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.  

(c) Shelley Sefton 2013

Jo-Anne Schneeweiss and Shelley Sefton have just launched a website to provide up-to-date information about their book, Creative IQ (TM): Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World, at http://www.CreativeIQ.ca.

When you visit their new website, you will find a blog, as well as further information about availability, media attention, fundraising possibilities and more.

Fall or autumn, no matter what you call it, offers so many fabulous opportunities to have fun with your kids.  Going on a nature walk and collecting leaves, then returning home to create a fall work of art.  Visiting a pumpkin patch and then carving your very own Halloween Jack-O- lantern. Scooping out all of the raw pumpkin seeds and roasting them to make a delicious and nutritious snack.  Finally, at the end of a long day, cuddling up on a couch with your kids to read a book about the season.  These are just some of the things that make Fall special for me and my family.

 

Fall leaf activity:  Cherishing the colours of fall

You will need:

·         Leaves in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes

·         Craft foam sheets in fall colours – orange, red, brown or yellow

·         Contact paper*

·         Tan card stock paper

·         White school glue

·         A popsicle stick (spreader for the glue)

What to do:

1.       Go outside and collect leaves in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes.

2.       Cut a frame out of the foam sheet and put aside.

3.       Cut a piece of card stock paper to fit behind the frame (the same size) and put aside.

4.       Cut a piece of contact paper the same size as your card stock paper and put aside.

5.       Take your leaves and plan out a design on your card stock ensuring that it fits inside the frame.

6.       Using your popsicle stick, spread the glue on the back of your leaves.  Glue the leaves to the card stock. Peel away the backing of the contact paper and stick the adhesive carefully over the leaf picture.

7.       Using the popsicle stick, spread the glue over the back of the foam frame and place it over the picture (on top of the contact paper). 

8.       Allow the glue time to dry.

 

*Contact paper is a clear adhesive covering used to laminate pictures or posters and protect them from getting wet and ruined.  It can be purchased at most dollar stores.

Wall art – hanging-up your creation:  Using a hole-punch, make one hole in the top left corner and one hole in the top right corner. Then thread a fall coloured ribbon or yarn through to hang.

Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin seeds:

Pumpkins are a very important part of Halloween and the fall. Why not try out this recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds, a healthy snack to give the trick-or-treaters, before they head out in search of candy. This particular recipe caught my attention.  It uses egg whites instead of the usual butter or oil required in most roasted pumpkin recipes.  I thought it to be a healthier alternative!

You will need:

·         1 egg white

·         ¼ cup white sugar

·         ½ teaspoon fine grained sea salt

·         1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds (washed and dried)

Method:

1.       Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2.       Spray the baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray (Parchment paper is an alternative).

3.       In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg white, sugar and salt.

4.       Add the pumpkin seeds and toss well. Drain off any excess egg white (using a colander) and place seeds in a single layer across prepared baking sheet.

5.       Bake for 10-12 minutes or until seeds are golden in colour.

6.       Remove from oven and allow to cool.  Seeds may be kept up to 3 days in an airtight container.

Great reads for the fall:

Here are some great fall-themed books that caught my kids’ attention at our local bookstore!

The local library is also a great place to take your children. They can pick out their own books and it is much more cost efficient!

1.       Boo! by Robert Munsch (a favourite in our house!)

2.       How Do Apples Grow?  by Betsy Maestro – find out how an apple grows from bud to flower to fruit–ready for you to pick!

3.       Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

4.       Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

5.       The Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown

6.       …and my 10 year old Sabrina’s all-time favourite Halloween book, Happy Halloween, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt

The leaves are falling yellow, orange and red,

Fall is no time to be staying in bed,

It’s time to go out and pick up a pumpkin,

Roasting the seeds will have everyone jumpin’,

 

Halloween costumes - I can’t tell you apart,

Using coloured leaves to create fall art,

After trick or treating, cuddle up with some books,

Shelley Sefton is co-author of Creative IQ^TM:  Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World. Creative IQ^TM is available at www.amazon.ca, at Alpha Textbooks. Orders in the GTA can also be placed directly through Shelley Sefton at bcreativeiq@gmail.com.   

© Shelley Sefton 2012

 

 

 

A friend and I recently wrote and published a book called Creative IQ:  Giving Young Learners the Creative Edge in a Competitive World.  This book provides parents, teachers and care-givers with a multitude of educational and fun activities of which children can partake and that they can solve through creative methods.  Through the development of their exploration, critical thinking and problem solving abilities, the young learners gain confidence to pursue even more challenging issues.  In my experience, children are always more receptive to learning when it is done in a fun environment.

The book is divided into 10 chapters and they include (among others) Chocolotta, You Colour My World, Math-It All Adds Up, Surfing For Fun At The Beach and Creating a Winter Wonderland.  Each chapter contains ten or so activities, some with challenges.  Each activity is aligned to one of the “Building Blocks for Creativity� that identifies the skills being developed.

One of my favourites is Chocolate.  People tend to assume that any activity featuring chocolate is a “junk-food� activity.  This is not always the case.  First of all, did you know that chocolate (in moderation) can be quite healthy?  Second, pairing with chocolate (which is part of one of the activities in our book) is a great way to teach children to try foods they might otherwise not let you bring within five inches of their mouth.  Finally, chocolate can be used to enhance so many summer recipes, one of which I have included below.

Chocolate can be good for you!

There are many benefits to eating chocolate, in moderation.  It is high in antioxidants, it can lower blood pressure and has shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 10 percent.  Chocolate contains serotonin, a natural anti-depressant.  Chocolate also stimulates endorphin production, which creates feelings of happiness and pleasure.  It has the reputation of being one of the best cancer-fighting foods along with blueberries, garlic, and tea.  Chocolate is high in magnesium which is a mineral that helps in the regulation of digestive, neurological and cardiovascular systems. Essentially, the results of years of studies show that a moderate consumption of chocolate (mostly dark, bitter sweet or semi-sweet) can improve our over-all health.

Let’s play Chocolate Detective!  (advance preparation is required)

In this activity, children use their senses as they play chocolate detective and try to guess what is inside ten different chocolate surprises (prepared by you).  Sight, touch, smell, and taste are all required.  This activity also offers a great way to get kids to taste test foods they would be reluctant to otherwise try.

You will need:

·         8-10 small food items to cover with chocolate such as pretzels, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, dried apricots, carrots, pepper slices, grape tomatoes, olives, marshmallows, cookies, dried mango slices and cubed cheese.  Feel free to substitute any of the above with foods you wish to test.

·         8 ounces/250 grams of semi-sweet chocolate chips

·         Canola or sunflower oil

·         Parchment paper

 

Steps:

1.       Cover a baking tray with parchment paper.

2.       Melt the chocolate in a microwave or in a double boiler on the stove (Note: Watch carefully as chocolate can burn quickly).

3.       Add a tablespoon of oil to the chocolate to thin it out for dipping.

4.       Carefully dip each item into the melted chocolate and place it on the parchment paper.

5.       Once all of the food items have been covered in chocolate, place the baking tray in the refrigerator so that the chocolate will harden.

6.       After the chocolate has hardened, place the items on parchment paper or plates, putting a number beside each item.

7.       On a piece of paper, have the detectives write the number of the item and their guess after tasting it.  After trying all of the items, see which guesses are correct.

Note:  As a time saver, you may wish to visit your local grocery or bulk store to see if you can find pre-prepared chocolate covered items.

Chocolate Dipped!

You will need:

·         4 whole bananas, peeled and cut in half

·         1 cup chocolate chips or chunks

·         1 Tbsp. canola or sunflower oil

·         Sprinkles or chopped peanuts, optional

Steps:

1.       Peel bananas and place on a plate in the freezer.

2.       Place the chocolate chips and 1 Tbsp of oil in a glass bowl.

3.       Microwave for 60 seconds and then stir.

4.       Microwave for an additional 30-60 seconds until the chocolate is melted.

5.       Remove the bananas from the freezer and dip into the melted chocolate.

6.       At this point, you can then dip into the sprinkles or peanuts.

7.       Place the dipped banana halves on the plate and into the freezer until the chocolate is hardened.

8.       They can be stored in a re-sealable container in the freezer for up to a month.

Frozen bananas dipped in chocolate…Yummmm!!  We are in the heart of the summer and these refreshing treats are a great way to have your fruit and chocolate too!

 

 

 

(c) Shelley Sefton 2012  

Hooray! Hooray! Spring has sprung,

Let’s all celebrate, Summer is next to come!

This is one of my favourite times of the year.  Everybody is starting to come outside and breathe in the fresh spring air.  Thinking about the upcoming warm and sunny days brings with it feelings of optimism and delight.  As we put away our hats, coats and gloves for next year… we bring out the sunscreen, swimsuits and towels! Going to the park, water play, playing hockey on the driveway, frequenting one of the neighbourhood’s ice cream (or frozen yogurt) parlours, these are some of my family’s favourite activities.

Below you will find a super fun spring-inspired craft that you can make with your kids and their friends.  You will also uncover the recipe for my daughter Sabrina’s “Summer is here� breakfast parfait.

Paper Plate Flower Craft

The directions to make this paper plate flower are easy to follow and the result is a colourful flower representing the joys of both spring and summer.  This creative project comes from one of my favourite arts and crafts websites http://www.enchantedlearning.com

You will need:

A pencil

Colorful construction paper

Scissors (depending on the young artist’s age, an adult’s help may be needed for the cutting steps)

A stapler

Glue

A paper plate

Pipe cleaner (one per flower)

Directions: 

1.       Using your pencil, trace a child’s hand on colorful construction paper, at least 18-20 times.

2.       Cut out the hand tracings.

3.       Staple a circle of handprint tracings (fingers pointing outwards) around the outside of the plate - the fingers are the flower’s petals.

4.       Staple a second circle of handprint tracings (fingers pointing outwards) just inside the first circle.

5.       Staple a third circle of handprint tracings at the center of the plate. 

6.       Cut out a small paper circle from the leftover construction paper (2� in diameter) and glue in the center of the flower.

7.       Take a pipe cleaner and staple to the bottom of the flower – now you have a stem!

“Summer Is Here� breakfast parfait

Along with the beautiful weather comes the bountiful supply of fresh and exotic fruits that are often not available in the colder months.  My daughter Sabrina loves her breakfast and this is the recipe for her favourite summer breakfast.  She loves to mix up a variety of colourful fruits, with a few dollops of yogurt (sometimes more than one flavour) and then she tops it off with the crunchiest cereals she can find.

Ingredients:

1-2 cups fruit - blueberries, bananas, strawberries, pineapple, mango , kiwi, raspberries and blackberries

¼ - ½ cup yoghurt - vanilla, strawberry and/or blueberry.

3-4 Tbsp. cereal - any of your families favourite cereals will do…granola is a favourite of Sabrina’s

1-2 Tbsp. topping - dried apricots (cut in slivers with a pair of scissors), ground cinnamon, raisins and/or dried cranberries.

*Quantities vary, depending upon how hungry you are and which ingredients you favour.

How to make it:

1.       Wash and dry the fruit you will be using. Cut the fruit up into bite-sized pieces.

2.       Place the fruit at the bottom of a bowl and drizzle the yogurt of your choice over the fruit.

3.       Cover the yoghurt with the cereal and toppings you are most partial to.

4.       Grab a spoon and enjoy!

Sabrina enjoys taking her breakfast parfait out onto our deck and eating in the sunlight!

Take the time to head outdoors, breathe in the fresh spring-summer air

and spend some good old-fashioned quality time with your family

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.  

(c) Shelley Sefton 2012

March brings with it the promise of spring and March 2^nd 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 colour  is 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 colour  is 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 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.  

(c) Shelley Sefton 2012

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 19^th 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 activity for 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.  

 

(c) Shelley Sefton 2012

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

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 will  get 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 1â€� cubes
• 1 (8 ounce) package light cream cheese
• 8 eggs
• 1 ½ cups  1% or 2% milk
• â…” 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 Incredibles  Finding Nemo                The Lion King

Aladdin             Brother Bear                  Cinderella                      Sleeping Beauty

Mary Poppins                The Sound of Music       Back to the Future         Toy Story

Kung Foo Panda            Daddy Day Care            Charlie and the chocolate factory

The Tooth Fairy Harry Potter                   E.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 can  lend 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.  

(c) Shelley Sefton 2011

 

October may start with the letter “O�, however in my book, “A� is the most important letter of the month… “A� is the first letter of the word “Apple�.   Whether it is apple picking, eating apples, cooking or baking with apples or trying your hand at an apple-oriented craft, October is a great month for exploring the wonderful world of apples!

Apple Picking

Grab a pair of boots, a warm hat, mittens and a coat and visit a local apple farm.  Apple picking provides a great opportunity to get some fresh air and be active at the same time – simply some good old fashioned fun with nature.  Also, many of the apple farms in our area have play structures, BBQs, corn mazes, petting zoos and stores selling delicious baked goods.  Pick a variety of apples and take them home to complete the next step in this apple adventure (check-out the websites of your local apple farms to see which apples are in season).

Apple taste test

Many varieties of apples are grown in Ontario:  Cortland, Empire, Gala, McIntosh, Northern Spy, Spartan, Crispin (Mutsu), Golden Russet, Honeycrisp, Idared,  Jonagold and Red Delicious.

Try and pick up a few different varieties, either at your local apple farm or at your neighbourhood supermarket, in the produce aisle. Bring them home, label them and then taste-test them.
Each apple has its own unique taste, feel and look.  Here are some words that can be used when describing the tastes, textures and appearances unique to each type of apple:   Sweet, sour, crunchy, tart, crispy, juicy, ripe, fragrant, yellow, golden, red, green, shiny, delicious, round, small, big and bruised (hopefully not but sometimes it happens).

Apple Art

Here is a fun project that will appeal to artists of all ages!

You will need:
• Old newspaper
• 1 piece of Bristol board (white is preferable)
• Brown, yellow, red and green paint
• A paintbrush
• Bowls to hold the paint
• 2-3 apples, halved – this will require some adult assistance
 

What to do:

1. Lay newspapers over the area of the floor on which you plan to paint
2. Take a piece of Bristol board and lay it on top of the newspaper
3. Pour the paint into the bowls and cut the apples in half (horizontally or from top to bottom)
4. Using a paintbrush and brown paint, paint a long tree trunk with branches.
5. Dip the flat side of the apple into the paint and then place it on the paper over the brown painted stems to look like apples on a tree.  Repeat using different apples and paint colours.

Apple guessing game:

Below you will find some well-known apple sayings.

Write each saying down on a small piece of paper.  Fold the paper and place it in a hat (a baseball hat will do fine!).

Make two teams.  Each team will then take turns picking a piece of paper out of the hat.  They then have to act out the saying on the paper.  The aim is to guess the saying involving apples.

Apple Sayings/References:

  “A� is for Apple.
  An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
  Don’t upset the apple cart.
  One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.
  Rotten to the core.
  Adam’s Apple
  You are the apple of my eye.
  The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
  As American as apple pie.
  That’s like comparing apples and oranges.
  The “big Apple�

Take some time to head out into the fresh air, pick some apples, sample some new varieties, bake ‘em, cook ‘em or use them in the creation of a piece of art.  Either way, remember that apples taste good, are a healthy snack and are so easy to take along with you!

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.  

(c) Shelley Sefton 2011

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.  

(c) Shelley Sefton 2011