For me, March is a month for cooking. Why? It started when I taught first grade in rural upstate New York, where the winters are cold and seemingly endless. March was the most depressing month of the year. It sounded as if the weather should be getting warmer, but no such luck. March was always … Continue reading
Sometimes something comes across your desk and just makes your whole day. That happened to me this week when I first read about 4-year old “Mayhem,” who makes paper dresses with her mom. Fueled with paper, tape, and creativity, the duo makes dresses inspired by everything from runway favorites to a shark at the acquarium. … Continue reading
At the moment, sun in Michigan is at a premium. We’ve spent too many days in the grip of the Polar Vortex and we’re all dreaming of palm-shaded beaches. Perhaps it is my dreams of sun and sand, but this week I’ve been thinking about shadows. I’ve written about shadow activities before, so for ideas … Continue reading
It’s January. It’s Michigan. And so, as I look out my window, it’s snowing. We’re in the beginning stages of what promises to be a foot of snow, with sub-zero temperatures to follow. What could be more appropriate than family fun activities centering on snow—with a bonus activity for anyone faced with temperatures well below … Continue reading
In my corner of the world—and many others–December is a season of giving. So what better focus for family fun in December than thinking about gift giving? Aside from creative fun, perhaps some time spent focusing on giving can help abate the commercial-driven craziness that can overtake all of us this time of year. In … Continue reading
How can anyone who cares about creativity not love this? On the chance that you missed it on Tumblr, Facebook, Good Morning America or the Huffington Post, here’s a tribute to Dinovember, the month plastic dinosaurs come to life. Dinovember is the creation of Refe and Susan Tuma, of Kansas City, MO, who wanted to … Continue reading
November, in the U.S. and Canada, is a time to celebrate gratitude. But since I wrote about family activities around Thanksgiving last year, this year I thought I’d write about one of the things for which people around the world are grateful: bread. 1. You might want to start by exploring the many varied kinds … Continue reading
When I was young, LEGOs® were brightly colored rectangles that came in a box. Children lucky enough to have some could build anything they could imagine. Today, there are all manner of specialized LEGOs®: Star Wars LEGOs®, James Bond LEGOs®, even “LEGO Friends” targeted at girls (LEGO Friends Dolphin Cruise®, LEGO Friends Heartlake High®—yikes!). Each … Continue reading
It’s time again, for the Global Cardboard Challenge! The Imagination Foundation describes the Challenge: “The Global Cardboard Challenge is an annual challenge that invites kids around the world to design and build awesome creations using cardboard, recycled materials and imagination. The challenge culminates in a Global Day of Play on October 5th, marking the 2nd … Continue reading
Can it really be time for back-to-school? In Michigan, the store displays of pens and notebooks seem to appear just as the summer temperatures soar, confusing my sense of season altogether. Still, one of the great benefits of the academic calendar is that it gives us two “New Years” each year, two opportunities to resolve … Continue reading
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