The Mom I Want to Be

 

The United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 each year to recognize efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.

 

… some kind of volunteering or donating …

Harness the power of the sun to recycle old and broken crayons into new ones.

Peel your crayons and sort them by color family into small plastic cups.   Nestle the cups into a nest made from aluminum foil (bonus points for using leftover foil!) and cover with plastic wrap.  Set out in the sun on a hot day.  Make sure they have full sun.  You’ll probably need a day in at least the low 90’s to get a good melt.

Once the crayons melt bring them in, let them cool, and pop them out to use.

Three easy activities build writing skills now and prepare your child for school this fall.

• pad of paper
• markers
• paintbrush or craft sticks
• water or ice cubes

1. Travel Reporter.

3. Sticks and Stones. Give your child a stick, and the beach or sandbox suddenly becomes a huge writing pad! She’ll enjoy drawing and writing in the sand or earth with sticks or stones — and erasing her work before starting all over again.

 

• provides practice with letters
• increases familiarity with the purposes of writing
• supports basic writing skills

 

 

Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.  Created by the UN to  strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.

Some things to do with your kids

 

Hello in Different Languages

 

The goal of this activity is to heighten cross-cultural awareness, celebrate cross-cultural knowledge, and to say  “hello” in many different languages.

 

Ask your kids if they can guess how many people there are in the world and how many different languages are spoken. (There are ~2800 languages and ~6 billion people. If an equal number of people spoke each language, that would be ~2 million people per language.  You might relate this to local city/town size.).

 

Can your kids think of ways to say hello in different languages?  French, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese might come easily.  Can they think of any others?  Have a list of hello in lots of different languages from which you can read out (see Jennifer’s Language Page). 

  

  

Cook a World Meal.  A World Meal is the average meal for the average person on the planet.  It consists of a limited amount of rice and beans. Herbs and spices are optional; as is anything you can forage from the local natural environment.

  

  

 

Do you have a favorite American artist? August is the time to celebrate his masterpieces! American Artist Appreciation Month, which is recognized during the entire month of August every year, is the perfect opportunity to attend art shows and galleries in honor of your favorite American born artist. Get in touch with your artistic side or find the perfect piece of artwork for your home by admiring the work of well-known American artists during August!

 

Some artists to explore:

 

Andy Warhol

Mary Cassatt

Currier & Ives

Georgia O’Keefe

Grant Wood

Frank Lloyd Wright

Norman Rockwell

Dr. Suess

Grandma Moses 

 

Great American Artists for Kids has lots of terrific information and crafts in the style of American artists to explore.

National Mustard Day celebrates the “King of the Condiments”.  This special day was created by the National Mustard Museum in Mount Horeb, Wi. It was created as an annual event in 1991.  It’s held on the first Saturday in August, and includes live music, parades, mustard games, free hot dogs (only with mustard!) and many other activities.

 

Mustard is a must have for hot dogs, sausages, and a wide range of sandwiches. Its an important ingredient in many recipes, too.

 

When it comes to condiments, Mustard is among the most popular. When it comes to longevity, mustard is unrivaled. It has literally been in use to spice up meals for thousands of years. To retain it’s status, mustard has not stood still. Rather, it has diversified. It’s not just yellow anymore. There’s a growing selection, including Honey Mustard, Bold and Spicy, Sharp and Creamy, and of course Dijon Mustard. Take a trip to your refrigerator, and you will  probably find two or three different types of mustard. A trip to the grocery store, will reveal even more selections.

 

 

Make Your Own Mustard

 

Use dried mustard seeds. There are a variety of seeds. White, or yellow seeds make a yellow mustard. Brown seeds make a stronger, more pungent brown mustard. Place seeds and a small amount of water or vinegar into a blender. Avoid using too much liquid, or it will be runny. You can also use almost any liquid, including wine or even beer.  Run blender until the mixture is smooth.  Store mustard in the refrigerator.

Tip: Experiment and create your own mustard flavor. Add tiny amounts of other spices before processing. Salt, black pepper, and honey are popular choices. For some zip, add a little (very little) Jalapeno peppers.

 

How to Grow Mustard

 

People have been using mustard as greens, and to spice up their food for thousands of years. Its known as the “King of the Condiments”.  Home gardeners love this easy, fast growing cool weather crop. The leaves are great raw, in salads, or as a cooked greens. They are nutritious, and healthy for you and your family. The seeds are harvested to make the condiment that you use on hotdogs, sandwiches, and more.

 

Sow mustard seeds 1/4 to 1/3 inch deep, and 3″ apart. Thin seedlings to 5″ – 9″ apart. Separate the rows, 1 foot apart.  Sow seeds early in the spring and a second crop in the early fall. They prefer cool weather, so leave the middle of the summer for the heat loving vegetables.  Maturity: 45-50 days  Mustard plants grow well in most good garden soils. They prefer full sun and cool weather. Planting successive small crops, separated about a week apart, results in a continuous supply of greens.   Mustard plants should be grown quickly. Use plenty of water, and ample amounts of fertilizer, to promote fast growth of tender, green leaves. Water plants during dry periods.  Keep the plants well weeded, so weeds do not compete for water and nutrients. It makes harvesting easier, too.   Mustard greens are eaten raw, or cooked. Harvest leaves while young and tender. Pick individual leave, or the entire plant. Leaves get tough and have a strong flavor during hot, dry weather.  Mustard seeds should be harvested  when the plants begin to yellow. You want to leave them on the plants as long as possible, but before the pods burst open and spill their seeds.

Wiggle Your Toes Day encourages you to give your little piggy toes some exercise.

 

Those ten extremities at the ends of your feet, are crying out for a little freedom. Cramped up inside a pair of shoes or sneakers all day long, your stinky toes just don’t get the chance to move about freely, as they would like to do.

 

Celebrate Wiggle Your Toes Day by airing out your toes, and wiggling them around for all to see. The best place to wiggle your toes on a hot August day, is in the pool. Or, sit on a dock and stick your wiggly little toes in the water.

 

 

Did you Know? Not all toes are alike. Like people, toes come in all shapes and sizes.

 

1. “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci

 

2. “Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. It’s a miracle, and the dance…is a celebration of that miracle.” ~ Martha Washington

 

3. “Dancing is the poetry of the foot.” ~ John Dryden

 

4. “You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere.” ~ Charles F. Kettering

 

5. “My mother told me I was dancing before I was born. She could feel my toes tapping wildly inside her for months.” ~ Ginger Rogers

 

6. “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes.” ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

 

7. “Angels cry because they want to experience what you and I feel: the moment. They live in eternity. They don’t know what it is like to read a newspaper and get ink on your fingers. They don’t know what it is like to take your shoes off and wiggle your toes under the dinner table.” ~ Carlos Santana

 

8. “Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet.” ~ Jeremy Bentham

 

9. “Stretch your feet according to your blanket.” ~ Turkish Proverb

 

10. “The island is a one-stop shop for wilderness and outdoor adventure. You can get your feet dirty by day and be pampered at night.” ~ Claire Ellis

 

11. “What a wonderful beautiful thing, to wiggle your toes.” ~ Dalton Trumbo

 

12. “The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

 

13. “Ten fingers, ten toes. She’s laughter and teardrops. So small and brand new and amazingly angelic. She’s sent to bless you. She’s one special baby. The best of life’s treasure and will grant and bless you many hours of great pleasure.” ~ Author Unknown

 

14. “I recall fondly, as a kid, … when my dad would hyperextend my big toe playing the ‘This Little Piggy Went to Market’ game. I don’t recall it hurting, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t miss a football game, or a game of ‘Kick the Can,’ for that matter, because of it.” ~ Jeff Fisher

 

Wiggling your toys may seem like a small, silly and inconsequential task; however, never underestimate the power of a good toe tension release. These inspirational quotes are a wonderful reminder of the big roles our little toes play in our daily lives.

Create a Foot Print Mural

 

Old sheet
washable paint
disposable foil baking tin, large enough to stand in

 Lay an old sheet out on the grass or sidewalk. Pour paint into a foil baking tin. Help your child step into the paint barefoot and walk across the sheet. Talk about how the paint feels on her feet and what color it is. Invite other family members to step in the paint and add their footprints to the mural. After it has dried, point out which footprints belong to which family member. Can your child identify her own prints? Which ones are big? Which are little?

Learning benefits:
• promotes gross motor skills
• enhances sense of balance