December 22

Let it snow let it snow!
Try out this fun and gooey activity for the winter season (here):

December 21

Today's actives combine snowmen to bread for an afternoon of creative baking.

1. Shape and snack!

To get in the mood transform the classic lunch sandwich into a smiling snowman. Your snowman will be all the jollier for whole wheat bread and decorated with fruit and vegetable adornments!

http://kidsparties123.com/recipes/snowman-sandwich/

 A PB and J decorated with sweet treats:

http://wenderly.com/2011/01/14/p-b-j-snowman-sandwiches/

 Or try out an open faced cream cheese variation (here)

But now lets flour on the floor and in the air, and the kids in the kitchen for an exciting and creative way to bake bread.Use your favorite roll dough and have the kids shape and decorate before backing.

2. Bake!

Continue on with the snowman theme (recipe included):http://spoonful.com/recipes/jolly-snowman-bread



Or make monsters (here):

December 20

Support your kids in the initiative to build more sustainable smaller houses. Gingerbread houses that is!
Made with Graham crackers this activity is less dawunting then the large scale kits.

http://cabinorganic.com/2012/12/25/mini-gingerbread-houses-with-erin/

Take photos of you creations and share them bellow!

Growing gifts

 This article is a complimentary addition to the book list series, published earlier this month (here).
As the big day comes closer and closer, and as the article encourages "consider giving the gift of a better food system through teaching kids about where food comes from, who grows it, and what sorts of foods are both healthy and delicious."

Read the article here:

http://foodtank.org/news/2013/12/fifteen-books-for-future-foodies

December 19

Holiday's are awash in paper plates and other entertaining 'apparatus'. Can you put them to better use?

Try out this activity making paper plate angles:

December 18

Try out this easy holiday craft!

photo credit: http://shopbonnenouvelle.blogspot.ca/2011/12/marshmallow-snowmen-and-women.html

December 17th

Get out and about this month! Check out some of the kid friendly activities and events taking place in Calgary.


https://www.calgaryschild.com/family-fun/787-12-things-to-do-this-holiday-season-in-calgary

Artist Credit: Naomi Gerrard

December 16

 If only those snowmen would last...
Preserve the winter fun with this kid friendly 'snow globe' activity.

http://www.artfulparent.com/2011/12/playdough-snowmen-in-mason-jar-snow-globes.html

http://www.artfulparent.com/2011/12/playdough-snowmen-in-mason-jar-snow-globes.html

http://www.artfulparent.com/2011/12/playdough-snowmen-in-mason-jar-snow-globes.html

December 15

Try out this fun outdoor activity:

http://www.artfulparent.com/2012/11/colored-ice-scultpures-outdoor-winter-art-for-kids.html

The Power of Reading and Storytelling

Cold weather evokes hibernation tendencies; curling up with a good book and getting lost in its pages.
Reading is fundamental for child development, and enriches life throughout all stages. Equally important is the verbalization, storytelling, and listening.

Take a look at this fantastic article for a peak into what is happening amid imaginings of princesses and dragons, when you read your children their bedtime story.

http://blog.bufferapp.com/science-of-storytelling-why-telling-a-story-is-the-most-powerful-way-to-activate-our-brains

 

What are your kids favorite stories to listen to? What are your favorite stories to tell?

Book List

While books make fantastic holiday gifts for all ages, lets open another chapter in our narrative of a less consumerist celebration of the season.

Kids Grow embraces and seeks to promote principles of sharing and community, so check out the Calgary Public Library, where all the books on this list can be found! The Louise Riley Public library has a copy of the complete list and can help locate all the wonderful resources their Community Outreach Librarian has put together.


The extensive book list chronicling gardening, activities, cooking, food, and environment for all ages and much much more will be be presented in tagged sections.

Table of Content (sections)

1. Children's Books

A). Board books

B). Picture Books

C). Non- Fiction

D). Gardening

E). Cookbooks

2. The Great Outdoors: 
Activities for Children and Families

3. Adult Books

A). Gardening

B). Cookbooks

C). Sustainable Food Systems

         

*also available as an e-book through the e-library