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!

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 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

December 14

Impersonal Baubles and glass ornaments are a recipe for disaster with active kids in the house! Try out this great activity to create your own homemade ornaments.

http://www.localfunforkids.com/home/how-to-make-cinnamon-sugar-salt-ornaments.html

 

 

Let the kids get creative with shapes and decorating!

Here are some more inspiriting ideas:

Photo credit : http://addapinch.com/living/2010/11/29/salt-dough-ornaments/#.Uqybq43Le2c

photo credit:http://thecraftytortoise.blogspot.ca/2011/12/christmas-ornament-tutorial.html

photo credit: http://lessonplans.craftgossip.com/salt-dough-ornaments/2010/12/04

December 13

Bunts cakes make fantastic (and yummy) holiday gifts.

Today's kitchen advent entry will get you off to a good start, and put you in good stead both with your human neighbors and feathered friends!

Lemon Bunt Cake

The holidays are usually characterized by all things chocolate; awash in truffles, cakes, confections and treats. Try out this Lemon Bunt cake recipe from the happygoodtime blog. Don't forget to let the kids get into the kitchen. Let them use their imagination and make a castle story book narrative to accompany the ornate dimensions of your bunt pan.

http://happygoodtime.com/2013/02/19/buttery-meyer-lemon-bundt-cake/

Bird Seed Wreath

And for the feathered among us... This activity adds to the growing repertoire of outdoors decoration ideas! Also check out previous Kids Grow advent calendar entries here.

http://www.themotherhuddle.com/tutorial-bird-seed-wreath/

December 12

Snow is the best feature of winter. There are countless outside activities celebrating and reveling in the cold white stuff- But how about a way to keep the fun going inside (without the puddles!):

Today's activity is a nice mixture of kitchen and science with endless creative hands on applications!
(follow the link bellow)


http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2012/12/slime28.html

December 11

Would you like some salt with that?

Create some snowy pictures! Play with a combination of water colors and salt to achieve a frosted look. 

Get creative and experiment there are endless possibilities, but here are some ideas to get started.

Hint: this is another great kid-made gift idea! Try making cards out of your children's artwork.

Salted water color:

Materials
Salt
Watercolors
Paintbrush
Water
Sturdy paper (such as water color)

Instructions:
1. Let the artistic creativity flow in a water color paining. Make sure to use lots of water!
2. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle some salt crystals on top. Watch the salt absorbe to create a textured winter feel.
3. Let the paining dry and brush off the salt.

This mitten project uses the same idea, but a slightly different methodology:

http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/2013/01/salt-watercolor-mitten-art-in-preschool.htm

Need more challenge?

Give this one a try:

http://www.happinessishomemade.net/2012/01/21/kids-art-watercolor-winter-trees/

Glue, salt and watercolors:

- try making snow flakes!

Check out the following link for some great step by step photos:
http://www.artfulparent.com/2012/08/watercolor-and-salt-painting-revisiting-an-old-favorite.html

Materials:
Salt
White glue
Watercolors
Paintbrush
Water
Sturdy paper (such as water color)
Cookie tin



Instructions:
1.Squeeze out your design with white glue
2. Sprinkle on salt, to adhere to the glue outline (do this in the cookie tin to reduce clean up )
3. Shake of excess salt
4. Add some color by touhing a watercolor loaded painbrush to the salt dessign. Watch the color spread!
5. Let the painitng dry well


Need some more ideas?
Check out this handy ideas listing: http://www.kidsart.com/ttwatercolor.html

December 10

photo credit: Jan Brett

photo credit: Jan Brett

 
Those reindeer need to be healthy and strong for their important night coming up later this month...
Get the kids to help make a hearty Bircher's Muesli
for tomorrow's breackfast.

This delicious reindeer food is suitable for kids and adults as well !

Bircher Muesli

Serves 2 

Authors: Erika and the Rebar Cookbook

Started the evening before, this traditional Swiss breakfast, combines soaked oat with grated apples, toasted nuts and seeds, maple syrup (for some additional sweetness), and an endless array of add ins.
It is ready to go in the morning, no cooking required!

Photo credit: http://expatwithkids.blogspot.ca/2010/11/birchermuesli-yet-antother-brilliant.html

1 cup large flake oats, not instant
2 apples
juice of half a lemon
2 tablespoons maple syrup or to taste
1/2 - 1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped or sliced almonds*
2 tablespoon sunflower seeds*
2 tablespoon pumpkin seeds*
1 cup fresh berries (if using frozen thaw them overnight in the fridge)*
A dash of cinnamon (optional)

* Toppings are endless : experiment your favorite fresh and/or dried fruit, nuts, toasted coconut, sesame seeds, flax or hemp seeds etc.


The evening before:

Kid step:  Measure out and place oats in a bowl.  Cover them with 1 1/2 cups of water (submerged by about 1 inch).  Cover and leave to sit on the counter overnight.

Adult step: Toast the nuts in a toaster oven or in a heated skillet until lightly brown. Reserve.

Morning of serving:

Kid and adult step: Grate the apples (remove peel if sensitive to texture) into the bowl with the soaked oats.
Kid step: Squeeze in the lemon juice, and stir in the remaining ingredients. Mix toughly and stir well.
Divide between two bowls and enjoy (its alright if you don't save any for the reindeer!)

photo credit:http://expatwithkids.blogspot.ca/2010/11/birchermuesli-yet-antother-brilliant.html

December 9

What is the flavor of the month?

As they suggest on the blogs below, this is also another great homemade gift idea!

Follow the links for two varieties of holiday inspired homemade playdough:

Photo credit: http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/2011/12/gingerbread-playdough/

1. Ginger Bread Playdough

http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/2011/12/gingerbread-playdough/

 

2. Candy Cane Playdough

http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/2010/12/candy-cane-playdough.html

December 8

On a blustery day, another indoor activity, may perhaps be in order.
Marry our celebration for vegtables with the holiday season, and let your (and your childs) creative side shine!

Make your own wrapping paper this year with vegetable stamps!

Lay the ground with newspaper then get down with the kids to paint sheets of paper (recycled would be best!) with the vegetable 'tools' and stamps described on the glue and glitter blog:

http://www.glueandglitter.com/main/2013/10/22/art-projects-for-kids-fruit-vegetable-stamping/
 


Test out different cuts for interesting variations!

http://spoonful.com/crafts/fruit-veggie-stamp-friends

If your children are older try cutting out potato or apple stamps:
Check out the following link for instructions and ideas:

http://bitofmomsense.com/2013/09/22/activity-potato-stamping/

There are no limits to the things that can be generated from a simple potato!

http://the-joy-of-my-life-and-other-things.blogspot.ca/2010/05/kids-art-potato-stamping.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 7

More ideas for 'kid-made' gifts.
A good inside activity for a chilly day!

http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/02/artwork-candles.html

December 6

Friday night pizza night?
Why not make it a little more excitting?

Don't forget to involve the children in rolling dough, shedding, sprinkling cheese and 'decorating the snowman'.

Experiment with dressing him up with lots of different colorful vegetables. Try outfitting Mr or Mrs Snowman with red pepper stripes or corn kernel polka dots.

Follow the link for the recipe:
  http://www.deliacreates.com/2011/01/snowman-pizza-and-dough-recipe.html

Decmber 5

The holidays, unfortunately, have largely become about consumerism, packaging and dollars. 
There are however, many ways to demonstrate your appreciation and kind wishes!
The best gifts in many cases are those that are homemade and considered. 

How about a gift box full of cookies? Sounds pretty good to me!

So this one is a box in a box... an advent calendar entry opening up links to another.  
Take a look at Sauveur's cookie advent calendar for 25 days of inspiration! 

Don't forget to get the kids involved; let them click the boxes to discover the hidden recipe, and engage them in the cooking process.
I am sure once the cookies have been made, they will be happy to help out eating them as well!




http://www.saveur.com/cookie-advent-calendar-2013?cmpid=enews120313?spPodID=020&spMailingID=5905461&spUserID=MjM3ODIyMzQ1NzIS1&spJobID=350258981&spReportId=MzUwMjU4OTgxS0

December 4

Follow the link for today's 'snowy' science activity:
http://www.deliacreates.com/2011/01/snow-and-ice-activities-for-kids-part_11.html

December 3

 Follow the link to the Come Together Kids blog for today's kitchen activity: making edible cinnamon snowflakes!



 



http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/01/cinnamon-snowflakes.html

December 2

The weather is getting colder and snow is piling.
Today's indoor activity is a coloring page to help celebrate and engage with winter.

 Follow the link and print children book illustrator Jan Brett's design your own mitten coloring page.

http://www.janbrett.com/design_your_own_mitten.htm