Creative Twists on the Traditional Easter Egg Hunt

Creative Twists on the Traditional Easter Egg Hunt

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The traditional egg hunt game may use dyed hardboiled eggs, plastic eggs filled with coins or candy, or foil-wrapped egg-shaped chocolates hidden around the yard for kids to find. The game may also be played indoors, with or without additional prizes awarded for finding the most eggs, the largest egg, eggs of specific colors, or the prize egg. The treasures are placed at varying levels with different degrees of concealment to accommodate kids of all ages. As parents and educators, we’re always striving to present new twists on tired old themes to spark the thrill of discovery. Try these Easter Egg Hunt ideas to spark young imaginations.

For Indoors: Balloon Egg Hunt

Floating obstacles make everything more fun! Hide all the Easter eggs in a small room of the house, filling it with colorful balloons for an exciting challenge. Clever variations for toddlers include putting balloons in a tent outside or tying balloons to each egg to make them easier to discover. Playing in the “balloon ball pit” is half the entertainment.

For A Brain Boost: Puzzle Pieces Egg Hunt

Hide a puzzle piece in each egg. The 36-piece Beatrix Potter jigsaw puzzles work nicely for an Easter theme or you could customize a blank puzzle with a special message. Once everyone assembles the puzzle together, kids can dip into their Easter baskets for a reward. If you have more than one older child with stamina, you can do multiple puzzles, separating the puzzles into different colored eggs to keep them straight. Another variation involves writing letters on the eggs so they spell out the alphabet (for younger children) or an Easter-related word (for older children) when they’re all assembled together.

For the Active: Obstacle Course Egg Hunt

Kindergartners with limitless energy will love overcoming physical feats to find their eggs. One tricky mom hid plastic eggs and balls inside a lady bug tunnel, tied balloons to hula hoops with eggs hidden beneath, and eggs obscured by Easter grass in a baby pool. Additional obstacles include sawhorses to climb under, construction cones to weave through, two shoeboxes to step into and shuffle along, a wood plank balance beam to walk across, slides, tumbling mats, wooden stumps or pails to step across, chairs to crawl under, and ladders to climb.

For the Problem Solver: Scavenger Hunt

As your kids get older, you’ll notice what used to take them a good half hour is now over in all of five minutes. A scavenger hunt is a great way to get growing minds engaged and to make the hunt seem less “babyish.” Start by handing each child an egg with a written clue as to the hiding spot of the next egg. The final clue should lead to the Easter basket or some other big prize like a book or chocolate bunny. Darling Doodles has a great set of clues or blank stationery you can use. Another twist on the Scavenger Hunt idea is to make it pirate-themed as a Treasure Hunt of sorts. If you’re stumped for clues and hiding spots, The Spruce has a good run-down. A Mom’s Take created a simple printable checklist of hidden items to find – different colored eggs, bunny tracks, flowers to smell, critters, and baskets. These activities encourage kids to slow down and enjoy the search.

For the Novelty: Glow-in-the-Dark Egg Hunt

Who says Easter Egg Hunts have to be in the morning? Place a glow bracelet and your favorite filler inside a plastic egg and tape it shut. The eggs are easy to find, but many little ones delight in carrying flashlights. Put your kids in reflective clothing or a glow necklace to keep track of them easily, and be sure to scout the area for potential hazards while it’s still light out. For older kids, hide the eggs under rocks and leaves, inside flower pots, and in other places where they’re slightly hidden from plain view.

One Final Word

Remember, your eggs don’t have to be packed full of candy. Some people use Monopoly Money that can be “cashed-in” for a special prize like a coloring book, stuffed animal, or gardening tool kit. You can put Legos, Mr. Potato Head pieces, miniature cars, coins, dollar bills, stickers, tattoos, Barbie accessories, or Safari Ltd animals. Gift young kids magnetic easels and hide the magnetic numbers and letters inside the eggs. Have the kids hunt for pieces of their lunch like sandwiches, goldfish crackers and grapes hidden in eggs. Some parents write up “Privilege Eggs,” where children receive handwritten tickets they can redeem for special allowances like an extra cookie, fifteen more minutes of play time before bed, or a special outing with mom and dad. For more ideas on creating an unforgettable Easter morning, contact the educators at Shine.

Additional Easter Egg Hunt Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_hunt

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/easter-ideas/g4151/easter-egg-hunt-ideas/

https://www.thedailymeal.com/holidays/10-best-easter-egg-hunts-all-ages

http://mommyuniversitynj.com/2015/03/23/10-brain-boosting-easter-egg-hunt-ideas-without-the-candy/

http://makethebestofeverything.com/2013/02/puzzle-easter-egg-hunt.html

https://surnamejames.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/easter-scavenger-hunt/

https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/backyard-fun-games/make-backyard-obstacle-course-kids1.htm

Top 5 Irish Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day

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International Kid-Friendly Food:

Top 5 Irish Recipes For St. Patrick’s Day

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held, not in Ireland, but here in New York City in 1762. Corned beef and cabbage is a culinary tradition started by Irish-American immigrants who were able to purchase expensive kosher meats from their Jewish neighbors. They threw the flavorful salted meat into a pot with beloved potatoes and affordable cabbage – and the rest is history. Contemporary St. Patrick’s Day menus in the homeland include dishes like fried lamb belly fingers, slow-poached organic chicken with tarragon, colcannon (mashed potatoes with kale), roasted carrots, and herbed Irish cheddar croquette.

Whether you’re in New York or Ireland, cooking a meal together as a family is a beautiful tradition. Your menu doesn’t have to be fancy. We’ve dug up five good old-fashioned Irish recipes to enjoy cooking and eating with your children this St. Paddy’s Day. Before you get started in the kitchen, take the kids down to The Butcher Block in Sunnyside, Queens for authentic Irish provisions, including back bacon, rashers, black pudding, Irish teas, Kerrygold cheese, sweets, sauces, spreads, and breads.

Irish Soda Bread

From Chef Darina Allen, courtesy of National Geographic

Homemade soda bread is a staple in any Irish pantry. White soda bread is made with white flour, while brown soda bread is made with buttermilk and whole-wheat flour. It’s traditionally fashioned into a round loaf with a cross etched in the middle – to keep out the fairies, naturally! Allen’s basic recipe takes just two minutes to put together and 40 minutes to bake. “Your soda bread is not a soda bread we would recognize,” she explains. Americans “gussy up” their soda breads with raisins and caraway seeds – which appeals to our youngsters, no doubt — but over in Ireland, they call that type of bread a “spotted dog.”

Get Chef Allen’s recipe or, if you prefer adding goodies, try this third-generation recipe from NYC Chef John Mooney.

The Full Irish Breakfast

From Chef Joe Mallol from the Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog in Manhattan

Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog won countless awards for their cocktails and was ranked “The World’s Best Bar” in 2016. Drinks aside, the restaurant’s weekend brunch became so popular, they offer it all week long to keep up with demand. The Irish Breakfast is designed to be comforting and filling. Chef Mallol’s take on the classic formula involves a few extra herbs and spices, but remains pretty true to what you would find in Ireland. Even the pickiest of eaters will find something to devour on this plate of eggs, Irish sausages (Bangers), back bacon (Rashers), blood and oatmeal sausages (Black and White Pudding), toast, sautéed mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, and baked beans. Adults can pair this meal equally well with Guinness or Irish coffee, while kids can enjoy a craft apple juice blended with strawberry, raspberry, or black currant.

Get the recipe.

A Proper Stew for St. Patrick’s Day

By David Tanis, NY food writer, former Chez Panisse chef, current chef at the Monkey Bar in Midtown

Rich, hearty Irish stew contains a handful of ingredients like mutton or young lamb, onions, and potatoes. The further south you go, the more vegetables you’ll see – like carrots or even turnips. Irish stews can be a broth served in a bowl or thickened with flour and served over mashed potatoes. Adorned with just a sprig of thyme, the natural food flavors take center stage in this recipe that is simple enough to cook with kids.

Get the recipe.

Smoky Cheese & Potato Soup with Pesto Shamrock Toast

From Better Homes and Gardens

You’ll need a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter for this fun-looking dish that combines the smokiness of gouda cheese and paprika with the creaminess of mashed potatoes and carrots. It’s an easy 25-minute dish that warms the heart in less than 400 calories. We’ve seen similar recipes with the addition of four ounces of finely chopped ham for added protein. The floating green pesto-topped shamrock toast will be the showstopper for the kids who may get a little messy figuring out how to best eat it. You can try Orwasher’s Bakery or Amy’s Bread for a great artisanal Irish sourdough worthy of your soup.

Get the recipe.

Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce

From Irish American Mom, Adapted by Kailey at The Kitchen McCabe

Finding an Irish dessert that doesn’t use Guinness, Bailey’s, or Irish whiskey can be a challenge, but the crunchy sugary crust and Grandma’s creamy custard sauce provide plenty of sweetness to this apple cake recipe — without the booze. You’ll need a round 8″ or 9″ pan, ideally a springform. You can use Golden Delicious apples if you find Granny Smiths too tart. While most cakes are spiced with cinnamon, this version borrows cloves and nutmeg for a European twist.

Get the recipe.

Additional Irish Recipe Resources:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-st-patricks-day-parade

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/is-corned-beef-really-irish-2839144/

http://www.thebutchersblock.com/

http://dish.allrecipes.com/irish-recipes-for-st-patricks-day/

https://www.deadrabbitnyc.com/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-06/the-dead-rabbit-grocery-grog-is-named-the-world-s-best-bar

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/ireland-food-and-drink/

http://www.grubstreet.com/2018/02/david-tanis-new-monkey-bar-chef.html

https://www.orwashers.com/

http://www.amysbread.com

 

New Crafting Ideas For Kids This Valentine’s Day

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While you may have a sitter booked for a romantic dinner date with your significant other, you can include your little ones in the celebration of love with a fun afternoon of crafting. The benefits of parent/child craft time are vast. Research shows crafting encourages visual-spatial information processing beneficial to math and reading, coordination of fine motor skills used sports, and improved executive functioning necessary to pay attention, focus, and remember. Of course, the benefits you both reap from the quality bonding time are immeasurable.

Need inspiration? Here are a few favorites.

Personalized Prints

Little hands and tiny feet capture the heart with fleeting adorability. Art using hand, finger, or footprints makes a wonderful keepsake to look back upon as your child grows, year after year. Capture the uniqueness of your child with these Fingerprint Heart Ornaments made from soda clay or homemade salt dough. You’ll just need to pick up heart-shaped cookie cutters, decorative ribbon, and an ink pad, then bake the craft in the oven for an hour. If you like salt dough, you can also try making a handprint picture frame using the same method.

 

Heart-Shaped Animals

Every kid remembers making heart-shaped animals in school to take home to doting parents. Older kids can practice wielding scissors themselves, while youngsters will enjoy watching how various shapes come together to form charming animal friends. We’ve seen every kind of animal imaginable, from heart lions and zebras, to heart bumblebees and snails. Perhaps our favorite is this Heart Jellyfish with the whimsical googly eyes.

 

Light-Catching Window Clings

By this time in winter, we could all use some extra color and sunshine. This Simple Heart Window Display is made using water-colored coffee filters cut into hearts and affixed to the window with washable glue stick, and outlined with Tempera paint. A similar craft can be made using construction paper cut into a heart with shapes cut out of the interior and filled in with tissue paper. Another easy variation is to make Tissue Paper Stained Glass using contact paper.

 

Framed Button Heart

There are many different looks for a Framed Button Heart, depending on your curation of buttons. Little ones love strategically placing the buttons inside the heart template, which makes for tasteful seasonal décor. Glue, buttons, cardstock – it doesn’t get much simpler than that. (Well, okay, you can use the template if you’re a perfectionist.)

 

Frozen Hearts

We always like art that seems part science. Why not give the right and the left brain a workout if we can? The look of awe on a child’s face is reward enough for your diligence in selecting just the right craft. Sadly, this art won’t last forever, but it’s worth making an Icy Heart Painting at least once, so the kids can see how salt burrows tunnels into a block of ice to create dazzling paint caves.

If you prefer, you can create a Valentine Craft Station for older kids to enjoy less structured crafting by filling a table with Valentine’s color construction paper, markers, glitter, crayons, felt, ribbon, wrapping paper, Bingo dabbers, heart stickers, and googly eyes. Or you can make a fun, simple Valentine’s Day sensory tub for toddlers using pom-poms, pipe cleaners, felt hearts, and other textured Dollar Store items that will keep the kids busy for hours. For more ideas, contact Shine NYC to see what we can bring to a fun Valentine’s themed Crafternoon.

Resources:

https://www.personalcreations.com/blog/valentines-day-crafts-for-kids

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/valentines-crafts-kids

https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/toddler-valentine-crafts/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/easy-valentines-day-crafts-for-kids_n_6518196.html

https://happyhooligans.ca/5-easy-valentine-crafts-for-toddlers/

https://www.redtedart.com/valentine-crafts-for-preschoolers/

https://www.popsugar.com/moms/Valentine-Day-Crafts-Toddlers-21553278?stream_view=1#photo-33536790

https://www.craftymorning.com/list-of-diy-valentines-day-crafts-for-kids/

https://lollyjane.com/valentines-day-crafts-for-kids/

https://www.craftymorning.com/valentines-day-heart-shaped-animal/

International Kid-Friendly Food: Top 5 Recipes For Chinese New Year

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With traditional lion dancers, festive floats, firecrackers, shopping discounts, arts and craft vendors, and Chinese folk music symphonies, New York City is a great place to be for Chinese New Year. Chinatown is a bustle of activity for the Lunar New Year. Behind all the pomp and circumstance, local Chinese families celebrate privately with their relatives, sharing the most important meal of the year. Whether near or far, reunions are a symbolic gesture to be thankful for the past year and hopeful in the new.

New Year’s Eve dinners vary by region, but typically include chicken, fish, or pork in the south of China and homemade dumplings in the north. Every Chinese New Year dish signifies something, whether it’s to wish for a year of completeness with a whole chicken, abundance with two whole fish, happiness and longevity with noodles, family togetherness with sweet rice balls, or wealth with dumplings.

Steamed Fish

A family recipe from Long Island Food Blogger Jessica Lee Binder, courtesy of NY Daily News

Fish represents an increase in prosperity and good luck. This recipe uses white fish like striped bass, which has a lighter flavor likely to appease kids. The sauce – made from seasoned soy sauce, thin-sliced fresh ginger, scallions, vegetable oil, and a pinch of sugar (the only other ingredients you’ll need) – is savory enough to make kids forget they’re eating from the sea. The food is ready in just 15 minutes, and goes great with sticky rice. You can get additional tips for steaming a whole fish from The Woks of Life if you’ve never done it before.

Get the recipe.

Rice Chicken Casserole

From Kei Lum Chan, co-author of China: The Cookbook, courtesy of MyDomaine.com

We can all appreciate the simplicity of a one-pot main course. Chicken is the heart of this dish, which signifies prosperity. Until recent times, the Chinese people only served chicken on festival days or birthdays. Chicken thighs – considered the best part of the bird – were reserved for the elders. This quick recipe requires 20 minutes of marinating and 20 minutes of cooking in a dutch oven. Chinese sausage is the one tricky ingredient that may require a separate trip to a Chinatown butcher shop. Trust us, it’s worth it! Lap Cheong is made from pork or liver, marinated, and smoked for a smoky, sweet, salty taste as sumptuous as candied bacon. Like many Asian dishes, additional flavors in this dish come from ginger, soy, garlic, and scallions.

Get the recipe.

Fast Pot Stickers

From Mark Bittman, NY Times Food Columnist

Pot stickers are sometimes called “Little Purses.” Fittingly, they symbolize prosperity and riches in the year to come. You can do them with homemade dough, but it can be tedious even with a food processor, as you’re kneading and rolling out dozens of two-inch circles before filling and cooking. One easy alternative is to use pre-made wrappers widely available in any supermarket. Folding is intuitive and sealing requires a little beaten egg. The dumplings are browned in oil, simmered in water, and browned again. You can fill the dumplings with whatever you prefer – ground pork, beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, shrimp, even shiitake mushrooms and tofu for a vegetarian twist. You can also freeze uncooked dumplings on a baking sheet, seal in a plastic bag, and keep them for up to two weeks to save time.

Get the recipe.

Niángāo

From Chef Mireille, Courtesy of The Schizo Chef

Niángāo is a steamed rice cake with a history dating back at least 1,000 years ago to the Liao Dynasty. The word loosely translates to “year rise,” symbolizing increased prosperity and higher status for adults, physical growth and better academic success for children. The round shape symbolizes family togetherness and completeness. If you love someone, you give them niángāo to wish them the best. This popular New Year dessert is popular at NYC bakeries like Wok Wok, Lung Moon Bakery, Shanghai Café, Tygershark, and Fay Da Bakery – but why not make it yourself in just 10 minutes? Traditionally, the cake — made of rice flour, brown sugar, coconut milk, almond extract and chopped nuts — is steamed in banana leaves, and then later cut up, coated in raw egg, and fried. This simplified recipe comes from Chef Florence Lin, the author of five Chinese cookbooks who is in her nineties, but still spry and cooking with her niece.

Get the recipe.

We hope you enjoy cooking with your children to celebrate Chinese New Year in 2018. Other fun activities include: making DIY Chinese drums, giving red envelopes containing money, creating DIY paper lanterns, and crafting soda bottle cherry blossoms to symbolize the beginning of spring. Be sure to check out the big parade and other local festivities. Also, don’t forget Shine offers additional party entertainment, workshops, classes, and cultural experiences to inspire young minds. Contact us to learn more!

Additional Reading:

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

Fantastically Fun Indoor Activities for NYC Kids When It’s Cold Outside

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Baby, it’s cold outside! Probably by now the kids are bouncing off the walls. Let the idle house sit clean for a day while you’re out making family memories. Here are some indoor escapes that will make you forget about sleet and snow, while encouraging the best in your little ones.

The New York Botanical Gardens 

The balmy temperature and fresh air of the New York Botanical Gardens is the perfect antidote to the blustery cold winter months. Not only will you enjoy festive seasonal decorations, but they also host a Holiday Train Show from November 22nd – January 15th. Model G-scale trains zip down half a mile of track, past 150 local landmarks from the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty to the Chrysler Building and the Rockefeller Center. This winter, kids can participate in a sing-a-long performance with Thomas the Train, ride on the Evergreen Express, craft a puppet or evergreen door swag, watch holiday films like “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” and “Shrek the Halls,” and tour the outdoor winter wonderland trees.

 

National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey

This new, immersive experience in Times Square features 60,000 square feet of groundbreaking advances in lighting, audio, and visual animation effects that make your family feel as though you’re exploring an undersea world. Sea turtles, dolphins, and fish swim above, below, and past you in the first exhibit, which shows you a coral reef during the day. Next, you’ll plunge into the coral reef at night to see bioluminescent sponges, coral, and eels, set to a symphony of sound. See Humboldt squids battle, move through a dreamlike kelp forest maze, and play “copycat” with adorable sea lions that look amazingly real, but respond to your every move. Older children will love the 3-D dome with sharks, stingrays, and humpback whales swimming by. More photo opps and learning experiences await in the National Geographic Exploration Hall. This amazing exhibit will enthrall kids and adults of all ages, but as an added bonus, the little ones under two are free!

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Kids ages 6 and under will find something to love about the five-story, 40,000 square-foot institution of learning and culture. From immersive dance studios and a crawl-through version of the digestive system, to Dora the Explorer play areas and collaborative workshops with local artists, there is much to do and see here. Kids are encouraged to consider cultures and traditions from around the world. S.T.E.A.M. learning activities take place daily. This time of year, “Hip-Hop Holidays” performances, Christmas Tree ornament making, and “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” are popular events.

The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater

If you haven’t seen it yet, the long-running production of “The Three Bears Holiday Bash” is on from November through December 30th in Central Park. Children ages 3-8 will revel in 45 minutes of comedy, song, dance, and puppetry that includes sing-a-longs for “I Have A Little Dreidel” and “Feliz Navidad.” Director Bruce Cannon pulls from the traditions of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and “The Night Before Christmas” to include everyone in the festivities. Critics called the songs “catchy,” the marionette bears “adorable,” and delighted in the surprise appearance from marionette Santa. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to get there early to get your little ones a spot in the front row. Shows generally take place at 10:30 and 11:30 am Monday through Friday, or 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. After being closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, performances are will briefly resume from December 26th-30th at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. before wrapping up. That’s not all the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater is up to this holiday season. They’re also hosting craft activities on December 11th (decorating dreidels); 15th (making elf stick puppets); and 29th (making kwanzaa stick puppets).

If you’re still at a loss for how to spend winter break in Manhattan with your children, contact us at Shine. We offer pop-up classes, workshops, city adventures, parties and events, and classes to keep kids (and sometimes parents!) wildly entertained. If you have an undefined yearning for substantial ways to enrich your children’s lives, we have the answer you’re seeking.

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

10 Festive Ways To Keep The Kids Entertained At Your Adult Christmas Party

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You’ve decked the halls and planned your dinner menu. Now all you have to do is figure out how to keep all the children attendees satisfied so the adults can mingle and have a good time. Nothing puts the lid on holiday cheer more than a screaming babe, after all! Here are a few creative and practical suggestions for a truly enjoyable winter get-together with family and friends.

1. Give them space.

When combining kids and adults, the first step to sanity is to give the youngsters their own defined space – either a floor of the house, a room, or even simply a craft table. Have this area safety-proofed and stocked with fun.

2. Hire help.

A babysitter can come in handy when you’re hosting an event or hoping to have time for adult conversation. Having a full-time person assigned to “damage-control” is a wise decision to keep juice cups filled, diapers dry, and minor disagreements settled before they escalate. If you’ve never hired a babysitter before, College Nannies and Tutors and UrbanSitter are good places to start.

3. Set up a food decorating station.

If you don’t mind a little bit of mess, tape your table with brown craft paper or white butcher paper and set up a cupcake or cookie-decorating station. Toppings may include different color frosting, sparkle decorating gel, edible googly eyes, sprinkles, M&Ms, candy canes, and other miniature candies. Another neat idea is to have each child bring a dozen or two of their favorite Christmas cookies. Blindfold each child and feed them a cookie, asking them to guess what type it is.

4. Stock a craft table.

Arts & Crafts can be as elaborate or as simple as you wish. For younger kids, you can put out a few Christmas-themed coloring books and crayons. Play-Doh can be jazzed up for the holidays with glitter, holiday cookie cutters, rolling pins, and accessories like felt or buttons to “build snowmen.” For older kids, you can find inexpensive all-in-one craft kits. For instance, Michaels has foam Christmas houses, ornaments, snow globes, letters to Santa, pop-up cards, banners, wood scene painting, cross-stitch, painting, and beading activities that only cost a few dollars each. We also love these Milk Carton Gingerbread Villages recommended by Happy Hooligans.

5.  Make it musical.

Kids of all ages love music. Setting up an MP3 player with Christmas music can make the difference between child anarchy and a group of happily-singing, merry little elves. Even better, you may consider setting up a few microphones for karaoke. Toddlers will get a hoot out of a Christmas caroling themed party that supplies matching hats and scarves, along with hand-held instruments like jingle bells, tambourines, triangles, and drums. In this scenario, it’s best if you have an adult to guide them through a few of their favorite songs. A Christmas songs board book can provide the playlist if you don’t have a karaoke CD or YouTube playlist ready.

6. Plan for fun.

A few pre-planned activities are exciting for kids earlier in the evening when energy levels are high. Guests as little as two can appreciate a Candy Cane Hunt, which is a wintry version of an Easter Egg Hunt. Simply hide wrapped candy canes around the house before your little guests arrive and see how many they can uncover. Finders keepers! The activities you choose don’t have to cost a lot. For example, this Jingle Bell Toss game from Playground Parkbench is kid-friendly and costs you less than $5 to set up. Whether you have a photo booth or not, a few dress-up props go over well with budding imaginations. Older kids might enjoy this Christmas Saran Wrap game, where they compete to unravel a ball of plastic wrap to get to goodies stored inside until the person next to them rolls doubles with a pair of dice. You can also print these Christmas words, cut them into small slips, and place them in a stocking for a few rounds of Christmas Pictionary, a fantastic game for artists young and old.

7. Stock up on board games.

Games can be fun if there is an older child, babysitter, or adult willing to preside over the festivities. There are tons of holiday-themed board games for older kids. Some of our favorites include:

8. Plan for a visit from Santa.

Surely you know someone who is willing to don a white beard and a suit to make the kids happy. You can ask each parent to bring a little something wrapped for Santa to give their child or buy a few inexpensive gifts yourself – like holiday books or stuffed animals. If you can’t hire or enlist a Santa, consider magicians, balloon artists, face painters, musicians, or puppeteers who can make the night memorable.

9. Schedule down-time.

Parties can be overwhelming for kids. Sometimes all it takes is “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” or “Elf” — with a bowl of popcorn and a few mugs or sippy cups of hot cocoa — to settle everyone back down. You may also gather the kids around the fireplace with a basket of holiday books for story time. If you want to make it really special, plan for your visit from Old St. Nick to include a story reading with the children.

10. Call Shine!

Holiday parties are one of the things we do best at Shine. We’ll come to your event fully stocked with dedicated staff members, craft supplies, and custom-themed activities to delight and entertain your youngest guests. Leave set-up and clean-up to us as we transform your kids’ area into a space of seasonal cheer. If you decide to DIY your party this time around, we hope to speak with you in the New Year to discuss how Shine can add that “special something” to your next event.

RESOURCES:

http://www.toronto4kids.com/December-2012/Tis-the-Season-to-Party/

http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/820822/How-to-throw-a-kid-friendly-holiday-party

http://momblogsociety.com/entertain-the-children-as-adult-parties/

https://mom.me/entertainment/5999-what-do-kids-while-you-throw-party/

https://www.modernmom.com/9b2cd05e-1ae3-11e1-9f7f-404062497d7e.html

https://www.thespruce.com/christmas-caroling-party-ideas-4117222

https://www.thespruce.com/christmas-song-party-games-4119766

http://www.parenting.com/food-recipes/holiday/holiday-parties-8-ways-to-keep-kids-entertained-while-adults-mingle

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

Shine’s Favorite Things for the Holidays

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Dear Families and Friends,
 
With the holidays upon us, we know that many of you in our community are looking for the perfect gifts for loved ones. That is why we have put together our first annual “Favorite Things for the Holidays” (thanks, Oprah!). While these items are available all year, we think that they make wonderful gifts for both children and adults during the holidays.
 
From all of us here at Shine, happy holidays and enjoy the spirit of the season with friends and family. And if you are already feeling the pressure, check out our guide to avoiding a Holi-daze.
 
Shine bright this season –
Aaron Goldschmidt, Founder & Director, Shine

Donations

In lieu of gifts, we think donations in a loved one’s name are a thoughtful gesture during the holidays. Choose from one of your favorite charities, or donate to one of our East End partners: Amber Waves Farm, Children’s Museum of the East End, The LongHouse Reserve, The Madoo Conservancy, Nova’s Ark, The Peconic Land Trust, or the South Fork Natural History Museum and Science Center.

 

The CraftBox NYC

The Craft Box NYC is a service providing customized kid’s crafts, delivered to your doorstep! They feature monthly themed boxes, artists, and custom creations. Their Holiday Box is available now and is the perfect holiday activity to enjoy with your child this season! Or, gift it to that extra creative little one in your life. Each box is individually handcrafted and includes everything you and your child need to create 2-3 keepsake crafts. Visit their Etsy Shop to see this months featured products.

 

Through December 15th only, Shine clients will receive 10% off their first order, by using the code “ShineHoliday” upon check out!

 

Phaidon Books

What Does Baby Want? by Tupera Tupera (ages 0-2). This baby is not comforted by a teddy bear or toy. This baby wants only one thing: milk! Named a Best Book of the Year (Publishers Weekly), What Does Baby Want? “is the board book your baby really wants.” (The Bump). It’s funny – because it’s true!

 

My First Book of Patterns by Bobby and June George (ages 1-4). Stripes, polka dots, plaid, chevron, and more! Conceived by educators and the first and only patterns concept book on the market. “I genuinely cannot believe I haven’t seen a book like this before. It’s colorful, easy to understand, and … super fun to learn all of these patterns and their names, but this book is so much more than that. It begs readers to look around them and find these patterns among their own belongings.” (Celebrate Picture Books). “This pitch-perfect introduction to patterns will engage the artistic, mathematical, and linguistic parts of every young child’s mind.” (starred review, Publishers Weekly)

 

What’s Cooking? by Joshua David Stein, illustrated by Julia Rothman (ages 3-5). Come into the kitchen! Written by acclaimed restaurant critic and food writer Joshua David Stein and illustrated by food and textile illustrator Julia Rothman, What’s Cooking? invites young children to consider food preparation via a whimsical question-and-answer approach. Kids learn about foreign foods, pick up some cookbook vocabulary, have a giggle or two (or more!) and may even find themselves inspired to get involved in the kitchen.

 

Book of Bones: 10 Record-Breaking Animals by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sam Brewster (ages 5-8). It’s a book of world records… of bones! Guess whose bones are the longest, shortest, heaviest, spikiest, and more. With touchable skeletons!  “A nonfiction standout… This fascination book will get kids jazzed about both bones and the cool animals.” (Imagination Soup) “Curious readers will get a kick out of this fun guessing game that takes 10 members of the animal kingdom and re-introduces them from the inside out.” (Meghan Dietsche Goel, Children’s Book Buyer and Programming Director, BookPeople, Austin, TX)

Sunny with an A

Sunny with an A is a luxury children’s sleepwear and loungewear that is made with drops of sunshine in the heart of New York City! They use all-natural supima cotton hand-loomed in the United States and their products are manufactured without any chemicals right here in the vibrant Garment District!

 

Use code Shine2017 at checkout and receive 10% off!

 

Lindsey Belle

Lindsey Belle is a New York City and Hamptons based lifestyle photographer who loves to photograph real life as it actually unfolds rather than attempting to recreate the perfect moment. Everything she does is unscripted, on location, and marries her artistic vision with the unique personalities of each of her clients. She specializes in working with beautiful, natural light and describes her work as fun, energetic, emotional, and happy. Outside of her photography, she and her husband keep busy as the proud parents of a little girl and boy and a rascally pup. You can see more of her work by visiting her website.

 

This holiday season, mention “Shine” and receive an 11×14″ gift with the purchase of a session.

International Kid-Friendly Food: Top 5 Native American Recipes We Love

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Native American cuisine is poised to become “the next big culinary phenomenon” in the 50 states, and it’s long overdue. As a melting pot for European settlers, we’ve overlooked the fact that there is a longstanding history of agriculture, living off the land, and cooking that pre-dates 1621.

A number of celebrity chefs are working on bringing Native American flavors to the forefront of their restaurants in places like Washington DC, Minneapolis, and Phoenix, Arizona. The Native American food truck never did arrive in Bowling Green, but we can still enjoy the taste of America’s indigenous peoples right here in our own kitchens.

Since November is “National Native American Heritage Month,” we figured what better time to introduce your palate to authentic Native American recipes and flavors? These pre-colonial bites will make the perfect addition to your feast day table.

Wild Gitigan Salad

From Dream of Wild Health Executive Director Diane Wilson

This recipe was designed by six youth leaders who promoted this salad at the Minnesota Twins baseball games in a healthy food initiative called “Roots for the Home Team.” The group wanted to showcase ingredients that were important to Indian Country like wild rice and black beans, while also using vegetables like tomato and kale grown at their farm in Hugo, Minnesota, as sovereignty and sustainability are very important principals in Native American cultures.

Get the recipe.

Seminole Baconed Hominy

From Genius Kitchen

Hominy was one of the first gifts the Native Americans gave to European colonists in Cape Cod. The word “hominy” is likely derived from the Algonquin word “rockahominie,” referring to a corn that has been soaked in lime or lye water. As a result of this ancient practice, the corn becomes more digestible and nutrient-soluble. The softened maize is then easily cooked into grit, ground into meal, or fashioned into everything from cornbread to tamales. This super simple side dish uses just four ingredients and cooks in less than 15 minutes.

Get the recipe.

Ginger, Carrot, and Turnip Casserole with Candied Chestnuts

From Chefs at the Mitsitam Native Foods Café in Washington DC, via The Washington Post

This dish can easily replace the usual sweet potato casserole at your Thanksgiving table. Conveniently, you can make and refrigerate for up to three days in advance. Kids will like the familiar roasted carrots and sweet potatoes they know and love, while adults can appreciate the mild zing of ginger and festive allspice. The honey chestnut topping shines with a sweet, rustic, appealing “crunch” to the uppermost layer of the casserole. Finding chestnuts is easy enough at your local Whole Foods, but the one challenge may be the texture. Some people opt for the fast, easy food processor, but you may want to put in the work with an old-fashioned food mill to get the perfect consistency for your topping.

Get the recipe.

Pasilla Chile-Rubbed Turkey

From Jerome Grant, Executive Chef of Mitsitam Café in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian via The Washington Post

We’re all looking for a way to impress guests with an atypical turkey, right? The dried chilies in this recipe are more smoky than spicy, so they’re still kid-friendly. The use of sweet agave nectar, savory roast garlic, and fresh cilantro combine into a paste that turns the skin a wonderful shade of brown. Start a few days in advance to brine the turkey in the refrigerator. It’s not a difficult recipe, but you’ll need about 20 ingredients – sugar, spice, and everything nice! The effort is worthwhile. You’ll want to reuse the pan juices as gravy, it’s so delectable! (If you love these recipes, you can find more in the Mitsitam Café Cookbook.)

Get the recipe.

Wóžapi

From “The Sioux Chef” Sean Sherman

The Sioux Chef’s favorite recipe in his Indigenous Kitchen cookbook brings back memories of early childhood. “Our family relied on the local chokecherries I gathered as a kid,” he recalled. “We’d spread a blanket under the tree and gather buckets full. There’s no need to pit them because the pits drop to the bottom of the pot as the sauce becomes thick and lush.” This mix of chokecherries or blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, elderberries, cranberries, and blackberries can be sweetened with maple syrup or honey into a dessert, or used as a tangy dressing for wild game and vegetables.

Get the recipe.

Enjoy preparing these easy Native American recipes with the kids. Remember, Shine offers additional experiences for the aspiring chef, from cooking classes and Health Nuts workshops, to farm tours and outdoor gardening parties. Contact us to learn more!

Additional Reading:

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

10 Ways to Get NYC Kids into the Giving Spirit

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A survey on Parenting.com found that three out of four moms consider their kids “spoiled.” At the same time, three-quarters of the survey respondents felt guilty for saying “no” to gifts on their children’s wish lists. We know that a spirit of gratitude and selfless giving is at the core of happiness. It’s all too easy to get lost in day-to-day activities, so many parents use the holiday seasons to teach volunteerism, charity, and humble generosity.

For the best impact, start simple with the little ones. Kids as young as three can start to comprehend that there is a world beyond their own immediate needs and that giving is tied to receiving. For older children, find something that plays into their passion – like reading to the blind for the bookworm, playing at a homeless shelter for the musician, or knitting scarves for soldiers overseas for the crafty child. The best activities are done together with our kids to model the philanthropy we wish to teach.

Here are some ideas of annual traditions to start or ways to weave the spirit of giving into everyday life…

1. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.

The Food Bank for New York City needs 800 volunteers each week to feed the city’s hungry – and that is just one of the many opportunities. Kids can accompany you to work in the kitchen, organize donations, and serve trays of food. The Holy Apostles is the area’s largest emergency soup kitchen that hands out 1,000 nutritious meals each day. The magazine 6 Sq. Ft offers a comprehensive rundown of 13 places in NYC you can volunteer in a myriad of ways over the holiday season, whether it’s delivering meals to the elderly, making gifts for those in need, decorating a local theatre, or putting together “blessings bags” for a homeless shelter. Mommy Poppins lists even more activities to check out this Thanksgiving season.

2. Run or walk for charity in a turkey trot.

You don’t have to be a professional runner to participate in a local 5-K. Many locals walk the race with family and friends just to get some fresh air outside and burn off extra calories. The day after Thanksgiving dinner, take the family to Roosevelt Island for a scenic route. There is also a kids’ dash available for the youngest participants. Prior to the race, you can register to “run for a cause.” This year, the New York City Turkey Trot has partnered with the Young Survival Coalition to support young women affected by breast cancer.

3. Read Thanksgiving books.

There’s no reason why you can’t get toddlers thinking about kindness and doing for others. Add to your library: “Thankful” (Eileen Spinelli), which conveys the importance of finding blessings in everyday life; “Bear Gives Thanks” (Karma Wilson), which shows the many ways one can contribute; “Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving” (Mercer Mayer), which follows Little Critter from school plays and parades to preparing and serving a feast for the whole community; “Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George” (H.A. Rey), which offers short poems to highlight everything the curious little monkey loves about the holidays – including making crafts for guests and sharing a meal with the man in the yellow hat; “The Giving Tree” (Shel Silverstein), which shows the selflessness of a tree that would give everything to a growing boy; “The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need” (Stan & Jan Berenstain), which teaches how donating can help others; “Boxes For Katie” (Candace Fleming), a story of international care packages sent to a young pen pal following WWII; “The Spiffiest Giant in Town” (Julia Donaldson), a story about how the scruffiest giant becomes the spiffiest, but realizes others in town need his new purchases too; “Oswald’s Treasures” (Alison Inches), where Nick Jr’s lovable blue octopus learns the value of cleaning out his closet and giving to friends; “It’s Mine” (Leo Lionni), which introduces the littlest ones to more rewarding activities than laying claim to everything.

4. Donate toys.

With Christmas around the corner, there’s no time like the present to clean out the closets and toy chests. For little ones, you can try tucking away old toys they don’t play with for six months and donating anything they don’t ask for. It can be too emotional for youngsters to part with their beloved items, and pulling them out of storage just makes the toys appear “new” and desirable again. Older kids may be mature enough to choose items they no longer play with or want. Avoid telling the kids you have to get rid of the old to make room for the new. Instead, explain that donating is a kind way of helping the less fortunate. You can also participate in a church program or national toy drive like Toys for Tots, which provides new gifts for disadvantaged children. Operation Christmas Child is an easy way to help those in need around the world by simply paying $9 for shipping and filling a shoebox with thoughtful gifts that will be sent to impoverished kids in another part of the world.

5. Pay a visit to the elderly.

Loneliness has been touted as a bigger health risk than smoking or obesity. Get involved with Adopt-A-Grandparent to provide an elderly member of the community with the gift of companionship and social activities. DOROT has a create-a-card-for-a-senior program for kids who love art. They are also looking for child volunteers to play chess with the elderly. VolunteerMatch can connect you with local programs that benefit older New Yorkers.

6. Create crafty favors for your dinner guests.

When your kids are very young, it helps to start a spirit of charitable giving with those you know. If you’re hosting dinner this year, what better way to get the kids involved than with a thoughtful craft that will bring smiles to all who visit? They can create place mats for each guest by making handprint turkeys, adding stickers and glitter for added fun. Slightly older kids can create placeholder cards with a special note inside for each guest. Ask your child to describe why the person is special to them or why they are thankful for each guest. Or you can download this free leaf pattern from Better Homes & Gardens, cut out the leaf shape, punch a hole in the base, and tie them to wineglass stems using gold cord or raffia to make drink tags. Ask each guest to write a word or phrase about what they’re thankful for.

7. Showcase your child’s thoughtfulness.

Here’s something you can do all year through: prioritize generosity. A report by Harvard University’s Making Caring Common Project found that teenagers value academic achievement and individual happiness over caring for others because they believe that’s what adults in their lives value most. Make a point to explain that in addition to doing their academic best, you expect your children to care for others. Instead of just celebrating A+ grades or athletic wins, proudly display photos of your kids engaged in charitable projects. Thank them for helping others and let them overhear you describing how kind they are.

8. Encourage teens to start a giving plan or passion project.

If charity is part of your life, share your experience of giving with your teen. Talk to teens about charitable causes that spark their interest and help them research local programs to connect their passions and abilities with opportunities to help. Give your child three small plastic containers or envelopes labeled “Save,” “Spend,” and “Give.” Let them decide which percentage to allocate to each plan. You’ll not only encourage charity, but fiscal responsibility, too.

9. Surprise a neighbor.

The idea of doing “random acts of kindness” to brighten someone’s day has been spreading over the years. One popular trend is to bake a pie and deliver it to a neighbor’s doorstep. This time of year, who wouldn’t love a delicious apple or pumpkin pie? If you don’t have a favorite recipe, you really can’t go wrong with Taste of Home or Better Homes & Gardens. For $9.95, The Good Neighbor Pie Kit gives you three heavy duty reusable pie tins and three pie postcards to give out.

10. Surprise a stranger.

There are so many thankless jobs out there. Teach your kids about giving to people in the community by having them write a “thank you” letter to a trash collector, mail carrier, bus driver, grocery store cashier, retail worker, doctor, firefighter, cook, waitress, or someone else in the community. Have them deliver the letter with candy or a gift card. Ask them thoughtful questions later, like: “How did the person respond? How did the response make you feel? What if we did this once a month instead of once a year?” Another way to spread holiday cheer is to make homemade ornaments to pass out to strangers – people on the bus, individuals at church, or seniors in the supermarket. If you need some inspiration, check out these 55 Easy Homemade Christmas Ornaments To DIY from Country Living. Explain that the idea is to surprise someone by noticing them and offering a gift, no strings attached.

Have a blessed and inspired Thanksgiving holiday from Shine NYC!

Resources:

https://www.care.com/c/stories/3743/10-family-thanksgiving-traditions-you-should/

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-01-16/10-ways-to-raise-a-charitable-kid

https://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/144014428/parents-strive-to-instill-a-spirit-of-giving

https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/20/5-ways-to-teach-your-kids-the-art-of-giving-this-holiday-season.html

http://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g1070/easy-to-make-christmas-ornament-crafts/

http://www.allprodad.com/3-ways-to-show-your-kids-a-spirit-of-giving/

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/

https://www.kidnurse.org/6-fun-activities-teach-thankfulness-thanksgiving/

http://www.parents.com/kids/responsibility/values/kids-giving-thanks/

https://www.growyourgiving.org/giving-blog/10-children%E2%80%99s-books-about-giving

http://www.readbrightly.com/picture-books-to-teach-children-about-giving/

https://www.youngsurvival.org/schedule/upcoming-events/2017-new-york-city-turkey-trot-15k-and-5k/2017-11-25

https://www.6sqft.com/where-to-volunteer-in-nyc-homeless-shelters-food-banks-soup-kitchens-and-more/

https://mommypoppins.com/volunteering-thanksgiving-nyc-kids-family-holiday-charity

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/01/18/loneliness-might-be-a-bigger-health-risk-than-smoking-or-obesity/amp/

 

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

6 Highly Entertaining Halloween Party Games

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There’s nothing better than a well-planned Halloween party. Whether your little one has an October birthday or you just love this time of year, organizing a couple games can keep kids old and young entertained. Go beyond the traditional “bobbing for apples” Halloween party game with these fun recommendations.

For Younger Kids:

Witches Brew

What could be easier than tossing bean bag frogs or bats into a witch’s cauldron? Kids as little as two understand a simple directive like: “Throw it in.” Young kids love simply holding bean bags and carrying them around, so the tools you need to play the game could double as party favors, too! Award prizes based on how many bean bags each child gets into the cauldron, but don’t forget about a few consolation prizes just for being a good sport and playing.

Pumpkin Hunt

The Easter Bunny doesn’t have to be the only one who gets to have any fun. You can hide small pumpkins around the yard if the weather is conducive or indoors if the October chill has set in. Variations for older ones include placing colored dots on the bottom of the pumpkins and assigning a color to each kid.

Lair of the Spider Queen

Tape up an obstacle course of toilet paper or streamers that kids have to crawl through to win their prizes. Poke spider rings through the paper that game players must avoid knocking down. We love the way this game gets the imagination going!

For Older Kids:

The Body Parts Game

Looking for a spooky game to get the kids screaming and squirming? For this activity, you’ll read a macabre poem about a man whose dismembered body was found in a field near where you live. The kids will reach into a bag or through a hole in a cardboard box to feel each “body part,” such as: spaghetti or cauliflower (brain), grapes (eyeballs), corn silk (hair), sweet corn (teeth), dried peaches (ears), tomato (heart), sausages (fingers), and chunks of ham or a stuffed glove (hands). Alternatively, you may create a Halloween Touch & Feel box with giant toes, bat teeth, poison bugs, bleeding hearts, stinging worms, and witch bones instead.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Get a free printable Halloween scavenger hunt from Play Party Plan that sends kids to backyard trees, the dining room table, the washing machine, the oven, a bed, and the remote control to find new clues. This game not only encourages exploration, but also enhances confidence as kids delight in their ability to solve the riddles.

Monster Guess Who

This game makes the ideal ice breaker game to encourage mingling and conversation. Each player has the name of a classic monster taped to their back. They need to ask the other players “yes” or “no” questions to figure out who they are.

No time or energy to run the show? Call Shine NYC to bring the fun to your next event!

Additional Resources:

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Jenn Fusion is a Buffalo, NY based wordsmith with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing informative and insightful articles for business clients. Her work has been featured online and in print editions of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Houston Chronicle, as well as niche publications for vice presidents, celebrities, music, and beer. You may have seen on Huffington Post Live TV or heard her on Minnesota Public Radio. Best of all, she’s the mother of busybody toddlers Josephine and Henri.

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