5 Best NYC Day Trips For Kids & Parents

5 Best NYC Day Trips For Kids & Parents

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Kids don’t always share our ideas of fun. For us, long, lazy days of summer are the height of happiness. For them, those days can get a little boring. So this summer, give them something exciting to look forward to and plan a field trip or two to break up the monotony. Check out these five destinations just outside Manhattan that are fun whether you are four or forty.

The Hudson River Museum

511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY
Distance from NYC: 45 minutes

This turn-of-the-century museum beckons families with creative programming that combines art and science. Art projects geared toward kids ages 7+ include flower pot decorating, planet sculpting, and 3D printmaking. The Early Explorers room, designed for kids under 5, hosts a puppet theater, books, blocks, and a large-scale dollhouse. The gardening program allows children to transplant seedlings to pots, taste fresh-picked beans, and see how vegetables are grown.  Kids ages 5-8 will be awed by the on-site planetarium, which includes live presentations from astronomers, as well as short movies by Sesame Workshops, professional filmmakers, and well-known narrators. A guide will take you back to 1876, as you learn about the Victorian family who originally inhabited the historic Glenview Mansion.

 

Belmont Park & Race Track

2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY
Distance from NYC: 53 minutes

Start your day with Breakfast at Belmont, a tasty continental buffet, available from 7 to 9:30 am on weekends and holiday mornings at the Trackside Café. Afterward, board the tram for a ride through the stable area, giving kids an up-close view of the horses and the starting gate loading area. Check the calendar for the next Family Fun Day to enjoy bounce houses, a petting zoo, carousels, and carnival games included with your $5 admission. Pack a picnic lunch or take advantage of concession stands in the Belmont Backyard, where you’ll also find a children’s playground and duck pond. Parents can place their bets on the strangely-named horses, for as little as a dime, at one of the many TV/betting stations. Belmont Park is best known for the Belmont Stakes in June, but there are thrilling races Wednesday through Sunday, through mid-July.

 

Bear Mountain State Park

Route 9W North, Bear Mountain, NY 10911
Distance from NYC: 1 hour, 23 minutes

It’s difficult to compete with the Bronx Zoo, but the Trailside Zoo and Museums at Bear Mountain State Park are still impressive and enjoyable for visitors of all ages. Kids can see wildlife aplenty – from rehabilitating mammals like fox, black bear, coyote, and porcupines, to snakes, frogs, and turtles at the herpetology house, to the magnificent birds of prey like bald eagles, owls, and raptors. Museum space is dedicated to natural history, geology, and human history. While you’re there, be sure to take a spin on the hand-carved Merry-Go-Round, and rent a paddle or row boat to enjoy Hessian Lake. Popular summer activities include: lunch in the shaded picnic groves, lake and river fishing, navigating trails with easy hiking and biking, dipping into the swimming pool, and tossing a ball around the spacious play field. An outdoor ice skating rink is open from late October through Mid-March, and Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April through late November for a spectacular view of the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Adventurous families with babies in carrier backpacks or teens can hike to the 1,300-foot summit for a day packed with adventure.

 

The Franklin Institute

220 North 20th Street, Philadelphia PA
Distance from NYC: 1 hour, 47 minutes

While “a penny saved is a penny earned,” you won’t mind dropping some cash at the Franklin Institute for the day, with its 10 interactive, hands-on attractions and permanent exhibits that never get old. Older kids can experience the thrill of a mirror maze, virtual reality, and two escape rooms, while younger ones will love riding on a full-sized, smoke-blowing, whistling train and “training to fly” in the Wright Model B airplane. Walk through a 220-foot model of the human heart, bike across a high wire 28 feet above the Atrium floor on the SkyBike, see the stars in the Fels Planetarium, run in a simulated race against pro athletes in the SportsZone, or crawl through a “tunnel of neurons” in the award-winning Your Brain exhibit. Temporary displays have focused on kid-friendly artifacts like dinosaurs and mummies. Crafty science carts located around the museum offer paper-making and bridge construction projects that keep both mind and hands busy. Once the kids are done running around, you can settle in for a relaxing IMAX film before grabbing dinner in neighboring ChinaTown and heading home.

 

Field Station: Dinosaurs

40 Fort Lee Road Leonia, NJ
Distance from NYC: 47 minutes

Fans of “Jurassic Park” can play paleontologist for a day at this unique attraction.  A field guide greets you upon arrival, introducing you to the camp and giving you passport books to become “Super Paleontologists” by collecting stamps at each of the exhibits. You’ll work your way through fossil excavation, art tents, a nursery with baby dinosaurs, and several research tents. Amphitheater shows include a Dinosaur Dance Party, a T-Rex “Feeding Frenzy”, and the Olympic-style T-Rex Games competition. Workshops, games, and movies pack plenty of educational content in with the “wow factor.” Of course, no dinosaur attraction would be complete without animatronics! Undoubtedly, the highlight of your trip will be the forested walking trail, complete with 30 full-size animatronic dinosaurs.

Taking youngsters out of The City for a day isn’t always easy. There’s a lot to plan and pack! But there is a lot for parents to learn about and love in these excursions, and you can be rest assured your kids will be talking about the family bonding time for years to come!

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.

8 Ways Kids Can Entertain Themselves at Your Fourth of July Party

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The best Fourth-of-July parties are entertaining for kids and adults. Here are some of our favorite open-ended party activities that will entertain and engage kids, while grown-ups enjoy cocktails and conversation.

Top 8 July 4th Activities

 

1.      July 4th Firework Crafts

Firework crafts are easy enough for older kids to do without supervision or for a teenager to oversee the littler ones. Simply cut the end of paper towel rolls into strips for a great firework template that can be dipped into glitter paint. The bounce and twist motion it takes to create “fireworks” encourages hand-eye coordination and fine motor development, while kids use their imagination and combine colors. Another variation of this craft uses shaving cream, liquid water colors, and toothpicks. You can also use forks to make a circular pattern or dab a dish brush onto the paper for a similar effect.

2.      Independence Day Scavenger Hunt

Plan to pair younger kids with older kids, and make a patriotic-themed Scavenger Hunt around the yard or house before guests arrive. There are countless variations, but the basic idea is to write out a riddle leading kids to the next clue. An example might be: “An old fable says that George Washington chopped one of these down” – which, of course, will lead the sleuths to a cherry tree on the property. You could hide the American flags to be collected as part of a patriotic theme, or make printouts of famous patriots, places, and symbols from American history. To add a layer of intrigue, you could attach an activity to each discovered clue, such as “Do five pushups” or “Sing the Star-Spangled Banner.” An easier version can be made for younger kids by simply providing a list of hidden items to find. They can be very specific patriotic items / printouts, or broader items like “something fuzzy” and “something pretty.”

3.      Red, White and Blue Water Balloons

Water balloons are always a hit at any outdoor summer picnic. Of course, there is some liability that adult guests may get a little wet, too. Encourage structured games, rather than all-out warfare. The basic Water Balloon Toss involves two lines of people standing across from one another, tossing and catching small water balloons. Partners who drop and break the balloon are out. If the partners successfully complete the toss without the balloon breaking, they take one step back. Another fun game is Water Ballon Dodgeball where two teams are divided up and take turns hurling water balloons back and forth until one team is left standing. Buy red, white, and blue balloons to make it festive. When the sun goes down, you can bust out these glow-in-the-dark balloons recommended by a camp counselor.

4.      4th of July Bicycle Parade

The Fourth of July naturally lends itself to pageantry. Set up an Americana themed costume box with props and outfits like the Statue of Liberty, Paul Revere, George and Martha Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Colonial soldiers. Or you can ask young guests to come dressed as their favorite patriotic attire to compete for the “best costume” prize. Kids can bring their bikes to decorate for a “parade” around the block (or the driveway). Have streamers, flags, stickers, construction paper, markers, and spoke beads on hand for decorating.

5.      Independent Jewelry Making Station

Older kids can enjoy hours of making red, white, and blue bracelets and necklaces. Supply them with red, white, and blue beads, as well as beads shaped like stars or letter beads that allow them to write messages. Oriental Trading is a cheap place to find patriotic charms and supplies, or you could try Etsy.

6.      Capture the (American) Flag

Divide the team into the red team vs. the blue team, using bandanas to signify who is on which team. For team flags, you could use the American and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags. The object of this classic game is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to their territory. If you’re tagged by an opposing team member, you have to go to the designated “jail.” You can only get out of jail if your team member tags you. Each team typically divvies themselves up into “Guards” who try to tag opponents sneaking into their territory, “Attackers” who are on a mission to find the other team’s hidden flag, and “Scouts” who rescue team members from jail and support the other roles.

7.      July 4th on TV!

Electronic media is never our first pick, but what if it’s raining? What if the kids have been running around for hours and crave that little bit of “down time” to recharge their batteries? Our best educational TV pick for the Fourth of July is Liberty’s Kids, an entertaining-yet-educational series about the American Revolution. Other picks may include movies like: “Johnny Tremain,” “This is America, Charlie Brown,” “All Aboard America,” or “Ben and Me.”

8.       Stand up and Sing, Patriots!

What better time to brush up on everybody’s favorite patriotic songs that embody the very spirit of our independence? For a comprehensive list of all the most classic patriot tunes and lyrics, check out https://www.scoutsongs.com/categories/patriotic-songs.html. Or curate your own list of modern pop hits that celebrate what it means to “R.O.C.K. in the USA”, be an “American Girl”, or remind your favorite kid what a “Firework” he is. Or if you have a Broadway baby, why not host a Hamilton sing along!

Additional Resources: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/shaving-cream-fireworks/

Holidays are an exciting time for the kids, so be sure to put their boundless energy to good use. Have them work on easy table decorations, or inspire their inner “chef” by having them assemble these simple 4th of July snacks. While you are celebrating America’s independence, your little ones will be celebrating their growing sense of independence, too.

Have a sensational party!

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.

5 Fantastic Ways To Spend Father’s Day in NYC

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New York City is a vast playground for engaged dads to explore with their children, whether they’re babies and toddlers or full-grown with children of their own. Some fathers enjoy sports and the great outdoors, while others may be artistically inclined and connoisseurs of fine food. Some dads thrive in big crowds, while others prefer something more intimate. There are parks and events that cater to all types in this big, bold city that we love. Here are a few options if you’re still undecided on where you’ll end up on Father’s Day.

  1. Cruise with brews. Hornblower Cruises offers a unique view of the New York skyline and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge — from aboard an intimate luxury yacht. The two hour Father’s Day cruise serves up a delicious brunch buffet featuring omelets, eggs benedict, vegetable frittata, French toast, waffles, bacon, sausage, potatoes, salads, bagels, meat carving stations, and pastries. Live jazz music sets the atmosphere, while dad enjoys free-flowing beer in his official Hornblower mug. The cruise sets sail Sunday, June 18th at noon from Pier 40. After your cruise, you can take a free self-guided tour of Greenwich Village, check out the trapeze school, or explore all that Hudson River Park has to offer, from kayaking to mini golf. Young kids will enjoy the splash-park and carousel.
  2. Enjoy the finer foods in life. Foodies have many ways to celebrate this Father’s Day. The Museum at Eldridge Street in the Lower East Side is holding an Egg Rolls, Egg Creams & Empanadas Festival to celebrate the area’s cultural diversity. Watch Peking Opera performers dazzle the crowd; listen to klezmer bands; learn how to make empanadas; take free language lessons; or play a round of mahjongg. The block party is free, but there will be plenty of Jewish, Chinese, and Puerto Rican food for sale. Or you can head on over to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for Smorgasburg, which the NY Times has called “the Woodstock of food” with over 100 food and super flea market vendors. Treat your tastebuds to everything from crispy pork belly on a stick and French steak tartare, to Nutella-dipped churros and spaghetti donuts.
  3. Explore Van Cortlandt Park with the little ones. Sometimes when you have young children in tow, you need a Father’s Day plan that doesn’t involve too much hassle. Van Cortlandt Park in the northwest Bronx is the perfect place to pack a picnic and stay the day. The Forever Wild Preserves offers nature trails ideal for easy hiking, biking, or horseback riding. In fact, kids ages 4-10 will enjoy free pony rides at Riverdale Stables from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday! There are four playgrounds, an Urban Park Rangers’ Nature Center, a historic museum, a golf course, two free outdoor pools, a toddler wading area, barbecue grills, fishing, and sports fields. It’s impossible to cover it all in one day, but the main attractions are conveniently located near transit hubs or parking lots.
  4. Promote family fitness with a father-and-tot Fun Run. Think N’ Fun is holding a special Father’s Day race for the whole family. Each father and child receive a commemorative medal for their participation. Age categories include Tadpoles (early walkers), Goldfish (2), Guppies (3-4), Starfish (5), and Young Runners (6+). Recovery snacks will be served after the race, while families check out the photo opp station and “make-n-take” craft station. Dads looking to really break a sweat can opt to take the optional adults race through Riverside Park after taking their jog with the kids.
  5. Give dad’s bucket list dreams wings. Get a bird’s eye view of NY, while experiencing the thrill of piloting a light aircraft designed for flight training. Experienced FAA Certified Flight Instructor Patrick O’Toole will give dad a one-hour flying lesson departing from Republic Airport in Farmingdale. When he lands, you can visit the American Airpower Museum, ride old-fashioned amusement park rides at Adventureland, hike the Adventure Park at Long Island, or grab a drink at the Barrage Brewing Company.

Father’s Day with young children may not be filled with “R&R,” but it can be the perfect excuse to skip the honey-do list for the weekend and spend it cooking up new memories, at play with his #1 fans.

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

10 Fun Things to do on Mother’s Day 2017 with the Kids in NYC

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Moms deserve to be celebrated every day, but if there’s one day that demands it- it’s Mother’s Day. With the big day fast approaching, the pressure is on to make the perfect plan. New York City is a vast playground, so we’ve narrowed down a few of the best options that go beyond the standard brunch.

 

  1. Go where the wild things are. The Central Park Zoo is hosting a family-friendly party for mothers and children ages 2-10 on May 14th. Meet zoo animal moms and babies, enjoy tasty treats, make Mom a special gift, and go on a scavenger hunt.

 

  1. Set sail. Sail out of Port 40 on a relaxing two-hour Hudson River cruise that includes a brunch buffet and dessert station, coffee, tea, “free-flowing” Mimosas and Sangria, and a live jazz band. Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Governors Island, and the Manhattan skyline.

 

  1. Explore the city on a scavenger hunt. If “relax” isn’t really in your family’s vocabulary, you may love a Mother’s Day Scavenger Hunt. This three-hour event starts at Slattery’s Midtown Pub (8 East 36th Street) and leads you around the city with the ScanQuest app. It’s a fun, interactive journey that will challenge your party mentally and physically. Winners receive a NYC gift package.

 

  1. Create a work of art. Mother’s Day is the perfect excuse to visit the Children’s Museum of the Arts in SoHo. Moms enjoy free admission to watch their young artists create upcycled picture frames, painted portraits, spiky sculptures, tie-dye tissue paper composites, clay farm animals, dot marker cards, and more.

 

  1. Get your fill of thrills at Coney Island. Though the beach is closed, everything else is open – the restored B&B carousel and rides at Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel, the New York Aquarium, and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow (which offers kid-friendly attractions during the day). Grab a hotdogs at Nathan’s and ice cream at Coney’s Cones to enjoy the simple pleasures in life with the ones you love most.

 

  1. Have a picnic in Central Park. Picnics can be easy with pre-made picnic boxes by Perfect Picnic NYC, Picnic in the Park, or Chelsea Market. Park your clan anywhere in Sheep Meadow, Strawberry Fields, or the Pond and enjoy one of Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks.

 

  1. Enjoy nature at Wave Hill. The brunch always sells out quickly, but you can always bring a picnic lunch or reserve a basket from The Café. Wave Hill offers bird watching, open-air yoga classes, crafts at the Family Art Project, jewelry shopping, and a Family Nature Walk.

 

  1. Stop and smell the lilacs. This year, the New York Botanical Garden’s Mother’s Day Garden Party will show off the newly reopened Lilac Collection. You can watch dancers perform on the Daffodil Hill stage, play a game of Giant Chess, putt a few rounds of croquet on the green, take a guided walking tour, get professional photographs taken, and take the kids to the craft room to make homemade watercolor cards. Picnic brunch is also available by reservation.

 

  1. Roadtrip! Less than two hours from NYC is kid-favorite, Rocking Horse Ranch, an all-inclusive Hudson Valley resort that offers an indoor waterpark and an abundance of organized family activities. Other activities include horseback riding, miniature golf, bowling, ping-pong, archery, rock climbing, and more! Ask about their Mother’s Day weekend promotion where kids are 50% off.

 

  1. Spice things up with a private cooking class. Freshmade NYC teaches knife skills, kitchen safety, and how to prepare delicious, easy recipes. Book a private one-on-one cooking session with a chef or create your own cooking class if you have at least four children in your group. Recipes cover a wide range of different flavors, with items like: sweet and savory crepes, mini sweet potato and kale lasagnas, BBQ chicken-apple pizzas, wild salmon burgers, and baked falafel, to name a few. Family cooking classes are suitable for kids ages 2 to teen.

By Jenn Fusion for Shine

Making 2017 The Thank You Year

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As I reflect on 2016 — its crazy turns, speed bumps that turned out to be potholes and the unexpected dead ends — I am truly thankful. I’m thankful for my love, my home, my job, and for quiet Sunday afternoons when I get to write about my childhood, new and old picture books, and admire the creativity in kids. I am thankful for this open, magical and welcoming space right here. And I plan on taking these feelings of gratitude with me as I start my journey into 2017.

imagesI can’t think of a better way to say goodbye to 2016 than by saying a proper farewell to some chums, Gerald and Piggie. I know. Say it ain’t so?! It’s sad but true. The 25th and final book in Mo Willems’ “Elephant & Piggie” series came to an end this year with “The Thank You Book.”

For one last time, the comedy team of Gerald the Elephant and Piggie’s spirited banter is in full bloom as Piggie thinks, “I am one lucky pig.” And decides to “get thanking.” This peaks Gerald interest as he glumly tells her he’s sure she’ll forget someone. But Piggie won’t have it. She grits her teeth and replies, “I. Will. Thank. EVERYONE. It will be a THANK-O-RAMA!”

In true Willems fashion, the parade starts as he brings back every character who has ever made an appearance in an Elephant & Piggie book.

Piggie thanks the Squirrels for their great ideas, Snake for playing ball, and the Pigeon “for never giving up,” while adding “sorry you do not get to be in our books.” Of course fans know the mischievous bird photo bombs the endpapers of all the Elephant & Piggie books. So he slyly replies, “That is what you think.”

Piggie thanks, thanks, thanks! She is a “thanking machine!” She continues to thank the Whale, the Ice Cream Penguin, Doctor Cat, and Brian Bat. But Gerald continues to interject that she’ll forget “someone VERY important.” It’s only when Piggie finally runs out of thanks that she gets it, and Gerald is straight up mad. “I goofed,” Piggie concedes before thanking Gerald.

But unfortunately it’s not Gerald whom Piggie forgot to thank! He reveals the “someone important” is…“Our reader.”
This is a fun and heartwarming, a family-reunion that perfectly brings an end to a beloved series. I don’t know about you, but I think Piggies is on to something! I’m going to start this New Year with a THANK-O-RAMA! I hope you do too.

By Claudia Chung for Shine

Peanuts Forever!

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No One Welcomes The Holidays Like The Peanuts Gang

My first word in English was disgusting.  If someone gave me a quarter, I thanked him or her by saying, “disgusting.” Should I need to use the bathroom, I’d ask by saying, “disgusting?” And when I got into a fight at the playground, I screamed, “disgusting!” As an adult, I still haven’t the faintest idea why disgusting was so enticing, fun to say and well… magical.

Then I started to put words together. And my first phrase was, “good grief!” With my hand on my forehead I said, “good grief!” when my mother called me for breakfast. I resigned myself to the task of getting my father his newspaper from the living room with a “good grief!” And just before tucking into our dinner I prayed, “Good grief. Thank you for this food.” The Peanuts Gang was everything.

To this day, the only cartoon character I know how to draw is Snoopy, and that’s from sitting at my desk tracing the loveable dog for hours on end. Now as a pre-school teacher, not only are my students extremely impressed by my artistic talents, I feel no qualms about showing a Charlie Brown Special every now and then. From The Great Pumpkin in October to Be My Valentine Charlie Brown in February and everything in between, my class enjoys seeing their Peanut friends, quirks and all. And by the way, it’s not just us. The latest Peanuts movie grossed $246.2 million.

giphy-21It took some time for me to fully embrace my undeniable devotion to Charles Schulz’s characters. It was never just childish antics that attracted me; I had a deeper appreciation that is still intact. The first Charlie Brown special aired on November 20th, 1973 on CBS. To this day, it’s still going strong on ABC. I believe authenticity and smart dialogue has kept the Peanuts Gang relevant. Now associated with Thanksgiving and other holidays for more than fifty years, the show never assumes that its viewers are too young or immature to fully grasp its humor mixed in with a nice dose of hale and hearty lessons. As Schulz’ widow, Jeannie, once said on NPR, Peanut specials focuses on “our commercialism” of the holidays. “And it points that out with humor so we can laugh at them — laugh at ourselves.”

I still laugh when Snoopy enters a holiday light and display contest for the cold hard cash and Charlie Brown moans, “My own dog, gone commercial. I can’t stand it.” And my heart still stings with understanding when he tells Linus, “I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.”

I think we’ve all been there, Charlie Brown.

By Claudia Chung for Shine

Summer Lovin’ Fun: Shine’s Top 10 Cool Things to Do in the Summer with Your Kids

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When the weather outside reached ninety-eight degrees or higher, my daily summer routine as a seven year old was wake up, eat and go outside in just my underpants. It never occurred to me to dig out my swimsuit and actually wear it. After I went outside, I turned on the sprinklers and waited for my slip-n-slide to get wet. Once the plastic yellow strip glistened and sparkled from the sunshine, I knew it was time to run, flop on my belly and glide. I did this for hours. Run. Flop. Glide.

The only time I took a break from slipping and sliding was to eat lunch or when my dog Oreo jumped into our hot tub to cool off. Of course I had to jump right in after him! Swimming with Oreo in our own private miniature pool is one of the most vivid and sweetest memories I have as a child. When I close my eyes, I can still picture our deck, smell the air filled with wet dog, feel the texture of my pruney fingers and the sun slightly burning my skin. It was magic.

That’s the beauty of kids. It doesn’t take much for them to have fun. Their intuitive creativity will always kick in and they will make it fun. One way or another, fun always wins.

Shine’s Summer Fun Top Ten List:

Outdoors

1. Make a giant slip-n-slide with a painter’s tarp and shaving cream. Of course there is the option of purchasing one.

2. Make hard-to-pop bubbles with 1 cup of distilled water, 2 tablespoons of dish soap and 1 tablespoon of glycerin.

3. Let kids paint each other with washable tempera paint, then wash it off in the sprinklers or hose them off!

4. Make a sidewalk, driveway or patio chalk mural.

5. Set up a tent in the backyard to use as a summer playhouse.

 

Indoors

IMG_64626. Practice your origami skills and make objects to hang from the ceiling.

7. Make paper flowers using different tissue paper. Here is how to do it.

8. Set up a tent in the living room and camp out… or in!

9. Make an indoor rock garden using colored rice: mix 4 cups of rice with 3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food coloring and let dry overnight. Place colored rice sand and arrange rocks in wooden box or glass bowl.

10. Forget cooking! Set up an ice cream sundae buffet for dinner – pizza pie optional.

By Claudia Chung, Assistant Teacher

Shine’s Spring Gardening: Let’s Get Dirty!

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To most people, spring is when the birds starts to chirp, flower buds manifest, and the sun rays dial up to warm.  But for me, from the time I can remember, spring was when I got dirty!

From spring to the end of summer, I was always dirty. My shirt was stained from the constant popsicles dripping from my mouth. My knees were scabby or bloody from rolling down the hill in our backyard. And my face was permanently smeared with dirt from trying to grab the pesky gopher that lived in our vegetable patch (I turned him into my pet and named him Bucky). After a while, my parents just gave up and never dressed me in nice clothes unless it was for a special occasion – preferably one that would keep me indoors, or when it was time to go to school. You could say that for a few months a year, I was the girl version of Pigpen, but loved a stuffed monkey instead of a blanket.

Growing up as a California girl, I thought backyards with mini-fields of happy white daisies were the norm. Fresh strawberries, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers that I’d pick and eat off the vines were just part of my day. For some reason, once my mother cooked them, they lost their appeal. But if they were warm from the sunshine and covered in dirt, they were delicious! To this day, I prefer almost green, under-ripe peaches and nectarines, as I was never patient enough to wait for them to mature on Pinksy, our nectarine tree.

One of my fondest memories involves my whole family planting in the spring and harvesting their goodness throughout the summer. Those thoughts are vivid and clear, recalling each year I got to play with dirt, watch our plants grow, and taste the fruits of our labor.

So by all means, if you have a yard, plant something! But for all the city parents and kids, you can experience a similar pleasure by making a little window garden of your own. No grass needed. All you need is a little moxie and creativity.

Here is Shine’s guide to creating the simplest windowsill herb gardens with your kids!

IMG_2870What you’ll need:

Young starter herbs: Available at garden centers and some supermarkets, herbs such as oregano and basil for spaghetti or pizza sauce, cilantro to add to tacos and salsa, and lavender for the pretty flowers to make into potpourri.

Containers with Drainage Holes: They can be planters from garden center or you can make them from colanders or coffee cans! Just avoid plastic that might break or melt in the sun, and anything that might contain lead paint. Make sure the containers have enough room for the plants to grow. Once the containers are bought or found, punch or drill holes in the bottom for drainage and you’re set. (Make sure you put a plate under the pot to catch the excess water!) Then kids can paint and decorate the containers before they start planting. Let paint dry before handling soil.

Potting Mix and Plant Food: Available at garden centers and some supermarkets.

Sunny Spot: Most herbs need about six or more hours of sunlight a day to thrive.

With your kids, add potting mix to container and plant your starter herbs, leaving plenty of space between each plant to grow. Also be sure to check the information that comes with the plant for spacing requirements. Then mix plant food and water and place in a sunny spot.

Continue to water according to the instructions that come with each plant. Kids can harvest the herbs continually through the summer once the plant has enough foliage to sustain growth. Then get cookin’!

By Claudia Chung, Assistant Teacher

Shine 9: Randi Spoon

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Randi SpoonRandi Spoon graduated with a major in fashion design and minor in textiles from Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Upon graduation she started SPOON Fashion, a line of women’s contemporary apparel. After 5 successful years in the fashion industry Randi decided to transition into teaching the arts to children. Believing that instilling a love of art and creativity to children helps them with self-expression and overall joy in all learning, Randi is an incredible educator who brings a strong artistic sensibility to all she does. She truly shines. To book a class with Randi or find out about our other amazing educators and classes click here.

1. What was your favorite children’s book when you were a child? Or what children’s book/young adult character did you relate to most as a child?

In general, I tend to think and understand things in a visual manner. I was always drawn to books that had vivid, detailed illustrations because they brought the stories to life. I remember being drawn to the illustrator Jerry Pinkney after reading ‘The Talking Eggs.’ The story was fantastic but the illustrators were what really drew me in!

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Spreading the Love of Music

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 “Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand. With an equal opportunity, for all to sing, dance, and clap their hands…”

– Stevie Wonder, Sir Duke

 

These lyrics are all encompassing when it comes to understanding children, their love for music, and why it is so important in their lives.

IMG_2853 (1)Children are inherently musical beings. They love to sing, dance, shake, rattle, and roll! Adults who provide developmentally appropriate learning environments for children incorporate music as a major component of a healthy and natural daily experience. Teachers, caregivers, and parents must do so by offering playful and creative music experiences in both structured and unstructured settings. Healthy and natural encouragement in engaging children in musical play is essential to their musical development. Listening and observing a child’s spontaneous musical play, such as invented song, helps adults around them (parents, teachers, caregivers, etc.) better understand their methods of learning, communicating, and awareness of their place in society. More importantly, it gives children a fun outlet to express their feelings, wants, and needs!

Parents and caregivers:

By playing music in your home during homework time, dinnertime or while getting ready in the morning, you can naturally expose your children to different genres of music. Music also affects mood so starting your day off right with an upbeat tune will positively affect the chemical make-up of your child. Turning on some smooth jazz during homework time or before bedtime is proven to naturally help concentration and winding down.

Classroom teachers:

IMG_2853 (2)Turn on some background music during the school day. This might fit into free art time, reading, reflection, and/or journaling. This would, of course, be an addition to your regularly scheduled music class 😉

One of my most important and sacred ideals is making children feel comfortable in a given learning environment. Although music is the universal language of the world, it is not understood and received the same way by all. Thus, customized programming is essential in the musical development of children, beginning from birth through the adolescent years. My mission is to provide my students with the capacity to go out into the world feeling special, loved, and confident shining their inner light.

Spread the love of music!

By Taylor Feygin, MA, Music Education & Shine Music Specialist

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