October 16th: Simple Kids Showcase and Weekend Links

by on October 16, 2009
in showcase · 7 Comments

This week’s Showcase comes to us from Mary Beth of My Girls:

Our family’s helper jar is a fun way to engage our kids in the entire process of giving.

From saving to delivering–with shopping and packaging sandwiched in between–we gain much from giving in this small way. We never miss the amount of money that we collect (both times we’ve been surprised at just how much we’ve managed to save). Instead we gain the experience of helping people enjoy something that we often take for granted.


givingjar1

givingjar2

Join us, won’t you?.  Read more about how to get started here!

Thank you, Mary Beth!  If you would like to see your family featured in the SK Showcase, send your submission via email to me at simplekidsblog at gmail dot com.

The month of October is just bursting with all kinds of inspiring reading!  Here are just a few of the treasures I have come across this week:

Simply Practical

fantastic, practical, real-life parenting advice at Parents Ask (via Mariah of Playful Learning, one of many contributors to this parenting community)

the Happiness Project: Seven Tips If You’re Chronically Late (via Parent Hacks)

Simply Delicious

More Than Burnt Toast: A Recipe for Orchard Apple Salad . . . a taste of autumn
Under the High Chair: Playing with Pumpkin: a worthy recap
Phe/MOM/enon: Homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Inspired Projects

This Vintage Chica: Make Your Own Spiderweb
ABC and 123: Bats and Spiders
The Crafty Crow: Where the Wild Things Are :: Crafts and Treats ::

Inspired Images

Holy Experience: Slow Down: looking for gold

Inspired Words

A Worthy Life: the very definition of insanity
Clover Lane: What NOT to Regret

May your weekend be full of happiness and health!

September 25th: SK Showcase and Weekend Links

by on September 25, 2009
in showcase · 1 Comment

I’m curious to hear if any of you in the SK community participated in Turnoff Week.  I can’t say we completely turned the screens in our home off this week, but we did cut way, way back on TV and computer time.  Watching my girls spend more time at the table coloring and creating and more time in the playroom making up games challenged me to consider that we don’t “need” the TV and computer time in the ways I thought we did!

This week’s Showcase comes from Julia of Julia Janzen.  She wrote:

Here’s a little something I did with my 3 year old this summer: Photojournalism for Toddlers.

Katie – the photojournalist

PhotojournalistKate1

Her view of daisies

Daisy-kate

Julia explains, “It got us outside, we were able to appreciate some really beautiful trees, plants and neighborhood in general.  If you don’t have a camera for your child you could always buy a little one use camera, or a little more on the green side, buy a used camera at a yard sale, or thrift shop.   For a little older kids I think it would be a lot of fun at birthday parties or family gatherings to give kids cameras and just let them go for it!”

Thanks for sharing this practical way to introduce little ones to the art of photography, Julia!

And now, your (fall-inspired) weekend reading:

Simply Practical

The Mother Load: 5 Quick Dinners for Busy Weeknights (fall tends to bring a flurry of activity to families, doesn’t it?)

Simply Delicious

Under the High Chair: 7 Inspiring Recipes for the Thanksgiving Table
Playful Learning: Apple Picking, Apple Recipes & Apple Inspiration

Inspired Projects

maya*made: nature crowns and cuffs
red bird crafts: finding fall box: remake
Ordinary Life Magic: Crow Puppets

Inspired Images

SouleMama: the colors this season

Inspired Words

Brain, Child: Two Hearts Beat as One (okay, so this may not exactly be autumn-inspired, but I adore Catherine Newman and her writing, and I had to slip this in.  And it is in the Fall 2009 issue of Brain, Child, so that counts, right?)

Next week is Free-Range Kids week here at Simple Kids!  I am looking forward to your thoughts!