the rain pound our roof as storms rolled in.

Before the scorching temps and thunderstorms, however, the kids and I spent a happy morning outside, beating the heat with some cool water play (before the eventual humidity and roasting temps sent us indoors in the afternoon).

This summer I’ve noticed that my littlest girls still love one of their favorite Unplugged Play ideas from last year: giving their baby dolls a bath.

For Amelia, at 22 months, it is all about playing in the bubbles but for Little Mama Lucy, newly five, this pretend play is fully embraced. She loves playing with and nurturing her babies.

If your little one isn’t that excited about doll play, I bet giving cars a car wash or simple dumping and pouring with water would be fun – and cool.

We added some homemade popsicles and a bit of splashing in the kiddie pool, and we’re finding that we can enjoy time outdoors, even in the super hot weather.

Looking for more unplugged play ideas? Check out my ever-growing list here. What are some of your tips for staying cool with the kids in the Summertime?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

Keeping cool on hot days: baby doll washing is a post from Simple Kids

Avoiding the Summer Slide and Join Us for the June Summer Learning Twitter Event

Kara — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:26:12 +0000

As part of the Target Inner Circle, I was excited to get to team up with Amy Mascott of Teach Mama and We Teach for an article for Target’s A Bullseye View blog. We’re sharing 10 Fun Ways to Help Kids Avoid the Summer Slide.

From the article:

It’s the summertime, and our kids are ending the year with their heads and hearts full of knowledge.

We want our children to enjoy summer days of swimming, sports and relaxation and summer nights of fireflies, campfires and fireworks. We don’t, however, want them to lose all of the progress they have made over the school year to the dreaded “Summer Slide.” Studies have concluded that when they don’t engage in educational activities during vacation, kids can be set back by up to three months in their math and reading skills.

Here are ten creative and exciting ways to keep kids of all ages learning all summer long!

[Read the rest at A Bullseye View ...]

I’ve got another neat thing regarding summer learning to share with you today. On Tuesday evening, there will be a Twitter chat with some special guests – and some pretty cool prizes, too!

June SUMMER LEARNING twitter event, June 11 8:30-9:30pm ET

Who: @teachmama, @EducatorsSpin, @KCEdventures, @Momto2PoshDivas, @SimpleKids as hosts & YOU!

Special Guests: @Highlights, @SummerLearning, @MelissaandDoug

What: #weteach members will be sharing summer learning resources
prizes: 3 $50 Target gift cards; 2 $50 Melissa & Doug gift cards; 1 Highlights summer learning prize pack
Where: Twitter! (http://twitter.com) #weteach
When: Tuesday, 6.11.13 from 8:30-9:30pm ET

How:

Before the event,make sure you are a member of we teach: http://weteachgroup.com
On 6.11.13, log onto twitter
Follow the hashtag #weteach
Tweet, re-tweet (RT), and tweet some more!

Here’s to a fantastic summer of fun and learning!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

Avoiding the Summer Slide and Join Us for the June Summer Learning Twitter Event is a post from Simple Kids

How We Stopped Living (less than) Paycheck to Paycheck ::: Guest Post on SimpleMom.net

Kara — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:31:17 +0000

Today I’m sharing this month’s SimpleMom.net column about our family’s journey to a debt-free life. I’m answering the most asked question from my first column: how did we stop living less than paycheck to paycheck? Every situation is unique, but you can visit Simple Mom to read what worked for us.

From the post:

In my last post, I introduced myself as a person in debt. I hoped to be a source of encouragement for anyone who might be struggling with money. I was touched by the comments that followed. Thank you.

One question seemed to come up: how did we get back on our feet when living less than paycheck to paycheck?

Some of you are in a tough spot through circumstance; maybe you’ve lost a job, you’ve faced illness, or worse.

Our money problem wasn’t an income problem, it was a spending problem. We made enough money, but we were far from careful with it.

[Read the rest at SimpleMom.net ... ]

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

How We Stopped Living (less than) Paycheck to Paycheck ::: Guest Post on SimpleMom.net is a post from Simple Kids

Ways to ensure an enjoyable bike ride with your kids

Victoria Huizinga — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:01:32 +0000

The following is a guest post from Victoria Huizinga of Snail Pace Transformations.

I have loved bike riding since I got my first red banana seat bike back in kindergarten. In fact I did not even get my driver’s license until I was very pregnant at the age of 21 and the doctor told me I could not drive a newborn around on a bike.

Naturally this meant that I could not wait until my children were old enough to join me on bike rides. One thing I noticed right away however was that biking with children is a whole lot harder than biking on your own.

I can’t go at my own pace and it often feels like I have been divided into 3 extra pieces that I am trying to keep from getting hurt.

However over the years as a mom with kids on bikes I have discovered a few tips that allow me to bike with my children with a safe level of sanity.

Photo by Victoria Hiuzinga

Set clear guidelines before you leave.

What guidelines you set depend on your child’s maturity level, but here are few basics we have had over the years:

Everyone wears a helmet.
You must stop and get off your bike to cross major intersections and depending on your age you may have to wait on mom to cross the road.
If you are old enough to go ahead of the pack you carry a cell phone.

Go to a paved trail.

I do not bring my children out on the open road as a group yet, as my youngest is still too unpredictable. Instead, if we are going out as a family I throw all their bikes in the back of the hubby’s truck and drive to the nearest paved trail.

Paved trails are an anxious mom’s answer to reducing dangers. No vehicles to worry about, and minimal intersections.

For an extensive list of trails in your area try traillink.com

Photo by Victoria Hiuzinga

Let the littlest one set the pace.

I love speed but when you are biking with a preschooler you are going to be going as fast as the turtle strolling beside the trail.

Now that I have a 17 year old what I do is create a conga line of sorts. My eldest rides up front at his desired speed, I take up the rear behind my youngest and the middle child is free to keep up with either me and his sister or his older brother.

Gear down your bike.

If you are going to stay beside a child with short legs on a bike that has no gears you are going to need to put your bike in the lowest gear possible to maintain a slow speed.

Expect to stop often.

Children on bikes rarely care about how fast they make it to the finish line, to them it is more about the journey. They want to enjoy every moment of it and that means stopping and looking at whatever gets their attention.

These stops are where memories are made. The day when mommy was brave enough to touch a big juicy earth worm. The day the squirrel got so close we could almost touch it. The day mommy let us all drive through the mud puddle with our bikes even though it meant another load of laundry.

Teach them the rules of the open road one at a time.

I have taught 2 of my 3 children how to bike in traffic, and am now teaching the third. I have done this one child at a time so that I could focus all attention on one child and in turn have just one child to grab attention from.

Biking with children can be nerve racking but when you use the tips above you will find that it also can be very enjoyable and a great way to get exercise and build memories together.

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

Ways to ensure an enjoyable bike ride with your kids is a post from Simple Kids

The thing about being eleven and a half …

Kara — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:51:49 +0000

We’re in the middle of the tween years with my oldest daughter. Just like those tender newborn years, I’m finding that each milestone with my first born brings its own new set of joys and, of course, new challenges.

In some ways, these years are more perplexing to me as her mother because, unlike those baby days, I cannot fix everything. My presence isn’t enough to offer comfort for the things that upset her.

The thing about eleven and a half is that it is hard. The term “tween” gets thrown around with such cutesy abandon, but this in-between age the name is derived from comes with some “big feelings” (as my kids say) and that isn’t light and cute.

I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve said the wrong thing to her, given her the wrong advice, messed up in my approach, crushed her feelings when I meant to lift her up. There’s a learning curve to these years, and this rookie tween mother hasn’t mastered it.

It is a new road, for both of us.

At home “spa” day for the girls.

I read a really great piece from The Huffington Post a few weeks ago about how fifteen isn’t the same for everyone. Growing up: 15 Comes in Many Sizes is the title of the article, and in it author Ann Brenoff talks about how her daughter is “young for her age” and why that is okay but causes some disconnect with her peers. “She’s in a spot now where many of her fellow high schoolers seem preoccupied with trying to look and act older than their years. And then there’s my daughter — solid in her own identity but feeling increasingly out of place.”

I see that with my tween, too. I think what surprised me the most about that is that I naively wasn’t expecting it at age eleven. I knew the day would come, of course, but in all honestly I thought we might have some time to go before we got there.

It is hard enough being the only homeschooled family on our block, being different from the neighborhood kids or the kids at church and from most of her relatives. Add in being a girl who loves coloring, comic books, and playing with dolls, and it can make you feel out of place.

Throw in a dash of increased discomfort in your changing body and … well, who can blame her for feeling a bit like a misfit sometimes?

What I want to tell her is that we are all misfits. Everyone single one of us has something about us which makes us stand out. The lucky ones eventually grow up to celebrate those differences, but not many tweens are that self-aware and secure. I know I certainly wasn’t. I’m not sure that I always am as an adult, either.

I believe in childhood, I believe in letting kids be kids for as long as possible, but that isn’t an easy stand to take in a society that pushes kids to grow up younger and younger, a social hierarchy where being a tween is the new teenager and teenagers are expected to be young adults.

For an eleven year old who still plays with her doll house and loves to dress up as her favorite super hero or Greek myths character, being that kid in a world that wants you to act older and implies that you are somehow “behind” your peers because you haven’t yet abandoned things that bring you so much happiness … well, it is confusing.

In some ways, as homeschoolers, we don’t have to deal with the pressure on the same scale as others do. But, we don’t live in a bubble and are in plenty of social situations. Mostly, the messages she receives are positive and accepting about the girl she is.

But sometimes …

Sometimes her enthusiasm for making doll clothes is meet with a comment about how dolls are “for babies.” Sometimes she feels awkward when a conversation about a comic book hero turns into a friend’s giggling about how cute the actor who plays the him in the movie is.

She is excited about a book she’s reading and a friend asks in sympathy, “why are you reading if you’re not in school? Is your mom making you?” and I can almost read her mind as she wonders if she’s a misfit because of what she loves.

I see the light in her eyes flicker for just a moment and the way her shoulders slump. The friend leaves and my daughter is quiet, preferring to be alone instead of hanging out with the rest of the family. Later, I innocently ask her how her book is and in anger my bookworm spits out, “reading is for nerds!” and I’m astounded by how fierce her words are.

The mama bear in me wants to cry out, “no, kiddo! Don’t you dare let them change you! It isn’t you, it’s them. You’re perfect just the way you are! Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up. The world will be there when you’re ready. Be the misfit! March to your own drum! Don’t let anyone rush you anywhere you aren’t ready to go!”

Sometimes I do tell her things like that and it helps. Sometimes I tell her that and it makes things worse.

I can’t remember eleven and a half very well, but I imagine that even if I could, the eleven and a half of 1984 is very different from the eleven and a half of 2013.

The thing about eleven and a half is that the waters are starting to get murkier, the path a little more twisty. And I can’t always tell her which way to go.

She’s old enough now to know that mom and dad aren’t perfect. She knows we struggle sometimes, she’s seen us make mistakes. We don’t have all the answers.

She also knows that this nest she’s grown up inside of her whole life, it isn’t the world. She knows where she fits in and she’s also aware of what makes her different, though the why’s are still confusing to her.

I’m in a very contemplative phase of life right now, taking on some “big feelings” of my own as I turn forty later this year.

There are parallels between the journey I see my oldest daughter taking and the path my own heart is on. On the cusp of my own changes, I can relate to her uncertainty, her wonder about just what it is she needs to hang on to and what it is she needs to let go of in order to move forward.

I’ll consider my job well done if I can get her to treasure the things about herself that make her unique, to survive these coming years and emerge on the other side with that thing that makes her so wonderfully her still intact.

Maybe the best way to do that is to make sure that I strive to keep what makes me me intact, too? Maybe the best way for us to navigate these tween years if for me to value myself at nearly forty so that she can value herself at nearly twelve?

I’m not sure, but it certainly seems worth striving toward. For both of us.

We’ll get there, kiddo. But let’s not be in a hurry, okay?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

The thing about being eleven and a half … is a post from Simple Kids

Weekend link love (and a contest from Pentel)

Kara — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 14:57:32 +0000

Let your kids get dirty ::: Simple Mom
The Parable of the Swing: Why Kids Need Choices and Boundaries ::: Not Just Cute
Se7en’s Drawing a Day Project
10 Ultimate Summer Popsicle Recipes ::: Weed ‘Em and Reap
Great Books for Your Tween Daughter about Being a Tween ::: The House of Hendrix
Homemade Finger Paint ::: Life as Mom

Have you ever dreamed of being a superhero? You now have the chance with the summer-long Power of Pentel contest – a promotion that gives consumers the chance to win $500,000 ($250,000 for the winner and $250,000 for a school of the winner’s choosing). The contest kicks off today!

What would you do with $250,000? Pay for college tuition, take the family on a cruise around the world, pay off your mortgage or start a small business? The possibilities are endless with the Power of Pentel.

How do you play?
To participate, simply buy marked packages of Pentel EnerGel-X® pens or mail in for a code (no purchase necessary). Then visit www.pentel.com/power and enter the code to see if you can “Unleash the Power of Pentel.”

There is no limit to the number of entries and Pentel will be awarding second chance prizes via random drawings every week.

“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.” – L.M. Montgomery

Note: I will be receiving a goodie bag from Pentel in exchange for sharing the Power of Pentel contest with you. I was not paid for this post and all opinions expressed are my own.

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

Weekend link love (and a contest from Pentel) is a post from Simple Kids

From Farm to Table: A Summertime Fieldtrip (Plus a Recipe for Georgia Peach Sorbet)

Christen — Thu, 30 May 2013 04:01:30 +0000

The following was written by Christen Babb of NurtureBaby and originally appeared on Simple Kids in June of 2010.

It’s official: Summer is finally upon us! Just as those long, lazy, sun-drenched days bring out the best in many of us, Summertime also gleans some of natures’ most delectable delights. Nothing says Summer like a generous sliver of ice-cold watermelon, a peach so luscious its juices run down your chin, or a heaping handful of plump, juicy blueberries.

These delicious provisions, and many others currently in season, can be enjoyed beyond the typical grocery store experience. In fact, Summer lends the perfect time to take your kids on a field trip to a local farm.

I happen to live in Georgia, world renowned for its exquisite peaches. However, each region specializes in a particular variety of fruits and vegetables. A great resource to find farms in your area is Pick Your Own.org. You can search local farms for a particular fruits and vegetables, or even specify locations exercising strict organic farming. Even those living smack-dab-in-the-middle-of-suburbia will find farms no more than a day trip away.

A Few Ideas to Make the Most of Your Fieldtrip:

Talk to the Owners

This is easier when you go to a small, more quaint farm. Ask for a tour and/or the opportunity to pick your own produce. Inquire about the farm’s history. The owners are often times anxious to share their farm’s rich culture and history, providing an interesting glimpse into Americana.

For example, the owners of Gardner Peach Farms were fifth generation. We learned that the current owner’s great-great-grandfather peacefully acquired the land from a local Indian tribe that taught him how to properly cultivate peaches. The family also experienced the hardships of the Civil War and the Great Depression.

Facts like these lend the perfect backdrop for children to experience history in an exciting way – outside of the same ‘ole textbook material.

Discuss the Importance of Local Produce

This field trip not only provides a great history lesson, but a environmental one, too. Often times, our children think fruits and vegetables come from the grocery store, not farms. Your children can learn the true origin of our foods, the hard work required to harvest them, and the importance of buying locally.

When you buy local produce, you decrease your carbon footprint while also supporting the local economy. Not to mention, local foods usually taste better and are more nutritious, thanks to their freshness.

Take it to Your Kitchen

Round out your farm fieldtrip with a hands-on cooking lesson with your kids, using the fresh fruits/vegetables you gathered. Your child will take tremendous pride in the food he helped prepare – from farm to table.

Since my family picked Georgia peaches, I will leave you with a beautiful, kid-friendly peach sorbet recipe – perfect for a hot, Summer afternoon.

Georgia Peach Sorbet

(makes 6 servings)

4 cups of chopped, peeled peaches*
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of peach-flavored club soda
2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
Fresh blackberries and mint for topping (optional)

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, put the peaches in a food processor and puree until smooth. Combine peach puree with cooled sugar syrup, club soda and lime juice. Stir until well blended.

Freeze peach mixture in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Spoon into chilled container, cover, and freeze until ready to serve or up to 2 days. Top sorbet with fresh blackberries and/or mint if desired.

*Tip for peeling peaches: Bring a large stock pot of water, deep enough to submerge whole peaches, to a boil. Gently place whole peaches in boiling water and cook them for approximately 30 seconds. Remove peaches with slotted spoon and place immediately in ice bath, leaving them in for about a minute. Remove from ice bath and dry; peach skin should peel off very easily.

How about you? What is your favorite kind of local produce? Can you share a “farm-to- table” experience you’ve enjoyed with your kids?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

From Farm to Table: A Summertime Fieldtrip (Plus a Recipe for Georgia Peach Sorbet) is a post from Simple Kids

Bundle of the Week sale: Summer!

Kara — Tue, 28 May 2013 13:21:44 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.
Summer is officially here as we mark Memorial Day off of the calendar. Hooray!

Are you looking for some Summer fun ebook recommendations?

I’m an affiliate for the Bundle of the Week, a weekly sale featuring ebooks around a central theme for a bargain price.

This week you’ll find tips for planning a summer of fun, including “daily activities for kids of all ages, recipes to help you make the most of the food that’s in-season, tips and recipes for eating well on-the-go and dozens of delicious homemade ice cream recipes that you can make with or without an ice cream maker!”

In this week’s bundle sale, you will find:

The Summer Survival Guide by Jessica Fisher
Summertime, though rich in possibilities, can be a challenge for parents, especially when there are bored children about! Jessica’s Summer Survival Guide is filled with inspiring ideas and practical suggestions for making the most of the summer as a family, including 37 customizable planning pages, calendars, and worksheets for kids, 100+ family-friendly book and movie suggestions, inspiration for home management during the summer months, 16 summertime learning themes with related crafts and activities, and more.

2013 Summer Survival Calendar by Susan Heid
Susan’s 2013 Summer Survival Calendar is a four-month calendar with over 120 activities to blast boredom and increase family time. It features at least one low-budget (and sometimes free) activity, craft project, or kid friendly recipe every day from May 1 to August 31, with clickable links so you can easily view project directions or supplies needed. It’s the perfect way to keep kids busy, happy, and engaged during those long, hot summer days!

Just Making Ice Cream by Marillyn Beard
Just Making Ice Cream is more than just a recipe book! In this ebook, Marillyn offers practical ice cream-making tips such as choosing an ice cream maker, how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker and the basic principles of delicious homemade ice cream. You’ll also find more than 30 ice cream & gelato recipes, 9 cultured milk recipes, 10 sherbet recipes and 10 sorbet recipes that will keep you busy taste-testing all summer long!

Simply Summer by Kate Tietje
Simply Summer is the perfect summer cookbook! You’ll find plenty of fresh, seasonal summer recipes — exactly what you need when you want to enjoy summer’s bounty — including grilled, marinated meats, fresh salads, fruit and even wonderful desserts! Many of Kate’s selections are allergen-free and GAPS-friendly to help families with allergies and dietary restrictions find recipes to enjoy as well.

Simply Scheduled: On the Go by Tammie Nelson
Feeding your family healthy food during the busy summer months can be a challenge, and Tammie’s Simply Scheduled: On the Go is your guidebook to creating easy, affordable menus away from home. With over 80 pages of charts, lists, menus and recipes, including printable recipe cards and pre-planned menus, this ebook will help you plan for camping trips, barbecues, picnics and road trips so that you can enjoy your summer without stressing about food choices or the grocery budget.

The Summer bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 6/3 – pick up your copy today! I’m an affiliate for this program, so I appreciate your support. Thanks! Here’s to a fantastic Summer!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

Kiwi Crate - Hands-on fun delivered right to your door.
Little Passports - a global adventure!
Bundle of the Week - 5 ebooks for $7.40.
At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum - 8 weeks of Summer fun in your own backyard!
Craftsy - dedicated to providing the best education and resources for crafters.
Summer Survival Calendar - from The Confident Mom.

Bundle of the Week sale: Summer! is a post from Simple Kids