The New Year always brings so much excitement…the promise of many new experiences, new friends and resolutions to make changes for the better. In our house we like to think about the New Year as a chance to reflect on the past year and as an opportunity for new beginnings. New beginnings are always a source of excitement as they hold so much promise for improvement and building upon all the good accomplishments in 2012.
Below, I have included two fun and thought provoking creative writing activities for children of all ages. A list to encourage us to consider what the New Year means to each of us and set realistic goals for us to accomplish, as well as a recipe for creating an acrostic poem about the New year.
Make a list, check it twice!
This activity helps us to ponder the New Year in terms of all that it has to offer. Take a piece of paper and write five to ten thoughts down the side of the page. Start by focussing on what the New Year means to you and then follow with realistic and achievable goals or opportunities for change.
For example:
• I like the New Year because…
• The New Year is important to me because…
• I think new beginnings very exciting because…
• My goals this year are…
• I would like to visit…
• I would like to learn to…
• I would like to improve on…
• I will try not to…
• I will try these 5 foods…
• I would like to read…
Everyone taking part in the activity should take their own time completing their list. When the lists are finished, roll up the piece of paper and place them in a clean jar or bottle with a lid (try to find one in your recycling). Close the lid and put the jar or bottle away for the year. Place the jar or bottle in a location that is easy to find so that at the end of the year, you will know where to find it! In December (2013) you can bring it out and see how many of the items you can check off as “accomplished”!!
PS…you may want to keep the jar in a readily accessible location so that you can check your list once in a while if you forget some of your goals (In actuality, you can start making change any time of the year and don’t have to wait until the beginning). Also, if you are so inclined, you can share your lists with each other so that you can encourage and support each other throughout the year.
Have you ever come across an acrostic poem?
Looking for a challenge… try to write a New Year acrostic poem. The poem can be about any subject. The simplest method is to put the letters that spell your subject (e.g. New Year’s) down the side of your page. Then, go back to each letter and think of a word or phrase that begins with that letter and describes your subject. My daughter Sabrina and I came up with the following example:
New Year brings with it all kinds of possibilities. Experiencing things I have not done before. While I am a little nervous, I will make some new friends. Yams and other vegetables are not my favourite but I will try new foods. Even though my siblings annoy me, I will try to be more patient with them. Art is my favourite subject and I will visit some museums to learn more. Reading is difficult for me and I will practice to improve. So, I am looking forward to 2013 and can’t wait to see what I can accomplish!
Now that you have all of your goals in mind and have contemplated what the New Year is all about and all the possibilities it holds, go out and enjoy every moment of it. Make new friends, try new foods, learn how to do something new and embrace all that 2013 has to offer!
Shelley Sefton is co-author of Creative IQTM: Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World. Creative IQTM is available at www.creativeiq.ca.
As you search for that “perfect” gift for the holiday season, or just stuff to do with the kids over the holidays, consider adding Creative IQ(TM): Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World by Jo-Anne Schneeweiss & Shelley Sefton to the shopping list. With all this quality time with the kids coming up, sometimes it’s handy to have an “idea book” close-by.
If you’re like me - tired of hustle and bustle, but concerned that staying at home will result in too much screen time - Creative IQ(TM) is a recipe book for fun, creativity, and learning. Let’s face it, a book whose opening chapter, “Chocolotta,” details chocolate-related play, learning, and, of course, eating, is a winner.
“You had me at ‘Chocolotta’.”
From a chapter on “Winter Wonderland,” to “Math…It All Adds Up,” the authors combine their significant experience and talents to offer new and traditional suggestions for play, learning, and creative enrichment. Appealing to all types of learners, the activities are varied (math, music, science, language, and art are just some of the categories) and, well, delicious.
Whether it’s savouring the Spider Cookies in the “Say Know to Insects and Bugs” chapter, or teaching your children to be environmentally responsible in the “It’s So Easy Being Green” chapter, Creative IQ(TM) appeals to a broad readership. Formal and informal educators, as well as parents, will benefit greatly from this resource book.
So, consider taking a page out of Creative IQ(TM) this holiday season and taking a break from the hustle and bustle by indulging in some excellent recipes for creativity, curiosity, and engagement. And, we mustn’t forget the chocolate!
Dr. Janna Nadler has a B.Ed. and a Ph.D. in English Literature. She is the Director of BOOK CLUBS BY JANNA and lectures widely for book groups in the GTA. info@bookclubsbyjanna.com * www.bookclubsbyjanna.com
March brings with it the promise of spring and March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’s birthday - the guy who had plenty of SPRING in his step!Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 - September 24, 1991) was a U.S. writer and cartoonist, better known under name Dr. Seuss.Below you will find two fun and colourful activities.In the first, you can create a piece of art, and in the second you will also create a piece of art with the added bonus that it will be EDIBLE!!
Coloured rice collage (non-edible piece of art)
Colouring rice is a unique way to be creative using a medium that kids don’t often get to play with.The following activity has two options.
The first step, in honour of Dr.Seuss’s birthday, is to create a picture of the famous hat worn by Dr. Seuss’s beloved character, the Cat in the Hat.Red and white rice are used to fill in the stripes.
Another option is to create a picture that personifies the season of spring.The picture can include one or more of the following items characteristic of spring:Flowers, birds, trees, the sun, bees and / or butterflies too!
Below you will find the instructions for “colouring” rice.If you are doing the Dr. Seuss’s hat picture, you will only need red and white rice.If you are creating a spring scene, it is recommended to provide a variety of colours of rice.
Instructions for dyeing rice:
You will need:
·Any white rice (uncooked)
·Rubbing alcohol
·Liquid food colouring
·Mason jars or resealable plastic bags
What to do:
1.In a jar, add 1 cup of rice, 2 tsp of rubbing alcohol and 2 tsp of food colouring.
2.Close the lid on the jar tightly and shake. Watch as the colour of the rice changes.
3.Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and pour the rice onto the pan.
4.Spread out the rice and allow it to dry. It usually takes 12-24 hrs.
5.When it is dry, store each colour in its own mason jar and with the lid closed tightly.
NOTE: The above instructions are for one batch of coloured rice.Repeat the above instructions for every new colour.
Dr. Seuss collage (option #1):
You will need:
·White cardboard (any size will do)
·A pencil
·White school glue
·An old paint brush
·Red and white rice(amount depends on how big your hat is – 2 cups of each colouris usually sufficient)
What to do:
1.In pencil, draw the outline of Dr. Seuss’s hat ( If you need help, you can always search for images of the Cat in the Hat on the internet)
2.Don’t forget to draw in the lines with the pencil too!
3.Spread glue all over the inside of the hat using the paintbrush.
4.Using a teaspoon, slowly pour the rice to fill the inside of the drawing.Start with one colour or rice and then move onto the next colour until the whole hat is filled.A teaspoon is helpful, especially if your drawing has small details that can be hard to fill.
5.Place your collage on a flat surface and allow 4-6 hours to dry. When it is dry, shake off the excess rice over a garbage can.
Springtime collage (option #2):
You will need:
·White cardboard (any size will do)
·A pencil
·White school glue
·An old paintbrush
·A variety of coloured rice (amount depends on how big your hat is – 2 cups of each colouris usually sufficient)
What to do:
1.In pencil, draw a picture that best represents what spring means to you
2.Spread glue all over the inside of the drawing, using the paintbrush.
3.Using a teaspoon, fill the inside of the drawing with different the coloured rice, until there is no more white space showing.A teaspoon is helpful, especially if your drawing has small details that can be hard to fill.
4.Place your collage on a flat surface and allow 4-6 hours to dry. When it is dry, shake off the excess rice over a garbage can.
NOTE:You can mix your food colorings to create specialty colors if you are feeling adventurous.
Puzzling cookie (as promised,this one is edible)
This is a super creative activity, which requires the use of your baking, planning and decorating skills.And let’s not forget…eating skills!!4 stars based on 5 reviews Ths a T
Bottom of Form
You will need:
·Ready-to-bake sugar cookie dough
·A rectangular baking pan (10” x 14”)
·A piece of wax paper on which you can work so you can keep your counters clean
·Non-stick cooking spray
·A rolling pin
·A knife or pizza cutter
·Cake decorating icing tubes ( in a variety of colours)
Instructions:
1.Preheat oven to the temperature indicated on the cookie dough wrapper, spray the baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and press cookie dough into it.
2.On a piece of wax paper, roll out the dough to a 1/4 “thickness and then fit it into the pan.
3.Using a knife, cut the dough into about 12-15 puzzle shaped pieces. Bake according to the time specified on the wrapper.
4.When it is done, carefully remove from the oven. Using the same knife, go over the puzzle pieces previously cut.
5.Allow the cookie to cool.Add your own colourful touch by using the decorating icing tubes to create your own spring picture.This can include flowers, bees and other pictures that represent spring.
6.When you are done and after the icing has set, remove the cookie pieces from the baking pan, and separate all of the pieces.Now try to build your “puzzle picture” with the cookie pieces!
NOTE: Ready-to-bake cookie dough is usually found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket.
It is only fitting to conclude with one of my personal favourite Dr. Seuss poems.
Congratulations!
Today is your day. You’re off to great places!
You’re off and away! You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids thatoffers them the opportunity toexperience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art,food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
January (Latin word for door) is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and doorways.It is the start to a fresh year and a time in which many people make resolutions to change.Resolutions like eating healthier, starting to exercise or exercising more often, spending more time outdoors or spending more quality time with family and friends.
Interestingly, I discovered that January 19th is Popcorn day! Hooray! Popcorn is one of my favourite foods.
Here are some fun ways to get some exercise, be creative, spend some quality time with your friends and family, and therefore fulfill your New Year resolutions, all while enjoying some popcorn!
Basic popped corn
NOTE: Adult assistance required!
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups un-popped popcorn
¼ - ½ cup melted butter (optional)
Salt to taste
Directions;
1.Heat oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium-high heat.
2.Add popcorn and place the lid on the pan. Shake to coat kernels with oil.
3.When the corn starts to pop, shake the pan gently and evenly until the popping stops.
4.As soon as the popping stops, remove the pan from heat and pour popped corn into a large bowl.
5.Optional:Drizzle the melted butter and/or a sprinkling of salt over the corn and give it a good shake before serving.
Makes 12 servings
Popcorn relay race - Two great versions for a popular game
1.Place two large empty bowls at one end of a room, garden or field.
2.Divide the kids or family into two teams at the other end of the room and ensure each participant has a full cup of popcorn.
3.A whistle is blown to start the game.Each participant runs to their team’s bowl with a full cup of popcorn, empties it into the bowl and returns as fast as they can to their team.The team that completes the relay race first, wins.
A second version of the same game….
1.Each participant has two turns to run and empty their cup of popcorn into their teams bowl.
2.This time, they have to be very careful not to spill any popcorn while they are running.
3.After everybody has had two turns, look at the bowls and see which has more popcorn.
4.The team with the bowl that is fuller wins because they spilled less popcorn.
Popcorn Maracas
Maracas are wonderful instruments, fun to make and event more fun to play.Playing them is a great way to expend some energy, especially when you are cooped up inside during the cold winter months!
You will need:
A white paper plate
Crayons, paint or markers
A stapler
½ cup popcorn kernels
Music
What to do:
1.Take a white paper plate and colour the back of it with crayons, paint or markers.
2.Fold the plate in half, and staple it part of the way around (to create a half moon shape), leaving an opening to insert the popcorn kernels.
3.Pour the popcorn kernels into the paper plate through the opening and staple until it is sealed.
Now put on some fun and energizing music and shake your maracas!
Popcorn Snowmen
I found this super recipe on http://www.candy.about.com and just had to try it out with my kids. It was such a fun activityfor all ages and a delicious one too!
NOTE:Adult assistance required!
Ingredients:
7 cups popped popcorn
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup hot water
Raisins, gumdrops, or other candy to decorate
Two pretzel sticks, to decorate
Ribbon, to decorate
Directions
1.Place three strips of waxed paper on a table or kitchen counter, and spray them with nonstick cooking spray. Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.
2.In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium-high and heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves, then insert a candy thermometer. Cook the candy until it reaches 240 degrees.
3.Pour the sugar syrup over the popcorn in the bowl and stir gently until the popcorn is evenly coated.
4.Spoon three mounds of popcorn onto the three strips of waxed paper. You want to make the mounds in three different sizes to represent the small head, medium torso, and large body of the snowman.
5.Allow the popcorn to cool for 7-8 minutes. When it is cool enough to touch, but still warm, spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray, and form the mounds into balls, stacking them on top of one another in a snowman shape. Be sure to press the balls firmly so that they don’t fall apart.
6.Press the raisins and any other candy into the snowman to form eyes, a nose, a mouth, and buttons. Insert a pretzel stick into each side of the middle popcorn ball for the snowman’s arms.
This recipe makes one large snowman, or you can make multiple smaller snowmen.
Take some popcorn kernels and put them in a pot,
Add the oil and heat it, hear it start to pop, pop, pop.
When it is all puffy and white, then it is done,
Everyone knows popping corn is fun!
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
Snow is not usually something that receives a warm welcome.I love winter.Snow is fun best of all, I love the magical feeling I get when I see the snow sparkling outside.Below, I have included activities that you can do in the warmth of your home (Play date word search fun, French toast soufflé or Family movie night) and I have also included some fun activities that willget you out into the fresh winter air (Divide & shovel, Tip the cup and Frosty treasure hunt).Like most things in life, balance is very important.Some people like to “hibernate” and stay warm and others prefer to go out and enjoy the many activities that winter has to offer.In my opinion, everything is good in moderation…. except perhaps the French toast soufflé, which is good in abundance (the recipe can be found below).
Play date word search fun:
This is a fun activity to do with a friend or a sibling.Each person can create their own word search using words that are related to winter. You can do this on the computer or on a piece of paper.Make a chart with 12 rows and 12 columns.
Write 10-12 words at the bottom of the word search and then start placing the words into the empty chart (they can be spelled in all directions - up or down or across and even diagonally, if you are feeling really adventurous).
When you are done, exchange your word searches.Take the time to find the words your friend or sibling has hidden, while they try to find yours.
Here are some good words to get you started: Snow, Shovel, Skiing, hockey, skates, hot cocoa, scarf, mittens, fireplace, blanket, and ice rink.
French toast soufflé
This is my family’s “ultimate” winter comfort food. As the temperatures start to drop, every day that goes by, my children beg, negotiate and plead for me to make this dish. The nice thing about it is that part of it can be made in advance!
Ingredients
10 cups Challah (egg bread) cut in 1” cubes
1 (8 ounce) package light cream cheese
8 eggs
1 ½ cups1% or 2% milk
⅔ cup 5% or light cream
½ cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
½ cup blueberries tossed with a tsp. of white sugar (optional)
Directions
1.Place bread cubes in a lightly greased 9”x13” glass baking dish. (If you are planning to add the blueberries, add them to the bread cubes and mix them around.)
2.In an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg is added.
3.Stir in milk, cream, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
4.Pour cream cheese mixture over the bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
5.The following morning, remove the soufflé from refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
6.Preheat the oven to 375°F.Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
7.Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately.
Makes 10-12 Servings
Family movie night!
What a great way of getting all of your family members together for some much needed quality time.
Here are some tried and true suggestions that can help make your family’s movie night a great success:
·Pick a movie start time:Decide upon a specific night of the week and starting time and stick to it. Friday nights are often good movie nights because it’s a nice way to de-stress after a long week of work and school.
·Which movie is best?Obviously, different people have different movie tastes, especially people of different ages. Trying to find a movie that makes everybody happy can be quite a challenge. Here is a list of some of our family’s favorites…
Monsters, Inc.The IncrediblesFinding NemoThe Lion King
AladdinBrother BearCinderellaSleeping Beauty
Mary PoppinsThe Sound of MusicBack to the FutureToy Story
Kung Foo PandaDaddy Day CareCharlie and the chocolate factory
The Tooth FairyHarry PotterE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
The Princess Diaries
·Consider a theme:Encourage your kids to come up with creative snacks based on the movie. If you are watching the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, chocolate themed treats will do perfectly! Chocolate milk, ice cream or bowls of different chocolate “WONKA” treats, like chocolate covered raisins or snack size chocolate bars that are generally available year round and especially around Halloween.
·Be creative:Get the kids to create tickets for the movie. A cute idea is to have the kids “usher” their parents to their seats, using a small flashlight like in the olden days.
·Comfort Zone:Plenty of comfy seats are a must. Bean bag chairs, cozy warm blankets and large pillows on the floor make for a very comfortable and cozy setting.
·Serious Snacks:Movie candy and buttered popcorn (microwave is perfect), along with pop or water canlend an air of authenticity
Movie nights are definitely wonderful traditions that your kids will remember long into adulthood!
Winter Olympics:
Here are some games and activities to keep your kids busy in the winter, and off the couch!!
“Divide and shovel”: Divide your family members or other willing participants into two teams. Take a shovel and “draw” a line down the middle of your drive way.Provide both teams with utensils and tools for clearing the snow. Don’t forget to allocate space to dump the snow! The winning team is the one that managed to “clean up” their side of the driveway first.
“Tip the cup”: This is a great way to practice your pitching skills and to develop your hand eye co-ordination. Place 10-12 plastic drinking cups along a fence. Make snowballs and take turns trying to hit the cups off the fence. Each cup that is “tipped” is a point.
“Frosty treasure hunt”: This idea comes from one of my favourite sites www.kaboose.com.It involves hiding all of the winter accessories that you children would need in order to build a snowman or snow person! Before heading outside, give them clues or a treasure map to lead them to all of the hidden items. Then, when they have found all of the items, take a walk to a park or your own yard, and help them build a snowman with all of the items they have collected.
Whatever you decide to do, try to enjoy all of the wonderful activities, moments and memories that winter 2011/2012 hopes to deliver!
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
Embracing back to school. So many children tend to feel anxious or a little afraid of the first day of school. There are many new experiences, teacher, classes, friends and for some kids, a new school. It can all be quite overwhelming!
Here are some tips to make the first day a good one:
• Reconnect: Spend the weeks prior getting back in touch with some of your child’s or children’s friends from last year. This will eliminate any self-conscious or awkward feelings that exist when kids have not seen each other for a while.
• List your lunch: Sit down with your child and together, create a lunch chart. Have them list some of their favourite lunch box items. By getting them involved in choosing their lunches, they are more likely to eat them. Try to have them pick 5 items from each of these groups: snacks/treats, vegetables and/or fruits, sandwiches and/or hot meals that go in a thermos. This way, they have an item from each group for each day of the week.
• Fashion fortified: Help your child pick out their “outfit” for the first day (this is best done the night before). That way they have some time to think about it and have one less thing to be concerned about the next morning. My kids always pick out their clothes the night before school. This way they can dress faster in the morning and there is no last minute “where’s my favourite dinosaur t-shirt?” to deal with.
• Lock ‘n learn. Spend some time with your child practicing opening their combination lock for their locker. It can take quite a few attempts to get the hang of it.
New school?
Here are some tips to making the transition to a new school a little less stressful:
• Get acquainted. Try to contact the new school and inquire about students that may be in the same grade as your child and perhaps, live near you. You can set up a play date or two before schools starts so that your child will see a familiar face on the first day.
• Map it out! Arrange a tour of the new school so that your child is familiar with the layout and this will give him or her a better idea of where their specific grade’s classrooms will be. At the same time, take note of where the washrooms are located. This is something that can relieve a lot of anxiety in a child that is new to a school.
• A special something. If your child will be using a locker at the school, make a special trip to the dollar store nearby to find some fun items with which to decorate and personalize their locker.
Lunch box sensations: Here are some fun lunch box additions that will make for a healthy and appealing school lunch.
Yogurt parfait: cut up your child’s favourite fruit into bite sized pieces and place at the bottom of a resealable container. Top it with a few spoonful’s of vanilla yogurt (or any other flavour you prefer). Top the fruit with some cookie crumbs, chocolate chips, raisins or granola. Put the lid on and don’t forget to include a spoon! *If you use granola, make sure that it does not contain any nuts products.
Pick ‘n mix: Take a resealable plastic bag and mix together a few of the following: pretzels, cereal, raisins, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, mini cookies, fish shaped crackers and mini marshmallows.
Sub in a snap! Wrap a sub roll or two slices of bread in plastic wrap. In a resealable plastic container put some sliced vegetables like cucumber, red pepper, lettuce, olives and tomato. Alongside, put a few slices of cheese, some deli slices or leftover cooked chicken. When your child gets to school they can make their own sub! If they have a favourite spread, like cream cheese or mayonnaise, put a dollop into a small resealable container.
Tasty taco: Pack a couple taco shells or soft tortillas in a resealable plastic bag. In three individual resealable containers, place three different fillings. Choose from tomatoes, shredded cheese, beans, diced chicken, shredded carrots, lettuce and red pepper strips (again, or any filling you prefer). Kids get to make their own Mexican masterpiece. Some kids may appreciate the addition of salsa!
Please do not forget! Schools today generally have a peanut-free or nut-free environment. Some other sensitivities that may need to be taken into consideration include eggs and fish. Ask your child’s homeroom teacher or the food manufacturer if you are unsure of any of your ingredients.
T ’was’ the night before school started…..
Aim: a relaxing evening with your child or children to help release some of the stress for the start of school the next day:
Method:
1. Take some time to plan a special dinner for the night before school starts.
2. Encourage each family member to contribute a favourite dish.
3. Get everybody involved in preparing the meal, by giving them different tasks.
4. When the food is ready, sit down with your child or children and take the time to ask them a little about how they are feeling. What concerns or fears they have. Try to provide them with some reassurance and positive thinking.
Result: A child that can walk into school on the first day of the school year with a smile, a fabulous lunch and a positive attitude!
Wishing you and your children the best of luck for a stress free first day, followed by a school year filled with new experiences and friends and a year of abundant learning.
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
June is a very much “happening” month! June is the month in which a large number of marriages are known to occur. It is of widespread belief that June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. Many consider it good luck to be married in this month. June is also well known in Canada as the month in which an entire day is set aside to honour the special dad’s in our lives.
Below I have included the instructions to create a special father’s day word search for the kids to create and then share with their father. Afterwards, father’s day Olympics is a great way to spend some quality time together and to get some exercise and fresh air – below is a suggested list of games. And for the finale of the day, the father’s day backyard BBQ.
Father’s day word search:
Write down all of the qualities that you love about your dad (12-14 will do nicely!)
Here are some ideas: huggable, funny, handsome, tall, sporty, encouraging, super, best, awesome, smart, musical.
Create a table with 12 rows down and 12 columns across. This can be done on the computer or by hand!
Take the words and fill them into the squares of the word search allowing the common letters of the words to overlap and have the words run in different directions
Challenge your dad to find all of the words. You can always offer to help him!
Father’s day Olympics!
Below is a list of some fun games you can play together with your dad.
• Egg and spoon race
• The limbo
• Red rover
• Hopscotch
• Three-Legged Race
• Flag tag relay
• Create an obstacle course
Remember it is dad’s special day and so you may want to “let” him win in at least one race!!!
Father’s day backyard BBQ
After all that moving around… you can be sure everyone will have built up quite the appetite.
While all dads are different, based on the dads that I know… a father’s day BBQ is a superb way to let the dads in your life know how much they mean to you. There is a reason the following has become a universally renowned saying: “a way to a man’s heart is through his tummy!!”
The menu: Kebobs using beef, chicken, tofu, salmon, shrimp and/or vegetables provide for a variety of options from which to choose. Of course, some dads just want a good old-fashioned hamburger or hotdog. Corn on the cob, potato salad, and roasted mushrooms and onions are always a welcome addition!
The décor: Use a variety of home-made or store-bought decorations to decorate the chairs of any of the fathers that will be present at the BBQ. You can also try visiting a local party supply store or dollar store to pick up some brightly coloured decorations.
Certificates: These can be made and presented to all the special dads that are attending. Using the computer or construction paper and markers or crayons, create a certificate that honours each dad for being so uniquely special. Some ideas include most athletic dad, most cuddly dad, most handsome dad, dad with the best smile, best BBQ-ing dad.
In every family, we find different situations and therefore different definitions as to what is or makes a person a dad (Some have two dads, there are step-dads and adopted dads). The most important thing to keep in mind is that anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a DAD!
Happy Father’s Day to all of the awesome Dads in the World.
Happy Father’s day to my father and father-in-law, my husband, my brother and brother-in-law. All amazing dads that deserved to be honoured!!!
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
Spring is considered a time for rejoicing! We say goodbye to the cold, snowy winter. After being inside for so long, the arrival of spring brings the opportunity to go outside and witness all of the “re-growth”. The leaves appearing on the trees, the flowers that are budding and the many little creatures that are coming out of hiding. Children bring out their chalk and dust off their bicycles. A time to celebrate! A time to enjoy…. Summer is just around the corner!
In this article I have included some spring cleaning tips, a treat to enjoy afterwards and then an art project that will be fun for one of those rainy spring days.
Spring cleaning CAN be fun!!
In our house, as in many, spring cleaning is not generally welcomed with open arms. More likely with groaning and complaining. I have come up with a plan that will make spring cleaning much more efficient and fun.
Try to pick a day and let everyone know in advance that date is going to be THE DAY. Put up a list of what tasks you expect to be completed.Ensure everyone knows that there will be a pizza (or your own family’s choice of a favourite dinner) as a reward at the end of the day!
Divide the day into four areas…
1.Cleaning bedrooms:
§Send everyone to their respective bedrooms and start the timer! By making it a game to see who can finish first, you appeal to their competitive side.My son dislikes doing chores, but when I make it a competition, he is always game!
§Give them some large garbage bags or cardboard boxes, labelled “toys” and “books”. Let them bag any books they no longer read or toys with which they no longer play.
2.Clothing Zone:
§Get everybody to try on all of their Spring and Summer clothes from the previous year. Anything that does not fit should be placed in garbage bags labelled ‘clothes”.
§Remind them to make a note of what needs to be replaced.My nine year old daughter loves this part of the cleaning process.She knows that this will ultimately result in a mommy-daughter shopping day!
3.For the love of sports:
§Take out all of your Summer sports equipment, including bikes, rollerblades, soccer balls and nets, pool equipment and games.
§Put on some fun dancing music, fill a bucket with some soapy water and use a sponge or cloth to wipe them all down.
4.Charity begins at home:
§Take all of the bags and boxes that your family had filled with books, toys and clothes and load them in your car. Take them to a donation centre or donation box located at your local shopping centre or grocery store.Those in need who will be very grateful!
Upon returning home, make a batch of these adorable cupcakes, a well-deserved treat after a busy and productive day.
Butterfly Cupcakes
There is no creature which represents the brightness and happiness of spring more than a butterfly.
These colourful cupcakes are fun to make anytime, even for a springtime birthday party!
You will need:
·1 package cake mix, plus the ingredients to prepare the mix
·1-2 containers (store bought) vanilla icing
·Red food colouring
·12 brown chocolate button candies per cupcake for decorating
·Decorative icing tube (store-bought), in black.
·Two white mini marshmallows per cupcake
Method
1.Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray 2 standard size muffin pans with non-stick spray
2.Prepare cake mix according to the directions on the package. Spoon batter in the prepared muffin cups, filling all 24 cups
3.Bake the “cupcakes” for 20-22 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the muffin pan and allow to cool completely on a wire rack
4.Place the white icing into a bowl, add a few drops of the red food colouring and mix well. You may wish to add a few more drops, one at a time, until you reach the desired shade of red. Stir the icing well.
5.Cover the top of each cupcake with the red icing. Using the black icing tube, draw a line down the centre of the cupcake to create two wings. Place two mini marshmallows at one end for eyes. Place a dot of black icing in the centre of each “eye”.
6.Decorate each cupcake with 6 brown chocolate button candies on each “wing” (12 per cupcake)
7.Eat and enjoy!
Makes 24 cupcakes. (Can be frozen for up to two months)
Spring Art:
Create your very own Spring-inspired outdoor scene using felt. You can cut the felt into many different Spring related shapes and then create scenes on yourboard.
You will need:
·A piece of cardboard cut down to your desired size
·A piece of felt just larger than the cardboard
·Glue
·Scissors
·Pencil or pen
·Felt pieces in a variety of colours
What to do:
1.Take your piece of cardboard and lay the large piece of felt over the board.
2.Fold the extra felt over; and glue it to the back. This will create a nice, smooth finish.
3.Using a pen or pencil, draw your designs on the different coloured felt and then simply cut them out . If you have trouble deciding what to draw, think about what kind of scenes you would like to create. (Here are some ideas for Spring: birds, butterflies, the sun, clouds, umbrellas, people, hats, trees, flowers, chairs, tables, cars and animals.)
An idea!! In the Spring, we see the weather change from snow, to rain, to thunder, to lightening to sunshine. You can create all of these items, place them on your felt board and play “weather reporter”.
Let’s all Spring forwards towards all of the joys Spring has to offer
and leave all the cold, wet, dull and depressing Winter behind us!
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids thatoffers them the opportunity toexperience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art,food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
CELEBRATION, Fla. – A first-of-its-kind water coaster that sends guests racing above the upper decks of the ship. An animated turtle that engages children in conversation about life in the ocean. A sophisticated lounge where the sun sets over the skyline of a different world-famous city each night. When the Disney Dream debuts on Jan. 26, 2011, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet will bring to life these innovations and more.
The Disney Dream will take family cruising to all-new heights, embracing the spirit of innovation, magical family entertainment and immersive experiences that have made Disney Cruise Line the incomparable cruise of choice for families since 1998.
Disney Cruise Line revolutionized the cruise industry with ships designed especially for families. With the advent of the Disney Dream, preparations are underway to expand the one-of-a-kind family experience, utilizing technology to enhance the world-class entertainment and legendary guest services onboard. From stem to stern, the Disney Dream will offer a cruise experience that caters to each and every guest.
The Disney Dream features a remarkable interior design with a warm and welcoming feel throughout, providing the perfect blend of elegant art deco style and fun-filled Disney whimsy to create one of the most spectacular ships afloat. Distinctly Disney guest features aboard the ship include:
AquaDuck Water Coaster. . . Disney Cruise Line debuts a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster … AquaDuck! Guests aboard the Disney Dream will get swept away on an exhilarating high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.
• AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length – more than two and a half times the length of a football field – and spans four decks in height.
• Guests slide 13 feet over the side of the ship in a translucent “swing out” loop allowing them to look down on the ocean 150 feet below.
• Guests experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets push them upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second.
• AquaDuck continues through the forward funnel, encounters a 335-foot stretch of river rapids and splashes down to an end on Deck 12.
A Magical Porthole for Inside Staterooms. . .
Disney Cruise Line introduces another stateroom innovation with all inside staterooms on the Disney Dream featuring a Magical Porthole that provides guests with a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to each Magical Porthole.
As guests observe the impressive outside views, they may glimpse a magical surprise: animated characters such as Peach the starfish from the Disney•Pixar film “Finding Nemo,” the flying balloon house from “UP” or even Mickey Mouse.
A Magical Oasis for Children . .
Only on a Disney Cruise Line ship can children become immersed in their favorite Disney stories with the help of caring counselors, beloved Disney characters and a sprinkling of pixie dust. The celebration of children’s creativity rises to a new level on the Disney Dream with nearly an entire deck of youth spaces designed to inspire, entertain and unlock the imagination of children ages three to 10.
At Disney’s Oceaneer Club, children can:
• Play among larger-than-life characters from Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” in Andy’s Room
• Explore the Laugh Floor with lovable monsters Mike and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.”
• Dive under the sea with Nemo and friends or visit Tinker Bell’s fairy forest
At Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, children feel as though they are embarking on a great seafaring adventure in a room filled with maps, maritime instruments and swashbuckling artifacts. Here, children can try their hand at animation, become a pop star or navigate ships through digital seas.
Both youth areas offer magical interactions with the animated characters such as Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney•Pixar motion picture “Finding Nemo,” and Stitch, the mischievous alien from “Lilo and Stitch.” The characters chat, play and joke with children in live, unrehearsed conversations from their digital undersea and intergalactic environments via giant plasma screens.
Both venues also feature a Magic Playfloor, a cruise industry first that blends the latest in gaming technology with Disney’s panache for storytelling. The interactive floor allows children to engage in group activities where their movements control the action. Activities include controlling the pitch of a virtual tilt maze, flying over the streets of London with Peter Pan and riding the ocean waves with Crush.
Chill-Out Zones for Tweens and Teens. . . • Located inside the forward funnel of the Disney Dream is Edge – the lounge just for tweens (ages 11 to 13). This tween pad is filled with a multitude of hi-tech entertainment including the ability to create and star in photo postcards and video karaoke using green-screen technology.
• Teens have their own exclusive club with Vibe – a trendy, 9,000-square-foot club for guests ages 14 to 17. Teens can create videos, play computer games and try their hand at mixing dance tracks. Teens have a private outdoor area for sunbathing, deck games and cooling off with wading pools and water jets.
Personal Touches with Rotational Dining. . . Disney Cruise Line continues its innovative rotational dining concept onboard the Disney Dream with elaborately themed restaurants, distinctly Disney touches, and world-class cuisine to create a magical dining experience. Throughout the cruise, guests visit different restaurants for dinner – with their servers accompanying them, providing friendly, personalized service each night. Restaurants include:
• Animator’s Palate, a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room for an amazing experience that will captivate the entire family. The room is immersed in a vivid undersea environment and Crush, the surfer-dude sea turtle from Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Nemo,” makes a special appearance, swimming around the restaurant and engaging in live impromptu interactions with guests. Crush asks guests about their experience onboard the ship and answers questions about his life under the sea. Other characters such as Nemo, Dory, Squirt and Bruce the shark swim by and visit with guests.
• Royal Palace, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
• Enchanted Garden, a whimsical, casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.
Just for Adults. . . On the Disney Dream, while children are having the time of their lives in the elaborately themed youth areas, adults can look forward to incomparable indulgences and relaxation with exclusive areas and offerings designed exclusively for them.
• Adults can escape into The District, a nighttime entertainment area on the Disney Dream with five unique venues. This playground for grownups features sophisticated lounges, each with its own unique design, look, feel, and palate-pleasing delights.
• Senses Spa & Salon offers adult tranquility with 17 private treatment rooms, lavish spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs, and Rainforest, a special section of the spa offering the benefits of steam, heat and hydrotherapy to relax the mind and body.
• At Palo, sweeping ocean views, rich décor and epicurean excellence create the setting for a romantic escape aboard the Disney Dream in a redesigned version of Disney Cruise Line’s signature specialty restaurant. Guests also may dine al fresco on Palo’s private outdoor deck.
• Remy debuts on the Disney Dream – Disney Cruise Line’s first-ever premier dining option. With French-inspired, gourmet cuisine by two award-winning chefs, Remy melds classic and contemporary styles in a sophisticated new dining concept exclusively for adults.
The Disney Dream will depart on her maiden voyage Jan. 26, 2011, and will sail alternating three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. During summer months, the ship will alternate four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit www.disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.
Disney Cruise Line revolutionized the cruise industry with ships designed especially for families. With the advent of the 
