Dinosaur Planters

My friend, Sandra, sent me this photo and I thought I'd share. Such a cute idea. Thank you, Sandra!

Nature Collection

Clay has been taking time to smell the flowers lately...literally. He wants to stop and smell every flower we see. He also likes collecting leaves, picking flowers and finding little bits around the yard. I wanted to have a way to display his collection since I know it is important to him. I used a little bowl and filled it with Easter grass from last year's Easter basket and it sits on our dining room table. It is a great way to celebrate spring. 

Garden Projects for Kids

Clay has been working in our family garden since he was 2 and would take our friends and family around the backyard on garden tours. He would recite all of the vegetables growing and couldn't wait to pick all of the carrots. 


He is really helpful around the garden now and even has a garden of his own. It is fun to watch his excitement as a new flower blooms or sprouts emerge each day. He also loves watching the birds and squirrels as they find the sunflower seeds in the feeders or acorns on the ground.


We also found that giving him a corner of the yard that is his own to make puddles, grow his own flowers and vegetables, make forts and use his imagination has really made a difference in the way he interacts with nature in the backyard. He even came up with the idea to take a ride to Mercury in his spaceship (his playhouse, which is why he wanted to add the door/curtain). 


Maybe our backyard will even become a Certified Wildlife Habitat some day!


There are some really great resources out there for gardening with your kids. I also highly recommend Gardenheads Garden Camp (now enrolling for summer camp). Clay attends once a week and LOVES it!




Fun Projects


Pizza Garden

Garden Markers

Garden in a Shell

Fairy Garden

Plant a Rainbow

Butteryfly Garden


Pea, Cucumber or Scarlet Runner Bean Tunnel or Sunflower House






Books for Young Gardeners

DIY Sensory Boxes and Playrooms

You've probably seen a sensory table at your child's preschool. The kids love them and they are great for engaging all of their senses and using their imagination. If you have a little neat freak in you, just make sure you set the boundaries ahead of time and either have them work in a large plastic container, outside or a designated sensory table. 

Suggested Materials for your sensory table (be sure to make sure materials are age appropriate so they do not choke or eat something they're not supposed to!)

rice, oats, dried pasta, ribbon flowers, buttons, dried beans or lentils, water, sand (try the colored kind at art supply stores), play dough and seasonal items like fake snow, dried flowers or leaves, rocks, etc. 

Garden in a Box, Coffee Box, Construction Box and More!

Mermaid Sensory Box

Spring Sensory Box

Ideas for Sensory Tables

Shed Playrooms

GuacaMayo

GuacaMayo is Clay's new favorite dip which consists of smashed avocados, mayo (We like The Ojai Cook's Lemonaise at Central Market or Wheatsville), lemon, salt and pepper. It makes a great dip for Beanitos!

DIY Cereal - Blueberry and Cherry Oat Cereal

This is a fun one to make with the kids because they can create their own cereal. I adapted this recipe from Chef Alain Braux's book, Living Gluten and Dairy Free with French Gourmet Food. My husband and I went to hear him speak at BookPeople recently. 

Here is the basic recipe, but make it your own by browsing the dried fruit and nut aisles of the bulk section or even your pantry shelves. Be sure to use gluten free oats if you have a gluten intolerance. I like to keep mine in a big container with a scoop. I got mine at Zingers hardware. 


Blueberry and Cherry Oat Cereal


Get your big mixing bowl out and let your kids stir all the ingredients together. I always think that getting them involved makes cooking together more fun and cuts down on protests at meal time. 


Cereal Mix
bag of gluten free rolled oats
buckwheat flakes or similar cereal
1 cup pecan pieces
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup dried blueberries
1 cup dried cherries


Add-ins
honey
2 oz. soy, almond, hazelnut, rice or coconut milk
1 Tbsp. soy or coconut yogurt
1 Tbsp. fish oil or flax seeds


Other ideas: dried apple, cinnamon, walnuts and vanilla yogurt or shredded coconut and dried pineapple, macadamia nuts and mango yogurt


For hot cereal add 1/2 - 1 cup cereal mix with the milk and yogurt and heat in a toaster oven for 10 minutes or eat cold once the cereal has absorbed the liquid. I also think it might be good to bake the cereal for a short time in the oven and add in the yogurt or milk. Try it out and feel free to share your versions!

Snow Ice Cream

We're so excited we have a chance to try this out today!!!


Snow Ice Cream Recipe
Substitute vanilla almond milk or vanilla rice milk as a dairy-free alternative


Have fun out there!