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

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.

International Kid-Friendly Food: Top 5 Jewish Recipes We Love

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There are more than 1.5 million Jewish people living in New York City, bringing with them fantastic foods like old-fashioned bagels topped with lox, pastrami deli sandwiches, matzo ball soup, hand-rolled knish, hummus platters, and chocolate-hazelnut filled babka. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins the evening of September 20th so what better time to try something new?

We recommend taking one of the Lower East Side Jewish Food Tours, or checking out the best places for Jewish food in NYC, if you haven’t already. But, by far, the most meaningful way to explore new cuisine with your kids is right at home in your kitchen. Rather than shooing your littles out of the kitchen, invite them in! Roll up your sleeves and get a little messy with these five kid-friendly Jewish recipes.

Potato Kugel

From the NY Times

Itta Werdinger Roth grew up in an Orthodox Jewish community in Australia, but married an American and quickly became a New York City sensation, known just as much for her traditional home-cooking as for her all-woman Hasidic rockband. Jewish food differs vastly around the world, but “everyone knows potato kugel,” she told the NY Times, adding: “There are two kinds: good and bad. It’s like a savory cake; you bake shredded potatoes with eggs and onions, and the inside comes out so creamy you eat it almost like mashed potatoes.” Cooking with kids doesn’t get much easier than this recipe consisting of just potatoes, onion, eggs, salt, pepper, oil, flour, and baking powder. This version is rooted in Lubavitch Women’s Cookbook Publications’ “Spice and Spirit,” which is thee cookbook for traditional Jewish cooking. From there, the recipe has been tweaked with subtle variations to get the perfect crispy-creamy textures.

Get the recipe.

P.S. If your kids really love potatoes, consider taking them to the 9th Annual NYC Latke Festival at the Brooklyn Museum on December 18th!

Soup Dumplings with Minced Brisket

From Kosher Like Me

Liz Rueven is from Connecticut, but enjoys “probing the scene in NYC” for inspiration. Most of her recipes are kosher vegetarian, but this homemade kreplach recipe comes from the Ashkenazic Jewish cuisine her Nanny made. It’s a traditional dish enjoyed for Purim, the holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people under Haman’s persecution in ancient Persia, but you can cook up this savory soup with the kids on any cool weather day for a satisfying treat. It’s a project, to be sure, but older kids enjoy the whole process of mixing and stuffing, so don’t shy away from this memorable experience.

Get the recipe.

Kookoo-e Sabzi

From The Sephardic Heritage Cookbook

The Sephardic Heritage Cookbook doesn’t necessarily have a New York connection, but it is one of the top-selling Jewish cookbooks, after all. The recipe itself just seemed to appeal to kids and adults alike. First, what kid isn’t going to love asking for “kookoo?” Parents will like this egg-based dish because it’s similar to an omelet or frittata, but gives you the chance to sneak in loads of healthy vegetables and herbs. And it’s versatile. You can serve it hot or cold, as an appetizer or a main dish. You can serve it with bread, feta cheese, or plain yogurt. It keeps well in the fridge for several days or you can freeze it in tin foil.

Get the recipe.

Braised Short Ribs with Squash Puree and Roasted Corn Salad

From Nir Mesika

Celebrity Chef Nir Mesika is the founder and executive chef of Timna, a modern Israeli restaurant in the East Village of NYC that was named “the best new restaurant” by USA Today in 2015. Braised short ribs was always his favorite Rosh Hashanah meal growing up, he says, because “the family was waiting for it all day long,” so dipping into the shared pot in the center of the table was so satisfying when the time came. Plan to spend some time on this recipe, but the melt-in-your-mouth textures and cozy flavors are bound to be a hit with everyone in your family.

Get the recipe.

Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate and Pistachio

From Einat Admony

Einat Admony is the chef and owner of Balaboosta in Manhattan, Bar Bolonat in the West Village, and Taim, as well as a regular consultant to the Jewish Food Society, an organization dedicated to preserving traditional cultural recipes. She recalls this favorite Rosh Hashanah recipe fondly. “When I was a child in Israel,” Admony said, “the high holidays meant peeling two whole cases of pomegranates for our family’s holiday meals. Out of the two cases and the resulting 20 pounds of seeds, we would get only a few small jars of pomegranate preserve. It was tiring, detailed work, and I used to hate it, but it would end up as part of our dinner, so I knew it was all for a good cause.” You can serve four main courses or eight side dishes with this recipe – which, thankfully, only calls for half a cup of pomegranate seeds.

Get the recipe.

We hope you enjoy preparing these healthy, international dishes for your family. Contact us to learn about fun enrichment activities for your child, including cooking classes, our Health Nuts workshops, City Adventures, and more!

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.

4 Ways To Savor The End of Summer in NYC

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Months of summer sunshine, pleasant weather, socializing at picnics and barbecues, traveling, and indulging in family fun are a breath of fresh air to a year of work and school responsibilities. By mid-to-late August, our shopping carts are filled with notebooks and folders instead of sunscreen and sand pails. We’re thinking ahead to carpool arrangements and sports practices. Where did the summer go?

 

At this point, it’s common to experience the “End of Summer” blues. If only we could slow down and hang onto summer a little bit longer! We’re all looking to pack a few more family memories in our suitcase before fragmenting into our own separate lives when school starts again. Here are four memorable finales for the summer that will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

 

1. Get your thrills at one of the pop-up summer playgrounds made for adults and kids.

Playgrounds have come a long way from the metal slides, swing sets, and harrowing teeter-totters of our youth.

  • The Bronx Zoo’s new adventure zone with zip-lines over the Bronx River, kid-friendly Nature Trek, and free public pools is worth checking out if you haven’t already.
  • The Terrace at Brookfield Place offers a rooftop Coloring Bar on Monday evenings, free movies and music on Wednesdays, and shuffleboard on Fridays, in addition to French fare, best enjoyed in their shaded picnic grove.
  • Rockaway Water Park features floating trampolines, rope swings, water slides, a Tarzan Boat, jet skis, and canoes in Jamaica Bay.
  • Adventures at Governors Island is a new play area boasting a 24-foot climbing wall, themed mini golf, the city’s longest slide, and double zip-lines overlooking the Statue of Liberty.

2. Find something for everyone with an end-of-summer festival.

  • Catch one of PuppetMobile’s Cinderella Samba free performances around the city.
  • This year’s super popular FringeJR festivities, geared toward the 5-12 crowd, will include: an exploration of Amelia Earhart’s legacy through circus acts and puppetry; a Fairy Tale Villain musical; pirate comedy; kings, queens, and dragons; as well as a fort filled with crafts and cool character meet-and-greets.
  • In September, the 31st Annual Queens County Fair offers a traditional celebration of pie-eating, pig racing, carnival rides, midway games, and blue ribbon livestock competitions.

3. Cram in one last getaway.

  • Schedule at least one more day at the beach and your soul will thank you! Some of the best spots for families to swim, tube, water ski, boat, and play in the sand include: Brooklyn’s Coney Island, Jacob Riis Beach or Rockaway Beach in Queens, and Long Beach on Long Island.
  • Camping is another scrapbook-worthy, end-of-summer event for the whole family. Take nature hikes, play a few board games at the picnic table, tell spooky ghost stories, and roast s’mores over the campfire. A few family favorites within a few hours of the City include: Hither Hills State Park in Montauk, Watch Hill Fire Island National Seashore, Floyd Bennett Field, Malouf’s Mountain Sunset Campgrounds, and Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
  • NYC is blessed with a number of ideal road trip destinations for day or weekend trips on a budget. Try Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA for the littles, Hershey Park for the amusement park lovers in your family, and Mystic, CT or Cape Cod to find timeless fun for all ages.
  • Staycationers can find plenty of family togetherness at home. The first rule is UNPLUG – pack those electronic devices away! Replace “the usual” with fun scavenger hunts, board games, crafting, swimming, dining out, outdoor movies, and backyard camping.

4. Volunteer with your kids to end summer with a humbling sense of purpose.

Worried your child will feel too self-indulgent or spoiled after all that summer fun? Ground them with a volunteer service project to wrap up the season with pay-it-forward kindness and generosity.

If you’re stumped for ways to transform a regular day into a memorable experience, we’re always happy to help with our wide range of pop-up classes, workshops, parties, and our Lighthouse Project. Contact us to add more fun, creativity, exploration, and fun to your summer. It’s never too late to slow down the pace, bask in the moment, and be a kid again!

 

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.

How To Get NYC Kids Excited for the Great American Eclipse of 2017

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What are you doing August 21st? Space lovers will be offered a unique opportunity to revel in one of nature’s mysteries where the moon positions itself between the Earth and the sun for two-and-a-half minutes. During that time, viewers will notice the 10-15 degree temperature drop, the sun disappear, planets and stars shine like never before, and the thrill of anticipation as time seems to stand still. No other event comes close to capturing the awesome power of the universe and the fragility of man.

According to Joe Rao, an educator at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, the Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017 will be “one of the events of the century.” In fact, some people have been waiting for an eclipse to pass from coast to coast since 1932. Here are some ways to experience the event with your budding astronauts.

1. Get your solar viewing glasses and hit the road!

“Perhaps a hundred million people will see it,” estimates Hayden Planetarium Director Neil deGrasse Tyson. “In a day where everyone can travel, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have every single American in the path of totality,” he adds. For New Yorkers, the closest spot within the path of eclipse totality would be Columbia, South Carolina – 11 hours away. Lodging is still available at Hilton Columbia Center, Aloft Columbia Downtown, Hyatt Place Columbia Downtown, and the Holiday Inn and Suites. While you’re in town, visit the South Carolina State Museum’s antique telescope and state-of-the-art planetarium. The Soda City Eclipse Viewing Festival at the Historic Speedway festival grounds will feature food trucks, live music, and a viewing party.

Another option 11 hours from home is the viewing at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Clingman’s Dome is closed for exclusive media viewings, but the trail leading up to it should offer similarly expansive views over the pine forest canopy. Park staff will also be available at Cades Cove and Oconaluftee to serve as your informal guides to the big solar event. Nearby Bryson City, NC will be a flurry of activity all week long, with Farmers Markets, live music at Riverfront Park, petting zoos, bounce houses, bonfires, rafting, and many more activities.

2. Attend a local viewing party to feed off the excitement of a crowd.

Don’t despair if you aren’t in the market for a spontaneous getaway. New York City will still experience a 70 percent blockage of the sun around 2:44 pm. Even though it’s not as dramatic, our eclipse will still be something to see, and there are plenty of places to do so.

The Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, of course, will be thee place to be for the big viewing in NYC. They’ll be entertaining guests from noon to 4 pm with a NASA livestream broadcast, information on eclipses in the Cullman Hall of The Universe, pop-up talks by astrophysicist Brian Levine, and outdoor viewings at the Rose Center for Earth Space and the Arthur Ross Terrace.

Other eclipse viewing parties will be held at:

For a more intimate experience with your family at a less-crowded, scenic spot, try:

Experts say our eclipse won’t be dark enough to see stars, but (with the right equipment) you’ll spot the partial eclipse, as well as Venus — in the western sky below and to the right of the sun. In addition to the outdoor viewing, you can watch the official NASA livestream to see what other people are experiencing across the country.

Sunglasses are not strong enough for direct solar viewing. However, with advance planning and a couple dollars, you can protect your family’s eyes from permanent damage. NASA lists just four companies whose glasses meet international safety standards for the event: American Paper Optics, Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical and TSE 17. Glasses will have a globe logo with the letters “ISO” and the letters “CE” that certify the filters have been adequately tested for safe, direct viewing of the sun. Local libraries will be handing these out. Photographers will need “solar neutral density filters” to protect their camera lenses, too.

3. Have your own solar eclipse viewing party at home.

Here are some “mind-illuminating” activities for your little partygoers:

  • Learn about the eclipse with a free booklet from Bill Nye and the National Parks Service, geared toward kids ages 5-12.
  • Watch an animation of what the August 21st eclipse will look like from your zip code or precise street address at https://eclipsemega.movie/simulator.
  • Once you get your official glasses, you can have the kids decorate them in their own unique ways and share their creations on social media sites using the NASA-recommended hashtag #MyEclipseGlasses.
  • Make “Solar Eclipse Sundaes” by stacking a scoop of lemon sherbert, a scoop of chocolate ice cream, and a scoop of homemade Blue Moon ice cream in a clear glass.
  • Take the temperature every few hours to see how it fluctuates throughout a typical day. Compare these readings to the day of the eclipse. Plot the numbers on a graph.
  • Chart the family pet’s behaviors for a few days before the event, and watch what happens during the eclipse.
  • Talk to your older children about civics, business, and hospitality. Hopkinsville, Kentucky is destined to be the point of greatest eclipse. The town has a population less than 33,000, but they are expecting 50,000 people for the big day. How will they feed everyone? Where will people stay? How will the residents get to school or work with all the extra traffic? Have your child write a story about it, or design a tourism brochure explaining why people should come from out-of-town to celebrate in your
  • Encourage junior history buffs to read more about historic eclipses – such as the first discovery of eclipses by the Chaldeans in the 700s BC or how a total solar eclipse in 585 BC ended a war between the Medes and the Lydians. Mark Twain’s novel “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” features a time traveler who avoids being burned at the stake with his cunning knowledge of solar eclipses.
  • Create your own zany stories about “strange events that took place during the eclipse.”
  • After the viewing, ask the kids to describe what the eclipse meant to them in just six words. If you wish, you can send your entries into NASA to be included in their time capsule to be opened at the next total eclipse in 2024.

If you don’t see the August 21st Eclipse, you’ll have to wait until 2045 to watch the next coast-to-coast solar eclipse – possibly with your grandkids! The next total solar eclipse won’t occur in New York until 2079, but you can travel as close as Upstate New York to see a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Until then, shine on, you crazy diamonds!

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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